US2812011A

US2812011A - Amusement device

Info

Publication number: US2812011A
Application number: US586963A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter S Jansson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-05-24
Filing date: 1956-05-24
Publication date: 1957-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-05

Description

Nov. 5-, 1957 w. s. JANSSON AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 24. 1956 INVENTDR WALTER S. JANSSON ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to a type of swing in which a tilting or rocking motion is combined with the normally expected oscillatory motion of devices of this same general character.

The basic and well recognized amusement device, upon which this invention constitutes an improvement, includes a horizontal seat member, a pair of vertical supporting members pivotally attached at their lower ends to the opposite ends of the seat member, and an upper fixed horizontal support to which the upper ends of the vertical members are pivotally attached. Suitable seats are also provided for accommodating children at the opposite ends of the horizontal seat member. Now, as this device is caused to oscillate, each child will be conveyed in an arcuate path, with the .elements of the device behaving as a swinging parallelogram. The seat member will remain at all times horizontal.

To construct the instant invention from the device described immediately above, it would be first necessary to .split the horizontal seat member midway between the two vertical supporting members and then to reconnect the resulting two seat portions (at the split) by means of a central pivotal joint; finally, a third vertical supporting member .(shorter than the other vertical members) is pivotally attached at its lower end to this central pivotal joint and at its upper end to a pivot point located below the level of the other two upper pivotal connections. Now, as the device of this invention (constructed in the manner outlined above) swings from side to side, the individual seat members will also tilt or rock due to the relative foreshortening caused by the shorter and intermediate vertical member. Therefore, as will hereinafter more fully appear, this invention combines a swinging motion and a rocking motion into a unitary device.

The feature of combining a swinging motion with a rocking motion is not considered to be broadly new, however; United States Patent No. 857,432 issued to C. F. Bean on June 18, 1907 shows a device in which such a combination of motions is made possible. The instant invention permits the combination of the swinging and rocking motions in a novel and simple manner not disclosed or suggested by the aforementioned Bean patent.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an amusement device of the type referred to above in which a swinging motion is combined with a rocking motion in a simple and novel manner.

his a further object of this invention to provide a device of the character described wherein the rocking motion may be modified or accentuated by means of simple adjustments permitted therein.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of'this invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings, in

which 'Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the amusement device of this invention.

Fig. 2 is'a fragmentary left-hand elevation, partly in rates Patent I 2,812,011 Patented Nov. 5, 1957 section, showing the details of the upper pivotal connection for one of the vertical tubular elements.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary left-hand elevation, partly in section, showing the details of the lower pivotal connection for the same element illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of this amusement device showing the relative positions of the various elements when the device is swung to the left.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary left-hand elevation showing the details of the upper pivotal connection for one of the central vertical tubular elements.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Fig. 1 shows a pair of spaced horizontal bars 1 and 2 connected at their ends by a pair of shorter bars 3 and 4 to form an upper rectangular supporting frame. This resulting rectangular frame is supported at its corners by four

legs

5, 5, etc. which are inclined outwardly towards the ground or floor upon which the device rests. The legs may be fastened at their lower ends to the ground or floor by suitable clamping means (not shown) or they may be imbedded in cement or concrete, as desired. Additional struts 6 may be supplied to add to the rigidity of the outer frame structure.

To the conventional frame structure described above there is added a two-part seat supporting member consisting of a left-hand portion 7 and a right-hand portion 8. These latter members which occupy a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. l are approximately of U shape being connected at their overlapping ends by an elongated bolt 9. As shown in Fig. l, a pair of vertical tubular members 22 (later to be described) have their lower flattened ends 23 positioned between the

members

7 and 8 at this center joint. The bolt 9 passes through corresponding holes in

members

7, 8 and 22 (at both sides) and through a tubular spacer it) located between the opposite ends of seat supporting member 8. As will later appear this bolt 9 forms a pivotal connection which permits a relative angular movement between the two seat supporting members '7 and 8.

Each

seat supporting member

7 or 8 is supported intermediate its ends by a vertical tube or rod 11. The upper flattened end 12 of each tube 11 (see Fig. 2) is pivotally connected to bars 1 and 2 by means of a bolt 13 which passes through corresponding holes in the bars and the flattened end of the tube. Tubular spacers i4, 14 are provided on opposite sides of the tube ill to ensure its proper centering between the bars 1 and 2. Bolt 13 is threaded at its ends to receive

nuts

15, 15.

Each tube 11 is suitably flattened as at 16 along a portion spaced upwardly from the lower end of the tube, as best shown in Fig. 3. A bolt 17 passing through opposed holes in the seat supporting member 7 (or 8) and the flattened portion 16 serves to connect the tube 11 pivotally to the seat supporting member. A pair of

tubular spacers

18, 18 are provided to locate tube 11 centrally with respect to the sides of the seat supporting member.

