GB2472947A

GB2472947A - Lift off swing with recline and swivel mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2472947A
Application number: GB1020322A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter R Tuckey; Curtis M Hartenstine
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Taiwan
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Taiwan
Priority date: 2006-07-19
Filing date: 2007-07-17
Publication date: 2011-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-17
Also published as: GB201020322D0; GB2472947B

Abstract

An infant swing has a base member 30 supported by hanger members 17 for reciprocal movement. A seat 20 that can be utilized in other applications is detachably mounted on the base member 30, which incorporates a recline mechanism housed therein to permit the seat to be placed into a selected recline position. A recline actuation mechanism can be operated with one hand and uses a self-centring push bar (45 figure 13) that is formed with protrusions (49) engaged with slotted channels (50) to lock the seat in a selected recline position. The recline mechanism is also disclosed as including top plate (31, figure 20) within the base member 30 and movable relative to a base shelf (34) along an arcuate track (34a) defined therebetween. The base member 30 is further disclosed including a swivel mechanism that allows the seat 20 to be selectively positioned in a back-and-forth swing configuration or a sideways swing configuration.

Description

LIFT OFF CHILD SWING WITH RECLINE AND SWIVEL

Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates generally to a frame for an infant swing and, more particularly, to a hanger mount structure that provides convenient utilization while ensuring that the electric motor is operable to transmit torque to the hanger members to affect reciprocal movement thereof.

Background Of The Invention

Baby swings are used extensively by infant caregivers to soothe and to comfort the children. An infant swing consists primarily of a seat that securely holds the infant in a position elevated off the floor and a frame apparatus that supports the seat and allows the seat to move in a reciprocal manner, typically in a forward and rearward direction though some infant seats provide a side to side swinging motion. Such swings provide a comfortable, safe and entertaining environment to the child.

When caring for an infant, it is extremely advantageous to be able to provide an environment that minimally disturbs the infant when they are resting or sleeping. The necessity to physically move an infant out of one seat and place them in another seat is usually agitating to the infant.

Additionally, having the versatility to be able to provide a swinging motion to the specific seat an infant is occupying is also valuable. Therefore, having a swing that would allow either a carrier or a car seat to be directly attached to it would provide the caregiver with the option of being able to provide a swinging motion to the infant without moving the infant from one seat to the other. One such convertible swing system can be found in U. S. Patent No. 6,017,088, issued on January 25, 2000, to William Stephens, et al, in which a seat member is detachably mounted on a base member through a locking mechanism.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a mechanical interface connection on a swing hanger system to which either a car seat or baby carrier can be attached.

This mechanical interface connection allows the caregiver to directly attach either a car seat, or an infant carrier to the hanger system to transfer a sleeping child from one support system to a swing system.

The majority of swing seats commercially available achieve back recline adjustment using a support wire retained by moulded slots on the back of the seat and engageable with slotted stops. The support wire is most often pivotally connected to the hanger tubes. The seat in such systems is designed such that recline movement pivots around a hinged connection with the seat bottom. This form of recline mechanism has proven to be both cost effective and structurally sound; however, such recline mechanism requires the caregiver to use two hands while standing behind the swing when adjusting the seat back angle. One hand is needed to support the seat back while the other hand repositions the wire. Although effective, this type of recline mechanism is lacking in accommodating ergonomic and intuitive interaction.

U. S. Patent No. 5,746,478, granted on May 5, 1998, to Michael Lumley, et al discloses a recline mechanism for a child safety seat in which the latch mechanism accessible from the front of the child safety seat operates a latch element that is engageable with a pair of laterally spaced racks having openings in the top surface thereof to receive the engaged latch elements. In U. S. Patent No. 5,494,331, issued to Ichiro Onishi, et al on February 27, 1996, a child safety seat can be reclined relative to a base member through arcuate tracks that are latched together by a spring-loaded latch pin. The automotive infant restraint seat in U. S. Patent No. 5,335,964, granted to Mark Sedlack, et al on August 9, 1994, incorporates a post that is selectively engageable with catches to establish the reclined position of the seat member relative to a base member supporting the seat.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a recline mechanism for a swing system that could be actuated with a single hand. It would further be desirable to provide a recline mechanism that would be housed within the hanger system on which a removable seat member can be detachably mounted.

