Patent Publication Number: US-9415316-B2

Title: Swing

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/909,072 filed Jun. 3, 2013, now assigned U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,146, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/850,696 filed Aug. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,454,450, which claims priority from and benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/273,492 filed Aug. 5, 2009, and the entire disclosure of each of said prior applications is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     There are generally two types of swings that are known for use with swing sets or with other playground installations and/or in a residential setting: (i) conventional rectangular rigid swing seats or flexible strap-like swing seats meant to move on an arc in a back-and-forth motion; or (ii) tire swings that use a vehicle tire or like structure and that can twist and swing in any direction such as diagonal, circular, etc. These prior swings require the child or other user to pump his or her legs or otherwise shift their weight to move the swing, and require the user to maintain a sitting position and hold onto the swing or the rope(s) or chain(s) by which the swing is suspended. As such, these known swings have been found to have limited entertainment and enjoyment for certain children and other users that are not capable of maintaining the proper position on the swing and/or that are not capable of controlling the motion of the swing in the manner intended and required. 
     Furthermore, these prior swings and others have been found to be deficient for a wide variety of other reasons including ease of manufacture, ease of installation, ease of use, durability, variety of modes of operation, safety, and other such attributes. As such, a need has been found for a new and improved swing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present development, a swing includes a body including a concave central portion defining a recessed seat and a peripheral edge surrounding the concave central portion. The peripheral edge includes a plurality of tether openings, and a tether system includes a plurality of tether portions respectively engaged with said plurality of tether openings. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, a swing includes a body with a concave central portion defining a recessed concave seat and a peripheral edge surrounding the concave central portion. The peripheral edge includes a plurality of tether openings, each of which is adapted to receive an associated tether. A top wall extends radially outward from the recessed concave seat. An outer wall is connected to and projects downwardly from an outer end of said top wall. A peripheral groove is defined adjacent the top wall and the outer wall, wherein said plurality of tether openings each open through the top wall and into the peripheral groove. A tether system is adapted to suspend the body from an associated support member, the tether system engaged with the tether openings and at least part of said tether system located in said peripheral groove. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, the peripheral edge of said body is oval in shape. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the present development, the peripheral edge of said body is a non-rectangular polygon such as a pentagon, hexagon, octagon or other non-rectangular polygonal shape. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, the peripheral edge includes at least four of the tether openings arranged symmetrically about the peripheral edge such that the four tether openings are circumferentially spaced at 90 degree intervals from each other and such that each of the four tether openings are diametrically opposed from another one of the four tether openings. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the present development, the seat includes a drain opening defined therein. 
     In accordance with an additional aspect of the present development, the drain opening is centrally located in the seat so as to be equidistant from each of the four tether openings. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present development, the body is defined as a one-piece molded polymeric construction. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, the body is defined from multiple interconnected body member sections. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, an upper surface of said seat is smooth and a lower surface of the seat comprises a plurality of ribs extending therefrom. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present development, the ribs comprise a plurality of radial ribs, each of which extends radially outward from an inner end located adjacent the drain opening. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, each of the radial ribs is oriented normal to said lower surface of said seat. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the present development, the peripheral edge comprises a top wall that extends radially outward from the seat, an outer circular wall connected to and projecting downwardly from an outer end of the top wall, and an inner circular wall connected to and projecting downwardly from an inner end of the top wall such that the inner circular wall is located radially inward from and is arranged concentrically with the outer circular wall and a peripheral groove is defined between the inner and outer circular walls, wherein the tether openings are defined in the top wall and open through the top wall into the peripheral groove. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, a plurality of peripheral edge support ribs each extend between and interconnect the inner and outer circular walls. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present development, the peripheral groove includes first and second open regions that are free of said peripheral edge support ribs, wherein the first open region is located between first and second ones of the tether openings, and wherein the second open region is located between third and fourth ones of the tether openings. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, the swing further comprises a tether system including a lower portion including a plurality of flexible tethers engaged with the tether openings and an upper portion including one or more flexible tethers adapted to suspend the swing from a support member. 
