An Improved Portable and Collapsable Swing.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1897--Accepted, 19th Feb.,
1898
An Improved Portable and Collapsable Swing.
I, CORNELIUS BUYSMAN, of 10, Burnley Road, Stockwell, S.W., Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a swing which is particularly adapted for use in the
open air, and can be easily moved from one spot to another, as found convenient,
and when in use is not likely to be overthrown.
It can easily be taken to pieces and packed in small compass for convenience of
transport or storage.
The framing is, preferably, of wood, and consists of two pairs of inclined uprights,
each pair forming a A and being tied together by bars connected by bolts passing
through long slots in the uprights. The bottom of each upright rests in a groove
in a block or plate which may be provided, underneath, with spikes to afford a
good hold on soft ground.
The two pairs of uprights are placed about two feet apart at the top, widening
out gradually towards the bottom, and are connected at the top by long bolts from
which are suspended rods supporting a pair of seats, which can be used separately
or may be connected by a foot-board, so that they swing together.
An Improved Portable and Collapsable Swing.
I, CORNELIUS BUYSMAN, of 10, Burnley Road, Stockwell, in the County of
London, Gentleman, 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:-
1
This invention relates to swings and has for its object the construction of such
a device, which shall have the characteristics of collapsibility, easy portability
and compactness when folded into its collapsed form, but at the same time being
a rigid and stable structure when used as a swing.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed
to describe the same in relation to the accompanying drawings hereunto annexed
reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer
to like parts in the various figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the swing and supports in their extended form,
but with one seat folded into its collapsed position.

page_text: Figure 2 is a detail view of the foot-board showing the method of engagement
with the suspension bars.
Figure 3 is a side view of the device in its collapsed or folded form.
Figure 4 is an end view of the device in its extended form.
The invention consists of a stand combined with a swinging device as hereinafter
described.
The stand consists of a strong frame-work at either end spreading outwards, for
stability and formed with top and bottom rails a screwed to corner posts or legs a¹
and stiffened at top with a ledge b screwed to the legs and toprail a and at the
bottom, with a sloping strut c on either side screwed to the legs a¹ and tenoned
into bottom rail a.
The two frames are connected together at back and front by a cross-tie attach-
ment d, the upper ends of the arms of which are pivotted to the legs on either
side by an iron rod e extending the whole width of the apparatus and fitted with
a bolt-head nut and washers and also special distance washers e¹.
The lower ends of the arms d are connected slidingly to the legs a¹, on either
side, by means of a short bolt f with head nut and washers and also special distance
washers as before described. These bolts f slide up and down in slots g cut in
the legs a. When the apparatus is being opened or closed it will be seen the
position of the slots is such that, while in closing, the bolts are free to slide down-
wards until the whole apparatus has collapsed, and in opening they are prevented
by the upper extremities of the slots from ascending higher up the legs than is
required for the proper extension of the apparatus.
When fully opened the arms of the cross-tie which are connected together by
a pivot bolt in the centre with head, nut and washers effectually prevent the
legs from spreading further than the proper distance.
When in use upon grass or other soft ground, blocks fitted with pins, to ram into
the earth may be used, having recesses in their upper surfaces into which the feet
of the apparatus are secured.
The swing is composed of three portions:-
1st. The suspension frames."
2nd. The "chairs and
3rd. The footboard."
66
The suspension frames" consist of two long arms connected together at
the top by a rail h¹ and a pair of cross-struts 2 and at bottom by an iron rod pl
and an iron rod with bolt-head, nut and washers.
Metal bearings are fixed in the top of these arms, through which are passed
the long rods e herein before described.
The ends of the arms and all other portions of the apparatus pierced through
near their extremities, are protected from being split or sheared by the rails or
iron rods and bolts, by a metal rivet with head and washer arranged in a manner
well understood.
The chairs which in the accompanying drawings are shown to accommodate one
person each, can be increased in width sufficient to seat two or even three or more
on either side, the whole apparatus being made wider and stronger to withstand
the extra strain:
Each chair k is formed with two shaped back pieces k¹ fixed together by a rail
at top and bottom and by a central rod between the two projecting either way
beyond the sides of the chair.
A groove or chase is cut on the inner side of the back pieces in which slide
the ends of an iron rod attached to the seat. The lower ends of the back pieces ¹
carry the long iron rod i already described with reference to the suspension frames
while up the face of the upper ends are screwed splines and a shaped toprail to
form the back of the chair. A notch m is formed in each back piece into which
engages an iron rod fixed to the back of the arms of the chair."
The arms of the chair consist of shaped pieces n pivotted at the front by rivets

page_text: provided with heads, washers, and also distance washers, to the long arms h of the
suspension frames. At the back they are connected together by the iron rod .
On the outer face of each arm is fixed a hook o working freely on a screw or
staple, for fixing the chairs together when the apparatus is collapsed as shown in
dotted lines Figure 1.
This hook when the chairs are in use is secured out of the way, in an eye fixed
in the arm for the purpose.
The seats are composed of wood splines screwed to two side pieces p, the front
ends of which are pivotted to allow of free movement round the rod p³ connecting
the long arms of the suspension frame h and upon which rod as a pivot the seats p
turn upwards.
The back ends are connected by an iron rod 11, the ends of which project both
sides sufficiently to slide in the grooves 7 of the back-pieces k¹.
In lieu of wood splines for seats and backs those portions can be made in carpet,
canvas or other such like material.
The foot-board consists of two outer side pieces 9 with circular recesses q¹ cut
underneath at either end to allow of their engaging upon the iron rods i of the lower
ends of the suspension frames h.
A pair of lifting flaps r formed with footboards screwed down upon sides pieces,
are pivotted to either end of the two outer side pieces q just clearing each other in
the centre when lowered for use.
The foot-boards project each way as far as the outside face of the two outer
sides already described and by which they are supported.
To prevent the outer side pieces jumping off the iron rods i when the swing is
in motion, iron cleats r¹ are screwed on to the underside of each flap and which by,
projecting somewhat beyond the ends of same, when the flaps are lowered, practically
lock the foot-board on to the iron rods i until the flaps are again raised.
By a simple arrangement a light framework of wood, with splines to match those
upon the chairs, or a stretch of carpet, canvas or other suchlike material, can be
attached between the front edges of the chairs, thus forming a lounge upon which
a person may recline more or less at full length according to the size of the apparatus.
An awning can be fixed over the top of the stand of the apparatus if desired,
thus materially increasing the comfort of the occupants when used out of doors.
The operation of closing the apparatus is as follows: - the two flaps r of the
foot-board are raised, thus disengaging it from the iron rods i upon which it rested
when it can be lifted away and set aside. The backs of the seats are then raised
and at the same time the central rod is pushed forward when the chairs will
collapse and shut up close within the arms of the suspension frames. The ends
of the stand are then pushed together until they meet, carrying the suspension
frames and chairs along with them. The two arms of the chairs are then pushed
inwards and fastened together by means of the iron hook and eye already described.
while the bottom of the swing is similarly secured to the stand, an iron hook for
the purpose being fixed on the inner side of the bottom rail of the end frame, and
having an additional eye as before described to drop into when the swing is in use.
The two ends of the stand are also fixed together in the same way by which
means every part is secured when the apparatus is being transported from one place
to another.
Having now particularly described; and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. A collapsible swing consisting of two end frames inclined to one another
and tied together by pivotted cross ties on each side, the said cross ties being
pivotted to the said frames and adapted with one set of pivotted joints to slidingly
engage with the end frames to permit the folding of the device in combination
with a swinging device substantially as described.
2nd. In a collapsible swing, the combination of a collapsible framework with
a swinging device having hangers suspended from the said framework, and pivotally

page_text: carrying a seat arms and seat back adapted to fold up into a collapsed form sub-
stantially as described.
3rd. In a collapsible swing, the combination of a collapsible framework with two
or more collapsible seats suspended from said framework upon axes parallel to one
another, and a footboard or foot boards or the like pivotally connecting the said
swinging seats substantially as described.
4th. The arrangement and construction of a portable and collapsible swing
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
1007
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.