Patent Publication Number: US-2005143181-A1

Title: Collapsible infant swing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/774,407, filed Feb. 10, 2004, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/366,558, filed Feb. 14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,472, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/968,498, filed Oct. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,862, the entire content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to infant swings and more particularly to a collapsible infant swing frame.  
      2. Discussion of the Related Art  
      Infant swings are known in the art. Conventional infant swings are designed to be folded or otherwise collapsed for long term storage. However, even in the folded configuration, such swings are still relatively cumbersome and not necessarily compact. Additionally, to fold a conventional swing requires some measure of effort on the part of the user.  
      There are infant swings that are designed to be easily disassembled and reassembled to make them compact and portable. However, such swings typically require that each of the components of the swing be separated, increasing the likelihood that certain components will be misplaced.  
      Thus, there is a need for a collapsible infant swing that is easily reconfigured from a stored position to a useful position and that can be easily transported.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides an infant swing frame having a base, and first and second support posts. Each of the support posts is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to the base, and each of the support posts has a second end. A cross member is coupled between the support posts. The support posts and the base are reconfigurable between a first position in which the support posts are angularly spaced from the base and a second position in which the support posts are adjacent the base.  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, a pair swing arms are pivotally coupled to the end of a respective support post and extend downwardly from the support posts toward the base when in the first position. A seat is coupled to the lower ends of the swing arms.  
      These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the collapsible infant swing embodying the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the collapsible infant swing illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the collapsible infant swing illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the collapsible infant swing illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIGS. 5-7  are side views of the collapsible infant swing illustrated in  FIG. 1  at the forward limit of travel, rest position, and rear limit of travel.  
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are side and front views of the collapsible infant swing illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the collapsed configuration.  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a positioning member of the collapsible infant swing embodying the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a collapsible infant swing embodying the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a collapsible infant swing embodying the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 13  is a second embodiment of a positioning member for use with the collapsible infant swing embodying the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 14  is a third embodiment of a positioning member for use with the collapsible infant swing embodying the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIGS. 1 through 9  illustrate one embodiment of a collapsible infant swing  100 . The collapsible infant swing  100  includes a support frame  105  that supports swing arms  250 , which in turn support a swing seat  190 .  
      The support frame  105  is configured to elevate the swing seat  190  above a supporting surface S. Frame  105  includes support posts  210  and a base  150  that are reconfigurable with respect to each other between a first orientation in which the support posts  210  are angularly spaced from the base  150  and a second orientation in which the support posts  210  are adjacent the base  150 .  
      In the illustrated embodiment the base  150  is substantially u-shaped with parallel side members  152  and front member  153 . Feet  155  can be provided on the base  150  to engage the supporting surface to inhibit the swing  100  from sliding.  
      Support posts  210  are coupled to, and extend upwardly from, base  150 . Each support post has a first, lower end  212  coupled to the base and a second, upper end  214 . The side members  152  and support posts  210  may be coupled to a positioning member  500  (as described in detail below). Alternatively, the support posts  210  may be coupled directly to side members  152 .  
      In the illustrated embodiment, a cross member  300  is coupled between support posts  210  at second end  214  disposed above seat  190 . Cross member  300  provides several functions: stability for the frame  100 ; a handle for carrying the swing; support for the swing seat; a housing for the swing drive system; and a location for entertainment features. In alternative embodiments, cross member  300  can provide subsets of these functions. In the illustrated embodiment, cross member  300  includes a recess  310  sized to permit an adult user to grasp the recess and thus carry swing  100 . End caps  302 ,  304  are included on cross member  300  to maintain the position of the support posts  210  and to maintain the position of swing arms  250  (as described below).  
      The cross member  300  includes entertainment features such as hanging toys or articles  332  and lights  330 . When an infant positioned on the swing seat  190  grasps and/or pulls one of the hanging toys  332 , lights and/or sounds may be actuated. The lights and/or sounds may be deactivated after a predetermined time or, alternatively, when the infant grasps or pulls the toy again. Alternatively, lights and sounds may be actuated by the adult user with a switch located on cross member  300 .  
