Patent Publication Number: US-11376512-B1

Title: Sway playground swing

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to playground swing sets, swings and swing gliders, and in particular, to a full body sway swing having opposite ends attached to an upper swing frame allowing for the sway swing to swing or glide along a swing axis along a lateral extension of the swing. 
     Generally, playground swing sets are hanging seats suspended from an upper swing frame. The seat of a swing is typically a plastic or rubber platform or support suspended from chains or ropes attached to the upper swing frame at an upper end and to opposed ends of the seat at a lower end so that the seat can swing perpendicular to the lateral extension of the swing seat in a curved arc similar to a pendulum. A glider swing is a type of swing where the hanging seat is connected at four corners of the seat to provide movement generally within a horizontal plane (without substantial upward and downward movement). The swing or glider swing can generally move in all directions within the horizontal plane of the swing. 
     Playground swings and glider swings are typically used with the user in a seated position on the seat with legs dangling downward from the seat to propel swinging or movement. In this respect, the child&#39;s legs are used to help produce momentum along a desired direction of travel. The child&#39;s hands may hold onto the chains or ropes of the swing to stabilize the rider. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a full body swing including a broad flexible belt having a width extending between opposed front and rear ends of the swing and a length extending between opposed left and right ends of the swing, where the left and right ends are attached along their widths to an upper frame to suspend the flexible belt along a belt axis. In one embodiment, the flexible belt supports a rigid seat section for a child to sit where movement of the seat section occurs along the belt axis of the flexible belt and is facilitated by alternating rigid and flexible sections of the belt along the belt axis. 
     The present invention may support the bodies of one or more children on the broad flexible belt. The belt may swing using forces from the child&#39;s upper body or lower body only, for example, by sitting or standing on the rigid seat section and applying a force on a spaced apart rigid force plate causing the joining flexible sections to bend along the belt axis. Side to side movement of the seat section of the swing may be along a curved line path or arc and movement of the belt may be restricted from movement in a direction perpendicular to the belt axis. In this respect, the present invention may be more safely mounted and used by one or more children, including children with disabilities, in a playground environment. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention may provide a swing assembly comprising a support frame extending upwardly from a ground and providing a pair of horizontally extending support bars. A belt with opposed ends is supported by the pair of horizontally extending support bars and extends below and between the pair of horizontally extending support bars along a belt axis to define a length and extending between a front and rear of the support frame to define a width, the length and width of the belt sized to be capable of supporting a child. A seat plate of a rigid material is supported by the belt and positioned between the pair of horizontally extending support bars. At least one force plate of a rigid material is supported by the belt and spaced from the seat plate and the opposed ends of the belt to provide interposed joints between the at least one force plate and the seat plate and between the at least one force plate and the opposed ends of the belt capable of being flexed along the belt axis 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to allow the belt to compress and expand at the flexible joints along the belt axis to promote movement or momentum of the belt along the belt axis. 
     The width of the belt may be at least 36 inches. The length of the belt may be at least 145 inches. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a body swing sized to allow children to swing with other children or an adult, and to support the entire bodies of the riders thereon. 
     The opposed ends of the belt may be attached to the pair of horizontally extending support bars along an entire width of the belt. The belt may be rigid in a direction perpendicular to the belt axis. The belt may be made of a flexible rubber. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to allow children with sensory processing disorders to swing with smooth side to side motion generally along a curved line path. Therefore, motion is restricted from moving substantially upward and downward and backward and forward. 
     A distance between the seat plate and the at least one force plate may be at least 19 inches. A distance between the at least one force plate and the opposed ends is at least 18 inches. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to allow children with upper or lower extremity disabilities to produce movement to the swing using only their upper or lower extremities when seated. The seat plate and force plate are spaced to allow the child to reach the force plate with their arms or legs when seated. 
     The at least one force plate may be a first and second plates positioned laterally with respect to the seat plate. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to permit children to sit face to face and to work together to swing the belt. Therefore, the riders can engage each other during inclusive play. 
