Patent Publication Number: US-11642600-B2

Title: Toddler bucket swing

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/682,707, filed Mar. 7, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to a swing for children. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a bucket-style swing that can be mounted onto a play structure, such as a conventional A-frame swing set, for use by children. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Play sets for children are well-known as they can be useful for recreation and occupational therapy for children. Swing sets are common, both because children enjoy them for recreational use and because swinging is beneficial for children&#39;s sensorial development. Swinging increases spatial awareness, helps develop gross and fine motor skills, and helps develop balance. 
     Many different types of children&#39;s swings have been developed, especially with the recent interest in increasing the safety of swings and playground equipment. The most common swing set configuration employed on both public and private playgrounds involves an A-frame construction having two A-frame vertical supports attached at their apex by an elongated horizontal bar from which are suspended one or a plurality of swings or other pieces of equipment. Common types of swings which may be suspended include classic seat swings, half-bucket swings, full-bucket swings, and, more recently, spider-web or nest-type swings. Full-bucket style swings are considered the safest for small children, as they are very difficult for a child to fall out of due to a back support portion and a front support portion in addition to the bottom swing seat. Full-bucket style swings are in contrast, for example, to “open” or classic seat swings which provide only a bottom seat, without a back or a front support portion. 
     Standard full-bucket style swings may allow a user to place their child in the swing, and the child may hold onto the chain that the swing is suspended by. No handles or grip are provided on the front support portion of the swing. Additionally, full-bucket style swings are typically identical on their front and back. While this may allow the swing to be used with the child facing in either direction, it does not provide additional back support to the child, nor convenient means for the parent to grip, catch, or push the swing from the back. It also may make it more difficult for a parent to place the child in the swing because the front support portion and the back support portion are both substantially vertical with respect to the seat. Thus, the child must be placed in the swing from the top, entering the swing from a substantially vertical angle. Depending on the height and weight of the child this may be awkward and/or physically difficult for the caregiver. 
     The following description provides the ability to overcome the shortcomings of current swing systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure relates to a swing system which may comprise a swing, the swing comprising a seat formed of a bottom portion connected to a front support portion and a back support portion; the front support portion comprising an upper, lateral support, and a medial support connecting the upper, lateral support to the bottom portion of the seat; a first space between the bottom portion, the medial support, and the upper, lateral support forming a first forward leg opening, and a second space between the bottom portion, the medial support, and the upper, lateral support forming a second forward leg opening; the front support portion having a first height and the back support portion having a second height, the second height of the back support portion greater than the first height of the front support portion; the upper, lateral support of the front support portion having a top edge, an inner face and an outer face, the inner face facing a child when the child is positioned in the seat, and the outer face facing away from the child when the child is positioned in the seat; the upper, lateral support of the front support portion comprising a semi-circular projection proximal to the top edge of the outer face, the semi-circular projection forming a grip, the grip extending across a width of the outer face, from a left side of the seat to a right side of the seat; the back support portion comprising a rear upper, lateral support, and a rear medial support connecting rear upper, lateral support to the bottom portion of the seat; and the rear upper, lateral support having a rear top edge, and the rear upper, lateral support comprising a lip extending outwardly at the rear top edge forming a back rest. 
     According to one aspect, the bottom portion, the front support portion, and the back support portion may be formed of a unitary piece. For example, the swing may be molded in a unitary piece. 
     According to another aspect, the swing system may further comprise a first bracket attached to the left side of the seat and a second bracket attached to the right side of the seat. The system may also include a first anchor connected to the first bracket and a second anchor connected to the second bracket, the swing seat suspended by the first anchor and the second anchor. 
     According to another aspect, the second height if the back support portion is about 1.2 to about 1.3 times greater than the first height. For example, the second height may be from about 10 inches to about 16 inches. The distance from the front support portion to the back support portion may be from about 12 inches to about 16 inches. 
     In some configurations, the swing seat may be suspended by a first support bracket connected at a top side of the left side of the seat, and a second support bracket connected at the top side of the right side of the seat. According to yet another aspect, the system may further comprise a first connector attaching the first anchor to a first chain, the first anchor, the first connector, and at least part of the first chain covered in a contiguous plastic polymer coating. 
