MXPA98006591A - Mattress c - Google Patents

Abstract

An infant environment transition system offers an infant simulated and controlled movements that an infant finds in an intrauterine environment. The cradle includes a suspension system having a plurality of bends coupled between a base plate and a movable bottom platform. A cam shaft assembly includes a slot that engages with a linear follower connected to the movable bottom platform so that the follower moves along the slot while the cam shaft assembly rotates to move the linear follower and, with this, reciprocate the movable bottom platform in the longitudinal direction of the cradle. The cam shaft assembly also includes an eccentric cam coupled to a rocker that engages one of the pivots of the flexures to angularly displace the mobile bottom platform supported on the flexures, and thereby simulate the intrauterine environment as the rotational and reciprocating composite movements of the mobile platform

Description

COTTA MATTRESS DESCRIPTION Background and field of the invention This invention relates to infant mattresses, and more particularly to infant mattresses that feign stimuli, including movement and sound, experienced by an infant in an intrauterine environment. Animals have the ability to adapt to many and varied environmental conditions. The limit of adaptation depends mainly on the absolute physiological limitations of the animal and on the speed of change of the environment or pressure of adaptation to which the animal is subjected. Perhaps the most difficult transition a mammal needs to make in his life is the change from the intrauterine environment to the extrauterine environment at birth. Each parameter of the infant's environment changes abruptly. Dramatic changes in temperature, tactile sensation, auditory stimuli, movement, and light are exacerbated by conditions in the hospital's delivery room where most women, in modern societies, give birth. Even the environment in a loving home is alarmingly unknown, and many infants show prolonged crying and sleeplessness that may be related to transitional tension. It is believed that these sudden changes in the environment tend to intensify the intrauterine to extrauterine transition of the infant and can cause damage which affects the emotional and physical response of the person to environmental change or adaptation throughout the rest of his life. Therefore, a gradual and effective transition of the infant from the intrauterine environment to the extrauterine environment can have considerable benefits in the long term as well as in the short term. An effective system of transition will duplicate it as closely as conveniently possible intrauterine conditions perceived by the infant just before birth. Provide also means to gradually alter environmental stimuli over time until they reflect the natural extrauterine environment. Environmental stimuli vary in complexity and ease of simulation or control. The movement parameter is quite distinctive. Figure 1 shows the characteristic models of pelvic displacement of pregnant women when they walk. Duplicating the linear and rotating components of these movements is difficult and requires a sophisticated suspension system and impulse and movement control.

U.S. Patent No. 4,079,728 describes a programmable environmental transition system that provides and controls a variety of environmental stimuli and modifies them over time from close initial values and which approximates what the fetus perceives in the uterus just prior to birth to final values typical of the extrauterine environment. Rather than duplicating any particular model of movement, the system imparts a rocking or general reciprocating movement to the infant, who is suspended therein, on a sling similar to a net. U.S. Patent No. 5,037,375 describes an infant environmental transition system and method that provides for a controlled transition from an intrauterine environment to an extrauterine environment. This system includes an engine assembly inside the cover under the crib. A pulley assembly driven by a belt drives arrows into the deck to impart movement to a cradle. It is desired to have a movement system that is sufficiently small in size and height to adapt it to mattresses and beds of conventional children. The present invention incorporates a movement-oriented environment within a mattress and includes a suspension and movement and impulse control system which very closely duplicates the intrauterine movement that the fetus experiences when the mother walks. A microprocessor based on electronic components integrates desired changes in movement and other stimuli to gradually effect the infant's transition from the simulated intrauterine environment to the extrauterine environment, and provides ample flexibility in the range of the system. The previous suspension systems had undesirable complexity of the movement mechanism and produced unacceptable levels of noise. The current system overcomes these important deficiencies and produces a movement that is silent, smooth and continuous with high reliability and safety and low maintenance. The electric motor and the electronic control components are housed inside the control module separately from the mattress supporting the occupant. The motion impulse system inside the mattress has holonomic coupling between components. Holonomic coupling provides a single determinable movement of one component in response to movement of another component. The mattress is conventional in size and easy to move.

Brief description of the drawings. Figure 1 is a graph showing patterns of pelvic movement characteristic of pregnant women as they walk, such patterns are emulated by the movement parameters of the present invention. Figure 2a is a perspective view of a mattress and subsystems housed within the mattress of an environmental transition system of the present invention. Figure 2b is a cross-sectional view of the mattress and the subsystems along the line 2b-2b of Figure 2a. Figure 3a is a top view in section of the mattress and the subsystems inside the mattress. Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal axis of the mattress and subsystems within the mattress. Figure 3c is a cross-sectional view along a transverse axis of the mattress and subsystems within the mattress. Figures 4a and 4b are side and top views, respectively, of a rocking assembly attached to a flexure of the movement mechanism. Figure 5 is a top view of a controller unit.

