Abstract:
A readily assembled and removable shade for use with swings in which the user of the swing is afforded substantial protection from the sun, UV radiation, wind and rain is provided. The shade is configured to be used with many different types of swings.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/629,630, filed Nov. 18, 2004, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The hazards associated with sun exposure are well documented. Still, outdoor play and childhood are synonymous. Youngsters, more than adults, risk the detrimental effects of the sun&#39;s ultraviolet (“UV”) rays. Children have more skin relative to their body mass. The outer layer of their skin is thinner and more sensitive than an adult&#39;s, making painful sunburns more damaging to a child. Children also have sensitive eyes, and the harmful effects of UV radiation can cause reddened and swollen eyeballs, and increased risk of cataracts in later years.  
         [0003]     The dangers of sun exposure increase for children with very fair skin and hair, or with moles on their skin (or whose parents have a tendency to develop moles), or with a family history of skin cancer, including melanoma. Excessive sun exposure is the main cause of skin cancer. Approximately ninety percent of all skin cancers occur on sun-exposed areas of the body. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that frequent sun exposure and sunburn in childhood set the stage for high rates of melanoma later in life.  
         [0004]     In certain areas of the world susceptible especially to ozone depletion, over-exposure to the sun is an everyday concern. Increased life expectancy, early exposure and years of exposure to UV radiation increase the chances that children today will eventually develop skin cancer. As the potential to develop skin cancer increases, so does the potential for adult pain and impaired health.  
         [0005]     Many youngsters spend a significant amount of time outdoors. One activity children have enjoyed for centuries is swinging on a swing. Swinging is fun alone or with friends. Moreover, swings have been developed so that youngsters of all ages can enjoy playing on a swing. Parents often learn that the harmonic and constant motion of a swing is soothing for many infants, helping them to settle down or get ready for a nap or sleep.  
         [0006]     Swinging for an extended period of time in the sun can present a risk to an infant or young child. Blocking sun from a child swinging on a swing however presents a number of difficulties. First, an infant may swing on a variety of different swings. There may be a swing at the child&#39;s home. The child may frequent one or more local parks having one or more swing sets. It is also common for parents today to schedule play in which two or more children are at one of the children&#39;s homes. A child may therefore play on different swings at different homes. A parent worried about his or her child playing for long periods in the sun may therefore find difficulty in ensuring that each of the different swings has protection from the sun.  
         [0007]     Another issue associated with shielding the sun from a child swinging on a swing is that the child&#39;s position with respect to the sun changes virtually constantly. Shading the child at multiple angles during play on a swing can be problematic. Also, radiation reflected off surfaces can be problematic. Furthermore, rain and wind can also provide discomfort from a multitude of angles.  
         [0008]     A need therefore exists for an improved swing shade.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     The present invention provides an improved shade for a swing. The shade offers protection from sun, UV radiation, wind and rain for users of a swing or like device. The shade is flexible, lightweight and readily attached and detached from a swing. The shade is therefore conveniently attached and removed from a swing located at the child&#39;s home, at a park and a friend&#39;s home, etc. The shade provides local sun, rain and wind protection and covers multiple side portions of the swing, providing protection from the sun and conditions at multiple angles as the swing changes direction during its motion.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, the shade includes a cover. The cover in an embodiment is light-weight and water-resistant. The cover can be made of one or more different materials, such as a woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl and any combination thereof.  
         [0011]     The shade also includes one or more fasteners that enable the cover to be fastened to the swing. The fasteners may be of any one or more different types of fasteners, such as an interference (VELCRO®), hook and loop, ties, buttons, buckles, snaps, alligator or bulldog clips and any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the fasteners or fastening devices attach the cover in a removable manner to the swing supports.  
         [0012]     In various embodiments, the shade fits swings having two or four supporting members holding the swing to a frame or support. It should be appreciated from the teachings of the present invention however that the shade is adaptable to fit many different types of swings, including unorthodox swings, such as a tire hanging from a tree or other support. The swing supporting members are typically made of ropes or chains. The swing shade in an embodiment attaches to and is supported by the rope or chain supporting members.  
         [0013]     In the case of four supporting members, the covering of the shade attaches to all four supporting members in one embodiment. The shade covers the child from above, the sides, the back and at least a portion of front. The cover of the shade includes flaps that hang from the top portion of the cover in one embodiment.  
