U.S. patent application number 11/817214 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-21 for playground equipment.
Invention is credited to Nir Pizmony.
Application Number | 20090131184 11/817214 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36926976 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090131184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pizmony; Nir |
May 21, 2009 |
Playground Equipment
Abstract
First and second frame supports (12, 13) with each including a
frame support body (21a, 13a) and a frame support base (12b, 13b).
The frame support bodies are substantially A-frames and the frame
support bases are substantially C-shaped cylindrical rods
connecting to the ends of a respective one of the A-frame frame
support bodies (12a, 13a) to form outwardly extending frame support
bases. The cross beam (15) sized or extended by addition of
extension beam (16) to protrude beyond the connection points (17)
and to substantially overly the extension of the frame support base
(12b, or 13b). This allows a further swing or climbing means or the
like to be connected therebetween. Alterable suspension means (51)
includes a cleat plate (53) with a plurality of holes (54) to allow
the rope (52) or other elongated flexible cord to be woven through
the plurality of the cleat holes (54) to provide a frictional hold
of the rope or other elongated flexible cord.
Inventors: |
Pizmony; Nir; (Victoria,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KAMRATH & ASSOCIATES P.A.
4825 OLSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 245
GOLDEN VALLEY
MN
55422
US
|
Family ID: |
36926976 |
Appl. No.: |
11/817214 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
February 24, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU06/00270 |
371 Date: |
June 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/106 ;
297/256.15; 297/463.2; 472/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 9/00 20130101; A63G
11/00 20130101; A63B 2009/002 20130101; A63B 2009/006 20130101;
A63B 2208/12 20130101; A63G 9/00 20130101; A63G 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
472/106 ;
472/118; 297/256.15; 297/463.2 |
International
Class: |
A63G 9/00 20060101
A63G009/00; A63G 11/00 20060101 A63G011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 25, 2005 |
AU |
2005900890 |
Claims
1: Playground equipment comprising a frame structure having first
and second frame supports arranged in opposing manner and connected
at respective upper connecting points to a cross beam from which
swing means of various types can be suspended; each of the opposing
first and second frame supports including a frame support body and
a frame support base; the respective frame support bodies extending
substantially in a first plane in a diverging manner from a top
connecting point to the cross beam; the respective frame support
bases extending substantially in a second plane from an outer side
of, and at an angle to, the first plane of the diverging frame
support bodies; wherein the frame support bases respectively extend
outwardly of the opposing first and second frame support bodies to
provide a stable support of the playground equipment.
2: Playground equipment according to claim 1 wherein the frame
support bases extend from a distal end of the first and second
frame support bodies from the connecting point and at an angle to
the frame support bodies such that in use a substantial portion of
the frame support bases are ground engaging.
3: Playground equipment according to claim 2 wherein the frame
support bodies are substantially A-frame and the frame support
bases are opposing curved cylindrical rods extending from the
bottom of each frame support base.
4: Playground equipment according to claim 3 wherein the frame
support bases comprise a substantially C-shaped cylindrical rod
connecting the ends of a respective one of the A-frame frame
support bodies.
5: Playground equipment according to claim 1 wherein the frame
support bases extend outwardly from the from the frame support
bodies at a ratio of the extension frame support base to the height
of the frame support body of at least 1:5.
6: Playground equipment according to claim 1 wherein the cross beam
is sized to extend beyond the connection points to the first or
second frame supports to provide a cantilevered suspension arm and
to substantially overly the extension of the frame support base and
allow a further swing or climbing means or the like to be connected
therebetween.
7: Playground equipment according to claim 1 including one or more
alterable suspension means for use in supporting swing elements or
climbing means or the like of playground equipment; the alterable
suspension means including a rope or other elongated flexible cord
and a cleat having a plate with a plurality of holes to allow the
rope or other elongated flexible cord to be woven through a
plurality of said cleat holes to provide a frictional hold of said
rope or other elongated flexible cord; and the alterable suspension
means further including a closable casing for enclosing the cleat
holes; wherein the alterable suspension means is able to receive
said rope or other elongated flexible cord and allow a selective
supporting suspended length and the alterable suspension means is
encased.
8: Playground equipment according to claim 7 wherein the cleat is
encased by two mating substantially hemispherical type bodies of
circular, elliptical or other curved shape and is fixed together by
detachable fixing means such as screw means or child proof locking
catch.
9: Playground equipment according to claim 7 having a rope or other
elongated flexible cord and two alterable suspension means wherein
the first allows adjustable length of suspension along rope or
other elongated flexible cord suspended from the cross beam and the
second is used as a rope or other elongated flexible cord ending
means such that a loose end after fitting around a piece of swing
elements or climbing means can be connected back to the suspended
rope or other elongated flexible cord to attach the swing elements
or climbing means to the suspended rope or other elongated flexible
cord.
