EP1892024B1

EP1892024B1 - Swinging device

Info

Publication number: EP1892024B1
Application number: EP07253123A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wilson Christian Pierre
Original assignee: Pierre Wilson Christian
Current assignee: Pierre Wilson Christian
Priority date: 2006-08-22
Filing date: 2007-08-09
Publication date: 2009-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-09
Also published as: ATE444789T1; GB2441120A; EP1892024A1; GB0616659D0; DE602007002673D1

Abstract

A swinging device comprises torso support means (17) and leg support means (33) separately mounted for rotation about horizontal support means (15). Arresting means (31) are adapted to engage the horizontal support means and thus immobilise additional support means (29) at any location about the horizontal support means (15) when a user operates the arresting means (31). Reciprocal power means (41) are mounted and arranged between the leg support means (33) and the additional support means (29) in a manner such that when the user operates the arresting means (31) to immobilise the additional support means, the swinging movement of the user's body weight against the reciprocal power means (41) via the leg support means (33) produces backward swinging motion of the user about the horizontal support means (15).

Description

The present invention relates to swings (e.g. a seat suspended by a rope or chain), and in particular to swings adapted to enhanced a user's to and fro motions.
Though enjoyable, swings have their limitations. Generally, the unaided user has to struggle against the forces of gravity to maintain the swinging motions. Also the attainable height, while swinging, is usually confined to below the horizontal support, which can be unsatisfactory. The present invention proposes a swinging device which is provided with reciprocal power means adapted to enhance the user's enjoyment by assisting her or him to extend the arc of the swing further and further.
Document EP-A-1609510 discloses a gymnastic device in the form of a swing or trapeze. Substantially horizontal support means are raised from the ground by generally vertical support means. Extendible lengthways hands support means are mounted at, or near, one end of the hands support means perpendicularly to the horizontal support means in a manner allowing angular rotation about the horizontal support means, the lengthways hands support means being provided with resistive means arranged in a manner allowing reciprocal motion of the user in an upward forward direction. The hands support means are also provided with locking means adapted to engage the horizontal support means thereby providing a fixed support at a desired position about the horizontal support means. Extendible lengthways legs support means are mounted at, or near, one end of the legs support means perpendicularly to the horizontal support means in a manner allowing rotation about the horizontal support means. At, or near, the opposite end of the legs support means, foot retention means are provided, and the legs support means are further provided with resistive means arranged in a manner allowing reciprocal motion of the user in an upward forward direction. The present invention provides a swinging device according to claim 1. Optional features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
In operation, the user sits on the buttocks support means, with his or her feet engaged and retained by the foot retention means, and operates the arresting means in order to immobilise the additional support bars. The user then starts a pushing action against the reciprocal power means (via the leg support means) so that compressing the hydraulic-resistors/springs results in the user being propelled backwards. Initially the user repeats the pushing action more than once, for example, in order to propel herself or himself further and further backwards. Extending the arc of the swing causes the arresting bars to slide off towards the apices of the teeth and disengage and subsequently re-engaging the next teeth up the toothed wheels. Whereupon the user repeats the process as described above to attain still greater height. At a chosen height the user rotates the hand-bar (as described above) to disengage the arresting bars thus allowing himself or herself an extended forward swing, towards the end of which swing the user operates the arresting bars again to immobilise the additional support bars. The movement of the user's body weight against the hydraulic-resistors/springs results in the user being extendedly propelled backwards. By repeating the process, towards the end of each swing, the user aims to maintain the swinging motions and to achieve even greater height, as desired and for as long as desired.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial view, showing detail from figure 1 in perspective;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hand-bar from figure 1, with its mountings and supports;
Figure 4 is a side view showing the arresting means relating to the leg support means in the disengaged position, with cut away section and some parts not drawn for clarity of illustration;
Figure 5 is a side view showing the arresting means of figure 4 in the engaged position, with cutaway section and some parts not drawn for clarity of illustration;