         [0014]     When the swing includes two supporting members, the cover of the shade attaches to the two members. Here, the top portion of the cover includes a poly-carbonate, rigid or semi-rigid material. Such material provides a rigid or semi-rigid top portion from which side portion, rear and/or front panels depend, providing full or near full protection from the sun and other ambient conditions on the sides and rear of the child.  
         [0015]     The fasteners are of a quick-connect and quick-disconnect nature so that a parent can readily assemble and disassemble the shade onto and from the swing. In an embodiment fasteners are located at the top portion of the cover of the shade. Those fasteners attach the shade to the swing supporting members, e.g., ropes or chains, at locations above the occupant. Fasteners are also provided at the bottom sections of the side portions and/or back portion so that each side portion and/or back portion can be fastened in place and prevented from flapping in the wind.  
         [0016]     The cover of the shade can be opaque, translucent and perhaps partially transparent. In a preferred embodiment, the cover blocks the child from the sun. The cover may however have a see through portion(s) so that the parent can view the child while inside the cover. The cover can also be tinted or have a coating similar to that used with sunglasses, which blocks harmful UV rays but allows the child to see out and the parent to see into the shade. The cover, e.g., the back of the cover, may also be provided with smaller openings, cracks or vents to enable air to flow through the cover while the swing is in motion. Alternatively, the material is woven or otherwise constructed to be partly open so that air may flow through the cover.  
         [0017]     The outside and/or inside of the shade includes indicia in one embodiment, which can be amusing and interesting for children and infants. The indicia in an embodiment is provided on multiple faces of the cover of the shade. The indicia on one face can match indicia on another face to produce a three-dimensional shape of an object, such as an animal, cartoon character, book character and the like.  
         [0018]     To the above-described ends, in one embodiment a removable shade for a swing is provided. The swing includes a seat that holds an occupant and first and second members to which the seat is attached for support. The shade includes a top portion and a first side portion depending from the top portion to provide shade for the occupant and a second side portion depending from the top portion to provide shade for the occupant. The shade includes a first fastener configured and arranged to connect to the first member of the swing. The first fastener is connected to the top portion or the first side portion. A second fastener is provided and is configured and arranged to connect to the second member of the swing. The second fastener is connected to the top portion or the second side portion.  
         [0019]     In an embodiment, the removable shade includes a third member supporting the seat, and a third fastener is configured and arranged to connect removable the shade to the third member. The third fastener can be connected to the top portion or the first side portion.  
         [0020]     In an embodiment, a fourth member supports the seat and a fourth fastener is provided, which connects the removable shade to the fourth member. The fourth member can be connected to the top portion or the second side portion.  
         [0021]     In an embodiment, the first fastener is configured and arranged to connect to the first member above the occupant. The removable shade also includes a third fastener configured and arranged to connect the first side portion to the first member at a position below the first fastener.  
         [0022]     In an embodiment, the second fastener is configured and arranged to connect to the second member above the occupant. The removable shade further includes a third fastener configured and arranged to connect the second side portion to the second member at a position below the second fastener.  
         [0023]     In an embodiment, the removable shade includes a back portion depending from at least one of the top portion and each side portion. The removable shade can include a third fastener configured and arranged to connect a lower section of the back portion to one of the first and second members.  
         [0024]     In an embodiment, the removable shade includes a front depending from at least one of the top portion and each side portion.  
         [0025]     In an embodiment, the removable shade includes a top portion that is at least semi-rigid.  
         [0026]     In an embodiment, the removable shade top portion includes an insert, wherein the insert is at least semi-rigid.  
         [0027]     In an embodiment, the shade includes a first and second fastener of a type selected from a group including interference, hook and loop, tie, button, buckle, snap, alligator clip, bulldog clip and any combination thereof.  
         [0028]     In an embodiment, at least one of the top portion and each side portion is made of a material selected from a group including a woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl and any combination thereof.  
         [0029]     In an embodiment, at least two panels of the top, the first side portion and the second side portion include indicia that mate when the shade is installed on the swing.  
         [0030]     In another embodiment, a removable shade for a swing having a seat that holds an occupant with first and second members to which the seat is attached for support is provided. The shade includes a top portion and a back portion depending from the top. The back portion provides protection to the back portion of an occupant. A first fastener is configured and arranged to connect to the first member. The first fastener is connected to the top portion or the back portion. A second fastener is configured and arranged to connect to the second member. The second fastener is connected to the top portion or the back portion.  
