Portable Swings, Horizontal Bars, and other Gymnastic Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Portable Swings, Horizontal Bars, and other Gymnastic Apparatus.
J, FLORENCE NICHOLAS of 112 Forest Road Dalston in the County of
Middlesex Married Woman do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to
be.as follows :-
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This invention has for its object a portable swing whereby a strong and rigid
frame is provided to support such swing, it is neat and ornamental in appearance
and when once locked or fixed in position it is impossible for the same, to be upset;
at the same time it is very light and when folded up it can be transferred from one
room to another easily.
The frame of the swing is constructed of bamboo or, other desired material and is
formed in two parts, the front part being formed of two vertical legs or. supports
which are firmly secured together at or near their upper ends by a horizontal bar
fitting in sockets secured to such legs or supports. A horizontal bar may also be
provided at their lower ends if desired.
PA
The back part or frame is simply composed of two legs which are pivotted one on
either side of the front frame so that the two parts will lay, snugly together, the
centre of the pivot being, in preference, the centre of the horizontal bar.,
The back and front parts are further secured together by struts or locking pieces
at or near their lower ends, such struts or locking pieces prevent the legs from
opening out too far.
'
It will thus be seen that a side view of the frame, when opened out, will be
triangular in form similar to the letter A.
The upper horizontal bar has secured to it suitable hooks for attaching the
swing.
T
If desired other gymnastic apparatus may be attached to the horizontal bar
instead of the swing or it may be used as a horizontal bar proper.,.
:
Thus a portable gymnastic apparatus may be, constructed in a simple and
efficient manner for the use of young children and others in the nursery or other
room.
Dated this 15th day of March 1895.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION..
Portable Swings, Horizontal Bars, and other Gymnastic Apparatus.
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I, FLORENCE NICHOLAS, of 112 Forest Road, Dalston, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in portable swings horizontal bars, and
other gymnastic apparatus and has for objects to simplify the construction of such
articles so as to reduce cost of manufacture; and to render them casy. of
manipulation; either operation-that of putting together and making, ready for
use, or that of taking to pieces and folding occupying only a few minutes.

page_text: The swings, bars, or the like, in accordance with this invention, may be made of
any suitable wood, metal, or material, such as birch, brass, iron, aluminium, bamboo,
or the like, and will be found readily portable, yet strong and rigid withal. They
are adapted for use in the nursery, on the lawn, or elsewhere, and at picnic parties,
school outings, and the like, will be found an invaluable source of amusement and
healthful recreation.
In accordance with this invention the swing is suspended to a horizontal bar
pinioned between two upright frames. The bar being capable of partially
revolving in accordance with the motions of the swing. Each of the
frames consists of two limbs hinged, pivotted, or jointed, together at, or
near, their upper ends so as to permit of their lower extremities being
distended to a suitable or required distance. When distended to the desired
extent the limbs of each frame are clamped and held rigidly in position by means
of a bar or arm pivotted at one end to one of the limbs of the frame, and at the
other end engaging with a stud or catch formed upon the other limb. Set screws
or other means may be employed if desired for fixing the bars in position.
Transverse bars at top and bottom connect the two frames together and serve to
give stability to the apparatus. The upper transverse bar, which is preferably.
carved or fashioned to some artistic design, is made removable so that upon taking
same away and removing the hooks from the bar to which the swing seat when in
use is suspended and tightening up the bar in its bearings by means of nuts provided
the apparatus may be used for gymnastic purposes as a horizontal bar. In the
nursery the swing may be used for a baby, if desired, by attaching a bassinette to
the ropes in place of the ordinary seat, while for the gymnasium, if so required, a
trapeze bar may be substituted for the seat..
And in order that this invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect reference is had to the accompanying drawings and to the figures and letters
of reference marked thereon, that is to say -
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a swing, constructed in accordance with this
invention, shewn opened and ready for use; and Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the
swing closed or folded together to reader same readily portable.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the figures.
a is the seat of the swing which may be of any desired shape or form, and for
which may be substituted as aforesaid either a bassinette, a trapeze bar, or other
suitable contrivance. The swing seat a is suspended by ropes a¹ to the horizontal
bar 6 which latter is pinioned between the two upright frames c e', d d², and is
capable of partial rotation in accordance with the swinging movement of the
suspended swing seat.a. The ends of the bearing pius of the horizontal bar bare
screw threaded and nuts e are provided to permit of tightening up as required.
The upright frames aforesaid each consist of two limbs marked respectively cc, dd,
in the drawings. These limbs are hinged, pivotted, or jointed, together at e near
their upper ends so as to permit of their lower extremities being distended to a
suitable or required distance. ff are the clamping bars or arms for holding the limbs
rigidly in their extended position. The bars are pivotted at their ends f¹ to the
limbs c¹ d¹ of the frames and are secured at their other ends f to the limbs c d of
the frames by engaging with a stud or catch g provided, or they may be secured in
position by set screws or other convenient means. hh are the bottom transverse
bars and the upper and removable one before mentioned.
!
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in portable swings substantially as herein before described.
2. In portable swings horizontal bars & other gymnastic apparatus the upright
side frames consisting of two limbs hinged, pivotted, or jointed, together at or near
their upper ends; the clamping bars or arms and connections to hold the frames in
an extended position; the transverse stiffening bars and the horizontal bar from

page_text: which the swing is suspended when in use; all combined, constructed, arranged,
and operating, substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shewn.
"
100x
FLORENCE NICHOLAS,
Per Geo. Coxhead,
Connaught Chambers, 330 High Holborn, W.C.