      Swing arms  250  extend downwardly from cross member  300  towards base  150 . The swing arms  250  are driven by a drive mechanism (not illustrated) located in cross member  300 . Drive assemblies known to those skilled in the art (whether electrical or mechanical) may be used to reciprocate the swing arms  250 . A switch is provided on cross member  300  to selectively actuate the drive assembly. The swing arms each have a first, lower end  252  and a second, upper end  254 . The second end  254  is coupled within the cross member  300  and may be coupled directly to the second end  214  of support posts  210 . The first end  252  of swing arms  250  are coupled to the seat  190 .  
      The seat  190  is substantially elliptical or oval in plan view and includes a removable cover  180  that defines a seating surface between the support posts  210 . The seat cover  180  is coupled to a seat frame  186  either by a simple friction fit or using hook-and-loop fasteners. The seat  190  can be manufactured from fabric or similar material. Alternatively, the seat  190  may be manufactured from other flexible materials such as vinyl, molded plastic or the like. Seat  190  may include a quilted surface to provide greater comfort for the infant positioned therein and may be manufactured using multiple layers of fabric between which backing material may be accommodated. The seat includes a foot portion  192  and a back portion  194  that are pivotally coupled to the swing arms  250 , so that they may be rotated into a storage position in which they are approximately parallel. The back portion  194  and foot portion  192 , together provide a seat that is an inclined position relative to the supporting surface S. Seat  190  further includes a belt  170  to maintain an infant in position in the seat. The belt  170  includes a pocket  172  having a plush article  174  tethered thereto. The pocket provides a convenient storage area for the plush article  174  while the tether allows the infant to play with the article  174  without dropping it on the floor.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 5 through 7 , the swing  100  further includes a shield  400  coupled to the seat  190  to prevent an infant occupant of the seat from extending its arms outside the seat area. The space between each support post  210  and corresponding swing arm  250  is a wedge-shape swing area A that varies with the position of swing arms  250 .  FIGS. 5, 6 , and  7  illustrate the changing extent of swing area A when the swing is in its rest position at the bottom of the arc defining its range of motion, at the forward end of the arc, and at the back of the arc, respectively. Shield  400  is provided to prevent an infant from extending its arm into swing area A, where they might be pinched between swing arm  250  and support post  210  at the back of the arc, or otherwise interfere with the motion of the swing.  
      The shield  400  may be integrally coupled with seat  190  to prevent the removal of shield  400 . Likewise, it would be undesirable to couple shield  400  to the removable seat portion  180 . Shield  400  is preferably coupled in a taut configuration between swing arms  250  and seat  190  to prevent deformation of the shield  400  thereby allowing an infant to place their arm within the swing area A. The shield  400  can be manufactured from any material that provides the desired obstruction from the swing area A. In the illustrated embodiment, the shield  400  is manufactured from a mesh material that allows a parent to view the infant sitting in the seat  190  while still providing the desired protection.  
      As discussed above, the frame  105  is reconfigurable between a first, use position in which support posts  210  are angularly spaced from the base  105  and a second, storage or transportation position in which the support posts  210  are adjacent to base  105 . The swing  100  is illustrated in the use position in  FIGS. 1 through 7  and in the storage position in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . When the swing is in the use position, the base  105  is substantially horizontal along a ground surface, and the support posts  210  extend upwardly from the base  150  and the swing arms extended downwardly from the second ends  214  of the support posts  210 .  
      The angular position between the base  150  and support post  210  is such that the swing arms  250  extend downwardly above the base  150  to maintain a stable configuration of the collapsible swing  100  when in the first position. When an infant is positioned in the seat, the center of gravity of the infant and the seat  190  together is directly below the pivot point of the swing arms  250 . The pivot point of the swing arms  250  is situated between the front member  153  and the rear of the base  150 . Moreover, the extent of the side members  152  of the base  150  is great enough to prevent the swing  100  from tipping when seat  190  is at the ends of the arc through which it moves. The support posts  210  each define an acute angle with respect to the base  150  when the swing  100  is in the use position, and therefore when the frame  105  is moved to the second position in which the support arms  210  are approximately parallel to, and on the opposite side of, the base, the base  150  rotates through an angle greater than 90 degrees.  
