Abstract:
Apparatus for use in performing intercourse includes a frame having an operative side, and a swing assembly. The swing assembly has at least two suspension joints. This swing assembly is attached to the frame through the two suspension joints to allow the assembly to swing arcuately. The two suspension joints are reciprocatable about different centers of gyration. The swing assembly has a platform allowing a first person to rest thereon and provide genital access toward the operative side. The swing assembly has clearance to allow a second person to stand adjacent the platform and gain access to said first person from the operative side as the swing assembly swings arcuately.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to apparatus for facilitating sexual intercourse, and in particular, to apparatus employing a platform, a frame, and a suspension system that cooperates with the force of gravity to generate motion.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    The traditional practice of men and women having sexual intercourse in a bed has several drawbacks. A partner who is pressed against a horizontal bed surface by the other partner&#39;s weight will be subjected to uncomfortable pressure at the lower back, pelvic region, and hips. Another difficulty on a bed is achieving sexual penetration at an optimal orientation, so that the penis engages the roof of the vagina while maintaining open access to the clitoral area for stimulation. Also, the bed sheets and mattresses employed on beds are easily soiled and this possibility can distract one or more of the partners.  
           [0005]    Several types of intercourse-facilitating apparatuses have been proposed, which are typically designed with handicapped individuals in mind. U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,532 to Hudak discloses a platform mounted on a frame in a fixed position, allowing vaginal entry while the male is standing. There a woman lies in an inclined supine position, slightly elevated at the head, and able to reposition herself easily. The main reasons for Hudak&#39;s design is to alleviate the stress related to sexual intercourse for people who are either overweight, or have sustained certain types of neurological damage or other physiological impairments. The problem with Hudak&#39;s design is that once adjusted, it is static. Also, it is not easily stored and is cumbersome to adjust the height. Adjusting the height requires one to cut the frame&#39;s legs, preventing any future adjustments to elongate the frame.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,389,062 and 5,453,080 to Mitchum disclose intercourse-facilitating, therapeutic furniture that seeks to help disabled persons to engage in sexual intercourse; e.g., paraplegics, persons with back and spine problems, infirm persons, frail persons, obese persons, etc. Mitchum&#39;s apparatus seeks to enable handicapped individuals to assume a position suitable for sexual intercourse that they might not be able to achieve otherwise. Essentially, the male uses a lever to reciprocate his seat horizontally relative to the seated female. A problem with Mitchum&#39;s apparatus is that it is geared toward handicapped individuals and not to the average person who may be seeking to enhance intercourse by maintaining an optimal position. Another problem is its unappealing, unidirectional movement; whereas a more interesting and satisfying motion will have various components of motion. Also, the sexual partners cannot switch places or reposition themselves with the female straddling the male.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,243 to Bisyak is a harness-like device for suspending one partner in order to facilitate sexual intercourse. That device must be hooked onto a fixture that is mounted to the user&#39;s ceiling, and thus lacks the convenience of a free standing device. Another problem is that a female suspended in this harness will be so positioned as to make clitoral access and stimulation difficult. Also, suspending a person with a collection of flexible straps has an unnatural feel, as opposed to using something that seems more like furniture. Moreover, the finite length of the straps limits the maximum girth of the person that can use the apparatus. Furthermore, since all support is derived from a single point, there will be an unsettling tendency for the suspended partner to yaw and to move in other unusual ways. Thus, the device lacks the stability offered by multiple point suspension.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,855 to Kundson shows a sling suspended above a bed to facilitate a sexual position with the woman straddling the man, who lies below on a bed. Again, the device must be hooked onto an overhead fixture that is mounted to the user&#39;s ceiling. The positioning produced by the sling makes clitoral access and stimulation more difficult. Kundson&#39;s invention utilizes a cloth panel to support the woman, whereas more comfortable and natural support would be provided by a rigid frame offering a padded upholstered seat to provide support. Also, Kundson&#39;s invention is only designed to facilitate a single position, and lacks the flexibility to facilitate a variety of positions.  
           [0009]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,779 a male seat and a higher female seat face each other and ride on horizontal rails. Both seats can rock on pivots and are counterbalanced by elastic suspension members. The man will sit with his hips over his seat pivot, so that his hips will pitch without much vertical movement. The woman will sit on the edge of her seat away from her seat pivot to tilt the seat forward, nominally into the four o&#39;clock position. By rocking her seat, the woman&#39;s hips will tend to reciprocate vertically with upward motion bringing her somewhat closer to the male seat. A difficulty with this design is that the female position is determined by her weight, which affects how far the her seat will tilt forward. Also, the rocking by the partners produce incompatible motions (vertical hip translation vs. hip rotation). Furthermore, the female seat has flaring leg supports for spreading her legs, which impedes partners from trading places and experimenting with different sexual positions.  
           [0010]    See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,773 (two seated rocking chair).  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use in performing intercourse. The apparatus includes a frame having an operative side, and a swing assembly. The swing assembly has at least two suspension joints. This swing assembly is attached to the frame through the two suspension joints to allow the assembly to swing arcuately. The two suspension joints are reciprocatable about different centers of gyration. The swing assembly has a platform allowing a first person to rest thereon and provide genital access toward the operative side. The swing assembly has clearance to allow a second person to stand adjacent the platform and gain access to said first person from the operative side as the swing assembly swings arcuately.  
           [0012]    In a preferred embodiment the apparatus utilizes four independent suspension members that are each connected to four separate joints on the seat support beam. The suspension members will then hang from four independent points on an external frame, thereby enhancing stability. In contrast, sling devices suspended from a single overhead point (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,855 to Kundson) are relatively unstable and allow abnormal, distracting motions. The preferred four point suspension is safer for the seated person, as the person&#39;s weight is evenly distributed to four separate points instead of just one point, which could fail, and being without redundancy, would allow the seated person to fall to the floor. Moreover, the preferred embodiment allows the feet of the seated person to rest on a stable, fixed, padded location, which is far less cumbersome to mount and dismount than the prior art apparatus.  
           [0013]    The preferred embodiment also has a platform suspended on a frame that collapses for easy storage. The apparatus preferably uses an upholstered seat with a fully reclining backrest that is mounted to a support beam, which is in turn suspended at an adjustable height from a collapsible frame.  
           [0014]    This preferred apparatus uses the force of gravity to create a rocking motion such that a male can easily maneuver a seated or fully reclined female partner in a forward and backward, left and right, or even up and down direction to enhance pleasure. Unlike earlier designs, the preferred embodiment uses 1) gravity-induced motion, 2) suspension, 3) quickly adjustable height, and 4) a collapsible frame that can be stored in a closet or elsewhere to be hidden from sight.  
           [0015]    The preferred embodiment will allow suspension of a woman while she lay flat on a platform, either dorsally or ventrally, with her vaginal area accessible to the man while standing in an upright position. Alternatively, the man may be suspended while he lay flat on his back, so that a woman can easily stand over and straddle the man and accomplish penetration.  
           [0016]    This preferred apparatus enhances pleasure and orgasm by providing direct access to the clitoral area for direct stimulation during penetration, while simultaneously orienting the penis to engage and stimulate the roof of the vagina. At the same time, the preferred apparatus alleviates the need for a man to support himself with his arms and shoulders to prevent his full body weight from putting an undesirable amount of pressure on the torso, pelvis, and hips of his partner who is lying underneath him. Also, the preferred embodiment provides a resting place for the woman&#39;s legs so she need not keep her legs up in the air by herself, while her partner is positioned over her.  
           [0017]    Thus, the preferred embodiment will enhance pleasure for both partners by making it virtually effortless to have sexual intercourse by using the force of gravity to move a suspended seat to and fro. By suspending the one partner on a stable padded reclining seat, that individual can relax and reach the optimal state by focusing on nothing else but the pleasure of the experience. By being able to move the suspended person&#39;s body with a slight, almost effortless push, creating a rocking motion, the standing partner has little exertion, and is thus free to focus on the pleasure of the experience.  
           [0018]    The foregoing can be achieved with an apparatus that is preferably, easily assembled and taken apart to be stored away from onlookers. This preferred apparatus can be easily adjusted to better match the height of the standing party by using four adjustable suspension members.  
           [0019]    Further objects and advantages are to make intercourse between couples easier, so that it leads to couples having more intimate time with less work. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    The above brief description as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus in accordance with principles of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing in phantom partners positioned on the apparatus;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a suspension point on the frame of FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a detailed side view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2, showing the adjustability of the seat and backrest of the platform;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a detailed, fragmentary view of two of the pivot points of the frame of FIG. 2; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of an apparatus that is an alternate to that of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , the illustrated frame has a pair of parallel, tubular runners  10 , each with journal brackets  12  and  14  on opposite ends. Uprights  16  and  18  are pivotally mounted in separate ones of the brackets  12 . Uprights  16  and  18  have an inverted L-shape with inwardly directed, upper arms  16 A and  18 A, respectively. Arms  16 A and  18 A are padded to act as foot or leg supports. A stringer  21  is attached between the vertical portions of uprights  16  and  18 , at about one-third of their heights. Uprights  20  and  22  are pivotally mounted in separate ones of the brackets  14 . Uprights  20  and  22  also have an inverted L-shape with inwardly directed, upper arms  20 A and  22 A, respectively. A stringer  24  is attached between the vertical portions of uprights  20  and  22 , at about one-third of their heights. The side of the frame with uprights  16  and  18  is referred to as the operative side.  
         [0029]    Attached to suspension points on the underside of arms  16 A,  18 A,  20 A, and  22 A are four elongate members, shown herein as flexible chains  26 . Instead of chains, some embodiments may employ ropes or cables, or may employ rigid or elastic members. The lower ends of chains  26  attach to suspension joints at opposite ends of cross members  28  and  30 . Cross member  28  may also be used as a foot or leg support.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of chain  26  is suspended on a link  27  that encircles pin  25 , which is mounted between a pair of support plates  23  welded to the underside of arm  22 A. The lower ends of chains  26  may be similarly attached to cross members  28  and  30 . The ends of chains  26  may also attach to the illustrated structure by eyebolts or other fastening means.  
         [0031]    A beam  32  in the form of a square tube is attached between the centers of cross members  28  and  30 . Cross members  28  and  30 , beam  32  and the structure supported thereon are herein referred to as a swing assembly. While the swing assembly shown suspended on four suspension points, in other embodiments the assembly may have three suspension joints and be suspended on three suspension points on the frame.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , and  5 , a square tubular sleeve  34  is coaxially fitted around beam  32 . By pulling spring-loaded handle  36 , its integral pin is released from one of the holes  37  on the side of beam  32  to allow longitudinal repositioning of sleeve  34 .  
         [0033]    Padded seat  38  and padded backrest  40  provide a platform on which a person can rest. Seat  38  is affixed to the topside of sleeve  34  and backrest  40  is pivotally attached to sleeve  34  at the rear edge of seat  38 . Backrest  40  can be adjusted from a nearly upright position to the horizontal position  40 ′ shown in phantom in FIG. 5. Backrest  40  is kept in its angular position by struts  42 , which are pivotally attached to ribs  44  on the back of backrest  40 . A rung  46  attached between the distal ends of struts  42  can engage one of the five stops  48  on the topside of sleeve  34  to hold struts  42  and backrest  40  in position. Handlebars  50  are welded to the underside of sleeve  34  and extend toward the backrest  40  at about the seat level. In some embodiments the handlebars may be replaced with an armrest, as might be used in ordinary furniture.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3  and  6 , previously mentioned journal bracket  12  has an upper section  12 A that is U-shaped (when viewed in horizontal cross-section), and whose open side faces inwardly. A pair of integral support legs  12 B depend from upper section  12 A and attach to opposite sides of runner  10 . Previously mentioned upright  16  is pivotally mounted inside upper section  12 A on pivot pin  52 . Upright  16  is shown swung down to its folded or stored condition, but can be swung upwardly to the operating condition shown in phantom as position  16 ′. Upright  16  can be held erect in position  16 ′ by threading knob/bolt  53  through the outside of upper section  12 A into a tapped hole (not shown) in upright  16 .  
