Patent Publication Number: US-6342013-B1

Title: Apparatus and method for a child&#39;s suspended merry-go-round

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuing application of the U.S. application Ser. No. 09/571,998; filed May 15, 2000, entitled “Apparatus and Method for a Child&#39;s Suspended Merry-Go-Round” now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a suspended merry-go-round for children, particularly for use with a swing set. 
     Many adults no doubt have fond memories of their parents taking them to the park for a ride on a merry-go-round. Today&#39;s parent has a hectic work schedule and little free time to take children to the park. Even when a parent has time, many parks are both deteriorated and sometimes unsafe. While it might be nice to relocate the park to one&#39;s backyard, it should be appreciated that typical merry-go-rounds are too large for an average backyard. Another problem is that those rides must be secured to the ground, often requiring cement and other anchoring devices that permanently change the landscape of the backyard. A further problem with conventional merry-go-rounds is the lack of a back support to restrain the rider so as to prevent the rider from being thrown off of the merry-go-round and onto the ground, possibly resulting in injury. Yet another problem is the rigidity of the structure, which could strike and injure another child who gets too close to the ride. Still another deficiency in the conventional merry-go-round is that they are either leg-powered or require someone to stand on the ground and push the ride. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a new and improved child&#39;s merry-go-round apparatus and method that addresses these problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the invention is an apparatus and a method for a child&#39;s suspended merry-go-round. 
     In accordance with an apparatus aspect, the apparatus includes a vertical pole member having a ground end and a top end. The top end of the vertical pole member is attached to a support beam by a support assembly. The apparatus further has a rotatable seat member having a sitting surface with an opening at its center. The vertical pole member passes through this opening at the center of the seat member. The seat member is attached to the pole member by tension members. That attachment of the tension members to the pole member preferably comprises a bearing. 
     In accordance with another apparatus aspect, the apparatus includes a vertical pole member having a ground end and a top end. The top end of the vertical pole member is attached to a support beam by a support assembly. The apparatus further has a rotatable seat member having a sitting surface with an opening at its center. The vertical pole member passes through this opening at the center of the seat member. The seat member is attached to the pole by tension members. The apparatus also has a back support. 
     Still another aspect of the apparatus includes a vertical pole member having a ground end and a top end. The top end of the vertical pole member is attached to a support beam by a support assembly. The apparatus further has a rotatable seat member having a sitting surface with an opening at its center. The vertical pole member passes through this opening at the center of the seat member. The seat member is attached to the pole by tension members. The apparatus also has a hand wheel attached to the vertical pole member and a flexible back support attached to the seat member and to the flexible tension members. 
     In accordance with a method aspect, the method includes providing a merry-go-round apparatus having a vertical pole member and a seat member with a hole in its center. The pole member passes through this hole in the center of the seat member. One end of the pole member engages to the ground and an opposite end of the pole member is supported to hold the pole member vertical. The method further includes seating a child on the seat member and supporting the seat member with flexible tension members connected between the pole member and the seat member. The method also includes rotating the seat member about the pole member to give the child a ride on the merry-go-round. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the suspended merry-go-round of the present invention with a child seated on the seat member. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the support assembly shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of how the hand wheel shown in FIG. 1 attaches. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the seat member shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the back support and the hand wheel, as well as an isometric illustration of the support assembly, the pole member, the seat member, the back support and the hand wheel shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a new and improved child&#39;s suspended merry-go-round embodying aspects of the present invention will be described. 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a child&#39;s suspended merry-go-round apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  includes several basic components, including a vertical pole member  20 , a rotatable seat member  40 , flexible tension members  60 , back supports  70  and a hand wheel  80 . 
     FRAME 
     As shown below, given the structural function of the vertical pole member  20 , the pole member  20 , and the support assembly  90  may be called and referred to as the “frame” of the apparatus. 
     The vertical pole member  20 , which may also be called a “vertical leg,” is called a “vertical” pole member because it is preferably 90° to the plane of the ground. The vertical pole member  20  has two ends, a ground end  22  and a top end  24 . The ground end  22  is designed to be secured to the ground. Although this is called the ground end  22 , it should be understood that it does not necessarily have to be secured in dirt, but may also be in sand, concrete, asphalt, crushed rock, or other surface. However, dirt and sand probably provide the safer surface from the standpoint of the child. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical pole member  20  provides the axis of rotation for the merry-go-round. Another function of the vertical pole member  20  is to provide a stable connection to a support assembly  90  that attaches the top end  24  of the pole  20  to a support beam  100 . Further, the pole  20  also provides the structure to which flexible tension members  60  attach the rotatable seat member  40 . In addition, the pole  20  contains holes allowing for the attachment of a hand wheel  80 . Each of these other components—a hand wheel  80 , a rotatable seat member  40 , flexible tension members  60 , and back supports  70 —shall be discussed in due course, but it should be understood that the vertical pole member  20  must be durable enough to withstand the weight of these components, the weight of children  110  riding the apparatus, as well as the centrifugal force of the children  110  during rotation, and the net external torque acting on an object rotating about a fixed axis. The pole member  20  also must be constructed of material that is reasonably weather resistant, and constructed of a material that allows attachment of these various components. 