10: Playground equipment according to claim 7 having a rope or
other elongated flexible cord and an alterable suspension means,
and the attachable swing elements or climbing means having an
attachment engagement body portion which is shaped complementary to
at least a top portion of the alterable suspension to the suspended
rope or other elongated flexible cord wherein the attachment
engagement body portion is used to rest and support the swing
elements or climbing means on the alterable suspension means to the
suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord.
11: Playground equipment according to claim 7 wherein the
attachment engagement body portion of the swing elements or
climbing means includes a cup shape with a vertical cutaway
extending from a side to a top portion to allow the suspended rope
or other elongated flexible cord to be received in the vertical
cutaway and allow mounting of the swing or climbing means while the
alterable suspension means is attached to the suspended rope or
other elongated flexible cord.
12: Playground equipment according to claim 7 including an
alterable swing chair comprising a substantially planar swing seat
that is suspended by ropes or other elongated flexible cords from
the cross beam; the alterable swing chair further including a swing
chair waist means having an encircling structure that can be
positioned between the spaced ropes or other elongated flexible
cords at a position spaced above the swing seat; and the alterable
swing chair further including a cage attachment means extending
between the swing seat and the swing chair waist means for forming
a cage like structure preventing child under the age of 3 sliding
off the swing seat.
13: Playground equipment according to claim 7 wherein the swing
chair waist means and rear of the cage attachment means further
includes a supporting rear surface for providing at least a partial
back support for the child under the age of 3.
14: Playground equipment according to claim 7 wherein the swing
chair waist means includes opposing rope receptacles for receiving
the ropes or other elongated flexible cords or attachments on the
ropes at opposite sides of the swing seat to assist retention of
the swing chair waist means in position.
15: Playground equipment according to claim 7 wherein the swing
chair waist means includes cage connection means at front and back
and spaced from the opposing rope receptacles to further assist
retention of the swing chair waist means in position.
16: Playground equipment according to claim 15 wherein the cage
connection means includes a central front narrow element extending
between the swing seat and the swing chair waist means allowing the
user of the swing chair to have legs astride either side to provide
a caged arrangement preventing the child under the age of 3 sliding
off the front of the swing chair.
17: Playground equipment according to claim 7 wherein the central
front narrow element connects to the swing chair waist means by the
front cage connection means.
18: An alterable swing chair which can be used for playground
equipment comprising a swing seat, a swing chair waist means, and
an interconnecting cage attachment means wherein the swing seat is
able to be suspended by ropes or other elongated flexible cords
from the playground equipment; the swing seat being substantially
planar and having two spaced bores at either side and parallel
grooves extending across the underside of the seat between
respective side bores such that ropes or other elongated flexible
cords by which the swing seat is suspended extends through the side
bores and fits within the parallel grooves and connects back to the
suspended rope for connection such as by alterable suspension means
having encased cleat means; the swing chair waist means having an
encircling structure with a double wall structure which is
substantially closed at the top and substantially open at the
bottom, and including opposing rope receptacles including shaped
side body cavities with slits in the outer of the double wall
structure to receive the ropes or other elongated flexible cords
for allowing mounting of the rope receptacles on the encased cleat
means which allows positioning of the swing chair waist means
between the spaced ropes or other elongated flexible cords at a
position spaced above the swing seat; and the cage attachment means
including a U shape for extending around the swing seat and between
the swing seat and the swing chair waist means for forming a cage
like structure substantially preventing child under the age of 3
sliding off the swing seat, the cage attachment further having
engagement means for engaging the swing seat and having cage
connection means for mating with cage connection means on the front
and rear of the swing chair waist means.
19: A method of converting a swing seat suitable for children over
3 years of age to a swing chair suitable for children under 3 years
of age the method including the steps of: positioning a
substantially rigid swing chair waist means forming a encircling
means between opposing ropes, which are suspending a swing seat, by
means of providing side rope receptacles on the swing chair waist
means able to receive the rope and engage the rope or attachments;
connecting a U-shaped cage able to be positioned around the swing
seat and connecting to connection means at front and rear of the
rigid encircling swing chair waist means to form a cage like swing
chair.
20: A kit for converting a swing seat suitable for children over 3
years of age to a swing chair suitable for children under 3 years
of age the kit including: a swing chair waist means having
encircling means and side rope connectors able to engage or receive
the rope suspending a swing seat and capture the rope or an
attachment on the rope; and a U-shaped cage able to be positioned
around the swing seat and connect to connection means at front and
rear of the rigid encircling swing chair waist means to form a cage
like swing chair.
