US886444A - Lawn-swing. - Google Patents

Description

remainder of the supporting frame.

WILLIAM S. TOTHILL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAWN-SWING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Application filed November 21, 1907. Serial No. 403,201.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. TOTHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in LawnSwings, of which the follbwing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to lawn swings of the well-known type in which the swing proper is supported from a frame composed of two standards set at an angle to each other, the legs of each standard being also set at an angle to each other. It is often objectionable to so far take such a swing apart for storing or shipping it that it cannot be readily seen just how it may be again restored to its normal working condition, but it is the object of my invention to provide a construction by which the supporting frame of the swing may be readily and quickly adjusted and folded up so as to occupy the minimum amount of space without so far dismantling the swing as to make it difficult for any one to put it again in working order. This object I accomplish by pivoting the supporting standards in the frame so that they may be swung to positions parallel with each other and by pivoting the supporting legs of each standard so that said legs may be swung to positions parallel with each other. Such a construction makes necessary the use of especial care to prevent weakening the swing, and it is a further object of my invention to provide for the adjustments mentioned and still insure a strong durable structure. I accomplish these objects by the means shown in the drawings and hereinafter described.

That which I believe to be new will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swing embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the connection of one of the supporting legs with the Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by like reference characters, 6 indicates the upright members of the swing proper, su porting the seats 7 and 8 and being pivotal y connected at their lower ends to the base ortion 9. Inasmuch as these parts may be 0 any well-known construction, it is not deemed necessary to further describe them herein.

10 indicates the supporting legs of the frame, the legs of each standard converging toward their upper ends.

1 1 indicates cross braces preferably secured by means of bolts to the lower ends of the legs 10, holding the legs of each pair firmly in their diverged position.

12 indicates four diagonal braces, two such braces extending from each of one pair of legs to the opposite leg of the other pair, said braces being preferably secured to the legs by means of bolts. As shown in Fig. 1, the braces on each side of the swing are connected together, as by a bolt, at the point where they cross each other.

13 indicates long bolts passing through the supporting legs near their upper ends and through the upper ends of the uprights 6, as shown in Fig. i

14 indicates a cross strip secured to the legs 10 of each pair of legs near their upper ends by means of bolts 15. Fitted between the supporting legs of each pair, but not connected therewith, are two spacin '-blocks 1617, which are affiXed in anysuita le manner to the cross strips 14. The bolts 15 are placed directly opposite the spacing-block 17 the ends of which are rounded, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit the leg 10 to be swung about the bolt 15 as a pivot.

18 indicates two crossbars connecting the upper ends of the supporting le s 10,. one crossbar 18 extending from each eg of one pair to the opposite leg of the other pair, as shown in Fig. 1. These crossbars 18 are secured in place by means of long bolts 19 each of which passes through corresponding ends of the bars 18 and through the upper ends of one pair of legs a short distance above the points where they are pivotally connected with the cross strip 14.

Inasmuch as the spacing-blocks 16 have their ends angled to butt squarely against the legs 10 of each pair of legs, and the two blocks 16 and 17 are of proper length to completely fill the space between said legs when the swing is in its normal working condition, it will be understood that by means of the bolts 19 which are positioned between the two spacing blocks the legs 10, crossbars 18, and spacing- blocks 16 and 17 may be clamped together into a very strong rigid frame which will not be liable to work loose under 'the most severe working conditions.

At the same time, it is evident that by merely loosening the bolts 19 and removing the bolts that hold the cross braces 11 in place the legs 10 of each pair may be turned on the bolts 15 as pivots and brought into parallelism, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. It will be understood that after the legs 10 are thus made parallel, they may be firmly locked in such position by tightening the bolts 19 and 13 which are on opposite sides of the spacing-block 17. It is likewise evident that by removing the'bolts that secure the diagonal braces 12 to the legs 10, and loosening the bolts 19, the two pairs of legs may be turned on the bolts 19 as pivots until they are parallel in which position they may be held by any suitable means.

By means of my construction, it will be seen, the swing as a whole may be easily and quickly adjusted to take up a very great deal smaller amount of space than in its working condition, the adjusted positions, however, being such that it is evident to anyone how the adjustments have been made and how the swing can again be put into working con dition.

While I have shown and described my device as including the cross strip 14 and two spacing blocks, and prefer to so construct it, it will be understood that any suitable form of spacing-block may be used that will, in com bination with the bolt 19, or an equivalent device, accomplish the result sought and obtained as described. It will be further understood that, while I have shown the legs 10 pivoted to the cross strip 14. at the lower edge thereof and. provided a spacing-block 17 opposite thereto and a shorter spacing block 16 above, I do not restrict myself to this specific arrangement, as the pivot bolts 15 may be inserted at any point in said cross strip and the spacing-block 16 may be of any suitable length and positioned relative to the spacingblock 17 according to its length.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a swing, the combination with a pair of supporting legs at one end of the swing,

pair of supporting legs at one end of the swing, of a cross strip to which said legs are pivotally connected, a spacing-block located between said legs and carried by said cross strip, and a bolt passing through both of said legs and adapted to hold the same against said spacing-block.

1. In a swing, the combination with the pair of supporting legs at one end of the swing, of a cross strip to which said legs are pivotally connected, a spacing-block between said legs opposite their pivot points, a second spacing-block adapted to fit between said legs when the same are swung at an angle to each other, and a bolt passing through both of said legs between said spacing-blocks and adapted to hold the legs in contact therewith.

5. In a swing, the combination with two pairs of supporting legs one at each end of the swing, of two cross strips to each of which one pair of legs are pivotally connected, a spacing-block between each pair of legs, a crossbar extending from the upper end of each leg to the opposite leg at the other end of the swing, and. two bolts each. of which passes through one end of each crossbar and through both of one pair of legs and is adapted to hold the same against the spacing-block.

IVILLIAM S. TOTHILL. Witnesses WVILLIAM H. DE BUsK, MINNIE A. HUNTER.

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