     The seat plate may comprise a rectangular sheet of steel. The rectangular sheet may be curved upward along the belt axis. The rectangular sheet may be attached to at least two opposed sides of an outer rectangular frame. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to create reclined seats conforming to the natural curvature of the body to provide comfortable and relaxed operation of the swing when the child is seated and their legs are extended upward. 
     The seat plate may further comprise first and second panels of non-slip material providing visual indication of first and second seat areas. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to quickly and intuitively indicate to the child where they should sit or stand to operate the swing. 
     A width of the seat plate may be substantially the same width of the belt. The seat plate may support a handlebar extending outwardly from at least one of a front end and rear end of the seat plate. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide broad stable support to the riders while preventing flexing of the belt at the seating area. 
     The at least one force plate may support an outwardly extending handle. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to permit the child to use their arms to apply a force on the force plate to swing the swing side to side. 
     The support frame further comprises a sunroof extending over the belt and at least partially shielding the belt from light rays directed downward from above. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to create a comfortable and cool environment where the swing can be used by children for extended amounts of time. 
     The present invention also provides a method of swinging on a swing assembly comprising a support frame extending upwardly from a ground and providing a pair of horizontally extending support bars, a belt with opposed ends supported by the pair of horizontally extending support bars and extending between the pair of horizontally extending support bars along a belt axis to define a length and extending below and between a front and rear of the support frame to define a width, the length and width of the belt sized to be capable of supporting a child; a seat plate of a rigid material supported by the belt and generally centered between the pair of horizontally extending support bars, and at least one force plate of a rigid material supported by the belt and spaced from the seat plate and the opposed ends of the belt by joints capable of being flexed along the belt axis. The method comprises the following steps: mounting the swing assembly to sit on the seat plate and applying a force on the at least one force plate to flex the joints along the belt axis and to create a movement of the seat plate along the belt axis. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide sensory development opportunities for children. 
     The movement of the seat plate may be substantially along a curved line path. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide play for children with sensory processing disorders by limiting movement. 
     The belt may be restricted from movement in a direction perpendicular to the belt axis. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to facilitate loading of children with disabilities onto the swing by limiting motion of the swing to one direction along a curved line path. It is also a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to limit the swing area to prevent accidents and allow installation of the swing in smaller playground areas. 
     Applying the force may be by a leg force or an arm force only on the at least one force plate. 
     It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the present invention to allow children with upper or lower disabilities to operate the swing. 
     These particular objects and advantages may apply to only some embodiments falling within the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front, right side perspective view of a flexible belt swing assembly of one embodiment of the present invention showing a flexible belt attached to and suspended from an upper frame at opposed attachment bars; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment of the ride side of the flexible belt to the upper frame of  FIG. 1  using a wrapping method; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, front perspective view of the seat section of the flexible belt of FIG.  1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic elevation view of the flexible belt of  FIG. 1  taken from above showing a seat section supported by the flexible belt and flanked by left and right rigid force plates with flexible joints therebetween; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the flexible belt of the flexible belt swing assembly of  FIG. 1  showing a seat section supported by the flexible belt and flanked by alternating pairs of left and right rigid plates with flexible joints therebetween. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a belt sway swing assembly  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention may provide a swing frame  12  supporting an attachment of a flexible sling belt  14  suspended therefrom. The swing frame  12  may comprise generally of front and rear arches  16 ,  18  spaced in forward and rear separation, and connected at upper curved ends  20  by a left connection bar  22  and a right connection bar  24  at left and right ends, respectively. The sling belt  14  may be hung from the left connection bar  22  and right connection bar  24  so that the sling belt  14  hangs loosely between the left connection bar  22  and right connection bar  24  and below the swing frame  12 . 
     Each of the front and rear arches  16 ,  18  may be generally described as an inverted U-shaped frame. The front arch  16  may have two opposed vertically extending legs  26 ,  28  extending upwardly from the ground  34  and converging toward each other to a curved apex  36  of the arch  16 . Similarly, the rear arch  18  may have two opposed vertically extending legs  30 ,  32  extending upwardly from the ground  34  and converging toward each other to a curved apex  38  of the arch  18 . The upper curved ends  20  of the front and rear arches  16 ,  18 , respectively, may extend substantially parallel. 