21: A suspended see-saw which for use on playground equipment, the
suspended see-saw includes a pivot rod able to be fixedly mounted
to a cross member of playground equipment and a plurality of
opposing suspension bars supporting seat structures at a lower end
and mounted at spaced positions at an upper end to the respective
ends of each of two spaced see-saw arms which are centrally and
pivotally mounted on the pivot rod at spaced positions, whereby the
supported seat structures undertake a limited swing and see-saw
action.
22: A suspended see-saw according to claim 21 wherein the limit of
the swing and see-saw action is limited by the lengths of the
see-saw arms and their relative spacing.
23: A suspended see-saw according to claim 21 wherein the two
spaced see-saw arms are substantially parallel and equal length and
pivotally mounted at central points to spaced positions on linear
pivot rod with suspension bars joined at respective end points of
the see-saw arms so as to form a shape between the see-saw arms and
suspension bars extending therebetween moving from a rectangular to
a trapezoidal shape, which results in opposing C-shape travel of
the supported seat structures at the lower end of the suspension
bars.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to playground equipment and to
component parts that can interchangeably form part of the
playground equipment or can be separately mounted. The invention
particularly relates to a readily do-it-yourself assembly form of
playground equipment, which can include a number of swing elements
but is not limited to such arrangement.
[0002] Playground sets are typically a framework onto which various
children's play accessories (e.g., swings, slides, climbing
structures, basketball rings, etc.) are secured. The children's
accessories are attached to the playground sets in any number of
configurations.
[0003] Playground sets are commonly sold to consumers as a
conglomeration of unassembled parts in order to facilitate packing,
shipping and handling. As a result, the ultimate user at the
desired location assembles the playground sets. The number, size,
and complexity of the parts can make assembly of conventional
playground sets extremely cumbersome.
[0004] Typical playground sets include one or more horizontal
cross-beams that are supported by two spaced support structures.
The cross-beams are usually either metal such as tubular metal or
wood as a single beam or two parallel interengaging lengths. The
support structures can include one or more supports, or legs
commonly placed in an A-frame configuration and joined together at
the top by the cross beam therebetween. Although playground
equipments are known there are a number of inherent problems in
their structure.
[0005] One of the problems associated with conventional playground
sets is that they are not particularly stable and require pegging
to retain them in position. However the pegging can work loose upon
constant or excessive swinging or the ground might be too soft to
provide a strong hold. Although there can be some splaying of
opposing A-frame configurations the playground set is not overly
safe. In particular, the stability allowed by the amount of
splaying is in opposition to the vertical weight supporting
strength of the framework. Therefore such a structure cannot allow
splaying beyond about a 10 to 15 degree angle.
[0006] Children's swings, glide rides, gymnastic rings and the like
usually include some kind of a seating platform or holding means
suspended by suspension means such as chains, cables, tubes or the
like from the horizontal cross beam. The suspension means are
invariably connected to the top cross beam or other raised support
by means allowing the suspension means to pivot. In one known
example, a pair of eye bolts are mounted at spaced-apart locations
along the cross beam and the uppermost links of a pair of chains
supporting the swing seat are connected to the eye bolts by closed
S-hooks. To provide safe connection to the chain the other end of
the S-hook is closed around the chain to provide a fixed length.
That type of connection is disadvantageous in that the chains
cannot be readily adjusted to accommodate different height of
children and therefore different height requirements of the swing
seat or gymnastic bars. If the S-hooks are not fixed it is a
requirement to provide a clip to prevent disengagement of the
S-hook from the chain. However such a system allows fingers to be
caught in the connection, which can cause serious injury if the
chain is supporting the child's weight and the child is
swinging.
[0007] Another aspect of known playground sets is that the swing
seat is generally a planar platform connected between two
suspension chains and such an open structure is not suitable for
very young children under about two or three years old and needs to
be replaced by a swing chair. The consumer usually needs to buy a
separate swing chair, which has a seat with supporting back and
sides, and often includes a safety strap for strapping in the
child. There are a number of problems with such a system. Apart
from the consumer clearly needing to purchase two seats within a
short time as the child grows out of the swing chair, there is also
the problem of siblings of different ages such that a swing seat
and a swing chair is required to accommodate both children. To only
mount these two articles on playground set does not provide either
child with a choice of swing means and loses the interest of
playground set.
[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide
improved playground equipment and component parts therefore which
overcomes or at least ameliorates the problems of the prior
art.
[0009] It is also an object of the invention to provide playground
set which is substantially more stable than known structures and
would only require pegging to the ground as an added
precaution.
