U.S. patent application number 10/102784 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-30 for play tunnel.
Invention is credited to Brereton, Anthony Paul.
Application Number | 20030022761 10/102784 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9911304 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030022761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brereton, Anthony Paul |
January 30, 2003 |
Play tunnel
Abstract
A play tunnel structure (11) providing passageways through which
children can crawl and play. The tunnel structure (11) has loops
(12) supporting a covering (14) thereby forming a tunnel
passageway. The loops (12) comprise discrete rings, (16) and (18),
disposed between helical members (20) and (22). When extended, the
helical members, (20) and (22), form straight sections of tunnel
passage way and the discrete rings, (16) and (18), may form bends
in the tunnel passageway. Each discrete ring, (16) and (18), has
eyes, (40) and (42), disposed to line up with each other on the
outer circumference thereof. A tie (32) is threaded through the
eyes, (40) and (42), and pulled taut to gather adjacent rings to
thereby form and secure a bend in the passageway of the tunnel
structure (11).
Inventors: |
Brereton, Anthony Paul;
(Cheshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Samuels, Gauthier & Stevens LLP
Suite 3300
225 Franklin Street
Boston
MA
02110
US
|
Family ID: |
9911304 |
Appl. No.: |
10/102784 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/35 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2208/12 20130101;
A63B 2210/54 20130101; A63B 9/00 20130101; E04H 15/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/35 |
International
Class: |
A63B 009/00; A63B
017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 22, 2001 |
GB |
0107155.4 |
Claims
1. A collapsable tunnel structure comprising a plurality of loops
which are movable in relation to each other, and a covering
supported by the loops to define a tunnel passageway, characterised
in that the plurality of loops comprises at least one helical
member forming with the covering a first tunnel section, to at
least one end of which is connected a second tunnel section the
axis of which may be misaligned with respect to that of the first
tunnel section to thereby form a bend in the tunnel passageway.
2. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the second tunnel section comprises at least one discrete ring
which is movable in relation to the first tunnel section, the
covering being supported by the, or each, ring to form a tunnel
passageway.
3. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising
a third tunnel section which is connected to the second tunnel
section a an opposite end to the first tunnel section.
4. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the third tunnel structure comprises at least one helical
member.
5. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the loops are formed from a flattened metallic strip material.
6. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the covering comprises a plurality of sleeves wherein the loops are
retained.
7. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the tunnel is collapsable along a longitudinal axis.
8. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 1, including
means for securing the tunnel structure in a collapsed state.
9. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
least one tunnel section comprises gathering means attached at
intervals along the wall of the tunnel, at at least one
corresponding circumferential position of the loops, for gathering
at least two loops at that circumferential position to thereby form
a bend in the tunnel passageway.
10. A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the gathering means comprises at least one tie in combination with
at least one eye.
11. A collapsable tunnel structure comprising a plurality of loops
which are movable in relation to each other, and a covering
supported by the loops to define a tunnel passageway, characterised
in that the tunnel structure comprises gathering means attached at
intervals along the wall of the tunnel passageway at at least one
corresponding circumferential position of the loops, for gathering
at least two loops at that circumferential position to thereby form
a bend in the tunnel passageway.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a play tunnel structure, and in
particular to collapsable play tunnel structures.
[0002] These tunnel structures provide passageways through which
children can crawl and safely play. However, these tunnel
structures are not limited to use by children, and may also be used
by adults or pets. In their collapsed state these tunnels can be
easily transported and stored.
[0003] A known type of play tunnel structure provides straight
tunnel passageways through which children can crawl. They are made
from covering a helically-shaped looped structure with material to
form a tunnel passageway.
[0004] It is also known to have separate connectors on to which
tunnel structures are attached. These separate units can then be
linked together by straight tunnel structures, similar to those
mentioned above. Accordingly, these separate connectors are used to
change direction of the tunnel.
[0005] However, children soon become bored and disinterested with
straight tunnels as they can see through the exit at the opposing
end which limits their enthusiasm for adventure.
[0006] Furthermore, straight tunnel structures having predetermined
lengths and having separate connectors are often difficult to
assemble in confined areas or indoors.
[0007] An object of this invention is to provide a play tunnel
which is capable of being adapted to provide bends in the tunnel
passageway and which is also capable of being collapsable for ease
of transportation and storage.
[0008] The present invention provides a collapsable tunnel
structure comprising a plurality of loops which are moveable in
relation to each other, and a covering supported by the loops to
define a tunnel passageway, characterised in that the plurality of
loops comprises an elongate strip formed into a helical member as a
first tunnel structure, to at least one end of which is connected a
second tunnel section the axis of which may be set at an angle with
respect to that of the first tunnel section to thereby form a bend
in the tunnel passageway
[0009] The present invention also provides a collapsable tunnel
structure comprising a plurality of loops which are moveable in
relation to each other, and a covering supported by the loops to
define a tunnel passageway, characterised in that the tunnel
structure comprises gathering means attached at intervals along the
wall of the tunnel structure, at at least one corresponding
circumferential position of the loops, for gathering at least two
loops at that circumferential position to thereby form a bend in
the tunnel passageway.
