Swing

Abstract

A child swing is described. The swing may have an object hanger for use with the child swing. The object hanger includes a support bar coupled to the seat; and a decorative object coupled to the support bar such that the decorative object is positionable above a child seating area of the seat, wherein motion is imparted to the decorative object by the motion of the swing. The swing may have a display supported by a support member and facing toward a front of the child swing; and function activators supported by the forward facing support member and facing toward the front of the child swing, each function activator activating a function of the swing upon a user activating the activator.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An object hanger for use with a child swing having a seat hanger tube supported from a support frame and a seat coupled to the seat hanger tube, the object hanger comprising: 
 a support bar coupled to one of the seat hanger tube and seat;    a connector coupled to the support bar and positionable above a child seating area of the seat; and,    a decorative object coupled to the connector,    wherein motion is imparted to the decorative object by the motion of the swing.    
     
     
         2 . An object hanger for use with a child swing having a seat, the object hanger comprising: 
 a support bar coupled to the seat at opposite sides of the seat;    a connector coupled to the support bar and positionable above a child seating area of the seat; and,    a decorative object coupled to the connector,    wherein motion is imparted to the decorative object by the motion of the swing.    
     
     
         3 . The object hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the support bar has a generally arched shape.  
     
     
         4 . An object hanger for use with a child swing having a seat, the object hanger comprising: 
 a support bar coupled to the seat;    a connector coupled to the support bar and positionable above a child seating area of the seat; and,    a decorative object coupled to the connector,    wherein motion is imparted to the decorative object by the motion of the swing.    
     
     
         5 . The object hanger of  claim 4 , wherein the decorative object is releasably attached to one of the support bar and the connector.  
     
     
         6 . The object hanger of  claim 4 , comprising at least a second connector coupled to the support bar and positionable above the seating area; and, 
 at least a second decorative object coupled to the at least a second connector.    
     
     
         7 . The object hanger of  claim 4 , wherein the support bar is positionable above the seating area such that a child seated in the seat can interact with the decorative object.  
     
     
         8 . The object hanger of  claim 4 , wherein the support bar is positionable above the seating area such that the view of a child seated in the seat and looking forward is not obstructed by the support bar or decorative object and the child has access to a tray of the swing.  
     
     
         9 . The object hanger of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 one of at least fabric and cushioning material covering at least a portion of the support bar.    
     
     
         10 . The object hanger of  claim 4 , wherein the support bar includes a coupling mechanism for coupling the support bar to the seat.  
     
     
         11 . The object hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the coupling mechanism releasably couples the support bar to the seat.  
     
     
         12 . The object hanger of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one fastening member, the fastening member arranged at an end of the support bar.  
     
     
         13 . The object hanger of  claim 12 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises two fastening members, the fastening members arranged at opposing ends of the support bar  
     
     
         14 . The object hanger of  claim 4 , wherein the support bar includes a rotating mechanism that allows the support bar to be rotated between at least two positions relative to the seating area.  
     
     
         15 . The object hanger of  claim 14 , wherein the seat comprises a seat back, and the rotating mechanism allows the support bar to be rotated to a first position towards the seat back to allow easy access to a child seated in the seat.  
     
     
         16 . The object hanger of  claim 14 , wherein the rotating mechanism comprises a ratcheting mechanism.  
     
     
         17 . The object hanger of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a canopy covering supported at least in part by the support bar.    
     
     
         18 . The object hanger of  claim 17 , wherein the canopy covering comprises at least one of fabric and cushioning material.  
     
     
         19 . The object hanger of  claim 17 , wherein the seat has a seat back, and the canopy covering is supported at least in part by the seat back.  
     
     
         20 . The object hanger of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a second support bar, the canopy covering supported at least in part by the second support bar.    
     
     
         21 . The object hanger of  claim 20 , wherein the support bar includes a rotating mechanism that allows the support bar to be rotated between at least two positions relative to the seating area, and wherein the second support bar comprises a second rotating mechanism that allows the second support bar to be rotated between at least two positions relative to the seating area.  
     
     
         22 . The object hanger of  claim 21 , wherein the seat comprises a seat back, and the second rotating mechanism allows the second support bar to be rotated to a first position towards the seat back to allow easy access to a child seated in the seat.  
     
     
         23 . The object hanger of  claim 21 , wherein the second rotating mechanism comprises a second ratcheting mechanism.  
     
     
         24 . An object hanger for use with a child swing having a seat, the object hanger comprising: 
 a support bar coupled to the seat; and    a decorative object coupled to the support bar such that the decorative object is positionable above a child seating area of the seat,    wherein motion is imparted to the decorative object by the motion of the swing.    
     
     
         25 . A user interface module for a child swing, the child swing having a support frame, a seat coupled to the support frame, and a forward facing support member on the support frame, the user interface comprising: 
 a display supported by the support member and facing toward a front of the child swing at a viewing angle; and    function activators supported by the forward facing support member and facing toward the front of the child swing, each function activator activating a function of the swing upon a user activating the activator.    
     
