WO2006008530A2

WO2006008530A2 - Cradle-type swing seats for children

Info

Publication number: WO2006008530A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/002858
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Frank Brady
Original assignee: Sutcliffe Play Ltd
Current assignee: Sutcliffe Play Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-23
Filing date: 2005-07-20
Publication date: 2006-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2007-01-23
Also published as: EP1793708A2; US20080032805A1; WO2006008530A3; GB0416520D0; GB2416495A; JP2008507387A

Abstract

A cradle-type swing seat (1) consists of two main parts (i) a steel tube ring (2) made in two halves (12) joined together to form an oval frame, and (ii) a resilient, flexible carrier (8) formed by a cruciform moulding of resilient, flexible polymeric material (6). The frame halves have holes for fixing chain suspension parts (4) and holes for fixing the two halves together. The carrier (8) is fixed to the frame by apertures at its extremities so that it can be slotted onto the top ring (2). The flexible carrier (8) is moulded flat and its limbs (30) are folded up to fix to the frame (2). The completed assembly forms a safe swing seat for young children.

Description

Cradle-type swing seats for children

This invention relates to a cradle-type swing seat for a child.

Over a long period of time, there have been many proposals for cradle-type swing seats for children. The conflicting requirements of strength, durability, ease of manufacture, reasonable cost, resistance to vandalism and, above all, safety in impact are very difficult to achieve in practice. Furthermore, a seat has to be safe to the extent that it must pass an impact test to ensure that it will not injure a child if the child is hit by the swinging seat.

An early example of a cradle-type swing seat is to be found in United States patent specification 1,401,595. According to that specification, a flexible seat pocket made of fabric is suspended from a rigid seat frame. The rigid frame is of a complex construction and therefore expensive to manufacture, the seat pocket of fabric would be easily vandalized and the "pocket" is effectively a bag with leg holes in which a child is placed and would not be able to give any real freedom of movement to the child.

In our patent specification GB 2,215,315, we disclose a swing seat which has no rigid frame but comprises a steel chain embedded in rubber. Because of its lack of any rigid parts, that seat is not especially comfortable for a child using it.

In our patent specification GB 1,535,728, we disclose a bench-type swing seat in which the edges of a rigid seat member are surrounded by a special impact- absorbing rubber structure based on the principle of buckling struts. The same impact-absorbing rubber structure was applied by us to all the rigid seat and frame parts of a cradle-type swing seat. Such a cradle- type seat was, however, complex and expensive to manufacture .

Another way of applying a local impact-absorbing structure to a rigid edge is disclosed in our patent specification GB 2,267,223. According to that specification, the buckling struts mechanism of impact absorption is replaced by a structure in which energy is absorbed by a hinging action. To apply such a structure to all the rigid seat and frame parts of a cradle-type swing seat would again result in a complex product expensive to manufacture.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cradle-type swing seat which is better able to meet the conflicting requirements mentioned above.

The present invention provides a cradle-type swing seat for a child comprising: a rigid frame; suspension means located on the rigid frame for attaching ropes or chains for suspending the swing seat; and a web of flexible material, attached to and depending from the rigid frame, defining a carrier with apertures, in which carrier a child can sit with its legs extending through the apertures, characterized in that the carrier is basket-like and in that the material of the web is resilient .

Such a seat achieves safety in use by the flexible resilient nature of the carrier which deforms during impact absorbing the energy of the impact. If a cradle seat is made entirely of resilient, flexible material its ergonomics are poor and the child using it is not comfortable. The combination of a rigid frame and resilient, flexible seat part allows a child to sit comfortably in the seat with good handhold positions . The seat is also able to meet requirements of strength, durability, ease of manufacture, reasonable cost, and resistance to vandalism.

The use of a basket-like carrier as opposed to the "pocket" of the prior art exemplified by the above- mentioned US patent specification gives greater freedom of movement and comfort to the child. By "basket-like" is meant a structure which has the predetermined three- dimensional form and shape which a basket has but a floppy bag does not. The use of resilient material for the web has the dual purpose of maintaining the form of the basket and of providing an energy-absorption mechanism in impact. In contrast, to the construction of our earlier swing seats discussed above, the local protection of each rigid edge by an energy-absorption structure is not required. The rigid frame, in the swing seat according to the invention is considered to be so located in use that it does not actually need local edge protection. Instead, the carrier itself is given its own inherent energy-absorption mechanism by virtue of the resilient material of which it is made.