[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide a system, which
allows for adjustment of the length of suspended play equipment
with such system being easy to assemble and safe in use.
[0011] Further it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved swing seat chair for use in playground equipment.
[0012] It is a still further object of the invention to provide a
novel swing means for attachment on playground equipment.
[0013] Each aspect of the invention substantially provides at least
one of the above objects or at least ameliorates one or more of the
problems of the prior art.
[0014] In accordance with the invention there is provided
playground equipment comprising a frame structure having first and
second frame supports arranged in opposing manner and connected at
respective upper connecting points to a cross beam from which swing
means of various types can be suspended; each of the opposing first
and second frame supports including a frame support body and a
frame support base; the respective frame support bodies extending
substantially in a first plane in a diverging manner from a
connecting point to the cross beam; the respective frame support
bases extending substantially in a second plane from an outer side
of, and at an angle to the first plane of the diverging frame
support bodies; wherein the frame support bases respectively extend
outwardly of the opposing first and second frame support bodies to
provide a stable support of the playground equipment.
[0015] The frame support bases can extend from a distal end of the
first and second frame support bodies from the connecting point and
at an angle to the frame support bodies such that in use a
substantial portion of the frame support bases are ground
engaging.
[0016] The frame support bodies can be substantially A-frame and
the frame support bases can be opposing curved cylindrical rods
extending from the bottom of each frame support base.
[0017] The frame support bases can be a single substantially
C-shaped cylindrical rod connecting the ends of a respective one of
the A-frame frame support bodies.
[0018] The frame support bases can extend outwardly from the from
the frame support bodies at a ratio of the extension frame support
base to the height of the frame support body of at least 1:5.
[0019] It can be seen that the frame structure of the playground
equipment provides a substantially more stable structure while
maintaining the vertical load bearing capacity of the structure. In
particular the frame support bases can provide a large footprint
that substantially increases stability of playground equipment.
[0020] A further advantage is that the frame support body and frame
support base provide a volume that can be used in a number of ways
including forming an enclosed tee-pee type tent by extending
material between the outer edges of the frame support body and
frame support base. Further the volume can be used to mount a net
to form a goal for receiving balls kicked or hit into the area.
[0021] However a still further advantage occurs when the cross beam
is sized or can be extended to extend beyond the connection points
to the first or second frame supports to provide a cantilevered
suspension arm for suspending a further swing or climbing means or
the like. The cross beam can be sized or can be extended to
protrude beyond the connection points to the first or second frame
supports and to substantially overly the extension of the frame
support base and allow a further swing or climbing means or the
like to be connected. Such swing or climbing means or the like can
be connected at a lower end to the frame support base.
[0022] It can be seen that the structure thereby provides an
improved playground equipment that can include further swing or
climbing means or the like without substantially increasing the
load bearing capacity of the cross beam and thereby without
requiring larger load bearing piping or the like.
[0023] Also the invention provides an alterable suspension means
for swing elements or climbing means or the like of playground
equipment; the alterable suspension means including a cleat having
a plate with a plurality of holes to allow a rope or other
elongated flexible cord to be woven through a plurality of said
cleat holes to provide a frictional hold of said rope or other
elongated flexible cord; and the alterable suspension means further
including a closable casing for enclosing the cleat holes; wherein
the alterable suspension means is able to receive said rope or
other elongated flexible cord and allow a selective suspended
length and the alterable suspension means is able to be encased to
prevent accidental access.
[0024] The cleat can be encased by two mating substantially
hemispherical type bodies of circular elliptical or other shape and
can be fixed together by detachable fixing means such as screw
means or child proof locking catch.
[0025] The invention thereby allows selective fixing of adjustable
height of swing elements or climbing means or the like to
playground equipment by use of the alterable suspension means for
each suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord. The children
using the swing elements or climbing means or the like of the
playground equipment are not able to access the cleat holes and
thereby not alter the length or be able to be injured by the
mechanism.
[0026] The alterable suspension means can further be used as a rope
or other elongated flexible cord ending means such that a loose end
after fitting around a piece of swing elements or climbing means
can be connected back to the suspended rope or other elongated
flexible cord.
[0027] Still further the invention provides an alterable swing
chair which can be used for playground equipment comprising a
substantially planar swing seat that can be suspended by ropes or
other elongated flexible cords from playground equipment and used
as a swing means; the alterable swing chair further including a
swing chair waist means having an encircling structure that can be
positioned between the spaced ropes or other elongated flexible
cords at a position spaced above the swing seat; and the alterable
swing chair further including a cage attachment means extending
between the swing seat and the swing chair waist means for forming
a cage like structure preventing child under the age of 3 sliding
off the swing seat.