     In other configurations described herein, a swing system may comprise: a swing seat comprising a front support portion in connection with a back support portion; the front support portion comprising a top edge and an outer face, with an grip extending outwardly proximal to the top edge of the outer face of the front support portion; wherein the front support portion has a front height and the back support portion has a back height, the back height greater than the front height; and the back support portion comprising a back top edge, the back top edge curving outwardly forming a lip. The grip extending outwardly may comprise a semi-circular projection extending from a left side of a front side of the swing seat to a right side of the front side of the swing seat. The grip may extend across the width of the swing front side. 
     The swing system may further comprise a first support bracket connected to the left side of the swing seat, and a second support bracket connected to the right side of the swing seat; and a first triangular anchor connected to the first support bracket and a second triangular anchor connected to the second support bracket. 
     According to yet another aspect, a method of providing a swing system is described, the method comprising: forming a swing seat, the a swing seat comprising a front support portion in connection with a back support portion; providing a grip projecting outwardly at a top edge of a front side of the front support portion; and providing an outwardly curving back support at the back support portion. The step of providing the grip extending outwardly at the top edge of the front side of the front support portion may comprise forming a semi-circular projection at the top edge of the front side of the front support portion, the semi-circular projection extending from a left side of the front support portion to a right side of the front support portion. The method may also comprise the step of attaching a first anchor to a left side of the swing seat via a first bracket, and attaching a second anchor to a right side of the swing seat via a second bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of a swing system as described herein; 
         FIG.  2    is a right side view of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a left side view of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a front view of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a back view of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a top view of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a bottom view of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a top view of the inner face of the swing seat as described herein; 
         FIG.  9    is a top view of the outer face of the swing seat as described herein; and 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of a swing system attached to chains for suspension. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The following description sets forth the system and use of swings, and more specifically, bucket-style swings for babies, toddlers, and small children. The swing may be mounted in a variety of configurations, such as on a traditional A-frame swing set or other swing structure, or on a tree limb. The disclosure generally refers to the swing system as being for a child, but it will be appreciated that the swing system may be used by a person of any age, if they are the appropriate size and weight for the swing. 
       FIGS.  1 - 7    illustrate a bucket swing according to the present disclosure. The swing may be generally formed of swing seat  10 , which includes a bottom portion  12  connected to a front support portion  15  and a back support portion  20 . The front support portion  15  and back support portion  20  may be formed in a variety of configurations. In the configuration shown in  FIGS.  1 - 10   , each of the front and back support portions  15 ,  20  include a medial support (medial support  22  on front support portion  15  and rear medial support  24  on back support portion  20 ), and an upper, lateral support (upper, lateral support  26  on front support portion  15  and upper, lateral support  28  on back support portion  20 ) connected to the medial support. The upper, lateral supports  26 ,  28  may each wrap around toward the center of the swing and connect to a side of the bottom portion  12 . This configuration leaves two forward spaces between the bottom portion  12 , the medial support  22 , and the upper, lateral support  26 , forming two forward leg openings  30 ,  32 . The two forward leg openings may receive a child&#39;s legs when they are seated in the seat portion of the swing. While this disclosure generally describes portions of the swing seat as being connected to each other, it will be appreciated that in some configurations the swing seat  10  is formed of a single unitary piece. In some configurations, it may be advantageous to form the bottom portion  12 , front support portion  15 , and back support portion  20  of a unitary piece, as it may allow for simpler and easier manufacturing. A unitary piece may also be safer as it has no movable parts, requires no additional locking mechanism to keep the child in the seat, and may also last longer. The swing seat  10  as shown in  FIGS.  1  through  10    may also generally include a front side  6 , a back side  8 , a left side  14 , and a right side  18 . 
