US3480272A - Swing device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1969 K. R. ZIEBART 3,480,2'32

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Nov. 25, E969 Filed Feb, 23, 1967 AT TOR NEYS United States Patent 3,480,272 SWING DEVICE Kurt R. Ziebart, Rte. 2, Box 192 E, Williamsburg, Mich. 49690 Filed Feb. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 617,950 Int. 'Cl. A63g 1/12, 9/16 U.S. Cl. 27233 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swing device disclosed herein comprises a pair of This invention relates to amusement devices and particularly to a swing device.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a novel swing device which can be operated by one or two persons; which is simple and safe; which can be utilized indoors or outdoors; and which can be mounted on a column or suspended from a ceiling or similar support.

Basically, the swing, device disclosed herein comprises a pair of swing members which are supported by ropes from the ends of a cross beam which, in turn, is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis. Cables extend from a crank fixed to the cross beam and over pulleys alongside the ropes and handles telescoped over the ropes and connected to the cables. By manipulating the handles, the cross beam and, in turn, the entire swing device is rotated about a vertical axis.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary part sectional elevational view of a swing device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 showing the parts in a different operative position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view through a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pulley assembly utilized in the invention.

FIG. 7 is a part sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a part sectional elevational view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the swing device embodying the invention is shown as mounted on a vertical column 10 having a flat mounting plate 11 on the upper end thereof. The swing device includes a cross beam 12 which is preferably tubular and square in cross section as shown in FIG. 4. The cross beam 12 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the column 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, a base plate 13 is mounted on the mounting plate 11 by bolts 14. The base plate includes a vertically extending post 15. A sleeve 16 is mounted centrally of the cross beam 12 and is rotatably mounted on the post 15 by axially spaced bearings 17. Sleeve 16 includes an integral laterally outwardly extending lower flange 18 over which the flange 19 of a retaining ring 20 extends. Retaining ring 20 is held in position by the bolts 14.

3,480,272 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 A nut 21 is threaded on the upper end of the post 15 (FIG. 1) to retain the cross beam 12 on the post 15.

A crank 22 has a first horizontal arm 23 extending radially and fixed to the upperend of the post 15, a vertical cross portion 24, a second horizontal arm 25 that has a vertical end 26 diametrically opposed to the cross portion 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a first pair of pulley assemblies 27 is pivoted to cross beam 12 about vertical axes on opposite sides of the vertical axis of post 15 and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of cross beam 12. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the pulley assemblies 27 comprises a pivot shaft 28, a pulley bracket 29 in which the pulley 30 is rotatably mounted and a cable guide 31. Cable guide 31 comprises a wire member that has a vertical closed loop 32 and a horizontal loop 33 fixed on bracket 29. The vertical loop 32 guides and retains the horizontal reach of a cable while the horizontal loop 33 guides and retains the vertical loop of the cable. As the horizontal reach rotates, as presently described, it engages the sides of the vertical loop 32 to rotate the pulley 30. The shaft 28 extends through openings in a bracket 34 mounted by bolts on the side of the cross beam 12. A nut 35 is threaded on the end of each shaft 28to retain the pulley assembly on the bracket 34. As shown in FIG. 3, brackets 34 are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the cross beam 12.

A second pair of pulley assemblies 36 is provided on the ends of the cross beam 12 on opposite sides of the axis of the vertical post 15, spaced radially outwardly from the pulley assemblies 27 and on the opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the cross beam 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the pulley assemblies 27, 36 on the same end of the cross beam 12 are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the cross beam 12.

Pulley assemblies 36 are substantially identical to pulley assemblies 27. Each pulley assembly 36 is mounted on a horizontal bracket 37 which is fixed by bolts 38 on the cross beam 12 (FIG. 4).

A swing support 40 is mounted by a bolt 41 on each end of the cross beam 12 and includes a vertical bar 41 and a horizontal bar 42. When viewed from above as shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal bar 42 extends at an angle generally parallel a line connecting the pivotal axes of the adjacent pulley assemblies 27, 36. Ropes, preferably of nylon, as shown at 43, 44, support a swing member such as a seat 45 on the swing support 40.

A pair of cables 46 is connected at one end to a bushing 47 rotatably mounted on cross portion 24 and is trained over the pulley assemblies 27 and has its other end connected to handles 48 by an interconnecting chain 49. Handles 48 are telescoped, as presently described, over the ropes 44. A second pair of cables 50 is connected at one end to a bushing 51 on the end 26 of arm 25 of the crank 22, trained over the pulley assemblies 36 and has its other ends connected to handles 52 telescoped 0n ropes 43 by interconnecting chains 53.

