Abstract:
A hooking mechanism for a swing comprises a support bracket that has been designed to facilitate removal from a conventional porch swing. The bracket comprises a central area and a pair of opposing legs. The bracket is designed to support the swing from the underside of the armrest of the swing by connecting the swing to an upwardly tethered support chain. The chain passes through an aperture in the armrest and connects to the central area of the bracket. The leg portions catch and support the armrest and thereby support the rest of the swing.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are no current co-pending applications. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described herein pertains to a hooking mechanism, and more specifically a hooking mechanism for securely suspending a swing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Porch swings are attached to an overhanging structure through use of a chain or rope-like member. Traditionally, the chain or rope is permanently attached to the swing and detachably secured to a hook on the overhanging structure. When a swing needs to be taken down for storage or protection a user often requires a ladder to reach the overhanging hook, requiring significant time and effort. A device for quickly detaching a rope or chain from a swing is desired. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,325,358 to Edgar P. Elzey discloses a hanger for a porch swing having rigid attachment arms for either side of a swing. Each side has a single rod with multiple legs adjustably attached thereto. The rod and legs are made of flat, rigid metal and attach to eye hooks on a swing through the use of “J”-shaped hooks. The legs are not adjustable independent of each other, and present a potential hazard in their attachment to the single rod and to the swing. The legs are attached to the single rod through the use of a wing nut and bolt which can easily become loosened and cause the swing to fall. Additionally, the “J”-shaped hooks can easily slide out of the eye hooks on the swing, also causing the swing to fall. 
     Another attempt at providing a quickly releasable attachment to a porch swing is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 1,689,397 to Charles William Lee et al. This patent discloses an apparatus for attaching a swing to a single rope or chain. The apparatus consists of an “S” hook for coupling the rope or chain to a first elongated bar. The first elongated bar is attached to a second elongated bar via two (2) springs. Extending outwardly from the second elongated bar are two (2) connecting rods which slide on to hooks affixed to a swing. This apparatus has many interconnected parts, each of which is attached through an “S” or “J”-shaped hook. Each hook presents a potentially hazardous connection point. Additionally, the use of one cable or rope per side reduces the weight bearing capacity of the swing. 
     A further attempt at providing a quick release mechanism for a porch swing is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 1,769,509 to Roy Hendrix. This patent describes a “U”-shaped hook fastened to a swing for securing a chain thereto. The “U”-shaped hook is not quickly releasable to provide quick detachment of a swing. 
     Although the various devices observed may fulfill their individual, particular objectives, each device suffers from one (1) or more disadvantage or deficiency related to design or function. Whether taken singly, or in combination, none of the observed devices disclose the specific arrangement and construction of the instant invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the deficiencies in the art pertaining to porch swing attachments. Furthermore, the inventor has observed that there is a need for an apparatus which can securely attach a chain to a swing while also being quickly and easily released from the swing itself. 
     The inventor has addressed at least one (1) of the problems observed in the art by developing a novel hooking mechanism. It is a feature and aspect of the present invention to provide a body with a first side and a second side. Each side has an indentation and a leg portion. The body is extended through an aperture in a seat or arm rest portion of a swing. Once extended through the aperture, the seat or arm rest portion slides into the indentation on the each leg of the body. A leg portion extends away from the aperture of the seat or arm rest to prevent the body from sliding all the way through the aperture. Prior to extending the body through the aperture, a chain is slid over the leg and indentation portions to rest around the body. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawing and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hooking mechanism  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a swing  11 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hooking mechanism  10  depicting placement onto the swing  11 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the hooking mechanism  10  depicting an attached chain  15 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the hooking mechanism  10  attached to the swing  11 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  hooking mechanism 
               11  swing 
               12  arm rest 
               13  seat 
               14  aperture 
               15  chain 
               20  body 
               25  leg 
               26  indentation 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a hooking mechanism (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means for suspending an existing swing  11 . The device  10  also enables the swing  11  to be disconnected in a quick manner for emergency scenarios such as a storm. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a generally “U”-shaped and tubular body  20  and a pair of generally “L”-shaped opposing and integral legs  25 . The body  20  retains a chain  15  (see  FIGS. 3 through 5 ) or similar rope which commonly suspends the swing  11  from a ceiling or frame structure. The legs  25  anchor the device  10  to an underside surface of the swing  11 , thereby fixing the device  10  in a secure position. A pair of indentations  26  interconnects the body  20  to the legs  25 . The indentations  26  also provide a surface area for the device  10  to rest within an aperture  14 . The device  10  is preferably fabricated from a material having an elastic or spring-type characteristic such as plastic, spring steel, or the like. The device  10  is preferably manufactured in various sizes to correspond to the swing  11 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the swing  11 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed.  FIG. 2  depicts an existing swing  11  in a particular design for illustration purposes only it is known that other swing  11  designs may be utilized without limiting the scope of the invention. The swing  11  is depicted as comprising a pair of opposing arm rest  12  and a seat  13 . The arm rests  12  and seat  13  typically comprise a plurality of apertures  14  which enable the swing  11  to be suspended via a chain  15 . It is known that a plurality of devices  10  is utilized to suspend a swing  11  at the various apertures  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the device  10  depicting placement onto the swing  11 ,  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of the device  10  having an attached chain  15 , and  FIG. 5 , a side view of the device  10  attached to the swing  11 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed.  FIGS. 3 through 5  depict the steps to install the device  10  upon a swing  11 . In use, the chain  15  is inserted through an aperture  14  which is typically found on the arm rest  12  or seat  13 . With the chain  15  through the aperture  14  a leg  25  of the device  10  is inserted through a desired section of chain  15 . The chain  15  is then repositioned along the indentations  26  and body  20  to a pinnacle position to provide balance. Due to the flexible nature of the device  10 , it is inserted so that the indentations  26  abut against the inner walls of the aperture  14  and the legs  25  engage an underside surface of the arm rest  12  or seat  13 , thereby fixing the device  10  to the swing  11 . This is repeated for each aperture  14  utilized to suspend the swing  11  in a level position. As needed, the device  10  is pushed downwardly and the chain  15  is removed to disconnect the device  10  from the swing  11 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; inserting a chain  15  through an aperture  14  upon the arm rest  12  or seat  13  of the swing  11 ; inserting a leg  25  of the device  10  through a desired section of chain  15 ; moving the chain  15  along the indentation  26  and body  20  to a pinnacle position to provide balance; inserting the device  10  into the aperture  14  having the legs  25  engage an underside surface of the arm rest  12  or seat  13  and the indentation  26  within the aperture  14 , thereby fixing the device  10  to the swing; repeating as desired for each additional aperture  14 ; removing the devices  10  as needed; and, utilizing the device  10  to suspend a swing  11  in a quick and efficient manner. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.