     The back support portion  20  of the swing is attached to or formed integrally with the bottom portion  12  of the swing and may prevent a child in the seat from falling backward out of the swing seat. The upper, lateral support  28  of the back support portion  20  may be connected to the bottom portion  12  of the swing via the rear medial support  24 . The upper, lateral support  28  of the back support portion  20  may include a high molded backing  34 . In some configurations, the high molded backing  34  may also be provided with a generally outward curve  36  or lip. 
     The outward curve or lip  36  of the back support portion  20  may make it easier for a caregiver to place the child into the swing seat and/or remove the child from the swing seat. The lip  36  may also provide a handle for the caregiver to grip the swing from the back, such as when they are holding the swing in place to position a child in the seat portion, when they must hold the swing to slow it down, or when then are pushing the swing to swing the child. Furthermore, the outward curve and/or higher back of the back support portion  20  may provide an aesthetic feature that is more appealing to a user. 
     The back support portion  20  may have also have a height that is greater than the front support portion, and this may provide additional back support for the child in the swing and may also increase the comfort of the swing for a child user. In some configurations, the back height is about 1.1 to about 1.5 times greater than the front height. More specifically, the back height may be about 1.2 to about 1.3 times greater than the front height. For example the back height may be about 25 centimeters to about 41 centimeters (or about 10 inches to about 16 inches). The distance from the front support  15  to the back support  20  may from about 30 centimeters to about 41 centimeters (or about 12 inches to about 16 inches). 
     The high molded backing  34  may extend across a width of the back side  8  of the swing seat  10 , from the left side  14  of the swing seat to the right side  18  of the swing seat.  FIGS.  8  and  9    show the swing seat laid flat before it is connected, and the back side  8  of the swing is seen, extending from the left side  14  to the right side  18 , with the high molded backing  34  extending across substantially the entire width of the back side  8 . The lip or outward curve  36  may also extend across substantially the entire width of the back side  8  of the swing  10 . 
     The front support portion  15  of the swing is attached or formed integrally with the seat portion of the swing, and is designed to prevent a child in the seat portion from falling forward out of the swing. The front support portion may generally include a medial support  22  connecting the bottom portion  12  of the swing to the upper, lateral support  26 . The upper, lateral support  26  may include a top edge  38 , an inner face  40  and an outer face  42 . The inner face  40  may face the child (at the anterior side of the child&#39;s torso) when the child is positioned in the swing seat, and the outer face  42  may face away from the child when the child is positioned in the swing seat. 
     In some configurations, the front support portion  15  of the swing may further comprise a grip  45  for the child to grip when they are seated in the swing. The grip may be positioned in any suitable location for the child&#39;s hands to grasp while they are seated in the swing. For example, a rounded grip  45  may be provided on the outer face  42 , at or near the top edge  38  of the outer face. More specifically, a semi-circular projection or horizontal cylindrical segment may be provided as the grip  45 . Other suitable shapes may also be used. In other configurations, the grip  45  may be molded to further facilitate a comfortable and safe grip for the child. In still yet other configurations, one grip may be provided near the middle of the outer face for both of the child&#39;s hands. Alternatively, two separate grips may be provided, one for each of the child&#39;s hands. In yet other configurations, multiple grips such as two or more may be provided to allow different hand positions for the child&#39;s hands. For example, a single grip may extend across a width of the front side  6  of the swing seat  10 , from the left side  14  of the swing seat to the right side  18  of the swing seat, providing a plurality of different gripping positions across the front surface.  FIGS.  8  and  9    show the swing seat laid flat before it is connected, and the front side  6  of the swing is seen, extending from the left side  14  to the right side  18 . 
     In other configurations, one or more sets of grips may be provided, such as a smaller set of grips proximal to the middle of the swing, and a larger set of grips outwardly from the smaller set, so children with different hand sizes can use different sets of grips. Alternatively, a single grip with a graduated thickness may be used. It will be appreciated that different shapes, sizes, and lengths of the grip(s) are considered and contemplated herein. The alternative embodiments of the front surface grip(s) may provide more or less surface area to hold. 
