Abstract:
An infant swing has a base member supported by hanger members for reciprocal movement. The base member is formed with an upwardly extending mounting protrusion that nests into a mating receiver structure formed on the bottom of the seat carrier. A latch mechanism carried by the seat carrier is selectively operable to disengage a pivoted, spring-loaded latch member mounted on the base member mounting protrusion. The seat carrier is formed with a pivoted lift handle that provides a dual lift function, including the normal lift function associated with the lift handle being raised into the upright operative position. The lift handle is formed with grip openings adjacent the pivot connection of the lift handle such that the grip handles are rotated for access when the lift handle is lowered to the folded position to enable the seat carrier to be lifted by grasping the two transversely spaced grip openings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/831,833, filed on Jul. 19, 2006; and on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/856,768, filed on Nov. 3, 2006, the contents of both provisional applications being incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a lift off carrier swing and, more particularly, to a handle that provides dual lifting functions for the infant seat. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Baby swings are used extensively by infant caregivers to soothe and to comfort the children. An infant swing consists primarily of a seat that securely holds the infant in a position elevated off the floor and a frame apparatus that supports the seat and allows the seat to move in a reciprocal manner, typically in a forward and rearward direction though some infant seats provide a side to side swinging motion. Such swings provide a comfortable, safe and entertaining environment to the child. 
         [0004]    When caring for an infant, it is extremely advantageous to be able to provide an environment that minimally disturbs the infant when they are resting or sleeping. The necessity to physically move an infant out of one seat and place them in another seat is usually agitating to the infant. Additionally, having the versatility to be able to provide a swinging motion to the specific seat an infant is occupying is also valuable. Therefore, having a swing that would allow either a carrier or a car seat to be directly attached to it would provide the caregiver with the option of being able to provide a swinging motion to the infant without moving the infant from one seat to the other. One such convertible swing system can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,088, issued on Jan. 25, 2000, to William Stephens, et al, in which a seat member is detachably mounted on a base member through a locking mechanism. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a mechanical interface connection on a swing hanger system to which either a car seat or baby carrier can be attached. This mechanical interface connection allows the caregiver to directly attach either a car seat, or an infant carrier to the hanger system to transfer a sleeping child from one support system to a swing system. 
         [0006]    The lift handle in U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,476, issued to Timothy Paine on May 4, 1993, is formed in a bifurcated manner with a longitudinal link extending between the two portions of the lift handle to provide the caregiver with the option of gripping the lift handle with the hand turned to grasp the longitudinal link. Similarly, the lift handle is formed with a longitudinal grip member at the bight portion in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,088, issued on Jan. 25, 2000, to William Stephens, et al, and in PCT Publication WO 96/12429, published on May 2, 1996, to enable the caregiver to grip the lift handle with the hand turned in a more natural and less stressful orientation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,577, granted to Joseph Kelly on May 13, 2003, discloses a positionally adjustable lift handle, but does not provide a dual lifting function when the handle is lowered to a folded position. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,806, granted on May 14, 1985, to Quentin McDonald, et al discloses an infant carrier having a lift handle pivotally attached to the opposing sides of the frame of the infant seat such that the lift handle can be positioned in an upwardly extending operative position and a lowered inoperative position. The opposing sides of the infant seat is formed with handle grips that are independent of the lift handle and can be used to lift the infant seat whether the lift handle is raised or lowered. The design of a carrying handle, which can be used on an infant seat, is disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. D451,714, granted to Richard Cone II on Dec. 11, 2001, wherein the handle is formed with openings located above the pivot point of the handle for aesthetic purposes. Because the openings are located above the pivot of the carrying handle, these openings would be located below the top surface of the infant seat when the carrying handle is pivoted into a lowered, inoperative, folded position. Thus, this carrying handle would not provide a dual function for lifting the infant seat when folded, assuming that the carrying handle were placed on an infant seat. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a recline mechanism for a swing system that could be actuated with a single hand. It would further be desirable to provide a recline mechanism that would be housed within the hanger system on which a removable seat member can be detachably mounted. It would also be desirable to provide a lift handle for the seat carrier that is operable to provide a dual lift function, including the normal upright, operative position, but also including the lowered, folded position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of this invention to provide an infant swing that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0010]    It is another object of this invention to provide an infant swing that includes a base member adapted to detachably receive a seat member that can be used in multiple configurations. 
