WO2012164359A1

WO2012164359A1 - Franksonswing

Info

Publication number: WO2012164359A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/053513
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey Frankson
Original assignee: Geoffrey Frankson
Priority date: 2011-05-31
Filing date: 2011-08-05
Publication date: 2012-12-06

Abstract

The invention is a unique garden swing assembly which is designed to hang from a single hook on a variety of support structures. The swing assembly is further designed to be quickly and easily taken down and folded for transport and/or storage. The swing of the assembly comprises a seat (11) and back rest (10) which are hinged together so that the back rest can be folded down to cover the seat. The seat (11), back rest (10) and a foot rest (13) hang by rope from a V-shaped assembly that, in turn, hangs by rope from a hook (18). Arm rests are attached to the ropes supporting the seat. The beams (12) of the support assembly are hinged at their lower ends to allow horizontal swivelling, and are restrained by springs (21) on either side. This allows the occupant to sustain the pendular motion of the swing by pulling and pushing sideways on the rear support ropes. The upper assembly is designed to be folded into a compact unit along with the seat, back rest, arm rests, and foot rest.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION: FRANKSONSWING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to swings, especially to a lightweight, portable garden or porch swing assembly which can be easily and quickly mounted, by a single hook, to a wall, post or tree trunk and easily and quickly removed and folded for compact transport and/or storage. Such an assembly is particularly designed for use in and around the home in such areas as the porch, patio area, garden, swimming pool, or at camp sites or beaches where it can be easily hung on walls, single posts or tree trunks and quickly dismounted and folded for transport in a vehicle such as a car, van, truck or camper.

The invention provides a unique, portable, garden swing assembly in which the various components of the assembly, especially those of the swing itself and the support system, are simply designed and fabricated for quick and easy mounting and adjustment, and for easy dismounting and folding that

facilitates the transport and storage of the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For purposes of description herein, the terms used shall relate to the invention as oriented in the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and systems illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are therefore not to be considered as in any way limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise in the claims.

The following description of the invention will be better understood by having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention which comprises a V-shaped support assembly that hooks on to a suitable receptacle on a wall, post or tree, and a swing that is suspended for swinging on the V- shaped support assembly, the swing being comprised of a swing seat, a folding back rest and arm rests, and the support frame comprised of a pair of beams hinged at an angle of about 60 degrees which hang from a single hook at about 45 degrees, with a foot rest that hangs from the pair of beams in front of and below the swing seat, and a pair of restraining springs on either side of the lower ends of the beams;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the swing assembly showing the swing seat, back rest and arm rests folded together in a collapsed position, with the supporting beams also folded together along with the foot rest in which condition the components of the swing assembly can be easily stored and transported;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the swing assembly with the back rest folded to provide a cover for the seat when not in use;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the swing assembly hanging on a tree by means of a hook applied thereto in spaced relation; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With general reference to the drawing for like parts, and particular reference to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a portable swing assembly with foot rest which essentially comprises a swing supporting frame 12, 20 a swing 10, 11, a plurality of ropes 15, 16, 17, 19 for mounting the swing 10, 11 on the support frame 12,20 and a pair of springs 21 that restrain the horizontal swivelling motion of the supporting beams.

The V-shaped support frame 12, 20 comprises a pair of similar, but oppositely disposed beams 12 which support by rope, at their upper ends, the swing 10, 11, 14, and the foot rest 13. The beams 12 are hinged together at their lower ends and attached to a plate 20 which is attached to a rope 19 that hangs from a hook 18. The said hook 18 also supports the beams 12 by means of a rope 17 attached to the upper ends of the beams.

A pair of springs 21 extend between the plate 20 and the lower ends of the beams 12. An occupant of the swing perpetuates the swinging motion by pulling and pushing laterally on the rear supporting ropes and thereby horizontally swivelling the supporting beams which results in a pendular motion of the swing .

The swing 10, 11 comprises a seat 11 and a back rest 10 which are connected together for relative rotation by any suitable means that allows the back rest to be positioned upwards against the supporting rope 15 or horizontally on the seat. The seat 11 and back rest 10 are similarly sized and constructed of a number of relatively thin slats which are firmly secured in spaced transverse relation to a frame of parallel, structural members with square or rectangular cross sections, by any suitable means such as counter sunk, flat headed screws or bolts and nuts .