Figure 6 is a side view of the controller unit. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hydraulic system. Figures 8a and 8b are top and bottom views, respectively, of the mattress. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a mattress and subsystems housed within the mattress for a second embodiment. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional top view of the mattress of the environmental transition system of Figure 8. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the mattress without the actuator cover and cam arrow assembly. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the end of the mattress showing the coupling of a rocking chair to the cam arrow assembly and to a central flexure. Figure 13 is a block diagram of the controller unit for the mattress. Figure 14 is a top view of a mattress using thermal actuators.

Figure 15 is a top view of a mattress and subsystems housed within the mattress for a third embodiment.

Detailed description of the preferred modality With reference to Figures 2 to 8, there is illustrated an environmental transition system that includes suspension and movement and impulse control systems, and that includes a stimulation modulation and integration system, in accordance with the present invention. The system provides a controlled and gradual transition for the occupant initially simulating their intrauterine environment and gradually making the transition to the extrauterine or everyday environment, thus reducing the impact of adaptation and allowing a gradual and healthy adaptation. This transition is made through the current system that initially reproduces the environmental movements regularly felt by an infant before birth. In particular, the system provides and transmits to the occupant, by means of impulse and movement and suspension control systems, a movement that a fetus experiences when the mother walks. The system is controlled to vary the movement in a day - night cycle and to reduce the stimuli through time until the occupant is exposed to minimum movement which approaches the daily environment. Referring specifically to Figures 2a and 2b, the system includes a mattress 102 having a box-like shape and having thick sidewalls and bottom surface that are fixed and firm. The sidewall cover supports and limits a movement mechanism 103. A movement platform (movable bottom platform) 104 is located on the upper surface of the mattress 102 and is supported to move along several axes by means of a suspension system including flexures 106 (see figure 3). The mattress 102 includes a cushion mattress 108, of compliant shape having a lower surface adhered to the surface bonded to the upper part of the movement platform 104 and having an upper surface to support the occupant. Referring specifically to figures 3a, 3b and 3c, the system may also include a sound transducer or horn 110 placed on the movement platform 104 below the level of the occupant there placed on the upper surface of the mattress 108. The sound transducer 110 may include one or more sources signal connected to this such as a phonograph, tape player, electronic signal generator, or a similar sound controllable generator to generate a variety of different simulated sounds or real recordings of the noises present in the uterus near the end of pregnancy. It may also comprise other sounds such as music or house sounds which may be generated electronically, recorded on tape, or reproduced from a remote transmitter (not shown) and reproduced by means of a receiver (not shown) as a signal source in the mattress 102. The sounds are reproduced from the sound transducer 110, which is conveniently mounted under the mattress 108. The sounds thus directed to the infant, like other environmental factors, can be changed gradually over a period of a few months. of intrauterine sounds to sounds typical of the outside world. The movement platform 104 is supported by means of the suspension system which includes two thin bends 106 at opposite ends which are formed of plastic, or some similar material, and which has its pivots in the central portion of the flexure 106 attached to the plate base 112 by means of lower mounting brackets 114, which are bending supports, and having their outer ends joined to the movement platform 104 by means of the upper mounting brackets 116.

