GB2053702A

GB2053702A - Swing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2053702A
Application number: GB8017811A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Record A J
Current assignee: Record A J
Priority date: 1979-06-01
Filing date: 1980-05-30
Publication date: 1981-02-11

Abstract

Swing apparatus in which the suspension means, or at least one of the suspension means, from which a swing seat is suspended has at or around its or their upper end(s) a rigid or semi- rigid elongate member 10 to prevent the suspension means passing over and wrapping around a suspension bar or cross-bar 2 of the apparatus. The rigid or semi-rigid elongate member(s) will constitute between one-quarter and one-half the total length of the suspension means, and will be composed of solid or tubular metal or alloy, or solid rubber or a synthetic rubber or plastics composition. The suspension bar or cross-bar may include one or more buffer or braking rails 4 or 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Swing apparatus This invention relates to swing apparatus, that is to amusement apparatus generally referred to as "swings".

In conventional "swings" it is possible, accidentally or otherwise for the seat suspension means usually chains - of a swing to pass over the top suspending cross-bar such that the suspension means and seats become wrapped around said cross-bar, and the aim of the present invention is to provide an improved form of swing which will obviate the known disadvantage of conventional swings.

According to the present invention, there is provided swing apparatus including suspension means carrying or for carrying a swing seat, at least one of said suspension means having at or around its upper end a rigid or semi-rigid elongate member. Preferably, each of said suspension means will have a rigid or semi-rigid elongate member.

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, a cross-bar of the swing apparatus from which the suspension means depend will include outwardly projecting buffer or braking rails so as to limit the arc of travel of said rigid or semi-rigid elongate members and said suspension means.

The rigid or semi-rigid elongate members will preferably constitute an upper portion of said suspension means, or the rigid or semi-rigid elongate members may be in the form of tubular members located around the upper regions of said suspension means through which said suspension means pass, said tubular members being secured in position on the suspension means by means passing therethrough.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the suspension means will include the rigid or semi-rigid elongate members, said elongate members constituting at least one quarter of the total length of said suspension means. More preferably, the elongate members will constitute just less than one-half the total length of said suspension means.

The elongate members will preferably be composed of metal or alloy or rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics composition.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of swing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the swing apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevation of swing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the swing apparatus of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a cross-bar 2 of a swing apparatus has on its front and rear surfaces, buffer or braking rails 4 and 6 which are spaced apart from said cross-bar by spacer bars 8.

Depending from the cross-bar 2 - for each swing seat to be supported by the cross-bar - are pairs of rigid elongate member 10 from which are suspended chains or other suspension means 12. A swing seat 14 is shown supported by the suspension means 12.

The elongate members 10 are connected to the cross-bar2 by means of U-shaped shackles 16 which are movable re!ative tp the cross-bar when the swing is in motion. The elongate members, preferably composed of steel or other metal, will be approxi matelyone-quarterofthetotal length of the suspension means.

Should an attempt be made to swing the seat 14 upwardly with sufficien force to cause the swing seat to pass over the top of the suspending cross-bar 2 and to fall downwards on the other side ofthe cross-bar 2, leaving the suspension means wrapped around the cross-bar 2, it will be appreciated that as the suspension means 12 pass in an upward arc, the elongate members 10 will strike the buffer or braking rail 4 or 6 thus preventing the suspension means passing over the cross-bar 2. In fact, when the elongate members 10 strike either of the buffer or braking rails, the upward travel of the suspension means will be arrested and the suspension means would fall downwardlyfollowinn approximately the path indicated by reference numeral 12A of the suspension means. Thus, the suspension means would not become wrapped around the cross-bar 2.

It will be appreciated that the cross-bar need not be of sq uare-section as shown, and that the suspension means need not be chains in that they could be wire rope or other similar suspension means. In addition, the buffer or braking rails 4 and 6 need not be specifically as shown in the drawings.

In an alternative arrangement of the invention, the rigid elongate member 10 may consist of tubular members through which pass the suspension means 12, in which case the suspension means would be connected directly to the shackles, the tubular members being secured in position in the suspension means by means of bolts, rivets or the like passing through the suspension means.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the swing apparatus comprises a suspension bar or cross-bar 22 from which depend, for each swing seat to be supported - one is indicated by reference numeral 24 in the drawings - pairs of suspension means 26 and 28. The suspension means 26 and 28 are secured to the cross-bar 22 by means of shackles 30 and 32 pivotally connected to lugs 34 and 36 respectively on the suspension bar or cross-bar 22.

Each of the suspension means 26 and 28 are constituted by a first upper section 38, 40 respectively and a second lower section 42,44. The upper sections 38 and 40 are composed of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as solid or tubular metal or alloy or solid rubber or a synthetic rubber or plastics composition, said upper sections being secured to the shackles 30 and 32 such that there is a rigid connection thereto. The lower sections 42 and 44, secured by pins, shackles or the like to the upper sections 38 and 40 respectively, are constituted by chains or ropes or other flexible members, said sections 42 and 44 being secured to the seat 24 by connecting sections 46 and 48.

The upper sections 38 and 40 of the suspension means 26 and 28 are each of such length that they will represent at least one-quarter of the total length of the suspension means. More preferably, and as shown in the drawings, the length of the upper sections 38 and 40 will be such that they are just less than one-half of the total length of the suspension means. It is of course possible that the length of the upper sections may be equal to or greater than one-half the total length of the suspension means.

Should the swing seat 24 be moved in an arc beyond the limit when the swing is in normal use, it has been found that the upper sections 38 and 40 of the suspension means 26 and 28 will not normally travel beyond the horizontal, and that due to loss of momentum and to the effects of gravity, the suspension means and hence the swing seat will fall downwardly to their normal positions.

Thus the provision of the rigid or semi-rigid upper sections 38 and 40 of the suspension means provides a very effective way of preventing the suspension means and the swing seatfrom becoming wrapped around the suspension bar or cross-bar 22.

Claims

1. Swing apparatus including suspension means carrying or for carrying a swing seat, at least one of said suspension means having at or around its upper end a rigid or semi-rigid elongate member.

2. Swing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each of said suspension means has a rigid or semi-rigid elongate member.

3. Swing apparatus according to claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said rigid or semi-rigid elongate member(s) constitute between one-quarter and one-half of the total length of said suspension means.

4. Swing apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said rigid or semi-rigid elongate member(s) are composed of solid or tubular metal or alloy, or of solid rubber or a synthetic rubber or plastics composition.

5. Swing apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, including a suspension bar or cross-bar from which said suspension means depend, said suspension bar or cross-bar having on at least one of its surfaces a buffer or braking rail whih projects from said suspension bar or cross-bar to limit the arc of travel of said rigid or semi-rigid elongate member(s) and said suspension means.

6. Swing apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein said suspension bar or cross-bar has a buffer or braking rail on each of two opposed faces.

7. Swing apparatus according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein said buffer or braking rail(s) project substantially horzintallyfrom said suspension bar or cross-bar.

8. Swing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 and 4, of the accompanying drawings.