Figure 6 is a side view showing the arresting means relating to the torso support means in engaged position, with cutaway section and some parts not drawn for clarity of illustration;
Figure 7 is a side view of an embodiment of foot retention means for the device; and
Figure 8 is a plan view of the foot retention means of figure 7.
The device illustrated in figure 1 comprises a horizontal support 15, tubular and round in cross section and supported above ground by vertical supports 16. Two vertical supports 16 can be provided at, or near, each end of the horizontal support 15, forming an 'A' frame for example. If preferred, the horizontal support 15 can be formed like an 'H' in cross section.
The leg support means consists of a pair of support bars 33 attached at one end to the mounting rings 27. The mounting rings 27 are mounted within the circumferential grooves of the wheels 30. Each wheel 30 is formed with two flanges on its rims, with one flange toward each edge of the wheel 30, forming a circumferential groove (e.g. like a bobbin or reel type wheel) so as to provide supporting means for the mounting rings 27.
The wheels 30 are rotatably mounted to the spindles 22 (preferably on ball bearings) between the wheels 20. The wheels 20 are formed with a flange (i.e. a raised edge) on their rim toward one edge (e.g. like a locomotive wheel) and are rotatably mounted (preferably on ball bearings) at, or near, each end of the spindles 22. The spindles 22 are disposed with their axes parallel to the horizontal support 15 and are mounted through the mounting rings 26.
The wheels 20 run on guide rails 21. The guide rails 21 are attached to horizontal support 15 on its circumference providing support and a direction of travel for the wheels 20, thus allowing angular rotation of the supports 33 and 17 about horizontal support 15. The supports 33 and 17 are able to rotate independently from each other (via the wheels 30).
Four spindles 22 are provided, each with two wheels 20 and a wheel 30, and are mounted equidistant from each other. If preferred, any number of spindles (with wheels) can be provided, with a minimum of three for each assembly.
Toward their ends opposite mounting rings 27, the support bars 33 are provided with a supporting bar 61 which serves as a supporting means for the foot retention means (to be described later).
The torso support means consists of a pair of support bars 17 attached at one end to mounting rings 27 in a manner similar to the attachment for the leg support means and using the same reference numbers for identical parts.
Toward their ends opposite the mounting rings 27, the support bars 17 are provided with a supporting bar 66 mounted perpendicularly through the support bars 17. The buttocks support (or seat) 60 is attached to the supporting bar 66 at about its midpoint and may include a back support and soft padding (not illustrated) if preferred.
The additional support means comprises the support bars 29 (and 29a) attached at one end to the mounting rings 26 for angular rotation about horizontal support 15. The support bars 29 (and 29a) are preferably disposed at the opposite side of horizontal support 15 to the user. The suffix 'a' denotes the identical parts and attachments provided for the torso support means.
The arresting means, consisting of the arresting bars 31 (and 31a) are slidingly mounted to the additional support bars 29 (and 29a) via two support arms 35 through the slots 68 formed in the arresting bars. The slots 68 run in parallel along part of the length of bars 31 (and 31a) and the support bars 29 (and 29a) thus allowing the arresting bars to slide toward horizontal support 15. Each arresting bar is formed with its end toward horizontal support 15 at an angle to its length so as to provide efficient engagement with toothed component 42 (see fig. 5).
Wires 45 (and 45a) are provided to operate the arresting bars. The wires are attached at one end to the arresting bars via arms 39 attached perpendicularly to the arresting bar, for example toward their ends opposite horizontal support 15. The wires run through a hole in support arms 34 and through flexible hollow cables 46.
The support arms 34 are attached perpendicularly to the support bars 29 (and 29a), for example, to the front of 29 (and 29a).
At their other ends, the wires 45 (and 45a) are attached to arms 51, with one wire toward each end of arms 51 (fig.3). The arms 51 are attached perpendicularly to the spindle (hand-bar) 47, with one arm 51 at, or near, each end of the spindle. The spindle 47 is rotatably mounted perpendicularly through the supporting bars 49 toward their ends opposite horizontal support 15. Toward their ends near horizontal support 15, the supporting bars 49 are attached perpendicularly to the spindle 48.
The spindle 48 is rotatably mounted perpendicularly through the leg support bars 33 toward their ends near horizontal support 15, thus allowing angular rotation of the supporting bars 49 toward the user, and thereby allowing the user to make adjustment of the relative position of the hand-bar toward her or him. If preferred, the spindle 48 may be formed with threads towards both ends and wing nuts (not illustrated), for example, may be provided for the user to releasably secure the supporting bars 49 to the leg support bars 33 after adjustment.