     The vertically extending legs  26 ,  28  of the front arch  16  and vertically extending legs  30 ,  32  of the rear arch  18 , respectively, may be angled or splayed outwardly in a downward direction such that swing frame  12  generally widens as one moves downward from the apexes  36 ,  38  to the ground  34  level. The vertically extending legs  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  may be angled at an approximately 25° downward angle with respect to vertical. 
     In one embodiment, the distance between the vertically extending legs  26 ,  28  of the front arch  16  may be about 150 to 170 inches and approximately 160 inches at the ground  34  level, and correspondingly, the distance between the vertically extending legs  30 ,  32  of the rear arch  18  may be about 150 to 170 inches and approximately 160 inches at the ground  34  level. The distance between the left side vertically extending legs  26  and  30  of the front arch and rear arch  18 , respectively, may be about 80 to 120 inches and approximately 100 inches at the ground  34  level, and correspondingly the distance between the right side vertically extending legs  28  and  32  of the front arch and rear arch  18 , respectively, may be about 80 to 120 inches and approximately 100 inches at the ground  34  level. 
     It is understood that in some embodiments the vertically extending legs  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  may extend below the ground  34 , for example, about 30 to 50 inches and approximately 40 inches below ground  34 , to provide additional foundational support and stability to the swing frame  12 . In one embodiment, the ground  34  may comprise a resilient material, e.g., grass, wood mulch, rubber mulch, wood fiber, rubber mats, pea gravel, sand, and the like, plus compacted earth backfill and concrete to stabilize the vertically extending legs  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 . 
     The front and rear arches  16 ,  18  are connected at the upper curved ends  20  by the left connection bar  22  and right connection bar  24  extending between and perpendicular to the front and rear arches  16 ,  18  at left and right sides, respectively. In one embodiment, the connection bars  22 ,  24  may be about 40 to 50 inches and approximately 46 inches in length spanning a distance between the front and rear arches  16 ,  18  at the upper curved ends  20 . 
     The swing frame  12  may be manufactured of metal tubing such as galvanized steel tubing. In one embodiment, the metal tubing may have an outer diameter of about 3 to 4 inches and approximately 3.5 inches. In one embodiment, the entire swing frame  12  may be approximately 185 inches in length, 92 inches in height, and 86 inches in depth. 
     In one embodiment, extending over the swing frame  12  along the upper curved ends  20  of the front and rear arches  16 ,  18  may be a sunroof  40  providing a shield to sun rays, rain, environmental elements, and the like to an area therebelow. The sunroof  40  may extend between the left connection bar  22  and right connection bar  24 , and between the front and rear arches  16 ,  18 . The sunroof  40  may be made of a sheet material that is curved to conform to the curves of the front and rear arches  16 ,  18 , or alternatively may be a flexible material stretched to conform to the curves of the front and rear arches  16 ,  18 . The sunroof  40  may be made of metal, wood, plastic, canvas, or the like. 
     In one embodiment, the sunroof  40  is a galvanized steel sheet bent to conform to the curves of the front and rear arches  16 ,  18  and finished with a baked-on powder coating to protect from the environmental elements. The sunroof  40  may be attached to the swing frame  12  using fasteners attaching the sunroof  40  to the left connection bar  22  and right connection bar  24  (as seen in  FIG. 2 ), and optionally, front and rear arches  16 ,  18 . 
     In some embodiments, the sunroof  40  may contain holes  42  allowing sun rays to penetrate though the sunroof  40  and also providing a decorative effect. The design of the holes  42  may be less dense at a center of the sunroof  40  between the left connection bar  22  and right connection bar  24  where the exposure to light rays may be greater, and may be more dense at the outer edges toward the left connection bar  22  and right connection bar  24  where the light rays may be less direct or weaker. In this respect, there is more shielding from light (and other environmental elements) towards the top of the sunroof  40  where light rays would be expected to be stronger than at the edges of the sunroof  40 . 
     In one embodiment, each of the front and rear arches  16 ,  18  may support a pair of downwardly extending rings  46  at the upper curved ends  20  which can be used to provide overhead grips for riding or mounting stability. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , each of the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  may support opposed left and right ends  50 ,  52  of the flexible sling belt  14 , respectively, allowing the sling belt  14  to hang downward therefrom and span between the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24 . The opposed left and right ends  50 ,  52  of the sling belt  14  are separated by a length of the sling belt  14  extending along a belt axis  44  (which may be a curved axis). The sling belt  14  has a width spanning between front and rear edges  54 ,  56  of the sling belt  14  perpendicular to the belt axis  44 . In one embodiment, the length of the sling belt  14  may be between 140 and 150 inches and at least 145 inches and approximately 145 inches and the width of the sling belt  14  may be between 30 and 40 inches and at least 36 inches and approximately 36 inches. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  (showing the right end  52  of the sling belt  14  as an example), the opposed left and right ends  50 ,  52  of the sling belt  14  are attached to the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24 , respectively. The opposed left and right ends  50 ,  52  may be attached to the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  by wrapping the left and right ends  50 ,  52  upwardly around an outside of the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24 . The widths of the opposed left and right ends  50 ,  52  of the sling belt  14  are pulled taunt along the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  to remove slack, and then the entire edge is fastened to the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  with fasteners, e.g., screws  58 , extending through holes in the sling belt  14  and into corresponding holes extending along the length of the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24 . 
     The opposed left and right ends  50 ,  52  of the sling belt  14  may wrap around at least 100 degrees and at least 150 degrees and at least 160 degrees around the outer circumference of the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24 . The attachment of the entire width of the left and right ends  50 ,  52  of the sling belt  14  to the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  allows the sling belt  14  to “pivot” about the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  when the sling belt  14  swings back and forth along a swing axis  48  (the belt axis  44  extending along the swing axis  48 ). The left and right ends  50 ,  52  of the sling belt  14  are stiff along its width so that the sling belt  14  is not allowed to swing forward and backward perpendicular to the swing axis  48  as further described below. 
     The opposed left and right ends  50 ,  52  of the sling belt  14  are further secured to the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  by being sandwiched between the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  and the sunroof  40  which is also fastened to the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  by fasteners, e.g., screws  58 , extending through holes in the sunroof  40 , sling belt  14 , and left and right connection bars  22 ,  24 . 
     The sling belt  14  is made of a flexible material that is able to extend and compress along the belt axis  44 . In a preferred embodiment, the sling belt  14  is made of a flexible material that is flexible along the belt axis  44  but inflexible or rigid in a direction perpendicular to the belt axis  44 . In one embodiment, the sling belt  14  may be constructed of a rubber sheet material and may be a three-ply fabric with rubber top and bottom layers. The thickness of the sling belt  14  may be about 0.25 to 1 inch and approximately 0.5 inches. The weight and thickness of the sling belt  14  may assist with stabilizing the position of the sling belt  14  below the swing frame  12 . 
     When suspended, the length of the sling belt  14  extends between the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  a distance of approximately 81 inches and the width of the sling belt  14  extends along the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  a distance of approximately 36 inches. Therefore, the sling belt  14  may extend a distance that is approximately 50 to 60% of its full length to provide a slack sling belt  14 . In one embodiment, the attachment of the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24 , may cause the sling belt  14  to be suspended approximately 43 inches below the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  and about 12 to 18 inches and approximately 14 inches above the ground  34 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the sling belt  14  includes a seat section  60  positioned toward a center of the sling belt  14  between the opposite left and right ends  50 ,  52  and generally falling at a lowermost position of the slung sling belt  14  due to the weight of the seat section  60 . The seat section  60  may be a rigid rectangular platform or plate, for example, made of wood, metal, plastic, or the like. The seat section  60  may span substantially the width of the sling belt  14  and along a desired length of the sling belt  14  in order to accommodate a body of a child sitting on the seat section  60 . The seat section  60  may have a length between 20 and 30 inches and approximately 22 inches and a width between 30 and 40 inches and approximately 36 inches. 
