Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SWING DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ATTUNEMENT BETWEEN CHILD AND
CARETAKER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a child reaches the young age of a few months, the child and caretaker
begin to
develop a harmonic meeting of the minds. This is largely achieved through a
coordination of behavior that begins with eye contact. For example, the child
may look
into its mother's eyes and smile or laugh. This, in turn, will cause the
mother to smile or
laugh in response. This coordination of behavior has been described using
terms such
as interactive synchrony, matching, coherence, co-occurrence, attunement, and,
more
generally, bonding. For simplicity, this face-to-face coordination of behavior
between
child and caretaker will herein generally be referred to as attunement.
Attunement occurs when a caretaker and infant synchronize their gaze patterns
and the
affective tone of their interaction. As the caretaker is sensitive and
responsive to
changes in the child's emotions, the child responds to the caretaker's
sensitive
behaviors. As caretaker and child become attuned to each other, their
interactions
become more synchronized and harmonious.
It has been found that attunement is important both for establishing a
successful
relationship between the child and caretaker and for promoting the infant's
emotional
development. The importance of this face-to-face coordination of behavior
between
child and caretaker continues throughout infancy and into toddlerhood.
Attunement between a child and caretaker is critical for the establishment of
a mutual
understanding between the child and the caregiver. Attunement has been shown
to
produce a decrease in negative behavior, such as crying and infant gaze
aversion, as
well as in increase in positive behaviors, such as attentiveness and affective
displays,
e.g. smiling and laughing. In general, attunement results in a child having an
increased
enjoyment of the caretaker-child interactions. As such, attunement is an
important
factor in developing a relationship that is close, mutually binding,
cooperative, and
affectively positive. Children growing up with caretakers who are responsive
to their
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needs and whose interactions are infused with happy emotions adopt a willing,
responsive stance toward caretaker influence.
Attunement also plays an important role in promoting the emotional development
of the
child. A child's learning of social skills and conventional forms of
communication and
culture begins with attunement. A child who does not experience attunement has
difficulty forming healthy attachments and is more likely to become
emotionally brittle. It
has also been theorized that attunement buffers the child against excessive
surges of
emotion and helps orchestrate genetic signals that govern optimal brain
development
during childhood as well as further into adolescence and young adulthood.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide
a swing
that is operable to promote attunement between a child and caretaker. The
swing
comprises two seats, one of the two seats being configured to be occupied by a
caretaker and another of the two seats being configured to be occupied by a
child. The
term caretaker, as used herein, can refer to anyone who has interaction with a
child and
includes, without limitation, a parent, guardian, grandparent, nanny, or older
sibling.
The two seats are arranged so that the caretaker and the child can face one
another
and comfortably see each other's eyes. The two seats are also configured such
that,
during operation of the swing, both the caretaker and child share the
experience of
swinging. Thus, using the swing of at least one embodiment of the present
invention, a
caretaker and child may share the mutual enjoyment of the swinging action
while
maintaining eye contact with one another, resulting in attunement.
It is another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to
provide a
swing that comprises a first seat, a second seat, and a connector that is
configured to
join the first seat and the second seat such that the first and second seats
undergo a
shared swinging action during operation of the swing. The first seat is
configured to be
occupied by an adult and the second seat is configured to be occupied by a
child. The
second seat is a child swing seat that is specifically designed for safe use
by a child.
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It is another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to
provide a
swing that comprises a first seat, a second seat, and a connector that is
configured to
join the first seat and the second seat such that the first and second seats
undergo a
shared swinging action during operation of the swing. The first seat is
configured to be
occupied by an adult and the second seat is configured to be occupied by a
child. The
second seat is configured so that the child cannot touch the ground, providing
that the
adult alone may use the ground to start, stop, and/or regulate the swinging
motion.
It is another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to
provide a
swing that comprises a first seat, a second seat, and a connector that is
configured to
join the first seat and the second seat such that the first and second seats
undergo a
shared swinging action during operation of the swing. The first seat is
configured to be
occupied by an adult and the second seat is configured to be occupied by a
child. The
second seat is vertically disposed = between about 6 inches and about 16
inches above
the first seat, and preferably between about 9 inches and about 13 inches
above the
first seat.