     In one embodiment, the recessed central seat portion comprises fabric or another flexible material. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the body includes a ballast chamber including a ballast material therein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a swing system in accordance with the present development, wherein the tether system thereof is arranged in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a swing system in accordance with the present development, wherein the tether system thereof is arranged in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a swing body of the swing system of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the swing body of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the swing body of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the swing body of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view taken at line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows an alternative swing body wherein the peripheral edge is defined by a one-piece or multi-piece annular ring and the recessed seat comprises a flexible fabric or other material connected to the peripheral edge; 
         FIG. 8  shows another alternative embodiment, wherein the swing body is defined from multiple separate body members that are interconnected to construct the body; 
         FIG. 9  shows another alternative embodiment in which a swing body includes one or more optional ballast chambers that include and/or are adapted to receive and retain a ballast material. 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are isometric and top plan views of an alternative swing body B 5  that comprises a non-rectangular polygonal peripheral edge, in which the recessed seat includes a circular peripheral or outer edge; 
         FIG. 10A  is a partial section view of the swing body of  FIG. 10  showing an optional reinforcement ring; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are respectively similar to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , but show another alternative embodiment of a swing body B 6  including a non-rectangular peripheral edge, in which the recessed seat also includes a peripheral/outer edge that has a non-rectangular polygonal shape that matches the non-rectangular shape of the peripheral edge of the swing body; 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  are isometric and top plan views that show another alternative embodiment of a swing body B 7  formed in accordance with the present development, in which the swing body comprises an oval peripheral edge and in which the recessed seat is correspondingly ovalized so that the peripheral or outer edge of the recessed seat is shaped to correspond with the oval peripheral edge of the swing body; 
         FIG. 14A  is a partial section view of the swing body of  FIG. 14  showing an optional reinforcement ring. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  shows a swing system S in accordance with the present development. The swing system S includes a swing body B and a tether system T that is adapted to suspend the swing body from a support structure Z such that the swing body B is free to swing in any direction including back-and-forth, sideways, diagonal, circular, etc. and such that the swing body can twist. As shown, the tether system T includes an upper portion UT comprising two upper tethers UT 1 ,UT 2  and a lower portion LT comprising at least four lower tethers LT 1 ,LT 2 ,LT 3 ,LT 4 . The lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  can be defined from a single length or multiple separate lengths of rope or chain or other flexible member(s), and the upper tethers UT 1 , UT 2  can likewise be defined from a single length or two separate lengths of rope or chain or other flexible member(s).  FIG. 1A  shows an arrangement in which the respective lower ends of the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  are each connected to the swing body B, and the upper ends of the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  converge to and are joined at an apex X such that the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  define a cone shape. The lower ends of the upper tethers UT 1 ,UT 2  are each connected to the upper ends of the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  at the apex X, and the upper ends of the upper tethers UT 1 ,UT 2  are adapted to be connected to the support structure Z at respective locations Z 1 ,Z 2  that are spaced-apart from each other. In an alternative embodiment, the tether system T includes only one of the upper tethers UT 1  or UT 2  that extends between the apex X and a single connecting location on the support structure Z. 
       FIG. 1B  shows another alternative arrangement for the tether system T in which the upper ends of the first and second lower tethers LT 1 ,LT 2  are joined at a first vertex V 1  such that a first triangle is defined by the first and second lower tethers LT 1 ,LT 2 , and the upper ends of the third and fourth lower tethers LT 3 ,LT 4  are joined at a second vertex V 2  such that a second triangle is defined by the third and fourth lower tethers LT 3 ,LT 4 . In this case, the first and second upper tethers UT 1 ,UT 2  are connected respectively to the first and second vertices V 1 ,V 2 . In such an arrangement, the swing system S is configured to swing predominantly in a back-and-forth manner with the upper tethers UT 1 ,UT 2  moving in respective planes that are vertical or inclined. 
