Abstract:
An infant swing has a base member supported by hanger members for reciprocal movement. A seat that can be utilized in other applications is detachably mounted on and latched to the base member, which is formed with a swivel mechanism that allows the seat to be selectively positioned in a back-and-forth swing configuration or a sideways swing configuration. The swivel mechanism utilizes a triangular guide that engages an elliptical retainer to cause a lateral shift in the center of gravity of the seat when re-positioned. The base member also incorporates a recline mechanism that can be actuated with one hand. The recline actuation mechanism uses a self-centering push bar that is formed with protrusions engaged with slotted channels to lock the seat in a selected recline position. The push bar is operable to either transverse direction to release the protrusions from the slotted channels for selecting the new recline position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/831,833, filed on Jul. 19, 2006; on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/856,768, filed on Nov. 3, 2006; and on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/875,248, filed on Dec. 15, 2006; the contents of all three of these provisional patent applications being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a frame for an infant swing and, more particularly, to a hanger mount structure that provides convenient utilization while ensuring that the electric motor is operable to transmit torque to the hanger members to affect reciprocal movement thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     The majority of swing seats commercially available achieve back recline adjustment using a support wire retained by molded slots on the back of the seat and engagable with slotted stops. The support wire is most often pivotally connected to the hanger tubes. The seat in such systems is designed such that recline movement pivots around a hinged connection with the seat bottom. This form of recline mechanism has proven to be both cost effective and structurally sound; however, such recline mechanism requires the caregiver to use two hands while standing behind the swing when adjusting the seat back angle. One hand is needed to support the seat back while the other hand repositions the wire. Although effective, this type of recline mechanism is lacking in accommodating ergonomic and intuitive interaction. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,478, granted on May 5, 1998, to Michael Lumley, et al discloses a recline mechanism for a child safety seat in which the latch mechanism accessible from the front of the child safety seat operates a latch element that is engagable with a pair of laterally spaced racks having openings in the top surface thereof to receive the engaged latch elements. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,331, issued to Ichiro Onishi, et al on Feb. 27, 1996, a child safety seat can be reclined relative to a base member through arcuate tracks that are latched together by a spring-loaded latch pin. The automotive infant restraint seat in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,964, granted to Mark Sedlack, et al on Aug. 9, 1994, incorporates a post that is selectively engagable with catches to establish the reclined position of the seat member relative to a base member supporting the seat. 
     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. 
     Many caregivers prefer the option of both a front to back and sideways swing motion because it allows them to customize the ride to their child&#39;s preference. Providing a swivel motion for a swing seat allows the caregiver to position the seat in longitudinal or transverse orientations to allow the swing to provide optional swing directions. One such swing is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,548, granted to Daniel Pinch, et al on Oct. 8, 1996, wherein the swivel component is located underneath the seat. The swivel component consists of a platform around which the seat can rotate about a vertical pivot axis. The placement of the swivel mechanism under the swing seat allows clearance above the child&#39;s head for placing the child in and out of the seat. In a pendulum form of a child&#39;s swing, the seat and base is suspended from a mechanism supported above the child&#39;s seat. This mechanism can incorporate a swivel connection so that the seat can be positioned for a front to back swing or re-oriented to provide a sideways swinging motion. Such a swing can provide the two desirable different swinging motions but this mechanism located above the child&#39;s seat may obstruct accessibility to the child in the swing seat, especially when taking the child in and out of the seat. 
     A very significant design consideration for an infant swing is the location of the center of gravity of a child, which may not necessarily pass through the geometric center of the seat. Accordingly, if a swing seat is rotated around a pivot axis located essentially at the center of gravity when changing the swing motion from a forward swinging position to a side to side swinging position, the seat geometry will not be centered in the swing frame when the swing is in the side to side swing position. Therefore, it would be highly advantageous if the seat could be both rotated from a forward to side to side position, and also be transversely moved in order to better center the swing seat within the swing frame when in the side to side position. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a swivel mechanism for a seat apparatus mounted on a base member that is operable to transversely shift the seat member with the child seated therein laterally when the seat is moved from the back-and-forth swing orientation to a sideways swing orientation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an infant swing that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a swivel mechanism for a detachable seat mounted on a base member supported on the hanger members of an infant swing. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a swivel mechanism that is operable to laterally shift the center of gravity of the seat and supported child when the seat is moved from a back-and-forth swing configuration to a sideways swing configuration. 
     It is yet another feature of this invention that the swivel mechanism for the infant swing does not pivot about a fixed axis of rotation. 
     It is still another feature of this invention that the swivel mechanism utilizes an elliptical retainer engagable with a triangular guide to control the rotational movement of the seat relative to the base member of the infant swing. 
     It is still another advantage of this invention that the rotational movement of the seat relative to the base member affects a lateral shift of the center of gravity of the seat and occupant. 
     It is yet another feature of this invention that the movement of the seat from a back-and-forth swing configuration to a sideways swing configuration keeps the center of gravity of the seat and occupant proximate to the longitudinal centerline of the infant swing. 
     It is yet another advantage of this invention that the swing is not unbalanced when the seat is moved from a back-and-forth swing configuration to a sideways swing configuration. 
     It is still another feature of this invention that the swivel mechanism is housed within the base member of the infant swing. 
     It is still another advantage of this invention that the space above the seat is not cluttered by an overhead swivel mechanism that could interfere with access to the child within the seat structure. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a recline mechanism that can be operated by a single hand to select the recline position of a seat detachably mounted to a base member of an infant swing. 
     It is a further feature of this invention that the recline actuation mechanism includes a self-centering push bar that when manipulated frees the seat for recline positioning relative to the base member. 
     It is still a further object of this invention that the push bar is formed with protrusions that are positionable in an interfering position with corresponding slotted channels to lock the seat in the selected recline position relative to the base member. 
     It is a further advantage of this invention that the self-centering push bar is operable in either transverse direction to release the protrusions from the slotted channels to free the seat for selecting a recline position. 
     It is still a further advantage of this invention that the recline actuation mechanism can be operated with a single hand. 
     It is yet a further advantage of this invention that the recline actuation mechanism is housed within the base member of the infant swing. 
     It is still a further object of this invention to provide an infant swing incorporating a lift-off seat that is capable of being positioned in multiple swing orientations and of being moved into a selected recline position, which is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use. 
     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. A seat that can be utilized in other applications is detachably mounted on and latched to the base member, which is formed with a swivel mechanism that allows the seat to be selectively positioned in a back-and-forth swing configuration or a sideways swing configuration. The swivel mechanism utilizes a triangular guide that engages an elliptical retainer to cause a lateral shift in the center of gravity of the seat when re-positioned. The base member also incorporates a recline mechanism that can be actuated with one hand. The recline actuation mechanism uses a self-centering push bar that is formed with protrusions engaged with slotted channels to lock the seat in a selected recline position. The push bar is operable to either transverse direction to release the protrusions from the slotted channels for selecting the new recline position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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: 
         FIG. 1  is a upper front perspective view of the infant swing incorporating the principles of the instant invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the infant swing depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of the infant swing shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         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; 
         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; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the seat carrier and base member shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a left side elevational view of the base member supported on the hanger tubes; 
         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; 
         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; 
         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; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged elevational detail view of the latch linkage for securing the seat carrier on the base member; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective detail view of the latch linkage shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         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; 
         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; 
         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; 
         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; 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines  17 - 17  of  FIG. 4  to show the base receiver retainer forming part of the swivel mechanism and the underside of the recline mechanism; 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines  18 - 18  of  FIG. 4 , which is similar to  FIG. 17 , but taken above the slide retainers through the mounting tabs just below the upper face of the upper part of the fixed base member to depict the swivel mechanism with the seat carrier being in the back-and-forth swing configuration as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a front elevational view of the seat carrier mounted on the base member with the seat oriented in a sideways swing configuration with the seat carrier turned to the left; 
         FIG. 20  is a front elevational view of the seat carrier mounted on the base member with the seat oriented in a sideways swing configuration with the seat carrier turned to the right; and 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 17 , but taken along lines  21 - 21  in  FIG. 19  to show the orientation of the rotating mechanism within the base retainer and the lateral shifting of the seat relative to the base member with the seat carrier turned to the right; 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 21 , but taken along lines  22 - 22  in  FIG. 20  to show the orientation of the rotating mechanism within the base retainer and the lateral shifting of the seat relative to the base member with the seat carrier turned to the right; 
         FIG. 23  is a partial cross-sectional view of the base member to provide a schematic representation of the orientation of the triangular follower apparatus within the elliptical retainer ring with the seat carrier positioned in the back-and-forth swing configuration; 
         FIG. 24  is a partial cross-sectional view of the base member similar to that of  FIG. 23 , but schematically showing the relationship of the triangular follower apparatus relative to the elliptical retainer ring with the seat carrier turn sideways to the left; and 
         FIG. 25  is a partial cross-sectional view of the base member similar to that of  FIG. 24 , but schematically showing the relationship of the triangular follower apparatus relative to the elliptical retainer ring with the seat carrier turn sideways to the right. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     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 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-12 , the seat carrier  20  is configured to be used 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 formed with an exterior shell  21  supporting a seat  22  onto which an infant is supported and restrained. The exterior shell  21  has 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 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 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13-16 , one of ordinary skill in the art will note that the recline mechanism  40  is housed within the base member  30 . The base member  30  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 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     The swivel mechanism  60  is also carried within the base member  30  and is best seen in  FIGS. 17-25 . The swivel mechanism  60  is operable to convert the swing  10  from a back-and-forth swing configuration, as viewed by the occupant of the seat carrier  20 , which is best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to a sideways swing configuration, which is best seen in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . Preferably, the swivel mechanism  60  is capable of turning the seat carrier  20  with respect to the base member  30  in either direction relative to the front-facing orientation, as is best seen in a comparison of the orientation of the seat carrier  20  in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . With respect to the recline mechanism  40  described in detail above, the recline mechanism  40  is operable in any of the three orientations of the seat carrier  20 . 