The flexible hollow cables 46 are disposed contiguously between the supports arms 34 and the support arms 50. The support arms 50 are attached perpendicularly to the side of the supporting bars 49 toward their ends near hand-bar 47. Each support arm 50 is formed with a hole toward both ends so as to allow the wires 45 (and 45a) to pass through. In operation, when the user rotates the hand-bar 47 forward, the wires 45 pull the arresting bars toward the toothed wheels 42. When the user rotates the hand-bar backward, the wires 45a pull the arresting bars 31a toward the toothed wheels 42a.
The toothed wheels 42 (and 42a) are attached to the horizontal support 15 at its parts where the arresting bars 31 (and 31a) engage the horizontal support 15. Although for the purpose of illustration the toothed wheels are drawn as having ten teeth each, they can be formed with any suitable number of teeth each, as required.
In construction, each tooth of the toothed wheels is formed generally like a right-angled triangle in cross section, with one face in line with the radius of the toothed wheel, i.e. perpendicular to the tangent of the toothed wheel, and with the other face sloping toward its base, i.e. toward the horizontal support 15 (see figures 4, 5 and 6). In operation the arresting bars only engage and lock with the toothed wheels when the user is swinging in one direction, and allow them to disengage by sliding off toward the apices of the teeth when the user is being propelled in the opposite direction by the reciprocal power means.
The reciprocal power means consist of compressible hydraulic-resistors 41 mounted between the additional supports bars 29 (and 29a) and the further supporting bars 23 (and 23a) via the spindles 40. The spindles 40 are rotatably mounted perpendicularly to the bars 23 and 29 (and 23a and 29a) toward their ends opposite the horizontal support. If preferred, instead of hydraulic-resistors, compressible springs for example may be provided.
The supporting bars 23 (and 23a) are attached at one end to the mounting rings 27 for angular rotation about the horizontal support 15, and are preferably disposed at the opposite side of the horizontal support to the user. The combined weight of all the support bars and the hydraulic-resistors may conveniently act as a counterbalancing means for the user's body weight, thus improving the swinging motion for him or her.
In other embodiments of the device, in order to provide for users of various body weight (e.g. from light to heavier user) means may be provided to allow adjustment to be made to the level of resistance. For example, the number of hydraulic-resistors may be doubled, i.e. two hydraulic-resistors are mounted in parallel alongside each other instead of one. In such embodiments, the piston-rod of each hydraulic cylinder may be mounted able to slide through the supports 40 thus nullifying the potential resistance from the hydraulic resistor.
In a modification, the supports 40 may be provided with releasable locking means (not illustrated) adapted to engage the piston-rod of either (or both) hydraulic-resistor thus enabling the hydraulic-resistors to provide resistance for the user.
Wires running through flexible hollow cables for example, may be provided to operate the locking means. The wires are attached at one end to the locking means and at their other ends to a lever for example. The lever can be mounted to the torso support bars for example, which the user operates to select the level of resistance required.
The foot retention means, as illustrated in figures 7 and 8, consist of the footplates 58 (one for each foot) and ankle retention bars 54, rotatably mounted perpendicularly through the support arms 56 toward one end of the support arms 56. Toward their other ends, the support arms 56 are mounted to the side of the footplate via the spindles 74 in a manner allowing angular rotation of the support arms 56 toward the user's ankle, thus allowing adjustment according to user's ankle size.
Both ankle retention bars 54 are releasably secured toward each other by the spindle 67, rotatably mounted perpendicularly through the ankle retention bars 54. The spindle 67 is formed with threads toward both ends, the threads being oppositely oriented (as illustrated). The retention bars 54 are formed with internal threads to accommodate the spindle 67. When the user rotates the spindle 67 one way, both retention bars 54 simultaneously move toward his or her ankle. To release his or her foot, the user rotates the spindle 67 in the opposite direction (via the collar 69). The collar 69 is attached to the spindle 67 at about its midpoint and is disposed between a pair of supporting bars 73. The supporting bars 73 are attached to the footplate perpendicularly and provide anchorage, via collar 69, to prevent the user's foot slipping forward/backward while swinging.
Each footplate also includes a toe retention bar 68 rotatably mounted perpendicularly through the support arm 55 and connecting arm 57 toward one end of the arms 55 and 57. Toward its other end; the support arm 55 is mounted to the side of the footplate via the spindle 65 for angular rotation toward the user's toes (or top of the foot). Toward its other end, connecting arm 57 is rotatably mounted to the side of one support arm 56 (as illustrated) toward its end near ankle retention bar 54 via the spindle 70. In operation, when the user rotates the collar 69, all the retention bars move simultaneously.