Preferably, the frame is in the form of a ring. Such a construction is particularly simple and easy to manufacture whilst being strong.

Advantageously, the ring is made up of two or more inter-engaging parts. This feature simplifies manufacture, particularly, if a special shape of ring is desired.

Advantageously, the ring is made up of two identical parts, each part having a female end and a male end, the male end of one part being secured in the female end of the other part. This feature provides a strong assembly coupled with ease of manufacture.

The parts of the ring may be secured to each other by screws. By this means, a need for assembly by, for example, welding can be avoided. The frame may be of tubular form. This feature enables strength and lightness to be combined.

The frame is preferably made of metal. Instead, a suitable plastics material could be used but metal is preferred.

The frame may be made of stainless steel. Stainless steel has the advantage of combining strength with resistance to rusting.

Advantageously, the frame is oval. This shape is able to combine comfort for the child with a good use of the space available for the swing to move in.

Preferably, the oval has arcuate ends and straight sides. Such a shape is simple to manufacture.

Preferably, the joins between the parts are in the straight sides. This feature simplifies manufacture and assembly.

Advantageously, the web of material comprises a central portion with projecting limbs, the limbs being connected to the frame and the spaces between the limbs defining the said apertures. This represents a particularly simple way of creating the apertures. Instead, the apertures could be formed in the material.

Advantageously, the central portion has at least two intersecting external ribs for keeping the central portion flat. By this means, it is ensured that the carrier does not become merely a "bag with holes" but has a clearly-defined seat portion for the child to sit on.

Preferably, the depth of the external ribs is greater than the general thickness of the web. These features enable the ribs to be particularly effective in keeping the central portion flat.

Advantageously, at least one external rib is provided along each limb. The ribs increase the resilient stiffness of the structure to provide greater safety in impact but do not add substantially to the mass of the seat.

Advantageously, each limb has a through aperture at its end through which the frame passes to provide the attachment of the web to the frame. This provides a particularly simple means of attaching the material to the frame .

Preferably, the limbs include an internal reinforcement in the form of a cable or wire. By this means, resistance to vandalism and strength can be increased without decreasing safety in use.

The internal reinforcement may comprise stainless steel wire rope. By this means, deterioration of the reinforcement through rusting can be avoided.

The internal reinforcement may terminate in eyes surrounding the said through apertures. By this means, the security of the attachment of the web to the frame can be increased.

Each eye is formed by turning back an end of the wire or cable and securing it by clamping it within a metal ferrule about the body of the wire or cable. This represents a simple method of manufacture.

Advantageously, the internal reinforcement comprises lengths of cable or wire with an eye at each end, the cables or wires passing through the said central portion and the eyes of a cable or wire being attached to opposite sides of the frame. By this means, added security can be achieved by the internal reinforcement being attached to the frame and passing under the child using the swing.

Advantageously, the web of material is cruciform when developed in plan. This shape defines a very satisfactory shape for the seat.

Preferably, the web is made from a polymeric material. The qualities of strength, durability and resilience and the ability to manufacture by moulding can be achieved by using a polymeric material.

Preferably, the web has a general thickness in the range 6 to 16 millimetres inclusive, more preferably in the range 9 to 14 millimetres inclusive. These dimensions are advantageous for combining strength, durability, and safety in impact. Advantageously, the web of material has been made by moulding the web in the flat from mouldable polymeric material, the limbs being folded up from the central portion for attachment to the frame. This simplifies manufacture .

Preferably, the polymeric material is a natural or synthetic rubber material. In particular, the polymeric material may be a PVC nitrile rubber.

Preferably, the web material has a Shore hardness in the range 60 to 80 inclusive, more preferably in the range 70 to 75 inclusive. These ranges are particularly suited to providing the said resilience.

A respective moulded sleeve may be provided on the frame about each suspension means. By this means, small holes in which a child might poke and trap a finger can be closed off.

The suspension means may comprise holes in the frame for receiving bolts. In particular, the suspension means may comprise U-bolts and the holes in the frame may be arranged in pairs for receiving U-bolts .

Advantageously, the limbs of the U-bolts are screw- threaded and pass through the frame from top to bottom (in the in use orientation of the swing seat) and are secured beneath the frame by nuts. Preferably, the nuts are nuts of an anti-removal construction. The nuts may be provided with covers to prevent access to them. Advantageously, the bow of each U-bolt is surrounded by a sleeve of polymeric material. By this means, metal to metal wear of a metal chain acting on a metal U-bolt can be avoided.

