Accessible swing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Playground structures often fail to accommodate wheelchair-bound users safely and inclusively, lacking designs that allow for independent interaction and safe use without assistance, while ensuring safety for all users by controlling acceleration and deceleration to prevent injuries.

Innovation Solution

A swinging playground device with a ramp for easy access, a platform supported by multiple swing arms to maintain levelness, a skirt to fill the displaced area, and shock-absorbing systems to manage motion, along with adjustable support bars and acceleration assemblies to facilitate user interaction of varying abilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional swing design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it is not accessible to wheelchair-bound users and cannot ensure safe independent use

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility to wheelchair-bound usersVSAvoidStructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The swing is divided into separate functional components: a platform for seating, multiple swing arms for support, a skirt for safety, and shock-absorbing systems. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for accessibility and safety while maintaining manageable overall complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The swing platform is designed to accommodate multiple user types including wheelchair-bound users, children, and adults. The platform serves multiple functions: supporting various seating configurations, providing stable base for shock absorption, and enabling independent interaction through the multiple swing arms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the platform is allowed to swing freely, then the motion is natural and simple, but acceleration and deceleration can cause injuries to users

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNatural swinging motionVSAvoidInjury risk from acceleration and deceleration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Shock-absorbing systems are pre-installed between the swing arms and the platform to cushion the effects of acceleration and deceleration before they reach the user. This prior cushioning prevents injuries while allowing natural swinging motion to continue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The shock-absorbing systems act as intermediaries between the swinging motion and the user platform. These intermediaries absorb and dampen the harmful forces generated during acceleration and deceleration phases of the swing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the swing platform moves in a swinging motion, then it provides the desired play function, but the area below the platform becomes unsafe and inaccessible

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePlay function effectivenessVSAvoidUnsafe area below platform

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A skirt is introduced as an intermediary element that fills the dangerous space below the swinging platform. The skirt prevents access to the hazardous area while allowing the platform to maintain its full swinging range of motion for effective play

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11938411B2Accessible swing

Publication Date: 2024.03.26 LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES INC

AI summary

A swinging playground device includes a swing platform. The swinging playground device also includes a skirt coupled to the swinging platform and fills an area below the swinging platform as the swinging platform moves in a swinging motion.