Foldable swing having rotatable handle

• US 20040102252A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Longenecker, Michael L., Stauffer, Dennis R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,896,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/118
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/105 pivotally mounted in a frame

Abstract

A child swing includes a swing frame and a swing handle rotationally coupled to the swing frame such that the swing handle may rotate about a handle rotational axis between at least two positions. The swing may further include a swing seat and at least one hanger arm rotationally coupled to the swing frame and supporting the swing seat. The at least two positions may include a lift position wherein a central portion of the swing handle is arranged above the rotational axis, an open access position wherein a central portion of the swing handle is arranged rearward of the rotational axis, an entertain position wherein a central portion of the swing handle is arranged forward of the rotational axis, and a storage position wherein a central portion of the swing handle is arranged forward and below the rotational axis.

Claims

1. A swing comprising:

a swing frame; and

a swing handle rotationally coupled to the swing frame such that the swing handle may rotate about a handle rotational axis between at least two positions.

2. The swing of claim 1, further comprising:

a swing seat; and

at least one hanger arm rotationally coupled to the swing frame and supporting the swing seat.

3. The swing of claim 1, wherein the at least two positions include a lift position wherein a central portion of the swing handle is arranged above the rotational axis.

4. The swing of claim 3, wherein the swing handle is locked to prevent rotation of the swing handle relative to the swing frame.

5. The swing of claim 1, wherein the at least two positions include an open access position wherein a central portion of the swing handle is arranged rearward of the rotational axis.

6. The swing of claim 5, wherein the swing handle is stopped from any further rearward rotation of the swing handle relative to the swing frame.

7. The swing of claim 1, wherein the at least two positions include an entertain position wherein a central portion of the swing handle is arranged forward of the rotational axis.

8. The swing of claim 7, wherein a detent mechanism frictionally resists rotational motion by the swing handle in a forward or rearward direction relative to the swing frame.

9. The swing of claim 1, wherein the at least two positions include a storage position wherein a central portion of the swing handle is arranged forward and below the rotational axis.

10. The swing of claim 9, wherein the swing handle is nested between a seat back and seat bottom of the swing when the seat is folded.

11. The swing of claim 1, further comprising:

a handle support structure supported by the swing frame, and wherein the swing handle comprises a handle portion and a support interface portion, the support interface portion attached to the handle support structure.

12. The swing of claim 11, wherein the handle portion comprises at least one electronic device and electrical wiring extending from the at least one electronic device to the support interface portion.

13. The swing of claim 12, wherein the at least one electronic device comprises at least one of a light producing device and a sound producing device.

14. The swing of claim 12, wherein the support interface portion and the handle support structure include at least one moving contact assembly to provide electrical contact between the handle support structure and the support interface portion, and wherein the electrical wiring electrically contacts the at least one moving contact assembly.

15. The swing of claim 14, wherein the moving contact assembly is configured to maintain electrical contact over a rotational angle range as the swing handle rotates relative to the handle support structure.

16. The swing of claim 15, wherein the rotational angle range corresponds to the angular range about the entertain position of the swing handle.

17. The swing of claim 12, further comprising:

a housing supported by the frame, the housing containing a power supply, wherein the electrical wiring electrically connects the at least one electronic device to the power supply through the support interface portion.

18. The swing of claim 1, wherein the swing frame comprises a handle support structure, and wherein the swing handle is rotationally coupled to the frame at the handle support structure.

19. The swing of claim 18, wherein the handle support structure includes a snap finger and the swing handle includes a lip, such that, when the swing handle is slid onto the handle support structure, the snap finger engages the lip to prevent the swing handle from being slid off the handle support structure.

20. The swing of claim 18, wherein one of the swing handle and the handle support structure includes a protrusion, and the other of the swing handle and the handle support structure includes a recess matched to the protrusion such that, when the protrusion is within the recess, the swing handle is locked to prevent rotation relative to the handle support structure.

