Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims all priority benefits under 35 USC 119(e) of prior-filed Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/344,303 filed Jun. 25, 2010 in the name of Leslie L. Miller, said provisional patent application in its entirety being incorporated herein by reference thereto and for all purposes, as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The detailed disclosure that follows herebelow generally relates to recreational and therapeutic swings and more particularly to air or other pneumatically powered swing systems suitable for disabled individuals or invalids. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Swings are commonly used to provide therapeutic movement and/or exhilaration for toddlers and adult people of all ages; particularly for physically or intellectually challenged individuals. In the latter case, swing therapy holds potential for an enhanced sense of well being. Commonly known “powered” swing systems are driven by electric motors, battery source, or varied types of mechanical crank systems. 
     Most swings large and small are simply pushed manually by a companion, playmate, caretaker, parent or others. For example, at institutional caretaking facilities, manually driven swings generally demand attendants dedicated to each swing system operation. These can be time consuming and budget-intensive—not to mention physically exhausting. Converting to electric motors and battery powered units for operating swing systems can be costly, not only for system investment but also in terms of human capital and operational expenses. 
     Electric motors in general introduce an obvious safety hazard with respect to typically metal swing frames. Batteries are subject to repeated depletion wherein the swing&#39;s motion and associated benefits diminish or cease, thus demanding prompt battery replacement if swing motion is to be resumed. Mechanical crank driven swings tend to be a laborious nuisance since active crank cycle time is limited, and because the crank mechanism itself can be annoyingly noisy and subject to jamming. Besides, due to liability issues such swing drive systems are believed to no longer exist on the commercial market. 
     Currently available swing drives have weight limitations. Motor, battery or crank-powered swings are usually assigned to light duty only and are wholly inadequate for supporting and moving (i.e., swinging) swing seat occupants greater in size and mass than typical infants. Weight or mass is a consideration in terms of swing design for heavier swing seat occupants, particularly with regard to natural frequency effects. Overall size of passengers can be an issue with respect to air resistance. Likewise, typically lightweight construction of conventional battery or crank swings cannot withstand stress inherent in extended swinging. 
     Thus, it is understandable that existing swing systems involving electric motors, cranks and battery-powered operation are less desirable since they can be expensive and/or inadequate for maintaining satisfactory swinging motion where extended utilization and/or heavier swing occupants are concerned. 
     Not only is swing equipment costly, but significant institutional staff or family/friend labor often is dedicated to providing adequate swing motion for swing seat occupants who are disabled or otherwise physically and/or intellectually challenged individuals. Typically, hands-on assistance in the form of direct, manual pushing may be necessary several times each minute. Moreover, existing swings with motor or battery drives require tedious power/frequency adjustment for occupants of different mass/weight and size. 
     Continuous manual readjustment of a swing&#39;s power drive system from one occupant to the next can be a daunting task for caretakers or healthcare providers—presenting not only physical demands but also cognitive challenges of managing control variables factoring occupant weight, power levels and frequency. All this, added to the many other daycare worker duties in a therapy or caretaking facility can be overwhelming. Too often, the unfortunate result is considerably limited or non-existent swing therapy for the disabled or challenged. 
     Representative examples of existing, powered swing systems include: Barrett&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,317 presenting a crank-wound spring motor; Bochmann&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,820 teaches a motorized swing system with a rechargeable battery drive to be enjoyed by a relatively small child; Kosoff&#39;s electrically powered baby swing shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,410, employing a battery powered DC motor and featuring a rotating eccentric weight at top to cause the oscillating motion. 
     Still more examples are: Bansal&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,317 presenting an infant swing driven in its oscillating motion by a battery powered spring compensated solenoid; Arthur J. Record&#39;s British patent document GB2195259 presenting a swing configured to accommodate wheelchair bound persons; Ponder et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,053 presenting a remotely operated motorized swing having an electric drive which can be controlled directly by the swinging patient; Foehl&#39;s published PCT patent application WO02004080365 teaches a device for moving and caring for the totally disabled. 
