U.S. patent application number 10/193780 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-15 for swing attachment.
Invention is credited to Hanson, Steven, Rieber, Frederick M., Ziegler,, William H. JR..
Application Number | 20040009033 10/193780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29735342 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040009033 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rieber, Frederick M. ; et
al. |
January 15, 2004 |
SWING ATTACHMENT
Abstract
An attachment for attaching the upper end of a swing device to a
raised top bar. The attachment includes a pair of arcuate slide
sections having opposite ends in mating engagement to form a
circular slide, a U-bolt having a pair of parallel threaded end
segments connected by a curved bridging portion slidably engaged in
the slide, a generally V-shaped saddle bracket whose arms have
first ends connected by a saddle, spaced-apart second ends
containing through holes for receiving the end segments of the
U-bolt and a pair of opposing sliders projecting from the bracket
arms for slidably engaging in the slide, and at least one nut for
threadedly engaging an end segment of the U-bolt. The attachment
enables a chain or other swing suspension device that is secured to
the bracket to pivot 360.degree. around the top bar.
Inventors: |
Rieber, Frederick M.; (Alum
Bank, PA) ; Ziegler,, William H. JR.; (Bedford,
PA) ; Hanson, Steven; (North Kingstown, RI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CESARI AND MCKENNA, LLP
88 BLACK FALCON AVENUE
BOSTON
MA
02210
US
|
Family ID: |
29735342 |
Appl. No.: |
10/193780 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/338 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 2200/509 20180801;
Y10T 403/19 20150115; A63G 9/12 20130101; Y10T 403/32975 20150115;
Y10T 403/32213 20150115; Y10T 403/32155 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/338 |
International
Class: |
F16L 023/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An attachment for attaching the upper end of a swing device to a
raised top bar, said attachment comprising a pair of similar
arcuate slide sections, each slide section having first and second
ends; opposite inner and outer walls extending between said ends,
said walls being shaped and dimensioned so that when the slide
sections are juxtaposed with their corresponding ends in butting
engagement, the inner walls of the slide sections define an opening
corresponding the cross-section of the top bar, and a peripheral
semi-circular groove in the outer wall of each slide section which
when the slide sections are juxtaposed and butted define a
substantially continuous circular slide having an axis, and
fastening means for clamping said slide sections to the top bar,
said fastening being slidable along said circular slide at least
360.degree. about said axis.
2. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein the fastening means
comprise a U-bolt having a pair of substantially parallel legs
connected by a bridging portion having a curvature corresponding to
the curvature of said slide; a bracket including a pair of arms
having corresponding first ends connected by a saddle portion and
corresponding spaced-apart second ends having corresponding through
holes which are so spaced-apart and sized as to receive the legs of
the U-bolt, and a pair of opposing sliders projecting from said
arms near the second ends thereof, each slider being slidably
received in said slide when the bracket is engaged against the
slide sections and the legs of the U-bolt extend through said
holes, and at least one nut threadedly engaging a leg of the
U-bolts so as to clamp the slide sections between the U-bolt and
the saddle bracket.
3. The attachment defined in claim 2 wherein said bracket is
V-shaped.
4. The attachment defined in claim 2 wherein the slide sections are
semi-circular.
5. The attachment defined in claim 4 and further including keying
means at the first and second ends of each slide section which
interfit when the corresponding ends of the slide sections are in
butting engagement.
6. The attachment defined in claim 2 and further including
interfitting means on the inner surface of each slide section for
interfitting with a top bar.
7. The attachment defined in claim 2 and further including swing
suspension means including an eye, said bracket being threaded
through said eye so that the suspension means seat on said saddle
portion.
8. An attachment for attaching a swing device to an elevated
horizontal, cylindrical, support having a longitudinal axis and a
selected diameter, said attachment comprising a pair of
semi-circular slide sections engaged around the support, said slide
sections having opposite ends in mating engagement to form an
exterior circular slide, and posts projecting into the support to
prevent movement of the slide sections relative to the support, and
fastening means clamping said slide sections together in mating
engagement about said support said fastening means being slidable
along said slide at least 360.degree. about said axis.
