[Fsf-friends] Fwd: [Commons-Law] Who says patents are boring
FN
fred@bytesforall.org
Sun, 26 Jan 2003 21:51:59 +0530
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Subject: [Commons-Law] Who says patents are boring
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 14:57:27 +0530 (IST)
From: lawrenceliang@vsnl.net
To: commons-law@sarai.net
thought it will be fun to have some postings about some
entertaining patents/ patent claims. This one is forthe method of
swinging on a swing
Lawrence
United States Patent
6,368,227
Olson
April 9, 2002
Method of swinging on a swing
Abstract
A method of swing on a swing is disclosed, in which a user
positioned on a standard swing suspended by two chains from a
substantially horizontal tree branch induces side to side motion by
pulling alternately on one chain and then the other.
Inventors:
Olson; Steven(337 Otis Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104)
Appl. No.:
715198
Filed:
November 17, 2000
Current U.S. Class:
472/118
Intern'l Class:
A63G 009/00
Field of Search:
472/118,119,120,121,122,123,125
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
242601
Jun., 1881
Clement
472/118.
5413298
May., 1995
Perreault
248/228.
Primary Examiner:Nguyen; Kien T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:Olson; Peter Lowell
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of swinging on a swing, the method comprising the steps
of: a) suspending a seat for supporting a user between only two
chains that are hung from a tree branch; b) positioning a user on
the seat so that the user is facing a direction perpendicular to
the tree branch; c) having the user pull alternately on one chain
to induce movement of the user and the swing toward one side, and
then on the other chain to induce movement of the user and the
swing toward the other side; and d) repeating step c) to create
side-to-side swinging motion, relative to the user, that is
parallel to the tree branch. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the
method is practiced independently by the user to create the
side-to-side motion from an initial dead stop. 3. The method of
claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of: e)
inducing a component of forward and back motion into the swinging
motion, resulting in a swinging path that is generally shaped as an
oval. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the magnitude of the
component of forward and back motion is less than the component of
side-to-side motion. Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method of swinging on a swing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A few basic types of swings have been around for generations.
Perhaps the most common is one that includes a seat suspended
between two ropes or chains that are hung from a tree branch or
other substantially horizontal support. These swings are often
found in side-by-side sets of two or three or more on, for example,
a school playground. Young children often need help to climb onto a
swing, and may need a push (sometimes even an "underdog" push) to
begin swinging. Others may be able to begin the swinging movement
on their own by pushing with their feet against the ground, and
once moving may coordinate the motion of their legs and body in
what may be called "pumping" to sustain the movement of the swing.
When swinging in this manner, the user travels along a path as
generally shown in the cross-section of FIG. 1. Another method of
swinging on a swing involves twisting the seat around repeatedly so
that the chains or ropes are wound in a double helix. When allowed
to unwind, the swing spins quickly, which can be entertaining for
the user. These methods of swinging on a swing, although of
considerable interest to some people, can lose their appeal with
age and experience. A new method of swinging on a swing would
therefore represent an advance of great significance and value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method
is provided for swinging on a swing. The swing comprises a seat for
supporting a user that is suspended between two chains that are
hung from a substantially horizontal tree branch. The method
comprises the steps of: a) positioning a user on the seat; and b)
having the user pull alternately on one chain to induce movement of
the user and the swing toward one side, and then on the other chain
to induce movement of the user and the swing toward the other side,
to create side-to-side motion. In another embodiment of the
invention, the swinging method may be practiced independently by
the user to create the side-to-side motion from an initial dead
stop. These and other features of the invention are described in
greater detail below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the swinging path of a swing used
in accordance with conventional swinging methods. FIG. 2 is a front
view of a swinging path of a swing used in accordance with one
embodiment of the swinging method of the present invention. FIG. 3
is a schematic top view of a swinging path of a swing used in
accordance with a second embodiment of the swinging method of the
present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present inventor has created, through experimentation on a
standard swing, a new and improved method of swinging. The swing is
of the type described above, in which a seat is suspended between
two chains that are hung from a substantially horizontal tree
branch. As is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the area of
swinging, the chains could be replaced with ropes, cables, or the
like, or the tree branch could be replaced with another
substantially horizontal support such as a metal bar or pole. The
standard swing should be a single swing that is suspended
sufficiently far away from obstructions to make the practice of the
inventive swinging method completely safe. That is, the swing
should be suspended a sufficient distance away from the trunk of
the tree from which it suspended, and from any other swing,
building, support, overhead wire, or other obstruction or threat to
safety that may be present. The standard method of swinging on a
swing is defined by oscillatory motion of the swing and the user
along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of
the tree branch from which the swing is suspended. This "forward
and back" movement has been known for generations, and is
illustrated in FIG. 1. In contrast to the conventional method of
swinging, the present inventor has discovered that much greater
satisfaction can be obtained by alternately pulling on one chain to
move the swing and the user toward that side, and then pulling on
the other chain to move the swing and the user toward that side.
This side-to-side oscillatory motion of the swing and the user is
thus along an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of
the tree branch from which the swing is suspended, and is
illustrated in FIG. 2. This side to side swinging method has the
added benefit that it can be continued for long periods of time
simply by alternately pulling on one chain and then t! he other.
The importance of sufficient clearance between the swing and any
obstructions or threats to the user's safety is apparent. The
present inventor has discovered certain other improvements in the
art of swinging on a swing, either or both of which can be used in
conjunction with the swinging method described immediately above.
The first is that the inventive swinging method can be initiated
from a dead stop without pushing, and without the user having to
contact the ground. That is, the user can climb onto the swing, and
begin from an initial dead stop to pull first on one chain, and
then on the other chain, alternately until the user and the swing
have begun to swing side-to-side in accordance with the inventive
swinging method described herein. This enables even young users to
swing independently and joyously, which is of great benefit to all.
Another improvement on the swinging method described above is the
induction into the side-to-side swinging movement of a component of
forward-and-back motion. That is, by skillful manipulation of the
body, the present inventor has found it possible to add a
relatively minor component of forward-and-back motion to the
side-to-side swinging motion, resulting in a swinging path that is
generally shaped like an oval, as is shown in FIG. 3. It is
preferred that the magnitude of the forward-and back motion (shown
in FIG. 3 as being along the Y axis) be less than the magnitude of
the side-to side motion (shown in FIG. 3 as being along the X
axis), so that the latter predominates. In this manner, the motion
can be more easily continued simply by alternately pulling on one
chain and then the other in the manner described. Lastly, it should
be noted that because pulling alternately on one chain and then the
other resembles in some measure the movements one would use to
swing from vines in a dense jungle forest, the swinging method of
the present invention may be referred to by the present inventor
and his sister as "Tarzan" swinging. The user may even choose to
produce a Tarzan-type yell while swinging in the manner described,
which more accurately replicates swinging on vines in a dense
jungle forest. Actual jungle forestry is not required. Licenses are
available from the inventor upon request.
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