The sleeve of polymeric material may be moulded about the bow.

Metal suspension chains may be provided and attached to the suspension means. By this means, the end user is saved the trouble of obtaining and fitting chains.

The invention also provides a U-bolt provided with a sleeve of polymeric material about the bow of the "U"

A cradle-type swing seat constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the seat;

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Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the seat;

Figure 3 is a partial plan view to a larger scale of two identical members forming a frame of the seat;

Figure 4 is a side view of a moulded sleeve used in the seat; Figure 5 is an end view corresponding to Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view from beneath of a U-bolt used in the seat;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view corresponding to Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view at right angles to the view of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic representation of an internal reinforcement used in the seat.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a cradle- type swing seat 1 for a child comprises a rigid frame 2 of stainless steel, suspension means 4 located on the rigid frame for attaching chains for suspending the swing seat, and a web of resilient, flexible material 6, attached to and depending from the rigid frame 2, defining a basket-like carrier 8 with apertures 10, in which carrier a child can sit with its legs extending through the apertures. The frame 2 is tubular and in the form of an oval ring and is made up of two identical parts 12, each part having a female end 14 and a male end 16, the male end of one part being secured in the female end of the other part. The parts of the ring are secured to each other by self-tapping screws 18 received in apertures 20. The oval has arcuate ends 22 and straight sides 24, the joins 26 between the parts being in the straight sides.

The web of material 6 is generally about 12 millimetres thick and comprises an oval central portion 28 with projecting limbs 30, the limbs being connected to the frame 2 and the spaces between the limbs defining the said apertures 10. The central portion 28 has two intersecting external ribs 32, 34 for keeping the central portion flat. As can be seen in Figure 2, the external ribs 32, 34 have substantially greater depth than the general thickness of the web 6. An external rib 36 is provided along the length of each limb 30.

Each limb 30 has a through aperture 38 at its end through which the frame 2 passes to provide the attachment of the web 6 to the frame. The limbs 30 include an internal reinforcement 40 in the form of lengths of stainless steel rope 42 terminating in eyes 44 surrounding the said through apertures 38. Each eye 44 is formed by turning back an end of the stainless steel rope and securing it by clamping it within a metal ferrule 46 about the body of the wire or cable. The internal reinforcements 40 pass through and are embedded in the central portion 28 and the eyes 44 of any given reinforcement 40 are attached to opposite sides of the frame 2.

The web 6 is cruciform when developed in plan and is made by moulding the web in the flat from mouldable polymeric material, the limbs 30 being folded up from the central portion 28 for attachment to the frame 2. The internal reinforcement 40 is moulded into the web of material .

The polymeric material is a PVC nitrile rubber with a Shore hardness in the range 70 to 75.

The suspension means 4 comprise holes 50 in the frame for receiving bolts 52, the holes being arranged in pairs for receiving U~bolts . A respective moulded rubber sleeve 54 is provided on the frame about each suspension means 4. The limbs 56 of the U-bolts 52 are screw- threaded and pass through the frame from top to bottom (in the in use orientation of the swing seat) and are secured beneath the frame by nuts 58, the nuts being Binx nuts of an anti-removal construction. The nuts 58 are provided with covers 60 to prevent access to them so as to reduce vandalism.

The bow 62 of each U-bolt is surrounded by a sleeve 64 of polymeric material moulded about the bow. Two metal suspension chains (not shown) , each of inverted "Y" configuration are provided and are attached to the suspension means to enable the seat to swing along the central axis parallel to its straight sides.

In summary, the illustrated cradle-type swing seat consists of two main parts (i) a steel tube ring made in two halves joined together to form an oval frame, and (ii) a resilient, flexible carrier formed by a cruciform moulding of resilient, flexible polymeric material. The frame halves have holes for fixing chain suspension parts and holes for fixing the two halves together. The carrier is fixed to the frame by apertures at its extremities so that it can be slotted onto the top bar. The flexible carrier is moulded flat and its limbs are folded up to fix to the frame. The completed assembly forms a safe swing seat for young children.

The illustrated cradle-type seat provides better safety and comfort than previously know cradle-type seats .