       FIGS. 2-6  show different views of the swing body B, itself. The body B is defined as a one-piece molded polymeric construction from any suitable polymer resin material, although other materials such as metal, wood, etc. can be used instead. The swing body B includes a concave central seat portion  10  defining recess R that forms a seat and a peripheral edge  12  surrounding the concave central portion  10 . The seat defined by the concave central seat portion  10  is adapted to support an infant or a small child or can be dimensioned to support an adult. In one embodiment, the peripheral edge  12  of the body is circular such that the body defines a saucer or disk. In one embodiment, the body has a diameter in the range of 22 inches to 30 inches, and the recess has a maximum depth relative to the peripheral edge  12  in the range of 2.5 inches to 4 inches. 
     The peripheral edge  12  of the body B includes a plurality of tether openings O 1 , O 2 , O 3 , O 4  with which the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  are respectively engaged. In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral edge  12  comprises at least four of the tether openings O 1 -O 4  arranged symmetrically about the peripheral edge  12  such that the four tether openings O 1 -O 4  are circumferentially spaced at 90 degree intervals from each other and such that each of said four tether openings are diametrically opposed from another one of the four tether openings. 
     The concave central seat portion  10  includes a drain opening D defined therein for allowing water and dirt/sand to flow by gravity from the seat recess R through the drain opening D. The drain opening D is centrally located in the central seat portion  10  so as to be equidistant from each of said four tether openings O 1 -O 4  and so as to be located at the deepest part of the recess R. 
     An upper surface US of the concave central seat portion  10  is smooth for maximum comfort and to facilitate flow or water and sand toward the drain opening D. The opposite lower surface LS of the concave central seat portion  10  comprises a plurality of seat support ribs  30  extending or projecting therefrom, or the ribs  30  can be omitted. In the illustrated embodiment, the seat support ribs  30  are radial ribs, each of which extends radially outward from an inner end located adjacent the drain opening D to an outer end located adjacent the peripheral edge  12 . Each of the seat support radial ribs  30  is oriented normal to said lower surface LS. 
     The peripheral edge  12  comprises: (i) a top wall  12   a  that extends radially outward from the outermost edge of the seat recess R; (ii) an outer circular wall  12   b  connected to and projecting downwardly from an outer end of the top wall  12   a ; and, (iii) an inner circular wall  12   c  connected to and projecting downwardly from an inner end of the top wall  12   a  such that the inner circular wall  12   c  is located radially inward from and is arranged concentrically with the outer circular wall  12   b . As such, a peripheral groove  12   g  is defined between the outer and inner circular walls  12   b , 12   c . The tether openings O 1 -O 4  are each defined in the top wall  12   a  and each open through the top wall  12   a  into the peripheral groove  12   g.    
