EP3247476B1

EP3247476B1 - Basket swing comprising a seat section having a double/single walled impact surface

Info

Publication number: EP3247476B1
Application number: EP15828892.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fuat Eroglu
Original assignee: Cemer Kent Ekipmanlari Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Cemer Kent Ekipmanlari Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2015-01-20
Filing date: 2015-11-16
Publication date: 2022-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-16
Also published as: EP3247476A1; WO2016118095A1

Description

The Related Art

The invention relates to a basket swing comprising a seat section having impact surfaces (impact regions) produced in double/single walled form by means of a volume moulding method in order to obtain a flexible and shock absorbing surface during impact.

The Prior Art

Playgrounds are among first places where a kid would start to socialize outside of home. Playgrounds are very effective for body (motor) development of kids during childhood, which is the most significant period of human development. Motion is a significant need for a kid. In this stage, games and sports etc. activities support motion. Nowadays, various playgrounds are present for kids to pass enjoyable time and kids want to be in these places. Various game groups are present in these playgrounds. The drawback of these game groups is that their equipments are made of hard materials. The accidents caused by these hard materials make families worried.
Said playgrounds need to have structures that won't harm kids themselves and their friends playing with them. Playgrounds should be constructed with the site selection, floor covering, planting, and safety etc. design principles in the light of the tendencies and expectations of kids.
One of the most appealing equipments to kids in playgrounds is the swing. Swing may cause impacts and crushes due to its function. Nowadays, various swing types are present. However, since swinging function is a kinetic situation, it may and would cause uncontrollable accidents.
During the literature research, some applications about this subject were found.
One of these is the utility model application No. TR2002/01532 , entitled: "Swing System". The abstract of this application is as follows: "The present invention relates to a 'swing system'. Our invention is a swing system providing swinging on wooden carriers with the help of a hinge, having a fixable seat, adjustable back part, and foldable armrest, and can be fixed by means of adjusting the tent carcass."
However, said swing system is not so sound in terms of safety of children. It might cause accidents with injuries as a result of possible swing hits.
However, during said research, a utility model with publication No. TR2011/04050 , entitled: "Swing with Rubber Damper", also belonging to the present applicant is found. The abstract of this application is as follows: "The invention relates to a swing with rubber damper developed considering ergonomics and safety details of swings used independently or within a game group for use of children."
Said invention relates to a swing seat comprising a damper made of a rubber material and designed for the comfort and safety of children in order to eliminate the above said drawbacks. However, alternative solutions are developed for improving said application.
Other document in the related art an application numbered GB2207344A and relating to swing seat. The seat disclosed under the application has a srface made from elastomeric materiay renifroced with a hand supplement. A skirt in flexible structure is formed around said surface. Front and rear sections of surface have parallel webs extending paralel to skirt and combined with bridging members. Thus it is aimed to absorb stroke onto swing gradually. Skirt and parallel webs used for absorbing purposes in the document are located only in front and rear secitons of seat. This provies a limited absorbing area. In addition, having open spaces between skirt and parallel webs and combining the sqaces by bridge members causes a rigid structure not providing adequate flexibility due to skirt and parallel webs resting onto each other during hit and bridge members failing to support it. The document does not disclose a structure inside of which is filled with aid for absorption.
Therefore, in order to provide the above given solutions, an improvement needs to be made in the relevant technical field.

Purpose of the Invention

The invention relates to a basket swing comprising a seat section having a double/single walled impact surface, which meets the above said requirements, eliminates all of the drawbacks, and brings some additional advantages.
The primary purpose of the invention is to have a seat section comprising impact surface(s) produced as double and/or single walled structures via any volume moulding method such as rotation moulding, inflation moulding etc. In this way, a flexible and shock-absorbing surface is obtained during impact.
A purpose of the invention is to have an impact surface (impact region) diameter (in terms of height and width) that is increased to at least two times of the prior art. This situation enables obtaining a flexible surface. As a result, minimization of the impact is ensured when crushing against organic materials (such as human body parts) besides static materials in itself (iron, wood etc.) together with an elastic surface.
Another purpose of the invention is to have a rigid impact surface wall thickness. In this way, desired functionality characteristics such as shock absorbing and high elasticity would be obtained.
A similar purpose of the invention is to provide better grip during function by means of increasing the negative slope of said seat surface.In this way, the possibility of accidents during use (such as falling from the swing) would be reduced.
Another purpose of the invention is to form a swing with a double/single walled impact surface having an integral structure or multiple shocks absorbing section on all of its periphery. The multiple shocks absorbing section ensures improving shock absorption and reducing the harm to be given to the user.
Another purpose of the invention is to comprise a basket swing made of a material having elastic and shock absorbing characteristics. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention; said material is plastic, silicone, elastomer, rubber etc. Material having impact damping effect minimizing negative effects on the counter party in case of a possible swing hit.
Another purpose of the invention is to have shock absorbing characteristic against hit etc. impacts, and obtain equipments that are also safe in terms of durability.
A similar purpose of the invention is to provide a practical and modern installation/use without the need for welding etc. operations, since the product would be included in the game group in a modular manner.
The invention can be fixed by means of its metal framework that can be used in a movable or fixed manner, and it aims to enable game play of more than one person in terms of durability.
In order to achieve the above said purposes, the invention proposes a swing according to claim 1.
The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all of its advantages shall be understood better with the figures and the detailed description given below in reference to the figures, and therefore, the assessment should be made by taking into account the said figures and detailed explanations.

Figures for Better Understanding of the Invention

For better understanding of the embodiment of the present invention and its advantages with its additional components, it should be evaluated together with below described figures.