[0028] The swing chair waist means and rear of the cage attachment
means can further include a supporting rear surface for providing
at least a partial back support for the child under the age of
3.
[0029] The swing chair waist means can include opposing rope
receptacles for receiving the ropes or other elongated flexible
cords or attachments on the ropes at opposite sides of the swing
seat to assist retention of the swing chair waist means in
position. The swing chair waist means can further include cage
connection means at front and back and spaced from the opposing
rope receptacles to further assist retention of the swing chair
waist means in position.
[0030] The cage attachment means can include a central front narrow
element extending between the swing seat and the swing chair waist
means and allowing the user of the swing chair to have legs astride
either side to provide a caged arrangement preventing the child
under the age of 3 sliding off the front of the swing chair. The
central front narrow element can connect to the swing chair waist
means by the front cage connection means.
[0031] In one form of the invention there is provided an alterable
swing chair which can be used for playground equipment comprising a
swing seat, a swing chair waist means, and an interconnecting cage
attachment means wherein the swing seat is able to be suspended by
ropes or other elongated flexible cords from the playground
equipment; the swing seat being substantially planar and having two
spaced holes at either side and parallel grooves extending across
the underside of the seat between respective side holes such that
ropes or other elongated flexible cords by which the swing seat is
suspended enters the side holes and fits within the parallel
grooves and connects back to the suspended rope by alterable
suspension means having encased cleat means; the swing chair waist
means having an encircling structure with a double wall structure
which is substantially closed at the top and substantially open at
the bottom, and including opposing rope receptacles comprising
slits in the outer of the double wall structure to receive the
ropes and including shaped side cavities for allowing mounting of
the rope receptacles on the encased cleat means which allows
positioning of the swing chair waist means between the spaced ropes
or other elongated flexible cords at a position spaced above the
swing seat; and the cage attachment means including a U shape for
extending around the swing seat and between the swing seat and the
swing chair waist means for forming a cage like structure
preventing child under the age of 3 sliding off the swing seat, the
cage attachment having engagement means for engaging the swing seat
and having cage connection means for mating with cage connection
means on the front and rear of the swing chair waist means.
[0032] The invention also provides a method of converting a swing
seat suitable for children over 3 years of age to a swing chair
suitable for children under 3 years of age the method including the
steps of: positioning a substantially rigid swing chair waist means
forming a encircling means between opposing ropes, which are
suspending a swing seat, by means of providing side rope
receptacles on the swing chair waist means able to receive the rope
and engage the rope or attachments; connecting a U-shaped cage able
to be positioned around the swing seat and connecting to connection
means at front and rear of the rigid encircling swing chair waist
means to form a cage like swing chair.
[0033] The invention further provides a kit for converting a swing
seat suitable for children over 3 years of age to a swing chair
suitable for children under 3 years of age the kit including: a
swing chair waist means having encircling means and side rope
connectors able to engage or receive the rope suspending a swing
seat and capture the rope or an attachment on the rope; and a
U-shaped cage able to be positioned around the swing seat and
connect to connection means at front and rear of the rigid
encircling swing chair waist means to form a cage like swing
chair.
[0034] The invention also provides a suspended see-saw which can be
used on playground equipment, the suspended see-saw includes a
pivot rod able to be fixedly mounted to a cross member of
playground equipment and a plurality of opposing suspension bars
supporting seat structures at a lower end and mounted at spaced
positions at an upper end to the respective ends of each of two
spaced see-saw arms which are centrally and pivotally mounted on
the pivot rod at spaced positions, whereby the supported seat
structures undertake a limited swing and see-saw action.
[0035] The limit of the swing and see-saw action can be limited by
the lengths of the see-saw arms and their relative spacing.
[0036] The two spaced see-saw arms can be substantially parallel
and equal length and pivotally mounted at central points to spaced
positions on linear pivot rod with suspension bars joined at
respective end points of the see-saw arms so as to form a shape
between the see-saw arms and suspension bars extending therebetween
moving from a rectangular to a trapezoidal shape, which results in
opposing C-shape travel of the supported seat structures at the
lower end of the suspension bars.
[0037] It can be seen that the invention provides a multitude of
improvements to playground equipments. In particular the invention
provides playground equipment that allows modular creation and
expansion of the playground equipment by its inherent design
features.
