US2753921A - Foldable swing - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1956 H. D. HEINZELMAN, JR

FOL'DABLE SWING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1950 fNI/E'NTUR HARRY D HE/NZEL NJR y 1956 H. D. HEINZELMAN, JR 2,753,921

FOLDABLE SWING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1950 [N YENTOR HARRY D. HE/NZELMAN J ATTO NE'Y United States Patent .FOLDABLE. SWING Harry D. Heinzelman, Jr., S t-Louis, Mo. Application June 22, 195-0,Serial N0.,,169,609

'7 Claims. (@1- 155-53) This invention relates to improvements .in ,swings. More particularly thisinventiontrelatesuto improvements in swings which can betextendedito provide sturdy-and rigid structures but which can befolded :for compact storage.

It is therefore an object-of the present invention ,to provide an improved swing which can beextended toforrn a sturdy and rigid structure but whichcan .be. fo1ded;-for compact storage.

It has long been IeCQgnized that swings are asource of joy as well as healthful eXercise-for children, and :swings of many different rkindsqandgtypes havebeenproposed and used. In-sorne instances the swings .areqset up permanently, as by embedding the legs ,of the swings-inthe ground orin concrete. In most instances, however space limitations prevent the permanentsetting up of v swings, :and .in such instances folding swings Eare used. -While many folding swingshave been proposed, most ofthose swings lacked rigidity and sturdiness. Other of those toldfing swings were hard to extend andfold. .Forthese reasons, prior folding :swings are objectionable. The present invention obviates .these objections byprovidinga :rigid and'sturdy swing that :caneasily .-be extended or "folded. It is therefore-:an'objec-t of .thepresentinvention -to provide a sturdy and igid swing that caneasily be :extended or folded.

.Many folding'swings are made .-withseats that-are supported by two suspending :elemeflts. ,Such swings ca n often be folded .quitereadilygbut thoseswings are not :satisfactory. Forexample, the -twosuspending elements of such swings .can-permibgthechild .-to cause the seat to :move from :side to side,- as it .moves backwardand ,forward. The movementofthe-seat side toside can-permit iIhG child to strike the-legsof "the -swing,,to tip;the-.swing over, or to strike 'the wallzof a building ,or nearby articles :of furniture. This, of-course, jisobjectionable. 'Th6p1'6S- ent invention obviates gthese objections by rproviding -,a folding swing whereintheseatgis supported; by four. suspending elements. The tour suspending. elements of such r'swingwill. limit-the :sideward moyementjofethe seat, .thus protecting the child rand nearby wallvof a buildingand 1 furniture. It'is therefore an objectiof the present, invention 'toprovide a folding-swingwhereinthe seat is supportedby 'four suspending elements.

' The four suspending elements in .the'swing-provided by ithe; present invention are connected together rby .a seatsupporting frame. This :frame-coacts :withthe' eonnections between: the four: suspending;elementsjandihe legsof; the :swing: to'zprovideuadd-itional {rigidity Ion-the swing,-,while yet permitting the seat to move; :backward ;and forward.

It'isthereforean objectof-the present inventiomtorprovide a folding. swing -with-a seatvsuppor-ting framethat con- -nects the four seat-suspending elements oftheswing.