It is contemplated that the swing of embodiments of the present invention may
be used
in public playgrounds or sold for residential use at the home. Thus, the swing
of
embodiments of the present invention may be adapted or modified, as necessary,
for
public or residential use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A clear conception of the advantages and features of one or more embodiments
will
= become more readily apparent by reference to the exemplary, and therefore
non-
limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the swing.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the swing, showing use by a
caretaker and child in a manner that promotes attunement.
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the swing.
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Figure 4 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the swing, showing an
exemplary motion of the swing during operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 shows a swing 10 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The swing
comprises a first seat 11 and a second seat 12.
The first seat 11 is configured to be occupied by an adult. Accordingly, the
first seat
may comprise a rigid seat, such a common board seat, or a flexible seat, such
as a
common belt seat. The first seat 11 may also comprise a backing structure that
would
support the occupant in an upright position. Thus, the first seat 11 may also
comprise,
for example, a bench seat or a chair seat. In the preferred embodiment
illustrated in
Fig. 1, the first seat 11 is a board seat. The board seat of the preferred
embodiment
provides the occupant with a desirable level of comfort and range of movement,
while
also maintaining the occupant at a generally fixed eye level relative to the
second seat
12.
The second seat 12 is configured to be occupied by a child. The second seat
12, for
example, is preferably configured to be safely occupied by a child of age
twelve or less,
alternatively the second seat 12 is preferably configured to be safely
occupied by a child
of age five or less, alternatively the second seat 12 is preferably configured
to be safely
occupied by a child between six months and two years of age. In preferred
embodiments, the second seat 12 is configured to be safely occupied by an
infant or a
toddler. Because attunement is most likely to occur when a child is between a
few
months and four years of age, embodiments of the swing 10 are preferably
configured
such that the second seat 12 may be safely occupied by a child that is between
a few
months and four years of age.
The second seat 12 is preferably a child swing seat. The term child swing
seat, as used
herein, refers to any swing seat that is designed for safe use by a child, for
instance by
providing some manner of restraint that assists in preventing the child from
falling from
the seat or by providing some support that assists the child in sitting
upright in the seat.
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Some non-limiting examples of child swing seats include bucket swing seats,
chair
swing seats, inclusive play swing seats, glider swing seats, and cradle swing
seats.
A bucket swing seat is any seat having at least a segment of the seat that is
generally
shaped like a bucket, with the segment providing a restraint on the forward,
backward,
or lateral movement of the occupant. A full bucket seat, for example, is a
bucket seat
that has a peripheral wall extending around the perimeter of the seat. The
full bucket
seat typically comprises holes for a child's legs and requires the caretaker
to lift a child
and place him or her into the seat. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in
Fig. 1, the
second seat 12 is a full bucket seat. Full bucket seats are sold, for example,
under the
trade names GameTime Enclosed Tot Seat and Play&Park Structures Fully
Enclosed Tot Seat. A half bucket seat is a bucket seat that has a peripheral
wall that
extends only around a portion of the perimeter. Typically, the peripheral wall
provides a
restraint on at least the backward movement of the occupant. A half bucket
seat may
also include a front guard that, when closed, restrains the forward movement
of the
occupant.
A chair swing seat is a child swing seat having at least a bottom support and
a back
support, calling to mind the shape of a chair. In various embodiments, a chair
swing
seat may also, but does not necessarily, include a front guard, which
restrains the
forward movement of the child. The front guard may be integrally formed with
or
permanently affixed to the chair, in which case, the chair and font guard
preferably
comprise openings through which a child's legs extend. Preferably, the front
guard is
moveable between an open position, in which the child may easily be placed
into or
taken out of the seat, and a closed position. In some embodiments, the front
guard
comprises a solid component, for example a plastic or cushioned component.
Solid
component front guards, for example, may slide or rotate between an open and
closed
position. Alternatively, solid component front guards may be detached from the
seat for
child loading and reattached to the seat to act as a restraint. In other
embodiments, the
front guard may comprise a belt or harness that is fastened or clasped in
place to form a
restraint. Models of chair swing seats are sold, for example, under the trade
names
CA 02953607 2017-01-04
Play&Park Structures Made-for-Me Swing Seat, BigToys Made-for Me Swing Seat,
Play&Park Structures One-for-All Swing Seat, and BigToys One-for-All Swing
Seat.