[0038] In order that the invention is more readily understood
embodiments of the playground equipment and component parts
therefore will be described by way of illustration with reference
to the drawings wherein:
[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of
playground equipment in accordance with the invention having a
single first swing means with extension mounted rotating equipment
piece;
[0040] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of
playground equipment in accordance with the invention having two
equipment pieces being first and second swing means, also with an
extension mounted rotating equipment piece;
[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of
playground equipment in accordance with the invention having an
altered first swing means also with extension mounted climbing
equipment piece from the playground equipment of FIG. 1;
[0042] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of
playground equipment in accordance with the invention having first,
third and fourth three swing means pieces with extension mounted
rotating equipment piece and includes a double action mechanism to
form a swing see-saw;
[0043] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second rotating means,
which can be incorporated on the extension of the playground
equipment;
[0044] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first climbing equipment
of FIG. 3, which can be incorporated on the playground
equipment;
[0045] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alterable suspension
means for use in suspending the swing systems and other equipment
pieces of the playground equipment of the invention;
[0046] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a partially disassembled
alterable suspension means of FIG. 7;
[0047] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first swing means of
FIG. 1 in an altered first swing means in an enclosed seat
configuration as shown in FIG. 3;
[0048] FIG. 10 is a close-up perspective front view of the enclosed
seat of the altered first swing means of FIG. 9;
[0049] FIG. 11 is a close-up perspective rear view of the enclosed
seat of the altered first swing means of FIG. 9;
[0050] FIG. 12 is an exploded underneath perspective view of the
enclosed seat of the altered first swing means of FIG. 9;
[0051] FIG. 13 is an exploded side perspective view of the enclosed
seat of the altered first swing means of FIG. 9;
[0052] FIG. 14 is a close-up partial side elevation of the enclosed
seat of the altered first swing means of FIG. 9;
[0053] FIG. 15 is a front view of the fourth swing means, which can
be incorporated on the extension of the playground equipment and
includes a double action mechanism to form a swing see-saw;
[0054] FIGS. 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views of the swing see-saw
of FIG. 15 showing the principle of the double action
mechanism;
[0055] FIG. 18 is a partial top view of a partially disassembled
swing see-saw of FIG. 15 showing the internal elements of the
double action mechanism;
[0056] Looking at the invention of the playground equipment and
component parts in detail and with reference to the drawings there
are the following parts:
A. Frame structure; B. Alterable suspension means; C. Alterable
swing chair; D. Suspended see-saw; and E. Modular system.
A. Frame Structure
[0057] The frame structure is shown particularly in FIGS. 1 to 4
comprising first and second frame supports 12, 13 with each
including a frame support body 21a, 13a and a frame support base
12b 13b. The frame support bodies are substantially A-frames and
the frame support bases are substantially C-shaped cylindrical rods
connecting to the ends of a respective one of the A-frame frame
support bodies 12a 13a to form outwardly extending frame support
bases.
[0058] The first and second frame supports 12, 13 are arranged in
an opposing manner such that the respective frame support bases
12b, 13b extend away from each other and the A-frame support bodies
12a, 13a are angled towards each other and connected at respective
upper connecting points to a crossbeam 15. Connector covers 17
being ball like structures cover connections. The configuration of
the first and second frame supports 12, 13 makes an extremely
stable support structure. In particular the frame support bases
12b, 13b are ground engaging and provide a large footprint for
aiding support.
[0059] Swing means of various types can be suspended from the
crossbeam 15 extending between the first and second frame supports
12, 13.
[0060] These include: [0061] a first swing means 41 comprising a
swing seat for children over the age of 3; [0062] a second swing
means 42 being a two seater carriage swing comprising two seats
mounted at either end of two support bars which are suspended from
two spaced poles mounted to a bracket allowing spacing of the top
of the poles and allowing a gentle restricted carriage swing;
[0063] an altered swing means 43 based on the first swing means and
will be further described in detail later; [0064] a third swing
means 44 being a suspended combined gymnastic bar and rings; and
[0065] a fourth swing means 45 being a suspended see-saw mechanism
and will be further described in detail later.
[0066] It should be understood that other swing means or other
suspended or supported climbing structures or play equipment.
[0067] The cross beam 15 is sized or can be extended by addition of
extension beam 16 to extend beyond the connection points 17 of the
cross beam 15 to the first or second frame supports 12, 13. This
provides a cantilevered suspension arm for suspending a further
swing or climbing means or the like. However particularly
favourable is to have the cross beam 15 sized or extended by
addition of extension beam 16 to protrude beyond the connection
points 17 and to substantially overly the extension of the frame
support base 12b, or 13b. This allows a further swing or climbing
means or the like to be connected therebetween.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 1 only one side of the cross beam 15 is
extended collinearly by bolting extension beam 16 and to overly the
frame support base 12b. A swing or climbing means or the like is
connected at a lower end to the frame support base. In this case a
rotating swirl means 46 having a rigid elongated swirl pole is
mounted on a pivot point on the frame support base 13b and held at
the top end by capturing means 19 at the distal end of the
extension beam 16 to allow rotation of the swirl pole. A circular
disc near the bottom of the rotating swirl means 46 is for the user
to stand on and the shape of pole allows user to swivel around
vertical axis.
