SYMPATHETIC SWING

MECANISME ASSISTE DE MAIN D'HOMME SUR BALANCOIRE POUR PERSONNE HANDICAPEE

English Abstract

A B S T R A C T
This invention relates to a swing which is
particularly suitable for enabling a normal or less
handicapped person to assist a handicapped person to
achieve swinging movement. A connecting member such as
a pair of double crank arms joined by a crank shaft
transmits swinging movement from the swing used by the
normal person to the swing used by the handicapped person.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined
as follows:
1. A swing comprising a supporting frame, a connecting
member mounted on said supporting frame or pivotal
movement about a substantially horizontal axis, said
connecting member including a first downwardly extending
portion and a second downwardly extending portion for
pivotal movement in unison therewith, and swing seats
joined to each of said first and second downwardly
extending portions by flexible suspending means, whereby
a swinging movement of one of aid swing seats causes
pivoting of the connecting member and consequent swinging
movement of the other swing seat.
2. A swing as in claim 1 in which one of said swing
seats and its associated flexible suspending means is
constructed to provide a back support for a handicapped
person.
3. A swing as in claim 2 in which a pulling means is
joined to a lateral extension from the supporting frame
above the swing seat constructed for the handicapped
person and such pulling means hangs free so that such
person can assist in the swinging action by pulling on the
pulling means.
4. A swing as in claim 3 in which the pulling means is
a protectively coated cable.
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5. A swing as in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the
connecting member is a crank shaft having double crank arms
at each end, said double crank arms providing the first
and second downwardly extending portions.
6. A swing as in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the
connecting member is a crank shaft having double crank arms
at each end, said double crank arms providing the first
and second downwardly extending portions and in which
pivotal connections on said crank shaft provide the mounting
for pivotal movement of said connecting member on the
supporting frame.
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Description

This invention relates to a swing. Many handicapped
persons are unable to achieve the swinging movement of a
playground swing. They are therefore deprived of both the
physical and emotional benefit of a playground swing.
The object of this invention is to provide a swing
which can be used even by a handicapped person. The
principles of this invention are also applica~le to
providing a swing for infants too young to achieve a
satisfactory swinging motion.
In accordance with this invention, the swing has a
conventional supporting frame. A connecting member such
as a pair of double crank arms joined by a crank shaft is
mounted on the supporting frame for movement about a
substantially horizontal axis. The double crank arms
therefore pivot in unison about the axis of ~he crank shaft.
Flexible suspending means join swing seats to each of the
double crank arms. One of the seats is for use by a normal or
less handicapped person whose swinging causes pivoting of
the ccnnecting member and consequent swinging movement of
the other swing seat. Such other swing seat will usually
include a back support for a handicapped person. As an
optional additiona:L feature, a rope or similar pulling
means is joined to the supporting frame above the swing seat
for the use of handicapped persons having sufficient upper
body strength to assist in achieving the swing action.
Referring now to the drawings illustrating the
preferred embodiment of this invention:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a swing in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the swing shown
in Figure 1.
~ Figure 3 is an end elevation view similar to
Figure 2 but showing the swing in use.
Figure 4 is a detail sectional elevation view on
the line 4-4 in Figure 1.
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L3~3
The swing illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 has a
conventional supporting frame including horizontal frame
member 10, and end frame members 11, lla, 12 and 12a~
Frame members 11 and lla are sloped and connected at their
upper ends as shown in Figure 2 to give stability.
A connecting member is pro~ided by crank shaft 13
having a pair of double crank arms 14, 14a, 15 and 15a at
each end. Lugs 16 receive suitable pivot pins 17 which
pivotally engage bosses 19 at the outer ends of each of
the double cranks. Similarly a central boss 18 is secured
to crank shaft 13. Lugs 20 have pivot pins 21 which
pivotally engage bosses 19.
Double crank arms 15 and 15a have a swing seat 22
connected to double crank arms 15 and 15a by a pair of
chains 23 and a U-shaped bracket 30 which engages a link 31
illustrated in Figure 4 and having a bearing 32 to receive
connecting pin 33, and an aperture 34 for connection with
chain 23. A swing seat 24 is provided by the lower part
of a looped rope 25 to which is connected a series of
ropes 26 sloping in one direction and an intersecting
series of ropes 27 sloping in the opposite direction to
provide a back support for a handicapped person. Swing
seat 24 is connected to double crank arms 14 and 14a
using U~shaped brackets 30A and links 31a similar to those
described above and double S-hooks 35.
When the normal or less handicapped person swings
on seat 22 the movement will be transmitted to double crank
arms 15, thence through crank shaft 13 to double crank
arms 14a and then to swing seat 24 as illustrated in
Figure 3.
As an optional additional feature, a polyurethane
covered cable, rope or other pulling means 28 may freely
hang from the end of lateral extension bar 29 connected
to frame member 10 above seat 24. A handicapped person
having sufficient upper arm strength can use the

3~3
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polyurethane covered cable 28 to assist in the swinging
action. For convenience of illustration cable 28 and
bar 29 has been shown angled to one side in Figure 1.