US2995367A - Swings - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1961 D. F. WUERFEL SWINGS Fl'ed Aug. 10. 1960 INVENTOR.

DONALD E Wl/ERFE'L A TTORNE Y 2,995,367 SWINGS Donald F. Wuerfcl, 8171 Esper Blvd., Detroit, Mich. FiledAug. 10, '1960, Ser. No. 48,710- '7 Claims. (Cl. 272-30) This invention relates to improvements in swings for children. It is an object of the invention to provide a swing wherein the seats are adapted to travel either about a vertical, arcuate path, or circularly about a horizontal path, or along both paths simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a swing which may be quickly and securely mounted around a vertical post such as those often found inA basements of houses for supporting joists of flooring above.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a swing ywherein the horizontal axis about which it moves is located materially above the seats when the latter are in their normal horizontally aligned positions, to provide steadiness and rigidity to the structure when in use.

Having thus briefly and broadly stated some of the objects and advantages of the invention, I will now describe it in detail lwith the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the invention, wherein dotted and dot-dash lines, respectively, indicate the seats at opposite extremities of their travel, and

FIGURE 2 is a plan view on a reduced scale.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged sections on the lines 3 3, 4-4 and 5-6 respectively of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3 and,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a circular post which is firmly mounted in a vertical position, and may consist of a conventional metal post such as those frequently employed in basements of houses for supporting joists of a floor above. Fixedly mounted around the post 1 is a collar 2 preferably made in two semi-circular halves suitably secured to one another `as by bolts 2a. Projecting radially outward from the collar 2, and uniformly spaced from one another, are a plurality of pins 3, preferably three in number, on each of which a roller 4 is mounted for rotation. 5 denotes a cap consisting of an annular ilange 6 the bore of which freely encircles the pipe 1, and depending from the outer periphery of the iiange is a skirt 7. The flange 6 is mounted for rotation about the axis of the post 1 on the rollers 4. The skirt is outwardly positioned relative to the rollers 4 and projects beneath them to prevent childrens lingers coming in contact with the rollers. The flange and skirt are integral and made in two semi-circular halves which are arranged in abutting relation. In the present instance plates 8 extend across the adjacent Vertical margins of the skirt 7 and formed on the latter are upwardly and outwardly projecting fingers 7a which extend through apertures formed through the plates to hold the skirt portions together. The plates 8 project beneath the skirt 7 and have diametrically opposed openings '9 formed through their lower extrem-ities.

10 denotes a hollow -rectangular frame mounted around the post 1. The frame is made of two identical and substantially U-shaped pipes 10a. One extremity of each pipe is reduced in size to tit into the opposite extremity of the other pipe. The coacting pipe ends are telescopically mounted in engagement and are secured to one another by screws 12.

Extending through the openings '9 are axially aligned pins 14 on each of which a pair of supporting arms 15 are pivotally mounted to project on opposite sides of the post. All the arms are identical and each pair extends p United States Patent O Patented Aug. 8, 1961 substantially over and parallel with one side of the frame 10. The arms are slightly downwardly and outwardly inclined from the pins 14 and their outer portions are more steeply downwardly inclined and secured at their outer extremities by bolts 16 to the frame. Thus opposite extremities of the frame at points equidistant from the axis of the post are supported on both sides by the supporting arms. 'I'he latter are transversely braced intermediately of their length by rods 17 secured to them by bolts 18, and mounted on the rods outwardly of the arms are handles 19. Secured to the frame, and in the present instance shown as downward extensions of the supporting arm 15 at -their extremities remote from the pins 14 are longitudinal inwardly inclined footrests 20 the lower extremities of which are outwardly exed.

Mounted on the opposite U-shaped extremities of the frame 10 and secured thereto by bolts 21 are seats 22. It will be noted that the bolts extend through the seats nearer one side than the other, so that upon removal of the bolts the seats may be turned around to be positioned farther from or nearer to the handles 1t) and the footrests 20 to accommodate larger or smaller children.

In FIGURE l the swing is shown with the frame \10 in its normal horizontal position, and the latter and the supporting arms 15 are also indicated thereon by dotted and dot-dash lines B and C respectively at opposite ends of their travel. The fact that the horizontal axis (the pins 1'4) are positioned materially above the seats when they are in their normal horizontally aligned position gives stability to the structure, and the possibility of the device tilting sideways when the frame is in motion about both the axis of the pins and the axis of the post simultaneously is rendered impossible due to the arrangement of the supporting arms and their attachment to the frame. Again, due to the construction herein described the swing may be easily and quickly mounted around a post which extends uninterruptedly between the iioor and the ceiling.

While in the foregoing the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and shown, it is understood that alterations and modications may be made thereto, provided the said alterations and modiiications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A swing comprising a collar including means for securing it around a vertical post, pins projecting radially outward from the collar, rollers mounted on the pins, an annular cap mounted over the collar for rotation on the rollers about the axis ofthe post, axially aligned pivot pins projecting from opposite sides of the cap, a frame extending along opposite sides of the post, supporting arms mounted on the pivot pins andprojecting in opposite directions therefrom, the extremities of the arms remote from the pivot pins being connected to the frame adjacent its opposite extremities, and seats on opposite ends of the frame.

2. The combination in claim l, including rods extending transversely across the supporting arms and secured thereto, and handles on the rods.

3. A swing comprising a two-piece collar, means for securing the collar around a vertical post, pins projecting radially from the collar, rollers mounted on the pins, an annular cap including two semi-circular portions mounted over the collar for rotation on the rollers around the post, diametrically opposed plates secured to the two cap portions for holding them together, axially aligned pivot pins projecting outwardly from the plates, downwardly and outwardly inclined supporting arms mounted on each pivot pin and projecting in opposite directions therefrom, a frame extending along opposite sides of the post, the outer extremities of the supporting arms being connected to the frame adjacent its outer extremities, and seats mounted on the outer ends of the frame.

4. The combination in claim 3, wherein the frame includes two opposed U-shaped members having their adjacent extremities telescopically connected to one another.

5. The combinationin cl-aim A3, including footrests in- Vvtegral with Yand depending from the extremities Tof the :supporting arms connected -to Vthe frame.

k'6. A swing comprising a collarincluding means for "securing it around a vertical post,.uniformly spaced radial pins projecting outwardly from the collar, rollers'mounted on thepins, Van annular vrcap mounted over the collar for with the ypair of .arms on theother pin, aframe the sides -of which extend along opposite sides of the post parallel withthe supporting arms, said frame being supported adjacent its extremities by said arms, seats on opposite ends of the frame, footrests dependingly supported beneath the frame, and handles extending laterally from the supporting arms, whereby the fram-ne'Y and its seats are adapted to swing about the pivot pins andato turn about the axis of the post.

7. The combination in claim 6,wherein the collar, the annular cap and'the frame are readily mountable around or demountable fromaround the post ,intermediately of its length.

References Cited in ltheflle of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,378,733 Simons May 17, 1921 1,904,687 Jacob Apr. l18, 1933 2,895,734 Pittaluga VJuly 2x1, 1959

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