     The above mentioned documented swing systems are subject to a variety of problems ranging from occupant mass/size limitations to relatively rapid power source exhaustion. None offers the convenience, effectiveness and control of the novel air powered swing system and method described herein. A pneumatically or air powered swing of the type described herebelow has been thoughtfully designed and found to effectively address the myriad of problems associated with conventionally powered swings. It is asserted that the presently disclosed innovation will prove invaluable to the trades and others, particularly with respect to caring for disabled individuals. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As suggested hereabove, the pneumatically powered swing system and method as presently presented overcome problems associated with conventional powered swing systems. The disclosed system supports heavier weights/masses and has durability to withstand the stress of additional weight as compared to infant swings. The pneumatic powering apparatus is substantially self-compensating to the natural frequency of the mass of the occupant placed in the seat, indexing its power drive position at the end of each stroke (cycle) by a unique gas flow control valve arrangement. 
     Oscillation motion of the pneumatic power drive apparatus of the swing power system is easily initiated with an initial manual push of the seat or occupant (by essentially untrained personnel). Once swinging action is initiated, the oscillating swing seat carrying its occupant may be left to its powered motion without intervention for an indefinite period or for a period defined by a pre-programmed timer unit. With, or without, the timer unit, this novel swing powering system will run essentially continuously without assistance. 
     As noted above, a basic swing seat support structure referred to herein may be embodied in a variety of configurations. For example, it may be the ubiquitous “stand-alone-swing-set” configured as a generally horizontal tubular steel rail which is fixed to laterally supported angularly disposed support legs of similar or equivalent material. At least one seat is suspended by support media such as ropes, chains and the like from the tubular steel rail. 
     Another swing system example would have the swing seat suspended from a building overhang, or directly from brackets on an overhead ceiling or cantilevered structure . . . . Essentially any swing support configuration can be driven by the unique power system discussed herebelow. In other words, for purposes of the present disclosure, the swing support hardware is presumed to embody a range of equivalent configurations and materials. 
     A principal key to the self compensating nature of the presently disclosed system is that it is pneumatically powered, thus eliminating need for frequency adjustment for differing masses supported in the swing&#39;s seat carriage. A general adjustment (high, medium and low) may be useful in fine-tuning to achieve a proper swing experience (i.e., not undesirably aggressive) depending on the mass of the swing seat occupant. 
     An additional benefit to the unique disclosure presented herein is that it is not electrically powered and does not conduct dangerous electrical energy from the drive system to the swing&#39;s framework vicinity. Obviously, this affords an additional safety margin against potential shock. The system presently disclosed may incorporate a timing mechanism to avoid occupant motion sickness due to long term operation. The inventive system&#39;s capacity to begin operation almost immediately dramatically reduces the time typically required by known mechanical cranks and battery units to establish a satisfactory swinging movement. 
     Objectives of the presently disclosed swing-drive power system include provision of a system and method for delivering a gentle propelling action enabling individuals of any age, weight and physical/mental condition to partake in a swing-riding experience for personal enjoyment and therapeutic well-being. 
     This system and its method of use enable continued and extended swinging action, while relieving swing attendants (staff) from duties of close monitoring and supplementing swing action assistance. This of course measurably reduces labor requirements in home, daycare, institutional and associated facilities. Importantly, the swinging action provided hereby may be stopped at any time. 
     A still further objective is to afford continuous, economic swing activity automatically monitored by an alternative timing device for pre-set shut-down. An objective of such a timing device would include avoidance of motion sickness brought on by excess swinging activity. Use of an air or other pneumatic power system drive with tubing, e.g., polyurethane or nylon, purposefully avoids electricity-fed operations that could cause shock or burn injury to the occupant (i.e., the individual mounted on swing seat attached to a metal frame) and to nearby staff attendants. Batteries and their attendant shortcomings discussed hereabove also are avoided. 