Many caregivers prefer the option of both a front to back and sideways swing motion because it allows them to customize the ride to their child's preference. Providing a swivel motion for a swing seat allows the caregiver to position the seat in longitudinal or transverse orientations to allow the swing to provide optional swing directions. One such swing is found in U. S. Patent No. 5,562,548, granted to Daniel Pinch, et al on October 8, 1996, wherein the swivel component is located underneath the seat. The swivel component consists of a platform around which the seat can rotate about a vertical pivot axis. The placement of the swivel mechanism under the swing seat allows clearance above the child's head for placing the child in and out of the seat. In a pendulum form of a child's swing, the seat and base is suspended from a mechanism supported above the child's seat. This mechanism can incorporate a swivel connection so that the seat can be positioned for a front to back swing or re-oriented to provide a sideways swinging motion. Such a swing can provide the two desirable different swinging motions but this mechanism located above the child's seat may obstruct accessibility to the child in the swing seat, especially when taking the child in and out of the seat.

A very significant design consideration for an infant swing is the location of the centre of gravity of a child, which may not necessarily pass through the geometric centre of the seat. Accordingly, if a swing seat is rotated around a pivot axis located essentially at the centre of gravity when changing the swing motion from a forward swinging position to a side to side swinging position, the seat geometry will not be centred in the swing frame when the swing is in the side to side swing position. Therefore, it would be highly advantageous if the seat could be both rotated from a forward to side to side position, and also be transversely moved in order to better centre the swing seat within the swing frame when in the side to side position.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a swivel mechanism for a seat apparatus mounted on a base member that is operable to transversely shift the seat member with the child seated therein laterally when the seat is moved from the back-and-forth swing orientation to a sideways swing orientation.

Summary Of The Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a child swing having a frame assembly operable to induce a reciprocal movement into a seat assembly for movement relative to the frame assembly, comprising the seat assembly including a seat member supported on a base member; and a swivel mechanism disposed between the seat member and the base member and being selectively operable to position the seat member in a back-and-forth swing configuration and in a sideways swing configuration, the swivel mechanism being operable to cause the seat member to shift laterally when rotated between the back-and-forth swing configuration and the sideways swing configuration.

Cross reference to a related application

The present application was divided out of GB 2440259 (Patent Application No. 0713867.0) which contains the same disclosure as the present application but claims a child swing comprising a frame assembly; a seat assembly including a hanger apparatus connected to the frame assembly so as to be operable to move in a reciprocal manner relative to the frame assembly, the seat assembly including: a base member assembly mounted on a distal end of the hanger apparatus; a seat carrier detachably mountable on the base member assembly for reciprocal movement relative to the frame assembly with the base member assembly and the hanger apparatus; and a recline mechanism housed within the base member assembly to permit the seat carrier to be placed into a selected recline position, wherein the recline mechanism includes a transversely oriented recline actuator handle that projects transversely out of a side of the base member assembly and is transversely linearly movable to each side of a central recline locking position to effect the release of the recline mechanism, the actuator handle being manually accessible by a user positioned in front of the base member.

