Baby swing car seat system
A new swing accessory for existing baby car seats comprising; A cord assembly, wherein said cord assembly securely attaches to and supports a baby car seat and said cord assembly securely installs to an existing overhead structure to establish a new and novel baby car seat swing system and the main cord length of said cord assembly is optionally integrated with one or more retractable reels for quick height adjustment of said swing system and for containment of said main cord length when not in use. Said swing accessory may further comprise single or multiple integrated sound chips and interactive ornamental attachments having particular appeal to babies.
This non-provisional application is claiming benefit from prior original provisional application No. 61/116,006 filed on Nov. 19, 2008.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe new invention pertains to baby swings, baby swing accessories and swing systems particularly related to; baby car seats, reels for adjusting swing height and simple swing hangers.
Babies especially enjoy the motion of a swing. Traditional Baby swings are well known commercially available products that are commonly offered in two main forms; 1) Baby swings for attachment to swing sets, and 2) Baby swings with their own support frame. In the current art, baby swings for attachment to swing sets have many of the same features as a traditional playground swing has, however the baby swing seating area is generally formed or structured to assist in supporting and preventing the baby from falling out of the seat. Some patents that teach the typical baby swing seating configurations are; U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,512 to Hobson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,099 to Marra et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,934 to Miller and U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,736 to Brown. In these patents, their designated seat configuration is a requirement of the invention in order to establish the baby swing. Also in the current art, there are many popular baby swings having independent support frames with designated seating configurations. The swing is limited to a short height and a short swinging arc. Some patent examples of baby swings having their own support structures are; U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,994 to Clarke and U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,996 to Dillner et al. Although baby swings are known to be available in many shapes and forms, none of the previous mentioned patents teach the use of a baby car seat to establish the seating portion of the swing, each requires a custom seating portion.
Baby car seats are well known commercially available products used to safely position and support a baby in a vehicle during transportation. The car seat attaches to the vehicle's safety restraint system and it also has an independent harness restraint system for the baby. Baby car seats are made for two different age groups, infants and toddlers. Baby car seats made for infants under 12 months old are currently available in the market equipped with; a base portion that attaches to the vehicle's safety restraint system and a detachable car seat carrier portion. The detachable car seat carrier incorporates a pivotally adjustable handle that locks into positions to easily carry the car seat and baby. Baby car seats for toddlers are larger and formed to fit the vehicle seat, they are less portable and usually stay attached in the vehicle. Baby car seat dimensions and general geometry are essentially the same for the various model types currently available in the market. Many governments, including the United States, have mandatory laws requiring that all children must be seated in an appropriately rated car seat for transportation in an automobile. Laws also state that the owner cannot buy or sell a used car seat. During the growth of a child, the child's caregiver may own several different car seats having one primary functional use; most car seats are given away to family or friends or discarded.
There are known swing accessories that attach to a baby car seat. One swing product is currently offered under the trade name “SnugGlider” and consists of a small portable frame having a rigid mounting receptacle intended for use with only one particular car carrier model type. The rigid car carrier mounting receptacle pivots in the frame to create a short swing arc. There are also patents that describe the use of a car seat for a swing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,073 to Weathersby teaches an infant car seat carrier apparatus. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,073 patent teaches a base assembly much like the more traditional swings described above that requires their own support frame. The method of attachment of the car seat to the apparatus is by a rigid mount. The short swing arc center is positioned below the car seat, not from a point above the car seat, as is traditionally done. U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,205 to Bowman, describes an improved baby car carrier device having an integral swinging mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,205 does not teach the use of existing car seats to create a swing, however it teaches a new type of car seat incorporating an integral swing mechanism that is stored in the handle portion. In all of the known existing swing accessories the car seat attaches to an integrated frame or base.
Slings are well known industrial products used for lifting or hanging heavy loads. Standard slings are available in different forms including a continuous closed loop. Standard sling materials include load rated woven strapping, chain, wire rope and ropes. Due to the closed loop geometry the sling can drape over an open object and the opposite end can thread through the draped loop end. When pulled tightly the sling rigidly secures itself to the bar with out the use of any hardware. The standard industrial sling is primarily used for supporting heavy loads and is not recognized for use with baby swings.