The support arms 55 and 56 are disposed inclined toward the user's foot so as to provide firm retention of the user's foot to the footplate.
The retention bars 54 and 68 are provided with soft outer covering 52 and 53 respectively. Furthermore the retention bars 54 and 68 are formed with threads toward their ends opposite their supporting arms and provided with wing nuts 59 and 59a respectively, which releasably secure the outer covering to the retention bars. The purpose of this is to allow the user to substitute the soft outer covering 52 and 53 if required, for example to accommodate users with larger/smaller feet and/or users wearing thick footwear.
Each footplate is mounted to the supporting bar (or spindle) 61 as in figure 1 via its spindle 63. The spindle 63 is attached perpendicularly underneath the footplate at about its centre for example, and is mounted perpendicularly through a hole 61a formed in the spindle 61 (fig. 3). A collar 64 supports each footplate above the spindle 61 thus allowing lateral rotation of the user's feet, if desired. The spindle 61 is mounted perpendicularly through the leg support bars 33, preferably in a manner allowing rotation of the spindle, thereby allowing the user to extend/flex her or his ankles about a horizontal axis while swinging, if desired.
To use the device, the user sits on the seat 60, with his or her feet retained by the foot retention means. The user then rotates the hand-bar 47 forward, causing the arresting bars 31 to engage the toothed wheels 42 (fig. 5) and thus immobilising the additional support bars 29. Pushing against the leg support bars 33 with his or her feet (via the foot retention means), the user causes the movement of the supporting bars 23 to compress the hydraulic-resistors 41, this compression producing reciprocal movement of the user in a backward swinging direction. Initially the user repeats the process of pushing against the leg support bars more than once, in order to extend the arc of the swinging motion further and further.
The eventual greater height attained by the user causes the arresting bars to disengage from the toothed wheels and to re-engage and lock with the next teeth up the toothed wheels. Whereupon the user can optionally repeat the process described above to attain even greater heights, or, at any chosen height the user can release the arresting bars in order to allow herself or himself an extended forward swing, toward the end of which swing the user rotates the hand-bar forward again in order to produce reciprocal extended backward swinging motion. By repeating the process the user aims to extend the swinging motion further and further back for as long as desired.
Toward the end of an extended backward swing, the user can optionally rotate the hand-bar 47 backward in order to engage and lock the arresting bars 31a to the toothed wheels 42a (via wires 45a), so as to be rewarded with a reciprocal forward swing. The arresting bars 31a and toothed wheels 42a are mounted to the torso support assembly in reverse aspect to the arresting bars 31 and toothed wheels 42 respectively.
Springs 37 are attached between the support arms 36 and 38 and serve to return the arresting bars to a neutral position. The support arms 36 are attached to arresting bars 31 (and 31a) and the support arms 38 are attached to additional support bars 29 (and 29a).
In further embodiments of the invention, a lockable hand-brake (e.g. like a car hand-brake) may be provided to immobilise the torso and leg support bars simultaneously in order to allow the user to mount/ dismount the device safely. This may consist of a lockable lever for example, and wires running through flexible hollow cables, the wires being attached individually at one end to all the arresting bars, i.e. with one wire per arresting bar. At their other ends all the wires can be attached collectively to the lever which the user operates to immobilise/free the torso and leg support bars simultaneously before using the device.
The preferred material of construction for the device is metal (e.g. steel), or any suitable material having sufficient mechanical strength. Though for the user's comfort, the outer covering 52 and 53 for the foot retention means can be made of foam plastics material for example, or any suitably soft material.
In some embodiments of the invention, the user's enjoyment can be enhanced by adding a reciprocal forward push to the user's swinging motions (alternately to the backward push). The parts provided to achieve this are identical to those provided for the backward push and are mounted in a manner similar to the attachments for the leg support means.
In such embodiments, in a modification, some parts are mounted in reverse. For example, the toothed wheels are attached to the horizontal supports means in a manner allowing the arresting bars to engage when the user is swinging backward only and to automatically disengage when the user is swinging forward. And the wires provided to operate the arresting bars are attached to the hand-bar opposite their counterparts so that in operation the user rotates the hand-bar backward to immobilise the additional support bars.
The device may include releasable securing means for securing a user to the device, e.g. safety straps and a torso harness for releasably securing the user to the buttocks support means and torso support bars respectively.