The flexures 106 preferably include deformable sections 111 that are bent so that the flexure 106 rotates on a hinge to provide linear movement of the movement platform 104. The flexures 106 are substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal central axis 123 and are flexible at deformable sections 111 along the longitudinal direction between the longitudinal central axis 123 and the opposite ends of the flexures 106 and are rigid along a vertical axis between the longitudinal central axis 123 and the opposite ends of the flexures 106. This Specific design allows the moving platform 104 to experience essentially linear movement along the longitudinal central axis 123 and rotational movement along an axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the mattress 102 while maintaining the moving platform 104 limited against lateral movement. As the moving platform 104 moves relative to the base plate 112, the bends 106 rotate on a hinge (hinged) in the deformable sections 111 in a direction along the longitudinal central axis 123 of the mattress 102. The moving platform 104 supports and carries the mattress 108 by means of the flexures 106 and associated parts as described below. The upper mounting brackets 116 on a lower surface of the movement platform 104 each have a claw-like structure for grasping an end 184 of one of the flexures 106. In addition, the upper mounting bracket 116 may include "ultra-fast" latches or latches. "which allow the end 184 of the flexure 106 to be quickly inserted into the upper mounting bracket 116 and retain the end of the flexure 106 after such insertion. The end 184 of the flexures 106 are flexures that are almost perpendicular to the flexure body 106. The ends 184 have deformable sections 185 that are bent so that the ends 184 rotate on a hinge to provide flexure of the flexure body 106. during the linear movement of the movement platform 103. As the movement platform 103 moves, the body of the flex 106 rotates on a hinge in the deformable sections 111 and pulls on one end 184 to thereby bend the end 184 in the deformable sections 185 for pulling the end 184 towards the longitudinal axis 123 and in the direction of the linear movement. The other end 184 is pushed to thereby bend the end 184 into its deformable sections 185 and to push the end away from the longitudinal axis 123 and in the direction of the linear movement. The flexure 106 includes deformable sections 186 placed approximately perpendicularly in the center of the flexure body 106 to allow the center of the flexure 106 to bend during linear and rocking or reciprocating movements. The movement mechanism 103 includes a suspension system, which is anchored to the base plate 112, drives the movement platform 104, and also includes an actuator 128 for generating linear movement along a longitudinal axis of the mattress 102 and for generating rocking motion around the longitudinal axis. The actuator 128 can be, for example, a hydraulic piston cylinder machine including a Belofram ™ hydraulic diaphragm. Referring specifically to Figures 5 and 6, the top and side view diagrams are shown, respectively, illustrating a controller unit 148, which includes an actuator 128, a cover 150, a drive controller 151, a control panel 152, a controller module 154, and a motor 156. The controller unit 148 is preferably located on the outside and near the mattress 102. The impulse controller 151 converts an electrical input to the controller unit 148 into mechanical work within the movement mechanism 103 to thereby impart linear and rocking motion to the mattress 108. The electrical energy in the control module is preferably transferred into mechanical energy first by converting the electrical energy into hydraulic energy within the controlling unit 148, and subsequently transferring the hydraulic energy to the movement mechanism 103 of the mattress 102. The control panel 152 can be, for example, a plastic membrane placed over push button selectors. The control panel 152 includes a start button 153 and a stop button 155 for enabling and disabling, respectively, the controller module 154, and includes a daytime switch 157 for selecting the daytime movement parameters, a nighttime selector 159 for selecting the night movement parameters, an age selector 146 to select when in a variable movement program the child of a certain age will adapt appropriately, and a screen 147 to show the age. The controller module 154 controls the operation of the mattress 102, in a manner similar to that described in U.S. Patent No. 5,037,375. In response to the control signals from the controller module 154, the motor 156 drives the impulse controller 151 to cyclically move a piston in the actuator 128. The motor 156 may be, for example, a low-ce motor. voltage which receives low voltage energy from an external power source (not shown). The motor 156 is preferably demultiplied internally to deliver torque more efficiently to drive the impulse controller to approximately fifteen cycles per minute in a day mode and at approximately ten cycles per minute in a night mode. The sound transducer 110 can provide intrauterine sounds continuously when the mattress 102 is in operation. The linear and rotational movements of the mattress 102 can occur as described below in an intermittent and random manner. The pulse control mechanism 151 interconnects the motor 156 to the actuator 128 to provide linear movement from rotational movement. More specifically, one end of a handle 107 is attached to a motor shaft 158, so that the handle 107 rotates as would the handle of a clock as the motor 156 rotates. A first end of a link 109 is attached by means of a pin to the other end of the crank 107. A second end of the link 109 is attached by means of a pin to one end of a link 117. The other end of the link 117 is attached to a base of the cover 150. The lengths of the crank 107, the link 109, and the link 117 are selected so that constant rotary movement of the crank 107 produces reciprocal rotational movement of the link 117. At a point along the link 117, an impulse rod 127 of the actuator 128 may either be held against the link 117 or be attached by a link-slot connection to the link 117. In a symmetrical configuration, the linear translation of the pulse rod 127 is approximately twice the length of the crank 107 and the reciprocal movement of the pulse rod is harmonic. Alternatively, the impulse controller 151 may be a cam follower (not shown). A pulse rod or piston extension slides on or follows the perimeter of a cam which rotates with the motor arrow 158. For a simple symmetrical harmonic movement, the cam is circular and rotates around a center of phase shift. Alternatively, the impulse controller 151 may be a cam-crank (not shown). A crank is attached at one end to the motor shaft 158 as described in FIGS. 5 and 6. A second lever is attached by means of a pin at one end to the other end of the crank and is connected by means of a pin to the handle. actuator 128 at its other end. In a symmetrical configuration, the linear translation of the pulse rod 127 is approximately twice the crank length and the reciprocal movement of the pulse rod 127 is harmonic. With respect to figure 7, a cross-sectional view of a hydraulic system is shown, which includes two actuators 128, interconnected by means of a connective tube or thick-walled flexible connector 131. The actuators 128 in the controller 148 and in the movement mechanism 103 of the mattress 102 operate as master and slave, respectively. The actuator 128 includes a mechanical portion 129 and a hydraulic portion 130, which are housed separately. The hydraulic portion 130 of the actuator 128 includes an enclosing diaphragm 132. The enclosing diaphragm 132 is substantially free of friction, which results in lower displacement forces than those of conventional cylinder and piston machines. Actuator 128 may include a connector that provides quick release and attachment to allow hydraulic portion 130 to be separated from and reconnected to mechanical portion 129 without compromising hydraulic integrity. Preferably the actuator mounted within the movement mechanism 103 has such a connector. Such connectors allow the hydraulic system to be easily removed from the mattress 102 to facilitate movement and storage of the mattress 102.

