GB2269112A - Swing seat - Google Patents

Abstract

A swing seat for a child's swing comprises a rigid laminar seat portion 1 adapted to bear the weight of a child; a skirt is provided around the periphery of the seat portion 1 and spaced from the seat portion by a plurality of support members 4. The support members are inclined to the skirt and define a plurality of apertures. The skirt and support members deform on impact with an object thereby absorbing some of the energy of impact. <IMAGE>

Description

SWING SEAT This invention relates to a swing seat for a child's swing. Seats for childrens swings suffer from the disadvantage that they are hard and are liable to cause injury.

US patent 4066258 discloses a swing seat formed from foamed plastics material having a configuration designed to reduce the severity of accidents. The seat comprises a first member which is sufficiently rigid to bear the weight of a child and a second member composed of compressible polymeric material surrounding the periphery of the first member. The second member comprises an array of blind apertures arranged to allow deformation on impact. A double row of blind apertures has been necessary in order to provide sufficient absorption of energy. Such an arrangement has been found to be undesirably heavy to meet official safety requirements.

Increase in mass not only leads to uneconomic use of materials but also increases the momentum of the swing seat giving rise to an increased likelihood of severe injury to child.

According to the present invention a swing seat for a child's swing comprises a rigid laminar seat portion adapted to bear the weight of a child, a skirt surrounding the periphery of the seat portion disposed in spaced relation to the latter and a multiplicity of support members extending between the seat portion and the skirt arranged to define a multiplicity of apertures between the seat portion and the skirt, characterised in that the support members are disposed in inclined relation to said skirt.

The blind apertures may be generally triangular or trapezoidal, dependent on the direction of inclination of the support members.

The invention confers the advantage that the supports do not provide a solid body of material connecting the skirt and seat portion along the line of a possible impact of the seat with a child, that is on the direction of motion of the swing in use. Inclination of the supports allows the latter to buckle or deflect on impact, absorbing energy and cushioning a child from the rigid seat portion.

In preferred embodiments of the invention adjacent supports may be inclined in opposite directions with respect to the direction of motion. This arrangement prevents the skirt from being deflected laterally into contact with the seat portion during an impact.

The supports may be laminar. This allows use of a minimal amount of material affording lightness and minimal momentum of the swing seat.

Preferred embodiments of the invention include an array of alternately arranged triangular apertures. The head to tail arrangement of the triangular apertures stabilises the skirt against collapse against the seat portion without providing a solid body of material along the line of any impact.

Triangular apertures may be disposed at corners of rectangular seats. The apical angles of such triangular apertures may be greater to provide a softer and more readily deformable construction at each corner.

The seat portion may incorporate a reinforcement, for example a metal plate in accordance with conventional practice.

The triangular or trapezoidal apertures of swing seats in accordance with this invention may have a greater volume than the cylindrical bores of previously known arrangements. This leads to a more economical use of materials, a lighter construction and ease of moulding.

The apical angles of apertures at corners of the seat are preferably greater than about 350, more preferably greater than about 750. The corners of a moving swing are more likely to inflict injury on impact than are the straight edges or sides of the seat. Apertures with large apical angles can deform more easily and absorb energy more effectively.

The seat may further comprise two side pieces, a front piece and a back piece arranged to define an enclosure in which a child may sit in use and which minimises the risk of the child slipping off the seat. The sides and front and back portions form a cradle type seat which is particularly suitable for young children who may slip or fall off the seat.

At least two apertures may be provided to facilitate connection to ropes or chains of a conventional swing installation. The seat of the invention can replace existing swing seats.

At least one of the front or back pieces may comprise two substantially perpendicular members arranged to define two apertures adapted to accommodate legs of a child. This arrangement has the advantage that the child is prevented from slipping off the front of the seat. The members may be ribbed to reduce their weight and enhance their strength.

Preferably, a plurality of apertures are provided in the side pieces. The weight of the swing can be reduced by using these side pieces and this reduces momentum of the swing.

Generally, the sides comprise moulded plastics material.

Plastic is cheap and light.

The front and back pieces are formed from a rubber material. Preferably reinforcement is provided in the rubber to increase stiffness but which is sufficiently resilient to absorb energy on impact thereby reducing the risk of serious damage or injury.

The invention is further described by means of example but not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a view of the underside of a seat in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a partial section on AA of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on b of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end elevation of the swing seat shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the corner section of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a view of the underside of an alternative swing seat in accordance with this invention.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of further embodiment of swing seat; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the seat shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a plan cross-sectional view of a member of the front piece; and Figure 10 is a plan view of a swing shown in Figures 7 and 8.

In the following drawings the same numerals are used to denote like components.

