Abstract:
A garden swing has a fixed support structure and a seat support frame pivotally suspended from the support structure. The seat support frame is suspended on a single pivot axis so as to provide simple pendular motion. At least one seat is attached the seat support frame, the seat having a seating portion and a backrest portion. In one embodiment, the seat includes a moveable leg rest having a stowed position beneath the seating portion of the seat and an extended position forward of the seating portion of the seat. In another embodiment of the invention, the backrest portion of the seat is pivotally coupled to the seating portion of the seat so as to be positionable at a selected angle of recline. In still another embodiment, a headrest is pivotally and telescopically attached to the backrest.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/752,356 filed Jan. 5, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to the field of amusement devices and, more particularly, to a garden swing that provides simple pendular motion.  
         [0004]     2. Background  
         [0005]     The use of garden swings and gliders is a popular leisure activity. Many different designs for such devices have been proposed over the years. Most such devices have a relatively complicated articulated structure. Few devices provide simple pendular motion.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a garden swing with a fixed support structure and a seat support frame pivotally suspended from the support structure. The seat support frame is suspended on a single pivot axis so as to provide simple pendular motion. At least one seat is attached the seat support frame, the seat having a seating portion and a backrest portion. In one embodiment, the seat includes a moveable leg rest having a stowed position beneath the seating portion of the seat and an extended position forward of the seating portion of the seat. In another embodiment of the invention, the backrest portion of the seat is pivotally coupled to the seating portion of the seat so as to be positionable at a selected angle of recline. In still another embodiment, a headrest is pivotally and telescopically attached to the backrest.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a swing constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a swing constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a swing constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are detailed views of a leg rest assembly.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a detailed view of a backrest adjustment mechanism.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the swing of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a left side view thereof, the right side being a mirror image.  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the swing of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a left side view thereof, the right side being a mirror image.  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the swing of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 12  is a left side view thereof, the right side being a mirror image.  
         [0018]      FIG. 13  is a right rear perspective view of an adjustable headrest.  
         [0019]      FIG. 14  is a rear elevation view of the adjustable headrest of  FIG. 13  in an extended position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 15  is a left side view of the adjustable headrest.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a one person swing  100  constructed in accordance with the present invention. Swing  100  has a fixed support structure  102  comprising runners  104  and generally upright members  106 . Diagonal members  108  are connected between runners  104  and upright members  106  to provide added stability. Runners  104  have feet  105  at each end thereof for resting on a ground surface. Feet  105  may be provided with holes throughout so that swing  100  may be secured to a supporting surface with bolts. Fixed support structure  102  further comprises a top member  110  to which pivot assembly  112  is attached. The upper ends of upright members  106  and the ends of top member  110  have cooperating flanges  114  that are secured to one another with bolts or similar mechanical fasteners. This construction allows the side members comprising runners  104 , upright members  106  and diagonal bracing members  108  to be used for the fixed support structures of a variety of configurations of swings by simply substituting different top members.  
         [0023]     The structural members of support structure  102  are preferably fabricated of tubular steel or aluminum. Other materials, including composite materials, such as fiberglass, may also be used. The structural members may be assembled with mechanical fasteners, with welded joints or a combination of the two. The use of mechanical fasteners to join major assemblies of the structural components allows for a more compact shipping configuration.  
         [0024]     Seat support frame  120  is suspended from pivot assembly  112 . Seat support frame  120  comprises arcuate side members  122  and bottom frame  124 . The bottom frame includes side members  126 , forward cross member  128  and rear cross member  130 .  
         [0025]     Seat  140  is attached to seat support frame  120 . The seat comprises seating portion  142  and backrest portion  144 . The seat further comprises a leg rest  146  extending forward of seating portion  142  and a headrest  148  attached to the backrest portion  144 . Arm rests  150  are attached to seat support frame  120  on either side of seat  140 .  
         [0026]     Seat  140  may be constructed of a plurality of pieces of wood, metal or a plastic material. Alternatively, seating portion  142  and backrest portion  144  may each comprise a single molded component, which may include cushioning if desired. Such components may be upholstered with suitable materials, such as cloth, leather or imitation leather. Seat portion  142  and backrest portion  144  may also be constructed using other materials that are commonly used for lawn furniture, such as nylon mesh, vinyl strapping, etc. Whatever materials are used for seating portion  142  and backrest portion  144 , headrest  148 , if included, is preferably cushioned for the occupant&#39;s comfort. Headrest  148  may be constructed with polyurethane or other suitable material in the manner commonly used for padded components of exercise equipment. The headrest may be fixed in position or may be adjustable as described below. Swing  100  may include an optional canopy frame  160 . The canopy frame is attached to top member  110  and supports a canopy (not shown) made of canvas or another suitable material. Swing  100  may also include a table  162  attached to upright  106  for conveniently holding objects without being subjected to movement of the swing.  