In some embodiments, the child swing seat may comprise a swing seat that is
adapted
for use by children with special needs, sometimes referred to as inclusive
play or
adaptive swing seats. Inclusive play swing seats, for example, are configured
for
children that require additional support and typically have a high back, wing
support,
and an adjustable harness that helps a child maintain a neutral body position
and
minimizes fatigue. Models of inclusive play swing seats are sold, for example,
under
the trade names GameTime Adaptive Swing Seat and GameTime Zero-G Swing
Chair.
In some embodiments, the child seat may comprise a glider swing seat. Models
of
glider swing seats are sold, for example, under the trade name Swing-N-Slide
Wind
Rider Glider Swing. In some embodiments, including especially where the swing
is
configured for residential use, the child seat may comprise a cradle swing
seat.
Preferably, including for example when the swing is designed for residential
use, the
second seat 12 may be removed and replaced with a different type of second
seat. In
this way, a child swing seat that is most suitable for a child of a particular
age may be
used as the second seat 12.
The swing 10 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention also comprises
a
connector 13. The connector 13 is configured to join the first seat 11 and the
second
seat 12 such that the first and second seats undergo a shared swinging action
during
operation of the swing. The connector 13 of a preferred embodiment is
illustrated in
Fig. 1. In a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises a piped framework
14
having at least a first end 15 and a second end 16. In this embodiment, the
first seat 11
is attached to the first end 15 of the framework and the second seat 12 is
attached to
the second end 16 of the framework.
The first end 15 and second end 16 of the framework must be spaced apart from
one
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another in a horizontal direction, D. As
illustrated in Fig. 1, this spacing may be
provided by an arched framework structure 17. Although the connector 13 of the
preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises a piped framework 14 having an
arched structure 17 that provides the necessary horizontal spacing between the
first
end 15 and the second end 16 of the framework, the connector 13 of the present
invention is not limited by the design illustrated in Fig. 1. Rather, the
connector 13 could
provide the necessary horizontal spacing between the first end 15 and the
second end
16 of the framework by any suitable means, such as for example by a straight
framework structure or an angled framework structure.
Preferably, the first end 15 and the second end 16 of the framework are spaced
apart
from one another by a distance D between about twelve and about thirty inches.
More
preferably, the horizontal distance D between the first end 15 and the second
end 16 of
the framework is between about sixteen and about twenty-six inches. More
preferably,
the horizontal distance D between the first end 15 and the second end 16 of
the
framework is between about eighteen and about twenty-four inches. More
preferably,
the horizontal distance D between the first end 15 and the second end 16 of
the
framework is between about nineteen and about twenty-three inches.
The connector 13 also comprises at least one suspension point 18, by which the
swing
is suspended from a support structure 20. Preferably the connector 13
comprises at
least two suspension points 18. More preferably, the connector 13 comprises at
least
four suspension points 18. The inclusion of at least four suspension points 18
provides
stability to the swing 10 and prevents the swing from becoming unbalanced,
which
could result in tipping of the swing during operation. As illustrated in Fig.
1, the
connector 13 may also comprise one or more stabilizers 19 that are configured
to
prevent wobbling or lateral tilting of the swing during operation. For
example, the
stabilizers 19 may take the form of stabilizing bars that comprise part of the
framework
14 or are otherwise attached to the connector 13.
In a preferred embodiment, the first seat 11 is suspended a short distance
below the
first end 15 of the framework 14. In the unlikely event that a bystander were
to be hit by
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the swing 10 during operation, the suspension of the first seat 11 a short
distance below
the first end 15 of the framework 14 operates to lessen the impact of the blow
on the
bystander. Thus, the suspension of the first seat 11 a short distance below
the first end
15 of the framework 14 provides an added safety benefit.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the swing 10 of embodiments of the present invention
is
suspended from a swing support structure 20. Because it is contemplated that
the
swing of embodiments of the present invention may be used in public
playgrounds or for
use at the home, the swing support structure 20 may be adapted for public or
residential
use. The swing support structure 20 may be configured to contain or connect to
additional playground equipment, or it may be configured to support only the
swing 10
of embodiments of the present invention. Suspension of the swing 10 from the
support
structure 20 may be by any means known in the art. In the embodiment
illustrated in
Fig. 2, the swing 10 is suspended form the support structure 20 using chains
21, each
of which is affixed to a suspension point 18 of the connector 13.
