U.S. patent application number 09/845474 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-31 for convertible child's play swing.
Invention is credited to Brown, Barrett W..
Application Number | 20020158494 09/845474 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25295316 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020158494 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, Barrett W. |
October 31, 2002 |
CONVERTIBLE CHILD'S PLAY SWING
Abstract
A child's play swing has a seat with a base panel defining a
seating surface, side panels joined to the base panel along its
side edges, and a back panel joined to the base panel along its
back edge, together defining a swing volume for receiving and
supporting a child during swinging. The base panel defines a
pocket, and the swing includes a seating surface stiffener sized
for removable placement within the pocket. In a first condition,
with the seating surface stiffener removed from the pocket, the
seat has are a relatively more pliable seating surface that forms
about the body surface of a child placed within the swing volume,
as suited for an infant unable to sit up on its own. In a second
condition, with the seating surface stiffener installed within the
pocket, the seat has a relatively more stiff seating surface that
supports the body surface of a child placed within the swing volume
without deflection, as suited for a toddler able to sit up on its
own.
Inventors: |
Brown, Barrett W.;
(Rockport, ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TIMOTHY A. FRENCH
Fish & Richardson P.C.
225 Franklin Street
Boston
MA
02110-2804
US
|
Family ID: |
25295316 |
Appl. No.: |
09/845474 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/280 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 9/00 20130101; A47D
13/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/280 |
International
Class: |
A63G 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A child's play swing comprising: a seat comprising a base panel,
a first side panel joined to said base panel along a first side
edge thereof, an opposite second side panel joined to said base
panel along an opposite, second side edge thereof, a back panel
joined to said base panel along a back edge thereof, joined to said
first side panel along a back edge thereof, and joined to said
opposite, second side panel along a back edge thereof, said base
panel, said first side panel, said opposite, second side panel, and
said back panel together defining a swing volume for receiving and
supporting a child during swinging, and said base panel defining a
seating surface and said base panel defining a pocket, and a
seating surface stiffener sized for removable placement within said
pocket, said seat, in a first condition, with said seating surface
stiffener removed from said pocket, having are a relatively more
pliable seating surface adapted to form about the body surface of a
child placed within said swing volume, as suited for an infant
unable to sit up on its own, and said seat, in a second condition,
with said seating surface stiffener installed within said pocket,
having a relatively more stiff seating surface adapted to support
the body surface of a child placed within said swing volume without
deflection, as suited for a toddler able to sit up on its own.
2. The child's play swing of claim 1, wherein said seat, in said
first condition, is suited for use by an infant about three to
twelve months old.
3. The child's play swing of claim 1, wherein said seat, in said
second condition, is suited for use by an toddler about one to
three years old.
4. The child's play swing of claim 1, wherein said seat further
comprises a strap element extending from a front edge of said base
element to define, with front edges of said first and second side
panels, leg openings.
5. The child's play swing of claim 4, wherein said swing further
comprises a crossbar element, and said strap element has upper end
attached to said crossbar element at a front region of said swing
volume.
6. The child's play swing of claim 5, wherein said crossbar element
is a wooden bar.
7. The child's play swing of claim 1, wherein said seat further
comprises a securement device for releasable securement of said
seating surface stiffener within said pocket.
8. The child's play swing of claim 7, wherein said securement
device comprises opposed, cooperative elements of a hook-and-loop
type fastening system.
9. The child's play swing of claim 1, further comprising means for
suspension of said seat from a support.
10. The child's play swing of claim 9, wherein said means for
suspension comprises ropes.
11. The child's play swing of claim 9, wherein said means for
suspension supports said seat from front upper corners of said
first and second side panels and front upper corners of said back
panel.