Many existing structures are suitable for supporting the weight of a baby swing. Some have open beams such as; a swing set crossbeam or a sturdy tree branch. Other existing structures that are suitable for supporting the weight of a baby swing have covered structural beams such as; structural features on buildings including, (floor joists covered by flooring, doorway headers covered by door casings, deck joists covered by decking, archways and ceilings covered by sheathing such as sheetrock as well as other structural support beams). The use of appropriate hardware is required to properly attach to the closed beam structures. Installation of common hardware normally requires appropriate tools such as wrenches or screw drivers.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel swing accessory for use with existing baby car seats and existing overhead structures, establishing a new baby swing system. The baby swing system easily attaches to existing car seats and preferably infant baby car seat carriers where multiple methods of attachment can facilitate varying incline positions for the baby. The swing system safely and easily installs onto existing open overhead beam structures without the use of hardware, this is accomplished by knotting the sling's attachment end with a clove. Further, the new system exists in simple fixed length form and also a preferred variation having adjustable length to accommodate height variations of existing overhead beam structures and desired swing height. One or more reels are used to adjust the swing systems main cord length and therefore positional height of the swing from the ground. The reel also functions as a portable storage for the swing accessory cord length. A preferred reel has a locking retractable mechanism that is designed to support the swing loads, however, simple manual winding reels can also be used. Additional features to the accessory further include; optional hangers for installation into covered overhead support beams. A new and novel hanger design is easily installed by hand without the use of tools. Other features of the new baby swing system include ornamental attachments with optional recorded sounds having particular appeal to babies.
The new baby swing system has numerous variations of embodiments, including combinations of; cord types, cord configurations, optional cord reels, practical attachment methods to the car seat carrier and configurations of fastening methods and hardware to overhead structures. The following detailed descriptions are intended to provide a general understanding of the main elements of the baby swing system as well as new or novel features of these elements as implemented in the preferred embodiments of the invention.
The cord assembly can exist in many material types rated for the swing system loading including; wire rope, nylon webbing, braided fabric rope, chain and variations thereof.
Cord assembly configurations consist of single or multiple main cord lengths that extend between the overhead support structure and the car seat carrier. Attachments to the car seat carrier may consist of the main cord and additional supporting cords or cinching straps that attach to the main cord. The additional cords and cinching straps secure to rigid portions of the car seat such as; the carrying arm, the pivot joint of the carrying arm and to the car seat carrier's base structures. The use of supporting cords and cinching straps will be further described below as they pertain to embodiments of the new invention.
Existing overhead structures are sturdy structures suitable to support the swing loading forces. Such overhead structures include; traditional swing set cross beams, sturdy horizontally growing natural tree branches and horizontal supporting beams installed in modern building construction such as, (floor joists, rafters, decks, interior door frame headers, and supported ceilings). Other custom made frame structures may also be suitable for supporting the new swing accessory. Fastening methods and hardware used for attachment of the swing system to these structures will be further described as they pertain to specific embodiments.
Simple embodiments of the invention are described in
Referring to
The preferred installation of the cord assembly 2 to the car seat carrier 4 is depicted In
An optional reel 5 is positioned along the main cord length. The optional reel 5 is for coiling the cord 2 for storage and for adjusting the cord length to establish desired height positions of the swing system 1. The optional reel 5 can be manual winding as described in the embodiment of
For added security, two cinching straps 6 are optional but will help to secure the main cord 2 to the car seat handle 4a. Cinching strap 6 is made from nylon webbing having a grommet that the main cord 2 passes through to easily position the cinching strap 6 in a desired position along the cord length. One end of the cinching strap has a sewn in fitting. The other end of the cinching strap inserts through fitting and is pulled tightly around the handle 4a. The cinching strap length contains opposing hook and loop grip for secure installation and removal of the cinching strap to the car seat handle 4a.
The preferred material of the main cord assembly is ( 3/32-⅛ inch) plastic coated galvanized wire rope selected for its corrosion resistance, strength and small diameter.
A preferred configuration of the reel is one that has a locking, spring loaded retractable mechanism.