     In one embodiment, the seat section  60  may be made rigid using the construction of multiple combined seat parts affixed to an upper surface  80  and lower surface  82  of the sling belt  14  as further described below. 
     The seat section  60  may include a seat frame  70  providing a rigid, outer rectangular frame with front and rear bars  84 ,  86  defining a length of the seat frame  70  and left and right bars  88 ,  90  attached to the front and rear bars  84 ,  86  at left and right ends, respectively, defining a width of the seat frame  70 . The seat frame  70  may be constructed of tube material, for example, galvanized steel tubing with an embossed exterior surface providing a non-stick surface and having an outer diameter of 1 to 1.5 inches and approximately 1.3 inches. The seat frame  70  may have a length between 15 and 20 inches and approximately 19 inches and a width between 40 and 45 inches and approximately 43 inches. 
     The seat frame  70  may support thereon a plate  72  being a rectangular sheet material extending substantially over the seat frame  70 . The width of the plate  72  may be slightly shorter than the width of the seat frame  70  to allow the seat frame  70  to protrude from the plate  72  to provide a handlebar  74  for gripping the front and rear ends of the seat frame  70  as further described below. The plate  72  may have a length between 15 and 20 inches and approximately 19 inches and a width between 40 and 45 inches and approximately 36 inches. 
     The plate  72  may be attached to the seat frame  70  primarily along the left and right bars  88 ,  90  of the seat frame  70  by fasteners causing the plate  72  to bend or arch upward along the swing axis  48 . Therefore, the width of the arch between its two legs, is defined by the length of the seat frame  70  along the swing axis  48 . The plate  72  may be made of a flexible sheet material (e.g., galvanized steel finished with a baked-on powder coating) that allows the plate  72  to arch upward without breaking. The radius of curvature of the arch may be between 30 and 40 inches and approximately 34 inches. 
     The seat frame  70  and plate  72  are affixed to a lower surface  82  of the sling belt  14  by fasteners, e.g., screws  92 , extending upwardly through holes of the seat frame  70 , upwardly arching plate  72 , and sling belt  14  which are secured at an upper end by barrel nuts  94  receiving the screws  92  therein. The upward arch of the plate  72  translates to the flexible sling belt  14  to bend the flexible sling belt  14  upwardly to provide an upward arch to the sling belt  14 . 
     The handlebar  74  created by the seat frame  70  may jut outward from the front and rear edges  54 ,  56  of the sling belt  14 . The handlebar  74  has an embossed exterior surface for increasing the friction grip of the handlebar  74 . This handlebar  74  can be used to stabilize the sling belt  14  when children are mounting the seat section  60 . 
     An upper surface  80  of the sling belt  14  may further support first and second seat panels  100 ,  102  providing a pair of rectangular plates indicating a designated area of the seat section  60  where the child should sit or stand. The first and second seat panels  100 ,  102  are separately attached to the sling belt  14  primarily affixed along the left and right bars  88 ,  90 , respectively, of the seat frame  70  and separated by a gap  104  therebetween. The seat panels  100 ,  102  provide visual indications of sitting or standing areas of the seat section  60  and may be, for example, a different color from the sling belt  14 . The first and second seat panels  100 ,  102  may be a polymer plate such as made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and may be made of a non-slip or rough material for improving grip. In one embodiment, the first and second seat panels  100  may be 5 to 10 inches and approximately 6 inches in length and 35 to 40 inches and approximately 36 inches in width. The gap  104  between the panels may be 10 to 15 inches and approximately 10 inches in length and 35 to 40 and approximately 36 inches in width. 