     Therefore, the vertical pole member  20  is preferably metal formed. It should be understood that the term “metal formed” shall mean preferably of steel construction, although a durable and strong plastic polymer may also be used and shall too be synonymous with “metal formed” where it provides a suitable alternative to steel. The pole member  20  is even more preferably a hollow steel pole, and still more preferably a hollow steel pole measuring 2 inches in diameter by 72.5 inches in height, still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 45022. 
     The top end  24  of the vertical pole member  20  is attached to a support assembly  90  that is connected to a support beam  100  that is preferably a swing set support beam, more preferably a hollow metal swing set support beam and also known as a “top bar.” 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the support assembly  90 . The support assembly includes a tube  93  with a first end  93 A (also known as the “top bar” end) configured so as to fasten to the swing set support beam  100  and a second end  93 B configured so as to fasten to the top end  24  of the pole member  20 . The tube  93  is preferably a hollow metal formed tube  93 , more preferably a metal formed Elbow Tube, still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 33000020. 
     In addition to the tube  93 , the support assembly  90  as shown in FIG. 2 may include a bearing washer  91  and a swing support plate  92 . The bearing washer  91  is preferably plastic, more preferably a Derlin plastic washer with an internal diameter 2.25 inches, still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 25000010. A plastic bearing is sufficient for the weight normally carried in the present invention, and is preferred because it is waterproof. For larger devices, carrying several children, a metal roller bearing may be preferred. The swing support plate  92  preferably is metal formed, more preferably is metal formed with tabs, still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 31000010. 
     The washer  91  and then the swing support plate  92  fit over the tube  93  by sliding onto the tube  93  from the first end  93 A until the bearing washer  91  and the swing support plate  92  rest on a bearing support  98 . The tabs of the swing support plate  92  should point in the direction of motion (toward the second end  93 B of the tube  93 ). The washer  91  and swing support plate  92  slide onto the tube  93  until both rest on the bearing support  98 . The second end  93 B of the tube  93  is now ready to secure to the top end  24  of the pole  20 , and the first end  93 A of the tube  93  is ready to be secured to the swing set support beam  100 . 
     The top end  24  of the vertical pole member  20  is secured to the second end  93 B of the tube  93 . Preferably, the top end  24  (also known as the hole end) of the pole member  20  inserts into the bearing support  98  end of the tube  93 , and is preferably secured with a bolt  115 , a washer  116 , and a nut  117 . The bolt  115  is preferably metal formed, more preferably is metal formed of dimensions {fraction (5/16)}th of an inch by 1¾ of an inch, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 001354P. The washer  116  is preferably metal formed, more preferably a metal formed lock washer, still more preferably a ⅜ inch metal formed lock washer, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 001664P. The nut  117  is preferably metal formed, more preferably a metal formed barrel nut, still more preferably a metal formed barrel nut {fraction (5/16)} inch by 1¼ inch, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 007002P. The top bar end  93 B of the tube  93  slides onto the top bar  100  and are secured with the bolt  115 , washer  116 , and nut  117 . All bolts  115  and nuts  117  are tightened until the washers  116  are flattened. 
     The first end  93 A of the tube  93  is secured to the swing set support beam  100  by sliding the first end  93 A of the tube  93  onto the end of the top bar  100 . The first end  93 A of the tube  93  and the top bar  100  then are secured with a bolt  115 , a washer  116 , and a nut  117 . It does not matter whether the first end  93 A is first secured to the beam  100  or the second end  93 B is first secured to the top end  24  of the pole  20 . 
     HAND WHEEL 
     Between the top end  24  of the pole  20  and the ground end  22 , the apparatus preferably has a hand wheel  80 , which may also be called a “turning wheel” that children may use while riding to apparatus in order to provide the torque that rotates the seat member  40  about the axis of rotation that is the pole member  20 . 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the hand wheel  80 . The hand wheel  80  has an opening at its center such that it may slide over the vertical pole member  20 . The hand wheel preferably is constructed of plastic, more preferably a blow molded plastic, more preferably a blow molded plastic having grooves for the fingers for easier gripping, still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 66000030. 