[0069] Examples of swing or climbing means or the like other than
the rotating swirl means 46 which can be connected between the
extension bar 16 and at a lower end to the frame support base 13b
are: [0070] a second rotating means 47 as shown in FIG. 5
comprising a flexible rope mounted between the extension bar and
frame support base and adjustable by alterable suspension means as
will be further described later. The bottom of the second rotating
means 47 includes a disc fixed around a pole that can rotate around
the rope with a handle at waist level to assist the user to stand
on the disc and sway and swivel; [0071] a climbing means 48 as
shown in FIG. 6 comprising similar rope structure as the second
rotating means connected between the extension bar and frame
support base and having an intermediately mounted pole with spaced
projections on alternating sides to form a climbing structure.
[0072] Other devices that can be mounted on playground equipment
include a ball return chute 49 such as fitted to the end of the
cross beam 15 distal to the crossbeam extension 16, and a goal net
50 which fits within the frame support 12.
[0073] The frame support body and frame support base also can
provide a volume that can be used in a number of ways including
forming an enclosed tee-pee type tent by extending material between
the outer edges of the frame support body and frame support
base.
[0074] It can be seen that the structure thereby provides an
improved playground equipment that can include further swing or
climbing means or the like without substantially increasing the
strength of the cross beam requiring larger load bearing piping or
the like.
B. Alterable Suspension Means
[0075] In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown an embodiment of the
alterable suspension means 51 for use with a rope 52 or other
elongated flexible cord for suspending swing elements or climbing
means or the like of playground equipment.
[0076] The alterable suspension means 51 includes a cleat plate 53
with a plurality of holes 54 to allow the rope 52 or other
elongated flexible cord to be woven through the plurality of the
cleat holes 54 to provide a frictional hold of the rope or other
elongated flexible cord.
[0077] The alterable suspension means further includes a closable
casing for enclosing the cleat holes. The cleat is encased by two
mating hemispherical type bodies 55, 56 of substantially elliptical
shape and is fixed together by detachable screw means 59.
[0078] In use the alterable suspension means is able to receive
said rope or other elongated flexible cord and allow a selective
suspended length and the alterable suspension means is able to be
encased to prevent accidental access.
[0079] The invention thereby allows selective fixing of adjustable
height of swing elements or climbing means or the like to
playground equipment by use of the alterable suspension means for
each suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord. The children
using the swing elements or climbing means or the like of the
playground equipment are not able to access the cleat holes and
thereby not alter the length or be able to be injured by the
mechanism.
[0080] The alterable suspension means can further be used as a rope
or other elongated flexible cord ending means such that a loose end
after fitting around a piece of swing elements or climbing means
can be connected back to the suspended rope or other elongated
flexible cord.
C. Alterable Swing Chair
[0081] The alterable swing chair is shown in FIGS. 9 to 14 and is
used on a swing of playground equipment.
[0082] The alterable swing chair 61 has a substantially planar
swing seat 71 that can be suspended by ropes 52 or other elongated
flexible cords from playground equipment and used as a swing means.
The alterable swing chair 61 further includes a swing chair waist
means 81 having an encircling structure that can be positioned
between the spaced ropes 52 or other elongated flexible cords at a
position spaced above the swing seat 71. A cage attachment means 91
extends between the swing seat 71 and the swing chair waist means
81 for forming a cage like structure preventing a child under the
age of 3 sliding off the swing seat.
[0083] The swing seat 71 is substantially planar and having two
spaced holes 72, 73 at either side and parallel grooves 74, 75
extending across the underside of the seat between respective side
holes 72, 73 such that the swing seat can be suspended and
supported by the ropes 52 or other elongated flexible cords
entering the side holes 72, 73 and fitting within the parallel
grooves 74, 75 and connecting back to the suspended rope 52 by
alterable suspension means 51 having encased cleat means.
[0084] The swing chair waist means 81 has an encircling structure
82 having a double wall structure 82A, 82B substantially closed at
the top and substantially open at the bottom. The encircling
structure 82 includes opposing rope receptacles 83 comprising slits
84 in the outer wall 82A of the double wall structure to receive
the ropes 52 and further including shaped cavities 85 for allowing
mounting of the rope receptacles 83 on the encased cleat means 51.
