Hanger assembly for supporting a swing device or the like

Abstract

A hanger assembly for supporting a swing device or the like from a crossbar is provided. The hanger assembly comprises a mounting housing and at least one swing member. An arc-limiting mechanism is mounted between the mounting housing and the swing member for limiting the upward rotation of the swing member relative to the mounting housing. A swivel mechanism is secured between the arc-limiting means and the swing member. An anti-wrap mechanism is mounted between the mounting housing and the swing member for inhibiting the wrapping of the swing member around the crossbar.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hanger assembly for supporting a swing device or the like from a crossbar, the hanger assembly comprising: 
 a mounting housing;    at least one swing member;    arc-limiting means mounted between the mounting housing and the swing member for limiting the upward rotation of the swing member relative to the mounting housing; and    swivel means secured between the arc-limiting means and the swing member.    
     
     
         2 . The hanger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mounting housing substantially surrounds the crossbar.  
     
     
         3 . The hanger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mounting housing is releasably securable to the crossbar.  
     
     
         4 . The hanger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mounting housing has a shoulder defining a hollowed portion between the crossbar and the arc-limiting means, and further wherein the arc-limiting means includes an arc-limiting body rotatably mounted to the housing, the arc-limiting body having a protruding member extending into the hollowed portion in a direction generally toward the crossbar whereby the protruding member being contactable with the shoulder during rotation of the arc-limiting body.  
     
     
         5 . The hanger assembly of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a member having a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably mounted to the mounting housing, the second end being mounted to the swing member; and  
 wherein the arc-limiting means includes a groove formed in the first end of the member and a pin mounted to the mounting housing, the pin receivable in the groove and limiting the rotation of the member relative to the mounting housing.  
 
     
     
         6 . The hanger assembly of  claim 5  wherein the groove is formed in the top of the first end of the member and the pin extends in a direction generally away from the crossbar.  
     
     
         7 . The hanger assembly of  claim 5  wherein the groove is formed in the side of the first end of the member and the pin extends in a direction substantially parallel to the crossbar.  
     
     
         8 . The hanger assembly of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 anti-wrap means for inhibiting the wrapping of the swing member about the crossbar.  
 
     
     
         9 . The hanger assembly of  claim 8  wherein the anti-wrap means comprises a rigid elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end being mounted to the arc-limiting body, the second end being mounted to the swing means.  
     
     
         10 . A hanger assembly for supporting a swing device or the like from a crossbar, the hanger assembly comprising: 
 a mounting housing;    at least one swing member;    anti-wrap means mounted between the mounting housing and the swing member for inhibiting the wrapping of the swing member;    arc-limiting means mounted between the mounting housing and the swing member for limiting the upward rotation of the swing member relative to the mounting housing;    a member having a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably mounted to the mounting housing, the second end being mounted to the swing member; and    wherein the arc-limiting means includes a groove formed in the first end of the member and a pin mounted to the mounting housing, the pin receivable in the groove and limiting the rotation of the member relative to the mounting housing.    
     
     
         11 . The hanger assembly of  claim 10  wherein the mounting housing is releasably secured to the crossbar.  
     
     
         12 . The hanger assembly of  claim 10  wherein the anti-wrap means comprises a rigid elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end being mounted to the mounting housing and the second end being mounted to the swing member.  
     
     
         13 . The hanger assembly of  claim 10  wherein the anti-wrap means comprises a cable.  
     
     
         14 . The hanger assembly of  claim 10  and further comprising: 
 swivel means mounted between the anti-wrap means and the swing member.  
 
     
     
         15 . The hanger assembly for supporting a swing device or the like from a crossbar, the hanger assembly comprising: 
 a mounting housing;    at least one swing member;    anti-wrap means mounted between the mounting housing and the swing member for inhibiting the wrapping of the swing member; and    swivel means mounted between the anti-wrap means and the swing member.    
     
     
         16 . The hanger assembly of  claim 15  wherein the mounting housing is releasably secured to the crossbar.  
     
     
         17 . The hanger assembly of  claim 15  wherein the anti-wrap means comprises an elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end being mounted to the mounting housing and the second end being mounted to the swing means.  
     
     
         18 . The hanger assembly of  claim 15  and further comprising: 
 arc-limiting means mounted between the mounting housing and the anti-wrap means for limiting the upward rotation of the swing member relative to the mounting housing.  
 
     
     
         19 . The hanger assembly of  claim 18  wherein the mounting housing has a shoulder defining a hollowed portion between the crossbar and the arc-limiting means, and further wherein the arc-limiting means includes an arc-limiting body rotatably mounted to the housing, the arc-limiting body having a protruding member extending into the hollowed portion in a direction generally toward the crossbar whereby the protruding member being contactable with the shoulder during rotation of the arc-limiting body.  
     
     
         20 . The hanger assembly of  claim 18  and further comprising: 
 a member having a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably mounted to the mounting housing, the second end being mounted to the swivel means; and  
 wherein the arc-limiting means includes a groove formed in the first end of the member and a pin mounted to the mounting housing, the pin receivable in the groove and limiting the rotation of the member relative to the mounting housing.  
 
     
     
         21 . A method for supporting a swing device from a crossbar, the method comprising: 
 providing at least one swing member;    limiting the rotation of the swing member relative to the crossbar; and    swiveling the swing member.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  and further comprising: 
 providing a mounting housing having a shoulder;  
 defining a hollowed portion;  
 limiting the rotation of the swing member with an arc-limiting body mounted to the mounting housing, the arc-limiting body having a protruding member extending into the hollowed portion in a direction generally toward the crossbar whereby the protruding member being contactable with the shoulder during rotation of the arc-limiting body.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  and further comprising: 
 providing a mounting housing;  
 mounting a member having a first end and a second end, the first end being mounted to the mounting housing, the second end being mounted to the swing member; and  
 limiting the rotation of the swing member with a groove formed in the first end of the member and a pin mounted to the mounting housing, the pin receivable in the groove and limiting the rotation of the member relative to the mounting housing.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  and further comprising: 
 inhibiting the wrapping of the swing member about the crossbar.  
 
     
     
         25 . A method for supporting a swing device or the like from a crossbar, the method comprising: 
 providing at least one swing member;    inhibiting the wrapping of the swing member; and    swiveling the swing member.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  and further comprising: 
 limiting the rotation of the swing member.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  and further comprising: 
 providing a mounting housing having a shoulder;  
 defining a hollowed portion;  
 limiting the rotation of the swing member with an arc-limiting body mounted to the mounting housing, the arc-limiting body having a protruding member extending into the hollowed portion in a direction generally toward the crossbar whereby the protruding member being contactable with the shoulder during rotation of the arc-limiting body.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  and further comprising: 
 providing a mounting housing;  
 mounting a member having a first end and a second end, the first end being mounted to the mounting housing, the second end being mounted to the swing member; and  
 limiting the rotation of the swing member with a groove formed in the first end of the member and a pin mounted to the mounting housing, the pin receivable in the groove and limiting the rotation of the member relative to the mounting housing.