The seat 11 and back rest 10 are connected to allow rotation between an open position, where the back rest 10 is inclined at an angle A of at least 105 degrees from the seat 11, to a closed position, where the seat 11 and back rest 10 are folded together against each other in abutting, juxtaposed relation, as best seen in FIG. 3. The folded position affords protection from the elements for the sitting surfaces when the swing assembly is mounted outdoors .

The arm rests are supported by the ropes 16 that pass through holes in the arm rests and are adjustably attached to the ropes by screws.

The angle A of the back rest 10 can be adjusted by varying the length of rope 15 between the points at which the rope is fastened to the seat 11. The height of the swing seat above the ground or floor can be adjusted by varying the length of the ropes 16 that loop over the upper ends of the v-shaped support structure. The angle of the swing seat relative to the ground can be varied by changing the point at which the ropes 16 loop over the upper ends of the v-shaped beams .

The foot-rest 13 hangs freely by rope 22 from the upper ends of the

supporting beams 12 and is designed to swing outwards and support the feet of the occupant (s) of the swing. The distance of the foot rest from the seat can be adjusted by varying the length of the ropes 22 by which the foot rest is suspended.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A portable garden swing assembly, comprising: a) a swing which

includes; I) a seat which has a lightweight, rigid frame which has one side thereof covered by a plurality of narrow and relatively thin slats which are secured in spaced relation to the frame on the one side, the seat being designed to receive and hold at least one person sitting on the slats of the seat, II) a back rest which has a frame that, like the seat, has one side similarly covered with similar slats, III) a means for hinging the seat and back rest together for rotation between an open position, where the back rest is vertically inclined at an angle of at least 105 degrees from the seat when the seat is horizontal, and a closed position where the slats of the seat and back rest are folded against each other, IV) a rope that is fastened to the seat and passes behind the back rest providing support at an angle as described, b) a V-shaped structure for supporting the swing, the support structure including, V) a pair of sturdy beams from which the swing is suspended, which beams are hinged at their lower ends to allow them to swivel from side to side and to come together when dismounted. The beams are suspended from a hook by rope attached at both upper ends, with the lower hinged ends fastened to a plate that hangs from the said hook and rests unattached against a supporting surface, c) a pair of springs between the lower ends of the beams and the plate that restrain their swivelling movements, d) two arm-rests with holes through which the ropes supporting the swing pass and to which the arm rests are moveably attached, e) a foot-rest consisting of a horizontally supported beam that is suspended detachably from the upper ends of the V-shaped supporting beams .

2. The swing assembly of claim 1, wherein i) the frames of the seat and back rest, ii) the slats of the seat and back rest, iii) a V-shaped swing support of two beams, and iv) a horizontally supported foot- rest are made of material of the group of wood, plastic and metal materials .

3. The swing support assembly of claim 1, wherein the included angle between the V-shaped beams is about 60 degrees, and the included angle between the plane of the supporting beams and the plane of the surface from which the beams are hung is about 45 degrees.

4. The swing assembly of claim 1, wherein the foot rest consists of a beam that is detachably hung at each end from the upper ends of the V-shaped swing support structure.

5. The swing assembly of claim 1, which includes a) rope that i) supports the swing detachably from the upper ends of the V-shaped support structure, ii) is adjustably fastened to the seat and passes behind and supports the back rest at an angle of 105 degrees or more, b) a rope that is attached to the upper ends of the V-shaped supporting beams and slings from a hook, and c) a rope that is attached to the lower hinged ends of the V-shaped beams suspending them below the said hook to which the other end of the rope is attached .

6. The swing assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm rests each have holes through which the rope a) of claim 5 passes and to which the arm rests are moveably fastened.

7. The restraining springs of claim 1, whereby the occupant (s) of the swing can sustain the pendular motion of the swing by pulling and pushing sideways on the rear support ropes .

8. A portable garden swing assembly, comprising: a) a swing designed to accommodate at least one person, comprising, I) a seat and back rest, consisting of rectangular shaped frames which are made of lightweight beams, the frames each having at least one planar side which is covered by a plurality of spaced, and relatively thin slats, II) a means for hinging adjacent inner sides of the seat and back rest frames for rotation between an open position, where the slats on the frames are exposed for contact with one or more persons sitting on the swing, and a closed position, where the frames are folded together and the slats of the frames abut each other, III) a V-shaped pair of supporting beams that are, in turn, slung and suspended from a hook, IV) a foot rest consisting of a beam that is hung at each end from the V-shaped pair of support beams, V) a pair of restraining springs attached to the lower ends of the support beams that allow the occupant (s) to perpetuate the swinging motion of the swing assembly by pulling and pushing laterally on the rear support ropes.