The hydraulic portion 130 of each actuator 128 is joined and sealed to one end of the connector tube 131. The enclosing diaphragm 132 of each actuator 128 also attaches and seals to the cover of the hydraulic portion 130. The outer periphery of the enclosing diaphragm 132 preferably it has a shape of an O-ring to function as an O-ring and provide mechanical sealing when the hydraulic portion 130 is secured to the mechanical portion 129. The hydraulic portions 130 of both actuators 128 and the connector tube 131 form a removable subassembly which is a hydraulic conversion link between the controller unit 148 and the mattress 102 and is an integral container of flexible pressure. The connecting tube 131 is preferably filled with an incompressible fluid, which is preferably non-toxic to humans, such as vegetable oil. For an incompressible hydraulic fluid, (the volume of the hydraulic fluid remains constant), a deflection of any envelope diaphragm 132 produces a predeterminable deflection opposite of the other, ie if the diaphragm 132 of an actuator 128 is flexed towards the connector tube 131, the Diaphragm 132 of the other actuator 128 similarly flexes away from the connector tube 131. The hydraulic fluid is preferably at a low positive pressure with respect to the surrounding air to provide a greater seal by means of the enclosing diaphragm 132. A rigid metal disk 133 it is mounted to the central portion of the surface of the surrounding diaphragm opposite the fluid. The hydraulic portion 130 and the connector tube 131 preferably can not be easily disassembled by the user. The mechanical portion 129 of each actuator 128 includes the pulse rod 127 and a bearing. One end of the pulse rod 127 extending from the actuator 128 drives or follows the mechanical link of the pulse control mechanism 151 or the movement mechanism 103. The other end of the pulse rod 127 is internal to the actuator 128 and engages or secures the disk 133 on the enclosing diaphragm 132. With reference specifically to FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, top, side, and end views of the movement mechanism 103 are shown. A link 120 has a first end anchored in a pin connection 119 to the base plate 112 about the longitudinal axis 123. The other end of the link 120 and one end of a link 122 are joined by means of a pin in a connection 126. The other end of the link 122 is connected by means of a pin to a connection 124, which is joined to the movement platform 104. The connection 124 it moves longitudinally to thereby impart linear reciprocal movement to the movement platform 104. To allow for the swinging of the movement mechanism 103, the links 120 and 122 preferably provide sufficient torsional deformation and compressive stiffness so that the link 122 can joining by means of a pin to the connection 124 without deforming the links 120 and 122 when they are aligned longitudinally. The pulse rod 127 of slave actuator 128 makes contact with link 120 at a point of support 140 to urge link 120 to rotate about the connection by means of pin 119 and to urge link 199 to rotate about connection 124 As the link 122 rotates or pivots, the link 124 moves longitudinally to move the movement platform 104 linearly. A return spring 121 attached to the base plate 112 and link 120 provides a holonomic contact between the pulse rod 127 of the slave actuator 128 and the link 120 through the movement cycle. The spring 121 also provides positive differential pressure within the hydraulic system. As the pulse rod 127 of the slave actuator 128 moves in the actuator 128, the spring 121 is compressed and by means of this pull the link 120 towards the actuator 128. This pull causes the movement platform 104 to move in a linear fashion in the opposite direction.

