Rotating adapter for playground swing

Abstract

An adapter includes a first support member and a second support member. The first support member is configured to connect to an associated swing support, e.g. a horizontal support beam of a playground set, for swinging about a horizontal axis. The second support member connects to the first support member and rotates about a second axis with respect to the first support member. The second support member includes spaced mounting elements each configured for attachment to a flexible support, e.g. ropes, cables, chains, etc., of an associated swing.

1 . An adapter for a swing comprising:
 a first support member configured to connect to an associated swing support for swinging about a horizontal axis; and   a second support member connected to the first support member and rotatable about a second axis with respect to the first support member, the second support member including spaced mounting elements each configured for attachment to a flexible support of an associated swing.   
   
   
       2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing contacting the first support member and the second support member. 
   
   
       3 . The adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the bearing is a thrust bearing that supports the second support member. 
   
   
       4 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting elements are configured to attach to each flexible support to allow the associated swing to pivot with respect to a location on the second support member. 
   
   
       5 . The adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock that cooperates with the first support member and the second support member to inhibit rotation of the second support member in the second axis. 
   
   
       6 . The adapter of  claim 5 , wherein the lock includes a lock bracket that is slidable with respect to the second support member, the lock bracket includes a notch that receives a nut fastened to the first support member when in a locked condition. 
   
   
       7 . The adapter of  claim 5 , wherein the lock is configured to cooperate with the second support member to lock the second support member in a first orientation with respect to the first support member and in a second orientation with respect to the first support member, wherein the first orientation is angularly offset 90 degrees from the second orientation. 
   
   
       8 . The adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising a governor that cooperates with the second support member. 
   
   
       9 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first support member includes a head and a shank extending from the head, the head having a horizontal through bore. 
   
   
       10 . The adapter of  claim 9 , wherein the head has a horizontal dimension that is less that the horizontal space between flanges of a conventional swing hanger. 
   
   
       11 . A swing set comprising:
 a horizontal support beam; and   the adapter of  claim 1  connected to the horizontal support beam.   
   
   
       12 . A swing suspension mount comprising:
 an assembly for attaching a swing to a swing support frame, the assembly configured so that a person swinging on the swing can swing back and forth in an arc while lateral sway outside of the arc is limited and the person swinging in the arc can also spin without flexible supports of the swing becoming twisted.   
   
   
       13 . An adapter for an associated swing having flexible supports, the adapter configured to swing about a horizontal axis and to rotate about a second axis that is transverse to the horizontal axis. 
   
   
       14 . The adapter of  claim 13 , wherein connection between the adapter and an associated support provides only one degree of freedom. 
   
   
       15 . The adapter of  claim 13 , wherein the adapter includes spaced mounting elements that each engage a respective flexible support. 
   
   
       16 . The adapter of  claim 15 , wherein the mounting elements include hooks. 
   
   
       17 . The adapter of  claim 15 , wherein the mounting elements include a first pair of mounting elements spaced a first distance from one another and a second pair of mounting elements spaced a second distance from one another. 
   
   
       18 . The adapter of  claim 13 , further comprising a lock that when in a locked condition precludes rotation of the adapter in the second axis. 
   
   
       19 . The adapter of  claim 13 , further comprising a rotation control device that limits the velocity at which the adapter rotates. 
   
   
       20 . A swing set including the adapter of  claim 13 . 
   
   
       21 . In combination:
 a swing having spaced flexible supports for suspending the swing from above; and   an adapter connected to the flexible supports and configured to connect to an associated swing mount so that the swing can swing back and forth in an arc, the adapter comprising a rotating component connected to the spaced flexible supports and the associated swing mount so that the swing can rotate in an axis generally aligned along a radius of the arc as the swing is swinging.   
   
   
       22 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein the spaced flexible supports connect to the rotating component so that the flexible supports can pivot about a horizontal axis with respect to the rotating component. 
   
   
       23 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein the adapter includes a swinging component that is configured to connect to the associated swing beam hanger, the rotating component connects to the swinging component for rotational movement with respect to the swinging component. 
   
   
       24 . The combination of  claim 21 , further comprising a lock cooperating with the rotating component for limiting rotational movement of the rotating component. 
   
   
       25 . The combination of  claim 24 , wherein the lock is spaced from a seat of the swing a distance where a child sitting on the seat is unable to reach the lock. 
   
   
       26 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein the swing is capable of swinging in a first arc about a first horizontal axis and in a second arc about a second horizontal axis that is spaced from the first horizontal axis. 
   
   
       27 . The combination of  claim 26 , wherein the first horizontal axis intersects the associated swing hanger and the second horizontal axis intersects a location where the spaced flexible supports connect to the adapter. 
   
   
       28 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein the swing is capable of rotating about a radius of the first arc. 
   
   
       29 . The combination of  claim 21 , further comprising a swing set including a horizontal support supported above the ground, the adapter being connected to the horizontal support. 
   
   
       30 . The combination of  claim 21 , further comprising a brake and a brake handle for operating the brake, the brake being movable between at least two operating positions, when in an engaged position the brake limits rotational movement of the rotating component, and the brake handle being connected to at least one of the flexible supports and being operatively connected to the brake such that movement of the brake handle results in the brake moving from one operating position towards another operating position.