         [0011]    It is a feature of this invention that the infant swing incorporates a locking mechanism that can be actuated with one hand to affect a removal of the seat from the base member. 
         [0012]    It is another feature of this invention that the mating configurations of the seat and the base member include a spring-loaded latch member in the base member that is receivable within a latch opening in the seat to secure the seat to the base member. 
         [0013]    It is still another feature of this invention that the seat is formed with a pivoted actuator that is connected to an external pull member to force the spring-loaded latch member out of the latch opening when the seat is to be removed from the base member. 
         [0014]    It is an advantage of this invention that the seat can be latched to the base member simply by sitting the seat member on top of the base member with the latch member aligned with the latch opening. 
         [0015]    It is another advantage of this invention that the seat can be easily removed from the base member by simply pulling the release pull member to force the latch member out of engagement with the seat. 
         [0016]    It is still another object of this invention to provide a lift handle for the infant seat carrier that will provide a dual lift function. 
         [0017]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide a lift handle that will provide a lift function even when the overhead lift handle is lowered to gain access to the seat for ingress and egress of the infant. 
         [0018]    It is yet another feature of this invention that the overhead lift handle is formed with a grip opening adjacent the pivot connection of the lift handle to the frame of the seat carrier. 
         [0019]    It is still another feature of this invention that the grip openings are rotated into an accessible, operative position when the lift handle is pivotally lowered into a folded position. 
         [0020]    It is still another advantage of this invention that the seat carrier can be lifted by grasping the transversely spaced grip openings that are exposed for access when the lift handle is lowered to a folded position. 
         [0021]    It is yet another advantage of this invention that the lift handle provides a lift function when raised into the upright, overhead position, and when lowered into the folded position. 
         [0022]    It is still another advantage of this invention that the grip openings are positioned for access by the caregiver when the lift handle is lowered into the folded orientation. 
         [0023]    It is a further feature of this invention that the grip openings extend forwardly of the pivot connection of the lift handle when the lift handle is raised into the overhead position so that rotation of the lift handle to the lowered position will position the grip openings for access. 
         [0024]    It is still a further feature of this invention that the grip openings are formed to be concentric with the pivot axis of the lift handle. 
         [0025]    It is a further advantage of this invention that the position of the grip openings move from forwardly of the pivot connection of the lift handle to a position above the pivot connection of the lift handle when the lift handle is pivotally moved from the raised, overhead position to the lowered position. 
         [0026]    It is yet a further feature of this invention that the grip openings can be formed in a semi-circular shape to be accessible whether the handle is raised or lowered. 
         [0027]    It is still a further advantage of this invention that the grip openings can be configured to provide a two-hand lift function whether the handle is raised or lowered. 
         [0028]    It is a further object of this invention to provide an infant swing incorporating a lift-off seat, which is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use. 
         [0029]    It is still a further object of this invention to provide a lift handle for a infant seat carrier that provides a dual lift function and which is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use. 
         [0030]    These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing an infant swing having a base member supported by hanger members for reciprocal movement. The base member is formed with an upwardly extending mounting protrusion that nests into a mating receiver structure formed on the bottom of the seat carrier. A latch mechanism carried by the seat carrier is selectively operable to disengage a pivoted, spring-loaded latch member mounted on the base member mounting protrusion. The seat carrier is formed with a pivoted lift handle that provides a dual lift function, including the normal lift function associated with the lift handle being raised into the upright operative position. The lift handle is formed with grip openings adjacent the pivot connection of the lift handle such that the grip handles are rotated for access when the lift handle is lowered to the folded position to enable the seat carrier to be lifted by grasping the two transversely spaced grip openings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a upper front perspective view of the infant swing incorporating the principles of the instant invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the infant swing depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of the infant swing shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the seat carrier mounted on the base member with the hanger tubes and support frame of the infant swing shown in  FIG. 2  being broken away for purposes of clarity; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of the seat carrier and base member shown in  FIG. 4 , the folded position of the carrier handle being shown in phantom; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the seat carrier and base member shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a left side elevational view of the base member supported on the hanger