US3655160A - Support - Google Patents

Abstract

A support for children''s swings and the like includes a ground support plate pivotally and swivally connected to a cylindrical member which is insertable into a hollow tubular support leg of the swing framework.

Description

a {1 Unmte States mm 1151 3,655,160 Grillot 1 Apr. 11, 1972 SUPPORT 1,645,747 10/1927 Fry ..287/100 x [72] Inventor: Robm E. Grim 9170 west Us Route 2,814,140 11/1957 Elhs ...248/l56X 36 covington Ohio 45318 3,081,114 3/1963 Esty ..287/21X 3,402,961 9/1968 Larson ..287/20X 22] Filed: Feb.4, 1970 Primary ExaminerWilliam H. Schultz [21] Appl No" 8457 Attorney-Irvin V. Glein and Edward M. Tritle [52] U.S. Cl ..248/l88.8,287/20,287/96, 57 ABSTRACT 51 1111.121 ..Fl6m 11/20 A supportforchlldrensswmgsand the llke mcludesaground [58] Field ofSearch ..248/156, 188.8, 188.9; 52/155, pp Plate Pivotally andswivally Connectedwacylindrical References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Weirich .248 156-x member which is insertable into a hollow tubular support leg of the swing framework.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented April 11, 1972 3,655,160

INVENTOR. ROBERT L'. GRILLOT qJwJn ym l wawl'z SUPPORT BACKGROUND The present invention relates to amusement and/or exercise devises and, more particularly, to improved means for supporting and connecting such devices to the ground or other supporting surface.

Exercise devices such as childrens swings are often supported by a suitable framework usually comprising one or more tubular members connected together in any convenient fashion to provide a supporting structure from which the swing is suspended. This type of structure is relatively light in weight and yet provides adequate strength to safely support the loads imposed thereon. The weight of the structure together with the weight of the child is not unduly great, but the weight of the child and the action of the swing result in a fluctuating dynamic load being transmitted to the support members of such supporting structure. I-Ieretofore, it has been customary to set the support legs of a swing or similar device in a footer of concrete which is embedded in the ground or other supporting surface so as to distribute the fluctuating load over a substantial area of the supporting surface and to prevent the tubular support member from digging into the ground or other supporting surface. While such load distributing methods have worked quite well, they present considerable expense and difficulty from the viewpoint of the average parent who may wish to install a swing on his property for use by his children.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide means for obviating the above-mentioned difficulties. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved support and load distributing means for amusement devices and the like that is relatively inexpensive and can easily be installed by an average person without requiring special tools or the pouring of concrete or the like.

DESCRIPTION These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in the connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of support means embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a support plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a swivel connecting member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cylindrical connecting member of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of anchor means similar to that employed in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, one leg of an amusement device such as a swing or the like is illustrated at 10. As shown in FIG. 1 the leg is a hollow tubular member. The ground or other supporting surface is indicated at 11.

A support and load distribution device in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 12 and comprises aplate member 13 having anopening 14 therein. Additionally,plate 13 has one ormore openings 15 through which one ormore anchor bolts 16 may be received and driven into the ground or other supporting surface 11. If desired, the

heads 17 ofanchor bolts 16 may be disposed at an acute angle relative to the shank of the bolt. Alternatively, thehead 17 may be disposed at right angles to the shank of the bolt 16a, as shown in FIG. 5. Additionally, if desired, the shanks ofbolts 16 may be provided withserrations 18 to improve the holding characteristics of the bolts.

In order to accommodate differing frame configurations as well as irregularities in or sloping of the terrain, it is desirable to provide adjustability in the connecting means betweenleg 10 andplate 13. This is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a swivel connecting member, indicated generally at 19. The connectingmember 19 includes anupright portion 20 that is generally cylindrical and may be rounded at its upper end. At the lower end ofcylindrical portion 20 there is connected thereto, or integrally formed therewith, aflange portion 21.