     The body B can further comprise a plurality of optional peripheral edge support ribs  32  that each extend between and interconnect the outer and inner circular walls  12   b , 12   c  to provide support and strength to the outer and inner circular walls  12   b , 12   c . The peripheral edge support ribs  32  are aligned respectively with the seat support ribs  30 , such that each peripheral edge support rib  32  extends in a radial direction coincident with the seat support rib  30  with which it is aligned. The peripheral groove  12   g  comprises first and second open regions G 1 , G 2  that extend circumferentially and that are free of the peripheral edge support ribs  32 . The first open region G 1  is located between the first and second tether openings O 1 ,O 2 , and the second open region G 2  is located between the third and fourth tether openings O 3 ,O 4 . The first open region G 1  is adapted to receive the rope or chain or other member that defines the first and second lower tethers LT 1 , LT 2  and allows the rope/chain/member thereof to extend circumferentially in the peripheral groove  12   g  between and through the tether openings O 1 ,O 2  in the case where the first and second lower tethers are defined from a single rope/chain/member. The second open region G 2  is adapted to receive the rope or chain or other member that defines the third and fourth lower tethers LT 3 , LT 4  and allows the rope/chain/member thereof to extend circumferentially in the peripheral groove  12   g  between and through the tether openings O 3 ,O 4  in the case where the third and fourth lower tethers are defined from a single rope/chain/member. 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative swing body B 2  wherein the peripheral edge  112  is defined by a one-piece or multi-piece annular ring  114  (the ring sections of the optional multi-piece structure are indicated by broken lines at  114   a , 114   b , 114   c , 114   d ) and wherein the recessed central seat portion  110  comprises a flexible fabric or other material F connected to the peripheral edge  112 . In the case where the annular ring  114  is defined as a multi-piece structure, the ring sections  114   a , 114   b , 114   c , 114   d  are connected using a suitable mechanical connection that can also include use of the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  to secure each ring section  114   a , 114   b , 114   c , 114   d  to its adjacent connected ring section. In one embodiment, a connector N is inserted into and frictionally engaged with the respective open ends of adjacent ring sections  114   a , 114   b , 114   c , 114   d  to join adjacent ring sections as shown in  FIG. 7 . In one embodiment, the fabric or other material F is pervious to water and sand so the drain opening D is not included, but it can be included if desired and/or if the fabric or other material F is impervious to water and sand as shown in broken lines. 
       FIG. 8  shows another alternative embodiment, wherein a swing body B 3  is defined from multiple separate molded polymeric body member sections M 1 ,M 2 ,M 3 ,M 4  that are interconnected using a suitable mechanical connection to construct the body B 3 , which is otherwise identical to the body B. The body member sections M 1 ,M 2 ,M 3 ,M 4  are preferably each identical to each other. Here, again, the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  can be used to connect adjacent connected body member sections together. 
       FIG. 9  shows another alternative embodiment in which a swing body B 4  is otherwise identical to the body B but includes one or more ballast chambers M 1 ,M 2  that include and/or are adapted to receive and retain a ballast material N such as sand, water, metal weights, rocks, or any other suitable ballast material to improve the swinging performance of the swing. The ballast chamber(s) M 1 ,M 2  can be located beneath the concave central seat portion (e.g., chamber M 1 ) and/or within the peripheral edge  12  (e.g., chamber M 2 ). The ballast material N can be permanently installed in the chambers M 1 ,M 2  or is selectively inserted into and removable from the chambers M 1 ,M 2 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are isometric and top plan views of an alternative swing body B 5  adapted for being suspended by the tether system T. Except as otherwise shown and/or described herein, the body B 5  is identical to the body B described above, and like features relative to the body B are identified with like reference numbers that are  100  greater than those used in connection with the body B. The body B 5  is preferably defined as a one-piece polymeric construction but is can be provided by a multi-piece assembly of polymeric and other materials. Instead of a circular peripheral wall  12  as used for the body B, the body B 5  comprises a non-rectangular polygonal peripheral edge  112 . As shown, the peripheral edge  112  is an octagon with  8  equal length linear sides, but the peripheral edge  112  can be defined with any other non-rectangular polygon shape using linear sides that are equal in length or unequal in length relative to each other. For example, the peripheral edge can define a trapezoid, pentagon, hexagon, octagon or other non-rectangular polygon shape. More particularly, the peripheral edge  112  comprises: (i) a top wall  112   a  that extends radially outward from the outermost or upper peripheral edge or lip RP of the seat recess R; and, (ii) an outer non-rectangular polygonal peripheral wall  112   b  connected to and projecting downwardly from an outer end of the top wall  112   a . As shown in the section view of  FIG. 10A , a peripheral groove  112   g  is defined under the top wall  112   a  adjacent the outer wall  112   b , between the top wall  112   a , the outer wall  112   b , and the lower surface LS of the seat portion  110 . The tether openings O 1 -O 4  are each defined in the top wall  112   a  and each open through the top wall  112   a  into the peripheral groove  112   g . A reinforcement ring RR defined from metal, fiber glass, wood, a polymeric material or other material is optionally located in the groove  112   g  to stiffen and strengthen the body B 5 , and the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  (indicated generally at LT in  FIG. 10A ) are preferably wrapped and/or otherwise engaged with the reinforcement ring RR if the reinforcement ring is present in the groove  112   g . In  FIG. 10A , the reinforcement ring RR is shown as a tubular structure such as a metal tube. The swing body B 5  is constructed such that the outer/upper peripheral edge or lip RP of the seat recess R is circular, where the seat recess R joins with the top wall  112   a . The reinforcement ring RR can be circular as shown or can be otherwise shaped to fit in the groove  112   g , e.g., defined in a non-rectangular polygonal shape that corresponds with the non-rectangular polygonal shape of the body peripheral wall  112   b.    