         [0031]     In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second fasteners is configured and arranged to connect to the first and second member, respectively, above the occupant. The removable shade includes at least one additional fastener configured and arranged to connect the back portion to the first or second member at a position below the at least one first and second fastener.  
         [0032]     In an embodiment, the top portion and back portion have indicia that mate when the shade is installed on the swing.  
         [0033]     In yet another embodiment, an ambient condition protection method for a child is provided. The method includes (1) structuring a cover to fold over the child in a swing to provide ambient condition protection to the child in multiple directions; and (2) securing fasteners to the cover to enable the cover to be readily attached and detached from the swing.  
         [0034]     In an embodiment, the method includes the step of structuring the cover to fold over a particular type of swing.  
         [0035]     It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a removable shade for a swing.  
         [0036]     It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a removable swing shade that is easily assembled and disassembled from the swing.  
         [0037]     It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a removable swing shade that may be used on a variety of different swings of approximately the same type.  
         [0038]     It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a removable swing shade that is adaptable to fit different types of swings.  
         [0039]     Moreover, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide a removable shade that protects a child or infant from multiple ambient conditions, such as sunlight, rain and wind.  
         [0040]     Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures.  
         [0041]     Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0042]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toddler swing with four supporting members.  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the swing shade of the present invention installed on the swing of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the swing shade of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 4  shows the swing shade of  FIGS. 2 and 3  in the flat.  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a toddler swing with two supporting members.  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the swing shade of the present invention installed on the swing of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the swing shade of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a different swing with two supporting members.  
         [0050]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the swing shade of the present invention installed on the swing of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0051]      FIGS. 10A  to  10 B show a view of one embodiment of the swing shade of  FIGS. 6 and 9  in the flat and a rigid or semi-rigid insert, respectively.  
         [0052]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shade of the present invention that fits a two person swing with four supporting members.  
         [0053]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shade of the present invention that fits a tire swing. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0054]     Referring now to the drawings, where several embodiments of the claimed invention are illustrated in detail. In particular, a toddler swing  10  with four supporting members is shown in  FIG. 1 . Generally, toddler swing  10  of this type has a seat  12  supported from above by four supporting members  22 , such as ropes, chains (e.g., plastic coated) or the like. Members  22  support seat  12  and a child or toddler sitting in seat  12 . Swing seat  12  is made of plastic, metal, wood, rubber, polymer and the like. Seat  12  has a back portion  14 , side portions  16 , a front  18  and a table or desk like top portion  20 . The seat back portion  14  is angled and shaped at angle α. Seat  12 , angle α and seat back portion  14  provide support and security for a toddler while occupying and swinging in swing  10 .  
         [0055]     Referring now to FIGS.  2  to  4 , one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by swing shade  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, swing shade  30  fits over the four support members  22  of swing  10  of  FIG. 1 . Shade  30  it should be appreciated provides protection from the sun, UV radiation, wind and rain, etc. (referred to herein for convenience and not for limitation as “elements” or “ambient conditions”).  
         [0056]     Swing shade  30  includes a cover  28  and a plurality of fasteners. Cover  28  in an embodiment is made of a woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl and any combination thereof. Cover  28  may be translucent or opaque and may include translucent, see-through, mesh, holes, cracks or the like in the panels as windows and/or air holes  80 . It should be understood that these windows and/or air holes can have any suitable shape and number, and can be used with any of the embodiments described herein. Any part of cover  28  may include a UV blocking film or coating that blocks harmful energy from the sun and enables the parent or caretaker to view the child, toddler or infant located on swing  10  and inside shade  30 .  
         [0057]     Cover  28  in the illustrated embodiment includes a top panel or top portion  32 , side panels or side portions  34 , a front panel or front portion  36  and a back panel or back portion  38 .  FIG. 4  shows that top portion  32 , side portions  34 , front portion  36  and back portion  38  of cover  28  are made in one embodiment from a single piece of material and are folded about members  22  of swing  10 . Upper fasteners  40  are provided to removably fix shade  30  to swing  10 . Shade  30  is therefore readily attached to (and detached from) and supported by supporting members  22  (ropes, chains, etc) of swing  10 .  
