U.S. patent number 3,643,942 [Application Number 04/843,969] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-22 for play devices.
Invention is credited to Gerald G. Williams.
United States Patent |
3,643,942 |
Williams |
February 22, 1972 |
PLAY DEVICES
Abstract
A childrens' play device comprising side frame and end members,
one of which is detachable. One alternative end member makes the
structure suitable for use as a collapsible playpen or base for a
table or trampoline and the other alternative end member makes the
structure suitable as a climbing frame or a support for a swing,
slide, seesaw, or other similar apparatus, such second alternative
end member being rigidly connected to the side frame and being
arranged in use at the top of the structure.
Inventors: |
Williams; Gerald G. (Kings
Heath, Birmingham, EN) |
Family
ID: |
43221865 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/843,969 |
Filed: |
July 23, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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Jul 27, 1968 [GB] |
|
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35,966/68 |
Dec 18, 1968 [GB] |
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60,175/68 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/36; 248/370;
5/424; 5/93.1; 256/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D
11/00 (20130101); A47D 13/06 (20130101); A63B
9/00 (20130101); A63B 2208/12 (20130101); A63B
2210/50 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47D
11/00 (20060101); A63B 9/00 (20060101); A63b
017/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/56.5,60,1,58,21,24,25,59,61,62,63,64,85-92,57,52.5 ;D34/5
;D5/5 ;5/93,2 ;256/25,26 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
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|
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164,087 |
|
Sep 1949 |
|
OE |
|
910,026 |
|
Jan 1946 |
|
FR |
|
601,610 |
|
Aug 1934 |
|
DD |
|
782,117 |
|
Sep 1957 |
|
GB |
|
18,385 |
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Jul 1928 |
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NL |
|
Other References
Popular Science Monthly, June, 1937, Page 71.
|
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Claims
Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire
to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A childrens play device comprising a structure having two side
frames, an end member hingedly connected to the side frames at one
end of the structure, and one of two alternative interchangeable
end members at the other end of the structure, one of said
alternative end members being hingedly connectable to the side
frames to form a collapsible playpen, or a base for a table or
trampolene, or similar apparatus, wherein the side frames and end
members are on edge, and the other of the alternative end members
being rigidly securable at the ends of the side frames to form a
climbing frame, or a support for a swing, slide, seesaw, or similar
apparatus, wherein the rigid end member is uppermost.
2. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 1 in which the end
members are identical to form the playpen or similar device, the
end members being two part foldable frames.
3. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 1 having a base
which can be used as a floor or which can be used as a table top
supported on the top of the structure.
4. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid
end member disposed at the top of the structure is a moulding and
is secured to the side frames o the structure by clamping means at
its ends respectively.
5. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 4 in which the rigid
end member has a pair of bars upstanding from it along two opposite
edges respectively.
6. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 1 in which the
structure has a base disposed to engage the end member remote from
the rigid end member on which the structure stands when the rigid
end member is uppermost.
7. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 6 in which struts
extend between the base and the side frames of the structure.
8. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 7 in which the
struts are of channel section and are engageable on the side frames
when they are not in use.
Description
This invention relates to childrens' play devices of the kind
comprising a structure which can be used in a number of
activities.
The object of the invention is to provide such a device in a
particularly convenient and effective form.
In accordance with the present invention, a childrens play device
comprises a structure having two side frames, an end member
hingedly connected to the side frames at one end of the structure,
and one of two alternative interchangeable end members at the other
end of the structure, one of said alternative end members being
hingedly connectable to the side frames to form a collapsible
playpen, or a base for a table or trampolene, or similar apparatus
wherein the side frames and end members are on edge, and the other
of the alternative end members being rigidly securable at the ends
of the side frames to form a climbing frame, or a support for a
swing, slide, seesaw, or similar apparatus, wherein the rigid end
member is uppermost.
The invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the play device constructed in
accordance with this invention for use as a playpen,
FIG. 2 illustrates the device arranged for use as a climbing frame,
and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the end member of the
device in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the basic parts of the device are two
side frames 10 and 11, connected to a two part end frame 12 at one
end. At the other end, either a similar end frame 13 or
alternatively a rigid end member 14 may be used.
The side members 10, 11 have a number of spaced dowels 15 extending
between upper and lower rails 16, 17 of rectangular cross section.