       FIGS. 12 and 13  are isometric and top plan views of an alternative swing body B 5 ′ that is identical to the swing body B 5  except as otherwise shown and/or described herein. Like components relative to the swing body B 5  are identified with like reference numbers including a primed (′) designation. With respect to the swing body B 5 ′, the outer or upper peripheral edge or lip RP+ of the seat recess R′ is defined to have a non-rectangular polygonal shape that corresponds to the non-rectangular polygonal shape of the peripheral wall  112   b ′. Also, the swing body B 5 ′ includes a beveled or rounded transition wall  112   d ′ that joins the top wall  112   a ′ of the peripheral edge  112 ′ to the outer wall  112   b ′, and this transition wall  112   d ′ provides added comfort to a user when moving onto and off of the recess R of the seat portion  110 ′. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate another alternative embodiment of a swing body B 6  formed in accordance with the present development and adapted for being suspended by the tether system T. Except as otherwise shown and/or described herein, the body B 6  is identical to the body B described above, and like features relative to the body B are identified with like reference numbers that are  200  greater than those used in connection with the body B. The body B 6  is defined as a one-piece molded polymeric construction or is assembled from separate polymeric and/or other structures. Instead of a circular peripheral wall  12  as used for the body B, the body B 6  comprises a non-circular curved peripheral wall  212 . As shown, the peripheral wall  212  defines an oval, but the peripheral wall  212  can be defined with any other non-circular curved shape. More particularly, the peripheral wall  212  comprises: (i) a top wall  212   a  that extends radially outward from the outermost or upper peripheral edge or lip RP of the seat recess R; and, (ii) an outer oval or otherwise non-circular curved peripheral wall  212   b  connected to and projecting downwardly from an outer end of the top wall  212   a . As shown in the section view of  FIG. 14A , a peripheral groove  212   g  is defined under the top wall  212   a  adjacent the outer wall  212   b , between the top wall  212   a , the outer wall  212   b , and the lower surface LS of the seat portion  210 . The tether openings O 1 -O 4  are each defined in the top wall  212   a  and each open through the top wall  212   a  into the peripheral groove  212   g . A reinforcement ring RR defined from metal, fiber glass, wood, a polymeric material or other material is optionally located in the groove  212   g  to stiffen and strengthen the body B 5 , and the lower tethers LT 1 -LT 4  (indicated generally at LT in  FIG. 14A ) are preferably wrapped and/or otherwise engaged with the reinforcement ring RR if the reinforcement ring is present in the groove  212   g . In  FIG. 14A , the reinforcement ring RR is shown as a tubular structure such as a metal tube. The swing body B 6  is constructed such that the outer/upper peripheral edge or lip RP of the seat recess R is defined to match or correspond to the shape of the outer peripheral wall  212   b , i.e., the outer/upper peripheral edge or lip RP of the recess R is defined to be oval in the illustrated embodiment. The reinforcement ring RR also defines a shape so that it fits in the groove  212   g  and, as such, the reinforcement ring RR is oval shaped in the illustrated embodiment. 
     The development has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that modifications and alterations to the preferred embodiments are possible. The disclosed preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims, which are to be construed as broadly as possible, whether literally or according to the doctrine of equivalents.