         [0027]     The fixed support structure  102  and seat support frame  120  are dimensioned so that an occupant of seat  140 , with leg rest  146  in its stowed position, can comfortably rest his or her feet on the ground. This permits easy ingress to and egress from seat  140  and also allows the occupant to easily propel the swing using his or her feet against the ground.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a swing  200  similar to that previously described, but with space for two occupants. Fixed support structure  202  utilizes the same runners  104 , upright members  106  and diagonal members  108  as in the previously described embodiment. A different top member  210  is used to provide the additional width necessary to accommodate the two occupants.  
         [0029]     Seat support frame  220  is suspended from pivot assembly  212  and comprises side members  222 , center member  223  and bottom frame  224 . A pair of seats  240  are attached to the seat support frame. Backrest portions  144 , together with headrests  148 , are identical to those previously described. In this embodiment, a single seating portion  242  is common to both of the seats. However, it will be recognized that individual seating portions identical to seating portion  142  could be provided instead. Individual leg rests  146  extend forward of seating portion  242 . While not shown, a canopy frame and canopy may be added to the fixed support structure  202 , if desired.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a swing  300  that accommodates two occupants. In this embodiment, fixed support structure  302  again utilizes runners  104 , upright members  102  and diagonal members  108 . Top member  310  supports two individual pivot assemblies  312 . Seat support frames  120  and seats  140  are identical to those described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the seats may be arranged to face the same direction as shown or may be arranged to face in opposite directions. In the former case, the seats may swing independently from the support structure or they may be connected by a latch bar  314  so that the two seats swing in unison. The latch bar may be arranged to fold out from one of the seat support frames for attachment to the other or may be entirely removable.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a detailed view showing leg rest  146 . The leg rest is rigidly attached to an extension member  402 . The extension member is carried by a sleeve  404  mounted to forward cross member  128  of the seat support frame. Sleeve  404  is preferably lined with a low friction material, such as nylon or the like, so that extension member  402  can be easily moved fore and aft. As shown in  FIG. 4 , leg rest  146  is in its forward, extended position. Leg rest  146  slides rearward to a stowed position beneath seating portion  142 . Extension member  404  has a slight vertical curve near its rearward end  406  to permit leg rest  146  to drop below the seating portion  142  as it is moved to its stowed position.  
         [0032]     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , leg rest  146  is shown in its stowed position beneath seating position beneath seating portion  142 . Extension member  402  is provided with a stop  408  at its extreme rearward end. Stop  408  contacts sleeve  404  to prevent leg rest  146  from being extended beyond its forward, extended position.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows a detailed view of a backrest adjustment mechanism. Backrest  144  is pivotally attached to seat portion  142  at pivots  502 . Alternatively, backrest  144  could be pivotally coupled to the seat support frame  120 . A telescoping support member  504  is pivotally coupled at a first end  506  to backrest  144  and is pivotally coupled at a second end  508  to rear cross member  130  of seat support frame  120 . A spring-loaded pin (not shown) is carried within tube  510  and is attached to handle  512 . Tube  510  is welded or otherwise secured to the outer portion of telescoping support member  504 . The pin within tube  510  engages one of a plurality of holes  514  in the inner portion of the telescoping support member. When handle  512  is pulled, the pin is withdrawn from the hole and backrest  144  may be positioned at a desired angle of recline.  
         [0034]     Backrest  144  is biased toward an upright position by means of spring  520 , which is connected between the rear cross member  130  and arm  132  attached to the backrest. An occupant of the seat can thus reach behind backrest  144  to pull handle  512  and lean forward to have the backrest assume a more upright position or lean backward to have the backrest assume a more reclined position.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 13-15  show detailed views of a headrest  148 . The headrest is coupled to the top member  602  of the backrest at hinge  604 . This allows the headrest to be pivoted forward or backward for the comfort of the individual occupying the seat. An adjustment mechanism such as toothed ratchet  606  is attached to the pivoting portion of the headrest. A pawl  608  engages the ratchet to hold the headrest at a desired tilt angle. The pawl is released with handle  610  to permit the headrest to be adjusted to a desired tilt angle. The pawl and handle assembly are weighted so that the pawl is biased by gravity to rest against the teeth of the ratchet. Handle  610  may be formed of hollow tubing for this purpose. Alternatively, other biasing means, such as a spring, may be used. A sector plate  614  is attached to the top member  602 . A bolt  616  slides within slot  615  in the sector plate as the headrest is pivoted. Bolt  616  may be tightened to increase the friction resisting pivotal movement of the headrest and may be tightened further to lock the headrest in a desired position.  
         [0036]     As best seen in  FIG. 14 , the headrest may also have an up and down adjustment. The headrest cushion slides up and down on a pair of rods  612  that are attached to the pivoting portion of hinge  604 . The cushion may be retained in a desired position by virtue of a friction fit with rods  612 . Alternatively, one or both of rods  612  may be notched at intervals to receive a spring-loaded pin (not shown). Such retaining mechanisms are widely used, for example, in automobile headrests.  
         [0037]     It will be appreciated that the above-described seat, and particularly the headrest assembly, may be utilized for devices other than garden swings. Other applications include, for example, patio furniture and exercise machines.  
         [0038]     It will be recognized that the above-described invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Thus, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.