[0010] The plurality of loops may comprise a helical member in
combination with discrete wire rings.
[0011] Advantageously, the tunnel structure may comprise of at
least two discrete rings disposed between a first helical loop
structure and a second helical loop structure.
[0012] The loops may be formed from a metal or a plastics
material.
[0013] The covering may comprise at least one sleeve wherein the
loops are retained, thereby supporting the covering to provide a
tunnel passageway.
[0014] The covering may at least partially comprise a mesh material
and may be at least partially opaque or transparent.
[0015] The tunnel structure may be collapsable along a longitudinal
axis and may have means for securing it in a collapsed state.
[0016] The preset invention will be described further, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsable tunnel
structure shown in a straight extended state according to the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a collapsable tunnel structure as
shown in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tunnel structure as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the tunnel structure secured in a
collapsed state;
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a loop having ties attached to its
circumference;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tunnel structure as
shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, showing bends formed in the tunnel
passageway.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a repeated section (10) of a
collapsable play runnel structure (11) according to the present
invention comprises wire loops (12) supporting a flexible material
covering (14) thereby forming a tunnel passageway.
[0023] The material covering (14) comprises sleeves sewn around its
circumference in which the wire loops (12) are retained. The
material covering (14) is advantageously a woven or mesh material
and may be opaque or transparent, or a combination of the two.
[0024] The loops (12) comprise a first discrete ring (16) and a
second discrete ring (18), disposed between a first helical member
(20) and second member (22). The discrete rings (16), 18) are
moveable in relation to each other and both are also moveable in
relation to the helical members (20, 22).
[0025] The first helical member (20) comprises a proximate end (24)
and a distal end (26) both of which are formed into a ring (28, 30)
respectively (a shown in FIG. 4).
[0026] The proximate end ring (28) comprises a first tie (32) and a
second tie (34) each attached at opposing positions on the
circumference of the proximate end ring (28). In other embodiments
a greater number of ties may be attached. The distal end ring (30)
also comprises a first tie (36) and a second tie (38) which are
attached in positions as described for the proximate end ring (28),
hereinbefore.
[0027] The first discrete ring (16) comprises a first eye (40) and
a second eye (not shown) which re attached at opposing positions on
the circumference of the discrete ring (16), to correspond with the
first and second ties (32, 34) attached to the proximate end ring
(28).
[0028] The second discrete ring (18) also has a first eye (42) and
a second eye (not shown). The first eye (42) and the second eye
(not shown) arc attached in positions on the circumerence of the
second discrete ring (18) to correspond with the first eye (40) and
the second eye (not shown) which are attached to the first discrete
ring (16), and the first tie (32) and the second tie (34) which are
attached to the proximate end ring (28).
[0029] The second helical member (22) comprises a proximate end
(44) and a distal end (46), both of which are formed into a ring
(47, 48) respectively, as hereinbefore described in relation to the
first helical member (20).
[0030] The proximate end ring (47) comprises a first eye (48) and a
second eye (not shown). The first eye (48) and the second eye (not
shown) are attached on the circumference of the proximate end ring
(47) to correspond with the first eye (42) and the second eye (not
shown) attached to the second discrete ring (18); the first eye
(40) and the second eye (not shown) attached to the first discrete
ring (16); and the first tie (32) and the second tie (34) attached
to die proximate end ring (28) of the first helical member
(20).
[0031] To form a bend in the tunnel passageway the first tie (32)
is threaded through the first eye (40), disposed on the first
discrete ring (16), then through the first eye (42), disposed on
the second discrete ring (42), and finally through the first eye
(48), disposed on the proximate end ring (46) of the second helical
member (22). The rings (28, 16, 18, 46) are then gathered at that
common circumferential position, at which the tie (32) and the eyes
(40, 42 and 48) are attached, to form a bend in the tunnel
passageway, as shown in FIG. 5. The rings (28, 16, 18, 46) can be
temporarily secured in this position by knotting the tie (32).
[0032] The play tunnel structure (11) can be collapsed along a
longitudinal axis into a smaller state (50), as shown in FIG. 3.
This is carried out by compressing one end of the tunnel structure
(11) against the opposing end. Once the tunnel structure has been
collapsed into a smaller state it can be secured in that state
using the first tie (36) and the second tie (38) disposed on the
distal ring end (30) of the first helical member (20).
* * * * *