For purposes which will appear as the description proceeds,portion 21 includes spaced apartopenings 22, 23 extending transversely of the axis ofportion 20. Additionally,hole 22 is spaced apart from the face offlange 21. And, the uppermost end ofportion 20 is notched at 24 transversely to the axis ofhole 23.

Amember 25 is also in the form of a cylinder having a diameter approximating the inside diameter ofleg 10 but slightly smaller so thatmember 25 can be readily inserted into and/or removed fromleg 10. Aflat member 26 depends frommember 25 and is connected thereto by any convenient means such as by welding and/or thread fasteners. Near the distal end ofmember 26 is ahole 27.

Assembly of the device will best be understood by referring to FIG. 1.Member 19 is assembled withplate 13 by inserting thecylindrical portion 20 throughopening 14 and is secured by the insertion of apin 28 through opening 22. Dependingmember 26 is then inserted intonotch 24 and secured by inserting apin 29 throughholes 23 and 27.

In general, dimensions are not critical. However, the outer diameter ofportion 20 is slightly less than the diameter of opening 14 so that when the device is assembled connectingmember 19 is free to rotate relative toplate 13. Similarly, the width of the dependingmember 26 is slightly less than the width ofnotch 14 and the diameter ofopening 27 is slightly greater than the diameter ofpin 29 so thatcylindrical member 25 is pivotally connected tomember 20 and is free to pivot relative topin 29 withinnotch 24.

When the device is thus assembled,cylindrical member 25 is inserted into the lower open end oftubular leg 10. Becausemember 25 is free to rotate to any desired position relative toleg 10 and becauseplate 13 is swivelly connected tomember 19 which in turn is pivotally connected tomember 25,plate 13 can assume any position that may be required by the angularity ofleg 10 relative to the ground 11 or other supporting surface. Whenleg 13 has been so positionedanchor bolts 16, 16a are then driven into the ground by other supporting surfaces throughopenings 15.

While a particular embodiment ofthe invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a support for supporting and anchoring to the ground or other supporting surface a framework having a hollow tubular leg, subject to variable movements produced by fluctuating dynamic forces to which the framework is sometimes subjected, the combination comprising means for readily detachably connecting said support plate to said hollow leg, said means including a member having an outer cylindrical surface engaging the inner surface of said hollow leg when inserted therein, said member having a tongue depending outwardly from one end of said member and extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical surface, and

securing means connected to the support plate and freely rotatable relative thereto and having a bifurcated portion pivotally connected to said depending tongue whereby the weight of the framework is supported by the support plate when said member is inserted into said leg and connection is maintained between said plate and the framework irrespective of said variable movements and/or variable angularity of said leg relative to the support plate.

2. Structure according to claim 1 and additionally including means including an opening in said plate for anchoring said plate to a supporting surface.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a second member extending through a circular opening in said support plate and having a cylindrical outer surface with a flanged portion depending outwardly therefrom.

Claims (3)

1. In a support for supporting and anchoring to the ground or other supporting surface a framework having a hollow tubular leg, subject to variable movements produced by fluctuating dynamic forces to which the framework is sometimes subjected, the combination comprising means for readily detachably connecting said support plate to said hollow leg, said means including a member having an outer cylindrical surface engaging the inner surface of said hollow leg when inserted therein, said member having a tongue depending outwardly from one end of said member and extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical surface, and securing means connected to the support plate and freely rotaTable relative thereto and having a bifurcated portion pivotally connected to said depending tongue whereby the weight of the framework is supported by the support plate when said member is inserted into said leg and connection is maintained between said plate and the framework irrespective of said variable movements and/or variable angularity of said leg relative to the support plate.

2. Structure according to claim 1 and additionally including means including an opening in said plate for anchoring said plate to a supporting surface.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a second member extending through a circular opening in said support plate and having a cylindrical outer surface with a flanged portion depending outwardly therefrom.

Images