         [0058]     Upper fasteners  40  are sewn, adhered or otherwise connected to a top portion of cover  28 , for example to top portion  32 , side portions  34 , front portion  36 , back portion  38  or any combination thereof. Upper fasteners  40  can also be connected directly at the fold lines between the top portion  32 , side portions  34 , front portion  36 , back portion  38 . In an embodiment, upper fasteners  40  are located at or near the corners of top portion  32  to pull top portion  32  substantially taught above the occupant of swing  10 . The spatial relationship of fasteners  40  to top portion  32  also enables cover  28  of shade  30  to be supported above seat  12  by the four supporting members  22 .  
         [0059]     Fasteners  40  as well as any fasteners described herein may include interference fit (e.g., Velcro®), hook and loop, ties, buttons, buckles, snaps, alligator or bulldog clips, etc., and any combination thereof. In an embodiment, cover  28  is light enough and fasteners  40  are robust enough that any single initially connected fastener  40  can support the weight of the cover  28 , so that the user can conveniently connect each of the remaining fasteners using two hands.  
         [0060]     Side portions  34 , front  36  and back portion  38  fold downwardly from top portion  32  along edges as seen in  FIG. 4 . Side portions  34  may be formed integrally with top portion  32  as shown in  FIG. 4  or may be sewn to, adhered to or otherwise connected to top portion  32 . In either case, side portions  34  when assembled to swing  10  depend or extend from edges  66  ( FIG. 4 ) downwardly from top portion  32 . Each side portion  34  includes edges  72  and  74  ( FIG. 4 ), which extend from the top portion  32  to at least a portion of the side portions  16  of the swing  10  when cover  28  is installed to swing  10 . In an embodiment, side portions  34  of shade  30  are tailored to fit the shapes of toddler swings via the angled or contoured edges  54  along the rear and bottom section of the side portions  34 . Edges  54  are angled or contoured as necessary to fit a particular swing  10 .  
         [0061]     Front portion  36  depends or extends downwardly from top portion  32  along edge  62  ( FIG. 4 ). Front portion  36  in the illustrated embodiment does not extend downwardly as far as side portions  34  or back portion  38 , allowing the occupant of swing  10  to see out of shade  30  and be visible from the front of shade  30 . Opposing side edges  70  of front portion  36  can be attached to front edges  72  of side portion  34 , e.g., via a zipper or other fastener listed above, or be attached directly to supporting members  22  of swing  10 .  
         [0062]     Back portion  38  as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , depends or extends downwardly from top portion  32  via edge  64 . Back portion  38  includes edges  76  extending from top portion  32  down at least a portion of the swing seat back portion  14  when shade  10  is installed to swing  10 . Edges  76  of back portion  38  may be attached to edges  74  of the side portions  34 , e.g., via a zipper or other fastener listed above. Alternatively, edges  76  of back portion  38  are attached directly to members  22 .  
         [0063]     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the bottom portions of back portion  38  and side portions  34  come together to form a slit or opening  50  so that member  22  can pass through cover  28 . Back portion  38  and side portions  34  at opening  50  tend to overlap each other to allow cover  28  to be easily installed and removed from swing  10  and still provide good protection from the elements. Back portion  38  and/or side portions  34  has lower fasteners  44  located near slit  50 . Lower fasteners  44  attach and secure the back portion  38  and/or side portions  34  to the other of the side portions  34  or back portion  38  and around ropes  22 . Back portion  38  and side portions  34  are therefore precluded from flying or flapping up due to the wind or other disturbances.  
         [0064]     Side portions  34  likewise include lower front fasteners  42  that batten or tie the lower front edges of side portions  34  to members  22  of swing  10 . Although not illustrated, front portion  36  may also include lower fasteners to secure the lower edge of same to members  22 .  
         [0065]      FIG. 4  shows swing shade  30  in a flat, unassembled state. As discussed above, swing shade  30  can be fabricated from one or more individual panels of material. A central panel  60  includes the front portion  36 , top portion  32  and back portion  38  and can be one contiguous panel either with side portions  34  or made as one contiguous panel with the rest of cover  28  being made of several individual panels. In one embodiment, front portion  36  is folded down along line  62 . Side portions  34  are folded down along lines  66 . Edges  70  and  72  are attached. Back portion  38  is folded down along line  64  and attached along an upper portion of edges  76  to edges  74  of side portions  34 .  