GB 2440259 also claims a child swing having a frame assembly operable to induce a reciprocal movement into a seat assembly for movement relative to the frame assembly, comprising the seat assembly including a seat member supported on a base member assembly having a top plate connected to the seat member and a base shell meeting the top plate along an arcuate interface defining an arcuate track along which the top plate and connected seat member can move relative to the base shell; and a recline mechanism housed within the base member assembly to control the movement of the top plate relative to the base shell along the arcuate track, wherein the recline mechanism includes a transversely oriented recline actuator handle that projects transversely out of a side of the base member assembly and is transversely linearly movable to each side of a central recline locking position to effect the release of the recline mechanism, the actuator handle being manually accessible by a user positioned in front of the base member.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an upper front perspective view of the infant swing incorporating the principles of the instant invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the infant swing depicted in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a left side elevational view of the infant swing shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the seat carrier mounted on the base member with the hanger tubes and support frame of the infant swing shown in Fig. 2 being broken away for purposes of clarity; Fig. 5 is a left side elevational view of the seat carrier and base member shown in Fig. 4, the folded position of the carrier handle being shown in phantom; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the seat carrier and base member shown in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a left side elevational view of the base member supported on the hanger tubes; Fig. 8 is bottom, side perspective view of the seat carrier to depict the mounting structure of the seat carrier for engagement with the base member; Fig. 9 is a top, side perspective view of the base member to depict the mounting structure of the base member for engagement with the seat carrier; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the seat carrier mounted on the base member to show the latching mechanism for detachably securing the seat carrier on the base member; Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevational detail view of the latch linkage for securing the seat carrier on the base member; Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective detail view of the latch linkage shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines 13 --13 of Fig. 7 to depict the recline actuation mechanism; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines 14 --14 of Fig. 4 to depict the slotted channels that lock the seat carrier in a selected recline position, a portion of the seat carrier being shown in phantom; Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines 15 --15 of Fig. 4 to show the mounting plate for the seat member to permit selective recline positioning thereof, the movement of the seat carrier and attached top plate being shown in phantom to either side of the centred position shown in solid lines; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the base member with the top plate broken away to show the actuator handle and the slotted channels in the fixed base member, movement of the actuator handle being depicted in phantom; Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines 17 -17 of Fig. 4 to show the base receiver retainer forming part of the swivel mechanism and the underside of the recline mechanism; Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the base member taken along lines 18 -18 of Fig. 4, which is similar to Fig. 17, but taken above the slide retainers through the mounting tabs just below the upper face of the upper part of the fixed base member to depict the swivel mechanism with the seat carrier being in the back-and-forth swing configuration as shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 19 is a front elevational view of the seat carrier mounted on the base member with the seat oriented in a sideways swing configuration with the seat carrier turned to the left; Fig. 20 is a front elevational view of the seat carrier mounted on the base member with the seat oriented in a sideways swing configuration with the seat carrier turned to the right; and Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Fig. 17, but taken along lines 21 --21 in Fig. 19 to show the orientation of the rotating mechanism within the base retainer and the lateral shifting of the seat relative to the base member with the seat carrier turned to the right; Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Fig. 21, but taken along lines 22 --22 in Fig. 20 to show the orientation of the rotating mechanism within the base retainer and the lateral shifting of the seat relative to the base member with the seat carrier turned to the right; Fig. 23 is a partial cross-sectional view of the base member to provide a schematic representation of the orientation of the triangular follower apparatus within the elliptical retainer ring with the seat carrier positioned in the back-and-forth swing configuration; Fig. 24 is a partial cross-sectional view of the base member similar to that of Fig. 23, but schematically showing the relationship of the triangular follower apparatus relative to the elliptical retainer ring with the seat carrier turn sideways to the left; and Fig. 25 is a partial cross-sectional view of the base member similar to that of Fig. 24, but schematically showing the relationship of the triangular follower apparatus relative to the elliptical retainer ring with the seat carrier turn sideways to the right.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

Referring now to the drawings, an infant swing incorporating the principles of the present invention can best be seen. The infant swing 10, as can best be seen in Figs. 1 -3, includes as its major components a support frame assembly 12, including a pair of transversely spaced rear legs 13 and a corresponding pair of front legs 14, and a seat assembly 15 suspended from the frame assembly 12 for a fore-and--aft swinging movement. As will be described in greater detail below, the seat assembly 15 is formed of a moulded seat carrier 20 mounted on a base member 30 affixed to a pair of transversely spaced hangers 17 that are connected to corresponding hanger housings 18 positioned at the cantilevered ends of the rear legs 13.

Referring now to Figs. 4 -12, the seat carrier 20 is configured to be used in multiple applications, such as a car seat or a stroller, in addition to being used in the infant swing assembly 10 as will be described in detail below. The seat carrier 20 is formed with an exterior shell 21 supporting a seat 22 onto which an infant is supported and restrained. The exterior shell 21 has a removable tray 23 mounted at a forward position and defining a yoke 24 that prevents an infant from sliding forwardly out of the seat 22. The exterior shell is also provided with a pivoted lift handle 25 that is movable between an upright position, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and a folded or retracted position which is shown in phantom in Fig. 5.

As is best seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the underside of the exterior shell 21 is formed with mounting structure 26 that is engageable with the base member 30. The mounting structure 26 includes a receptacle 27 that is formed to receive the mounting protrusion 32 of the base member 30 50 that the seat carrier 20 is not horizontally movable relative to the base member 30. The receptacle 27 includes a -10 -latch opening 28 into which the latch member 33, biased by the spring members 33a to project outwardly from the receptacle 27 and pivotally mounted on the base member mounting protrusion 32, can pass to secure the seat carrier 20 on the base member 30 against vertical movement of the seat carrier 20. The mounting structure 26 is also preferably formed with an arcuate lower surface that allows the seat carrier 20 to be supported on a flat surface and be rocked. To negate this rocking motion, the mounting structure 26 can be provided with an extendable brace 29 that can selectively extend out of the back side of the mounting structure 26 to provide a stable, non-rocking support surface for the free-standing seat carrier 20.

