Automatic swing operated by electricity

[57] ABSTRACT

An automatic swing structure which is actuated by repelling magnetic fields periodically established by an electric circuit including a stationary electro-magnet and a movable permanent magnet mounted to the swing which moves through the magnetic field of the stationary electro-magnet with each oscillation of the swing.

Claim, 5 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED Μ13075

3,883.136

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PATENTED MAY I 31975

3,883,136

SHEET 2 GF 2

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FIG. 2.

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3.883.136

AUTOMATIC SWING OPERATED BY ELECTRICITY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an automatic swing opeated by electricity. More particularly, this invention relates to a construction swing which moves the swing in an oscillatory manner by induced magnetism.

In the prior art, a person had to pull a rope or the like tied to the seat of a swing or push the swing to induce movement thereof. It is an object of this invention to eliminate such inconvenience and to permit the occupant of the swing to enjoy automatic movement of the swing by electrical operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention, a swing arm on which a swing seat is mounted is pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper bar of a supporting frame for the swing. A permanent magnet is mounted to the bottom of the swing arm, and a control box containing stationary electro-magnet having the same polarity as the permanent magnet is mounted to the lower supporting body of the swing frame. To induce movements of the swing arm caused by the repelling force produced by the coaction of similar magnetic poles, the electromagnetic core is positioned on the lower supporting body of the swing frame directly below the path of the permanent magnet as it oscillates with the swing arm. As a result of the repelling force by the same polarity of the two magnets in motion relative to each other, the swing oscillates automatically, preferably, a switching mechanism is provided for energizing the electromagnet which is actuated by the permanent magnet when positioned proximate the electro-magnet.

Specifically, the swing in this invention is characterized by comprising a construction which not only utilizes the magnetic action between a permanent magnet and an electro-magnet to effect swing movement, but also that the magnetic action inducing the swing movement can be accomplished by a simple magnetic operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become manifest to those skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying claims in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swing embodying the features of the invention with portions partially cut away to clearly illustrate the structure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational sectional view of the swing illustrated in FIG. 1, showing three positions of the swing arm;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the control box installed on the lower supporting body of the swing illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line A—A of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the electrical network of the system illustrated in FIG. 1 thru 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

According to this invention, as illustrated in the drawings, both of the free ends of a U-shaped swing arm 4 are swingably fastened by hooks 3 to the upper horizontally disposed bar of a frame 1. The swing arm 4 has a body support 5 having a back rest portion which adjusts to various positions relative to the seat portion 5 thereof. A foot rest 6 is mounted on the swing arm 4 below the body support 5. A box 8 containing a permanent bar magnet 7 is affixed to the bottom of the swing arm 4 by suitable threaded fasteners 9. A lower supporting structure 2 supports the lower horizontally dis¹⁰ posed bar of the frame 1.

A control box 10 is secured to the supporting structure 2 and contains an electro-magnet having a coil 11 and an associated core 12 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. When the coil 11 is energized by the circuit illus¹⁵ trated in FIG. 5, the core 12 is magnetized in a fashion such that the upper pole thereof is of the same polarity as the lower pole of a permanent magnet 7 attached to the bottom of the swing arm 4. Normally open switch ₂θ contacts 13 and 14 are installed adjacent the electromagnet in the control box 10. Upon closing, the switch contacts 13 and 14 supply electrical energy to the electro-magnet to magnetize the core 12. Mounted on the switch contact 14 is a small permanent magnet 15 ₂₅ whose polarity at its upper end is opposite to the lower end of the permanent magnet 7, which causes the contact 14 to move upwardly into contact with the contact 13, when the permanent magnet 7 enters the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 15.

3θ According to the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the electrical circuit is coupled to a source of alternating current by a plug 16 having two conductors 17 and 18 extending therefrom. The conductor 17 is coupled to a rectifier 19 through the switch contacts 13 35 and 14 by a conductor 20. The output of the rectifier 19 is connected to a switch 23 through conductors 21 and 22.

A condenser 24 is connected across the output of the rectifier 19 between conductors 21 and 22. Switch 23 40 is connected to make selective contact with a terminal 25 linked with the inductance coil 11 or with a terminal 26 linked to the resistance 27 in series with the coil 11.

In operation, the swing embodying the features of the invention is utilized by initially placing an infant in the 45 seat 5. The plug 16 is inserted into an electric socket and the switch 23 is in contact with the terminal 25. In such case, the switch contact 14 moves upwardly to contact the switch contact 13 by magnetic attraction between the small permanent magnets 15 affixed to the ⁵⁰ switch contact 14 and the permanent magnet 7 affixed to the bottom of the swing arm 4. When electrical contact is made between the switch contacts 13 and 14, the coil 11 is energized by the direct current output of the rectifier 19 and the magnetic core 12 maintains the ⁵⁵ same polarity as the polarity of the permanent magnet 7 affixed to the swing arm 4. Therefore, by the repulsive force of these two magnets, the swing arm 4 is caused to move toward one of the directions illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 2.

When the swing arm 4 moves through a certain distance, the permanent magnet 7 breaks away from the magnetic field of the small magnet 15. Thus, the switch contact 14 is allowed to return to its normally open po₆₅ sition breaking electrical contact with the contact 13 and the supply of electrical energy to the coil 11 is ceased. Accordingly, the electro-magnetic core 12 simultaneously becomes demagnetized.

3,883, 3

When the swing arm 4 returns to the original position, the permanent magnet 15 and the electromagnetic core 11 is magnetized by reestablishing electrical contact between the contacts 13 and 14. In this case, the swing arm 4 moves to another position by in- 5 ertia and the movement of the swing arm 4 continues to oscillate between the two positions illustrated by the phantom lines in FIG. 1.

When the switch 23 is moved to make contact with the terminal 26 in lieu of the terminal 25, the amplitude 10 of oscillation of the swing arm 4 is somewhat reduced because the current supplied to the coil 11 is reduced by the resistance of the resistor 27.

As mentioned above, the swing of the invention can operate automatically without the need of an operator 15 and will continue to effect a movement of regular distance to the swing arm 4 giving satisfaction and pleasure to the infant in the seat 5. Operation of the swing can be initiated manually.

It will be apparent that the respective positions of 20 permanent magnet 7 and the electro-magnet can be reversed.

From the forgoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and 25 scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the inventnion to adapt it to various usages and conditions.