     The base shell  34  is formed in two parts, an upper part  62  that includes the face  63  and a lower part  64  that is fixed to the hangers  17 . The upper part  62  of the base shell  34  is secured to the top plate  31  through the slide retainers  43  so that the upper part  62  can rotate in a generally horizontal plane with the top plate  31  that is connected to the seat carrier  20  through the latching member  33 . The lower part  64  of the base member  30  is connected to the upper part  62  through a connector hub  65  that is received within an oval-shaped socket  67  in the bottom of the lower part  64 , as is best seen in  FIGS. 6 ,  13  and  21 - 25 . The connector hub  65  serves to provide a loose connection between the upper and lower parts  62 ,  64  without establishing a fixed vertical pivot axis. The oval socket  67  provides ample room for the translation of the connector hub  65  in conjunction with the movement of the upper part  62 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     The lower part  64  is provided with an elliptical retainer ring  70 , best seen in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , that defines an upright wall to contain a triangular follower apparatus  75  that is formed as part of the upper part  62  placed into engagement with the retainer  70 . The triangular follower apparatus  75  is defined by three contact points  76  that are spaced to engage the inside of the elliptical retainer ring  70 , as is schematically depicted in  FIGS. 23-25 . A detent retainer  78  is located opposite the central contact point  76  to engage a detent indentation  77 , as will be described in greater detail below, with the elliptical retainer ring  70  passing between the detent retainer  78  and the opposing contact point  76 . 
     The center of gravity for the seat carrier  20  is preferably maintained at or proximate to the longitudinal center line of the swing  10 . When the seat in a fixed pivot swivel mechanism is rotated from the back-and-forth swing orientation to the sideway swing orientation, the center of gravity of the seat will shift laterally. To compensate for the lateral shift in the center of gravity, the seat  20  incorporating the principles of the instant invention shifts laterally, as is represented in  FIGS. 23-25 , to keep the center of gravity of the seat carrier  20  and the occupant therein closer to the longitudinal centerline of the swing  10  than can be obtained by swiveling the seat carrier  20  about a fixed vertical pivot axis, unless the center of gravity is aligned with the pivot axis. This shifting of the seat structure  20  also serves to maintain the center of gravity at the correct location relative to the swing mechanism. The lateral shifting of the seat carrier  20  can be seen in a comparison of  FIGS. 23-25 , particularly looking at the offset at the sides of the upper part  62  relative to the lower part  64  and the shifting of the center  79  of the connector hub  65 . This lateral shifting of the seat carrier  20  also shifts the seat geometry to the left or right in order to better fit the seat within the swing frame structure and to provide improved clearance of the seat carrier  20  with respect to the support frame  12 . The connector hub  65  provides the mechanical connection between the upper and lower parts  62 ,  64  and moves laterally within the oval socket  67  in conjunction with the lateral shifting of the seat carrier  20  as the seat carrier  20  is rotated from one configuration to another. 
     The swivel mechanism  60  does not require a locking apparatus to secure the seat carrier  20  in the selected swing configuration, as the weight of the seat carrier and the occupant thereof are sufficient to maintain the seat carrier  20  in the selected swing configuration. A detent could be utilized to provide some resistance to the movement of the seat carrier  20  from one swing configuration to another. The detent can take the form of an indentation  77  in the outer surface of the elliptical retainer ring  70  that would be engaged by a detent retainer point  78  positioned in opposition to one of the contact points  76 . By placing a detent indentation  77  at each location of the detent retainer point  78  when the seat carrier  20  is located in a particular swing configuration, the detent point  78  will engage the indentation  77  and require an application of some rotational force to move the detent retainer point  78  out of the corresponding indentation  77  and free the triangular follower apparatus  75  for movement within the elliptical retainer  70 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 23-25 , an intermediate detent indentation  77  can be located between the orthogonal swing orientations to provide an opportunity to position the seat carrier  20  at an intermediate position (not shown). 
     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 . 
     In the event the caregiver decides to change the swing orientation of the seat carrier  20 , the caregiver simply grasps the seat carrier  20  and applies a rotational force to rotate the seat carrier  20  connected to the top plate  31 , which is connected to the upper part  62  of the base shell  34 , relative to the lower part  64  of the base shell  34 . The swivel mechanism  60  provides a simple and effective operation to change the swing configuration of the seat carrier  20 . Furthermore, the non-pivot axis swivel mechanism  60 , utilizing a triangular follower apparatus  75  contained within an elliptical retainer  70 , affects a lateral shifting of the seat carrier  20  when the seat carrier  20  is moved from a back-and-forth swing configuration to a sideways swing configuration to keep the center of gravity of the seat carrier  20  and the occupant thereof close to the longitudinal centerline of the swing  10 . 
     With the recline mechanism  40  being housed within the base member  30 , the recline mechanism  40  is equally operable to provide a one-hand recline operation irrespective of the swing configuration selected through operation of the swivel mechanism  60 . The seat carrier  20  can be easily detached from the base member  30  no matter which swing configuration has been selected through the swivel mechanism  60 , simply by pulling on the external pull member  36  to deflect the latch member  33  out of engagement with the latch opening  28 , thus freeing the seat carrier  20  to be lifted vertically off of the base member  30 . 
     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.