Portable toddler swing

A portable toddler swing is provided. The swing includes a compliant shell, an upper adjustable strap, a fastener coupled to the upper adjustable strap, a lower adjustable strap, a pair of support straps and a pair of safety fasteners. The shell defines an inner cavity, including an upper portion defining a top opening and a circumferential passage, a bottom portion, a front portion defining a pair of leg openings, a back portion, and a pair of side portions. The upper adjustable strap is slidingly disposed within the circumferential passage, and adjusts the size of the top opening of the shell. The lower adjustable strap is connected to the bottom portion of the shell, and secures the shell to a playground swing seat. The pair of safety fasteners are coupled to upper portions of the support straps, and secure the support straps to the playground swing chains.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/827,748, filed on May 27, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to swings, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a portable toddler swing.

BACKGROUND

Playgrounds and swings are gathering places for families with children of all ages. The vast majority of playgrounds feature standard swings with a seat base and two chains connecting the seat base to a support structure. Because these standard swings require a user to properly balance and support themselves on the seat base, infants and toddlers under the age of three are unable to safely use the swing. As a result, infants and toddlers are unable to enjoy standard swings at local playgrounds unless a separate toddler swing is present and unoccupied. Toddlers are also unable to enjoy a wide variety of other swing platforms including tire swings. A swing is therefore needed which allows the safe conversion of a variety of swing platforms to a toddler swing allowing infants and toddlers to fully enjoy all varieties of swing platforms either swinging unaccompanied or with a caretaker.

In addition, while toddler swings are sometimes available for use, their construction is uncomfortable, not adjustable for size, a breeding ground for germs, and often constructed from heat conducting material making these traditional toddler swings not ideal for a young child. What is therefore needed is a safe, comfortable, clean, and size adjustable platform for swinging, providing infant and toddlers an opportunity to enjoy the same playground as older children and allowing caretakers to more effectively supervise all children.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a portable toddler swing that includes a compliant shell, an upper adjustable strap, a fastener coupled to the upper adjustable strap, a lower adjustable strap, a pair of support straps and a pair of safety fasteners. The shell defines an inner cavity, and includes an upper portion defining a top opening and a circumferential passage, a bottom portion, a front portion defining a pair of leg openings, a back portion, and a pair of side portions. The upper adjustable strap is slidingly disposed within the circumferential passage, and adjusts the size of the top opening of the shell. The lower adjustable strap is connected to the bottom portion of the shell, and secures the shell to a playground swing seat. The pair of support straps are respectively attached to the side portions of the shell, and include upper portions extending above the upper portion of the shell. The pair of safety fasteners are respectively coupled to the upper portions of the support straps, and secure the support straps to a pair of playground swing chains.

Other embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a method of swinging with a child in a playground swing that includes placing a child into a portable toddler swing, securing the child within the portable toddler swing, sitting in the playground swing seat, and securing the portable toddler swing to the playground swing by attaching a pair of safety fasteners to the playground swing chains such that the bottom portion of the portable toddler swing is above the playground seat.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a portable toddler swing that temporarily converts a variety of playground swings into a toddler swing. The toddler swing includes a soft seat, several integrated adjustable straps, safety fasteners, and an optional storage compartment with an integrated storage bag. The safety fasteners are connected to each side of the toddler swing and attach to the chains of the playground swing, advantageously allowing a child to swing unaccompanied or with an adult, depending on the height at which the swing is connected to the playground swing chains. The toddler swing is light, collapsible, and easy to carry comfortably in an optional integrated storage bag that is hidden in a storage compartment on the back of the swing.

Referring toFIGS. 1-5, embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a portable toddler swing100that includes a compliant shell107, at least one upper adjustable cord or strap104, a fastener105for the upper adjustable strap104, a lower adjustable strap110, and a pair of support straps103with safety fasteners101.