As shown in FIG. 2, handles 48, 52 are identical in construction and comprise a vertical tube 54 that has plastic bushings 55 therein through which a rope 44 or 43 extends. Each handle 48, 52 includes a cross portion 56 to facilitate gripping and downward pull of the handle. Portions 57 of the tube are bent inwardly to permit the fingers of the user to readily grab around the tube. In use, the user reaches upwardly grabs the cross bar 56 with the vertical tube 54 extending between a pair of the fingers of the hand.

As shown in FIG. 7, a stop member 59 is telescoped on each of the ropes 43, 44 and is maintained in position as desired by a retainer 60. Each retainer 60 has a vertical loop 61 through which the rope extends and a horizontal loop 62 which causes the rope to frictionally engage the loop 61 and retain the stop member 59 in any desired position. In order to adjust the position of the stop member 59, the retainer 60 is grasped and the lower end of the rope is disengaged from the loop 62 permitting the retainer 60 to be rotated so that it will be freely movable on the rope to a new position of the stop member 59. After the new position is reached, the rope is then caused to engage the loop 62 to move the loop 61 to a vertical position of frictional engagement of the rope.

In use, a pair of persons are seated on the swing members 45 andgrasp the handles 48, 52. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the person seated on the right will pull the handle 52 downwardly while at the same time the person seated on the left will pull the handle 48 downwardly. Pulling the handle 52 downwardly will cause the end 26 of the crank 22 to be moved and thereby provide a force on the cross beam tending to rotate the cross beam. At the same time, pulling the handle 48 downwardly will also cause a force on the cross portion 24 producing a reaction that will tend to rotate the cross beam. As the cross beam 12 is rotated, each pair of handles 48, 52 will be moved in opposite directions. Thus, from the position shown in FIG. 1, the one pair of handles 48, 52 will move downwardly while the other pair will move upwardly. This reciprocating action will occur and, as the speed of reciprocation of the handles by the user increases, the speed of rotation of the cross beam 12 will increase. Throughout the movement, the gripping of the handles 48, 52 is facilitated because the handles are guided by their respective ropes 44, 43. As the speed increases, the swing seats 45 will swing outwardly.

The pulley guides 31 facilitate the retention of the cables on the pulleys and thereby prevent undue wear and breakage thereof. Pulley guides 31 also permit the pulleys to be mounted close to the crank 22 since the pulley guides 31 insure the proper alignment of the pulleys and cables.

The swing device embodying the invention can also be utilized by supporting it from a ceiling or the like indoors or outdoors as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the cross beam 12 is rotated 180 degrees bringing the base plate 13 into position for engagement with a mounting plate 14 on a horizontal bar 70 that is mounted by brackets 71, 72 on the beams 73 of a ceiling. In this position, the retaining flange 19 acts as a safety device in the event of loosening of the nut 21 to prevent the device from falling.

It can be seen that in this position the pulleys extend vertically downwardly and the cables 46, 50 are trained over the pulleys in the area between the pulleys and the brackets oppositely as to the mode of training in FIG. 1. In order to accommodate the variation in height of the horizontal reaches, the brackets 34, 37 must be disconnected from the cross beam 12 and reconnected, by removing and inserting their respective bolts, to adjust the vertical positions of brackets 34, 37 so that the horizontal reaches of the cables 46, 50 will be in alignment respectively with the cross portion 24 and end 26 of the crank 22.

In each of the forms of the invention, the provision of the handles so that they are guided by their respective ropes insures that in the event of a breakage of the cables 46, 50, the occupant will not lose his balance. In the event of such breakage of the cables 46, 50, the occupant is prevented from falling by hanging on to the handles.

The vertical position of the handles 48, 52 in order to accommodate users of various reaches can be readily achieved by changing the length of the interconnecting chains 49, 53.

In the event of the breakage of the cables 46, 50, the vertical extent of movement of the handles 48, 52 is limited by the stops 59.

