Playground and backyard swings are a common source of recreation, enjoyment and relaxation for children and adults. Swings are of many sorts and may be nothing more than a piece of flat board suspended from a tree branch with two ropes tied to its ends; or a used automobile tire suspended from a tree branch.
It is quite common to use electrically, mechanically actuated or manually powered swings for the amusement of children. These include non-electric swings and a number of AC motor-operated or battery-operated swing types. However, AC motor-operated swings are undesirable for children's use for a number of reasons. Because they operate off a standard AC power source with high voltages, they are not desired where children are concerned. Furthermore, being AC driven, such swings require line cords, which limits its portability and present potential hazards to children in the vicinity. Moreover, the use of an AC motor adds considerable weight to the item; thereby increasing it's manufacturing and shipping cost. The use of an AC motor does not lend itself well to the sale of the item in “knockdown” form since the customer would ultimately be the one to assemble/disassemble.
There are sophisticated models of swings that can be used domestically and others that are used commercially. Swings would allow its rider/s to move in circular rotational, reciprocating, rocking, oscillating (pendulum) motions, based on their specific designs. Many types have been designed to act upon by gravity forces due to inertia of the riders while others has been made to work as motorized or spring loaded. In all cases, once motion is attained by the physical efforts of the rider, or by motor, or by spring, or with the assistance of an individual pushing the swing, simulating the reduction of gravity to a rider, the swing apparatus will provide hours of fun and amusement. Children just love to have a thrill ride.
None prior art patents disclose a swing of the present design which is safe, convenient, easily operated, easily assembled and disassembled for storage (if the need be) and also for transportation from one place to another.
Over the years, swings that can rotate horizontally have been seen in amusement parks that are commercially operated. It may be appreciated that there is an evident need to provide a swing that can be placed in every child's backyard. That is, a swing that is affordable for parents to provide for their child or children and simple in construction. At the same time also a swing that can be used by the entire family, something that will provide amusement for father, mother, children, children's friends and neighbors.
So far we've seen swing ride of the similar type that causes their riders to go around and even go around in the cubicle/pocket of their seats while the swing raises the riders up and down. These are very large structures that can only be generally used commercially. They are motor driven and have a hydraulic system, which also have to be powered with an electric motor.
The present invention is totally mechanical and is manually operated, and as such there is no need for the supply of electricity. The swing can therefore be used in an open field, a play park or even in a balcony or any place where it can be assembled completely and fixed to the ground or level floor surface.
The principle of operation of this present invention is similar to the operation of an outboard engine, or for than matter any combustion engine. In this case, the pistons are the rocker arms which the rider/s push/pull. The vertical shaft with the crankpin fixed to it is representative to the engine crankshaft. The bearing frame with the two seating members makes up the engine block.
The analogy here is the same except that as in the case of the outboard engine, the movement of the piston causes the crankshaft to turn. Here the crankshaft is fixed to the ground so the motion is transferred to the block instead. The driving force is not an explosion/expansion of gases as in the case of the combustion engine but it is the pulling and pushing of the individual riders.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a swing that can be used by one or up to four persons from ages three and above. Infants that can sit upright when properly strapped in their seat can be riders only and not partake in the driving of the swing, i.e., one and two year old.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a swing that can be operated easily without being motorized or require electricity, battery or torsional springs to cause motion.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a swing that is safe to use and can be assembled and dissembled without any special tools or fixtures and can be done relatively easy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a swing that is manually driven. Motion of this swing is caused by the translation of forces—cam action.
An even further object of the present invention is the elimination of the need to have someone to push the swing to have it started. This swing starts with the rider/s pushing and pulling on the driving handles.
Another object of the present invention is the elimination of the need for electrical power cables, which can be a source of severe danger to the rider/s and limits where the swing can be assembled for use. Also the cost factor for electricity is eliminated.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an amusement ride that can be enjoyed by a plurality of riders who may enjoy the thrill and excitement of riding together.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a swing apparatus that can be used indoors or outdoors and in all seasons.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a swing apparatus, which is economically affordable to the general public.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a swing whereby the riders control the speed. This will include the starting and stopping.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a compact swing apparatus that is of a durable, safe and reliable construction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a swing that is of low altitude and has a very low injury potential for its riders.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a swing apparatus that does not place any stress on the bodies of the riders.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its design and use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be better appreciated while objects, advantages, practical application and capabilities other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentality shown.
In the figures, identical reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
A spacer ring 30 is slipped onto the centre shaft and rests on flange 32. The purpose for this spacer is to prevent the bolt heads that will be passing through flange 31 to be touching flange 32.
The two main beams 1 & 2 are lapped in the middle with reinforcement plate 8 bolted on to them using the bolt holes at the outer ends of the reinforcement plate. Bearing 22 rest on top of plate 8 and is bolted at both ends.