Figure 1 : Is the demounted state view of the basket swing according to the present invenfion.
Figure 2 : is the mounted, closed state view of the basket swing according to the present invention.
Figure 3 : is the view of the basket-form seat section in a neutral position without the situation of an impact.
Figure 4 : Is the view of the seat section having double/single walled impact surface together with the impact surface diameter.
Figure 5 : is the view of the basket-form seat section according to the invention in an impact situation.
Figure 6 : Is the view of the basket swing according to the invention during movable application.
Figure 7 : Is the view of a different form (having multiple shock-absorbing parts) of the basket swing according to the present invention.
Figure 8 : Is the demounted view of a different form (having multiple shock-absorbing parts) of the basket swing according to the present invention.
Figure 9 : Is the section view of a different form (having multiple shock-absorbing parts) of the basket swing according to the present invention.

Drawings do not have to be scaled and details not necessary for understanding the present invention may be neglected. Moreover, components which are at least widely equal or which have at least widely equal functions are shown with the same number.

Description of Parts References

1.: Swing
10. Seat section
100. Impact surface
1000. Diameter
101. Periphery
1010. Connection housing
102. Centre
1020. Space
103. Inner part
11. Body
12. Profile
13. Connection component
X:: Impact substance

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the basket swing (1) comprising a seat section having a double/single walled impact surface according to the present invention, will only be disclosed for better understanding of the subject without forming any limiting effect.
Figure 1 is the demounted state view of the basket swing (1) according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is the mounted view of the basket swing (1) according to the present invention.
The swing (1) according to the invention consists of a seat section (10) and a body (11) on which said seat section (10) is positioned and fixed. The invention is characterized in that; said seat section (10) comprises impact surface(s) (impact region(s)) (100) produced as double and/or single walled structures via rotation moulding, inflation moulding etc. moulding method. Thus, an impact surface (100) filled inside with air and having enclosed form is obtained. This situation enables obtaining a flexible and shock-absorbing surface during impact. The deformations to occur in the physical structure of the product with any impact would recover back to its original state due to the characteristics of the product material. As a result of this, any negative situation would not occur in terms of the user and the product. Said material is plastic, silicone, elastomer, rubber etc. material having impact damping effect minimizing negative effects on the counter party in case of a possible swing hit.
Another characteristic of the invention is to have an impact surface (impact region) (100) diameter (in terms of height and width) (1000) that is increased to at least two times of the prior art. While said diameter (1000) is, for instance, 100 mm in the prior art; it is 200 mm in the swing (1) according to the present invention. This situation ensures minimization of the impact when crushing against organic materials (such as human body parts) besides static materials in itself (iron, wood etc.) together with an elastic surface. (Figures 3, 4, and 5). Moreover, Figure 4 is the view of the basket-form seat section (10) in an impact situation with any substance (x).
Another significant characteristic of the invention is the increase in the negative slope of said seat section (10). This situation provides a better grip during function compared to the prior art. In this way, the possibility of accidents during use (such as falling from the swing) would be reduced.
Another characteristic is the wall thickness being rigid. In this way, functionality (shock absorbing characteristic and elasticity) would be obtained. In the game groups having a basket swing with bearer characteristic, in contrast to the classical swing types used in the prior art, one or more kids can use the station at the same time.
The swing (1) according to the invention can have different forms as shown in Figures 1 and 7. Figure 1 shows its form with a single-piece structure on all its periphery; and Figure 7 shows the version having multiple shock absorbing sections.
Another characteristic of the invention is being formed by positioning sequentially in a circular/elliptical (centrally) arrangement based on the center of the multiple shock absorbing component product that is integral with the product body. Since the shock absorbing components have double/single walled structure and these components have bendable characteristic at the connection part with the product body; maximum shock absorption would be ensured and flexion movement would be made against impacts from all directions. While each shock absorbing piece can counteract the forces coming from different directions, they can also act together against impacts with higher force and coming from a wide area (by making flexion movement).
With this technique, the elasticity of impact surfaces has been made controllable. At the same time, the flexion parts of shock absorbing components form the recesses where a user can grab during swinging, and this makes the basket swing experience safer.
In the swing (1) according to the invention, said seat section (10) is made of plastic material having shock absorbing characteristic; and it has a basket-form view with a recession towards the inner part (103). Said swing (1) is connected to the connection component (13) from the top part of the half moon-shaped or inverse U-shaped profile (12) at a position corresponding to 5 - 10 cm below the flexion points. A space (1020) is found at the centre point (102) of the seat section (10). By means of said space (1020), the swing (1) according to the invention can pass through the profile (12) that is fixed to the ground.
Said body (11) is made of metal. Said seat section (10) is connected to said body (11) via shrink fit.
Said seat section (10) is connected to the profile (12) by means of inserting the connection component (13) into the connection housings (1010) found at the periphery (101) of said seat section (10) and thus becomes a swing (1). And said swing (1) does not give harm to the person sitting on the swing, since the material it is made of has shock absorbing characteristic.

Claims

A swing (1) comprising a seat section (10) having a recessed structure towards an inner part (103) of the seat section (10)
and made of an elastic material with damping characteristics;
and a body (11) in which said seat section (10) is positioned and fixed, characterized in that;
• said seat section (10) is formed by rotation moulding or inflation moulding method, and comprises a double and/or single walled impact surface(s)(100) with air filled inside and having enclosed form.
The swing (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that said impact surface (100) has a single-piece structure.
The swing (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the body (11) comprises a framework bearer made of metal.
The swing (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the seat section (10) comprises a connection housing (1010) formed around its periphery (101) , and in that the swing further comprises a connection component (13) adapted to ensure the connection of said seat section (10) to a swing supporting structure .