In the particular implementation shown in Figure 3, the fulcrum 140 is located less than a quarter of the length of the link 120 from the connection by means of pin 119 to provide a longitudinal stroke in the connection by means of a pin. 124 and so that that of the movement platform 104 is approximately 1.9 cm (3/4 inch) along the longitudinal axis. The resulting angular movement of link 120 is ± 27 °. High lateral stiffness of flexures 106 with respect to its deformation in the direction of the longitudinal axis 123 so that the movement platform ε moves linearly only along the longitudinal axis 123. The rocking motion of the movement platform 104 around the longitudinal axis 123 preferably is less than ± 5 °. It is desired to make the thickness of the mattress 102 as close to the standard as possible. To reduce the thickness of the mattress, a pulley system preferably provides the rocking motion. Referring again to Figure 5, a position encoder 170 detects and co the movement cycles of the link 109. The controller module 154 may indicate the need for service or change of parts or automatically close the system to prevent a less desirable mode of failure by fatigue or wear, if the cumulative number of cycles exceeds a predetermined threshold. The position encoder may include a Hall effect sensor in the reluctance loop of a permanent magnetic circuit. A magnet or magneto 171 may be attached to the link 109. A cycle is cod each time the movement of the link 109 moves the magnet in close proximity to the Hall effect sensor. Alternatively, the position encoder 170 may be an optical cipher, a variable capacitance cipher, or a Faraday effect rate cipher which may also use the Hall effect sensor. A bar pattern applied to a motion link in the system can act as the scale relative to a lattice, a light source and a light detector within an optical cipher to provide digital encryption. Alternatively, the position encoder 170 can provide speed and position indications to the controller module 154 as feedback signals. In response to such feedback, the controller module 154 varies the speed of rotation of the motor 156. With reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, respective side and top views of a rocking assembly are shown. A rocking arm 160 is fixed to and extends outwardly from the flexure 106 which is closest to the connection by means of pin 119. The rocking arm 160 is preferably C-shaped in a top view. A flexible cable 142 is attached to the rocking arm 160 at ends 141 and to the link 120 on the pulley 143. The distance between the end 141 on the link 120 and the connection by means of pin 119 is selected to produce a nominal angle of travel for the movement platform 104 with respect to the longitudinal axis 123 of ± 4.75 °. The actuator 128 urges the link 120 to thereby drive the cable 142. The pulley 143 has a circumferential helical groove which engages the cable 142 so that the cable 142 is wound around the pulley 143 in at least one turn. The pulley 143 comes and goes in a plane parallel to that of the base plate 112. The pulley centers • 161 are anchored to the base plate 112 (the anchor is not shown). The cable 142 runs on the pulleys 161 which converts the reciprocal movement of the cable 142 parallel to the base plate 112 on the pulley 143 on the link 120 in reciprocating movement of the cable 142 perpendicular to the base plate 112 at ends 141 on the rocking arm or reciprocator 160. The reciprocal movement in each of the two ends 141 on the rocking arm 160 is practically 180 ° out of phase with the other. The flexure 106, to which the rocking arm 160 is fixed, is limited to rotate about the longitudinal axis 123. In this way, the phase movement imparted to the rocking arm 160 perpendicular to the base plate 112 causes the rocking assembly to rotate reciprocally or rock around the longitudinal axis 123 and cause the moving platform 104 to which the rocking assembly is firmly attached by means of of the flexure mounting brackets 116 (FIG. 3) are also mixed around the longitudinal axis. As a fetus in a womb experiences it, the rocking assembly creates two longitudinal oscillating cycles per rocking cycle. Referring specifically to Figures 8a and 8b, the mattress 108 slides on the mattress 102 to provide the linear movement of the movement mechanism 103. The mattress 108 has beveled edges 180 along a lower surface. The mattress 102 has beveled edges 181 (FIGS. 2a and 2b) which mesh with the beveled edges 180 of the mattress 102. The beveled edges 180 and 181 are preferably covered by a film or coating with a low coefficient of friction to reduce the force required to move the mattress 108 relative to the mattress 102. The movement mechanism 103 preferably supports the weight of the occupant and the portion of the mattress 108 meshing with the movement mechanism 103. The edges 181 preferably support the weight of the mattress portion 108 engaging the edges 181. The mattress 108 is preferably formed of a medium density foam.

The mattress 108 has a plurality of notches 182 in the upper and lower surfaces of the mattress that rotate on a hinge to provide the rocking movement facilitating the deformation and bending of the mattress 108. The mattress 102 has a clear between the mattress 102 and the mattress 108 to allow the flexure of the mattress 108 in the notches. The mattress 102 and the movement mechanism 103 also support the deformation of the mattress 108 caused by the weight of the infant which of course typically varies with the age of the infant. The mattress 102, the mattress 108, and the movement mechanism 103 are preferably enclosed in a mattress cover (not shown) having elastic regions for stretching during linear and rocking motions. Referring specifically to Figure 9, the system includes a mattress 202 having a box-like shape and having thick side walls and a bottom surface that are stationary and firm. The side walls house, support, and limit a movement mechanism 203. The movement platform 204 is mounted to the upper surface of the mattress 202 and supported to move along several axes by means of a suspension system that includes flexures 206 and 207. The mattress 202 includes a cushion mattress 208, so that it fits, on an upper surface of the movement platform 204 on which the infant rests. Referring specifically to Figures 10 to 11, the system may also include a sound converter or transducer or horn 110 placed on the movement platform 204 below the level of the infant there placed on the mattress 208. The movement platform 204 is supported by means of a suspension system which includes two thin flexures 206 at opposite ends and a thin central flexure 207 which is formed of plastic, or some similar material, and which has its pivot in the central portion of the flexure adhered to a base plate 212 by means of lower mounting brackets 214, and having their outer ends adhered to the movement platform 204 by means of top mounting brackets 216. The flexures 206 and 207 preferably have an S-shaped cross section. and 207 are practically symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal central axis and are flexible along the longitudinal direction between the e longitudinal center and the opposite ends of the flexures 206 and 207 and are rigid along a vertical axis between the longitudinal central axis and the opposite ends of the flexures 206 and 207. This specific design allows the movement platform 204 to experience essentially linear movement along the longitudinal central axis and rotational movement along an axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the mattress 202 while maintaining the movement platform 204 limited against lateral movement. As the moving platform 204 moves relative to the base plate 212, the bends 206 and 207 are bent in a direction along the longitudinal central axis of the mattress 202 which is aligned with a cam arrow 232, described below. The movement platform 204 supports and transports the mattress 208 by means of the flexures 206 and 207 and associated parts as described below. Each of the upper mounting brackets 216 on a lower surface of the movement platform 204 has a claw-like structure at one end of one of the flexures 206 and 207. Alternatively the support 216 may include latches or latches " ultrafast "which allows the end of the flexure 206 and 207 to be quickly inserted into the upper mounting bracket 216 and retained the end of the flexure 206 and 207 after such insertion. The flexure 207 includes an integral actuating bolt 217 with an extension arm 219. The actuating bolt 217 preferably has a rectangular cross section.