     The grip  45  may generally allow a child seated in the swing to place their palms and/or fingers at the top edge  38  of the front support portion  15  and curve their fingers around the grip  45  at the outer face  42  of the front support portion  15 . The grip  45  may provide other advantages in addition to a surface for the child seated in the swing to grasp. A caregiver located at the front of the swing may use the grip  45  to control movement of the swing. For example, the grip  45  may allow a caregiver pushing the child from the front of the swing an additional grip to hold when grasping the swing to slow it down or when grasping the swing to provide additional pushing force. 
     The swing may be generally formed of a single piece of molded rubber, or other suitable material, as seen in  FIGS.  8 - 9   . The swing may be formed by positioning the right side of the upper, lateral support  28  of the back support portion  20  such that it overlaps with the right side of the bottom portion  12 , and further positioning the right side of the upper, lateral support  26  of the front support portion  15  such that it also overlaps the right side flap of the bottom portion  12 . Holes  48  may be formed through all three layers to connect the right sides of the upper, lateral support of the front and back supports to the right side of the bottom portion (see  FIGS.  8 - 9   ). Such holes  48  may be formed as part of the molded swing, or may be created after the swing portion is molded. A bracket  50  may be provided on each of the left and right sides, as described in more detail below, to secure the right side. The left side of the swing may be connected in a similar manner. It will be appreciated that this is a typical configuration for a bucket-style swing for children, and other configurations may be used. The swing may be formed of any suitable material, such as polymer rubber, plastic, polypropylene copolymer, synthetic rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM), etc. Other suitable materials may be used also. In one specific configuration, the swing is formed of 5/16″ thick EPDM rubber which is known to be resistant to cracking, oxidizing, and crazing. 
     A bracket  50  may be provided on each side of the swing, both to hold the portions of the swing together as described above, and to attach an anchor  60  to the swing. The brackets  50  may include an inner plate  52  and an outer plate  54  connected at a joint  56  ( FIG.  1   ). The bracket  50  may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal, galvanized steel, or other metal alloys. The joint  56  or coupling between the inner plate  52  and outer plate  54  may form a channel  58  or pocket to accept the anchor. For example, for a triangular anchor  60  as shown in  FIG.  1   , the inner and outer plates are connected at the joint  56  that has a generally circular-shape to accept the circular shape of the bottom portion of the triangular anchor  60 . The portions of the swing seat which overlap (namely, the right side of the bottom  12 ; the right side of the rear upper, lateral support  28 ; and the right side of the front upper, lateral support  26 ) may be placed between the inner  52  and outer plate  54  of the bracket  50 , and the inner and outer steel plates may then be riveted together. In the specific configuration shown in  FIG.  1   , three rivets  62  are provided on the right side of the swing seat and three rivets on the left side of the swing seat to attach the brackets  50  to the swing. 
     In addition to the bracket  50  on each side of the swing to hold the portions of the swing together, each side of the swing may also have an anchor  60  attached thereto for suspending the swing seat. The anchors  60  may be used to suspend the swing seat for swinging movement through a preferably arcuate path. The anchors  60  may be any suitable shape and may be formed from any suitable material. In some configurations, the anchors  60  may comprise triangular brackets. Even more specifically, the anchors may comprise acute isosceles triangles. 
     The anchors  60  may be formed of galvanized steel or other metal alloys, and each may be connected to the swing seat by a bracket  50  that is riveted to the swing seat as described above. The bracket  50  and/or the anchors  60  may be coated in a soft plastic or other suitable material to minimize sharp edges and/or points where children&#39;s fingers could be pinched, hair could be caught, etc., as described in more detail below. 
     The swing may be further suspended from two chains  64  attached to the anchors  60  ( FIG.  10   ). The chain  64  may be attached to the anchor  60  by any suitable means. For example, a connector  66  such as an S-hook may be used. In other configurations, other types of conventional connectors such as a threaded quick link, a coupling link, or any other conventional hook, link, and/or fastener may be used as connector. In some configurations, each of the chains  64  may be at least partially coated in a plastic material, such as plastisol or any other conventional suitable material. More specifically, the chains  64 , connector  66 , and the anchor  60  may together be coated such that there is one substantially contiguous coating  70 . The junction between the anchor  60 , connector  66 , and chain  64  in this type of configuration may be coated such that there is no slippage between the anchor, connector, and chain. Thus, there is no space for a child&#39;s fingers to be caught or pinched. In conventional, uncoated swings, the chain may rotate with respect to the arm support in use. As the chain rotates with respect to the arm support, a child who places their hands on the chain/arm support may have portions of the hand and/or fingers pinched. In other configurations, the chain, arm support, and the inner and/or outer plates of the bracket  50  may be coated. 