12. The child's play swing of claim 1, wherein two or more of said
base panel, said first and second side panels and said back panel
are integrally formed.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to play swings, and more particularly
to play swings suitable for younger children, e.g. about 3 months
to 3 years old.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Play swings suitable for younger children, e.g. those about
3 months to 3 years old, typically define a volume into which the
child can be received and safely supported. Often, swings of this
nature include a base or seat panel surrounded on three sides by
side and back panels, with a vertical strap and crossbar at the
front defining leg openings. As a child matures and becomes
increasing more capable of supporting itself in a sitting position,
the structural requirements of a play swing change.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to the invention, a child's play swing comprises a
seat comprising a base panel, a first side panel joined to the base
panel along a first side edge thereof, an opposite second side
panel joined to the base panel along an opposite, second side edge
thereof, a back panel joined to the base panel along a back edge
thereof, joined to the first side panel along a back edge thereof,
and joined to the opposite, second side panel along a back edge
thereof, the base panel, the first side panel, the opposite, second
side panel, and the back panel together defining a swing volume for
receiving and supporting a child during swinging, and the base
panel defining a seating surface and the base panel defining a
pocket, and a seating surface stiffener sized for removable
placement within the pocket. The seat, in a first condition, with
the seating surface stiffener removed from the pocket, has a
relatively more pliable seating surface adapted to form about the
body surface of a child placed within the swing volume, as suited
for an infant unable to sit up on its own. The seat, in a second
condition, with the seating surface stiffener installed within the
pocket, has a relatively more stiff seating surface adapted to
support the body surface of a child placed within the swing volume
without deflection, as suited for a toddler able to sit up on its
own.
[0004] Preferred embodiments of the invention may include one or
more of the following additional features. The play swing with the
seat in its first condition is suited for use by an infant about
three to twelve months old. The play swing with the seat in its
second condition is suited for use by an toddler about one to three
years old. The seat further comprises a strap element extending
from a front edge of the base element to define, with front edges
of the first and second side panels, leg openings. The swing
further comprises a crossbar element, preferably a wooden bar, and
the strap element has upper end attached to the crossbar element at
a front region of the swing volume. The seat further comprises a
securement device, e.g., comprising opposed, cooperative elements
of a hook-and-loop type fastening system, for releasable securement
of the seating surface stiffener within the pocket. The child's
play swing further comprises means for suspension of the seat from
a support, e.g. ropes. Preferably, the means for suspension
supports the seat from front upper corners of the first and second
side panels and front upper corners of the back panel. Two or more
of the base panel, the first and second side panels and the back
panel are integrally formed.
[0005] The invention thus provides a child's play swing convertible
between use by infants (3 to 12 months) and use by toddlers (1 to 3
years).
[0006] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are
set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible child's play
swing of the invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side section view of the child's play swing of
FIG. 1 in its first condition, suitable for use by an infant, e.g.
3 to 12 months old; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a similar side section view of the child's play
swing of FIG. 1 in its second condition, suitable for use by a
toddler, e.g. 1 to 3 years old.
[0010] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a child's play swing 10 of the
invention consists of a seat 12 formed of flexible material, e.g.,
canvas, suspended by rope supports 14 attached through grommets 16
at each of four corners 17. In the preferred embodiment, the seat
12 is integrally formed of base 18, sides 20, 22, and a back panel
24 joined along adjacent edges, with a crotch strap 26 extending
from the base 18 to a crossbar 28 for keeping a child placed
therewithin from slipping out of the seat. Referring particularly
to FIGS. 2 and 3, a pocket 30 formed beneath the seat base 18
receives stiff seat board 32, e.g. formed of wood, plastic or other
suitable material, through an opening 34 at the rear. The opening
is secured, e.g., by releasable, VELCRO.RTM.-type hook-and-loop
fasteners 36.
[0012] According to the invention, in its first condition (FIG. 2),
with the seat board 32 removed from pocket 30, the play swing seat
12 forms a relatively more pliable, form-fitting support suitable
for a younger child or infant, e.g. 3 to 12 months old. In its
second condition (FIG. 3), with the seat board 32 placed within the
pocket 30, and secured in place by fasteners 36, the play swing
seat 12 provides relatively more rigid support suitable for an
older child or toddler, e.g., a toddler 1 to 3 years old, able to
sit on its own.
[0013] A number of embodiments of the invention have been
described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. For example, the play swing 10 may be
formed of any suitable material. The swing may also be suspended in
any suitable fashion. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the
scope of the following claims.
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