tubes; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is bottom, side perspective view of the seat carrier to depict the mounting structure of the seat carrier for engagement with the base member; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a top, side perspective view of the base member to depict the mounting structure of the base member for engagement with the seat carrier; 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the seat carrier mounted on the base member to show the latching mechanism for detachably securing the seat carrier on the base member; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged elevational detail view of the latch linkage for securing the seat carrier on the base member; 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective detail view of the latch linkage shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 7  to depict the recline actuation mechanism; 
           [0045]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 4  to depict the slotted channels that lock the seat carrier in a selected recline position, a portion of the seat carrier being shown in phantom; 
           [0046]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines  15 - 15  of  FIG. 4  to show the mounting plate for the seat member to permit selective recline positioning thereof, the movement of the seat carrier and attached top plate being shown in phantom to either side of the centered position shown in solid lines; 
           [0047]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the base member with the top plate broken away to show the actuator handle and the slotted channels in the fixed base member, movement of the actuator handle being depicted in phantom; 
           [0048]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines  17 - 17  of  FIG. 4  to show the underside of the recline mechanism; 
           [0049]      FIG. 18  is an upper, left, front perspective view of the seat carrier having a dual lift function lift handle incorporating the principles of the instant invention, the lift handle being shown in the raised overhead operative position; 
           [0050]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 18 , but depicting the lift handle in the lowered, folded position that rotates the grip openings into an accessible orientation; 
           [0051]      FIG. 20  is a left side elevational view of the seat carrier of  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 21  is a left side elevational view of the seat carrier of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 22  is an enlarged elevational detail view of the dual lift function lift handle, the upright orientation being shown in phantom and the corresponding top edge of the seat carrier being shown in dashed lines; 
           [0054]      FIG. 23  is an upper, left, front perspective view of the seat carrier having an alternative embodiment of the dual lift function lift handle shown in the raised overhead operative position; 
           [0055]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 23 , but depicting the lift handle in the lowered, folded position; 
           [0056]      FIG. 25  is a left side elevational view of the seat carrier of  FIG. 23 ; 
           [0057]      FIG. 26  is a left side elevational view of the seat carrier of  FIG. 24 ; 
           [0058]      FIG. 27  is an enlarged elevational detail view similar to that of  FIG. 22 , but showing an alternative embodiment of the dual lift function lift handle; 
           [0059]      FIG. 28  is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the grip opening at the terminal of the lift handle; and 
           [0060]      FIG. 29  is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 28 , but showing an alternative embodiment with the formation of a grip member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0061]    Referring now to the drawings, an infant swing incorporating the principles of the instant invention can best be seen. The infant swing  10 , as can best be seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , includes as the major components thereof a support frame assembly  12 , including a pair of transversely spaced rear legs  13  and a corresponding pair of front legs  14 , and a seat assembly  15  suspended from the frame assembly  12  for a fore-and-aft swinging movement. As will be described in greater detail below, the seat assembly  15  is formed of a molded seat carrier  20  mounted on a base member  30  affixed to a pair of transversely spaced hangers  17  that are connected to corresponding hanger housings  18  positioned at the cantilevered ends of the rear legs  13 . 
         [0062]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-12 , the seat carrier  20  can be configured for use in multiple applications, such as a car seat or a stroller, in addition to being used in the infant swing assembly  10  as will be described in detail below. The seat carrier  20  is preferably formed with an exterior shell  21  supporting a seat  22  onto which an infant is supported and restrained. The exterior shell  21  may have a removable tray  23  mounted at a forward position and defining a yoke  24  that prevents an infant from sliding forwardly out of the seat  22 . The exterior shell  21  is also provided with a pivoted lift handle  25  that is movable between an upright position, shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and a folded or retracted position which is shown in phantom in  FIG. 5 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the exterior shell of the seat carrier  20  is the preferred embodiment for the seat carrier  20 , but that the seat carrier can be formed in other configurations to establish an infant carrier structure. Such alternative structures would include an exterior frame that would be capable of supporting the lift handle  25  and also support soft goods that define the infant seat. In general terms, an infant carrier is intended to identify any transportable infant carrying device. 