The shell107defines an inner cavity120, and includes an upper portion121defining a top opening122and at least one circumferential passage106, a front portion123defining a pair of leg openings109, a back portion124, a bottom portion108and side portions125. The shell107generally supports the child across the chest, back, and under arms. The leg holes109allow for easy placement of the child into, and out of, the swing100. The shell107may be made from a cloth or cloth-like material, such as, for example, canvas, and may include additional padding material.

The upper adjustable strap104is slidingly disposed within the passage106to adjust the size of the top opening122. The upper adjustable strap104allows the caretaker to adjust the fit of the swing100to the child, and may be tightened or loosened on one side of the shell107, as depicted inFIGS. 4 and 5, or, alternatively, on each side of the shell107, as depicted inFIGS. 1,2and3. In various embodiments of the swing100, the upper adjustable strap104may be tightened or loosened using a fastener105, such as, for example, a toggle or similar device, which is slidingly attached to the ends of the upper adjustable strap104which pass through respective openings in the shell107connected to the passage106. The fastener105is configured to accept and temporarily secure the upper adjustable strap104in place, thus securely holding the shell107to the body of the child. The upper adjustable strap104may be made from any suitable material, such as, for example, nylon, etc., or, alternatively, from an elastic material.

The lower adjustable strap110attaches the bottom portion108of the shell107to a playground swing seat130when the child is swinging unaccompanied, which advantageously provides additional stability and security. The lower adjustable strap110is securely attached to the bottom portion108of the shell107, and is adjustable to allow for secure attachment to a variety of different playground swing seats. The lower adjustable strap110may use Velcro connections, clips, buckles, etc., or other attachment means, to secure the swing100to the playground swing seat130. The lower adjustable strap110may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, for example, cloth, cloth fiber, nylon, etc. When not attached to playground swing seat130, the lower adjustable strap110may be secured onto itself, or otherwise stored out of the way and in a convenient position.

Support straps103are attached to the side portions125of the shell107, and the safety fasteners101are attached to the upper portions of the support straps103to secure the support straps103to a playground swing chain131. A reinforced attachment point102may be located on each support strap103, such as, for example, a grommet, reinforced fabric, etc., which is securely sewn into each support strap103. The safety fasteners101advantageously distribute the weight of the child equally in the swing100, and may be lockable or unlockable carabiner clips, etc. In certain embodiments of the swing100, a protective strap or covering117may cover the safety fasteners101to protect the child's hands.

In various embodiments of the swing100, an optional storage compartment111may be attached to the back portion124of the shell107, and may include an integrated storage bag113and closure flap112. The storage compartment111is attached to the back portion124of the swing100to allow for collapsing, storing, and carrying the swing100easily and comfortably. In some embodiments of the swing100, the storage bag113has a circumferential passage116, an adjustable cord115disposed within the passage116, and a toggle114to close the storage bag when the shell107and accompanying components are stored therein.

Referring toFIGS. 6A,7A,8A,9A,10A,11A and12A, further embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a portable toddler swing100that includes a compliant shell107, at least one upper adjustable strap204, a fastener205for the upper adjustable strap204, a lower adjustable strap110, and a pair of support straps103with safety fasteners101.

As described above, the shell107defines an inner cavity120, and includes an upper portion121defining a top opening122and a circumferential passage106, a front portion123defining a pair of leg openings109, a back portion124, a bottom portion108and side portions125. The shell107generally supports the child across the chest, back, and under arms. The leg holes109allow for easy placement of the child into, and out of, the swing100. The shell107may be made from a cloth or cloth-like material, such as, for example, canvas, and may include additional padding material.