Using the swing 10 of embodiments of the present invention, an adult may
occupy the
first seat 11 and a child may occupy the second seat 12. The adult may then
operate
the swing by pushing off of the ground to start and/or increase the swinging
motion.
Accordingly, the adult may regulate the speed and height of the swinging
motion while
both the adult and the child experience the enjoyment of the shared swinging
motion. In
at least one preferred embodiment, the second seat 12 is configured so that
the child is
unable to touch the ground, providing that the adult alone may push off of the
ground to
start, stop, and/or regulate the swinging motion.
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the swing 10 is operable
to
promote attunement between a child and caretaker. Accordingly, the swing
comprises
a first seat 11 configured to be occupied by a caretaker, such as a parent,
and a second
seat 12 configured to be occupied by a child, such as an infant or toddler.
The two
seats are arranged so that the caretaker and the child can face one another
and see
each other's eyes. Because the swing is configured so that the caretaker and
child
make eye contact while experiencing the enjoyment of the shared swinging
motion, the
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swing promotes attunement between the caretaker and child.
Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first
seat 11 and
second seat 12 are arranged such that the caretaker and child face one another
and
share a common eye level. The phrase common eye level, as used herein, does
not
require that the caretaker's eyes and the child's eyes be at exactly the same
height or
distance from the ground. Rather, common eye level, as used herein,
encompasses
any arrangement in which the line of sight of the adult occupant of the first
seat 11 and
the line of sight of the child occupant of the second seat 12 are generally
aligned such
that each may naturally and comfortably maintain eye contact with the other
during
operation of the swing. When the first seat 11 and the second seat 12 are
arranged
such that the caretaker and child share a common eye level, the caretaker and
the child
see each other's enjoyment of the mutual swinging action and are able to
coordinate
their behavior and interaction with one another. In this manner, operation of
the swing
promotes attunement between the caretaker and child.
Taking into account the height differential of the caretaker and the child,
the first seat 11
and the second seat 12 are vertically displaced from one another in order to
obtain the
common eye level. The first seat Ills thus vertically disposed a distance V
below the
second seat 12, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Preferably, the vertical distance V
between the
first seat 11 and the second seat 12 is between about six inches and sixteen
inches.
More preferably, the vertical distance V between the first seat 11 and the
second seat
12 is between about eight and about fourteen inches. More preferably, the
vertical
distance V between the first seat 11 and the second seat 12 is between about
nine and
about thirteen inches. More preferably, the vertical distance V between the
first seat 11
and the second seat 12 is between about ten and about twelve inches. Given the
average height of a caretaker and child, the ranges of vertical displacement
will provide
a common eye level for most caretakers and children.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the first seat 11 and the second
seat 12 is
vertically adjustable, such as to obtain a common eye level for a caretaker
and child
having particular heights.
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Preferably, the first seat 11 and the second seat 12 are also disposed from
one another
horizontally by a distance H. The horizontal spacing H of the first seat 11
and the
second seat 12 is selected to provide that the occupants of each seat share
the mutual
enjoyment of the swinging action and that there is no unintended contact
between the
occupants due to movement of either one of the seats. The first seat 11 and
the second
seat 12 are preferably spaced apart horizontally by a distance H between about
six and
about eighteen inches. More preferably, the horizontal distance H between
first seat 11
and the second seat 12 is between about nine and about fifteen inches. More
preferably, the horizontal distance H between the first seat 11 and the second
seat 12 is
between about ten and about fourteen inches.
It can be seen that the described embodiments provide a unique and novel swing
that
has a number of advantages over those in the art. While there is shown and
described
herein certain specific structures embodying the invention, it will be
manifest to those
skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts
may be
made without departing from the the current teachings of the description and
that the
same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except
insofar
as indicated by the appended claims as purposively construed.