     The first and second seat panels  100 ,  102  may be attached to the upper surface  80  by the same screws  92  extending upwardly through the holes of the seat frame  70 , plate  72 , and sling belt  14 , and through corresponding holes of the first and second seat panels  100 ,  102  which are secured at an upper end by barrel nuts  94  receiving the screws  92  therein. It is understood that the barrel nuts  94  may provide a flush upper surface of the first and second seat panels  100 ,  102 . It is also understood that additional fasteners may be used to attach the inner edges of the first and second seat panels  100 ,  102  to the upper surface  80  of the sling belt  14  than those extending though the left and right bars  88 ,  90 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the seat section  60  may be flanked by left and right flexible joint sections  62 ,  64 , for example, formed by the flexible sling belt  14 , and further joining the rigid seat section  60  to left and right rigid plates  66 ,  68  at outer left and right sides of the flexible joint sections  62 ,  64 . The left and right flexible joint sections  62 ,  64  are capable of being flexed, expanded and compressed along the swing axis  48 . The flexible joint sections  62 ,  64  may span a length between 15 to 20 inches and approximately 19 inches and a width of 35 to 40 inches and approximately 36 inches between the seat section  60  and the left and right plates  66 ,  68 . 
     The left and right rigid plates  66 ,  68  may be rectangular or polygonal in shape. In one embodiment, the left and right plates  66 ,  68  may be generally pentagonal or house shaped. The left and right plates  66 ,  68  may be attached to a lower surface  82  of the sling belt  14  by fasteners, e.g., screws extending through holes of the left and right plates  66 ,  68  and through corresponding holes of the sling belt  14 . The left and right plates  66 ,  68  may be made of a rigid polymer material such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The left and right plates  66 ,  68  may be rigid plates extending substantially the full width of the sling belt  14  and 15 to 20 inches and approximately 18 inches in length and 35 to 40 inches and approximately 36 inches in width. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , an opposed upper surface  80  of the sling belt  14 , opposite the left and right plates  66 ,  68 , may support handles  120  defined by a curved bar extending along the length of the sling belt  14  to form a loop for gripping by the hand of the user. The handles  120  may be generally centered between the front and rear edges  54 ,  56  of the sling belt  14 . In one embodiment, the handles  120  may be a galvanized steel tubing with an embossed exterior surface to improve grip and having an outer diameter between about 1 to 1.5 inches and approximately 1.3 inches, and a curved or bent length of about 10 to 15 inches and approximately 14 inches. 
     The handles  120  may be attached to the upper surface  80  of the sling belt  14  opposite the left and right plates  66 ,  68  by fasteners, e.g., screws extending through holes of a base plate  122  of the handle  120 , the sling belt  14 , and the left and right plates  66 ,  68 . Therefore, the handle  120  may be supported by the left and right plates  66 ,  68 . The handle  120  allows a sitting or standing child to grip the handle  120  when swinging on the sling belt  14 . It is understood that the sling belt  14  is wide enough so that a child that is sitting or standing on or in the seat section  60  may be positioned on either side of the handle  120  when sitting. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, left and right plates  66 ,  68  may be replaced by a pair of left side plates  106   a ,  106   b  and a pair of right-side plates  108   a ,  108   b , respectively. The pair of left side plates  106   a ,  106   b  are separated by a narrow flexible section  110 , for example, formed by the sling belt  14 , and which span a length of 1 to 3 inches and approximately 2 inches and a width of 35 to 40 inches and approximately 36 inches between the pair of left side plates  106   a ,  106   b . Similarly, the pair of right-side plates  108   a ,  108   b  are separated by a narrow flexible section  112 , for example, formed by the sling belt  14 , and which span a length between 1 and 3 inches and approximately 2 inches and a width between 35 and 40 inches and approximately 36 inches between the pair of plates  106   a ,  106   b . The handles  120  of this alternative embodiment may be supported by the outer plates  106   b ,  108   b.    
     It is understood that in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the sling belt  14  may be discontinuous flexible joint sections joined by interposed rigid plates instead of being a continuous belt material with rigid plates attached thereto as shown in the figures. In this respect, the rigid seat section  60  and rigid left and right plates  66 ,  68  may be joined by separate flexible joints sections  62 ,  64  of flexible material, and the rigid left and right plates  66 ,  68  may be joined to the left and right connection bars  22 ,  24  by separate left and right ends  50 ,  52  of flexible material. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , it is contemplated that the belt sway swing assembly  10  may be ridden be one or more children in the following described manner. 