An example of suitable dimensions will now be given with reference to the letters marked in the drawings:

Dimensions relating to Figure 10: dimension marked "a" 590 millimetres, eye dimensioned to fit snugly on 1 inch (25.4 millimetres) diameter bar, ferrule 15 millimetres long and 7 millimetres diameter when pressed, and., stainless steel wire rope has 3 millimetres diameter and is of 7x19 (WSC) construction.

Although the web of material has been shown as moulded in a single piece, it would instead be possible to join several parts together.

Claims

C L A I M S :

1. A cradle-type swing seat for a child comprising: a rigid frame; suspension means located on the rigid frame for attaching ropes or chains for suspending the swing seat; and a web of flexible material, attached to and depending from the rigid frame, defining a carrier with apertures, in which carrier a child can sit with its legs extending through the apertures, characterized in that the carrier is basket-like and in that the material of the web is resilient.

2. A swing seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is in the form of a ring.

3. A swing seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ring is made up of two or more inter-engaging parts .

4. A swing seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ring is made up of two identical parts, each part having a female end and ^'a male end, the male end of one part being secured in the female end of the other part.

5. A swing seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the parts of the ring are secured to each other by screws.

6. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame is of tubular form.

7. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame is made of metal.

8. A swing seat as claimed in claim 7, wherein the frame is made of stainless steel.

9. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame is oval.

10. A swing seat as claimed in claim 9, wherein the oval has arcuate ends and straight sides.

11. A swing seat as claimed in claim 10 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the joins between the parts are in the straight sides.

12. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the web of material comprises a central portion with projecting limbs, the limbs being connected to the frame and the spaces between the limbs defining the said apertures .

13. A swing seat as claimed in claim 12, wherein the central portion has at least two intersecting external ribs for keeping the central portion flat.

14. A swing seat as claimed in claim 13, wherein the depth of the external ribs is greater than the general thickness of the web.

15. A swing seat as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein at least one external rib is provided along each limb.

16. A swing seat as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein each limb has a through aperture at its end through which the frame passes to provide the attachment of the web to the frame.

17. A swing seat as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the limbs include an internal reinforcement in the form of a cable or wire.

18. A swing seat as claimed in claim 17, wherein the internal reinforcement comprises stainless steel wire rope .

19. A swing seat as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the internal reinforcement terminates in eyes surrounding the said through apertures .

20. A swing seat as claimed in claim 19, wherein each eye is formed by turning back an end of the wire or cable and securing it by clamping it within a metal ferrule about the body of the wire or cable.

21. A swing seat as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the internal reinforcement comprises lengths of cable or wire with an eye at each end, the cables or wires passing through the said central portion and the eyes of a cable or wire being attached to opposite sides of the frame .

22. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the web of material is cruciform when developed in plan.

23. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the web is made from a polymeric material.

24. A swing seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein the web has a general thickness in the range 6 to 16 millimetres inclusive.

25. A swing seat as claimed in claim 24, wherein the web has a general thickness in the range 9 to 14 millimetres inclusive.

26. A swing seat as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the web of material has been made by moulding the web in the flat from mouldable polymeric material, the limbs being folded up from the central portion for attachment to the frame.

27. A swing seat as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the polymeric is a natural or synthetic rubber material.

28. A swing seat as claimed in claim 27, wherein the polymeric material is a PVC nitrile rubber.

29. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the web material has a Shore hardness in the range 70 to 75 inclusive.

30. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the suspension means comprise holes in the frame for receiving bolts .

31. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a respective moulded sleeve is provided on the frame about each suspension means.

32. A swing seat as claimed in claim 30 or claim 31, wherein the suspension means comprises U-bolts and the holes in the frame are arranged in pairs for receiving the U-bolts.

33. A swing seat as claimed in claim 32, wherein the limbs of the U-bolts are screw-threaded and pass through the frame from top to bottom (in the in use orientation of the swing seat) and are secured beneath the frame by nuts .

34. A swing seat as claimed in claim 33, wherein the nuts are nuts of an anti-removal construction.

35. A swing seat as claimed in claim 34, wherein the nuts are provided with covers to prevent access to them.

36. A swing seat as claimed in any of claims 32 to 35, wherein the bow of each U-bolt is surrounded by a sleeve of polymeric material.

37. A swing seat as claimed in claim 36, wherein the sleeve of polymeric material is moulded about the bow.

38. A swing seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein metal suspension chains are provided and are attached to the suspension means.

39. A swing seat substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings .

40. A U-bolt provided with a sleeve of polymeric material about the bow of the "U".