     The pneumatic power system of the disclosure presented herein is self-indexing, allowing a broad range (high, medium, low) to generally adjust to differences swing occupant mass (influencing the natural frequency of the swing&#39;s oscillation) and overall size (influencing the effects of air resistance with respect to both directions of swing motion. The present invention described herein holds the advantage of avoiding swing power unit overloading. The overall “system” may be viewed as encompassing seat and attendant attachment elements, support media, carriage, table, sock, tube, or other supporting structure to carry the occupant to be swung. The system may also be defined as the power drive and pneumatic flow controls, and the method of operation thereof. 
     Furthermore, it is an object of this application to illustrate a fully functional and enabling embodiment while broadly encompassing unique structure and methodology used to swing individuals who cannot adequately or satisfactorily swing themselves. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the disclosed system illustrating environs and components associated with the pneumatic powered swing system; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective of the pneumatic power drive apparatus as viewed from below and with housing enclosure and other specified elements omitted for clarity of illustration; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the pneumatic power drive apparatus similar to the perspective of  FIG. 2 , omitting specified elements for sake of clarity; 
         FIG. 4  is a block/flow diagram depicting the overall pneumatic operating system and its unique control features. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 1 , by way of example only, in  FIG. 1 , is a stand-alone-swing system  10  comprising a stationary supporting frame  20  from which is suspended swing seat unit  30  including seat  32  (occupant not shown). Swing seat unit  30  is suspended from above by ropes  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  and  34   d  which are secured to brackets to be described. Of course, seat suspension media may be selected from the group consisting of ropes, chains, wires, cords, and lines, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention claimed. Further, as discussed herein in more detail, the swing seat  32  can have overhead support structures other than a free-standing frame  20 . Seat  32  could also be in the form of a chair (e.g., wheelchair) supported by a platform, which in turn would be suspended by media from above as noted above. 
     For brevity, but in no way intended as limiting the scope of claims appended hereto, the suspension media are hereafter referred to as “ropes.” Said ropes  34   a - d  are secured in a conventional manner (e.g., by conventional connector links  48   a ,  48   b , respectively) to swing arm brackets  46   a  and  46   b  located within or adjacent stationary, relatively fixed top support unit  40 . 
     A pneumatic power drive apparatus  50  (not visible in  FIG. 1 , but clearly depicted in  FIG. 2 ) is housed or enclosed within relatively stationary support unit  40  where it is fixedly attached. As will be explained, suspended swing seat  32  oscillates repetitively along an arc as power unit  50  propels swing arm brackets  46   a ,  46   b . These brackets  46   a ,  46   b  or their equivalents represent the interface of the swinging and power operations now to be described in detail. 
     Swinging action of swing seat  32  and its seated occupant is powered by a pneumatic power drive apparatus  50 . This pneumatic power drive apparatus is operatively interconnected generally between said swing arm brackets  46   a ,  46   b  and stationary or fixed support  40 . The power drive apparatus can include a pneumatic cylinder  56  connected at its first end to said stationary support  40  and receiving at a second end thereof a piston rod  62  for extending and retracting motion therein. 
     Note that since cylinder  56  must have freedom of movement to an extent affording pivoting during its swing oscillation operation. To this end, cylinder  56  may be affixed at its first end via pivot pin connection  54  and pivot bracket  52  relative to stationary top support unit  40  (or connected to other conveniently adjacent stationary structure). Piston rod  62  includes an outer working end viewed in  FIGS. 2 and 3  indirectly connected via bolt  70  and nut  71  to swing arm bracket  46   a . Swing support brackets  46   a  and  46   b  are depicted as drivingly interconnected by substantially horizontal oscillator shaft  44  to be further discussed herebelow. Power drive apparatus  50  is regulated and controlled by pneumatic system  200  schematically depicted in  FIG. 4 . The term pneumatic, in its present sense, is intended to include air and other gaseous fluid which may adequately serve in a manner equivalent to air. The terms air and pneumatic are used interchangeably herein. 