         [0035]    Previously mentioned journal bracket  14  also has an upper U-shaped section  14 A and a pair of dependent legs  14 B straddling and attached to runner  10 . In contrast to bracket  12 , bracket  14  has a pivot pin  54  that is lower than previously mentioned pin  52 . Consequently, upright  20  can be released from he erect position  20 ′ (by unthreading knob/bolt  53 ) and folded to a position closely adjacent to or touching runner  10 . Because upright  16  is pivoted at a higher elevation, it can swing down against upright  20  and still reach the horizontal. Therefore, the folded assembly is relatively compact.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 7, components in this alternative embodiment that correspond to components in the prior embodiment will bear the same reference numeral, but will be marked with a prime (′). Here, runner  10 ′ supports uprights  18 ′ and  22 ′. A panel  56  attached to uprights  18 ′ and  22 ′ has a pair of recessed, arcuate tracks  58  sized to receive rollers  62  and  64 , respectively. Rollers  62  and  64  are journalled on the ends of cross members  28 ′ and  30 ′, respectively. It will be appreciated that cross members  28 ′ and  30 ′ are part of a swing assembly that is almost identical to that previously illustrated, except for modifying the suspension joints to use rollers  62  and  64 . Consequently, the swing assembly of FIG. 7 can swing by allowing rollers  62  and  64  to ride in arcuate tracks  58  and  60 . It will further be appreciated that FIG. 7 shows one side of the frame and that the opposite side will have a similar, mirror-image structure.  
         [0037]    Each of the arcuate tracks  58  and  60  follow a circular path and therefore provide a virtual center of rotation or gyration above panel  56 . In the case of simple circular tracks, the center of gyration is a simple point in space, that is, the center of rotation. In some cases arcuate tracks  58  and  60  may follow a non-circular curved path. In such a case the centers of rotation or gyration will typically be above the respective tracks, but at a position that will vary with the position of rollers  62  and  64  in the tracks. As the rollers  62  and  64  move along tracks  58  and  60  their centers of rotation or gyration will move but will not coincide. The direction to the center of rotation or gyration is determined by a line originating at the location occupied by the roller and perpendicular to a plane tangent to the roller&#39;s path at the roller&#39;s location. The radius of the center of rotation or gyration will be that of a sphere or circle that, if traveled by a given body at a given speed, would produce the same centrifugal force that that body would experience when following the curved path at that given speed. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the lower ends of each of the chains  26  will follow a spherical path so that the center of gyration is the fixed point at the upper end of the chain (see for example FIG. 4).  
         [0038]    To facilitate an understanding of the principles associated with the foregoing apparatus, its operation will be briefly described. Before using the illustrated apparatus, the user may adjust the height of seat  38  by adjusting the length of chains  26 . For example, pin  25  (FIG. 4) may be removed so that the chain  26  can be refastened to a different chain link. In other embodiments uprights  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  may be telescoping tubes whose height can be adjusted. Also, the angle of elevation of seat  40  can be changed by lifting struts  42  and placing rung  46  at a different stop  48 . Also, the longitudinal position of seat  38  can be adjusted by pulling handle  36  (FIG. 5) and sliding sleeve  34  along beam  32 .  
         [0039]    In FIG. 2 the woman (first person P 1 ) is shown seated on seat  38  with her back upon backrest  40 . Woman P 1  can place her hands on handlebars  50  and her feet on cross member  28 . Alternatively, she can place her feet on padded support  19 . By bringing seat  38  closer to cross member  28 , the woman P 1  will be able to flex her knees to her liking. In any event, her feet and legs will be supported and can be spread at a comfortable angle, without being rigidly restrained. Significantly, the woman P 1  will not have to exert herself to maintain the illustrated position.  