     In one embodiment, a first child may be seated with the child&#39;s bottom on the first seat panel  100  with the child&#39;s back resting upon the rigid left plate  66  nearest the first seat panel  100 . The child&#39;s legs may extend across the seat section  60  (and across the second seat panel  102 ) so that the child&#39;s feet contact the rigid right plate  68 . In this respect, the seated child will use their legs and feet to push off the rigid right plate  68  and release to create a momentum causing the sling belt  14  to move along the swing axis  48 . The left and right flexible joint sections  62 ,  64  of the sling belt  14  allow the rigid right plate  68  to move with respect to the first seat panels  100  to provide movement of the first seat panel  100  side to side along the swing axis  48 . In this respect, the child may produce movement of the sling belt  14  through their legs only. 
     A second child may be seated in the opposite direction, facing the first child to allow face to face interaction, with the second child seated with the child&#39;s bottom on the second seat panel  102  with the child&#39;s back resting upon the rigid right plate  68  nearest the second seat panel  102 . The child&#39;s legs may extend across the seat section  60  (and across the first seat panel  100 ) so that the child&#39;s feet contact the rigid left plate  66 . In a similar manner, the seated child will use their legs and feet to push off the rigid left plate  66  and release to create a momentum causing the sling belt  14  to move along the swing axis  48 . The left and right flexible joint sections  62 ,  64  of the sling belt  14  allow the rigid left plate  66  to move with respect to the second seat panel  102  to provide movement of the second seat panel  102  side to side along the swing axis  48 . In this respect, the child may produce movement of the sling belt  14  through their legs only. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a child may position their entire body within the seat section  60  with the child&#39;s bottom on the seat section  60  and their legs within the seat section  60 . The child may use their left and right arms to push and pull the rigid left and right plates  66 ,  68 , with the assistance of the handles  120 , to create a momentum causing the sling belt  14  to move along the swing axis  48 . In this respect, the child may produce movement of the sling belt  14  through their arms only. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a first child may stand on the first seat panel  100  with the child&#39;s back resting upon the rigid left plate  66  nearest the first seat panel  100 . The child may use the handle  120  to push and pull the rigid left plate  66  to create a momentum causing the sling belt  14  to move along the swing axis  48 . A second child may stand on the second seat panel  102  with the child&#39;s back resting upon the rigid right plate  68  nearest the second seat panel  100 . The child may use the handle  120  to push and pull the rigid right plate  68  to create a momentum causing the sling belt  14  to move along the swing axis  48 . 
     It is understood that the seat section  60  is primarily held in a horizontal plane  130  of the seat section  60  and the seat section  60  moves side to side along the swing axis  48  and slightly upward and downward along a circular curved line path consistent with a lower part of the belt axis  44  with a large radius and low degree of curvature. The radius and degree of curvature of the curved path may be between 50 and 60 inches and approximately 55 inches. The seat section  60  does not move backward and forward in directions perpendicular to the swing axis  48  thus making mounting of the seat section  60  less difficult and restricting movement of the sling belt  14  to a single direction of travel for safety. 
     It is understood that the preferred movement of the sling belt  14  is made possible by the alternating rigid  60 ,  66 ,  68  and flexible  62 ,  64 ,  50 ,  52  sections of the sling belt  14  along the swing axis  48 . The restricted movement of the sling belt  14  is made possible by the stiff material of the sling belt  14  along its width attached to the left connection bar  22  and right connection bar  24 . 
     Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, and “below” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front”, “back”, “rear”, “bottom” and “side”, describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first”, “second” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. 
     When introducing elements or features of the present disclosure and the exemplary embodiments, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of such elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those specifically noted. It is further to be understood that the method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
     It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein and the claims should be understood to include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. All of the publications described herein, including patents and non-patent publications, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.