Improvements in Swings.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Swings.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON SMITH of Hartford City, in the County of Blackford,.
and State of Indiana, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what mauner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in swings.
The invention consists of a swing embodying certain improved constructions
and combinations of parts substantially as disclosed in the present drawings and
description.
In the drawing I have shown a perspective view of my improved swing.
Referring by numerals to the drawing, 1 designates the supports or standards.
connected by cross-piece 2, this structure or frame being securely sustained by the
braces or guy-ropes 3. This supporting structure is used where the swing is
situated on a lawn or other like surface, but when supported from a ceiling, porch,.
or other structure the cross-piece is securely fastened to the supporting structure
as is evident. To the cross-piece is secured the curved arms 4, connected by the
bar 5 and to the lower ends of the arms are rigidly connected the side bars or
rails 6, having attached to their lower ends the flexible steel plates 7 to the rear
end of which is secured the back-piece 8 and this back-piece or rest can be adjusted
to any incline by means of the links 9 having the inner ends connected to the
rails 6 and their outer ends formed with slots 10 to receive adjusting screws 11
which enter the back pieces 8* of the back-rest.
To the side rails 6 is connected the seat frame which consists of the two
castings 12 preferably of the shape shown and having a series of supporting
arms 13 upon any one of which is adapted to rest the seat 14 and by this construc
tion the seat may be made to accommodate people of different sizes, that is children
or adults.
Secured to the plates 7 is a cross-piece 7* to which is hinged the foot rest con-
sisting of a series of hinged or jointed sections 15 adapted to fold and said sections
rest on the plates 16 secured to the section 15 in any suitable manner and by means
of this construction the foot rest or platform can be folded under the seat and thus
allow a person to occupy the seat with ease.
To the plates 16 are connected the lower ends of the wires, cords or chains 17
the upper ends whereof are connected to the cross-piece 18 which itself is connected
by a spring 19 with an arm or bracket 20 secured to the cross-piece of the frame.
To the bar 5 is connected the upper end of the cord 21 which has a spring 22
intermediate of its length and at the lower end a hand piece 23.
In using my swing the person first folds the foot rest or platform, then mounts
the seat, after so doing the platform is returned to its normal position, the cord is
pulled which action moves the swing and by pressing the feet on the rest or plat-
form the swinging movement is continued. To stop the swing it is merely necessary
to grasp the hand piece of the cord and hold the same, this action arrests or stops
the movement of the swing. If desired the swing may be operated entirely by the
cord but the feet serve the purpose better.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a swing, the combination of a frame, curved arms connected therewith,
rails connected to said arms, a flexible plate carrying a back-rest connected to the

page_text: rails, an adjustable seat carried by the rails, a hinged and folding platform connected
to the rails.
2. In a swing, the combination of a frame, rails or bars supported therefrom, a
seat carried by said bars, a flexible plate carried by the bars having a back-rest
adjustably connected to the bars or rails, a foot rest hinged to the plate and
connections between the rest and bars for operating the swing.
3. In a swing, the combination of a frame, curved arms supported thereby, bars
or rails connected to the arms, a seat carried by the bars, a flexible plate carrying
a back-rest connected to the bars, a hinged plate or plates, a sectional platform
mounted on said plates, a yielding or spring connection between the platform and
bars and a yielding or spring hand cord, for the purpose described.
Dated this 19th day of April 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.