21. The swing of claim 18, wherein one of the swing handle and the handle support structure includes a detent, and the other of the swing handle and the handle support structure includes a protrusion arranged such that, when the swing handle is rotated in a first direction relative to the handle support structure and the detent and the protrusion meet, the detent frictionally resists rotational motion by the swing handle in the first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction.

22. The swing of claim 18, wherein the swing handle comprises a handle stop and the handle support structure comprises a support stop arranged such that, when the handle is rotated in a first direction relative to the handle support structure and the handle stop and support stop meet, further rotational motion of the swing handle relative to the handle support structure is prevented.

23. The swing of claim 21, wherein the swing handle comprises a handle stop and the handle support structure comprises a support stop arranged such that, when the handle is rotated in a first direction relative to the handle support structure and the handle stop and support stop meet, further rotational motion of the swing handle relative to the handle support structure is prevented.

24. The swing of claim 23, wherein the handle support structure includes one rib extending radially from the handle rotational axis and another rib extending circumferentially relative to the handle rotational axis, and wherein the protrusion comprises the rib extending circumferentially.

25. The swing of claim 18, wherein the swing handle comprises a handle portion and a support interface portion, the support interface portion attached to the handle support structure.

26. The swing of claim 25, wherein the support interface portion includes an outer peripheral wall.

27. The swing of claim 26, wherein the handle portion includes an interior cavity, and the outer peripheral wall includes a slot exposing the interior cavity.

28. The swing of claim 27, wherein the handle portion comprises at least one electronic device and electrical wiring extending from the at least one electronic device through the slot.

29. The swing of claim 28, wherein the at least one electronic device comprises at least one of a light producing device and a sound producing device.

30. The swing of claim 25, wherein the handle portion comprises at least one electronic device and electrical wiring extending from the at least one electronic device to the support interface portion.

31. The swing of claim 30, wherein the at least one electronic device comprises at least one of a light producing device and a sound producing device.

32. The swing of claim 30, wherein the support interface portion and the handle support structure include at least one moving contact assembly to provide electrical contact between the handle support structure and the support interface portion, and wherein the electrical wiring electrically contacts the at least one moving contact assembly.

33. The swing of claim 32, wherein the moving contact assembly maintains electrical contact over a rotational angle range as the swing handle rotates relative to the handle support structure.

34. The swing of claim 33, wherein the rotational angle range corresponds to the angular range about the entertain position of the swing handle.

35. The swing of claim 32, wherein the at least one moving contact assembly comprises a generally arc shaped contact on the handle support structure, and a spring contact on the support interface portion, and wherein the spring contact is adapted to electrically contact the generally arc shaped contact as the swing handle rotates relative to the handle support structure.

36. The swing of claim 35, wherein the support interface portion comprises at least one contact slot, the at least one spring contact extending to the generally arc shaped contact through the at least one contact slot.

37. The swing of claim 35, wherein the generally arc shaped contact comprises one of a printed circuit board and conductive ink.

38. The swing of claim 37, wherein the generally arc shaped contact comprises a printed circuit board, the handle support structure comprises a board mounting slot, and the printed circuit board is fixedly attached to the handle support structure via the board mounting slot.

39. The swing of claim 35, wherein the at least one spring contact comprises at least one of a formed wire, sheet metal stamping, conductive plastic, and graphite.

40. The swing of claim 35, wherein the support interface portion comprises a snap, and the spring contact is attached to the support interface portion via the snap.

41. The swing of claim 1, wherein the frame includes first and second front legs, first and second rear legs, and first and second housings, wherein the first and second rear legs are pivotally connected to the first and second housings, respectively

42. A child swing according to claim 41, wherein the frame further includes a rear leg fold mechanism that pivotally connects the first and second rear legs to the first and second housings, respectively.

43. A child swing according to claim 42, wherein the rear leg fold mechanisms each include a leg socket member to which the respective rear leg is mounted, a release lever, and a locking pin connected to the release lever.

44. A child swing according to claim 43, wherein the first and second housings each include a slot for receiving the respective locking pin, the slot including a lock area, a folded detent area, and a travel area therebetween.