9. The attachment defined in claim 8 wherein the fastening means
comprise a U-bolt comprising a pair of substantially parallel legs
connected at corresponding first ends by a curved bridging portion
slidably engaged in said slide, said legs also having corresponding
spaced-apart second ends, a bracket including a pair of arms having
corresponding first ends connected by a saddle and corresponding
spaced-apart, second ends, said second ends containing through
holes spaced-apart and sized to receive the legs of the U-bolt, and
a pair of opposing sliders projecting from said bracket arms
between the ends thereof and slidably engaged in said slide, and
securing means on the second ends of the U-bolt legs under the
second ends of the bracket arms for clamping the slide sections
together around the support between the U-bolt and the bracket.
10. The attachment defined in claim 7 and further including a swing
suspension member having an end seated on said saddle.
11. The attachment defined in claim 7 wherein the securing means
comprise a hook on the second end of the U-bolt legs hooked under
the second end of one bracket arm, and a nut threaded onto the
second end of the other U-bolt leg under the second end of the
other bracket arm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a children's swing set. It relates
especially to a device for pivotally attaching a swing or similar
device to the top bar of a swing set.
[0002] Children's swings, glide rides and the like usually include
some kind of a seating platform suspended by suspension means such
as chains, cables, tubes or the like from a top bar or other raised
horizontal support. The suspension means are invariably connected
to the top bar or other raised support by pivots. In one known
example, a pair of eye bolts are mounted at spaced-apart locations
along the top bar and the uppermost links of a pair of chains
supporting the swing seat are connected to the eye bolts by
S-hooks. When the swing seat swings back and forth, the S-hooks
pivot relative to the eye bolts. That type of connection is
disadvantaged in that it does not allow the chains or other
suspension means to pivot completely over the top bar.
[0003] There do exist bearing assemblies for swing sets which do
allow a chain or other suspension means to pivot completely over
the top bar; see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,531,077 and 6,123,480.
However those bearing assemblies are relatively complicated devices
consisting of several separate parts which must be assembled using
a multiplicity of small fasteners. Considering the fact that most
present day swing sets are sold in a knock-down condition for
assembly by the ultimate purchaser, it is not surprising that those
small parts are often misplaced or lost entirely. At the very
least, the required installation of all those parts prolongs the
time its takes to assemble the swing set.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a swing
attachment in the form of a bearing assembly for pivotally
attaching a swing-type ride to a top bar or other raised horizontal
support.
[0005] A further object of the invention is to provide a swing
attachment of this type which is relatively easy and inexpensive to
manufacture.
[0006] Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a
swing attachment which is composed of a minimum number of parts
that can be assembled easily without requiring any special
tools.
[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a swing
attachment of this type which allows the chain or other seat
suspension means to pivot completely around the top bar or other
overhead horizontal support.
[0008] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a swing
attachment which requires only two fastening elements in order to
pivotally connect the upper end of a chain or other suspension
means to the top bar of a swing set.
[0009] Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part,
appear hereinafter.
[0010] The invention accordingly comprises the features of
construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts
which will be exemplified in the following detailed description,
and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
[0011] Briefly, our attachment attaches the upper end of a swing
device to a raised top bar or other overhead horizontal support.
The attachment comprises a pair of similar arcuate slide sections,
each track section having first and second ends and opposite inner
and outer walls extending between those ends. The slide sections
are shaped and dimensioned so that when the slide sections are
juxtaposed with their corresponding ends in butting engagement, the
inner walls of the slide sections define an opening corresponding
the cross-section of the top bar. There are semi-circular grooves
in the outer walls of the slide sections which when the slide
sections are juxtaposed and butted define a substantially
continuous circular slide or track.