         [0066]     The present invention takes advantage of the three-dimensional configuration of the shade described herein by providing a series of panels  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  having decorative, ornamental or fanciful themes and any combination thereof. The panels may also include bright colors, patterns, lines, shapes and any combination thereof. The various panels can include one or a series of cartoon characters, childhood book and movie characters, animals, action figures, comic book characters, landscapes, pictures and any combination thereof. In the illustration, a turtle  90  is depicted on shade  30 . The overall image of turtle  90  is shown on multiple panels. Front  36  for example shows head  91  of turtle  90 . Head  91  is connected to a body  97  located on front  36  and top portion  32 . Front feet  92  extend from body  97  of turtle  90 . Front feet  92  extend from front  36  to side portions  34 . Body  97  extends from front  36  to top portion  32 . Turtle  90  has rear feet  96  extending from body  97  on top portion  32  to side portions  34 . Feet  96  continue on side portions  34  as shown. Turtle  90  has tail  98  that extends along top portion  32  and down on back portion  38 . The indicia is provided on the panels so that the turtle or image is formed by matching indicia on the various panels. The overall effect is a three-dimensional like picture or drawing.  
         [0067]     In an additional embodiment, panels may include depictions contained wholly on each panel as shown on side  34  by picture  99 . It should be understood that these depictions can be used in any combination thereof, and can be used with the other embodiments described below. Any of the disclosed indicia may be provided on any of the shades disclosed herein.  
         [0068]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a different typical toddler swing  110  is shown with two supporting members  122 , e.g., ropes or chains. Swing  110  of this type includes a seat  112  supported from above by members  122 . Swing seat  112  is made of plastic, metal, wood, rubber and the like. Seat  112  in the illustrated embodiment is bowl shaped with an upper, circular portion  124  and a lower, bowl shaped portion  126 . Seat  112  includes knock-outs or cut-outs  120  for the toddler&#39;s feet. A toddler may sit in swing  110  and face either front or back.  
         [0069]     Swing seat  112  connects to support members  122  via links  114 . Links  114  may be S-links, horseshoe, hook, bar, loop and other like fastening devices. Links  114  connect moveably to brackets  116 . Brackets  116  as illustrated are generally triangular in shape, but are alternatively circular, rectangular, S-bracket, horseshoe, hook, bar, loop or other shaped devices. Bracket  116  is connected to the swing seat  112  by fastener  118 .  
         [0070]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6, 7 ,  10 A and  10 B, another embodiment of the swing shade of the present invention is illustrated by shade  130 . Swing shade  130  may be employed when a swing such as swing  10  has only two supporting members  122  holding the swing. Swing shade  130  includes a cover  128 . Cover  128  is made of woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl or like material. Cover  128  may be translucent or opaque and may include translucent, see-through, mesh, holes, cracks or the like in the panels as windows and/or air holes in the side portions, top portion, back portion, etc.  
         [0071]     Cover  128  includes a top portion  132 . In the illustrated embodiment, top portion  132  includes a semi-rigid or rigid, e.g., poly-carbonate like, material  133  as seen in  FIG. 10B . Such semi-rigid or rigid material is covered on the top portion and bottom by woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl or like material. Material  133  is sewn, adhered or simply placed into top portion  132  via one or more edges  162 ,  164  or  166 . The open edge(s) may then be heat sealed or bonded closed.  
         [0072]     Rigid or semi-rigid top portion  132  enables cover  128  to remain generally flat above the swing occupant. Top portion  132  provides the shape and support for the remainder of cover  128 . As seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , upper fasteners  140  are attached to top portion  132 . Alternatively, fasteners  140  attach to side portions  134  or back portion  138 . Fasteners  140  attach cover  128  of shade  130  to supporting members  122 . In one embodiment, fasteners  40  are located relatively centrally (front to back) on cover  128 , so that cover  128  hangs straight down. Fasteners  140  may be any of the types listed above for fasteners  40 , such as Velcro®, hook and loop, ties, buttons, snaps, and other similar types of fastening devices.  
         [0073]     Edges  174  of side portions  134  are attached to mating edges  166  of the top portion  132 . Each side portion  134  also has a front edge  172  and a folding edge  176 . Side portions  134  define a slit  142 , which enables cover  128  of shade  130  to fit around the swing&#39;s supporting brackets  116 . When shade  130  is secured on swing  110 , slits  142  extend around brackets  116  as seen in  FIG. 6 . Side portions  134  below slit  142  reside outside seat  112 . Above slit  142 , side portions  134  reside inside links  114 , brackets  116  and members  122 . The slits  142  extend backwards from front edges  172  of side portions  134  until terminating at point  146 . Fastening devices  144  close slit  142  around supporting bracket  116 . Fastening devices  144  may include any of the types listed herein, such as Velcro®, hook and loop, ties, buttons, snaps, alligator or bulldog clips and other similar types of fastening devices.  
