Re: [dvd-discuss] method of swinging on a swing

["Michael A Rolenz" <Michael.A.Rolenz(at)aero.org>]

 OH this is a good one! Read through it you're either going to laugh or 
cry or both. Either the kid is a greedy little bastard or his father has 
one great sense of humor! 

Patent Intellectual property- Reductio Ad Absurdum
 
                                           ( 1 of 1 )


 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 the 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. 

                                                          * * * * *


 





"someone somewhere" <chaos755@hotmail.com>
Sent by: owner-dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
07/31/2002 12:39 PM
Please respond to dvd-discuss

 
        To:     dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
        cc: 
        Subject:        [dvd-discuss] method of swinging on a swing


Over at theregister(http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/35/26469.html  , at 
the bottom)there is a link to the patent office with : "Method of swinging 

on a swing "   Is this for real???  I was hoping to see that this is just 
a 
patent request, but my impression is that it has been granted...


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