Swing drive mechanism
First Claim
1. A drive mechanism for a swing suspended by a suspension arm, comprising:
- a motor-driven rotating drive shaft;
a gear wheel coupled to said drive shaft through meshed gears; and
an extension spring joined at one end to said gear wheel and at the other end to said suspension arm, to resiliently lengthen and shorten as said suspension arm swings.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A swinging apparatus such as a child'"'"'s swinging play seat is driven by an extension spring linked between the suspension arm of the swing and a gear wheel which is coupled to a motor-driven drive shaft through meshed gears. In preferred arrangements, two gear wheels are used, arranged in coplanar configuration for reciprocal rotation in opposite directions, each driving an extension spring in alternating manner to swing the apparatus back and forth. In certain embodiments, pivot links are included to permit the extension springs to float when either the motorized drive shaft or the swing itself are stopped, and in certain further embodiments, guide pins are included to hold the springs in a bowed configuration. The mechanism is characterized by the lack of a tendency to jolt, and by the ability to start up and shut down smoothly at any point in the rotation cycle of the drive mechanism.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A drive mechanism for a swing suspended by a suspension arm, comprising:
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a motor-driven rotating drive shaft; a gear wheel coupled to said drive shaft through meshed gears; and an extension spring joined at one end to said gear wheel and at the other end to said suspension arm, to resiliently lengthen and shorten as said suspension arm swings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A drive mechanism for a swing suspended by a suspension arm having a T-shaped top end, comprising:
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a motor-driven rotating horizontal drive shaft with a spur gear affixed thereto; a vertical gear wheel coupled to said spur gear through meshed gears; an extension spring joined at one end to said vertical gear wheel, and at the other end to one side arm of said T-shaped top end of said suspension arm through a pivotal linking member; and a stop on said suspension arm preventing said linking member from pivoting into alignment with said extension spring.
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11. A drive mechanism for a swing suspended by a suspension arm, comprising:
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a motor-driven rotating drive shaft; a first gear wheel coupled to said drive shaft through a first set of meshed gears; a second gear wheel coupled to said drive shaft through a second set of meshed gears; a first extension spring joined at one end to said first gear wheel and at the other end to said suspension arm; and a second extension spring joined at one end to said second gear wheel and at the other end to said suspension arm. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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16. A drive mechanism for a swing suspended by a suspension arm having a T-shaped top end defined by first and second side arms, comprising:
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a motor-driven vertical rotating drive shaft with a worm gear affixed thereto; a first gear wheel meshed with said worm gear; a second gear wheel meshed with said worm gear; a first extension spring joined at one end to said first gear wheel and at the other end to said first side arm; a second extension spring joined at one end to said second gear wheel and at the other end to said second side arm; and means for maintaining said first and second extension springs each in a bowed configuration.
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23. A drive mechanism for a swing suspended by a suspension arm, comprising:
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a motor-driven horizontal rotating drive shaft having a spur gear affixed thereto; a first gear wheel in mesh with said spur gear through a reduction gear; a second gear wheel in mesh with said first gear wheel directly; a first extension spring joined at one end to said first gear wheel, and at the other end to said suspension arm through a first pivotal linking member; a second extension spring joined at one end to said second gear wheel, and at the other end to said suspension arm through a second pivotal linking member; and first and second stops preventing said first and second linking members respectively from pivoting into alignment with said first and second extension springs respectively.
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Specification