US20240335757A1

US20240335757A1 - Bungee swing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20240335757A1
Application number: US18/297,143
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Paige Moyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-04-07
Filing date: 2023-04-07
Publication date: 2024-10-10

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.

Description

FIELD

The present subject matter is directed, in general to an apparatus involving bungee cords, and is still more particularly directed to a bungee-corded swinging-seat apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Physical activity, especially scheduled time periods exclusively devoted to exercise regimens, can be difficult for many people to execute, especially when daily job concerns including, for example, scheduling production runs and managing the staff must be done.
Also, unless a person has an inherent desire to be physically fit, e.g., by swimming, bicycling, and/or running daily (or perhaps every other day), many exercise regiments can be rather boring, and associated athletic equipment, if bought, may eventually be unused.
For exercise equipment to be used on a regular basis it must provide users an incentive to use it. I discovered, if exercise equipment provides users “fun to do” activities, that exercise routines will often be planned out by users to experience the “fun” element. For instance—except for trampolines with sideguards—there is little exercise equipment presently commercially available that allows adults to have fun bouncing or jumping about without fear of injuring themselves due to impact when landing, or falling onto, the ground.
While many young children can often be seen jumping about when happily walking with a parent inside a mall, department or grocery store, through a park, or along a beach, many adults wishing to establish regular exercise routines may discover that my exercise equipment that provides a “fun” feature may cause them to exercise much more regularly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various features of the bungee swing apparatus of the present subject matter, along with a bouncing motion caused by a user of the bungee swing apparatus, enables the user to control how much impact is being experienced upon knees, feet, and so forth.
My bungee swing apparatus allows users to jump about freely, as young children do, to experience the thrill associated with pseudo “free-fall,” without the associated risks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a vertically twisted, front perspective view of a suspended example of an embodiment of the bungee swing apparatus of the present invention, as used by an adult.

FIG. 2 is the view of FIG. 1 , but on a slightly enlarged scale, and without the adult.

FIG. 3 presents a front view of several select components of the bungee swing apparatus of the present subject matter, on an enlarged scale relative to FIGS. 1 and 2 .

FIG. 4 is a back of a component and its associated features shown in FIGS. 1, 2 .

FIG. 5 is a front of a component and its associated features shown in FIGS. 1, 2 .