- In some swings, the child .must be pushed to achieve .the

r desired backward, .andforward :movernent. "This 'is un- -desirable. because. it requires the closeaattendance of vthe person supervising the'activities *ofIthechild. In some other swings'the child musLproQel. himself by pushing 2,753,921 Ratented July 10, 1956 "2 against the floor or rug. This is objectionable si nce it ause wear n and soi i g-9 .th vfle and s- T present'invention obviates these objections by providing a swing .witha ,handle and ;fo0.t rest. The child can gr asp 5 the handle with his hands, place his feet againstt-hetoot v s and t nrrepe ms l -baekwardapd fo war or :stop .llimself as he desires. ,It is therefore v an-object ,of the present invention to provide a swing which, ha s j a h nd -a -a e mfl t .taeilitat -pt le n e L QPP ofith s at- Certain types of swings can be extended and folde d hy i s rting a rem ing .belt @p ie .1 th extension or in f h w ",Th m ze ebelt and n t -1 5.1 11. 3 require thevuse ofttools anditfr quently 1e d to-theloss of the nuts or bolts. The :useof tools is o ectionable si m ny ,p x ens are n et e hi h nd n te l .thelos .efij lutsorholtsi Qbjee i n lesineeit- T ,to non-use of -the swi gor .usevof the swingnni, afe "condition. ,-The-prese 1it invention volswiates ,th ese objectio ns .by providing ,a .swing ,wherein {no ,bolts or screws .nee bele sened i fe dii er-QXte ns h in {It is thereforean object ,of thepresent. invention to provide .a old na wins \Wh Q QE b z elde 9 xtend wit qu use .of tools ,and without. tightening .orloosening, of bolts :ornuts. 'i h -swi pr v de bythe te e it v t onhasala e :wh chrreven n reme these-a 9 h swin ex 'i .whe h win i ti ul ea end t esi t n the l t is, seeurely fastened. ,This is entrernely desirable because ;s e a e .ean eve a dan ntothe l .Yth tfl h \fQCQuRif .the,,child-lcould ,use thqswing b efo1 "e.. it.wa ully .Ja e ed i -tu ly exten ei e en- .I ihe e q l ta s sie ..e .-th pr sen inve it tt r te s ingtwith n tla shwlric preven m vementpf the e unt ithe'swia i is-fullylatchediniully extende tpF sition. I el s th w lgr v ded y ,t er e ent nvention a ennee e o eth by,. :h e e ;thes biases. f s s e m qld ii e th swin ..The -.b ee withthelatchofthe,swingtoihold theswing rigid n the.swing;is inextended position. .;.It,is thereforQanobject :.th n esen in en e st eyi X- leXie. ab weent er e e e he wi .The seats of swings which; are held,by,.twq.,suspending se emems'a sum taninclined.attitudeina hpqsitieh l't i' tha rth ee r s n u they ea sau rafiq n r child to fall from the swing. This, of, ursfe, ,1slcji1ite ai firglls .and. ,rnal es .such swings objectionable. QThe ,ap e en lin en ionvebv etesrth s .ebi e iqt s b sn vid n r .swing .wherein the;seat ist held horizontal allgof-rits positions. Itis therefore an object. of g thepresent Qinvention to provide a ;f olding f swing wherein: the seat ,.is hel l.h iz t 1, tti tiwt t m Th asw e rp de t y-.the Present ,inven io ,e b .suited ,to .jndoor and iq tdqor-"use, by 7 the.i l dition,- 11. re-

moval of suction cups. The suction cupswill coact with the;floor,.to,hold, the swing in. .posi tion, despiteihe, momentumm t sn rin .i an i1 Me 0v fi h s .rsfletiont eu ayeid s ra hin H m tt n of, he l The-cups; ,can,; however, ,bGJ BIiIOV Cd, forfthe 4 en 60 .the swing is. ,to,.be.nsedoutside. It .is.therefore ,an,o ect 1 f erp e e t nvent o na yi e a: w g w th TI .ab .sn t enteup W t Q h nand t h bie eanda vanta seit rr e invention should become: a parentgfrorni an examination s zt etd awin ta e qmpe in .deecrin ie .In ,the drawing, and. accompanying. des cr' tipn Y ial nientsgof; thqpresentinventron,areLshqwn Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a swing that is made Fig. 3 is a plan view of the swing shown in Figs.

1 and 2,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the swing shown in Figs. 1-3, and it shows that swing in partially folded position,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the swing shown in Figs. l-4, and it shows that swing in completely folded position,

Fig. 6 is an end view of the end frame of another embodiment of the swing of the present invention, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a form of latch.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 denotes one of the four legs of the swing provided by the present invention. The other three legs of that swing are denoted by the numerals 12, 14 and 16. The legs 10, 12, 14 and 16 are shown as being made of tubing, but they could also be made of channels, angles, strips, or other shapes. The leg 10 is shown as being made integral with the leg 12 and the spacer 18; but the legs 10 and 12 could be made separately and then assembled with the spacer 18. A spacer 20 holds the bottoms of the legs 10 and 12 in precisely spaced relation; and reinforcing elements 22 are disposed so they engage both the spacer 20 and the legs 10 and 12. It is preferred to secure the spacers 20 and the reinforcing rods 22 to the legs 10 and 12 and to each other by welding, but other methods of securement could be used. When secured together, the legs 10 and 12, the spacers 18 and 20, and the reinforcing elements 22 constitute a rigid and sturdy supporting frame for one end of the swing. In actual practice that end frame can be made quickly and efiiciently by bending a length of metal to form legs 10 and 12 and spacer 18, and then welding spacer 20 and reinforcing elements 22 in place. A supporting frame of generally similar configuration is provided for the other end of the swing; and that frame is formed from legs 14 and 16, spacers 24 and 26, and reinforcing elements 28. The legs 10, 12, 14 and 16 preferably are of the same length, the spacers 18 and 24 preferably are of the same length, and the spacers 20 and 26 preferably are of the same length. Where this relationship is provided, the two supporting frames for the swing will be identical, and the swing will set level on a level surface.

Four brackets 30, of generally U-shaped configuration, are provided; and a bracket 30 is secured to the bottom of each of the legs 10, 12, 14 and 16. The securement of the brackets 30 to the legs 10, 12, 14 and 16 is effected by bolts or rivets 31; those bolts or rivets extending through openings in the upstanding sides of the brackets 30 and passing through openings in the bottoms of the legs 10, 12, 14 and 16. This enables the brackets 30 to pivot relative to the legs 10, 12, 14 and 16.

For example, the bottoms of the suction cups 34 in Figs. 1 and 4 are flat on the floor, or other supporting surface, even though the legs 10, 12, 14 and 16 are inclined to that surface. However, as indicated in Fig. 5 the axes of the cups 34 will not themselves move to a vertical position; they do so only when the swing is set solidly on a supporting surface. This is due to the close fit that is necessary between brackets 30 and legs 10, 12, 14 and 16, to avoid looseness in the swing.

Open ended slots are provided in the bottoms of the U-shaped brackets 30, and those slots are dimensioned to receive screws or bolts 32; those screws or bolts being threaded into a floor or being embedded within rubber suction cups 34. Where screws are to be used to anchor the swing, the swing will be fully extended, as in Fig. 1, and then screws will be passed through the slots in brackets 30 and seated in the floor. Where bolts embedded in suction cups are to be used, the bolts are loosened and the shanks of the bolts are slipped through the open ends of the slots in brackets 30. The use of suction cups is usually preferred, because suction cups make it possible to set the swing solidly in place without any need of tools and without any marring of the floor. The suction cups will adhere quite closely to a smooth floor; and they will act as frictional elements to minimize sliding on rough floors, rugs, or other surfaces too rough to permit the creation of a vacuum within the cups. In many cases the suction cups will adhere so thoroughly to a smooth fioor that considerable force is needed to free them. Much less force is required to release the suction cups if the vacuum can be broken in advance; and the present invention provides wedges 36 for that purpose. The wedges 36 have sharpened ends that can be inserted under the edges of the suction cups 34 to permit air to enter and break the vacuum. The wedges 36 are held adjacent the suction cups 34 by connectors 38, and these connectors can be cords of fabric or metal or bands of elastic material. By securing the wedges 36 to the cups 34 with connectors 38, loss of the wedges 36 is avoided and the wedges are always handily available.

Another manner of securing the suction cups to the swing frames is shown particularly in Fig. 6. The leg 11 of the frame is pivoted to the spacer 21 by a rivet 23, and a slot 25 is provided in the spacer 21. This slot receives a bolt 27 embedded within the suction cups 29. The particular advantage of this arrangement is that the pivot is quite close to the ground, and there will be but little tendency for the swing frames to tilt.

The two supporting frames at the opposite ends of the swing are connected together by spacers 40 and spreaders 42. The spacers 40 have openings at the lefthand ends thereof which are large enough to telescope over the legs 10 and 12. Consequently, the legs 10 and 12 are passed through the openings in the lefthand ends of spacers 40, and those spacers are moved along the legs 10 and 12 until they are in position on the spacer 18, all of this being done before the spacer 20 and the reinforcing elements 22 are welded to legs 10 and 12. The engagement between the spacers 40 and the spacer 18 will enable spacers 40 to rotate relative to spacer 18. The spreaders 42 have openings at the righthand ends thereof which are large enough to telescope over the legs 14 and 16. Consequently, the legs 14 and 16 are passed through the openings in the righthand ends of spreaders 42, and those spreaders are moved along the legs 14 and 16 until they are in position on the spacer 24, all of this being done before the spacer 26 and the reinforcing elements 28 are welded to those legs. The engagement between the spreaders 42 and the spacer 24 permits the spreaders to rotate about the spacer 24. The lefthand ends of the spreaders 42 are pivotally secured to the centers of the spacers 40 by bolts or rivets 43. These bolts or rivets coact with the spacers 40 and the spreaders 42 to hold the supporting frames of the swing in assembled relation. The righthand ends of the spacers 40 are secured to a latch bar 44. That latch bar holds the spacers 40 and the spreaders 42 in spaced relation while permitting those elements to pivot relative to spacers 18 and 24 and relative to each other, as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5. The latch bar 44 carries a latch 46, and that latch has an opening therein which telescopes over a vertical pin 48 carried by the spacer 24. The pin 48 has a longitudinally projecting portion that can extend through the opening in the latch 46 and can underlie the portion of that latch which defines that opening. The latch 46 and the pin 48 are dimensioned so the latch bar 44 must be bent toward the spacer 24 as the projecting portion of the pin passes through the opening in latch 46. In this way, the pin 48 positively holds the latch in latching position against accidental unlatching. The amount of band ing of latch bar 44 is quite small, and it can easily be accomplished without undue force. Four stops 50 are secured to. the supporting frames of the swing, aid those stops keep the spacers 40 and the. spreaders 42 from shifting relative to those supporting frames.

Another form of latch is shown particularly in Fig. 7. The latch bar 44 carries a stop 45 and a rotatable lever 47; the stop 45 and lever 47 being secured to latch bar 44 by a rivet 49. Such a latch eliminates allneed ofbending the latch bar 44, locking being obtained by pivoting the lever 47. An upwardly-extending, thumb-receiving portion is provided on the free end of lever 47 to facilitate its movement.

Four pivot brackets 52 are provided, two of those brackets being secured to the supporting frame at one end of the swing, and the other of those brackets being secured to the supporting frame at the otherend of the swing. The pivot brackets 52 are secured to the supporting frames by bolts 54- that extend downwardly through those frames. The pivot brackets 52 are of U-shaped configurations, and they are disposed so their open ends extend downwardly. The pivot brackets 52 receive the upper ends of suspending elements 56 and 58, the suspending elements 56 being secured to the brackets 52 on the lefthand supporting frame, and the suspending elements 58 being secured to the brackets 52 on the righthand supportingframe. Rivets or bolts 55 extend through openings in the pivot brackets 52 and through openings in the upper ends of the suspending elements 56 and 58 to maintain those suspending elements in assemledrela tion with those pivot brackets while permitting the suspending elements 56 and 58 to pivot relative to. the pivot brackets 52.

Two links 66 are pivotally secured to the lower ends of the suspending elements 56 by bolts or rivets 61. The bolts or rivets 61 maintain the links 60 in assembled relation withthe suspending elements. 56- While-permitting relative movement between=th0se links and thosesuspending elements. Links62 are pivotally secured tothe lower ends of the suspending elements 58 by bolts or rivets 63. The bolts or rivets 63 maintain the links 62lin assembled relation with the suspending elements 58 while permitting relative movement between those links and those suspend? ing elements. The confronting ends of the links 60' and 62 are pivotally secured together by bolts on rivets 65, the bolts or rivets 65 maintaining the links 60 and 62. in assembled relation while permitting relative movement between those links. Stops 64 are. carried by the links 66, and those stops underlie projecting portions. of. the links 62, the stops 64 and the projectingportions. of links 62 permitting upward folding of links 60 and 62 but preventing downward folding of those links. The links 65) and 62 constitute a seat-supporting platform for the swing.

The links 60 and 62. are: dimensioned so the distance spanned by those links is equal to the overall distance spanned by the spacers 40. As a-result, the links 60 and 62 and the spacers 4d coact with the suspending elements 56 and 53 to form a parallelogram. Because the various elements of that parallelogram are secured together by pivots, the angles at the corners of the parallelogram can be changed at will.

The bolts or rivets 65, which secure the links 60'and 62 together, also secure spacers 66 to those links. The spacers 66 extend upwardly from. the bolts. or rivets 65 and are pivotally secured to reinforcing bars 70 that carry the seat 68 of the swing. The bars 70, in turn, are pivotally secured to the suspending elements 56 by bolts or rivets 71. The bolts or rivets 71 are spaced. above the bolts or rivets 61, at the, lower ends of the suspending elements 56, a distance equal to the length of' either of the spacers 66. As a result, the seat 68will beparallel to the line defined by the links 60 and 62. The seat. 68 wiil coact with the links 60, thespacers 66, and those portions of the suspending elements 56- between pivots 61; and 71 to define a parallelogram. Sincetheel'ementsof 6 that parallelogram are held by pivots, the angles at the cornersof that parallelogram can be changed. at will.

The lower ends of the suspending elements 58' are secured together by a foot rest 72 which is pivotally secured to the ends of the links 62" bybolts or rivets 63. The foot rest 72- is shown as being made of tubing, but it could also be made as a channel, an angle, or a strip; A handle 74 is also secured to the suspending elements 58, but it is disposed a short distance above foot rest 72. The foot rest 72 and the handle 74 provide the same spacing between the bottoms of the'suspending elements 58 as is provided between the tops of those elements by the pivot brackets 52. Similarly the bars 70 which carry theseat 68- providethe same spacing between the lower ends of the suspending elements 56 as is provided between'the upperends of those suspending elements by the pivot brackets 52. The conjoint action of the pivot brackets 52' and the bars 70, the foot rest 72, and the handle 74 is to hold the spacing between the suspending elements 56 and 58 precisely uniform and to supply considerable rigidity forthe moving parts of the-swing.

The parallelogram formed by the seat 68', the links 60, the links 66, and the portions of suspending elements 56 between bolts or rivets 61 and 71 will shift from a rectangle to a rhomboid whenever the parallelogram formed by the spacers 40, suspending elements 56 and 58, and links 60" and 62 does so. However, since the spacers 40 will always be held horizontal, the links 60 and 62, and the seat 68 will always'be held horizontal. This isdesirable since it avoids unseating of the child using the swing; If desired, a back can' be securedto the seat 68, such back not interfering with operation of the swing.

The elongated braces 76 are pivoted to the upper ends of the legs 10 and 12 by bolts or rivets 771 The bolts or rivets 77 hold the braces 76 in: assembled relation with the legs 10 and 12 whilepermitting'relative movement between those braces and those legs. Elongated braces '78 are pivoted to the legs 14 and 16 by bolts or rivets 79. The bolts or rivets 79 hold the braces 78 in assembled relation with the legs 14- and 16 while permitting relative movement between those braces and those legs. Bolts or rivets 80 are secured in openings intermediate the ends of the braces 76 and 78, and those bolts orrivets cause those braces to act'as x-braces. The lower ends of the braces 76 and 78extendwithi1r and are heldby guides 82 that arepivotally secured to each of thev legs 10, 12, 14 and 16. Stops 84'are secured. to the ends of the braces '76 and 78, and those stops are dimensioned so they cannot pass through the guides 82. The function of the guides 82 is to permit the lower ends. of the braces 76 and 78 to slide and rotate relative to the legs 10,12, 14 and 16, while yet maintaining the braces 76 and 78in assembled relation with the legs 10, 12, 1'4 and 16. While'the'guides 82 are preferred, elongated slots inthe lower ends of thebraces 76- and 78 which telescope over fixed pins onthe legs 10, 12, 14 and' 16 could. be. used. Similarly, pivoted sleeves could be telescopedt over the legs 10, 12,14. and 16 and pivotally secured to the ends of braces 76 and78, suitable stops being affixed to the legs to limit upward movement of those sleeves.

The spreaders 42.are made slightly longer than those portions of spacers 40 which lie betweenspacer 18 and the. pivots 43. This is. desirable because it forces the spacers 40 to move downwardly betweenthe endframes of the swing and'to. assume avirtually vertical position whenever the swing is folded. If the spreaders 42' were the same length as the portions of spacers. 40' which lie between the spacer 18 andthe pivots 43,. the spacers 40 would be inclined to the vertical when the swing is folded, and their lower ends mighthold the legs 14 and 16 awayfrom' the legs 10" and 12.

As shown in Fig. 3, the latch bar 44" is longer than the space between the suspending elements 58 or between the suspending elements 56; consequently, whenever the latch bar 44 is not in latching position it will be in position between the suspending elements 56 and 58 and will limit movement of those elements. This is very good because it keeps a child from swinging when the latch bar 44 is not in fully latched position.

The braces 76 and 78 constitute X-braces which coact with spacers 40 and latch bar 44 to rigidly hold the legs 10 and 12 fixed relative to legs 14 and 16. The braces 76 and 78 are so dimensioned that before the latch bar 44 reaches fully latched position, the stops 84 will engage the pivoted guides 82. This means that as the latch bar 44 moves to fully latched position, it will cause all slack at the various pivots to be taken up, and it will also cause a slight bending of the braces 76 and 78 and a resultant distortion of the X-braces. This taking up of the slack and the distortion of the X-braces provide additional rigidity for the swing. In addition, the bending of the braces 76 and 78 enables those braces to exert forces on spacers 18 and 24 which tend to move those spacers toward each other. Those forces are easily resisted by the spacers 40 and the Spreaders 42 as long as the spacers 18 and 24 and the pivots 43 are on the same straight lines, as they are when the latch bar 44 is in fully latched position. However, when the pivots 43 are below the spacers 18 and 24, as they are whenever the latch bar 44 is not in fully latched position, the forces which the braces 76 and 78 exert on the spacers 76 and 78 will move the latch bar 44 downwardly into position between the suspending elements 56 and 58. This effectively prevents swinging until the swing is in fully extended position.

In folding the swing provided by the present invention, one need only slip the ends of wedges 36 under the edges of the suction cups 34 to break the vacuum. Thereafter, one need only bend latch 44 slightly while pressing downwardly on that latch bar. The slight bending of latch bar 44 frees the projecting portion of the pin 48, thus permitting latch 46 to move downwardly away from spacer 24 and pin 48. As latch 46 moves downwardly, the spacers 40 and the spreaders 42 will rotate relative to each other and relative to the supporting frames, thus pulling the upper ends of those frames toward each other. The movement of the upper ends of the supporting frames toward each other will cause the X-braces to close and force the lower ends of those supporting frames together. The seat 68 can be lifted upwardly to permit upward folding of the links 60 and 62. The various elements of the swing will successively pass through the positions shown in Fig. 4 to the positions shown to the positions shown in the Fig. 5. The bends in the braces 76 and 78 keep the lower ends of those braces from extending outwardly beyond the legs 10, 12, 14 and 16 of the swing when the swing is fully folded. To extend the swing, it is only necessary to urge spacers 18 and 24 apart, the X-braces acting to force the lower portions of the supporting frames apart. Once the spacers 18 and 24 are well apart, the latch bar 44 can be grasped and moved upwardly toward latching position, this movement enabling spacers 40 and spreaders 42 to force the upper ends of the supporting frames fully apart. As the latch bar 44 approaches latching position, the stops 84 on braces 76 and 78 will engage the pivoted guides 82, the final movement of the latch bar 44 taking up slack at the pivots and stressing the braces 76 and 78. Once the latch 46 has telescoped over the pin 48, the swing is firmly latched in extended position.

Where the latch of Fig. 7 is substituted for the latch shown in Figs. 24, the lever 47 will be rotated out of engagement with spacer 24 to permit folding of the swing. As the swing is extended, the lever 47 will first be rotated until it is parallel to latch bar 44, and then it will be rotated until it is normal to and overlies the spacer 24.

No matter which latch is used, the latch will hold the swung against accidental folding.

In using the swing, the child seats himself on the seat 68 and places his feet on the foot rest 72 while grasping the handle 74 with his hands. Simultaneous pulling on handle 74 and pushing on foot rest 72 will cause the parallelogram formed by spacers 40, suspending elements 56 and 58, and links 60 and 62 to distort and form a rhomboid; moving the seat 68 forwardly. Relaxation of those forces will permit the seat to swing back; and alternate application and relaxation of those forces assures pleasant and safe exercise for the child. Swinging can be stopped quickly and safely by simultaneously pushing against handle 74 and foot rest 72.

Whereas several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in the drawing and accompanying description, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a sturdy and rigid swing that can be folded or extended as desired and that includes a supporting frame at each end of said swing, suspending elements that are pivoted thereon for movement relative to said supporting frames, a seat carried and supported by said suspending elements, and means pivotally connecting the seat to the suspending elements, the improvement which comprises a brace having one end thereof pivotally secured to one of said supporting frames and having the other end thereof movably secured to said other supporting frame, a second brace having one end thereof pivotally secured to said other supporting frame and having the other end thereof movably secured to said one supporting frame, a spacing bar pivotally connected to one frame and extending between and spacing said supporting frames apart, and a latch means to releasably hold said spacing bar in position between said supporting frames, whereby accidental folding of said swing is prevented.

2. In a sturdy and rigid swing that can be folded or extended as described and that includes a supporting frame at each end of said swing, suspending elements that are pivoted thereon for movement relative to said supporting frames, a seat carried and supported by said suspending elements, and means pivotally connecting the seat to the suspending elements, the improvement which comprises a brace having one end thereof pivotally secured to one of said supporting frames and having the other end thereof pivotally and slidably secured to said other supporting frame, a second brace having one end thereof pivotally secured to said other supporting frame and having the other end thereof pivotally and slidably secured to said one supporting frame, and a bar that is pivotally secured to one of said supporting frames and is rotatable into and out of the path of said suspending elements, said bar being out of the path of said suspending elements whenever said swing is in extended position but being in the path of said suspending elements whenever said swing is folded to obstruct movement of said suspending elements whenever said swing is folded.

3. In a sturdy and rigid swing that can be folded or extended as desired and that includes a supporting frame at each end of said swing, a pair of suspending elements that are pivoted on one of said supporting frames, a pair of suspending elements that are pivoted on the other of said supporting frames, a brace that has one end thereof pivotally secured to the first said supporting frame and has the other end thereof movably secured to said other supporting frame, a second brace having one end thereof pivotally secured to said other supporting frame and having the other end thereof movably secured to the first said supporting frame, and a seat, the improvement which comprises a folding bar having the ends thereof pivotally connected to one of each of said pairs of suspending elements adjacent the lower ends of those elements, a second folding bar having the ends thereof pivotally connected to the other of each of said pairs of suspending elements adjacent the lower ends of those elements, pivots holding said seat to one of said pairs of suspending elements for rotation relative to said elements, said pivots being spaced above the level of said folding bars, and spacers that are pivotally connected to said seat and to said folding bars, said seat and said folding bars being movable upwardly during folding of said swing.

4. A sturdy and rigid swing as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said folding bars has a stop that limits downward folding of said bars and wherein said spacers hold the front of said seat at the level of the pivots for said seat.

5. In a sturdy and rigid swing that can be folded or extended as desired and that includes a supporting frame at each end of said swing, suspending elements pivotally carried by said frames that oscillate relative to said supporting frames, and a seat pivotally carried by said suspending elements that rotates relative to said suspending elements, the improvement which comprises a brace having one end thereof pivotally secured to one of said supporting frames, a pivoted sliding connector that secures the other end of said brace to the other of said supporting frames, a second brace having one end thereof pivotally connected to said other supporting frame, a second pivoted sliding connector that secures the other end of the first said brace to the said one supporting frame, a pivot that secures the said braces together intermediate the ends thereof, a stiff rod pivoted to the said one supporting frame, a second stiff rod pivoted to said other supporting frame, a second pivot connecting said stiff rods together, said stifi rods being rotatable about said supporting frames and being rotatable about said second pivot to move predetermined portions of said supporting frames toward and away from each other, said braces responding to said rotation of said stiff rods to rotate about said supporting frames and about the first said pivot to move other portions of said supporting frames toward and away from each other, a stop on the first said brace, and a stop on said second brace, said stops coacting with the dimensioning of said braces and said stiff rods to stop relative movement between said braces and said pivoted sliding connectors before said stiff rods have finished moving said predetermined portions of said supporting frames away from each other, whereby said braces are distorted when said stiff rods have finished moving said predetermined portions of said supporting frames away from each other.

6. A folding swing comprising a frame including supports at each end of the swing and suspending elements pivotally secured to said frame for oscillating movement relative thereto and carrying a seat thereon, each of said supports comprising spaced leg members, a pair of braces at each side of the swing extending between angularly related portions of said frame, each brace being fixedly pivoted at its upper end to an upper portion of said frame and extending to a lower portion of one of said supports and attached thereto at its lower end by a connecting means that permits rotation and translation of said brace relative to said lower portion of said support, said braces crossing each other and being pivoted to each other at their point of intersection, stop means on said supports and braces engageable for arresting unfolding movement of said braces relative to said lower portions of said support members and interconnected spreader means connecting said supports at each end of the swing and operable when the stop means are in position to prevent said relative movement between said braces and said lower portions of said supports to force the fixed pivots away from each other to place the upper frame portions and braces under stress to thereby take up play therebetween.

7. A folding swing comprising a frame including supports at each end of the swing and suspending elements pivotally secured to said frame for oscillating movement relative thereto and carrying a seat thereon, each of said supports comprising spaced leg members, a pair of braces at each side of the swing extending between angularly related portions of said frame, each brace being fixedly pivoted at its upper end to an upper portion of said frame and extending to a lower portion of one of said supports and attached thereto at its lower end by a connecting means that permits rotation and translation of said brace relative to said lower portion of said support, said braces crossing each other and being pivoted to each other at their point of intersection, stop means on said supports and braces engageable for arresting unfolding movement of said braces relative to said lower portions of said support members and interconnected spreader means connecting said supports at each end of the swing and operable when the stops are in position to prevent said relative movement between said braces and said lower portions of said supports to force the fixed pivots away from each other to place the upper frame portions and braces under stress to thereby take up play therebetween, said spreader elements comprising stiff rods having their outer ends pivoted to said supports and having their inner ends pivotally connected to each other to form a toggle link lying between said supports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 390,851 Folks Oct. 9, 1888 531,472 Shorey Dec. 25, 1894 630,851 Brass Aug. 15, 1899 1,254,890 Douglass Jan. 29, 1918 1,377,543 Alm May 10, 1921 2,294,223 Castelli Aug. 25, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,861 Great Britain 1902

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