GB2186807A - Swing - Google Patents

Abstract

A swing with a bowl-like seat body (1) having a continuous upper rim (7) which is developed in a manner such that it forms a continuous periphery, while two openings (6), for the child's legs, are provided in the front wall of the seat body, these openings being separated by a web (5), and with seat body suspension ropes (9, 10), preferably four in number, the ends of which are passed through apertures in the upper rim and are anchored there, especially by means of a knot. The lengths of tubing (12) are slid onto the two front ropes (9), above the upper rim (7), these ropes (9) being anchored therein, adjacent to the openings (6), a cross-member (13) being provided above the lengths of tubing (12), this cross- member (13) being engaged on the two ropes (9) by means of holes (14) which are provided in its two end regions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Swing The invention relates to a swing having a generally bowl-like seat body having a continuous upper rim, and a front portion provided with two openings, for a child's legs, these openings being separated by a web, the swing including suspension ropes, preferably four in number, ends of which are passed through apertures in the upper rim and are anchored there, e.g. by means of a knot or toggle. Swings of this type are used for babies and very young children and can be hung up out of doors, or even in a room, for example by being attached to a door frame.

In known swings of this type the rear wall of the seat body is usually shaped as a seatback, while the side-walls can be provided with openings, arranged in a manner such that the child can hold onto the upper rim at the sides. The continuous upper rim is radiused outwards from the interior, thus providing the seat body with a shape which is free of angles and with strength.

The height of the seat body in the region of the front wall, is matched to the average size of a baby. The height is chosen to be such that the upper rim lies at a height somewhere within the baby's reach. However, the seatbody walls must not be extended upwards, or developed in a manner such that they become excessively high, for there is then a danger of the baby's ceasing to feel happy in the swing, because he would perceive it as being a kind of forced confinement, and he might possibly feel confined in the region of the arms as well. It is precisely in this region that the baby should be wholly free, and able to move about.

In fact, incidents have already occurred, especially in cases involving extremely violent swinging, in which babies have fallen forwards, out of the seat body, over the upper rim or in which they have, at all events, come close to doing so with the result that they either fell to the ground, or became caught in the seat body by their legs, so that they hung upside down.

The object underlying the invention is to develop a baby swing, of the type described in the introduction, in a manner such that there is no recurrence of the disadvantages which have been described, so that the child's safety during swinging is increased.

This is achieved, according to the invention, by means of an arrangement wherein apertured members, such as lengths of tubing are slid onto the two front ropes, above the upper rim, these ropes being anchored therein, adjacent to the openings, and wherein a cross-member is provided above the lengths of tubing, this cross-member being installed on the two ropes by means of holes which are provided in its two end regions. A safety bar, so to say, is hence provided above the upper rim, in the front region of the seat body, this safety bar making it impossible for the baby to fall out forwards, or to come close to doing so. In addition, this crossmember has the advantage that it fulfils its protective function without confining the baby to an excessive degree, and/or without impeding his mobility in the region of the arms.

The seat body is preferably manufactured as a plastics moulding, so that it is highly advantageous to use plastics components for the lengths of tubing as well, and for the crossmember. The two lengths of tubing are preferably identical, the cross-member being intended to be horizontal, and parallel to the upper rim. The cross-member can be composed of a length of tubing as well. However, this cross-member could also be shaped from wood.

It is expedient that the diameter of the holes in the cross-member be smaller than the external diameter of the lengths of tubing, so that, in the assembled state, the cross-member rests directly on the lengths of tubing.

However, the cross-member could also be mounted on the lengths of tubing in another way, or secured thereon by different means.

The holes in the cross-member are arranged to be separated by a distance corresponding to that between the apertures which are assigned to the two front ropes, so that the fixing of the cross-member is also assisted by the tension exerted by the ropes.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in the Drawing, and is described in more detail. In the Drawing: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the baby swing, in the state in which it is used, and Figure 2 shows a detail view.

The baby swing possesses a bowl like seat body, 1, which forms a seat shell, and which, in addition to a rear wall, possesses two sidewalls, 2 and 3, as well as a front wall 4, the latter comprising a web 5 and two openings 6.

An upper rim 7 is provided, which forms a continuous periphery and has a suitable width to be gripped by a child, the rim presenting a rounded-off shape, so that the child cannot injure himself on it. Four apertures 8 are provided in the upper rim 7, two of them being provided at the front, one on each side, so that they are in the region of the front wail 4 and serve as lead-throughs and anchorages for two front ropes 9. The two other apertures 8 are provided, in a similar way, in the region of the rear wall, these serving to receive the free ends of two further ropes 10, or of two further pieces of rope. The free ends of the ropes 9 and 10 are suiably tied to form knots 11, or are anchored in some other way. It is also possible to configure the ropes 9 and 10 such that they are continuous on each side.

Lengths of tubing 12 are slid onto the two front ropes 9, above the upper rim 7. One length of tubing 12 can be slid on, or several lengths, but it is expedient that the heights on the two ropes be identical. A bead-like or balllike shape is also wholly conceivable. A crossmember- 13 is installed between the two front ropes 9, this cross-member 13 possessing a hole 14 in each of its two end regions, so that the two front ropes 9 are thus interconnected. The cross-member 13, which can be composed of a wooden rod, or of a length of tubing, generally runs parallel to the upper rim 7, that is to say horizontally and is supported on the lengths of tubing 12. The cross-member 13 forms a safety bar which prevents the child from falling forwards, out of the seat body 1, or from coming near to doing so.

The safety bar or cross-member 13 is suitable for the baby to grasp, as is the upper rim 7 in the region of the front wall 4. During swinging, this cross-member 13 does not impede the baby's freedom to move, especially with regard to the freedom of his arms.

Claims (6)

1. A swing comprising a bowl like seat body having a continuous upper rim and a front portion provided with two openings, for a child's legs, these openings being separated by a web, the swing including suspension ropes ends of which are passed through apertures in the upper rim and are anchored there, these suspension ropes including a pair of front ropes anchored adjacent to the openings and having lengths of apertured members engaged thereon above the upper rim, and a cross-member engaged on the two ropes by means of holes in its two end regions and supported on said members so as to define a barrier.

2. A swing according to Claim 1, wherein the cross-member is horizontal and parallel to the upper rim.

3. A swing according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the cross-member and the apertured members comprise lengths of tubing.

4. A swing according to Claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the diameter of the holes in the cross-member is smaller than the external diameter of the apertured members.

5. A swing according to any preceding claim, wherein the holes in the cross-member are separated by a distance corresponding to that between the apertures which receive the pair of front ropes.

6. A swing constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.