Bouncing Swing

Adults and children are interested in outdoor recreational toys which can provide a unique playtime experience. The most important issue for a parent or guardian in evaluating children's recreational devices should be the safety of the toy and the skill level necessary for a child to enjoy the plaything.

As a secondary requirement, the function and use of a new outside toy must be easy to comprehend by children without excessive instruction or supervision. It should be weather resistant and should remain relatively cool to the touch even after prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

I have invented and developed a recreational swing which incorporates a pronounced, but gentle, bouncing action with the pendulum motion of a traditional rope swing. The design meets the objectives of a safe toy as stated above.

The prototype utilizes a heavy gauge extension spring which is enclosed in and attached to a rigid tube. Other extension devices such as a rubber or elastic bungee could be substituted for the spring. A swing seat is joined to the tube and is locked in place between a collar and reinforced base. The sleeve or tube shields the rider from the accordion action of the extension spring and also serves as a secure handle. The handle is of sufficient length to deter contact between the rider and the rope or cable during the vertical movement of the swing. There is a cap attached at the top of the tube which further prohibits a child from placing his fingers or objects into the tube. The top cap also acts as a safety device by preventing overextension of the spring. A second cap is attached at the bottom of the handle, under the swing seat, to prevent a child from placing fingers or objects into the handle from below.

The bouncing swing is suspended by a flexible link such as a rope, cord, cable, or chain from a suitable overhead support, for example, a swing set frame or overhanging tree limb.

The weight of the rider on the swing extends the spring, which gently rebounds, causing a wavelike motion. A child's movement on the swing can perpetuate the bouncing action. Furthermore, the pendulum motion itself causes an extension of the device or spring under the weight of the rider.

The invention may be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation cross-section view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevation cross-section view of the invention with the spring in extension.

A summary of the parts shown in the drawings include:

1. flexible link

2. smooth metal grommet

3. top safety cap

4. swing handle

5. seat collar

6. swing seat

7. reinforced seat base

8. steel anchor bolt

9. steel lock nut

10. metal washer

11. bottom safety cap

12. extension spring

12a. spring looped end

Now referring to FIG. 1, a recreational bouncing swing would be attached to a stationary overhead support, for example, a swing set frame or tree limb. The bouncing swing includes a handle 4 which is a rigid, hollow tube, such as Schedule 40 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tubing.

A round or oblong, wooden seat 6 has a center hole which slips over the handle 4. The swing seat 6 is supported by a reinforced base 7 which is a larger, tightly fitting coupling tube. A metal washer 10 (FIG. 3), located between the swing seat and the base, distributes the weight of the rider over a wider surface of the seat. The base 7 is bonded to the rigid plastic tube 4 for additional strength. The swing seat 6 is restrained from vertical movement by a collar 5 which is another tightly fitting coupling tube. The collar 5 is fastened to the handle 4 by screws.

The bouncing swing is suspended by a flexible link 1, such as a rope, chain, or cable, from a stationary overhead support. The singular link allows for a 360 degree rotation of the swing around the axis or link 1. The rope 1 extends down through the top safety cap 3 into the handle 4 and is attached to a hooking looped end 12a of an extension spring 12, as shown in FIG. 2, by means of a knot or clamp. The extension device 12 is fastened to the swing through the handle 4 and reinforced base 7 by use of a steel anchor 8, see FIG. 3. The galvanized steel bolt 8 is assembled with a galvanized steel hex nut 9.

The weight and movement of the rider extends the spring or bungee 12 as shown in FIG. 3. The tension in the spring causes a gentle rebound which produces a wavelike bouncing motion. As the spring 12 extends and rebounds, the entire swing moves up and down along the rope or cable 1. The top safety cap 3 is a rigid covering which fits the tube handle and is attached by screws. The cap 3 has a center hole large enough to allow for passage of the flexible link and is protected from friction, caused by the movement of the swing along the rope or cable 1, by a smooth metal grommet 2. The grommet 2 has a diameter of approximately 0.5 inches, which prevents a child from placing fingers or other objects into the tube. The top safety cap 3 also prohibits over-extension of the spring or bungee 12 and acts to restrain the swing from contact with the ground. The handle has a bottom safety cap 11, a rigid covering which fits over the tube handle and is bonded or attached with screws. The bottom cap 11 has a small center hold to allow for drainage.

The handle 4 is also of sufficient length to protect the rider from contact with the flexible link 1 during the vertical motion of the swing caused by the extension and rebound action of the spring 12.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is as follows:

This invention shall not be limited to the illustrative embodiment but rather to the claims as set forth below which constitute definitions of this invention including the protection afforded by the doctrine of equivalents.