[0012] The attachment also includes a fastening means for clamping
the slide sections to the top bar, yet which are slidable along the
slide so that the fastening means (And a chain or other suspension
device attached thereto) can execute a 360.degree. rotation about
the top bar. Typically, the fastening means may include a U-bolt
having a pair of substantially parallel legs connected by a
bridging portion having a curvature corresponding to the curvature
of the slide and a bracket including a pair of arms having
corresponding first ends connected by a saddle portion and
corresponding spaced-apart co-planar second ends. Through holes are
formed in those ends which are so spaced-apart and sized as to
receive the end segments of the U-bolt. A pair of opposing sliders
may project from the bracket arms near the second ends thereof,
each slider being slidably received in the slide when the bracket
is engaged against the slide sections and the end segments of the
U-bolt extend through said holes. Means are provided at the ends of
the U-bolt legs projecting through the bracket so as to clamp the
slide sections between the U-bolt and the bracket.
[0013] When the upper end of a chain or other swing suspension
device is engaged on the bracket, the attachment allows that end to
pivot a full 360.degree. about the axis of the top bar.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanied drawings, in
which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a children's swing set
incorporating swing attachments according to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view on a much larger
scale showing one of the swing attachments in FIG. 1, and
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the
components of the FIG. 2 attachment in their disassembled
condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Refer now to FIG. 1 of the drawings which shows a children's
swing set including a top bar B supported at opposite ends by
conventional A-frames A. Suspended from top bar B is a pair of
swings shown generally at S. Each swing includes a seating platform
P suspended from top bar B by chains C whose uppermost links
C.sub.L are pivotally connected to top bar B by attachments shown
generally at 10. The seating platform P could, of course, be
suspended from top bar B or other overhead support by other
suspension means such as flexible cables, rigid rods or tubes and
the like.
[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, each attachment 10 includes
a set of upper and lower arcuate slide sections 12a and 12b made of
a suitable rigid, weather-resistant, low friction plastic material,
e.g. nylon or high molecular weight polyethylene. The illustrated
slide sections are semi-circular with an inner diameter that
corresponds to that of the tubular top bar B. Each slide section
has a peripheral groove or slide 14 and a radially inwardly
extending post 16 more or less midway along its length. Also, an
integral key 22a and an adjacent keyhole 24a are present at one end
of each slide section 12a, 12b and a similar key 22b and keyhole
24b are present at the other end of each section 12a, 12b.
Resultantly, when the two slide sections are juxtaposed opposite
one another as shown in FIG. 3, at opposing first ends of the two
sections, the keys 22a are disposed opposite the keyholes 24a,
while at the opposing second ends of the two sections, the key 22b
are disposed opposite the keyholes 24b.
[0020] In use, the two slide sections 12a, 12b are adapted to be
clamped to opposite sides of the top bar B with the posts 16
projecting into a pair of diametrically opposite holes 26, 26
formed in the top bar. When the two sections are properly seated
against the top bar as shown in FIG. 2, the keys 22a, 22b at the
ends of the two sections project into the corresponding keyholes
24a, 24b therein and the posts 16 project through holes 26, 26 into
the top bar. Thus, the two sections 12a, 12b are fixed relative to
one another and are fixed relative to top bar B, with the slides 14
of the two track sections forming a substanttially continuous
circular groove or track that extends completely around the
longitudinal axis of the top bar.
[0021] The third major component of attachment 10 is a fastener
element, namely a double-ended U-bolt 32, e.g., formed of {fraction
(3/16)} inch steel wire, whose curvature corresponds to that of
slides 14,14 so that the bolt can be slidably seated in the slides
14,14 of the assembled slide sections 12a, 12b as shown in FIG. 2.
One end segment 32a of the U-bolt is bent out at a right angle; the
other end segment 32b is threaded. When the U-bolt 32 is installed
on the top bar, the end segments 32a and 32b are on opposite sides
of the top bar B.
[0022] The fourth major component of attachment 10 is a saddle
bracket 34 formed from a relatively rigid metal strap. The
illustrated bracket 34 has a pair of legs 34a, 34a which converge
to a lower curved wall or saddle portion 34b so as to form a
V-shape. The legs 34a, 34a have spaced-apart upper end segments 34c
and 34d, respectively, which are turned away from one another.