         [0074]     Back portion  138  seen in  FIG. 7  is attached to folding edge  164  of top portion  132 . As before, side portions  134 , back portion  138  and front  136  may be integral to each other or attached to top portion  132  and to one another. Back portion  138  connects to side portions  134  via folding edges  176  ( FIG. 10A ) that extend from top portion  132  to at least a portion of seat  112  of swing  110 . Side portions  134  and back portion  138  cover the upper portion  124  of seat  112  when shade  130  is installed. Edges  176  and back portion  138  are attached to or integral with side portions  134 , covering side portions and rear of swing  110 .  
         [0075]     Front  136  depends or extends from top portion  132 . Front portion  136  folds from top portion  132  along line  162  ( FIG. 10A ). Front portion  136  has an edge  170  that extends down from top portion  132  a portion of the way, allowing the swing occupant to see and be visible when sitting in seat  112 . Edge  170  may extend as far down as desired to maximize protection and visibility. As before, front  136  may be integral with or connected to top portion  132 . Edges  168  of front portion  136  may also be attached removably to front edges  172  of side portions  134 . Also, edges  174  of side portions  134  may be attached removably to edges  166  of top portion  132 .  
         [0076]     Stiff lining  133  of top portion  132  may have a central stiffening rod or member (not illustrated), which provides further stiffness at a central portion of top portion  132  leading to fasteners  140 . Although not illustrated, additional lower fasteners may be provided that connect cover  128  to swing  110 . The lower fasteners prevent side portions  134  and back portion  138  from flying up from the wind, etc. Alternatively, fasteners  144  are sufficient for this purpose.  
         [0077]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment of a two chain swing  111  is illustrated. A person may sit in swing  111  and face either front or back. The swing seat  121  is supported by members  122 . Seat  121  may be made of rubber, plastic, metal, linen, polymer or the like. Members  122  connect to links  114 . Links  114  may be of the types described above, such as, S-brackets, horseshoe, hook, bar, loop and other like fastening devices. Links  114  are connected to support brackets  116 . Support brackets  116  may be triangular in shape, circular, rectangular, S-bracket, horseshoe, hook, bar, loop and other like fastening devices.  
         [0078]      FIG. 9  depicts swing  111  with shade  130  described above. Shade  130  is the same shade described above in connection with  FIGS. 6, 7 ,  10 A and  10 B including all alternatives. Shade  130  fits onto swing  111  in a similar manner to swing  110 . Top portion  132  includes stiff insert  133 , which sets the shape of the installed shade  130 . Swing  111  does not round out the lower portion of cover  128  of shade  130  as does swing  110 . However, stiff insert  133  sets the upper and lower shape of shade  130  in  FIG. 9 . As before, slit  142  enables cover  128  to fit around supporting members  122  of swing  111 . Lower fasteners  144  enable slit to be closed around members  122  and to hold the bottom of cover  128  in place. Cover  128  of shade  130  is held in place at the top portion via upper fasteners  140  as described in connection with  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0079]      FIG. 10A  shows a cover  128  in a flat, unassembled state. Cover  128  can be fabricated from one or more individual panels of material. Central portion  160 , including side portions  134  and back portion  138  can be one contiguous panel with the top portion  132  and front portion  136 . Alternatively, any side portions  134 , back portion  138  and front portion  136  may be attached to top portion  132 . To assemble shade  130 , stiff lining  133  made of a polycarbonate, foam, cardboard, metal, plastic, polymer, graphite or like material is covered with a woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl or like material to form top portion  132 . Front portion  136  is either a separate panel from top portion  132  or is contiguous with top portion  132 . Front portion  136  is folded down along line  162 . Fasteners  140  are attached side edges  166  near the mid-section of top portion  132 . Side portions  134  are folded from back portion  138  along lines  176 . Edges  174  of side portions  134  attach to the edges  166  of top portion  132  in one embodiment. Edges  168  of front portion  136  may also attach to edges  172  of side portions  134 .  