A linear follower 218 of plastic, or some other similar material, is formed and has a pivoting portion 220 attached to the base plate 212 by means of a screw, has a linear portion 222 and has a terminal portion 224 attached to the platform of movement 204 by means of screws or "ultra-fast" bolts. A first flexure 226 couples the pivoting portion 220 to a first end of the linear portion 222. A second flexure 228 couples the terminal portion 224 to a second end of the linear portion 222 opposite the first end of the linear portion 222. The follower Linear 218 operates as a lever to linearly move the movement platform 204 as described below. The first and second flexures 226 and 228 allow the linear follower 218 to bend during the rotary movement. An actuator cover 229 that is mounted to the base plate 212 includes a cam arrow assembly 230 which is an actuator that couples to the flexure 207 and the linear follower 218 to impart linear and rotational or rotational motion to the movement platform 204. The cam arrow assembly 230 includes a cam arrow 232 which is formed of steel, and includes a cylinder cam 234, and an eccentric cam 236. The eccentric cam 236 is located on one end of the cam arrow assembly 230. just opposite the cam arrow 232. The cylinder cam 234 has a notch or groove 235 in the outer circumferential surface engaging a follower linear pin 240, integrally molded on the pivoting portion 220 of the linear follower 218, to impart to the follower linear 218 linear movement aligning with the cam arrow 232. The notch 235 has a longitudinal displacement on the circumferential surface so that, according to the linear follower pin 2 40 moves inside the notch 235, the linear follower 218 moves linearly here and there along the longitudinal axis of the mattress 202 for a distance simulating the movement of a fetus in an intrauterine environment. Such a movement is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,037,375, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. Referring specifically to Figure 12, a reciprocator or rocking chair 242 has a central bore 243 that pivots on a post provided on a side wall of the actuator cover 229. A cam follower 244 of the rocking chair 242 engages the eccentric cam 236 on the end of the cam arrow assembly 230. A rectangular bore 245 in the rocking chair 242 meshes the actuator pivot 217 on the central flexure 207. As the cam arrow assembly 230 rotates, the eccentric cam 236 engages a portion of the cam follower blade. 244 and rotates within the bore 244 to thereby cause the rocking chair 242 to pivot and thereby impart a rotating rocking motion to the movement platform 204 to simulate the movement of a fetus in an intrauterine environment. The cradle is rocked as shown by the interrupted lines of Figure 12. Thus, the cam arrow assembly 230 rotates to cause the cylinder cam 234 to drive the linear follower 218, thereby imparting linear movement to the movement platform 204, and causing the eccentric cam 236 to impart an angular displacement to the rocking chair 242 which imparts a rotary movement to the central flexure 207 by means of the actuation bolt 217 to thereby "rock" the movement platform 204. In the preferred embodiment, each rotation of the cam arrow assembly 230 imparts two cycles of linear movements and one cycle of rotational movement. The synchronization of the linear movement and the rotational movements is selected to simulate the movement of a fetus in an intrauterine environment as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,037,375, and can be altered by relatively rotating the attachment of the eccentric cam 236 and the cam cylinder 234 on arrow 230. With reference specifically to figure 13, a controller unit 248 includes a cover 250, a control panel 152, a controller module 254, a motor 256, and an arrow 258. The controller module 254 controls the operation of the mattress 202, in a manner similar to that described in FIG. U.S. Patent No. 5,037,375. The motor 256 may be, for example, a low voltage CE motor that receives low voltage power from an external power source (not shown). The arrow 258 is preferably flexible and is coupled to the cam arrow assembly 230 so that both the rotary and linear motion of the arrow 258 are transferred to the cam arrow assembly 230. In response to control signals from the module controller 254, the motor 256 drives the cam arrow assembly 230 by means of the flexible arrow 258. The motor 256 preferably drives the cam arrow assembly 230 approximately fifteen cycles per minute in a day mode and approximately ten cycles per minute in a night mode The sound transducer 110 can provide intrauterine sounds continuously when the mattress is operational. The linear and rotational movements of the mattress can occur as described above in an intermittent and random manner. The movement mechanism comprising the flexures 206 and 207, the linear follower 218, the actuator cover 229, and the cam arrow assembly 230 is contained entirely within the mattress 202. The mattress 202 includes a perimeter wall 270 that is extends upwardly along the periphery of the movement platform 204. The mattress 208 is on the upper surface of the movement platform 204 and within the perimeter wall 270. The perimeter wall 270 is preferably approximately 10 cm (four inches) high and formed from a medium density foam. The mattress 208 is preferably the mattress 108 described above. The mattress 208 is covered with a cloth