      To maintain the angular spacing between the support post  210  and the side member  152  in the use position, a positioning member  500  is provided. The base post  152  is pivotally coupled to positioning member  500  about pivot point  510 . Support post  210  is fixed within a socket in positioning member  500  (as best seen in  FIG. 10 ). Alternatively, both the support post  210  and the base post  152  could be pivotally coupled to positioning member  500 . Positioning member  500  includes a semi-cylindrical groove  520  to nestingly receive base post  152  when the swing  100  is in the first position. A locking clip or retention member  550  is provided on positioning member  500  to maintain the base post within groove  520  when the frame  105  is in the first position. Side members  252  may be coupled to a rotatable hub  530  that is pivotally coupled to positioning member  500 .  
      In use, a user can move the frame  105  from the first position to the second position illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  by releasing the locking clip/retention member  550  and pivoting the base  150  around pivot point  510  until the base  150  is adjacent the support posts  210 . In the position illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the portion of the base  150  that previously engaged the ground or support surface, is adjacent to the support post  210  as illustrated. As best seen in  FIG. 9 , at least a portion of the support posts lie in a common plane with a respective ground engaging base post in both the first position and the second position.  
      After folding the frame  105  into the second position, the user may fold the seat  190  such that the entire collapsible swing  100  is in a planar orientation as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . A detent mechanism is provided in positioning member  500  and cooperates with side member  152  to maintain the base  150  in the storage position. A strap  540  is coupled to the seat  190  and is long enough to wrap around the swing arm  250  to maintain the seat  190  in a folded orientation when the swing  100  is in the storage position.  
      While particular, illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and modifications exist that would not depart from the scope of the invention. For example, as described above, a pair of swing arms  250  that are coupled to cross member  300  supports the seat  190  within the frame  105 . In one alternative embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 11 , swing  100 ′ includes a pair of swing arms  250 ′ that are pivotally coupled directly to support arms  210 ′. The base  150 ′ is pivotally coupled around positioning member  500 ′.  
      In another alternative embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 12 , swing  100 ″ includes a single swing arm  250 ″ that is pivotally coupled to cross member  300 ″ such that seat  190 ″ is supported within the frame  105 ″ by a single pivot point. The configuration of swing arm  250 ″ may be similar to the structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,803,817 and 6,027,409, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  
      The positioning member  500  as described above includes a wedge-shaped member disposed between the angle formed between the support posts  210  and the side posts  252  of the base  150  to maintain their relative positions when the frame  105  is in the first position.  FIG. 13  illustrates an alternative embodiment of positioning member  500 ′. In that embodiment, positioning member  500 ′ includes clips  502 ′ that receive the support post  210  and base post  152  to maintain the support post and base post angularly spaced from one another when the frame  105  is in the first configuration. To reconfigure the frame  105  into the storage position, one or both clips  502 ′ would be disengaged from support posts  210  and/or side members  152 .  
       FIG. 14  illustrates a further embodiment of a positioning member  500 ″ in which the positioning member  500 ″ includes two collars  502 ″ that receive a post  504 ″ to maintain the angular position between the support post  210 ″ and the base post  150 ″ when the frame  105  is in the first position. To reconfigure the frame  105  into the storage position, the post  504 ″ would be disengaged from the collars  502 ″.  
      Each of the illustrated embodiments disclose a positioning member  500 ,  500 ′,  500 ″ that acts under compressive force between the support post  210  and the base post  152 . It will be appreciated that in a further alternative embodiment, positioning member  500  would be a tensile member, such as strap extending around the pivot point  510  and connected to the outer edges of support post  210  and base post  152  to maintain the frame in the use orientation.  
      As described above, the frame  100  is maintained in the storage position by using a detent mechanism. Alternatively, an arrangement of straps or clips could be utilized to maintain the position of the base  150  with respect to the support posts  210  in the storage position.  
      Also as described above, the seat  190  is provided with a strap  540  to maintain the seat  190  in a folded orientation when the swing  100  is in the storage position. Alternatively, multiple straps may be used or an arrangement of fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, etc. may be provided on opposing seat surfaces to secure the seat in a folded orientation when the swing is in the storage position.  
     Conclusion  
      While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.  
      The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.