     The hand wheel  80  in the preferred embodiment has an up side  82  (facing toward the top end  24  of the vertical pole member  20 ) that is flat and has an extension end  84  that extends toward the ground end  22  of the pole  20  such that the hand wheel  80  may be secured to the pole member. The hand wheel  80 , having an opening at its center with an internal diameter preferably the diameter of the vertical pole member  20 , slides flat up side  82  up over the pole  20 . The hand wheel has holes in the extension end  84  that align with holes in the vertical pole member  20  and allow for the hand wheel  80  to be secured to the pole member  20 . 
     The hand wheel is preferably secured to the pole member  20  above the plane formed by the seat member. The hand wheel  80  is preferably secured by bolts  123 , washers  124 , and nuts  125 . The bolt  123  is preferably metal formed, more preferably is metal formed of dimensions ¼ inch by 3.5 inch, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 001272P. There are preferably two bolts  123 . The washer  124  is preferably metal formed, more preferably a metal formed flat washer, still more preferably a {fraction (5/16)} inch metal formed flat washer, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 001618P. There are preferably two washers  124 . The nut  125  is preferably metal formed, more preferably a metal formed barrel nut, still more preferably a metal formed barrel nut of dimensions ¼ inch by ¾ inch, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 007003P. There are preferably two nuts  125 . The nuts  125  are tightened in order to secure the hand wheel  80  to the vertical pole member  20 . 
     SEAT MEMBER 
     A preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10  further includes a rotatable seat member  40  having sitting surface with an opening at its center through which the vertical pole member  20  passes. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the seat member  40 . The seat member  40  is a substantially flat platform disk, so it may also be known as the “platform” of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10 . Although substantially flat, the seat member  40  may have raised section  45  for further attachment of back supports  70  as shown later. Each raised section  45  also has at least three holes in a row that is substantially parallel to the surface of the seat member  40  and these holes may be at least 3 inches apart. 
     The seat member  40  must be constructed of a durably material that can withstand the weight of any children riders, and is preferably constructed of plastic, more preferably a hollow plastic shell, even more preferably an injection or blow molded plastic shell, still more preferably a blow molded plastic shell having two semicircular halves  49  adapted so as to interlock and form the seat member with the opening at its center for the pole member  20  to pass therethrough, and most preferably two Flexible Flyer® part numbers 66000020. The seat member could also be made of wood, and of course could be made of more than two sections. 
     Each of the interlocking semicircular halves  49  of the seat member  40  contains counter sunk holes  41 , preferably round counter sunk holes  41 , more preferably at least two round counter sunk holes  41 , still more preferably four round counter sunk holes  41  as shown in FIG.  4 . For each of the counter sunk holes  41  there is a washer  42  placed in the hole  41 , preferably the washer  42  is a flat washer, more preferably a ⅜ inch flat washer, still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 001616P. 
     The two halves  49  of the seat member  40  connect by interlocking. The interlocking semicircular halves  49  of the seat member  40  are preferably even and flush. The halves  49  are further connected by at least one support bar  48  through at least one slot  43  in the seat member  40 . There are preferably two support bars  48  through two slots  43  in the seat member  40 . The slots  43  are preferably parallel, and more preferably located at the bottom of the seat member  40 . 
     After the two halves  49  of the seat member  40  are interlocked by pushing the halves  49  firmly together, the two support bars  48  are positioned in the bottom slots  43  of the seat member  40  with the counter sunk holes  41  of the halves  49  being aligned with holes in the support bars  48 . The support bars  48  are preferably metal formed, more preferably metal formed hollow bar of the dimensions 1 inch by 24 inch, still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 30000006. 
     The halves  49  are secured with bolts  44 , washers  116 , and nuts  117 . The washers  116  and nuts  117  have been previously described. The bolts  44  are preferably metal formed, more preferably metal formed of the dimensions {fraction (5/16)} inch by 1.25 inch, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 001352P. All of these bolts  44  are tightened through the nuts  117  until the washers  116  are flattened. 
     BACK SUPPORT 
     In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus  10  also includes back supports  70 . A back support  70  may also be called a “seat back” or a “back rest.” The preferred embodiment contains at least two back supports  70 . A back support  70  should be constructed of a material that is both comfortable to the rider and is durable to withstand the centrifugal force of the rider. In a preferred embodiment the back support  70  is flexible and may be plastic, canvass, cloth, vinyl, or vinyl mesh. Preferably, there are at least two back supports, more preferably two vinyl mesh back supports, still more preferably two Flexible Flyer® parts number 42000100. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment each back support  70  is a rectangular flexible vinyl mesh having four sides. This FIG. 5 shows that two sides  71  and  72  of the back support  70  are substantially parallel to each other and to the plane of the seat member. The other two sides are substantially parallel to each other and contain a passageway  73  through which the tension members  60  may be threaded as shown below. The back support  70  as shown in FIG. 5 contains at least three holes in a row on one side. The distance between each hole should be approximately the same distance as the holes in the raised section  45  of the seat member  40  as previously described. 