         [0040]    The man (second person P 2 ) will approach the woman P 1  from the operative side of the frame (that is, the side with uprights  16  and  18 ). The man P 1  is shown standing in a region between the centers of gyration at the suspension points at the upper ends of chains  26 . Specifically, the man P 2  is standing straddling beam  32  at a position adjacent to seat  38  between the legs of the woman P 1 . The man P 2  may enter the woman P 1  at this time. The man P 2  may embrace the woman P 2  or grip the swing assembly to set the woman and the swing assembly into a swinging or rocking motion. Alternatively, the man P 2  can start the swinging motion by thrusting his hips.  
         [0041]    The motion of the swing assembly and the woman P 1  may be forward and back, side to side, or a combination thereof. In some instances the swing amplitude can be minimal while the partners remain relatively still. Alternatively, the amplitude can be greater and the man P 2  can move his hips with the swinging motion. Once the swinging motion is begun, very little effort is need to sustain it. Relatively small sympathetic forces will keep the assembly swinging.  
         [0042]    As an alternative, the backrest  40  can be swung down to a horizontal position so the woman can lie prone on the seat  38  and backrest  40 , with her thighs hanging down over the edge of seat  38 . As before, the man P 2  may stand in the same position and enter the woman P 1 . Thereafter, the swing assembly and the woman P 1  can be swung as before.  
         [0043]    The partners may also switch positions with the man on seat  38 , assuming the position shown in FIG. 2 for the woman P 1 . The woman may stand in the position shown in FIG. 2 for the man P 2 . The partners may prefer that the man keep his legs together and the woman straddle the man to achieve penetration. Thereafter, the swing assembly can be set into motion as before. Other positions are possible, limited only by the imagination of the partners.  
         [0044]    Accordingly, the present apparatus can be used to create a venue other than the traditional bed for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman, with apparatus that is easy to set up, easy to adjust, easy to operate, and easy to store. In addition, it solves the problem of soiled sheets that are an inhibitor to sexual relations, since cleaning becomes another household chore. Apparatus according to principles of the present invention will lower inhibitions springing from a concern over cleanup chores. The present apparatus also makes it easier for a woman to have simultaneous clitoral/vaginal orgasms since the apparatus leaves the clitoral area exposed for stimulation, whereas if a woman is on a bed with a man on top it is not easy to locate the clitoral area.  
         [0045]    While the woman is lying down on the present apparatus, her body is in a relaxed and comfortable position that is ideally suitable for penetration. She does not have to worry about being crushed by her partner. The swing assembly gives a feeling of being suspended/floating in mid-air. In this state of non-physical exertion, the seated woman has only to focus on the pleasure of the experience; in particular, the act of penetration coupled with clitoral stimulation.  
         [0046]    While the man is in a standing position, he does not have to use his upper body to support his entire body, which is very tiresome for the average male. He is also free from physical exertion, and only has to focus on pleasing himself and his partner.  
         [0047]    By eliminating the physically strenuous part of sexual intercourse, the chore of cleaning bed sheets, and the expense of having to wear out expensive mattresses, the present apparatus will lead to more sexual intimacy between men and women.  
         [0048]    When the users have finished with their sexual experience, they may easily collapse the present apparatus and store it away in a closet away from the view of friends and family. Specifically, the knob/bolt  53  (FIG. 6) can be unthreaded from the uprights  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  and the journal brackets  12  and  14 . Depending upon their length, some of the chains  26  may be disconnected at one end. Thereafter, the uprights  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  may be folded down as shown in FIG. 6 so that the uprights  16  and  18  lie atop uprights  20  and  22 . This ensures a very compact arrangement once seat  40  is lowered to the horizontal position. The folded apparatus can then be easily stored in a closet or under a bed since it occupies very little volume.  
         [0049]    It is appreciated that various modifications may be implemented with respect to the above described, preferred embodiment. While metal tubes are shown, other embodiments may employ solid bar is made of wood, plastics, composite materials, etc. Instead of the swinging beam with two cross members, some embodiments may employ an open rectangular frame, a flat rectangular panel with openings, etc. Also, the illustrated runners may be replaced with an open rectangular frame, flat-panel, etc. At rest, the illustrated suspension chains need not be vertical, but may lie at various angles, and in some embodiments, may intersect at their upper ends.  
         [0050]    Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.