Child safety restraint system for swing sets

Abstract

A safety system for restraining a child in a conventional swing set comprising a belt for secure placement around the upper torso of a child, with safety snap hooks attached to the belt for securely engaging the vertical support elements of the swing set. The safety snap hooks are attached to the belt by means of D-rings through which the belt passes. The D-rings are fixed at such a location as to position the safety snap hooks adjacent to the vertical support members of the swing set. Further, such D-rings are fixed at such a spacing as to prevent fastening the belt at a diameter smaller than a child's head to prevent entrapment about the neck or head. The safety snap hooks are connected to the D-rings by one or more chain or S-links, or short flexible elements. The safety snap hooks are of the type that have a self-positioning member at the hook opening that will not allow the hook to become disengaged from the vertical support elements of the swing set unless intentionally activated manually. The safety snap hooks are constructed in shape and size so they can be hooked into chain links of the vertical support elements of the swing set or fastened over the outside of chain links so as not to be movable to an adjacent chain link unless intentionally manually disengaged. The ability to be fastened over the outside of a chain link allows the safety snap hook to accommodate chain with plastic sheathing or other coverings. The safety hooks will also work on swing sets with vertical support members of rope or other flexible material by tying a knot at the appropriate location and attaching the safety hook just above the knot.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A safety system for restraining a child in a conventional swing set comprising: 
 a belt for encircling the upper torso of a child with the two ends of said belt being connectable together to form a closed loop around the child's upper body,    means affixed to said belt for attaching said belt to the vertical support elements of said swing set, said attaching means being self-locking to the vertical support elements but having the capability of being intentionally manually disengaged from the said vertical support elements.    
     
     
         2 . A safety system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the two ends of said belt being connectable together is by means of a conventional buckle on a first end of said belt and by holes spaced back from the distal end of said belt for engaging said buckle at multiple locations for fitting around children of various body sizes.  
     
     
         3 . A safety system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the two ends of said belt being connectable together is by means of connecting members on each end of said belt which are securely attachable together and releasable only when intentionally released manually, with at least one of said connecting members being adjustable along said belt for fitting around children of various body sizes.  
     
     
         4 . A safety system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the attachment means affixed to said belt for attaching said belt to said vertical support elements of said swing set are safety snap hooks affixed to said belt by short flexible linkages, said safety snap hooks being of such shape as to be attachable onto said vertical support elements of said swing set by passing either though a link of chain in the said vertical support elements or closely around said link of chain, or in the alternative when said vertical support elements are of rope of other flexible material above a knot tied in said rope or other flexible material; said safety snap hooks being of the type having a self-positioning retainer that prevents said safety snap hooks from becoming separated from said vertical support elements unless intentionally actuated manually.  
     
     
         5 . A safety system as defined in  claim 4  wherein said short flexible linkages for affixing said safety hooks to said belt consist of D-rings though which said belt passes but with said D-rings fixed at the proper locations on said belt to position said D-rings at the proper locations adjacent to said vertical support members of said swing set, said safety hooks being attached to said D-rings by one or more links of chain, S-links, or in the alternative by short lengths of flexible material.  
     
     
         6 . A method of safely securing a child in a conventional swing set comprising the steps of: 
 attaching the belt of the safety restraint system to the upper torso of the child below the arms,    attaching said belt of the safety restraint system to the vertical support elements of said swing set by either hooking safety snap hooks into chain links of said vertical support elements, over chain links of said vertical support elements, or above knots tied in said vertical support elements should said vertical support elements be of rope or other flexible material so as to position the child in a setting position on the essentially horizontal element of said swing set, or alternatively, position the child in a standing position with child's feet positioned on said essentially horizontal element of said swing set.    
     
     
         7 . A method of safely securing a child in a conventional swing set comprising the steps of: 
 attaching the belt of the safety restraint system to the vertical support elements of said swing set by either hooking safety snap hooks into chain links of said vertical support elements, over chain links of said vertical support element, or above a knots tied in said vertical support elements should said vertical support elements be of rope or other flexible material so as to position the child in a setting position on the essentially horizontal member of said swing set, or alternatively, position the child in a standing position with child's feet positioned on said essentially horizontal element of said swing set,    attaching said belt of safety restraint system to the upper torso of the child below the arms.