     While the swing unit per se may take a variety of forms, it is believed useful to establish a swing environment relative to the present disclosure by generally describing the swing and suspension configuration depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Self-powered swing  10  is seen to include frame  20  with four depending legs  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c ,  22   d  sufficiently spaced to maintain the suspended chair or seat unit  30  in a secure disposition on the ground or floor as it rests atop non-slip feet  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d . This secure disposition may vary depending on the nature of the swing and whether the swing will be utilized to support larger individuals (e.g., adults) or smaller individuals. In any case, the frame unit  20  presents a stable and reliable “footprint” such that a seat  32  occupant will not fall or tip while swinging takes place. 
     Selection of tubing (or alternative profile structure) for frame legs  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c , and  22   d  can be made from any number of selected commercial grade tubing or other type of suitable rod element, material. Swing seat  32  may be chosen from any number of seating units commonly available in the marketplace. In fact, multiple seat sizes and configurations can be kept in reserve to accommodate varied seat occupant mass and sizes. Likewise, top support unit  40  may be made of steel, aluminum or other suitably fabricated material as long as the resulting structure is of sufficient weight, strength and stability to withstand a vast multitude of swinging repetitions desired by the manufacture and/or expected by the swing seat occupant. 
     Returning now to swing suspension  41 ,  FIG. 2  shows swing suspension journal bearings  42   a ,  42   b  securely anchored to support  40 . These bearings  42   a ,  42   b  may be bolted in place or otherwise reliably affixed to support  40  (via welding, riveting or the like), and are transversally interconnected by substantially horizontal oscillator shaft  44  therebetween. This oscillator shaft  44  supports the swing seat or unit  30  via brackets or swing arms  46   a ,  46   b  therebelow to be driven by pneumatic power drive apparatus  50  in the following manner. 
     As briefly referenced above, spaced-apart swing arms or brackets  46   a  and  46   b  are rigidly interconnected substantially at their upper ends to oscillator shaft  44  so as to depend therefrom. Said brackets or arms  46   a ,  46   b  removably support swing suspension hooks  48   a  and  48   b , respectively, located substantially at lower ends thereof. Arm  46   a  may be directly driven by the pneumatic power system as described. Inasmuch as hooks  48   a ,  48   b  may have alternative equivalent connectors substituted therefor, said hooks  48   a ,  48   b  should be considered mere examples of possible configurations and in no way limiting any claims to such assembly. 
     Of course, piston rod  62  reciprocates in its normal working strokes within cylinder  56 , and directly drives swing arm bracket  46   a . Thus, swing arm bracket  46   b  is indirectly driven through a rigid interconnection to oscillator shaft  44 . This driving action sets into action swing unit  30  in an oscillating motion. 
     Oscillation is maintained by pneumatic power system  50  fixedly located within top support unit  40 . A first (forward) movement of brackets  46   a ,  46   b  serves to push seat  32  outward in one direction and then, with second (rearward) movement, retracts swing seat  32  in an opposite direction. The repetitively reversing action is registered (self-indexed), by reason of reaching the end of a propelling stroke in either direction. 
     Mounting nut  60   b  ( FIG. 2 ) holds control valve unit  82  to mounting bracket  58 , in turn held to cylinder  56  by nut  60   a . Control valve unit  82  is actuated by outward extending contact points in the form of first and second valve reversing elements  80   a ,  80   b  (FIGS.  2 , 3 ). In the interest of illustration simplicity, external control valve unit  82  is presented herein without its well known pneumatic feed/return lines and requisite port details (e.g., pressure port, work port, exhaust port and so forth), so as not to obstruct the view of valve-controlling trigger arm  72  and its associated parts with respect to these valve reversing elements  80   a ,  80   b.    
     Pneumatic lines or tubing placement (not shown) is notoriously known by the skilled artisan within in the industry and such lines may be positioned according to functional performance requirements and/or environmental conditions such as space availability. For instance, control valve unit  82  as viewed in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  could include three lateral ports along its exposed side. Typically, these ports would comprise two outlets separated by an inlet, all communicating via an internal spool valve mechanism (also not shown) and would further include a pair of ports on an opposite side of valve unit  82 . The latter ports (not shown), of course, will communicate respectively with opposite ends of cylinder  56  to drive piston rod  62  in its opposite strokes. The internal workings of reversible valve units are notoriously well known to the skilled artisan. 
     Trigger arm  72  is mounted adjacent to the rod end  68  by mounting nuts  66   a ,  66   b . Trigger arm  72 , of course, moves forward (i.e., away from its connection to top support unit  40 ) as cylinder rod  62  extends in direction E, subsequently retracting backward in direction R as cylinder rod  62  retracts. Trigger arm  72  is directionally restrained or guided throughout repeated extension/retraction motion by trigger arm guide  84  affixed to control valve unit  82  by bolts  86   a ,  86   b.    
     Trigger arm  72  includes a pair of contact points (or stops)  78  and  88  respectively configured for contact with the aforementioned valve reversing elements  80   a ,  80   b . Trigger arm  72  carries push bolt  74  (held by associated lock nuts  76   a ,  76   b ) with contact point  78  in general alignment with valve reversing element  80   a . Similarly, trigger arm  72  contact point  88  is in general alignment with valve reversing element  80   b . Valve reversing is actuated with the sequential contact by contact points  78 / 80   a  and  88 / 80   b . Other equivalent arrangements of course could be arranged for this sequential valve activation within the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 
     Note that cylinder  56  conceivably could include an internal control valve (operating generally the same as the described external control valve unit  82 ) depending on pressure level requirements and system design capacity. If this were the case, the valve control trigger elements or their functional equivalents would be suitably arranged within the cylinder  56  housing, or included within structure suitably associated therewith. Optional selection of internal and external pneumatic controls is well known in the mechanical power system field. 
     As explained, power unit  50  is affixed or grounded for leverage to top support unit  40 . Swing unit  30  is drivingly connected to power unit  50  by attaching drive bolt  70  through hole  49  on bracket  46   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) where drive bolt fastener  71  interlocks the drive bolt  70  and bracket  46   a . As the cylinder rod  62  fully extends (in direction E indicated in  FIG. 3 ), trigger arm contact point  88  is engaged by valve reversing element  80   b  which shifts an inner sliding spool system of. Pneumatic pressure is automatically and substantially instantly reversed in cylinder  56  causing rod  62  to immediately retract (in direction indicted as R,  FIG. 2 ). 
     When rod  62  is fully retracted, contact point  78  shifts control valve unit  82  by pushing valve reversing element  80   a . Rod  62  again changes its direction with another power stroke. Swing movement may be initiated by a manual push by an attendant. Once the power unit  50  is activated, and swing seat  30  oscillating movement is underway, it will continue swinging for an extended period of time. Swing  10  and its passenger remain self-propelled in forward (piston extended) and reverse (piston retracted) motion until the system is shut down. A timer unit can be employed to control a swinging cycle. 
     To facilitate understanding of the overall pneumatic system  200  for operation of power unit  50 , attention is directed to schematic  FIG. 4  presented in the form of a block diagram. The pneumatic operational system  200  components include operational pressure source  210  which could be an air compressor unit, pressurized CO2 tank (not shown) located reasonably near swing set unit  10  or perhaps at a remote location such as a garage or other nearby out-building. Other important components operationally linked within the pneumatic system  200  are: filter  220 ; primary pressure regulator  230 ; shut-off valve  240 ; power control  245 ; control valve  250 ; cylinder  260 ; muffler  270 ; reset button  280 ; timer reservoir  290 ; and screened orifice  300 . 
