Bungee swing apparatus

Abstract

A bungee swing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a seat, a pair of tabs, and a fastener mechanism. The seat includes an integral closure portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface. The tabs are fixed to upper lateral edge margins of the seat. One of a hooked (or a looped) member of the fastener mechanism is fixed to a surface of each of the tabs. The other of the hooked (or looped) member of the fastener mechanism is fixed to the closure portion. The swing apparatus further includes at least four shock cords extending between the seat and a fixed support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) comprising:
 a seat portion ( 24 ) including an integral closure portion ( 23 ), wherein the seat portion ( 24 ) defines an exterior surface ( 24 A) and an interior surface ( 24 B) located opposite the exterior surface ( 24 A);   a spaced-apart pair of tabs ( 22 ), each of which is secured to an associated one of a spaced-apart pair of upper lateral edge margins ( 25 ) of the seat portion ( 24 );   a first member ( 20 A or  20 B) of a hook-and-loop fastener mechanism ( 20 A and  20 B) being secured to a surface of each of the tabs ( 22 ); and   a second member ( 20 A or  20 B) of the hook-and-loop fastener mechanism ( 20 A and  20 B) being secured to a surface of the closure portion ( 23 ),   wherein the first and second members ( 20 A and  20 B) are each dimensioned, configured, and arranged on the tabs ( 22 ) and the closure portion ( 23 ), such that the seat portion ( 24 ) securely retains a user therein when the first and second members ( 20 A and  20 B) of the hook-and-loop fastener mechanism ( 20 A,  20 B) are securely joined together.   
     
     
         2 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , further including:
 at least four loops ( 18 ) secured at predetermined spacings along an upper edge margin of the seat portion ( 24 ); and   at least four shock cords ( 26 ), each of which has a proximate end portion associated with one of the four loops and a distal end portion associated with a fixed support(S).   
     
     
         3 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein each of the four loops ( 18 ) is removably secured to a proximate end of an associated one of the four shock cords ( 26 ) by a carabiner ( 16 ). 
     
     
         4 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein each of the four loops ( 18 ) is a metal “D” ring. 
     
     
         5 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting in the seat portion ( 24 ) a person having a weight of up to about 200 pounds. 
     
     
         7 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting in the seat portion ( 24 ) a person having a weight of up to about 300 pounds. 
     
     
         8 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting in the seat portion ( 24 ) a person having a weight of up to about 400 pounds. 
     
     
         9 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting in the seat portion ( 24 ) a person having a weight of up to about 500 pounds. 
     
     
         10 . A bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) comprising:
 a seat portion ( 24 ) including an integral closure portion ( 23 ), wherein the seat portion ( 24 ) defines an exterior surface ( 24 A) and an interior surface ( 24 B) located opposite the exterior surface ( 24 A);   a spaced-apart pair of tabs ( 22 ), each of which is secured to an associated one of a spaced-apart pair of upper lateral edge margins ( 25 ) of the seat portion ( 24 );   a first member ( 20 A or  20 B) of a hook-and-loop fastener mechanism ( 20 A and  20 B) being secured to a surface of each of the tabs ( 22 );   a second member ( 20 A or  20 B) of the hook-and-loop fastener mechanism ( 20 A and  20 B) being secured to a surface of the closure portion ( 23 );   at least four loops ( 18 ) secured at predetermined spacings along an upper edge margin of the seat portion ( 24 );   at least four shock cords ( 26 ), each of which has a proximate end portion associated with one of the four loops and a distal end portion associated with a fixed support(S); and   a plurality of carabiners ( 16 ), a first four of which releasably secure an associated proximate end portion of one of the four shock cords ( 26 ) to one of the loops ( 18 ) and a second four of which releasably secure an associated distal end portion of one of the shock cords ( 26 ) to a mounting device ( 12 ) on the support,   wherein the first and second members ( 20 A and  20 B) are each dimensioned, configured, and arranged on the tabs ( 22 ) and the closure portion ( 23 ), such that the seat portion ( 24 ) securely retains a user therein when the first and second members ( 20 A and  20 B) of the hook-and-loop fastener mechanism ( 20 A,  20 B) are securely joined together.   
     
     
         11 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , further including:
 a predetermined amount of material, effective for covering a length of each of the shock cords ( 26 ), wherein each of the four loops ( 18 ) is a heat-treated metal “D” ring.   
     
     
         12 . The bungee swing apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of polypropylene. 
     
     
         13 . The bungee swing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting in the seat portion ( 24 ) a person having a weight of up to about 200 pounds. 
     
     
         14 . The bungee swing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting in the seat portion ( 24 ) a person having a weight of up to about 300 pounds. 
     
     
         15 . The bungee swing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting in the seat portion ( 24 ) a person having a weight of up to about 400 pounds. 
     
     
         16 . The bungee swing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the four shock cords ( 26 ) is made of expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting in the seat portion ( 24 ) a person having a weight of up to about 500 pounds.