Nuts

19, 19 are received on the ends of bolt 1'7. Above and below the flattened portion 16, each tube 11 is provided with transverse handles 2t) and foot rests 21, respectively.

As indicated previously, a pair of vertical tubular members 22 extend upwardly from their lowered flattened ends 23 to their upper flattened ends 24. The lower flattened ends 23, as explained above, are positioned between the overlapping ends of

seat supporting members

7 and 8 and pivotally fastened thereto by means of bolt 9. The upper flattened ends 24 (see Figs. 1 and 5) fit into the space between the lower bifurcated

ends

25, 25 of the short supporting members'26, 26 which are welded at their upper ends to the centers of bars 1 and 2. A bolt 27, having

nuts

28, 28 on its-ends,

passes through opposed holes in the bifurcated ends and the flattened end 24 forming a pivotal connection for each tubular member 22 and its corresponding short.

supporting member 26.

Struts

29, 29, etc. are provided to reinforce supporting members 26 as shown. A-cross member 30, similar to bars 3 and 4, connectsbars 1 and 2 above the short members 26.

Additional holes

31, 31, etc. provided at corresponding positions along bars 1 and 2 may be employed where it is desired to change the upper pivotal position of either (or both) of tubular members 11 along the bars 1 and 2. The tilting action of the seats may be modified or accentuated accordingly. Seats 32 are provided at the ends of

members

7 and 8 for accommodating a child at each end thereof.

The operation of the device of this invention will be better understood from a consideration of the diagram of Fig. 4. The latter figure reduces the invention to its simplest terms by showing seven basic elements (the upper fixed horizontal support 1, the two outer vertical and swingable supporting

members

11, 11, the upper fixed vertical member 26, the intermediate and shorter vertical supporting member 22, and the two seat supporting members 7 and 8) and six pivot points (13, 13, 17, 17, 27 and 9). As the device is swung to the left, as shown in Fig. 4,

members

11, 11 will describe arcs of relatively long (and equal) radii, whereas the shorter member 22 will describe an arc of a correspondingly smaller radius. Therefore, at the center 9 of the two

seat members

7 and 8 there will be a relative foreshortening in the vertical direction, causing the center 9 to be raised relative to

pivot points

17, 17 with a consequent relative lowering of the seat portions at the extreme ends of

members

7 and 8. Thus, the occupants of the seats will realize a rocking or tilting sensation along with the swinging movement so as to simulate the effect of a bucking bronco. The seat portions would also tilt downwardly if the device were swung to the right in the same manner as described above.

The device of this invention admits of many modifications and variations within the scope of this invention. For example, the vertical

tubular members

11, 11, could be replaced by heavy rope or cable.

Pivot points

13, 13 might be set farther apart or brought closer together by relocating

screws

13, 13 in the various

auxiliary holes

31, 31 etc., as shown in Fig. 1; the tilting or rocking action would be affected accordingly. Also, by making the fixed vertical support 26 longer and the intermediate vertical member 22 correspondingly shorter, the rocking or tilting motion might be further accentuated.

The basic feature of this invention involves the locating of the pivot point 27 at a level ditferent from that of

pivot points

13, 13. This feature (together with the splitting of the seat member into two sections) permits the vertical member 22 to describe an arc of a different radius from those of the outer

vertical members

11, 11. Therefore, it would be within the spirit of this invention to locate the pivot point 27 above the level of the

pivot points

13, 13, rather than belowthem as shown; in this case, the vertical member 22 would be longer than either of the other

vertical members

11, 11. Also, in this case the seat members would be tilted upwardly (rather than downwardly as shown) as the device oscillated from side to side. Therefore, the vertical member 22 could be of any convenient length, longer or shorter than either of the

members

11, 11, providing it (member 22) was not of the same length as

members

11, 11. The radial difference between the arcs, as indicated above, determines the degree of tilting or rocking motion provided.

Also, pivot points 17, 17 could be moved closer to or farther away from pivot point 9 by relocating the

screws

17, 17 in various holes (not shown) along

seat members

7 and 8 similar to auxiliary holes 31 in bars 1 and 2.

Other and further modifications, apart from those ded. scribed or suggested herein, might be made within the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. In an amusement device of swinging type in which a substantially horizontal seat member having seats at the opposite ends thereof is swingably supported from a fixed upper support by a pair of swingable supporting elements extending downwardly from a pair of spaced upper pivot points on said upper support to a pair of spaced lower pivot points on said seat member and located on opposite sides of the midpoint thereof, the improvement which comprises a pivotal connection on said horizontal seat member adjacent the midpoint thereof to divide said horizontal member into a pair of separate sections pivotal relative to one another at said pivotal connection, and an additional and intermediate swingable element pivotally attached at its lower end to said sections at said pivotal connection and pivotally attached at its upper end to said fixed support, at a level appreciably ditferent from that of the pivotal attachments to said fixed support of the upper ends of said pair of swingable supporting elements.

