Frame support member for recreational swing

A support frame for a suspension device includes a plurality of leg members attached at their upper portion to a mounting plate. The mounting plate has pivot members and circumferential openings for connecting the leg members. There are also height adjustment members as well as a number of optional features to facilitate use of the suspension framework.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a frame support member; and more particularly relates to a novel and improved support member for a recreational swing or the like.

Currently, there exist a number of suspension frames for swings, such as, U.S. Pat. No. 1,866,175 to Rogers and U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,978 to Rieber. While these frames are designed to carry an infant load, they are not sufficiently stable to support a heavier adult load. Further, typical suspension frames for adults are difficult to assemble and often unstable. There is an unmet need for a suspension framework that is durable and easy to assemble, adequately supports a suspension swing or vehicle as well as the user of the suspension device, is extremely stable and is easy to store or disassemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved suspension frame, which is economical to manufacture. It is another object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved suspension frame that is easy to assemble and disassemble.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved suspension frame that adequately and safely supports a recreational swing as well as an adult user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved suspension frame that is stable with heavier loads of suspension.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved suspension frame having a height adjustment feature as well as an optional motorized feature for mechanical rotation of the suspension device.

It is a final object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved suspension frame that is lightweight, easily portable and of rugged construction.

In accordance with the present invention, there has been devised an apparatus for suspending a recreational swing and similar devices comprising a plurality of upwardly convergent leg members intersecting one another at upper ends, a mounting plate having a plurality of openings at equally spaced circumferential intervals for extension of the upper ends of the leg members above their point of intersection, and traversing means for connecting the leg members in hinged relation to the mounting plate. The mounting plate includes a center suspension device for attachment of a swing or the like and the leg members include bracing members connecting the leg members to each other as well as a swing limitation member. There is also a height adjustment feature as well as an optional motorized feature for mechanical rotation of the suspension device. In another form, there is a swing apparatus for suspending a device comprising a circular apex member having a plurality of openings spaced at uniform intervals from one another, suspension means centrally attached to an underside of the apex member for attachment of the swing therefrom and at least three leg members including extension legs having distal ends which are inserted into attachment means disposed on an underside of the apex member for securely fastening the apex member to the leg members.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of preferred and modified forms of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring in more detail toFIGS. 1 through 11, there is provided a suspension apparatus11as shown inFIG. 1having a plurality of upwardly convergent leg members13having end caps46which are inserted through an apex member or mounting plate15which is also shown inFIGS. 2,3and4. The mounting plate15is formed of ¼″ aluminum but not limited to that material and includes equally spaced circumferential openings17which are designed to accommodate insertion of upper ends18of the leg members13. The rounded openings17are sized to permit passage of the leg members13while also allowing for a degree of lateral movement of the leg members13. Further, the circumference of the openings17of the mounting plate15allows the leg members13to be aligned parallel to one another and easily transported or stored. The mounting plate15is preferably circular for ease of transporting, lack of sharp edges and weight minimization. Each of the openings17receives an end of a leg member13designed to be inserted therethrough. The leg members are comprised of 2 ⅜″ galvanized pipe but may be fabricated of any other suitable material or size. The mounting plate15includes a top surface19and a bottom surface21which are both planar and side edges23connecting the top and bottom planar surfaces19and21as shown inFIG. 3. The mounting plate15includes fastener or pivot members25which traverse each of the openings17of the mounting plate15and are designed to connect the leg members13in hinged relation to the mounting plate15as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. The pivot members25are in the form of bolts which pass through aligned sleeves26located near the end of each of the leg members13. Dual eyebolts27,27′ are inserted through diametrically opposed bores22flanking each of the openings17as shown inFIG. 2and secured at the top surface19with a fastener28, such as, a hex nut as shown inFIG. 6. Each pivot member25extends through the first eyebolt27at one end through the aligned sleeves26and through the second eyebolt27′ at the opposite end. The pivot members25are then secured with the fastener, such as, a fender washer and hex nut28at each end. The pivot members25are disposed below the mounting plate15and attached to the bottom surface21. The pivot members25allow the leg members13to be easily attached to the mounting plate15when first assembling the apparatus. Further, the location of the pivot members25help to offset the downward force exerted on the mounting plate15when a suspension swing45is suspended from the mounting plate15. The pivot members25aid as well in stabilizing the leg members13and also act as stops, preventing the mounting plate15from advancing downwardly on the leg members13.

Leg extension members31, as shown inFIG. 8, may be added to the leg members13to increase the height. The extension members31are typically 2 ⅜″ galvanized pipe with a mandrelled or swedged end for insertion into respective ends of the leg members13. The extension members31are held in place with cotter pins32which are passed through aligned bores on the extension members31and the leg members13. Any other type of retention member may also be used. The length of the extension members31is typically in 8′ sections. The leg members13are typically 8′ in length as well to allow for ease of portability. The height of the apparatus11may be adjusted accordingly with the extension members31. If an indoor use is desired, the height may be adjusted accordingly to accommodate 10′ ceilings. If an outdoor use is desired, the height may be adjusted up to 48′ while still retaining stability of the apparatus11. It is also possible to adjust the height beyond 48′, depending on the user's requirements.

Suspension means which is in the form of a suspension member33, such as, an eyebolt or swivel eyelet attached to an eyebolt is attached to the bottom surface21of the mounting plate15as shown inFIGS. 3,4and5and attached to a chain36. The upper portion34of the suspension bolt33is inserted through a center opening38, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, and secured to the mounting plate15with a series of fender washers47and lock nuts48above and below the mounting plate as shown inFIG. 5. Lock nuts may include locking nuts with adhesive. The suspension bolt33in combination with the mounting plate15and the leg members13acts as a suspension platform for the suspension swing45attached to the suspension bolt33with the chain36. The chain36is preferably made up of chain link members of sufficient lengths to suspend the suspension swing a predetermined distance above the ground. The suspension swing45may take a number of different forms and is simply designed to hold the weight of an adult user or users and provide for recreational use. An eye to eye swivel50may be attached to the suspension bolt33, which will allow a user to freely rotate the suspension swing and vehicle45attached to the chain36as shown inFIG. 5. Eyelet50or quick links43may be used to connect the chain36and the suspension member33via an eye-to-eye swivel50. This is shown inFIG. 5.

Attached to the leg members13is a limiting means in the form of a swing limiting member54as shown inFIGS. 1 and 11. The limiting member54may include interlocking quick links56which are attached to a stainless steel guide ring58at one end and chain link member60at an opposite end. The chain link member60is then attached to another quick link56′ which has an opposite end linked to a hook or eyebolt62which is secured to each of the leg members13. Alternatively, a merged chain opening (not shown) may take the place of the stainless steel guide ring58. The merged chain opening is created by each quick link56connected at an end link to each other forming a simple merged link. The suspension swing chain36passes through the guide ring58or merged chain opening (not shown) at an upper portion of the suspension apparatus11. The limiting member54acts to limit or retard the extension or arc of the chain36and the swing45outside of the leg members13by lowering the pivot point of the suspension swing45. This enables the user to swing freely with a lowered risk of injury from over swinging and coming into contact with the leg members13. In the absence of the limiting member54, the pivot point of the suspension swing45is located at or near the intersection point64of the leg members13as shown inFIG. 1. This can result in an increased arc of swing of the swing member45. As a result of including the limiting member54, the suspension chain36has a pivot point about the guide ring58. The chain links60are preferably attached approximately 5′ below the mounting plate15.

There are additional features, which are optional to the apparatus11including a bracing or sand foot41as shown inFIG. 7which may be attached to the leg member13and includes a platform42which may be placed on sand or any other type of unstable terrain, a bolt member44which attaches the leg member13to the sand foot41and a hex nut48′ for securing the bolt member44. The sand foot41is attached to each of the leg members13to provide further stabilization of the apparatus11. Also shown inFIG. 7is an eyelet band32secured around the leg member13. Another optional feature is shown inFIG. 1in which a plurality of bracing members37are formed of 1″ galvanized pipe or other suitable material and size and are secured along a midpoint40of the leg members13. The bracing pipes37provide further stabilization to the apparatus11while preventing the leg members13from shifting or spreading beyond a desired point. The bracing pipes37are preferably attached to the leg members13with cotter pins or a similar retention device.

Another feature which is shown inFIG. 1, are lower leg stabilization members30which are formed of nylon rope or any other suitable material and are connected to the eyelet band32of the leg members13to prevent spreading or separation of the leg members.FIG. 8demonstrates another optional feature, a motor73which is attached to the suspension bolt33resulting in a motorized rotation or movement of the suspension swing45. In use, the electric motor73is attached to a first fulcrum plate (not shown). A fulcrum (not shown) which is also attached to the first fulcrum plate at one end moves in a forward direction due to rotation of the first fulcrum plate by the motor73. An opposite end of the fulcrum is attached to a second fulcrum plate (not shown) which rotates in a counter direction to the first fulcrum plate. The chain36is attached to the opposite end of the fulcrum, resulting in rotation of the chain in a circular motion. Finally, other optional features include a child or pet safety netting75which is in the form of a thin mesh fabric attached along the eyelet bands32of the leg members13. The purpose of the safety netting75is to prevent a child or pet from entering the suspension area77and becoming injured due to the movement of the suspension chair45. The apparatus11may also have an optional mosquito netting79which may be placed along an entire panel81of the apparatus11or solely along a portion of the panel81. The apparatus11may also have shade panels83which may be placed along an upper portion85of the leg members13. The shade panels83may be fabricated from any type of sun repellant or conditioning fabric and the outer surface87may contain corporate logos or designs and the like. Finally, the apparatus may include optional cushion members95which may be fastened around the leg members13to prevent injury to a user if, while overswinging, the user comes into contact with the leg members13. This is shown inFIG. 1.

In use, a user inserts the eyebolts27and27′ through the sleeves22of the mounting plate15, securing them at the top19with the fender washer and hex nut28. The leg members13are inserted through the rounded openings17and the pivot members25are inserted through the eyebolts27,27′, the sleeves26on the leg members13and through the opposite eyebolt27′ and secured with a securing nut18. A user would then take the leg extension members31and add a single extension leg at a time with accompanying lock pins32to each respective leg member13. The height of the apparatus11may be further adjusted by adding additional leg extension members31as shown inFIG. 8. The frame11is not limited to leg extension members31with mandrelled ends for insertion into the leg members13. Telescoping legs (not shown) could also be substituted for the leg extension members31. The suspension swing or chair45or any other type of recreational device that the user desires to suspend from the apparatus11may be attached to the suspension bolt33. The leg members13are placed in an upright position with the secured mounting plate15. The leg members13are spread uniformly outwardly and, as a result, the mounting plate15rotates in a limited clockwise or counterclockwise fashion. The rotation forces the leg members13to move into locking engagement with one another at a common intersection point64which is below the mounting plate15. The mounting plate15, as a result of the rotation, forms a tightening member forcing the leg members13to remain in their outward splayed position. The leg members13converge at the point64below the mounting plate15and then diverge above the mounting plate15. This results in a highly stable apparatus capable of suspending and supporting a weight of 450 lbs. or more. The weight of the user and gravitational forces pull the chain36, the suspension bolt33along with the mounting plate15in a downward direction, forcing the mounting plate15to rest securely on the upwardly convergent leg members13as well as the pivot members25. The configuration of the leg members13in combination with the pivot members25and their location below the mounting plate15, results in an extremely stable tripod framework, which is held in place with the mounting plate15. The mounting plate15along with base cables or ropes30act to prevent the leg members13from shifting and results in a stable framework for the suspension swing45.

An alternate form of mounting plate51is shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. The mounting plate or apex member51has a top surface57, a bottom surface59and adjoining side edges61. There are narrow straight or angled openings or slots55at spaced intervals designed to accommodate end bores or connector plates65which are attached to attachment or cap members63. The cap members63are preferably in the form of a cup and each have an inner opening69which is sized to accommodate distal ends71of the leg members13. The connector plates65of the cap members63are inserted through the narrow openings55and are secured to the mounting plate51along a top surface57with a bolt member93and a locking nut95. The suspension bolt33, as previously described, is inserted through an opening91on the bottom surface59of the mounting plate51and secured to the top surface57as previously described. The combination of the user's weight and the force of gravity result in a downward pressure that is exerted on the distal ends71of the leg members13. This combination results in a stable framework for the suspension swing45or any other load. The leg extension members31and other optional features, as described previously, are also designed to be utilized with this form of invention.

It is therefore to be understood that while preferred forms of invention are herein set forth and described, the above and other modifications, including but not limited to the types of materials used, may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and reasonable equivalents thereof.