GB2320444A - Swing - Google Patents

Abstract

A swing comprising a swing pivot capable of translational movement. Preferably the translational movement is reciprocatory and biased to a central position.

Description

DESCRIPTION A SWING The present invention relates to a new type of swing which is related to, but is an advancement on, devices commonly known.

The term 'swing' is used herein as a generic term to refer to devices which comprise a seat or a cradle having seats, which is suspended from a support structure. A suspension member is attached to the seat or cradle at one end and pivotally connected to the support structure at the other to allow the seat or cradle to swing about the pivot.

Single seat swings are commonly found in childrenXs playgrounds. The seat is suspended from a pivot on a support structure by linked chains.

Cradle swings are usually found at amusement parks and can accommodate up to tens of passengers. The cradle is often designed to resemble a boat or galleon.

This has led to cradle swings often being referred to generically as swing boats. A single rigid suspension shaft, usually disguised as the mast of a boat, is secured at its lower end to the centre of the 'deck' with the passengers to the front and rear facing the mast and is pivotally mounted at its upper end to a support frame. The cradle is set and maintained in motion using a set of motor driven rotating tyres which engage the undersurface of the cradle when it is at rest or at the bottom of its swing.

One or two seat cradle swings may be found in playgrounds and at smaller fun fairs. The passengers sit and face each other. The swinging action is created by the passengers each pulling on ropes which are suspended from a support structure in front of each passenger when the cradle is at rest.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a swing comprising a swing pivot capable of translational movement.

In accordance with one embodiment the translational movement is substantially horizontal.

Preferably the pivot is biased such that the translational movement is, or is encouraged to be, reciprocatory.

The swing pivot may be connected to a greased sled, wheeled carriage or trolley running in or on a guide rail(s) or track(s).

The guide track/rail may be either substantially horizontal or inclined or curved in part out of a horizontal or vertical plane.

In one embodiment at least part of one of the guide rails or tracks is U-shaped to encourage reciprocal translational motion of the swing pivot.

The guide track or rail may be closed at both ends or may form a loop.

Preferably, translational movement of the pivot is biased by at least one spring or elasticated member.

The present invention provides for a far more complex and unpredictable movement of the seat or cradle compared to traditional swings.

By way of example only a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of a cradle swing of the present invention.

The swing 10 comprises a support structure 20, two parallel, horizontal guide tracks 30 on the support structure 20, a carriage unit 40 having wheels 50 which run in the guide tracks 30 and a pivot 60 housed on the carriage unit 40 from which a cradle 70 is suspended.

The support structure comprises a horizontally disposed rectangular frame 80 having two longitudinal beams 90 and two lateral beams 100. The frame is supported from the ground by four struts 110, one attached to the frame 80 at each of its four corners. Horizontal cross members 120 link the support struts 110 to provide rigidity to the support structure 20. Two ropes 130 are attached at one of their ends to the medial position 140 of different lateral beams 100.

The horizontal guide tracks 30 are disposed on and along each of the two longitudinal beams 90 of the rectangular frame 90 of the support structure 110.

Each track 30 comprises a hollow rectangular member closed at each end. The opposed sides of each member have a horizontal rectangular aperture 150 such that the sides are flanged above and below the apertures 150. Alternatively, at least one section of at least one of the guide tracks 30 or rails may be inclined or curved.

The carriage unit 40 comprises two parallel lateral members 160 coupled to one another by two parallel longitudinal members 170. Attached to each end of the two lateral members 160 is a wheel 50 which locates in a guide track 30 such that each wheel axle 180 passes though an aperture 150 in the guide track 30. Each of two springs 190 is attached at one end to the medial position 195 of different lateral members 160 of the carriage unit 40 and at the other end to the medial position 140 of different lateral beams of the rectangular frame 80.

The swing pivot 200 comprises a horizontally disposed axle 210 and a coaxial cylindrical sheath 220 which is free to rotate around the axle 210. The ends of the axle 210 of the pivot are attached to the longitudinal members 170 of the carriage unit 40.

The cradle 70 is attached to and suspended from the pivot sheath 220 by four suspension rods 230, each attached to one of the four corners 240 of the cradle 70. The cradle 70 houses two seats 250 positioned to face each other. A brake peddle 260 is attached to the cradle floor and linked by a brake cable (not shown) to one or more disk brakes (not shown) located on wheels 50 of the carriage unit 60. Alternatively a braking means may be located in or on the guide track or rail.

The swing pivot may be provided with a locking or brake mechanism which when activated by a peddle or handle prevents or hinders the swinging motion of the cradle.

Furthermore the carriage unit and/or support structure may comprise a ratchet mechanism which allows movement along the guide rail or track in one direction only.

The cradle 70 further comprises a foot restraint 270 and preferably seat belts (not shown) or other restraining means.

In operation the springs 190 connected to the support structure 20, bias the carriage unit 40 into a central position on the guide track 30. The disk brake (not shown) is optionally applied by pressing on the brake pedal 260. The passengers in the seats 250 alternately pull on the ropes 130 in front of them, causing the cradle 70 to swing. Once the cradle 70 is swinging vigorously, the brake pedal is released. The cradle's swinging motion induces translational movement in the carriage unit 40 and cradle 70 which move towards one or other end of the guide track 30. As the carriage unit 40 is restrained by the springs 190 and forced to reciprocate, the change in translational momentum of the carriage unit 40 and cradle 70 affects the swinging motion of the cradle 70 and either increases or decreases the amplitude of the swing.

The resulting motion of the cradle 70 is complex, the reciprocating carriage unit 40 and cradle 70 acting as linked simple harmonic oscillators.

The invention is not restricted to the detail of the foregoing embodiment. All features of the specific embodiment are interchangeable with any other features mentioned in this specification.

Claims (7)

1. A swing comprising a swing pivot capable of translational movement.

2. A swing as claimed in claim 1 in which the translational movement is substantially horizontal.

3. A swing as claimed in claims 1 or 2 in which the translational movement is reciprocatory.

4. A swing as claimed in any of claims 1-3 in which the translational movement is biased by at least one spring or elasticated member.

5. A swing as claimed in any of claims 1-4 wherein the swing pivot is attached to a carriage unit which runs in or on a guide rail or track.

6. A swing as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one spring or elasticated member is attached to the support structure and the carriage unit.

7. A further device as substantially herein before described with reference to the preceding description and the accompanying figure.