Throughout the figures and detailed description, similar reference numerals shall be used, for similar components of the bungee swing apparatus, of my present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A bungee cord (also known as a “shock cord”) is an elastic cord comprising one or more elastic strands forming a core, often covered by a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath. The sheath doesn't materially extend elastically but is braided with strands that spiral around the core so that a longitudinal pull causes the strands to squeeze the core, transmitting the core's elastic compression to a longitudinal extension of sheath and cord. Specialized cords used, e.g., in “bungee jumping” may be made entirely of elastic strands.
In addition, polypropylene (“PP”), produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer propylene, is a thermoplastic polymer having an assortment of applications. Expanded polypropylene (“EPP”), e.g., is a “foam form” of polypropylene with very good impact characteristics due to its low stiffness, allowing EPP to resume its original shape after impact. Unlike expanded polystyrene foam (“EPS”) which is friable and breaks on impact, EPP foam absorbs kinetic impact very well without breaking and exhibits so-called “memory” characteristics, which allows it to return to its original shape in a very short time.
A carabiner (a special type of shackle used in safety-critical systems) is a metal loop having a spring-loaded gate, used to quickly—and reversibly—connect components.
Because a detailed description of several components of a bungee swing apparatus of the present subject matter are noted above, let us now briefly refer to FIGS. 3 through 5 , to further describe them. An illustrated embodiment of the present subject matter is directed to a bungee swing apparatus 10 (FIG. 3 ) including a seat portion 24 (FIGS. 4 and 5 ), a spaced-apart pair of tabs 22, and at least four shock cords 26 (FIG. 3 ).
The seat portion 24 includes an integral closure portion 23. The seat portion 24 has an exterior surface 24A (FIG. 4 ) and an interior surface 24B (FIG. 5 ) located opposite the exterior surface 24A. The spaced-apart pair of tabs (or wings) 22 are securely joined to associated ones of the spaced-apart upper lateral edge margins 25 of seat portion 24.
The bungee swing apparatus 10 includes a first member (i.e., 20A or 20B) of a well-known hook-and-loop fastener (or closure) mechanism 20A and 20B, commonly called a “VELCRO” closure, fixed to a surface of each of the wings 22. The bungee swing apparatus further includes a second member (i.e., 20A or 20B) of the hook-and- loop fastener mechanism 20A and 20B, fixed to a surface of closure portion 23. The apparatus 10 includes at least four loops 18 fixed at predetermined spacings along an upper edge margin of the seat portion 24. In embodiments, the loops 18 are made of metal “D” rings, heat-treated by a preselected process, for achieving predetermined stiffness properties.
The four shock cords 26 are of predetermined equal length (FIG. 2 ), each having a proximate end portion associated with one of the at least four loops 18 and a distal end portion associated with a fixed support S. The bungee swing apparatus 10 of the present subject matter also includes a plurality of carabiners 16, at least four of which releasably secure a proximate end portion of an associated one of the four shock cords 26 to one of at least four loops 18 (FIGS. 1, 2 ). At least four other of the plural carabiners 16 releasably secure distal end portions of associated ones of the shock cords 26 to a mounting device 12 secured to support S. The first and second members 20A, 20B are each dimensioned, configured, and arranged on the tabs or wings 22 and the closure portion 23, in a manner such that the seat portion 24 securely retains a user therein when first member 20A and second member 20B of hook-and- loop fastener mechanism 20A, 20B are joined together.
The bungee swing apparatus 10 of the present subject matter includes an effective amount of material 28 (including but not limited to rubber, rubber-coated fabric, polyester, nylon, and canvas), for covering the length of each of the shock cords 26. The bungee swing apparatus 10 further includes a bungee cord 14 (FIGS. 1-3 ) comprising a shock cord 26 and an amount of material 28 sized and configured to enclose the shock cord 26.
In embodiments of the bungee swing apparatus of the present subject matter each of the four shock cords 26 can be made of polypropylene. Further in this regard, each of the four shock cords 26 could be made of an expanded polypropylene having physical properties effective for elastically supporting, in the seat portion 24, a person having a weight of up to about 200 or 300 pounds, or a weight of up to about 400 or 500 pounds.
In operation, the weight of a person 11 secured in the seat portion 24 (FIG. 1 ) causes the shock cords 26 (preferably identical to cords used, e.g., in “bungee jumping” and made almost entirely of elastic strands) are designed to extend and retract elastically.
After being assured that the proximate and distal ends of all shock cords 26 are secured, and that each shock cord 26 is of appropriate length, after being secured into the seat portion 24, a user soon gets into a rhythm of planting his/her feet on the ground, for using his/her knees to flex and his/her feet to push off from the ground, to begin an up-and-down bouncing motion, indoors while perhaps listening to favorite soundtracks or outside while observing scenes and sounds of nature, to exercise while also having fun.
What has been illustrated and described in this nonprovisional patent application is a bungee swing apparatus. While the bungee swing apparatus of the present subject matter is described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, the present subject matter is not limited to this embodiment. On the contrary, alternatives, changes, and/or modifications will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) after this patent specification and its associated figures have been reviewed. Therefore, all alternatives, changes, and modifications are to be treated as forming a part of the present subject matter insofar as they fall within the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

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 (24A) and an interior surface (24B) located opposite the exterior surface (24A);

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 (20A or 20B) of a hook-and-loop fastener mechanism (20A and 20B) being secured to a surface of each of the tabs (22); and

a second member (20A or 20B) of the hook-and-loop fastener mechanism (20A and 20B) being secured to a surface of the closure portion (23),

wherein the first and second members (20A and 20B) 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 (20A and 20B) of the hook-and-loop fastener mechanism (20A, 20B) 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 first member (20A or 20B) of a hook-and-loop fastener mechanism (20A and 20B) being secured to a surface of each of the tabs (22);

a second member (20A or 20B) of the hook-and-loop fastener mechanism (20A and 20B) 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,

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.