For versatile attachment, the reel housing incorporates a mounting eye 40 and the cord 33 may be equipped with a safety latch hook 39 or vice versa for connection to the car seat carrier and overhead supports. The latch hook 39 can also connect to eye 40, creating an adjustable length continuous loop for connecting the swing assembly together as is described in the embodiments of
A second opposing retractable cord reel mechanism can be incorporated making it a double reel. The double reel can be positioned side by side as shown in
The embodiments described so far have been shown to connect to open overhead beams. The new swing system includes hardware that connects to overhead structures such as floor joists, door frame headers decks and sheathed ceilings that do not have open top beam structures. Traditional hardware can be employed for hanging the swing system such as eye-bolts;, eye and hook shaped lag screws, bolted on brackets comprising connecting hooks or rings and other hardware typically used to hang swings including porch swings and hammocks.
One new preferred swing hanger design is described in
Now that we have established the general variations for attachment and the concepts for use of reels and hangers the invention will be more obvious referring to the preferred embodiments as described in
To further describe the versatility of the system,
It should now be obvious to any one skilled in the art, that the swing system comprising main cords, supporting cords, cinching straps, the use of cord reels, cord end fittings and the overhead hanging methods of the new car seat swing apparatus can be arranged in other suitable embodiments that satisfy the claims while remaining within the true spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A swing accessory for existing baby car seats comprising;
- a. a flexible main cord assembly having multiple secure assembly attachments to said baby car seats, and
- b. said flexible main cord assembly having a secure assembly attachment to existing open overhead beam structures, and
- c. optional hangers for attachment of said main cord assembly to existing closed beam overhead structures,
- thereby establishing an economical swing system for babies.
2. A swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 1 wherein said baby car seat is an infant car seat carrier.
3. A swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 1 wherein said main cord length is wound on a reel to adjust said swing system height and to facilitate compact storage of said main cord assembly.
4. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 1 wherein said main cord is made from wire rope.
5. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 1 wherein said main cord is made from braided rope.
6. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 1 wherein said main cord is made from webbing.
7. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 1 wherein said optional hangers comprise a hand grip and self tapping screw for installation to said overhead structure by hand.
8. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 1 wherein said optional hangers comprise existing hardware.
9. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 1 wherein removable ornamental attachments having optional sound chips and appeal to babies are attachable to said swing accessory.
10. A swing accessory for baby car seats comprising;
- a. a flexible main cord assembly having multiple secure assembly attachment points to existing baby car seats, and said flexible main cord assembly having a secure assembly attachment to existing open overhead structures, and
- b. a height adjustment means for said swing and
- c. said swing accessory uses optional hangers for attachment of said main cord to existing closed beam overhead structures,
- thereby establishing an economical swing system for babies.
11. A swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein said baby car seat is an infant car seat carrier.
12. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein said height adjustment means comprise one or more spring retractable reels with lock, and said spring retractable reels facilitates compact storage of said main cord assembly.
13. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein said height adjustment means comprise a manual wound reel, and said manual wound reel facilitates compact storage of said main cord assembly.
14. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein said main cord is made from wire rope.
15. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein said main cord is made from braided rope.
16. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein said main cord is made from webbing.
17. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein said optional hangers comprise a hand grip and self tapping screw for installation to said overhead structure by hand.
18. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein said optional hangers comprise existing hardware.
19. The swing accessory for baby car seats as recited in claim 10 wherein removable ornamental attachments having optional sound chips and appeal to babies are attachable to said swing accessory.
20. A swing accessory for baby car seats comprising;
- a. a flexible main cord assembly having multiple secure assembly attachment points to existing baby car seats, and said flexible main cord assembly having a secure assembly attachment to existing open overhead structures, and
- b. one or more reels for adjustable height and for compact storage of said flexible main cord assembly, and
- c. said swing accessory having optional hangers for attachment of said main cord to existing closed beam overhead structures, and
- d. removable ornamental attachments having optional sound chips and appeal to babies are attachable to said swing accessory,
- thereby establishing an economical swing system for babies.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 7, 2009
Publication Date: May 20, 2010
Inventor: Mark Furman (Barrington, IL)
Application Number: 12/384,564
International Classification: A63G 9/14 (20060101); A47C 7/62 (20060101);