Automatic pendulum-drive system

• US 5,833,545 A
• Filed: 08/28/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cosco Management Incorporated (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cosco Incorporated (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pinch, Daniel R., Turner, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/704,277
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 472/118, 472/119, 472/125, 297/273, 297/274, 297/275, 297/276, 297/277, 297/281, 297/260, 5/108, 5/109
• US Class Current: 472/119
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/105 pivotally mounted in a frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/057 driven by electric motors

Abstract

A swing includes a swing motor and an adaptive control system for periodically actuating the swing motor to sustain swinging pendulum movement of a seat along a swing arc in a manner that is compatible with the natural frequency (and period) of the seat. The swing further includes a support stand and a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to carry the seat. The adaptive control system includes an impulse mechanism that applies a torque to the swing seat frame and that is actuated at a variable point along the swing arc between first and second extreme positions and without regard to the position of the swing seat frame relative to the support stand.

Claims

1. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing freely back and forth along a swing arc about an axis of rotation so that the swing seat frame is displaced angularly in a first swing direction to a first extreme position and then displaced angularly in a second swing direction to a second extreme position during each cycle of swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc,

impulse means for applying a torque to the swing seat frame for a predetermined time interval so that the swing seat frame is subjected to an angular impulse as it swings along the swing arc to sustain swinging movement of the swing frame back and forth along the swing arc, and

means for actuating the impulse means at an actuation position of the swing seat frame located along the swing arc and between the first and second extreme positions that is not fixed relative to the support stand following free-swinging movement of the swing seat frame in the second swing direction from the first extreme position toward the second extreme position and to the actuation position so that said torque is applied to the swing seat frame for said predetermined time interval during swinging movement of the swing seat frame from the actuation position toward the second extreme position.

2. The swing of claim 1, wherein the actuating means includes means for establishing the actuation position at a variable point along the swing arc defined by sweeping movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the first extreme position through a predetermined angle along the swing arc to said variable point so that the actuation position is located along the swing arc in a fixed angular relation to the first extreme position to cause the impulse means to be actuated in response to certain angular displacement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position without regard to the position of the swing seat frame relative to the support stand.

3. The swing of claim 2, wherein the actuating means further includes means coupled to the establishing means for communicating an actuation signal to the impulse means to actuate the impulse means in response to angular movement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position through the predetermined angle to the actuation position.

4. The swing of claim 3, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and a swing seat coupled to the drive shaft and the establishing means includes an actuation signal generator and an impulse-start switch having a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip ring and arranged to move to engage the actuation signal generator to generate the actuation signal in response to movement of the slip ring with the rotating drive shaft during movement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position through the predetermined angle to the actuation position.

5. The swing of claim 2, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and a swing seat coupled to the drive shaft and the establishing means includes an impulse-start switch having a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip arm and arranged to move therewith.

6. The swing of claim 5, wherein the impulse means includes an electric swing motor and a torque-transmission linkage coupled to the electric swing motor and to the drive shaft, the establishing means includes an electrical circuit coupled to the electric swing motor and to the impulse-start switch, the electrical circuit includes an impulse-start contact arranged to engage the switch arm in response to movement of the slip ring with the rotating drive shaft during angular movement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position through the predetermined angle to the actuation position.

7. The swing of claim 5, wherein the impulse means includes a housing containing the actuating means, a drive lever coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith and positioned to lie inside the housing in close proximity to the slip ring and a linkage configured to rotate the drive lever about the axis of rotation in response to movement of the slip ring with the rotating drive shaft during movement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position to the actuation position.

8. The swing of claim 1, wherein the impulse means includes an electric swing motor coupled to the actuating means and configured to have a motor-on condition and a motor-off condition, a motor shaft moved by the electric swing motor, a torque-transmission linkage coupled to the motor shaft and to the swing seat frame and configured to apply said torque to the swing seat frame about the axis of rotation in response to a signal provided by the actuating means switching the electric swing motor to the motor-on condition.

9. The swing of claim 8, wherein the impulse means further includes a timer circuit coupled to the electric swing motor and to the actuating means and the timer circuit includes means for switching the electric swing motor to the motor-on condition upon receipt of the signal from the actuating means and for automatically switching the electric swing motor from the motor-on condition to the motor-off condition after elapse of the predetermined time interval so that application of the torque to the swing seat frame by the torque-transmission linkage ceases.

10. The swing of claim 9, wherein the switching means includes means for establishing the actuation position at a variable point along the swing arc defined by sweeping movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the first extreme position through a predetermined angle to said variable point so that the actuation position is located along the swing arc in a fixed angular relation to the first extreme position and means for causing the electric motor to be switched to the motor-on condition in response to predetermined angular displacement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position to the actuation position without regard to the position of the swing seat frame relative to the support stand.

11. The swing of claim 8, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and a swing seat coupled to the drive shaft and the torque-transmission linkage includes a drive lever coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith and a drive line coupled to the motor shaft and the drive lever.

12. The child swing of claim 11, wherein the torque-transmission linkage further includes a constant-force spring and the drive line includes a first end coupled to the drive lever, a second end coupled to the constant force spring, and a middle portion lying between the first and second ends and engaging the motor shaft.

13. The swing of claim 1, wherein the impulse means includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and coupled to the swing seat frame and the actuating means includes an impulse-start switch coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith.

14. The swing of claim 13, wherein the impulse means includes an electric swing motor having a motor-on condition and a motor-off condition, an impulse-start contact electrically coupled to the electric swing motor and positioned to engage the impulse-start switch during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the first extreme position to the second extreme position after the swing seat frame has swung from the first extreme position through a predetermined angle to the actuation position without regard to the position of the swing seat frame relative to the support stand and means for electrically coupling the impulse-start switch to the electric swing motor so that the electric swing motor is switched to the motor-on condition to generate the torque in response to engagement of the impulse-start switch and the impulse-start contact.

15. The swing of claim 14, wherein the impulse means further includes timer means for allowing the electric swing motor to remain in the motor-on condition for the predetermined time interval during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc toward the second extreme position and then switching the electric swing motor to the motor-off condition before the swing seat frame reaches the second extreme position so that the swing seat frame swings freely to the second extreme position.

16. The swing of claim 15, wherein the timer means includes a resettable clock for defining the predetermined time interval, a clock-reset contact electrically coupled to the resettable clock and positioned to engage the impulse-start switch during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the second extreme position to the first extreme position, and means for resetting the clock during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the second extreme position toward the first extreme position in response to engagement of the impulse-start switch and the clock-reset contact so that the timer means is set to allow the electric swing motor to remain in the motor-on condition for the predetermined time interval upon subsequent engagement of the impulse-start switch and the impulse-start contact during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc.

17. The swing of claim 13, wherein the impulse-start switch includes a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip ring and the impulse means includes an impulse-start contact positioned to engage the switch arm during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the first extreme position to the second extreme position after the swing seat frame has swung from the first extreme position through a predetermined angle to the actuation position without regard to the position of the swing seat frame relative to the support stand, a swing motor configured to generate the torque, a torque-transmission linkage coupled to the swing motor and to the swing seat frame to apply said torque to the swing seat frame about the axis of rotation, and means for instructing the swing motor to generate said torque to operate the torque-transmission linkage to apply said torque to the swing seat frame in response to engagement of the switch arm and the impulse-start contact.

18. The swing of claim 1, wherein the impulse means includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and coupled to the swing seat frame and an electric swing motor and the actuating means includes an impulse-start switch coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith and signal means for delivering an electrical actuation signal to actuate the electric swing motor upon rotational movement of the drive shaft and the impulse-start switch coupled to the drive shaft through a predetermined angle of rotation.

19. The swing of claim 18, wherein the impulse-start switch includes a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip ring and arranged to pivot about the axis of rotation during frictional engagement of the slip ring and the drive shaft.

20. The swing of claim 18, wherein the signal means includes an electrical circuit coupled to the electric swing motor, a power supply coupled to the electrical circuit, and an impulse-start contact coupled to the electrical circuit and the impulse-start switch includes a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip ring and coupled to the electrical circuit and movable to engage the impulse-start contact during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the first extreme position through said predetermined angle of rotation to the actuation position to generate the electrical actuation signal and cause the electrical actuation signal to be delivered through the electrical circuit to the electric swing motor.

21. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a timer mechanism,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing freely back and forth along a swing arc about an axis of rotation in a first swing direction and an opposite second swing direction, and

means coupled to the swing seat frame for applying a torque to the swing seat frame for a predetermined time interval set by the timer mechanism so that the swing seat frame is subjected to an angular impulse as it swings along the swing arc to sustain swinging movement of the swing seat frame back and forth along the swing arc.

22. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing freely back and forth along a swing arc about an axis of rotation in a first swing direction and an opposite second swing direction, and

impulse means coupled to the swing seat frame for applying a torque to the swing seat frame for a predetermined time interval so that the swing seat frame is subjected to an angular impulse as it swings along the swing arc to sustain swinging movement of the swing seat frame back and forth along the swing arc,

the impulse means including an impulse-start switch coupled to the swing seat frame for movement therewith, an electric swing motor having a motor-on condition and a motor-off condition, an impulse-start contact electrically coupled to the electric swing motor and positioned to engage the impulse-start switch during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc, and means for electrically coupling the impulse-start switch to the electric swing motor so that the electric swing motor is switched to the motor-on condition to generate the torque in response to engagement of the impulse-start switch and the impulse-start contact.

23. The swing of claim 22, wherein the impulse means further includes timer means for allowing the electric swing motor to remain in the motor-on condition for the predetermined time interval during swinging movement of the swing seat frame in a first direction along the swing arc.

24. The swing of claim 23, wherein the timer means includes a resettable clock for defining the predetermined time interval, a clock-reset contact electrically coupled to the resettable clock and positioned to engage the impulse-start switch during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and means for resetting the clock during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc in the second direction in response to engagement of the impulse-start switch and the clock-reset contact so that the timer means is set to allow the electric swing motor to remain in the motor-on condition for the predetermined time interval upon subsequent engagement of the impulse-start switch and the impulse-start contact during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc in the first direction.

25. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing freely back and forth along a swing arc about an axis of rotation in a first swing direction and an opposite second swing direction, and

impulse means coupled to the swing seat frame for applying a torque to the swing seat frame for a predetermined time interval so that the swing seat frame is subjected to an angular impulse as it swings along the swing arc to sustain swinging movement of the swing seat frame back and forth along the swing arc, the impulse means including an electric swing motor having a motor shaft, a torque-transmission linkage coupled to the motor shaft of the electric swing motor and to the swing seat frame and configured to apply a torque to the swing seat frame about the axis of rotation in response to energization of the electric swing motor to move the motor shaft, and a timer circuit configured to energize the electric swing motor periodically for the predetermined time interval to generate said angular impulse.

26. The child swing of claim 25, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and the torque-transmission linkage includes a drive lever coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith and a drive line coupled to the motor shaft and the drive lever.

27. The child swing of claim 26, wherein the torque-transmission linkage further includes a constant-force spring and the drive line includes a first end coupled to the drive lever, a second end coupled to the constant-force spring, and a middle portion lying between the first and second ends and engaging the motor shaft.

28. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing freely back and forth along a swing arc about an axis of rotation in a first swing direction to a first extreme position and an opposite swing direction to a second extreme position during each cycle of swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc,

torque drive means for applying a torque to the swing seat frame as it swings along the swing arc, the torque drive means including an electric swing motor startable to generate the torque, and

timer means for starting and then stopping the electric swing motor only once during each swing cycle to cause the swing motor to generate the torque only for a predetermined time interval during movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc between the first and second extreme positions, which predetermined time interval is less than the interval of time required for the swing seat to swing in one of the swing directions between the first and second extreme positions during swinging movement of the swing seat frame in one of the first and second swing directions along the swing arc.

29. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing freely back and forth along a swing arc about an axis of rotation in a first swing direction to a first extreme position and an opposite swing direction to a second extreme position during each cycle of swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc,

torque drive means for applying a torque to the swing seat frame as it swings along the swing arc, the torque drive means including a swing motor startable to generate the torque, and

motor control means for periodically supplying power to and then stopping the supply of power to the swing motor to cause the swing motor to generate the torque only for a predetermined time interval, which predetermined time interval is less than the interval of time required for the swing seat to swing in one of the swing directions between the first and second extreme positions during swinging movement of the swing seat frame in one of the first and second swing directions along the swing arc.

30. The swing of claim 29, wherein the motor control means includes means for establishing an actuation position of the swing seat frame at a variable point along the swing arc defined by sweeping movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the first extreme position through a predetermined angle to said variable point so that the actuation position is located along the swing arc in a fixed angular relation to the first extreme position and motor-start means for causing the swing motor to be started in response to predetermined angular displacement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position to the actuation position without regard to the position of the swing seat frame relative to the support stand.

31. The swing of claim 30, wherein the motor control means further includes motor stop means for stopping the supply of power to the swing motor at the end of the predetermined time interval and during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc between the actuation position and the second extreme position.

32. The swing of claim 29, wherein the swing motor includes an electric drive unit coupled to the timer circuit means and a motor shaft moved by the electric drive unit.

33. The swing of claim 32, wherein the torque drive means further includes a torque-transmission linkage coupled to the motor shaft and to the swing seat frame and configured to apply said torque to the swing seat frame only during the predetermined time interval.

34. The swing of claim 33, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and a swing seat coupled to the drive shaft and the torque-transmission linkage includes a drive lever coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith and a drive line coupled to the motor shaft and the drive lever.

35. The swing of claim 32, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported to the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and a swing seat coupled to the drive shaft and the motor control means includes circuit means for providing electric current to the electric drive unit and a motor-start switch coupled to the drive shaft and the circuit means.

36. The swing of claim 35, wherein the circuit means includes a timer having a clock set to define the predetermined time interval, a motor-start contact coupled to the clock, a timer-reset contact coupled to the clock, and a power supply, the motor-start switch includes a slip ring mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith and a switch arm having one end appended to the slip ring and a free end positioned to move between and engage the timer-reset contact and the motor-start contact included in the circuit means during rotation of the drive shaft, and the circuit means further includes means for using the clock to couple the power supply to the electric drive unit for the predetermined time interval in response to engagement of the switch arm and the motor-start contact.

37. The swing of claim 36, wherein the circuit means further includes means for resetting the clock in response to engagement of the switch arm and the timer-reset contact.

38. The swing of claim 29, wherein the motor control means includes a clock set to define the predetermined time interval, switch means for starting the swing motor and the clock upon movement of the swing seat frame to a motor-start position along the swing arc between the first and second extreme positions so that the swing seat frame is subjected to an angular impulse as it swings along the swing arc following free-swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc between the first extreme position and the motor-start position to sustain swinging movement of the swing back and forth along the swing arc, and means for using the clock to stop the swing motor at the end of the predetermined time interval so that the swing seat frame is allowed to swing freely from the position occupied by the swing seat frame when the swing motor is stopped by the using means at least until the swing seat frame reaches the second extreme position.

39. The swing of claim 38, wherein the swing motor includes an electric drive unit and a motor shaft moved by the electric drive unit and the switch means includes a motor-start switch coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith and means for providing electricity to the electric drive unit to start the swing motor and move the motor shaft upon rotational movement of the drive shaft and the motor-start switch coupled thereto through a predetermined angle of rotation between the first extreme position and the motor-start position.

40. The swing of claim 39, wherein said predetermined angle of rotation is about 5°

.

41. The swing of claim 39, wherein the motor-start switch includes a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip ring and movable to intermittently engage and disengage the using means during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc.

42. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing freely back and forth along a swing arc about an axis of rotation in a first swing direction and an opposite second swing direction,

an electric swing motor having a motor shaft and having a motor-on condition and a motor-off condition,

an impulse-start contact mounted in a fixed position on the support stand and electrically coupled to the electric swing motor,

an impulse-start switch coupled to the swing seat frame for movement therewith and positioned to engage the impulse-start contact during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc,

a motor circuit electrically coupling the impulse-start switch to the electric swing motor so that the electric swing motor is switched to the motor-on condition to rotate the motor shaft to generate a torque about the axis of rotation in response to engagement of the impulse-start switch and the impulse-start contact,

a torque-transmission linkage coupled to the motor shaft of the electric swing motor and to the swing seat frame and configured to apply the torque to the swing seat frame about the axis of rotation in response to switching of the electric swing motor to the motor-on condition, and

a timer circuit coupled to the motor circuit and configured to allow the electric swing motor to remain in the motor-on condition for a predetermined time interval during swinging movement of the swing seat frame in a first direction along the swing arc to move the motor shaft so that the swing seat frame is subjected to an angular impulse as it swings along the swing arc in the first direction to sustain swinging movement of the swing seat frame back and forth along the swing arc.

43. The swing of claim 42, wherein the timer circuit includes a resettable clock for defining the predetermined time interval.

44. The swing of claim 43, wherein the timer circuit further includes a clock-reset contact electrically coupled to the resettable clock and positioned to engage the impulse-start switch during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc in a second direction opposite to the first direction and a reset mechanism resetting the clock during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc in the second direction in response to engagement of the impulse-start switch and the clock-reset contact so that the timer means is set to allow the electric swing motor to remain in the motor-on condition for the predetermined time interval upon subsequent engagement of the impulse-start switch and the impulse-start contact during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc in the first direction.

45. The swing of claim 44, wherein the clock-reset contact is mounted in a fixed position in spaced-apart relation to the impulse-start contact.

46. The swing of claim 44, wherein the clock-reset contact is mounted in a fixed position on the support stand.

47. The child swing of claim 42, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and the torque-transmission linkage includes a drive lever coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith and a drive line coupled to the motor shaft and the drive lever.

48. The child swing of claim 47, wherein the torque-transmission linkage further includes a constant-force spring and the drive line includes a first end coupled to the drive lever, a second end coupled to the constant-force spring, and a middle portion lying between the first and second ends and engaging the motor shaft.

49. The swing of claim 42, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and a swing seat coupled to the drive shaft, the swing seat frame is arranged on the support stand to swing freely back and forth along the swing arc about the axis of rotation so that the swing seat frame is displaced angularly in the first swing direction to a first extreme position and then displaced angularly in the second swing direction to a second extreme position during each cycle of swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc, the impulse-start switch has a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip ring and arranged to move to engage the impulse-start contact to generate an actuation signal in response to movement of the slip ring with the rotating drive shaft following free-swinging movement of the swing seat frame in the second swing direction from the first extreme position toward the second extreme position and to an actuation position located along the swing arc and between the first and second extreme positions that is not fixed relative to the support stand so that said torque is applied to the swing seat frame for said predetermined time interval during swinging movement of the swing seat frame from the actuation position toward the second extreme position.

50. The swing of claim 49, wherein the impulse-start switch is positioned to establish the actuation position at a variable point along the swing arc defined by sweeping movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the first extreme position through a predetermined angle to said variable point so that the actuation position is located along the swing arc in a fixed angular relation to the first extreme position and to cause the electric motor to be switched to the motor-on condition in response to predetermined angular displacement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position to the actuation position without regard to the position of the swing seat frame relative to the support stand.

51. The swing of claim 42, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and a swing seat coupled to the drive shaft and the impulse-start switch includes a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip arm and arranged to move therewith.

52. The swing of claim 51, wherein the impulse-start contact is arranged to engage the switch arm in response to movement of the slip ring with the rotating drive shaft during angular movement of the swing seat frame from the first extreme position through the predetermined angle to the actuation position.

53. The swing of claim 42, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation and a swing seat coupled to the drive shaft and the torque-transmission linkage includes a drive lever coupled to the drive shaft to rotate therewith and a drive line coupled to the motor shaft and the drive lever.

54. The child swing of claim 53, wherein the torque-transmission linkage further includes a constant-force spring and the drive line includes a first end coupled to the drive lever, a second end coupled to the constant force spring, and a middle portion lying between the first and second ends and engaging the motor shaft.

55. The swing of claim 42, wherein the swing seat frame includes a drive shaft supported on the support stand for rotation about the axis of rotation, the start switch includes a slip ring configured to wrap around the drive shaft and establish a slippable friction fit therewith and a switch arm appended to the slip ring, and the impulse-start contact is positioned to engage the switch arm during swinging movement of the swing seat frame along the swing arc from the first extreme position to the second extreme position after the swing seat frame has swung from the first extreme position through a predetermined angle to an actuation position without regard to the position of the swing seat frame relative to the support stand.

56. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing along a swing arc about an axis of rotation between spaced-apart first and second extreme positions, and

a mechanism coupled to the swing seat frame, the mechanism including a torque-producing system and first and second contacts, the swing seat frame being configured to link to the first contact in one of the first and second extreme positions and link to the second contact when the swing seat frame is spaced apart from the first and second extreme positions, the torque-producing system initiating application of a swing force to the swing seat frame when the swing seat frame links to the second contact.

57. A swing comprising

a support stand,

a swing seat frame mounted on the support stand to swing along a swing arc about an axis of rotation between spaced-apart first and second extreme positions, and

a mechanism coupled to the swing seat frame, the mechanism including a torque-producing system and an actuator system, the actuator system activating the torque-producing system to initiate application of a swing force to the swing seat frame when the swing seat frame is spaced apart from the first and second extreme positions.