or plastic cover. The mattress 202 can also support a cushion around an infant to simulate the tactile environment of intrauterine confinement, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,037,375. With reference to Figure 14, another embodiment of the environmental transition system including a movement mechanism that is thermally activated is illustrated. Such a system includes a base plate 112, a moving platform 104, and flexes 106 as described above. Such systems do not include an engine. Instead, the thermal actuators 301 are coupled to the flexures 106 and the movement platform 104. A controller unit 302 applies electrical power to heating elements 303 adjacent to the thermal actuators 301, which respond to heat to expand and contract, and by means of this they impart the linear and rotational movements to the movement platform 104. A heat absorbing compound or element (not shown) can be coupled to the thermal actuators 301 and the heating elements 303 to improve the cooling and contracting of the thermal actuators. 301 for controlled responses under varying environmental conditions. Such a system operates silently in the absence of a motor and conventional actuators. The thermomechanical system changes the position of the movement platform 104 causing or a temperature change within or a temperature gradient within one or more thermal actuators 301. The thermal actuators 301 are preferably formed of a bimetallic material such as a coiled strip of Clock spring configuration so that the heating of actuators 301 wind the spring tighter. One of the thermal actuators 301 adheres to the base plate 112 and to one end of the rocking arm 160. The rocking can be produced by alternately heating the two thermal actuators 301. Similarly, the two elements can be tied from opposite ends of the base plate at the connection 124 on the movement platform 104. The rocking movement can be produced by heating the two elements alternately. Alternatively, the bimetallic metals used can be electrically conductive. In this case, the controller 302 applies a current to the actuator 301 to heat the actuator. The thermal actuators 301 can be a cold worked element by means of an alloy machine with shape memory which remembers its shape without working when the element is heated up to its critical temperature. When the temperature exceeds the critical temperature, the force to return the element to its non-working form increases. The titanium-nickel (TiNi) alloys show superelasticity as well as shape memory. Thus the change in the form of the state without working to the cold-worked state can be very large. The use of thermomachine elements with shape memory allows movements in the order of 2.5 cm (1 inch) for temperature changes in the order of 10 ° C. With reference to Figure 15, a top view of a mattress and the subsystems housed within the mattress for a third embodiment is shown. The mattress includes a pair of flexes 106 mounted at opposite ends of the base plate 112. A CE 402 motor receives EC power from an external power source (not shown), such as a conventional AC power transformer that is plugged in. in a wall power outlet. A worm gear (worm gear) 404 is mounted to an arrow 406 of the motor 402 for rotation about the axis of rotation of the arrow 406. The worm gear (worm gear) 404 has a helical groove on its outer surface which engages teeth of a worm wheel 410 joined to a straight gear 408 mounted to the base plate 112 to rotate about an axis of the worm 410. The straight gear 408 of the worm wheel 410 preferably has 60 teeth. A linear pulse link 412 has a first end pin attached to the worm wheel 410 at a point offset from the center of the worm wheel 410. The linear pulse link 412 has a second end sphere attached to the worm wheel. a connection 414 on the movement platform 104. As the motor 402 rotates, the worm 404 rotates the worm wheel 410 to thereby drive the linear pulse link 412 in one movement by means of an eccentric movement. linear here and there and also move the movement platform 104 and the mattress 108. A cylinder cam 416 has a straight gear 418 having teeth that mesh with both the straight gear 408 and a roller 420. The cylinder cam 416 rotates about an axis in response to the rotation of the worm wheel 410. The roller 420 pivots on a bolt on a first end of a cam follower 422. A second end of the follower d the cam 422 is mounted to the center of one of the flexures 106. The relationship between the gear of the straight gear 418 and that of the straight gear 408 provides a reduction in the gear and is preferably selected to provide a linear movement of approximately 2: 1 for the rocking motion relationship. The straight gear 418 of the cam cylinder 416 preferably has 120 teeth. Because the roller 420 follows the cylinder cam 416, the cam follower 422 about the axis 123, thereby rotating the flexure 106 and the movement platform 104. The motor 402 is controlled by means of a controller unit ( not shown) which includes a control panel 152 and a controller module that provides control signals to the motor similar to those of the controller module 154. The environmental transition system therefore provides a smooth transition from the intrauterine environment to the extrauterine environment by providing the infant sound and simulated movements that can be conveniently programmed to vary selected parameters, representative of the two environments during a programmed period of time.