This allows positioning of the swing chair waist means 81 between
the spaced ropes 51 or other elongated flexible cords at a position
spaced above the swing seat 71.
[0085] The cage attachment means 91 includes a U shape for
extending around the swing seat 71 and between the swing seat and
the swing chair waist means 81 for forming a cage like structure
preventing child under the age of 3 sliding off the swing seat. The
cage attachment means 91 has engagement means 92 in the form of
inwardly facing protrusions from the U shape and spaced from the
base of the U shape to resiliently capture the swing seat 71
therebetween. Also the cage attachment means 91 has front and rear
cage connection means 93, 94 for mating with cage connection means
87, 88 on the front and rear of the swing chair waist means 81. The
rear cage connection means 94 includes a pivot pin 95 which fits
into a slot in the mating rear cage connection means 88 to allow
the U shape cage attachment means to remain attached at the rear
and pivot away from the seat after it has been resiliently deformed
to disconnect from the swing seat 71.
[0086] The U shape of the cage attachment means 91 provides a
central front narrow element extending between the swing seat 71
and the swing chair waist means 81 and allows the user of the swing
chair to have legs astride either side to provide a caged
arrangement preventing the child under the age of 3 sliding off the
front of the swing chair.
[0087] In use a swing seat 71 suitable for children over 3 years of
age can be converted to a swing chair 61 suitable for children
under 3 years of age by positioning a substantially rigid swing
chair waist means 81 forming an encircling means between opposing
ropes 52, which are suspending the swing seat 71. Side rope
receptacles 83 on the swing chair waist means 81 enable it to
receive the rope 52 and engage and capture the rope or attachments.
The next step is to connect a U-shaped cage 91 around the swing
seat 71 and connecting to connection means 87, 88 at front and rear
of the rigid encircling swing chair waist means 81 to form a cage
like swing chair 61.
[0088] The conversion means can be a kit for converting a swing
seat suitable for children over 3 years of age to a swing chair
suitable for children under 3 years of age the kit including the
swing chair waist means 81 having the encircling means and side
rope receptacles enabling it to receive the rope suspending the
swing seat 71 and engage the rope or attachments. Further the kit
includes the U-shaped cage 91 able to be connected around the swing
seat 71 and connect to connection means 87, 88 at front and rear of
the rigid encircling swing chair waist means 81 to form the cage
like swing chair.
D. Suspended See-Saw
[0089] As seen in FIGS. 15 to 18 there is a shown a suspended
see-saw 45, which can be used on playground equipment.
[0090] The suspended see-saw includes a pivot rod 112 able to be
fixedly mounted to a cross member 15 of playground equipment. Two
cross members being first see-saw arm 121 and second see-saw arm
131 mounted at their centre to spaced positions on the suspended
vertically extending pivot rod 112 mountable on the cross beam
15.
[0091] The suspended see-saw 45 further includes a plurality of
opposing elongated suspension bars 115, 116 supporting seat
structures 117, 118 at a lower end with protruding handles 119, 120
spaced just above the seat structures for a rider to hold. The
upper end of the suspension bars 115, 116 are mounted at spaced
positions to respective ends of each of the two spaced see-saw arms
121 131 which are centrally and pivotally mounted on the pivot rod
112.
[0092] The two spaced see-saw arms 121, 131 comprise elongated
linear bars 125, 135 joined at the centre pivots 122, 132 to the
pivot rod 112 and joined near their ends 123, 124, to the
suspension bards 115, 116. Extended infinity shaped covers 124, 125
cover the bars 125, 135 and the connections to the suspension bars
115, 116 and provide an aesthetic look. The two spaced see-saw arms
121, 131 are substantially parallel and equal length and pivotally
mounted at central points to spaced positions on linear pivot rod
with suspension bars joined at respective end points of the see-saw
arms so as to form a rectangular to trapezoidal shape of the
see-saw arms and suspension bars extending therebetween which
results in opposing C-shape travel of the supported seat structures
at the lower end of the suspension bars. Thereby the supported seat
structures undertake a limited swing and see-saw action.
[0093] The limit of the swing and see-saw action can be defined by
the lengths of the see-saw arms and their relative spacing.
E. Modular System.
[0094] It can be seen from all of the Figures that the invention
provides the invention provides a multitude of improvements to
playground equipments. In particular the invention provides
playground equipment that allows modular creation and expansion of
the playground equipment by its inherent design features
[0095] It should be understood that the above description is of
preferred embodiments and included as illustration only. It is not
limiting of the invention. Clearly a person skilled in the art
without any inventiveness would understand variations of the
playground equipment and component parts and such variations are
included within the scope of this invention
* * * * *