         [0063]    As is best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the underside of the exterior shell  21  is formed with mounting structure  26  that is engagable with the base member  30 . The mounting structure  26  includes a receptacle  27  that is formed to receive the mounting protrusion  32  of the base member  30  so that the seat carrier  20  is not horizontally movable relative to the base member  30 . The receptacle  27  includes a latch opening  28  into which the latch member  33 , biased by the spring members  33   a  to project outwardly from the receptacle  27  and pivotally mounted on the base member mounting protrusion  32 , can pass to secure the seat carrier  20  on the base member  30  against vertical movement of the seat carrier  20 . The mounting structure  26  is also preferably formed with an arcuate lower surface that allows the seat carrier  20  to be supported on a flat surface and be rocked. To negate this rocking motion, the mounting structure  26  can be provided with an extendable brace  29  that can selectively extend out of the back side of the mounting structure  26  to provide a stable, non-rocking support surface for the free-standing seat carrier  20 . 
         [0064]    The seat carrier  20  includes a latch actuation mechanism  35 , best seen in  FIGS. 10-12 , operable to cause a pivotal movement of the latch member  33  to release the seat carrier  20  for vertical movement relative to the base member  30  and allow the seat carrier  20  to be lifted off the swing  10  and be removed therefrom. The latch actuation mechanism  35  includes an external pull member  36  that is connected via a pair of transversely spaced links  37  to a spring-loaded actuator  38  pivotally mounted to the exterior shell  21 . When the latch member  33  snaps into the latch opening  28 , the latch member  33  presses against the actuator  38 . Pulling on the external pull member  36  causes a pivotal movement of the actuator  38  against the bias exerted thereon by the spring members  39  to push the latch member  33  out of the latch opening  28  and allow the seat carrier  20  to be lifted off of the base member  30 . 
         [0065]    Preferably, the infant swing  10  incorporates a recline mechanism  40 , best seen in  FIGS. 13-17 . One of ordinary skill in the art will note that the recline mechanism  40  is housed within the base member  30 , which is formed with a lower, fixed base shell  34  that is secured to the hanger members  17  and movable therewith. A top plate  31 , which includes the mounting protrusion  32 , is movably mounted on the fixed base shell  34  and slidable along an arcuate track  34   a . As can be seen best in  FIG. 16 , the top plate  31  is supported on rollers  41  that project upwardly through the upper face  63  of the base shell  34  to facilitate the sliding movement of the top plate  31  relative to the base shell  34 . The base shell  34  is formed with longitudinally extending slots  42  through which the mounting tab  44  of slide retainers  43  extend so that the top plate  31  can be secured to the slide retainers  43  which run under the upper face  63  of the fixed shell  34 . With this structure, the top plate  31  is free to move along the arcuate track  34   a  without being separable from the fixed shell  34 . The slide retainers  43  prevent the top plate  31  from separating from the fixed base shell  34  without hindering the sliding movement thereof, while the rollers  41  minimize any friction between the top plate  31  and the base shell  34 . 
         [0066]    The recline mechanism  40  further includes a push/pull actuator handle  45  that spans transversely across the base member  30  to project outboard thereof on both sides of the base member  30 . The actuator handle  45  is carried by the top plate  31  and includes a center chamber  46  having a bottom opening therein to receive a center post  47  formed in the top plate  31 . The center chamber  46  carries a pair of springs  48  positioned on opposing sides of the center post  47  to center the actuator handle  45  on the top plate  31  and bias the actuator handle  45  to a centered position. The actuator handle  45  also is formed with a pair of downwardly extending protrusions  49  that are engagable, respectively, with corresponding formed locking channels  50 . 
         [0067]    Each locking channel  50  is formed as a depression into the face  63  of the base shell  34  so that the protrusions  49  are received therein. Each locking channel  50  is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced blocks  52 , as is best seen in  FIGS. 14 and 16 , with a longitudinal passageway  53  located on the transversely opposing sides of the blocks  52 , which in turn are separated by transversely extending grooves  54  that interconnect the transversely spaced passageways  53 . When the actuator handle  45  is in the centered position, the protrusions are located within the transverse grooves  54  between selected blocks  52 . Pushing the actuator handle  45  to either side against the biasing force exerted by the corresponding centering spring  48  causes the protrusions  49  to move sideways into the corresponding longitudinal passageway  53 . The top plate  31  is then free to move along the arcuate track  34   a  relative to the base shell  34  within the parameters defined by the longitudinal passageways  53 . 