Midway between the upper and lower rails 16, 17 on each side frame
is a further rail 18 carrying rotatable plastics balls 19, one
between each pair of adjacent dowels 15. These balls 19 prevent a
child from climbing up the side frames.
The end frames 12 and 13 are identical and each comprises a pair of
frames made up of dowels 20 and upper and lower rails 21, 22. The
two frames of each end frame 12, 13 are connected by a hinge 23 on
the outwardly facing surfaces of two rectangular wooden members 24
on the frames respectively. To connect the end frames 12, 13 to the
side frames 10, 11, the side frames carry metal plates 25 for
reception of connecting pivot pins 26 coinciding with the axes of
the first dowel 20 on the adjacent end of the end frame 12 or
13.
As shown in the FIG. 1 construction, the end frame 13 is used and
the device is thus suitable for use as a playpen, or alternatively
as a base for a table or trampolene, or other device. In this mode
the device is arranged with the side frames 10, 11 and end frames
12, 13 arranged in a rectangle and these parts are disposed on
edge. The end frames 12, 13 being hingedly collapsible can be
folded to allow the device to be folded for storage. At least the
pivot pins 26 connecting the end frame 13 are removable.
Latch mechanisms (not illustrated) are used to prevent inadvertent
folding of the end frames 12 and 13, and further latch mechanisms
may be used to maintain the rectangular configuration of the
structure.
In an alternative arrangement the end frames 12 and 13 are one
piece frames and folding of the device takes place by moving the
side members 10 and 11 in opposite lengthwise directions.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 the structure can be used as a climbing
frame or as a support for a swing, slide, seesaw, or other device,
by standing it on the end frame 12, and substituting for the end
frame 13, a rigid end member 14, which is secured to the side
frames 10 and 11, by clamping pieces 27 which engage the first two
dowels 15 of the side frames 10 and 11 respectively. The clamping
pieces 27 are hinged to the member 14 along their upper edges and
are secured in place by wing nuts and bolts indicated at 28. Fixed
along two of the margins of the end member 14 are respective metal
frames 29 extending upwards from the flat upper surface of the end
member 14.
The end member 14 is shorter than the end frame 13 which it
replaces, so that the side frames 10 and 11 converge upwardly, thus
providing additional rigidity to the structure in its upright
position, as shown in FIG. 2. The end member 14 is a moulding made
from resin bonded glass fiber, or similar material.
In order to impart lateral stability to the structure the structure
in the FIG. 2 mode is provided with a base comprising a flat board
30 foldable in the middle and having side members 31 secured to it.
The base, furthermore, has planks 32 secured on it which engage
between the dowels 20 of the end frame 12 to locate the end frame
12 on the base and also to afford a substantially flat floor.
Triangular section wooden parts 33 engage the upper and lower
members 21, 22 of the end frame 12 to provide a ramp between the
portions of the floor defined by the base.
Extending between the corners of the base and the upper ends of the
side frames 10 and 11 are steel channel section struts 34. These
are secured to the side members 31 of the base by bolts 35 and at
their other ends they are connected by hinges 36 to the upper or
lower members 16, 17 of the side frames 10 or 11 respectively. Each
of the hinges 36 is connected to the member 16 or 17 by a single
pin to permit the strut to be moved angularly thus minimizing
strain on the parts.
Although not shown, the struts 34 lie along the side frame members
16 and enclose them when the structure is used in the FIG. 1
configuration.
When the structure is used as shown in FIG. 1, the base can be used
either as a table top, with the members 31 extending downwardly
along the sides of the structure or alternatively as a floor
beneath the playpen. The members 31, in this case, serve as feet to
raise the floor a few inches above the ground.
Within the end member 14, which is of hollow inverted box form,
there is disposed a bore (not illustrated) which is for suspending
a swing, chair, harness, or other suspended device. A subframe can
also be provided which is securable to the side frames 10 and 11
intermediate their ends when in the FIG. 2 mode, and on this can be
supported a rocking horse or seesaw, or a slide.
An alternative longer slide can be supported on the end member 14.
A flexible cover can be placed over the whole structure to form a
tent.
The structure illustrated is intended primarily for indoors but an
alternative form, possibly larger, can be provided for outside use.
The struts 34, are in this case provided with feet extensions for
driving into the ground, if required, to provide stability.
* * * * *