     Any suitable coating may be used. For example, a plastisol coating may be used. Plastisol coatings are typically applied as gels. As the plastisol gel coating solidifies, it provides the swing chain with a plastic-like texture. This may make the metal easier for children to hold onto the chain while they swing. It may also provide an aesthetic advantage as plastisol-coated chain can be brightly colored in many colors. The full length of the chain may be covered, or only links in the grip area may be covered. The plastisol-covered chain may reduce finger pinching, increasing safety of the swing. Similarly, a soft-grip type chain may be used, and/or a chain sleeve that encases the swing chain in a plastic covering. Plastisol, soft-grip chains, chain sleeves, etc., may allow children to grip chain more easily and provide a layer of protection against pinched fingers and chain corrosion. 
     In some configurations, prior to fixation of the chain assembly to the seat or fixation of the chain to the support structure, the triangular anchor, the S-hook and the chain may assembled together into the chain assembly. The chain assembly is then dipped or immersed into a polymer coating solution until each of the respective parts of the chain assembly are adequately coated. The coating may be allowed to dry after which the chain assembly is fixed to a seat with a bracket that engages the triangular anchor on a single side of the triangle. 
     The swing may be formed in any suitable manner known in the industry. For example, the swing may be formed by molding a single piece of rubber or polymer, or by molding separate pieces and connecting them. The mold may have the forms of the grip  45  and/or lip  36  formed in the mold, such that the swing is molded of a single unitary piece, including the grip  45  and/or lip  36 . Swings molded of a single unitary piece may be less likely to break or wear over time. 
     In use, the swing  10  may first be hung from an appropriate support. For example, a substantially horizontal tree branch or a conventional A-frame swing set may be used to hang the swing. Typically two chains are used to suspend the seat portion of the swing. For example, two chains may be used, each of the two chains attached to one of the respective anchors. A user may first hang each of the two chains, and then attach one chain to each of the anchors via a connector. Once the swing is appropriately and securely hung from a support, a caregiver may lift a child and place them into the swing seat  10 . As the child is lifted into the swing seat  10 , the lip/outward curve  36  of the high molded backing  34  may encourage the child to be positioned into the seat  10  (as opposed to traditional swings, which do not have a curve and which it can be difficult to lift children into). As the child sits in the swing, they may rest their back against the high molded backing  34  for safety and comfort. The front support portion  15  may keep the child from falling forward out of the swing seat  10 , and the back support portion  20  may ensure the child does not fall backward out of the swing seat  10 . 
     Additionally, the child may grasp the grip  45  provided on the outer face  42  of the lateral support  26  of the front support portion  15 . As a caregiver pushes the child in the swing, they may stand in front of the child and also use the grip  45  to push, and/or to grasp to slow the swing&#39;s movements. Similarly, the caregiver may stand at the rear of the swing and use the lip  36  to push and/or to grasp to slow the swing&#39;s movements. When the child is ready to be removed from the swing, the caregiver may more easily remove the child, as the generally outward curve/lip  36  may allow the caregiver to lift the child upwardly and rearwardly, rather than directly upwardly as with traditional bucket swings. 
     Although the foregoing disclosure provides many specifics, such as use of the system in conjunction with a bucket swing, it will be appreciated that other applications may be utilized for safety of swings, and these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments and configurations may be employed separately or in combination. Accordingly, all additions, deletions and modifications to the disclosed subject matter that fall within the scopes of the claims are to be embraced thereby. The scope of each claim is indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements. 
     The various embodiments described above, including elements of the various embodiments described above, can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.