Amusement devices – Swing – Motor operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-21
2001-11-20
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices
Swing
Motor operated
C472S118000, C297S273000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319138
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an infant swing, and more specifically to an open top, electrically driven infant swing which is stable and efficient in operation.
In the past there have been many different types of infant swings. In particular, very early on infant swings having an “A” frame configuration were very popular. In a typical swing configuration of this type, the swing structure consisted of two A shaped legs which were attached by a lateral cross bar or axle at the top vertices of the A. The swing itself was generally hung from the cross bar and a motor, usually either spring or electric, was operatively connected thereto to provide the motive force for moving the swing. In these prior configurations, the motor was usually located somewhere on one of the two leg structures, fairly close to the rotational axis of the axle. While this positioning of the motor was generally acceptable, it would be preferred, from a stability standpoint, to position the motor closer to the center of gravity of the swing, at a location generally equidistant from the respective support structures of the swing, namely the A shaped legs. An example of this type of prior art swing is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,196.
While swings of this general configuration have been popular, there are some disadvantages to these types of swings which have been addressed in more recent swing designs. In particular, while these prior art swings which incorporate an axle or crossbar to space the A shaped legs are relatively stable, the axle or crossbar tends to prevent easy access to a child located in the seat hanging therefrom. In order to overcome this problem, most of the newer swing designs tend to be “open top” designs wherein there is no crossbar or axle which runs directly across the top of the support structure over the top of the seat. These newer style “open top” swings allow much easier access to the child than the prior art swings discussed above. Examples of typical “open top” swings include U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,113 owned by Graco Children's Products, Inc., U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,727 owned by Evenflo Company Inc., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,999 owned by Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. As can be seen in all of these patents, there is no axle or crossbar that extends directly over the top of the swing and stability is provided by attaching the bases of the A shaped legs, rather than the vertices of the A's as in prior art swings. While these designs have been generally effective, sometimes greater stability and rigidity than can be delivered by a swing structure having no upper crossbar or axle is desired.
Most importantly, though, it is noted that most prior art swing designs incorporate motor couplings which are directly linked to the swing itself. This type of design can successfully deliver power to the swing, but has some disadvantages. For example, the direct linkage means that if the swing is stopped or forced in the wrong direction while the motor is engaged, depending on the exact construction of the swing, the gears can be stripped or the motor can be damaged. Additionally, a direct linkage usually results in a swing motion which is rigid and fairly mechanical when it would be preferred to have a swing motion that is smoother and more pendulum like.
Accordingly, given some of the above-noted deficiencies of prior art infant swings, it would be desirable to have an infant swing including a support structure that is generally stable and allows easy access to an infant seated in the swing chair. Additionally, it would be desirable to have an infant swing that provides a novel drive and coupling system which efficiently provides a smooth, natural swing motion for an infant seated in the swing. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a novel drive and coupling system which prevents damage to the swing motor and gear system when the motion of the swing is stopped or modified while the swing is in motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an open top infant swing incorporating a novel support structure that is generally stable and allows easy access to an infant seated in the swing seat. Additionally, the present invention provides a novel drive and coupling system for an infant swing which efficiently provides a smooth, natural swing motion for an infant seated in the swing. The novel drive and coupling system of the present invention is additionally characterized in that damage or stress to the swing motor and gear system is generally prevented when the motion of the swing is stopped or modified while the swing is in motion.
More specifically, the infant swing of the present invention comprises a novel support structure including a crossbar that does not extend directly over the top of the infant swing. Thus, as opposed to other prior art swing designs utilizing crossbars, the crossbar of the present invention provides excellent stability and rigidity to the infant swing described and claimed herein while still allowing relatively easy access to an infant seated in the swing seat. Preferably, the crossbar structure of the infant swing of the present invention is a relatively rigid hollow molded plastic construction thereby providing room therein for mounting a motor, gear and coupling assembly. Additionally, the present invention provides an infant swing that is coupled to an electric drive motor by a “moving pivot” thereby allowing the swing to pivot independently of the drive motor. The use of a moving pivot in this application prevents undue strain on the motor and gearing of the swing when the swing is stopped or pushed in a direction opposite of the direction of travel being induced by the motor. Additionally, the moving pivot as used in this application is useful in that the movement induced in the swing is more fluid and soothing for the infant riding therein than the movement of prior art swings utilizing direct drive mechanisms.
Accordingly, as described above, and as is shown and discussed in detail herein, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved open top infant swing Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
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Fair Paul
George Tracy
Kapushion Joe
Rennie Mark
Evenflo Company, Inc.
Nguyen Kien T.
Thompson Hine LLP
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