The seat carrier 20 includes a latch actuation mechanism 35, best seen in Figs. 10 -12, operable to cause a pivotal movement of the latch member 33 to release the seat carrier 20 for vertical movement relative to the base member 30 and allow the seat carrier 20 to be lifted off the swing 10 and be removed therefrom. The latch actuation mechanism 35 includes an external pull member 36 that is connected via a pair of transversely spaced links 37 to a spring-loaded actuator 38 pivotally mounted to the exterior shell 21. When the latch member 33 snaps into the latch opening 28, the latch member 33 presses against the actuator 38. Pulling on the external pull member 36 causes a pivotal movement of the actuator 38 against the bias exerted thereon by the spring members 39 to push the latch member 33 out of the latch opening 28 and allow the seat carrier 20 to be lifted off of the base member 30.

Referring now to Figs. 13 -16, one of ordinary skill in the art will note that the recline mechanism 40 is housed within the base member 30. The base member 30 is formed with a lower, fixed base shell 34 that is secured to the hanger members 17 and movable therewith. A top plate 31, which includes the mounting protrusion 32, is movably mounted on -11 -the fixed base shell 34 and slidable along an arcuate track 34a. As can be seen best in Fig. 16, the top plate 31 is supported on rollers 41 that project upwardly through the upper face 63 of the base shell 34 to facilitate the sliding movement of the top plate 31 relative to the base shell 34.

The base shell 34 is formed with longitudinally extending slots 42 through which the mounting tab 44 of slide retainers 43 extend so that the top plate 31 can be secured to the slide retainers 43 which run under the upper face 63 of the fixed shell 34. With this structure, the top plate 31 is free to move along the arcuate track 34a without being separable from the fixed shell 34. The slide retainers 43 prevent the top plate 31 from separating from the fixed base shell 34 without hindering the sliding movement thereof, while the rollers 41 minimize any friction between the top plate 31 and the base shell 34.

The recline mechanism 40 further includes a push/pull actuator handle 45 that spans transversely across the base member 30 to project outboard thereof on both sides of the base member 30. The actuator handle 45 is carried by the top plate 31 and includes a centre chamber 46 having a bottom opening therein to receive a centre post 47 formed in the top plate 31. The centre chamber 46 carries a pair of springs 48 positioned on opposing sides of the centre post 47 to centre the actuator handle 45 on the top plate 31 and bias the actuator handle 45 to a centred position. The actuator handle 45 also is formed with a pair of downwardly extending protrusions 49 that are engageable, respectively, with corresponding formed locking channels 50.

Each locking channel 50 is formed as a depression into the face 63 of the base shell 34 so that the protrusions 49 are received therein. Each locking channel 50 is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced blocks 52, as is best seen in Figs. 14 and 16, with a longitudinal passageway 53 located on the transversely opposing sides of the blocks 52, -12 -which in turn are separated by transversely extending grooves 54 that interconnect the transversely spaced passageways 53. When the actuator handle 45 is in the centred position, the protrusions are located within the transverse grooves 54 between selected blocks 52. Pushing the actuator handle 45 to either side against the biasing force exerted by the corresponding centring spring 48 causes the protrusions 49 to move sideways into the corresponding longitudinal passageway 53. The top plate 31 is then free to move along the arcuate track 34a relative to the base shell 34 within the parameters defined by the longitudinal passageways 53.

When the caregiver has selected the desired reclined position, the actuator handle 45 is allowed to return to the centred position which will then position the protrusions 49 within the transverse grooves 54 between the blocks 52. The blocks 52 serve to prevent longitudinal movement of the protrusions 49 and, thus, movement of the top plate 31 relative to the base shell 34. Preferably, several blocks 52 are utilized in the locking channels 50 so that at least five recline positions are defined by the transverse grooves 54. One skilled in the art will recognize that other numbers of transverse grooves 54, and the corresponding recline positions, can be defined by a selected number of blocks 52 within the depressed locking channel 50.