I claim:

1. In a rotary swing device, the combination comprising:

a cross beam,

means for supporting said cross beam for rotation about a vertical axis,

a swing member,

means extending generally vertically and suspending said swing member from said cross beam at a point spaced radially outwardly of said vertical axis,

crank means fixed with respect to said cross beam and having a first point spaced radially outwardly from said vertical axis and a second point spaced radially outwardly from said vertical axis and substantially diametrically opposed with respect to said first point,

a first pair of pulleys pivoted to said cross beam on opposite sides of said vertical axis,

a first pair of flexible cable means connected to said one point of said crank means and trained over said first pair of pulleys and extending downwardly along the means suspending said swing member,

a second pair of pulleys pivoted to said cross beam on opposite sides of said vertical axis and at points spaced radially outwardly from said first pair of pulleys,

a second pair of flexible cable means connected to said second point of said crank means and trained over said second pair of pulleys respectively and extending along said means suspending said swing member,

handles vertically reciprocable along each means suspending a swing member,

the other ends of said pairs of cable means being connected to said handles.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each pair of pulleys is mounted on horizontally opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of the cross beam.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said crank means comprises a first arm extending generally radially outwardly,

a second arm extending generally radially and connected to said first arm by a cross portion which forms said first point,

said second point on said crank means comprising the end of said second arm.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said cross beam for rotation comprises a base,

a post fixed to said base and adapted to extend generally vertically,

said crank means being mounted on said post,

a sleeve fixed on said cross beam,

and bearing means interposed between said post and said sleeve,

said sleeve having a horizontally extending flange,

said base having a retaining ring extending radially inwardly over said flange whereby said base may be mounted on a vertical column with said post extending upwardly or may be mounted on a ceiling with said post extending downwardly.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation of said first pair of pulleys are spaced vertically from the axes of rotation of said second pair of pulleys.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said cross beam are mounted on a column, said pulleys being vertically spaced above said cross beam.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said cross beam suspends said cross beam from an overhead support, said pulleys being spaced vertically below said cross beam.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for suspending said swing member comprises a pair of flexible members connected at their upper ends to the cross beam and at their lower ends to the swing member.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said handle means comprises members vertically reciprocable on said flexible members suspending said swing member.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said handle means comprises a tubular member through which the respective flexible member extends, said tubular member having bushings therein for guiding the movement of said handle.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said handle includes a cross portion on said tube to facilitate gripping on the handle.

12. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said pulley includes a cable guide means comprising a first loop movable with said pulley through with said cable means extends and a second loop movable with said pulley through which said cable extends, said first and second loops guiding the horizontal and vertical reaches of the cable.

13. In a rotary swing device, the combination comprismg:

a cross beam,

means for supporting said cross beam for rotation about a vertical axis,

a pair of swing members,

a pair of flexible members individual to each swing member and extending generally vertically and suspending each swing member from said cross beam at a point spaced radially outwardly of said vertical axis,

crank means fixed with respect to said cross beam and comprising a first arm extending radially outwardly, a second arm extending generally radially and connected to said first arm by a cross portion which forms a first point spaced radially outwardly from said vertical axis, said second arm having an end forming a second point spaced radially outwardly from said vertical axis and substantially diametrically opposed with respect to said first point,

a first pair of pulleys pivoted to said cross beam on opposite sides of said vertical axis,

a first pair of flexible cable means connected to said one point of said crank means and trained over said first pair of pulleys and extending downwardly along the means suspending said swing member,

a second pair of pulleys pivoted to said cross beam on opposite sides of said vertical axis and at points spaced radially outwardly from said first pair of pulleys,

a second pair of flexible cable means connected to said second point of said crank means and trained over said second pair of pulleys respectively and extending along said means suspending said swing member,

handles vertically reciprocable along each flexible member suspending a swing member,

the other ends of said pairs of cable means being connected to said handles.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein each pair of pulleys is mounted on horizontally opposed sides of the longitudinal axis .of the cross beam.

15. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for supporting said cross beam for rotation comprises a base,

a post fixed to said base and adapted to extend generally vertically,

said crank means being mounted on said post,

a sleeve fixed on said cross beam,

and bearing means interposed between said post and said sleeve,

, said sleeve having a horizontally extending flange,

, said base having a retaining ring extending radially inwardly over said flange whereby said base may be mounted on a vertical column with said post extending upwardly or may be mounted on a ceiling with said post extending downwardl'r.

16. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein the axes of rotation of said pair of pulleys are spaced vertically from the axes of rotation of said second pair of pulleys.

17. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for supporting said cross beam are mounted on a column, said pulleys being vertically spaced above said cross beam.

18. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for supporting said cross beam suspends said cross beam from an overhead support, said pulleys being spaced vertically below said cross beam.

, 19. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said .handle means comprises a tubular member through which the respective flexible member extends, said tubular member having bushings therein for guiding the movement of said handle.

20. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said handle includes a cross portion on said tube to facilitate gripping on the handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 198,659 12/1877 Millward 27233 594,713 11/1897 Templin 273-33 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner THEATRICE BROWN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 272-41, 91

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