     More specifically, block/flow diagram schematic  FIG. 4  relates to pneumatic system  200  and how it serves to propel swing seat unit  30  in a predictably controlled manner. Air fed from pressure source  210  passes through filter  220  and system pressure is set by the air pressure regulator  230 . The regulator  230  predetermines the maximum force applied to the air cylinder  56 . 
     A secondary function of pressure regulator  230  is to provide a constant pressure level so that, when reset button  280  is activated, the timing function is replicated. Air flow pressure communicates through shut-off valve  240 . Shut-off valve  240  serves to shut down swinging operation at the end of a pre-set time period to prevent motion sickness from surplus swing activity. 
     Pressurized air proceeds to (schematically designated) control valve  250  (corresponding to unit  82  in representational schematic  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ) where it is directed to the appropriate end of cylinder  260  (or  56 , see  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ) indexed by trigger arm  72  (see  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ) in relation to the position of swing seat unit  30  in its typical swinging arc. Control valve  250  directs exhausted air from cylinder  260  to muffler  270 . This muffler  270  may take a variety of forms, and is purposed to reduce the typically sharp exhaust sound to a relatively soft pulse of air when released to atmosphere. 
     Screened orifice  300  provides a controlled leak for timing management. Power control  245 , if needed, provides a means of matching cylinder  260  pressure to the weight of an individual carried in the swing  30 . This can prevent or control aggressive over-swing. The power control  245  can be infinitely adjustable up to the pressure level of the air regulator  230 . 
     Further included is a timing device also explained with reference to block diagram  FIG. 4 . Reset button  280 , when pushed, charges the timing reservoir  290  to the level preset by pressure regulator  230 . When the timing reservoir pressure drops to a predetermined level, it automatically causes a shift in the position of the shut-off valve  240  to close off pneumatic pressure from control valve  250 . This, in turn, ceases the swing seat  30  propelling work performed by the cylinder  260 , thus stopping swinging operation when a pre-selected time period expires. 
     Reset button  280  can be pushed before the power unit  50  stops, allowing it to repeat running through the pre-set time period. If the reset button is not activated, the swinging operation diminishes slowly, as gravity eventually brings swing  30  to a complete stop in an “at rest” position at the lowest point of swing  30  arc during its oscillation movement. 
     Once the system components described hereabove are procured and assembled in operative relationship and power system  50  is interconnected to pneumatic pressure feed from one or more ordinary pneumatic fluid units, operation of swing  10  as suggested in  FIG. 1  may commence. With air compressor connection achieved and an occupant seated in swing seat  30 , a monitoring attendant may press (engage) reset button  280  and manually initiate the arcing swinging motion by pushing swing seat unit  30  (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) sufficiently high to activate pneumatic drive system  50 . Optionally as desired, the monitoring attendant may push the swing in a non-powered mode (without engaging the pneumatic drive system  50 ) simply by not engaging reset button  280 . 
     An occupant seated in the swing seat  30  will experience continuous swinging motion imparted by the drive system  50  until the timer shuts down the pneumatic drive system  50 , or until the monitoring attendant decides to manually stop the swing motion. 
     By way of example only, and according to guidance of physical therapists, a typical timed period between monitoring observations is about fifteen to twenty minutes, but could be somewhat more or less depending on system design. This method of operation is ideal for families with normal or challenged children. It also is ideal for daycare facilities for the disabled or otherwise, including rehabilitation units, institutional care units, or elsewhere to help entertain, provide motion for, and otherwise calm patients who cannot or are unable to propel themselves in the action of swinging and thus enjoy the feeling the air blowing by as they swing. A sense of comfort from a swinging motion is universally known and frequently recommended by therapists and parents worldwide as, to a great extent, essentially replicating an infant&#39;s calming experience. 
     Although the foregoing description makes reference to a number of specific features, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention claimed herein. Instead, the subject invention described as an apparatus and its method of use should be viewed as susceptible of modification, combinations and alterations. Accordingly, claims presented herein are to be considered as covering all such modifications, combinations, alterations, and equivalents thereof within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 1