         [0068]    When the caregiver has selected the desired reclined position, the actuator handle  45  is allowed to return to the centered position which will then position the protrusions  49  within the transverse grooves  54  between the blocks  52 . The blocks  52  serve to prevent longitudinal movement of the protrusions  49  and, thus, movement of the top plate  31  relative to the base shell  34 . Preferably, several blocks  52  are utilized in the locking channels  50  so that at least five recline positions are defined by the transverse grooves  54 . One skilled in the art will recognize that other numbers of transverse grooves  54 , and the corresponding recline positions, can be defined by a selected number of blocks  52  within the depressed locking channel  50 . 
         [0069]    With reference to  FIGS. 18-22 , the lift handle  60  can be formed in an embodiment that incorporates a dual lift function capability. The lift handle  60  can include a widened base portion  61  that includes the pivot connection  62  with the seat carrier  20  at each respective end of the lift handle  60  and a grip opening  65  formed forwardly of the corresponding pivot connection  62 . When the lift handle  60  is positioned in the raised overhead configuration, as is depicted in  FIGS. 18 and 20  and in phantom in  FIG. 22 , the grip openings  65  are located below the top edge  63  of the seat carrier  20 , thus limiting the effectiveness of the grip openings  65  to provide a two-hand lift function. One skilled in the art will recognize that the grip openings  65 , shown in cross-section in  FIG. 28 , can be formed with a wall  66  that converts the grip opening  65  into a grip member  68 , as is depicted in  FIG. 29 . While the wall  66  prevents the caregiver&#39;s fingers from passing through the grip member  68 , as they would for a grip opening  65 , the formed grip member  68  provides adequate engagement structure, particularly when positioned above the top edge  63 , as is described below. The further reference to grip openings  65  below is intended to include reference to the grip members  68 . 
         [0070]    However, when the lift handle  60  is lowered to the folded position, as can be seen in  FIGS. 19 ,  21  and  22 , the pivotal movement of the lift handle  60  re-orients the grip openings  65  from forwardly of the pivot axis  62  to a position vertically above the pivot axis  62 . In this location, the caregiver can insert fingers through the grip openings  65 , or grasp the grip members  68 , and, using two hands, lift the seat carrier from one location to another. Since the grip opening  65  is located vertically above the pivot  62  of the handle  60 , the seat carrier  20  can be lifted by the grip openings  65  without pivoting the handle  60 . Thus, the lift handle  60  provides a lift function even when lowered into the normally inoperative folded position. 
         [0071]    In  FIGS. 23-27 , an alternative embodiment of the grip openings  65  is depicted. While in the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 22  is operable only when the handle  60  is lowered to the folded position, the grip openings  65  in this alternative embodiment are formed in a semi-circular configuration to wrap approximately 180 degrees around the pivot  62 . With such a configuration of the grip openings  65 , a first portion of the grip openings  65  will be located below the top edge  63 , while a second portion is located above the top edge when the handle is in the upright position. Thus, the grip openings  65  are operable to provide a two-hand lift function even when the handle  60  is upright. When the handle  60  is pivoted to the lowered position, the first portion of the grip openings  65  are rotated above the top edge  63  to provide the two-hand lift function when the handle  60  is lowered, as well as when the handle  60  is raised. 
         [0072]    In operation, the seat carrier  20  can be transferred from one application, such as a car seat, with the infant asleep therein and placed onto the base member  30  without waking the infant due to moving the infant from one seat to another. The seat carrier  20  automatically snaps into place by the spring-loaded latch member  33  deflecting due to engagement with the mounting structure  26  and locking into the latch opening  28  in the receptacle  27 . By depressing the recline actuation handle  45  from either side of the seat carrier  20 , the seat carrier  20  can be reclined to a desired orientation, whereupon the recline actuation handle  45  is released to allow the centering springs  48  to move the protrusions  49  into an interfering position with respect to the blocks  52  in the locking channels  50 , the protrusions  49  passing into transverse grooves  54  between corresponding blocks  52 . 
         [0073]    The dual lift function lift handle  60  can provide a one-hand lift function when the lift handle  60  is raised into the upright, overhead position, and a two-hand lift function when the lift handle is lowered into the folded position by virtue of the pivotal movement of the lift handle re-orienting the grip openings  65  into an accessible position above the top edge of the seat carrier  20 . Accordingly, the dual lift function lift handle  60  does not have to be raised in order to allow the seat carrier to be moved from one location to another. 
         [0074]    It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.