The swivel mechanism 60 is also carried within the base member 30 and is best seen in Figs. 17 -25. The swivel mechanism 60 is operable to convert the swing 10 from a back-and-forth swing configuration, as viewed by the occupant of the seat carrier 20, which is best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, to a sideways swing configuration, which is best seen in Figs. 19 and 20. Preferably, the swivel mechanism 60 is capable of turning the seat carrier 20 with respect to the base member 30 in either direction relative to the front-facing orientation, as is best seen in a comparison of -13 -the orientation of the seat carrier 20 in Figs. 19 and 20.

With respect to the recline mechanism 40 described in detail above, the recline mechanism 40 is operable in any of the three orientations of the seat carrier 20.

The base shell 34 is formed in two parts, an upper part 62 that includes the face 63 and a lower part 64 that is fixed to the hangers 17. The upper part 62 of the base shell 34 is secured to the top plate 31 through the slide retainers 43 so that the upper part 62 can rotate in a generally horizontal plane with the top plate 31 that is connected to the seat carrier 20 through the latching member 33. The lower part 64 of the base member 30 is connected to the upper part 62 through a connector hub 65 that is received within an oval-shaped socket 67 in the bottom of the lower part 64, as is best seen in Figs. 6, 13 and 21 - 25. The connector hub 65 serves to provide a loose connection between the upper and lower parts 62, 64 without establishing a fixed vertical pivot axis. The oval socket 67 provides ample room for the translation of the connector hub in conjunction with the movement of the upper part 62, as will be described in greater detail below.

The lower part 64 is provided with an elliptical retainer ring 70, best seen in Figs. 17 and 18, that defines an upright wall to contain a triangular follower apparatus that is formed as part of the upper part 62 placed into engagement with the retainer 70. The triangular follower apparatus 75 is defined by three contact points 76 that are spaced to engage the inside of the elliptical retainer ring 70, as is schematically depicted in Figs. 23 -25. A detent retainer 78 is located opposite the central contact point 76 to engage a detent indentation 77, as will be described in greater detail below, with the elliptical retainer ring 70 passing between the detent retainer 78 and the opposing contact point 76.

-14 -The centre of gravity for the seat carrier 20 is preferably maintained at or proximate to the longitudinal centre line of the swing 10. When the seat in a fixed pivot swivel mechanism is rotated from the back-and-forth swing orientation to the sideway swing orientation, the centre of gravity of the seat will shift laterally. To compensate for the lateral shift in the centre of gravity, the seat 20 incorporating the principles of the instant invention shifts laterally, as is represented in Figs. 23 -25, to keep the centre of gravity of the seat carrier 20 and the occupant therein closer to the longitudinal centreline of the swing than can be obtained by swivelling the seat carrier 20 about a fixed vertical pivot axis, unless the centre of gravity is aligned with the pivot axis. This shifting of the seat structure 20 also serves to maintain the centre of gravity at the correct location relative to the swing mechanism. The lateral shifting of the seat carrier 20 can be seen in a comparison of Figs. 23 -25, particularly looking at the offset at the sides of the upper part 62 relative to the lower part 64 and the shifting of the centre 79 of the connector hub 65. This lateral shifting of the seat carrier 20 also shifts the seat geometry to the left or right in order to better fit the seat within the swing frame structure and to provide improved clearance of the seat carrier 20 with respect to the support frame 12. The connector hub 65 provides the mechanical connection between the upper and lower parts 62, 64 and moves laterally within the oval socket 67 in conjunction with the lateral shifting of the seat carrier 20 as the seat carrier 20 is rotated from one configuration to another.