Two little flat flange pieces 34 are welded to the ends of piece 33 to form a single support piece. The top flange of these support pieces are bolted to plate 8, using the inner bolt holes on plate 8. These bolts pass through the main beams also. Four or six of these support pieces can be used. Piece 33 may be formed from metal tube.
Obliquely mounted support braces 18 may be formed from metal tubes that have their two ends flattened with bolt holes in each. The bottom of this support member is bolted between the bottom flange of vertical support 33 and to flange plate 31. The top flat of brace support 18 is bolted to the beams under the seats 23. Bearing 21 is bolted to flange plate 31. The bearings 21 & 22 are locked to the centre shaft using grub screws 28 & 29 that are on the inner race of the bearings. This allows the rest of the frame to rotate freely. Bearings 22 and 21 are of mounted deep groove radial ball bearings type.
Legs 19 may be formed from metal tubes with their top ends flattened to take bolt holes. The top of the legs is bolted to the flange plate 32. The lower ends rest onto the ground surface and through the holes drilled in its centre are pinned down using spike nails.
The handle frames are made of two curved shaped metal flats 11 with spacer pieces 41 welded in the middle. Pieces 41 are square pieces of mild steel plate. Handles 9 pass through a holed drilled through the side pieces 11 and spacer pieces 41. The top centre of each spacer piece 41 carries a threaded hole. The handle rods 9 are fixed in the middle using set screws 17 through the threaded hole in the space pieces 41. Handle rods 9 can be formed from metal tube or bar. At the two ends of the handles 9 are slipped on handgrips 10. Depending where the swing is used, and if it is fixed in a back yard or needs to be moved from place to place, different methods can be used to fix the handgrips 10 in place. It can be grub screwed in position or they can be glued on permanently.
The upper portions of the side pieces of the handle frames are drilled to pass pins 15. These pins 15 along with split pins 16 are used for attaching the top rings of the connecting rods 7. The top rings of the connecting rods moves freely on pins 15. Fixing a piece of hollow tube 12 to the outer ends of each beam makes a part of the hinges for the handle frames. The open ends of the handle frames are drilled to pass pins 13. The flat side pieces of the handle frame is placed over the hollow tubes 12 and pins 13 are passed though the drilled holes on the flat sides and the hollow tubes on the beams to complete the hinges for the handle frames. Split pins 14 are inserted to the ends of the cross pins 13 to allow the handle frames to be free to move forward and backward.
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On the underside of the beams, just below where the handle frames are mounted, are bolted the footrests 20. Short pieces of hollow tubing or rods 42 are welded to the flat curved shaped side pieces at different levels to accommodate different sizes of riders.
The bucket seats 23 are made out of polymeric material and are mounted on the outer ends of the beams. These seats are hinged in front so that they may be tilted forward when the swing is not in use. This will prevent snow, rain or dirt from getting into the seats. Although not shown, the seats are fitted with seat belts to keep the riders from falling off. The seats are so designed that they can slide forward and backward, depending on the size of the riders, and locked in position so that the riders can have a firm grasp of the handgrips 10 on the handle frame while their feet are firmly placed on the footrest. This is not shown on the drawings.
Because of the offset position of pin 3, each handle frame will be at different sloping positions when connected. Some persons will be pushing while the others will be pulling. This pushing and pulling on the handles, which are attached the connecting rods and knuckle linkages to the crankpin, will cause a translation of forces and enable the riders to move in a circular direction about the centre shaft.
Although not shown, all the pins and split pins will be chained while the outer chain ends riveted on to the areas close to where they are used so that the pins are easily located and available for assembly.
Although the present invention shows four riders, an additional cross beam can be used for allowing six riders to use the swing at the same time. These cross beams must be spaced equally around the centre shaft to maintain an even balance around. By having more persons to drive the swing, the effort will be significantly reduced. Also the amount of support legs 19 can be increased to six or eight to give a more uniform distribution of the unit's weight to the ground/mounting floor.
Many of the various structural elements of the present invention could be made of any suitably rigid low-cost material. The two main seating beams can be made from molded polyethylene or polystyrene hollow sections of quadrangular cross-section; which is rugged, reliable and resilient to the weather.
Although it is desirable to have the parts of the assembly made from material that are not prone to rusting, it is not the intention of the inventor to compromise safety of the riders in any which way. As such, the centre shaft 35 should be made from metal of high strength and should be resilient to bending forces. Metals such as chrome-plated hollow section mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum or galvanized material can be used. Although many of the parts can be made from resilient polymeric material such as molded polystyrene, in some of the exposed mild steel areas, rubberized coating can be used to prevent rusting.
With respect to the above description then, is it realized that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and should not limit the scope of the invention. Changes in details of the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in the size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily obvious to those skilled in the art.
It is understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and structural details of the apparatus illustrated and in its operation, can be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. As such, reference should be made to the claims rather that the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
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