The swing seat shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a rigid laminar seat portion 1 incorporating metal (aluminium) reinforcing member 2. A polymeric skirt 3 extends parallel to the rectangular periphery of the seat portion 1 in spaced relation to the latter. A multiplicity of support members 4 extend between the skirt 3 and a lip 15 which is dependent from the central body 1. Skirt 3 and lip 15 define a space which is divided by the supports 4 into a multiplicity of apertures 8.

The supports 4 are inclined to the direction of motion of the swing in use, that is they are inclined to a direction perpendicular to the longer edge of the seat. The apertures 8 are generally triangular in plan view although the apices may be rounded. Alternatively the supports 12, 13 may be arranged in parallel pairs so that the apertures 10, 11 are alternatively trapezoidal and triangular.Use of triangular apertures is preferred for the leading and trailing edges of the swing in order to provide maximum absorption of energy on impact The apical angles of the triangular apertures may be between 10 and 400, preferably 15 to 300, more preferably approximately 35 . Thus in preferred embodiments of the invention the support members are inclined to the direction of motion at an angle of 5 to 200, preferably approximately 180.

Apertures 9 at the corners of the seat may have greater apical angles, for example approximately 70-C.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention employing use of thicker support members 20 to provide a heavier construction. Cylindrical apertures 22 are provided at corners of the seat.

Figure 7 shows a front view of a further embodiment of swing seat which comprises two side pieces 70 fixed at their ends 71 to the seat portion 1. A front piece, generally indicated by the reference numeral 72, comprises an upright strut 73 and a horizontal bar 74. The horizontal bar has a plurality of ribs extending along the length of the bar. This reduces the weight of the seat. The upright strut 73, horizontal bar 74, side pieces 70 and seat portion 1 define two apertures 75. The apertures 75 are adapted to accept the legs of a child sitting on the seat. The side pieces, front piece and back piece define an enclosure which prevents a child from slipping off the seat. This can be particularly useful for very young children who do not have sufficient strength to grip the ropes or chains which attach the seat to a swing frame.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the seat shown in Figure 7. The side pieces 70 have a plurality of apertures 80 which reduce the overall weight of the seat. This reduces the momentum of a moving swing and is less likely to cause serious injury on impact. The side pieces comprise a moulded plastics material. Eyes 81 are provided on the upper surface of the seat to facilitate connection to ropes or chains of a swing frame.

Figure 9 shows detail of the internal construction of the upright strut and horizontal bar of the front piece of the swing. The horizontal bar 90 comprises a rubber material 91 moulded around a strip of spring steel 92 which acts as a reinforcing member. The bar 90 is sufficiently rigid and strong to restrain a child sitting in the seat but can deform on impact thereby absorbing energy. This reduces the risk of the swing seat inflicting serious injury The spring steel strip extends along the length of the bar 90 and around an aperture 93 formed in each end of the bar 90. Bolts may be used to secure the bar 90 to the swing seat via the apertures 93.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the swing seat depicted in Figures 7 to 9 showing the arrangement of the individual components and detail of the enclosure defined by the sides, front piece, back piece and seat. Four eyes 81 are provided on the upper surface of the seat. Use of four eyes provides a more stable seat which is less likely to tip.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS:

1. A swing seat for a child's swing comprising a rigid laminar seat portion adapted to bear the weight of a child, a skirt surrounding the periphery of the seat portion disposed in spaced relation to the latter and a multiplicity of support members extending between the seat portion and the skirt arranged to define a multiplicity of apertures between the seat portion and the skirt, characterised in that the support members are disposed in inclined relation to said skirt.

2. A swing seat as claimed in claim 1, in which the apertures are triangular or trapezoidal.

3. A swing seat as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which adjacent supports are inclined in opposite directions.

4. A swing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the supports are laminar.

5. A swing seat as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the apertures define an array of alternately arranged triangular blind apertures.

6. A swing seat as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which triangular apertures are disposed at corners of rectangular seats.

7. A swing seat as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the seat portion incorporates a reinforcement.

8. A swing seat as claimed in claim 7, in which the reinforcement is a metal plate.

9. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which apical angles of apertures at corners of the seat are greater than 35 .

10. A swing seat as claimed in claim 9, in which the apical angles are greater than 75 .

11. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, which further comprises two side pieces, a front piece and a back piece arranged to define an enclosure in which a child may sit in use.

12. A swing seat as claimed in claim 11, in which at least one of the front or back pieces comprises two substantially perpendicular members arranged to define two apertures adapted to accommodate the legs of a child.

13. A swing seat as claimed in claim 12, in which the members are ribbed.

14. A swing seat as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, in which a plurality of apertures are provided in the side pieces.

15. A swing seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A swing seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.