     The back support  70  is attached to the seat member  40  by aligning the three holes of the back support  70  to the three holes in the raised section  45  of the seat member  40  and securing with push fasteners  77 . The push fasteners are preferably plastic, more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 26000700. 
     It should be understood by one skilled in the art that there may be fewer or greater than 2 back supports. 
     TENSION MEMBERS 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the seat member  40  is connected to the pole  20  by at least four flexible tension members  60 . The tension member may be a vinyl rope, a cloth rope, metal cable or chain and is preferably a swing chain, more preferably a rubber-covered swing chain, still more preferably a 54 inch rubber-covered swing chain, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number H45701W. 
     Each tension member  60  has a first end and a second end. The second end of each tension member  60  is threaded through one passageway  73  of the back support  70  and secured to the seat member  40  by a bolt  61  attached to the second end of the tension member  60 . The bolt  61  is preferably metal formed, more preferably a metal formed eye bolt, still more preferably a {fraction (5/16)} inch eye bolt, and even more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 00203. The bolt  61  is inserted into a slotted counter sunk hole in the seat member  40  as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each bolt  61  is secured to the seat member with a washer  116  nut  117  as previously described. The bottom corner of the passageway  73  of the back support  70  then pulls down over the bolt  61 . 
     The first end of each tension member  60  is attached to the swing support plate  92  at the top end  24  of the pole  20 . In particular, the first end of the tension member  60  is attached to the swing support plate by a hook  62 . The hook  62  is preferably metal formed, more preferably is a metal formed S-Hook, and still more preferably Flexible Flyer® part number 26000010. The hook  62  hooks onto one of the tabs of the swing support plate  92  and is closed using pliers. 
     In accordance with the above, there is the option to first attach either the first or second end of the tension member  60 . There is a preferred order, as shown next, because preferably the seat member  40  has been interlocked previously, and then the vertical pole member  20  can be lifted so as to align with the center hole of the assembled seat member  40 , and then the pole  20  can be lowered through the center hole of the assembled seat member  40 , and the pole  20  is positioned at 90° to the plane of the ground. Preferably, if the second end of the tension member  60  has been previously attached to the seat member  40  as explained, this allows the assembler merely to lift the first end of each tension member  60  to attach to the swing support plate  92 . The distance between the seat number  40  and the handwheel  80  may be adjusted. 
     The average height of the handwheel  80  to the seat member  40  is preferably, approximately 11 inches. The preferred height of the handwheel  80  is 9 inches, 11 inches, or 13 inches above the seat member  40 . The height of the seat member  40  is preferably 8 inches above the ground or more. In the preferred embodiment, the tension member  60  is a 54-inch rubber-covered swing chain, and each chain link is approximately 2 inches in length. One may cut the rubber covering to the first end of each tension member  60 , which cutting exposes chain links, and then count the approximate number of chain links for the desired adjustment and attach the next chain link to the hook  62  and connect the hook  62  to one of the tabs of the swing support plate  92  at the top end  24  of the pole  20  and close the hook  62  onto the tab of the swing support plate  92 . 
     METHOD OF USING THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a method of operating a suspended merry-go-round includes the steps of: providing a merry-go-round apparatus  10  comprising a vertical pole  20  and a seat member  40  with a hole in its center and the pole  40  passing through said hole, the ground end  22  of the pole  20  engaging the ground and the top end  24  of the pole  20  being supported to hold the pole vertical. The seat member  40  is supported with flexible tension members  60  connected between the pole  20 . In addition to the seat member  40  to support the weight of the child  110 , the child  110  may also be supported by a back support  70 . 
     A child  110  can sit on the seat member  40  of the apparatus  10  and rotate the seat member  40  about the pole to give the child  110  a ride on the merry-go-round  10 . The rotation may be provided by a hand wheel  80 . The child  110  may use the tension members  60  as hand rails to hold on during the rotation. The bearing provided by the bearing washer  91  and swing support plate  92  allow the suspended seat member to freely turn about the pole member. 
     SCOPE OF INVENTION 
     It should be appreciated that the apparatus and method of the present invention is capable of being incorporated in the form of a variety of embodiments, only some of which have been described above. The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. 
     Therefore, while the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it is noted that this description has been provided by way of explanation and illustration, and not restrictive. Clearly various alternatives to these preferred embodiments are possible and within the scope of this invention, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are embraced to be within their scope, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.