Abstract:
A standard child swing apparatus with a holder for supporting a baby on its abdomen. A vibration unit is also included within the holder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to swings for children, and in particular, to a swing with a device for supporting small children on their abdomen. 
   Some babies are born with a condition known as colic which irritates them and makes them uncomfortable. When a baby experiences abdominal pains, it is recommended to hold it in a manner so as to apply gentle pressure to the abdomen for a period of time. It is also recommended to rock the baby gently at that time. Such special holding is uncomfortable for the care giver, especially as the baby grows in size. Uncomfortable holding and rocking may tire the care giver, who may thus be forced to abandon the effort before the baby experiences relief. If this happens, the discomfort of the baby continues, and the special holding and rocking was for nothing. 
   Historically, swings for very young children have included a support frame with side frame members supporting a horizontal housing from which a seat is hung. Early swings were mechanically driven through a wind-up/spring mechanism. More modern swings include motorized drive mechanisms which are electrically powered. 
   While many swings will comfort most babies and gently rock them to sleep, additional stimulation and special holding techniques are typically required to comfort and soothe babies with colic. It would be desirable to apply such techniques to swings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention answers the needs of special holding to apply pressure to the abdomen while also rocking the baby. The present invention provides a standard child swing apparatus with a holder for supporting the baby on its abdomen. A vibration unit is also included within the holder. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view, partly in section, of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the holder of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the holder of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the swing with a cushion attached to said baby holder. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of another embodiment of the holder. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a colic swing  1  comprised of a swing  10  with a baby holder  20 . The swing  10  has four, floor-contacting legs  11  supporting a horizontal housing  12  from which four supports  13  extend vertically downward, said supports  13  terminating in end means  14  adapted to releasably connect to the baby holder  20 . The horizontal housing  12  may contain a wind-up/spring mechanism or electrically-powered, motorized drive mechanism adapted to provide a swinging motion to the supports  13 . The horizontal housing  12  may also contain various controls for selecting from a plurality of amplitudes and/or speeds for the swing motion of the supports  13 . 
   The baby holder  20  is a generally planar element with a top surface  21 , a bottom surface  22 , a front  23 , a rear  24 , and two sides  25 . The baby holder front  23  and rear  24  define a baby holder longitudinal axis. The baby holder  20  lies generally in a horizontal plane while the swing  10  is at rest and has a gentle, longitudinal, upward, concave shape. The baby holder  20  is longitudinally divided into a forward portion  26  and a rearward portion  27 . The baby holder  20  also has a battery operated vibrator  4  located in a cavity  5  in the baby holder rearward portion  27 . The vibrator  4  has a control  6  protruding from the baby holder rear  24 . The baby holder sides  25  have connector means  45  fixedly attached thereto, said connector means  45  adapted to be attached to said support end means  14 . 
   The holder forward portion  26  has an optional forward air pocket  30  or breathing hole, and two optional parallel, arm holes  28 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the air pocket or breathing hole  30  extends through the baby holder  20 , from the top surface  21  to the bottom surface  22 . The forward air pocket  30  has a soft mesh  31  covering the pocket  30 . Two hook and pile fastening strips  34  sold under the trademark VELCRO are attached to the holder top surface  21  on each side of the air pocket  30 . A third VELCRO strip  35  is attached to the holder top surface  21  near to the holder front  23 . A flap  32  with two surfaces is attached immediately forward of the air pocket  30 . The flap  32  has a VELCRO fastener  33  on both surfaces and is adapted for attachment in a closed position over the air pocket  30  to the VELCRO strips  34  on each side of the air pocket  30  and in an open position to the forward VELCRO strip  35 . A donut shaped head rest  36  with a VELCRO strip  37  attached thereto is adapted for attachment to one of the VELCRO strips  34  on each side of the breathing hole  30 . 
   The holder rearward portion  27  has two optional parallel leg holes  29  formed therein. The leg holes  29  and arm holes  28  are adapted to receive a baby&#39;s legs and arms while the baby is laying on the holder top surface  21 . The leg holes  29  and arm holes  28  may optionally have cylindrical, cloth sleeves  38  attached thereto adapted to keep a baby&#39;s legs and arms warm while laying on the holder  20  with legs and arms protruding through the holes  29 ,  28 . A safety strap  40  is attached to the holder top surface  21 . The safety strap  40  has two side, forward ends terminating in fasteners  41  and adapted for attachment to two fasteners  42  attached to the holder sides  25  at a junction  39  of the forward portion  26  and rearward portion  27 . The safety strap  40  may have a diaper shape in which a portion of the safety strap  40  is attached to the baby holder rear  24 . 
   The baby holder top surface  21  may have a small cushion  50  attached thereto at the approximate junction  39  of the forward portion  26  and rearward portion  27 . 
   In operation, a baby is placed on the baby holder top surface  21 , face-down either flat on the top surface  21  or on top of the optional cushion  50 . The safety strap  40  is fastened about the baby thereby holding the baby securely to the baby holder  20 . The swing  10  may then be activated providing a swinging motion to the baby holder  20 . The vibrator  4  may also be activated providing a gentle vibration to the baby&#39;s abdominal area. 
   It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.