Segment 34c has a through hole 35 and a raised channel 36 extending
out from hole 35 perpendicular to leg 34a so that the end segment
32a of U-bolt 32 can be inserted through hole 35 and hooked under
the bracket segment 34c so it engages in channel 36 as shown in
FIG. 2. The other bracket end segment 34d has a hole 37 to receive
the threaded end segment 32b of bolt 32.
[0023] In addition, a pair of opposing rounded bosses constituting
projecting sliders 38 are present near the upper ends of bracket
legs 34a, 34a just below segments 34c and 34d thereof. Each slider
38 extends more or less perpendicular to the associated leg 34a so
that when bracket 34 is engaged against the underside of a slide
section 12a, 12b as shown in FIG. 2, the sliders 38 will extend
into the slide 14 of that section, while at the same is time, the
bracket end segments 34c and 34d will be more or less horizontal so
that the ends of bolt 32 can extend down through the holes 35 and
37 in the end bracket segments 34c and 34d, respectively.
[0024] Prior to engaging the bracket to the bolt, however, the
uppermost link C.sub.L of chain C is secured to bracket 34 by
threading one end of the bracket 34 through the eye of the link
C.sub.L so that that link seats on the bracket lower wall or saddle
portion 34b. Then, after the threaded end segment 32b of the bolt
32 is inserted through the hole 37 in the bracket; it may be
retained there by a fastening element in the form of a nut 42
threaded onto the bolt segment 32b extending under bracket end
segment 34d. Preferably, the nut 42 is of the friction type so that
once tightened onto the end of the bolt, it will remain in place
unless removed intentionally by a wrench or similar tool.
[0025] When the components of the attachment are assembled as shown
in FIG. 2, the bolt 32 and bracket 34 are free to rotate as a unit
in the circular track defined by slides 14,14 a full 360.degree.
relative to the common axis of slide sections 12a, 12b and top bar
B. Thus, the upper end of chain C can pivot completely around the
top bar while being fixed to the top bar in the axial
direction.
[0026] It is the feature of the invention that when the four major
components of the attachment are secured using the single nut 42,
slide sections 12a, 12b are fixed to the top bar B both
rotationally and axially, the bolt 32/bracket 34 combination is
axially fixed but rotatable relative to the slide sections and the
upper link C.sub.L of the chain C is fixed to the bracket, thereby
providing a bearing attachment that allows the chain C to pivot
completely over the top bar B. Yet, attachment 10 comprises a
minimum number of parts which are easily assembled to the top bar
of a swing set using only one nut, thereby minimizing the
likelihood of fastener loss that would prevent convenient assembly
of the attachment by a purchaser to the top bar of the purchaser's
swing set.
[0027] Since the slide sections are molded plastic parts which can
be made in quantity relatively inexpensively and bolt 32 is a
formed wire and bracket 34 is a formed metal part, and nut 42 is a
conventional off-the-shelf item, the entire assembly can be made at
minimum cost. Therefore, it should find wide acceptance in the
marketplace.
[0028] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among
those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently
attained. Also, certain changes may be made in the above
construction without departing from the scope of the invention.
Thus, slide sections 12a and 12b may have other shapes depending
upon the cross-sectional shape of top bar B. For example if the top
bar B has a square cross-section, the inner walls of the arcuate
sections 12a, 12b should complete a square. The only requirement is
that the outer grooves 14, 14 of the two slide sections complete a
circle so that the connected-together bolt 32 and bracket 34 can
pivot completely over or around the sections and top bar B. Also,
of course, in lieu of U-bolt 32 and saddle bracket 34, other
fastening means may be used to rotatably secure the chain link
C.sub.L to the slide sections 12a, 12b. The only requirement in
that respect is the fastening means in toto must be able to slide
along the slides 14 in the slide sections 12a, 12b. Therefore, it
is intended that all matter contained in the above description or
shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *