Apparatus for supporting and rocking a person in a prone position

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus 1 for supporting and rocking a person, the apparatus comprising a base 2 , a platform 3 that is configured to support a person thereon in a prone position, and a mounting system 4 that mounts the platform to the base and enables the platform to be rocked relative to the base. The mounting system 4 comprises at least one linkage mechanism 60 including a plurality of rigid linkage members that are pivotally connected to each other, to the base 2 and to the platform 3 . In particular, the linkage mechanism 4 includes a first linkage member 61 , a second linkage member 62 and a third linkage member 63 , each of which has a first end and a second end. The first end 61 a of the first linkage member 61 is pivotally connected to a first one of the base 2 and the platform 3 at a first pivot point P 1 . The first end 62 a of the second linkage member 62 is also pivotally connected to the first one of the base 2 and the platform 3 at a second pivot point P 2 spaced apart from the first pivot point P 1 . The first end 63 a of the third linkage member 63 is pivotally connected to the second end 61 b of the first linkage member 61 at a third pivot point P 3 and pivotally connected to the second end 62 b of the second linkage member 62 at a fourth pivot point P 4 spaced apart from the third pivot point P 3 , and the second end 63 b of the third linkage member 63 is pivotally connected to a second one of the base 2 and the platform 3 at a fifth pivot point P 5.

1 . An apparatus for supporting and rocking a person, the apparatus comprising a base, a platform that is configured to support a person thereon in a prone position, and a mounting system that mounts the platform to the base and enables the platform to be rocked relative to the base; wherein the mounting system comprises at least one mounting assembly in the form of a linkage mechanism including:
 a first linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first linkage member being pivotally connected to a first one of the base and the platform at a first pivot point;   a second linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second linkage member being pivotally connected to the first one of the base and the platform at a second pivot point spaced apart from the first pivot point, and   a third linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third linkage member being pivotally connected to the second end of the first linkage member at a third pivot point and pivotally connected to the second end of the second linkage member at a fourth pivot point spaced apart from the third pivot point, the second end of the third linkage member being pivotally connected to a second one of the base and the platform at a fifth pivot point.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 1 , wherein the linkage mechanism is configured to allow the portion of the platform to which it is connected to rotate about a pivot axis located above the platform. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 2 , wherein the pivot axis is located at least substantially directly above a mid-point of the platform and/or at least substantially directly above a center of mass of the platform when the platform is around a mid-point of its movement path. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second linkage members are pivotally connected to the base at the first and second pivot points, and the third linkage member is pivotally connected to the platform at the fifth pivot point. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth pivot points at which the first and second linkage members are pivotally connected to the third linkage member are arranged above the first and second pivot points at which the first and second linkage members are pivotally connected to the first one of the base and the platform. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motor that is configured to control movement of the platform. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 6 , wherein the motor is configured to drive an output shaft, wherein the output shaft is operatively coupled to the platform by a drive mechanism, optionally via the linkage mechanism, the drive mechanism including a first drive member or cam that is connected to the output shaft and configured to rotate together with the output shaft, and a second drive member that is pivotally connected to the first drive member or cam and further pivotally connected to the platform or to one of the linkage members of the linkage mechanism in order to control movement of the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting system further comprises a second mounting assembly that is connected to the platform at a location that is spaced apart from the location at which the linkage mechanism is connected to the platform in a direction aligned with a movement direction of the platform, the second mounting assembly being configured to control movement of the portion of the platform to which it is connected relative to the base. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 8 , wherein the second mounting assembly is configured to allow the portion of the platform to which it is connected to rotate about a pivot axis located above the platform. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 9 , wherein the pivot axis about which the second mounting assembly allows the portion of the platform to which it is connected to rotate is at least substantially aligned with the pivot axis about which the linkage mechanism allows the portion of the platform to which it is connected to rotate. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 8 , wherein the second mounting assembly comprises a second linkage mechanism including:
 a first linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first linkage member being pivotally connected to the first one of the base and the platform at a first pivot point;   a second linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second linkage member being pivotally connected to the first one of the base and the platform at a second pivot point spaced apart from the first pivot point, and   a third linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third linkage member being pivotally connected to the second end of the first linkage member at a third pivot point and pivotally connected to the second end of the second linkage member at a fourth pivot point spaced apart from the third pivot point, the second end of the third linkage member being pivotally connected to the second one of the base and the platform at a fifth pivot point.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second mounting assemblies are connected to the platform on a first side of the platform, wherein the mounting system further comprises third and fourth mounting assemblies having similar configurations to the first and second mounting assemblies, the third and fourth mounting assemblies being connected to the platform on a second side of the platform opposed to the first side. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for supporting and rocking a person, the apparatus comprising a base, a platform that is configured to support a person thereon in a prone position, and a mounting system that mounts the platform to the base and enables the platform to be rocked relative to the base; the mounting system comprising:
 a first mounting assembly that is coupled to the platform at a first connection point and configured to allow the portion of the platform to which it is connected to rotate about a first pivot axis located above the platform, and   a second mounting assembly that is coupled to the platform at a second connection point spaced apart from the first connection point in a direction aligned with a movement direction of the platform and configured to allow the portion of the platform to which it is connected to rotate about a second pivot axis located above the platform, wherein the second pivot axis is at least substantially aligned with the first pivot axis to form a common pivot axis.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second mounting assemblies comprises a linkage mechanism including a plurality of rigid linkage members that are pivotally connected to each other, to the base and to the platform. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for supporting and rocking a person according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second mounting assemblies comprises a linkage mechanism including:
 a first linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first linkage member being pivotally connected to a first one of the base and the platform at a first pivot point;   a second linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second linkage member being pivotally connected to the first one of the base and the platform at a second pivot point spaced apart from the first pivot point, and   a third linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third linkage member being pivotally connected to the second end of the first linkage member at a third pivot point and pivotally connected to the second end of the second linkage member at a fourth pivot point spaced apart from the third pivot point, the second end of the third linkage member being pivotally connected to a second one of the base and the platform at a fifth pivot point.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for supporting and rocking a person, the apparatus comprising a base, a platform that is configured to support a person thereon in a prone position, and a mounting system that mounts the platform to the base and enables the platform to be rocked relative to the base; wherein the platform comprises a platform body, an upper body support that is mounted to the platform body and configured to support the upper body or torso of a person, and a lower body support that is mounted to the platform body and configured to support the lower body or legs of a person; wherein at least a portion of at least one of the upper body support and the lower body support is movable relative to the platform body in order to facilitate mounting and/or dismounting of the platform and/or to facilitate adjustment of the platform to accommodate people of different sizes. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the upper body support is pivotable relative to the platform body between a first position in which the upper body support is configured to support the upper body of a person while the person is being rocked on the platform, and a second position for facilitating mounting and/or dismounting of the platform. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the upper body support comprises an upper body support frame that is connected to the platform body and extends outwardly therefrom, and a skin or pellicle that is connected to the upper body support frame and configured to support the upper body or torso of a person thereon. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the upper body support frame is provided with a length adjustment system that is operable to adjust the length of the upper body support in order to accommodate people of different sizes. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the lower body support is movable relative to the platform body in a direction towards and away from the upper body support in order to accommodate people of different sizes.