Claims (20)

1. An environmental transition system characterized in that it comprises: a peripheral portion of a mattress, and a movable portion mounted within the peripheral portion of the mattress for combined translational and rotational movements of the movable portion with respect to the peripheral portion.

2. An environmental transition system according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises: a base plate having a plurality of flexure supports; a separate platform apart, above the base plate, having a first surface facing the base plate, having a second surface in front of the first surface to support the movable portions of the mattress, and having a plurality of support supports therein;; a plurality of bends to support the platform, each bending substantially symmetrical about a central axis, being mounted near the central axis to pivot about a corresponding one of the plurality of flexure supports, and being flexible along one direction longitudinal between the central axis and the opposite ends of the flexure, and being rigid in a vertical direction between the opposite ends which are attached to the mounting brackets on the platform, the plurality of bends supporting the platform; and an actuator arranged to bend the plurality of bends between its opposite ends in a direction to translate the platform along the central axis and to angularly displace the platform around the central axis.

3. The environmental transition system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the ratio of a cycle of translation of the movable portion to an angular displacement cycle of the movable portion is 2: 1.

4. The environmental transition system according to claim 2, further characterized in that the base plate, the platform, the plurality of flexures, and the actuator are housed within the movable portion of the mattress.

The environmental system according to claim 2, further characterized in that each of the plurality of flexures includes deformable sections oriented centrally to provide flexibility about the central axis to provide angular displacement of the platform.

The environmental system according to claim 2, further characterized in that each of the plurality of flexures includes deformable sections spaced laterally from the central axis to provide flexibility in one direction along the central axis and includes a second flexure near from each of the opposite ends of the flexure having deformable sections to provide flexibility in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis during translation of the platform in a direction along the central axis.

The environmental transition system according to claim 2, further characterized in that it comprises a sensor positioned with respect to the actuator to detect the movement of the actuator to selectively control the rotation and translation of the platform.

The environmental transition system according to claim 2, further characterized in that the actuator engages the flexure supporting the movable portion of the mattress to move the movable portion of the mattress by translatory and rotational movements determined with respect to the peripheral portion. of the mattress.

9. The environmental transition system according to claim 7, further characterized in that the sensor is connected together to inhibit the translation and rotation of the platform in response to the detection of a selected operating condition of speed or repetitions of the platform that exceed a certain limit.

The environmental transition system according to claim 7, further characterized in that it includes alarm means coupled to the sensor to provide an indication of departure in response to the detection of a selected operating condition of speed or repetitions of the platform that exceed a certain limit.

11. The environmental transition system according to claim 7, further characterized in that the sensor is coupled together to the actuator to selectively stop the movement of the movable platform in approximately its horizontal orientation.

The environmental transition system according to claim 4, further characterized in that the platform supports the movable portion of the mattress on the second surface in surface orientation substantially flush with the surrounding peripheral portion of the mattress.

13. The environmental transition system according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises an actuator for imparting movement to the movable mattress portion, the actuator includes a cam assembly mounted to rotate and has a cam and a cam follower arranged with respect to to this to provide at least one of the longitudinal and angular translation displacements of the movable portion with respect to a central axis thereof, during rotational movement of the cam assembly.

The environmental transition system according to claim 13, further characterized in that the cam assembly includes an eccentric cam surface and a rocker assembly coupled to the eccentric cam to convert the rotational movement of the cam assembly to rotate the movable portion. around the central axis.

15. The environmental transition system according to claim 14, further characterized in that the ratio between the circumferential surface and the eccentric cam is selected to provide a longitudinal translation to angular displacement ratio of approximately 2: 1.

16. The environmental system according to claim 2 further characterized in that it comprises: counting means coupled to the actuator to accumulate an account with respect to the operating cycles of translational and angular movements of the platform to control the actuator.

17. A flexure unit for the environmental transition system according to claim 1, for supporting the movable portion by translatory and rotary movements along and around a horizontal axis while being placed in substantially vertical orientation, the unit flexure comprises: extensions placed almost symmetrically around a central region between outer ends and includes a first articulation region in each extension intermediate the central region and each of the opposite ends to promote movements of each of the extensions to the central region in a direction practically along the horizontal axis; and a second articulation region near each of the opposite ends to promote angular movement of each opposite end with respect to the associated extension about a substantially vertical axis in each second articulation region.

18. A flexure unit according to claim 17, further characterized in that the extensions, central region and first and second articulation regions are integrally formed as a unitary structure.

19. A flexure unit according to claim 17, further characterized in that it includes a plurality of ribbon elements positioned in the central region around a central element in substantially horizontal and vertical orientations to promote rotational flexure of it in response to rotation of the central element with respect to the extensions, but to inhibit the vertical and lateral movements of the central element with respect to the extensions.

20. An environmental transition system according to claim 12, further characterized in that the movable portion of the mattress flexibly overlaps at least some segment of the peripheral portion of the mattress.