The swivel mechanism 60 does not require a locking apparatus to secure the seat carrier 20 in the selected swing configuration, as the weight of the seat carrier and the occupant thereof are sufficient to maintain the seat carrier 20 in the selected swing configuration. A detent could be utilized to provide some resistance to the movement -15 -of the seat carrier 20 from one swing configuration to another. The detent can take the form of an indentation 77 in the outer surface of the elliptical retainer ring 70 that would be engaged by a detent retainer point 78 positioned in opposition to one of the contact points 76. By placing a detent indentation 77 at each location of the detent retainer point 78 when the seat carrier 20 is located in a particular swing configuration, the detent point 78 will engage the indentation 77 and require an application of some rotational force to move the detent retainer point 78 out of the corresponding indentation 77 and free the triangular follower apparatus 75 for movement within the elliptical retainer 70. As can be seen in Figs. 23 -25, an intermediate detent indentation 77 can be located between the orthogonal swing orientations to provide an opportunity to position the seat carrier 20 at an intermediate position (not shown) In operation, the seat carrier 20 can be transferred from one application, such as a car seat, with the infant asleep therein and placed onto the base member 30 without waking the infant due to moving the infant from one seat to another. The seat carrier 20 automatically snaps into place by the spring-loaded latch member 33 deflecting due to engagement with the mounting structure 26 and locking into the latch opening 28 in the receptacle 27. By depressing the recline actuation handle 45 from either side of the seat carrier 20, the seat carrier 20 can be reclined to a desired orientation, whereupon the recline actuation handle 45 is released to allow the centring springs 48 to move the protrusions 49 into an interfering position with respect to the blocks 52 in the locking channels 50, the protrusions 49 passing into transverse grooves 54 between corresponding blocks 52.

In the event the caregiver decides to change the swing orientation of the seat carrier 20, the caregiver simply -16 -grasps the seat carrier 20 and applies a rotational force to rotate the seat carrier 20 connected to the top plate 31, which is connected to the upper part 62 of the base shell 34, relative to the lower part 64 of the base shell 34. The swivel mechanism 60 provides a simple and effective operation to change the swing configuration of the seat carrier 20. Furthermore, the non-pivot axis swivel mechanism 60, utilizing a triangular follower apparatus 75 contained within an elliptical retainer 70, affects a lateral shifting of the seat carrier 20 when the seat carrier 20 is moved from a back-and-forth swing configuration to a sideways swing configuration to keep the centre of gravity of the seat carrier 20 and the occupant thereof close to the longitudinal centreline of the swing 10.

With the recline mechanism 40 being housed within the base member 30, the recline mechanism 40 is equally operable to provide a one-hand recline operation irrespective of the swing configuration selected through operation of the swivel mechanism 60. The seat carrier 20 can be easily detached from the base member 30 no matter which swing configuration has been selected through the swivel mechanism 60, simply by pulling on the external pull member 36 to deflect the latch member 33 out of engagement with the latch opening 28, thus freeing the seat carrier 20 to be lifted vertically off of the base member 30.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from -17 -the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

-18 -CLAIMS1. A child swing having a frame assembly operable to induce a reciprocal movement into a seat assembly for movement relative to the frame assembly, comprising: the seat assembly including a seat member supported on a base member; and a swivel mechanism disposed between the seat member and the base member and being selectively operable to position the seat member in a back-and-forth swing configuration and in a sideways swing configuration, the swivel mechanism being operable to cause the seat member to shift laterally when rotated between the back-and-forth swing configuration and the sideways swing configuration.
2. A child swing having as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member is an assembly having an upper part connected to the seat member, so that the seat member is movable with the upper part, and a lower part connected to the upper part in a manner to permit rotational movement of the upper part and the connected seat member relative to the lower part.
3. A child swing as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the swivel mechanism comprises: an elliptically shaped retainer ring formed on the lower part; and a triangular follower apparatus formed on the upper part, the triangular follower apparatus affecting the lateral movement of the seat member when the follower apparatus follows the elliptically shaped retainer ring in conjunction with the rotation of the seat member between the back-and-forth swing configuration and the sideways swing configuration.
4. A child swing as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the triangular follower apparatus comprises a trio a contact -19 -points arranged in a triangular configuration in engagement with the elliptically shaped retainer ring.
5. A child swing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lower part is connected to the upper part through a connector hub positioned within an oval-shaped socket on an underside surface of the lower part of the base shell, the connector hub moving laterally within the socket when the seat member is moved between the back-and-forth swing configuration and the sideways swing configuration.
6. A child swing as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising: a recline mechanism housed within the base member assembly to permit the seat member to be placed into a selected recline position.
7. A child swing as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the seat member is supported on the upper part for movement along an arcuate interface defining a track along which the seat member can move relative to the upper part, the recline mechanism controlling the movement of the seat member along the arcuate track.
8. A child swing as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the base member assembly further includes a top plate on which the seat member is mounted, the top plate being movable along the arcuate track to effect a positioning of the seat member in a selected reclined position.