The upper adjustable strap204is slidingly disposed within the passage106to adjust the size of the top opening122. The upper adjustable strap204allows the caretaker to adjust the fit of the swing100to the child, and may be tightened or loosened on one side of the shell107. In various embodiments of the swing100, the upper adjustable strap204may be tightened or loosened using a fastener205, such as, for example, a ladder lock buckle or similar device, which is attached to the ends of the upper adjustable strap204which pass through respective openings in the shell107connected to the passage106. The fastener205is configured to accept and temporarily secure the upper adjustable strap204in place, thus securely holding the shell107to the body of the child. The upper adjustable strap204may be made from any suitable material, such as, for example, nylon, etc., or, alternatively, from an elastic material.

As described above, the lower adjustable strap110attaches the bottom portion108of the shell107to a playground swing seat130when the child is swinging unaccompanied, which advantageously provides additional stability and security. The lower adjustable strap110is securely attached to the bottom portion108of the shell107, and is adjustable to allow for secure attachment to a variety of different playground swing seats. The lower adjustable strap110may use Velcro connections, clips, buckles, etc., or other attachment means, to secure the swing100to the playground swing seat130. The lower adjustable strap110may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, for example, cloth, cloth fiber, nylon, etc. When not attached to playground swing seat130, the lower adjustable strap110may be secured onto itself, or otherwise stored out of the way and in a convenient position.

As described above, support straps103are attached to the side portions125of the shell107, and the safety fasteners101are attached to the upper portions of the support straps103to secure the support straps103to a playground swing chain131. A reinforced attachment point102may be located on each support strap103, such as, for example, a grommet, reinforced fabric, etc., which is securely sewn into each support strap103. The safety fasteners101advantageously distribute the weight of the child equally in the swing100, and may be lockable or unlockable carabiner clips, etc.

Referring toFIGS. 6B,7B,8B,9B,10B,11B and12B, further embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide an optional storage compartment111, attached to the back portion124of the shell107, that includes an integrated storage bag113and closure flap112. The storage compartment111is attached to the back portion124of the swing100to allow for collapsing, storing, and carrying the swing100easily and comfortably. In some embodiments of the swing100, the storage bag113has a circumferential passage116, an adjustable cord115disposed within the passage116, and a toggle114to close the storage bag when the shell107and accompanying components are stored therein.

The present invention also contemplates the accommodation of larger children, adults with disabilities, etc. For example, the size of the shell can be increased and reinforced, as needed, to support the larger size and weight of these individuals. Additionally, the shell may be modified to facilitate placement of the swing adapter on the individual, such as, for example, adding a pair of zippers running from the top portion121to each leg opening109, etc.

Referring toFIGS. 13-16, in one embodiment, the caretaker places the child into the shell107and tightens the upper adjustable strap104,204, prior to attaching the swing100to the playground swing in order to confirm a secure fit. In another embodiment, the caretaker attaches the swing100to the playground swing seat130and chains131before the child is placed into and secured within the swing100, as depicted inFIG. 13. Swing100easily and advantageously allows a child to swing independently, as depicted inFIGS. 14 and 15, or with a caretaker, as depicted inFIG. 16. For independent swinging, the swing100may be attached to the playground seat130and chains131, as depicted inFIG. 14, or, alternatively, the swing100can be attached to the playground swing chains131such that the bottom portion108of the shell107is above the playground swing seat130, as depicted inFIG. 15. Advantageously, the ability to hook the safety fasteners101to the playground swing chains131above the playground swing seat130allows the child to swing independently on a variety of different platforms, such as older straight seat swings, tire swings, any dual chain swing designs, swings with chains but without seats, etc., as well to swing with a caretaker sitting below on the playground swing seat130.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of swinging with a child in a playground swing includes placing a child into the portable toddler swing100, securing the child within the portable toddler swing100, sitting in the playground swing seat130, and securing the portable toddler swing100to the playground swing by attaching the safety fasteners110to the playground swing chains131such that the bottom portion108of the portable toddler swing100is above the playground seat130. In this embodiment, after securing the child within the portable toddler swing100, the child may be picked up before sitting in the playground swing seat130or after sitting in the playground swing seat130. Alternatively, the child may be received from another person after sitting in the playground swing seat130.