Claims

A swinging device comprising: substantially horizontal support means (15), raised above ground by generally vertical support means (16); torso support means (17) being mounted at, or near, one end of the torso support means perpendicularly to the horizontal support means (15) in a manner allowing angular rotation about the horizontal support means, said torso support means (17) being provided at, or near, the other end with a buttocks support means (60); leg support means (33) being mounted at, or near, one end of the leg support means perpendicularly to the horizontal support means (15) in a manner allowing angular rotation about the horizontal support means, said leg support means (33) being provided at, or near, the other end with foot retention means (54, 58, 68); additional support means (29), rotatably mounted to the horizontal support means (15) and being provided with arresting means (31), said arresting means being adapted to engage the horizontal support means and thus immobilising the additional support means (29) at any location about the horizontal support means (15) when a user operates the arresting means (31); and reciprocal power means (41), mounted and arranged between the leg support means (33) and the additional support means (29) in a manner such that when the user operates the arresting means (31) to immobilise the additional support means, the swinging movement of the user's body weight against the reciprocal power means (41) via the leg support means (33) produces backward swinging motion of the user about the horizontal support means (15).
A device according to claim 1, wherein the torso support means consist of a pair of support bars (17) mounted one on each side of the buttocks support means (60), the support bars being mounted perpendicularly at, or near, one end to the horizontal support means (15) for angular rotation.
A device according to claim 2, wherein toward their opposite ends, the torso support bars (17) are provided with a supporting bar (66), mounted perpendicularly to the torso support bars in order to provide a supporting means for the buttocks support means (60).
A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the buttocks support means comprises a seat (60) provided with a back support and/ or soft padding.
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the leg support means consists of a pair of leg support bars (33) mounted perpendicularly at, or near, one end to the horizontal support means (15) for angular rotation.
A device according to claim 5, wherein toward their opposite ends, the leg support bars (33) are provided with a foot supporting bar (61), mounted perpendicularly to the leg support bars and providing a supporting means for the foot retention means (54, 58, 68).
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the foot retention means comprise at least one footplate (58) with releasable ankle retention means (54) to engage and retain the user's feet to the footplate(s).
A device according to claim 7, wherein the ankle retention means comprise two ankle retention bars (54) each rotatably mounted to a support arm (56) which is mounted to the footplate (58).
A device according to claim 8, wherein both ankle retention bars (54) are releasably secured to a spindle (67) mounted through the ankle retention bars, by means of threads on the ankle retention bars (54) and the spindle (67), the two threads on the spindle (67) being oriented oppositely to each other.
A device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, including two footplates (58), one for each foot.
A device according to claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein the or each footplate (58) includes a toe retention bar (68).
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the reciprocal power means consist of hydraulic-resistors (41), springs or a combination of these.
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the reciprocal power means (41) are mounted to further supporting bars (23) of the leg support means (33), attached to the mountings of the leg support means in a manner allowing angular rotation of the further supporting bars (23) about the horizontal support means (15), the further supporting bars being disposed on the opposite side of the horizontal support means to the leg support means (33).
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the additional support means comprises a pair of additional support bars (29) mounted perpendicularly at, or near, one end to the horizontal support means (15) next to the leg support means (33) in a manner allowing angular rotation.
A device according to claim 14, wherein the arresting means comprise bars (31) slidingly mounted to the additional support bars (29) in a manner allowing sliding of the arresting bars towards the horizontal support means (15).
A device according to claim 15, including a system of wires (45) running through flexible hollow cables (46) for operating the arresting bars (31).
A device according to claim 16, including a rotatable hand-bar (47) for operating the arresting bars (31) via the wires (45), the wires being attached at one end to the arresting bars and at their other ends to the hand-bar (47).
A device according to claim 17, wherein the hand-bar (47) is mounted perpendicularly to a pair of supporting bars (49) toward one end thereof.
A device according to claim 18, wherein the supporting bars (49) are mounted to the leg support means (33), toward their ends near the horizontal support means (15) and in a manner allowing angular rotation of the supporting bars (49) toward the user.
A device according to claim 19, including means for releasably securing the supporting bars (49) to the leg support means (33) after adjustment.
A device according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the horizontal support means (15) is provided with toothed wheels (42) having their teeth on their circumference and attached to the horizontal support means where the arresting bars (31) engage the horizontal support means (15).
A device according to claim 21, wherein the teeth are formed to provide firm engagement of the arresting bars (31) when the user is swinging forward, and allow the arresting bars to automatically disengage from the toothed wheels (42) when the user is being reciprocally pushed backward by the reciprocal power means (41).
A device according to claim 22, wherein each tooth is formed to be generally triangular in cross section, with the plane of one face extending radially from the wheel (42), i.e. substantially perpendicular to the tangent of the .toothed wheel, and with the other face sloping or curving toward the base of the triangle.