Spinnable swing assembly

• US 6,572,483 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Hoffman
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Hoffman
• Inventors: Hoffman, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US10/040,661
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 472/14, 472/18, 472/29, 472/32, 472/33, 472/34, 472/39, 472/59, 472/118, 472/119, 472/131, 482/29, 482/33, 482/35, 482/36, 482/69
• US Class Current: 472/118
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 9/00 Swings

Abstract

A playswing assembly apparatus comprising a spinning wheel having a central housing with a hub therewithin, and an elongated shaft arranged through the hub. The shaft is attached to a first and a second support arm. The first and second support arms may be adjustably connected to an overhead support to permit swinging of the spinning wheel to a to and fro swinging motion with respect to the overhead support. The hub includes a hand graspable spinning wheel rotatively supported therefrom to permit a simultaneous rotational motion to the player(s) during the to and fro swinging. A lower support may be coupled to the hub to allow further player support and yet further rotation of the player with respect to the spinning wheel and to the overhead support.

Claims

1. A playswing assembly apparatus suspended from an overhead support, said playswing assembly comprising:

a spinning wheel having a central housing with a hub therewithin;

an elongated shaft arranged through said hub, said shaft attached to a first and a second support member, said first and second support members adjustably connected to an overhead support to permit swinging of said spinning wheel in a to and fro swinging motion with respect to said overhead support.

2. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 1, including:

a bearing member arranged between said elongated shaft and said support members to permit said spinning wheel rotational motion therein about said elongated shaft in addition to said to and fro swinging motion.

3. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said spinning wheel comprises a handhold connected to said hub by a plurality of spokes.

4. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said handhold is of generally circular configuration to permit more than one player to swing therefrom.

5. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 3, including a light member arranged in at least one of said spokes, to permit said apparatus to be conveniently played in low light conditions.

6. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 5, including a battery connected to said light member by a circuit to energize said light during low light conditions.

7. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 3, including a sound generator arranged adjacent said hub, to permit said apparatus to be generate sounds when said spinning wheel is rotated about said elongated shaft.

8. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 3, including a lower securement member arranged on a lower end of said elongated shaft in said hub, to permit attachment of a player supporting lower support member thereon.

9. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said lower securement member includes a rotatable coupling to permit said lower support member to rotate with respect to said elongated shaft and/or said handhold.

10. The playswing assembly apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein a bushing is arranged about said elongated shaft in said hub to cushion and align said hub with respect to said shaft.

11. A method of enjoying a playswing assembly apparatus supported from a stationary overhead support, said method comprising:

swinging on a handhold member in a to and fro motion with respect to said overhead support, said handhold member supported under said overhead support by spaced apart flexible links each of which have a lower end which are connected to an elongated shaft arranged axially through a hub portion of said playswing assembly; and

rotating on said handhold member about said elongated shaft in said hub as said handhold member also swings in said limited to and fro direction to permit said enjoying of said playswing by a user thereof.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, including the step of:

arranging a lower player support member from said elongated shaft, wherein said lower player support member is rotatable with respect to both said elongated shaft and to said handhold.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said handhold is rotatably supported around said elongated shaft by a plurality of spokes extending from a hub about said elongated shaft.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of said spokes has a light member therein to permit said playswing assembly to be utilized in low light conditions.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said hub includes a sound maker to make a sound during rotation of said handhold about said elongated shaft.

16. A playswing assembly apparatus comprising:

a spinning wheel having a central housing with a hub therewithin;

an elongated shaft arranged through said hub, said shaft attached to a first and a second support member, said first and second support members being adjustably connected to an overhead support to limit swinging of said spinning wheel to a to and fro swinging motion with respect to said overhead support;

a bearing member arranged between said elongated shaft and said support members to permit said spinning wheel rotational motion therein about said elongated shaft in addition to said to and fro swinging motion, wherein said spinning wheel comprises a handhold connected to said hub by a plurality of spokes, wherein said handhold is of generally circular configuration to permit more than one player to swing therefrom;

a bushing arranged about said elongated shaft in said hub to cushion and align said hub with respect to said shaft;

a light member arranged in at least one of said spokes, to permit said apparatus to be played in low light conditions, and a battery connected to said light member by a circuit to energize said light during low light conditions;

a sound generator arranged adjacent said hub, to permit said apparatus to be generate sounds when said spinning wheel is rotated about said elongated shaft; and

a lower securement member arranged on said elongated shaft to permit attachment of a lower support member thereon;

wherein said lower securement member includes a rotatable coupling to permit said lower support member to rotate with respect to said elongated shaft and/or said handhold.