Two-person playground spinners and rockers

Abstract

A playground spinner or rocker is configured so that two children may share the spinning or rocking motion while in a face-to-face relationship, thereby promoting social play and attunement. The playground spinner or rocker includes a base that defines a first seating compartment and a second seating compartment, with each seating compartment being configured to hold a single child. The base also includes a dividing wall that extends between and separates the first seating compartment and the second seating compartment. The dividing wall serves as a barrier that helps provide each child with a defined sense of personal space, thereby facilitating play by children having autism spectrum disorder.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A playground spinning or rocking device comprising:
 a substantially circular base configured to hold two children in a face-to-face relationship with one another, the base comprising:
 a first seating compartment and a second seating compartment, each of the first and second seating compartments comprising at least an upward-facing surface and a backrest; and 
 a dividing wall extending between the first seating compartment and the second seating compartment; and 
   a support structure, the base being mounted to the support structure in a way that permits rotation of the base about a central axis or rocking of the base to and fro;   wherein the device is configured for a child occupant of the first seating compartment and a child occupant of the second seating compartment to share the spinning or rocking movement while in a face-to-face relationship, while each still having a defined personal space.   
     
     
         2 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , in which each seating compartment further comprises a seating surface that is elevated above the upward-facing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , in which each seating compartment further comprises a foot support positioned opposite the backrest. 
     
     
         4 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , wherein the backrest of each of the seating compartments comprises a curved transition portion that transitions into the dividing wall. 
     
     
         5 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second seating compartments and the dividing wall together make up an entire interior surface area of the base. 
     
     
         6 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second seating compartments are substantially identical to one another but in an opposite orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , wherein the backrest of each seating compartment forms a portion of a peripheral wall of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 7 , in which each seating compartment further comprises a foot support positioned opposite the backrest, and wherein the foot support of each seating compartment also forms a portion of a peripheral wall of the base. 
     
     
         9 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a first peripheral wall portion and a second peripheral wall portion, in which
 the first peripheral wall portion includes the backrest of the first seating compartment and a foot support of the second seating compartment, and   the second peripheral wall portion includes the backrest of the second seating compartment and a foot support of the first seating compartment.   
     
     
         10 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 9 , wherein an upper surface of the first peripheral wall portion and an upper surface of the second peripheral wall portion are each curvilinear. 
     
     
         11 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 9 , wherein an access opening to the first seating compartment is positioned between a first end of the first peripheral wall portion and a second end of the second peripheral wall portion, and an access opening to the second seating compartment is positioned between a second end of the first peripheral wall portion and a first end of the second peripheral wall portion. 
     
     
         12 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 11 , wherein the access opening to the first seating compartment is positioned directly across from the access opening to the second seating compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the dividing wall is greater at each end than in a center. 
     
     
         14 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more drainage channels that direct water off of the base, apertures through which water exits the base, or both. 
     
     
         15 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more handles configured to facilitate access onto the base from a user in a wheelchair. 
     
     
         16 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 3 , wherein the foot support of the first compartment is positioned immediately across the dividing wall from the backrest of the second compartment and vice versa. 
     
     
         17 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 16 , wherein the dividing wall is curved to provide each seating compartment with a greater width adjacent the backrest than adjacent the foot support. 
     
     
         18 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , wherein each backrest is concavely curved to provide a child with an exterior sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is rotatably mounted to the support structure and configured to rotate 360° about the central axis. 
     
     
         20 . The playground spinning or rocking device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is mounted to the support structure by one or more springs and configured to rock in a to and fro motion.