Toddler swing

Abstract

A swing includes a swing seat having a front wall portion containing apertures for receiving the legs of a user, a back wall portion, side wall portions extending between and integrally connecting the front and back wall portions, and a bottom wall portion extending between and integrally connecting the front, back, and side wall portions. The swing seat is made of plastic that is injection molded into a final swing seat shape suitable for receiving a user for swinging. At least a portion of the swing seat is pliable after being molded into the final swing seat shape.

1 . A swing comprising: 
 a swing seat having 
 a front wall portion containing apertures for receiving the legs of a user;  
 a back wall portion;  
 side wall portions extending between and integrally connecting the front and back wall portions; and  
 a bottom wall portion extending between and integrally connecting the front, back, and side wall portions;  
   wherein the swing seat is made of plastic that is injection molded into a final swing seat shape suitable for receiving a user for swinging; and    wherein at least a portion of the swing seat is pliable after being molded into the final swing seat shape.    
   
   
       2 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the wall portions is capable of conforming substantially to the shape of a portion of a user's body.  
   
   
       3 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the wall portions of the swing seat have a substantially uniform thickness.  
   
   
       4 . The swing seat of  claim 3 , wherein the wall portions of the swing seat have a thickness ranging from about 5 mm to about 9 mm.  
   
   
       5 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall portion includes an upper edge where the plastic is molded into a rolled-over lip to stiffen the front wall portion.  
   
   
       6 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein each side wall portion includes an upper edge where the plastic is molded into a rolled-over lip to stiffen the side wall portion.  
   
   
       7 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front wall portion, the back wall portion, and the bottom wall portion is free of any reinforcing inserts made from material different from the plastic.  
   
   
       8 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall portions include mounting portions with reinforcing inserts molded into the plastic.  
   
   
       9 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall portions include mounting portions, and wherein the swing further comprises: 
 hanging elements connected to the mounting portions and configured to be secured to a support structure such that each of the mounting portions on the side wall portions lie in a substantially horizontal plane.    
   
   
       10 . The swing of  claim 9 , wherein the hanging elements are riveted to the mounting portions.  
   
   
       11 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic is thermoplastic olefin.  
   
   
       12 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall portion includes a pair of apertures, and wherein the swing further comprises: 
 a strap set extending through the apertures, the strap set including connectors configured to secure the strap set around a user positioned in the swing seat.    
   
   
       13 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the back wall portion is contoured to conform generally to the contour of a user's lower back.  
   
   
       14 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall portion is contoured to conform generally to the contour of a user's rear and legs.  
   
   
       15 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall portions are spaced apart by a first generally horizontal distance adjacent the bottom wall portion and are spaced apart by a second generally horizontal distance that is greater than the first distance at a point vertically spaced from the bottom wall portion.  
   
   
       16 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall portion and the back wall portion are spaced apart by a first generally horizontal distance adjacent the bottom wall portion and are spaced apart by a second generally horizontal distance that is greater than the first distance at a point vertically spaced from the bottom wall portion.  
   
   
       17 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the swing seat is molded from a plastic having a durometer hardness ranging from about 40 to about 42 on the D scale.  
   
   
       18 . The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the final swing seat shape is achieved without requiring fasteners to secure any portions of the swing seat together.  
   
   
       19 . A swing comprising: 
 a swing seat having 
 a front wall portion containing apertures for receiving the legs of a user;  
 a back wall portion contoured to conform generally to the contour of a user's lower back;  
 side wall portions extending between and integrally connecting the front and back wall portions; and  
 a bottom wall portion extending between and integrally connecting the front, back, and side wall portions, the bottom wall portion being contoured to conform generally to the contour of a user's rear and legs;  
   wherein the swing seat is made of plastic that is injection molded into a final swing seat shape suitable for receiving a user for swinging;    wherein each of the front wall portion, the back wall portion, and the bottom wall portion is free of any reinforcing inserts made from material different from the plastic; and    wherein the swing seat is pliable after being molded into the final swing seat shape such that at least one of the wall portions is capable of conforming substantially to the shape of a portion of a user's body.    
   
   
       20 . The swing of  claim 19 , wherein the side wall portions are spaced apart by a first generally horizontal distance adjacent the bottom wall portion and are spaced apart by a second generally horizontal distance that is greater than the first distance at a point vertically spaced from the bottom wall portion; and 
 wherein the front wall portion and the back wall portion are spaced apart by a third generally horizontal distance adjacent the bottom wall portion and are spaced apart by a fourth generally horizontal distance that is greater than the third distance at a point vertically spaced from the bottom wall portion.