         [0080]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a two-person toddler swing  310  and one embodiment of a shade  330  of the present invention are shown. Swing  310  includes seat  312 . Seat  312  may be made of rubber, plastic, metal, wood, polymer or the like. Seat  312  includes a bench  318  in which the swing occupants sit. Seat  312  includes side portions  314  defining cut-outs  316  to rest one&#39;s feet. Cut-outs  320  are also provided on the upper portion of side portions  314  for the rider&#39;s hands. Seat  312  is supported from above by supporting members or ropes  340 , which attach to and support seat  312  at side portions  314 .  
         [0081]     Cover  328  of shade  330  is made of woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl or like material described herein. Cover  328  of shade  330  made be translucent or opaque and may include translucent, see-through, mesh or the like in the panels as windows as described herein. Shade  330  is readily attachable to and supported by members  322 . Fasteners  340  connected to top portion  332  at or near its corners affix to members  322  and support the cover  328 . Fasteners  340  may be of various types, such as Velcro®, hook and loop, ties, buttons, buckles, snaps, alligator or bulldog clips and other similar types of fastening devices described herein. Top portion  332  is pulled generally flat.  
         [0082]     A pair of side portions  334  extend or depend from top portion  332  along edges  366 . Edges  372  of side portions  334  cover at least most of the distance to bench  318 , blocking a majority of the sun, rain, and wind from the side portions. Lower fasteners (not illustrated) may be provided on each side portion  334  to hold side portions  334  in place.  
         [0083]     Shade  330  also includes two front portions  336 . Front portions  336  enable both toddlers occupying the swing to be able to look out and be seen. Front portions  336  are formed integrally with or attach to top portion  332 . Opposing edges  370  of front portions  336  attach to side edges  372  of side portions  334  in one embodiment. Front portions  336  may also have lower fasteners.  
         [0084]     Shade  330  is made of one piece or multiple pieces as described above. Shade  330  is readily attached and removed from swing  310 . Moreover, each of the alternatives described above for the other embodiments is applicable to shade  330 .  
         [0085]     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , one embodiment of a swing shade  430  covering a tire swing  410  is illustrated. Swing  410  includes a single supporting member or chain  422 . Tire and disc swings generally have one chain supporting the swinging apparatus, wherein the chain may connect to the center of the tire or disc, or as depicted, chain  422  may connect to three sub-chains  424 . Sub-chains  424  connect to the disc or tire  425  at fasteners  426  along the upper edge of the tire or disc  425 .  
         [0086]     Cover  428  of shade  430  is made of woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl or like material as described above. The covering apparatus may be translucent or opaque and may include translucent, see-through, mesh or the like in the panels as windows as described herein. A stiff top portion  432  enables the rest or cover  428  to extend downward. Top portion  432  is generally flat and connected to supporting member  422  via fasteners  440 . In the illustrated embodiment, top portion  432  includes a stiff or poly-carbonate like material (not shown), covered by woven material, nylon, fabric, linen, woven linen, canvas, cotton, plastic, rubber, polymer, polyvinyl or like material.  
         [0087]     Top portion panel  432  includes a slit  452 , enabling cover  428  to fit around member  422 . Slit  452  includes fasteners  454  that close and secure slit  452  around the member  422 . Top portion  432  also includes fasteners  440  attached at or near the center of top portion  432 . Fasteners  440  allow cover  428  to be affixed and supported above the occupant via member  422 . Fasteners  440  and  454  may include such types as Velcro®, hook and loop, ties, buttons, snaps, alligator or bulldog clips and other similar types of fastening devices described herein.  
         [0088]     Shade  430  may include a single side portion  434  or multiple side portions  434 . As depicted in  FIG. 12 , shade  430  includes two side portions  434  divided at interface  435 . Side portions  434  depend or extend from integrally or are attached to edge  462  of top portion  432 . Each side portion  434  has edges  472  that extend from top portion  432  at least substantially to tire  425 . Side portions  434  cover the upper portion of tire  425  when shade  430  is installed. Side portion panel(s)  434  define an opening as seen at opening  450 . Opening  450  allows one to enter or leave the swing  410  and shade  430 , as well as for a swing occupant to look out or be seen. Upper and lower portions of opening  450  may include fasteners  456  that enable one to increase or decrease the size of the opening  450 .  
         [0089]     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.