2. In an amusement device of swinging type in which a substantially horizontal seat member having seats at the opposite ends thereof is swingably supported from a fixed upper support by a pair of swingable supporting elements extending downwardly from a pair of spaced upper pivot points on said upper support to a pair of spaced lower pivot points on said seat member and located on opposite sides of the midpoint thereof, the improvement which comprises a pivotal connection on said horizontal seat member adjacent the midpoint thereof to divide said horizontal member into a pair of separate sections pivotal relative to one another at said pivotal connection, and an additional and intermediate swingable element pivotally attached at its lower end to said sections at said pivotal connection and pivotally attached at its upper end to said fixed support, at a level appreciably below that of the pivotal attachments to said fixed support of the upper ends of said pair of swingable supporting elements.

3. An amusement device of the character described comprising a pair of separate and substantially horizontal seat-supporting members arranged with their inner ends adjacent each other and providing at their outer ends a pair of seats, an inner vertical member pivotally attached adjacent the lower end thereof to the inner ends of said horizontal seat-supporting members and pivotally attached adjacent the upper end thereof to a fixed upper support, and a pair of spaced outer vertical members pivotally attached adjacent their lower ends to said seatsupporting members at locations intermediate the ends of said seat-supporting members, said outer vertical members beingpivotally attached adjacent their upper ends to said fixed support in a horizontal plane that is appreciably spaced from the horizontal plane containing the pivotal connection of said inner vertical member to said fixed support.

4. An amusement device of the character described comprising a pair of separate and substantial horizontal and longitudinally swingable seat-supporting members ar' ranged with their inner ends adjacent each other and providing at their outer ends a pair of seats, an inner vertical member pivotally attached adjacent the lower end thereof to the inner ends of said horizontal seat-supporting members and pivotally attached adjacent the upper end thereof to a fixed upper support, and a pair of spaced outer vertical members pivotally attached adjacent their lower ends to said seat-supporting members at locations intermediate the ends of said seat-supporting members, said outer vertical members being pivotally at tached adjacent their upper ends to said fixed support in a substantially horizontal plane appreciably above the horizontal plane containing the pivotal connection of said inner vertical member to said fixed support, whereby, upon swinging movement of the vertical members in a substantially vertical plane, said seat supporting members will pivot relative to one another to provide a combined swinging and tilting motion.

S. An amusement device comprising an upper fixed supporting member providing first and second spaced pivot points located substantially within the same horizontal plane, first and second outer vertical members of substantially the same length pivotally attached at their upper ends to said first and second pivot points respectively and providing near their lower ends third and fourth pivot points respectively, a third inner vertical member spaced between said outer vertical members and pivotally attached at its upper end to said fixed supporting member at a fifth pivot point and providing near its lower end a sixth pivot point, said fifth pivot point being in a horizontal plane appreciably spaced from the horizontal plane of said first and second pivot points, a first substantially horizontal seat-supporting member pivotally attached intermediate its ends to said first vertical member at said third pivot point, said first seat-supporting member being pivotally attached at its inner end to said third vertical member at said sixth pivot point, and a second substantially horizontal seat-supporting member pivotally attached intermediate its ends to said second vertical member at said fourth pivot point, said second seat-supporting member being pivotally attached at its inner end to said third vertical member at said sixth pivot point, the outer ends of said seat-supporting members providing seats.

6. An amusement device comprising an upper fixed supporting member providing first and second spaced pivot points located substantially within the same horizontal 6 A plane, first and second outer vertical members of substantially the same length pivotally attached at their upper ends to said first and second pivot points respectively and providing near their lower ends third and fourth pivot points respectively, a third inner vertical member spaced between said outer vertical members and pivotally attached at its upper end to said fixed supporting member at a fifth pivot point and providing near its lower end a sixth pivot point, said fifth pivot point being in a horizontal plane appreciably below the horizontal plane of said first and second pivot point, a first substantially hori-- zontal seat-supporting member pivotally attached intermediate its ends to said first vertical member at said third pivot point, said first seat-supporting member being pivotally attached at its inner end to said third vertical member at said sixth pivot point, and a second substantially horizontal seat-supporting member pivotally attached in termediate its ends to said second vertical member at said fourth pivot point, said second seat-supporting member being pivotally attached at its inner end to said third vertical member at said sixth pivot point, the outer ends of said seat-supporting members providing seats, said de vice being swingable in a substantially vertical plane transverse to the axes of all of said pivot points.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS