Steven Olson, St. Paul, MN, "Method of Swinging on a Swing," US Patent Application Number 6,368,227, April 9, 2002.

Patent granted 2002. Patent reviewed and cancelled 2003.

METHOD OF SWINGING ON A SWING

Young children often need help to climb onto a swing, and may need a push (sometimes even an "underdog" push) to begin swinging. Others may be able to begin the swinging movement on their own by pushing with their feet against the ground, and once moving may coordinate the motion of their legs and body in what may be called "pumping" to sustain the movement of the swing. When swinging in this manner, the user travels along a path as generally shown in the cross-section of FIG 1. Another method of swinging on a swing involves twisting the seat around repeatedly so that the chains or ropes are wound in a double helix. When allowed to unwind, the swing spins quickly, which can be entertaining for the user.

These methods of swinging on a swing, although of considerable interest to some people, can lose their appeal with age and experience. A new method of swinging on a swing would therefore represent an advance of great significance of value.

The present inventor has created, through experimentation on a standard swing, a new and improved type of swinging.

FIG 1 is a schematic top view of the swinging path of a swing used in accordance with conventional swinging methods.

FIG 2 is a front view of a swinging path of a swing used in accordance with one embodiment of the swinging method of the present invention.

FIG 3 is a schematic top view of a swinging path of a swing used in accordance with a second embodiment of the swinging method of the present invention.