Swing Lever Link Extends Pendulum Length

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional swings experience high loads leading to increased wear and reduced safety, limiting operational reliability and swinging pleasure.

Innovation Solution

A swing arrangement with a support device that uses levers or links coupled to the support device via pivot bearings, allowing passive deflection of the swing seat, which extends the pendulum length and reduces wear by guiding the suspension means along a non-circular path, using elastic chains or ropes for stable suspension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the suspension means is arranged directly on the fixed support structure, then the structure is simple, but the swing frame is exposed to high loads leading to increased wear and reduced safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a lever or link as an intermediary component between the fixed support structure and the suspension means. This mediator transfers and distributes the loads, preventing direct high-load concentration on the support structure, thereby reducing wear while maintaining structural simplicity and enhancing safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the pendulum length is extended to increase swinging pleasure, then the swinging experience is improved, but the swing frame is exposed to higher loads and wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswinging pleasureVSAvoidoperational reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lever or link acts as a mechanical intermediary that enables pendulum length extension for enhanced swinging pleasure while distributing the resulting increased loads across multiple components rather than concentrating them on the swing frame, thereby maintaining operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lever or link is designed to move dynamically during swinging, adjusting its position and orientation to optimize the pendulum length throughout the swing arc. This dynamic adjustment allows extended swinging pleasure while distributing loads more evenly, reducing peak stresses on the frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the suspension means is coupled passively via lever or link, then wear is reduced and safety improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lever or link serves as a passive intermediary component that enhances safety by reducing wear on the support structure. While it does add a component to the system, the design keeps this intermediary simple in construction and easy to install, minimizing the actual increase in device complexity while achieving the safety benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances stability and safety by reducing wear on the swing frame, providing a more enjoyable and reliable swinging experience with increased pendulum length, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional swings.

Implementation Method 1

the lever or link being designed in such a way that during the rocking movement, especially when deflecting from the rest position, the pendulum length of the swing suspension is extended

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPendulum: Pendulum

Data Source

PatentEP3711833B1Shackle assembly
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 WESTFALIA SPIELGERATE GMBH
  • EP3711833B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3711833B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3711833B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The swing arrangement (1, 1', 1", 1''') has a support device (20, 21, 22), in particular a stationary one, on which a swing seat (10) is suspended with at least one suspension element (11, 12) that is subject to at least tensile stress. The suspension element (11, 12) is coupled to the support device (20, 20a, 21, 21a, 22), in particular passively, via at least one lever or link (23, 24).