     
         26 . The user interface module of  claim 25 , wherein the function activators comprise one of push buttons, switches and touch screen positions.  
     
     
         27 . The user interface module of  claim 25 , wherein the display comprises: 
 function icons associated with the functions of respective of the function activators.    
     
     
         28 . The user interface module of  claim 27 , wherein each function icon is located adjacent its respective function activator.  
     
     
         29 . The user interface module of  claim 27 , wherein the functions of the swing include at least one of providing music, adjusting the volume of music, adjusting swing amplitude, and providing swing run time.  
     
     
         30 . The user interface module of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 an on/off switch to activate and deactivate a swing motor of the swing.    
     
     
         31 . The user interface module of  claim 27 , wherein each of the function activators include text on the activator identifying the function associated with the activator.  
     
     
         32 . The user interface module of  claim 27 , wherein the display is pixilated liquid crystal diode (LCD) display provides at least one of animation, child information, help screens and different languages.  
     
     
         33 . The user interface module of  claim 33 , wherein the display is one of a fixed-segmented liquid crystal diode (LCD) display, a pixilated LCD display and a touch screen display.  
     
     
         34 . The user interface module of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a microcontroller to control the display, and activate a function of the swing upon a respective function activator being activated.    
     
     
         35 . The user interface module of  claim 34 , wherein the electronics unit includes a printed circuit board.  
     
     
         36 . The user interface module of  claim 34 , wherein the electronics unit includes a processor.  
     
     
         37 . The user interface module of  claim 25 , further comprising a user replaceable bezel cover surrounding the display and function activators.  
     
     
         38 . The user inter interface module face of  claim 34 , wherein the electronics unit controls at least one of a swing drive mechanism and a music generator.  
     
     
         39 . The user interface module of  claim 38 , wherein the electronics unit controls a swing drive mechanism mounted within the support member.  
     
     
         40 . The user interface module of  claim 25 , wherein the user interface module includes a keypad for the function activators.  
     
     
         41 . A user interface module for a child swing, the child swing having a support frame, a seat coupled to the support frame, and a support member on the support frame, the user interface comprising: 
 function activators supported by the support member, each function activator activating a function of the swing upon a user activating the activator; and    a display supported by the support member, the display including function icons associated with the functions of respective of the function activators.    
     
     
         42 . The user interface module of  claim 41 , wherein the function activators comprise push buttons.  
     
     
         43 . The user interface module of  claim 41 , wherein each function icon is located adjacent its respective function activator.  
     
     
         44 . The user interface module of  claim 41 , wherein the functions of the swing include at least one of providing music, adjusting the volume of music, adjusting swing amplitude, and providing swing run time.  
     
     
         45 . The user interface module of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 an on/off switch to activate and deactivate a swing motor of the swing.    
     
     
         46 . The user interface module of  claim 41 , wherein the display is pixilated liquid crystal diode (LCD) display provides at least one of animation, child information, help screens and different languages.  
     
     
         47 . The user interface modul of  claim 46 , wherein the display is one of a fixed-segmented liquid crystal diode (LCD) display, a pixilated LCD display and a touch screen display.  
     
     
         48 . The user interface module of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 an electronics unit to control the display and activate a function of the swing upon a respective function activator being activated.    
     
     
         49 . The user interface module of  claim 48 , wherein the electronics unit controls at least one of a swing drive mechanism and a music generator.  
     
     
         50 . The user interface module of  claim 49 , wherein the electronics unit controls a swing drive mechanism mounted within the support member.  
     
     
         51 . A child swing comprising: 
 a support frame having a user interface support member;    a seat;    a seat hanger tube supported from the support frame and coupled to and supporting the seat; and    an object hanger, the object hanger comprising: 
 a support bar coupled to the seat; and  
 a decorative object coupled to the support bar such that the decorative object is positionable above a child seating area of the seat,  
 wherein motion is imparted to the decorative object by the motion of the swing.  
   
     
     
         52 . A child swing comprising: 
 a support frame having a forward facing user interface support member;    a seat;    a seat hanger tube supported from the support frame and coupled to and supporting the seat; and    a user interface module mounted on the user interface support member, the user interface module comprising: 
 a display supported by the support member and facing toward a front of the child swing; and  
 function activators supported by the forward facing support member and facing toward the front of the child swing, each function activator activating a function of the swing upon a user activating the activator.  
   
     
     
         53 . A child swing comprising: 
 a support frame having a forward facing user interface support member;    a seat;    a seat hanger tube supported from the support frame and coupled to and supporting the seat; and    a user interface module mounted on the user interface support member, the user interface module comprising: 
 function activators supported by the support member, each function activator activating a function of the swing upon a user activating the activator; and  
 a display supported by the support member, the display including function icons associated with the functions of respective of the function activators.  
   
     
     
         54 . The object hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the support bar includes a coupling mechanism for coupling the support bar to the seat hanger tube.  
     
     
         55 . The object hanger of  claim 54 , wherein the coupling mechanism releasably couples the support bar to the seat hanger tube.