AU725446B2 - Play equipment - Google Patents

Description

47967 DP:PFB 00/ P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

«e e o* Name of Applicant: THEODORE EDWARD PETER JAQUES Actual Inventor: THEODORE EDWARD PETER JAQUES Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: PLAY EQUIPMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: *le Nam ofApiat best method of performing it known to me: I, I 1A The present invention relates to play equipment and more particularly children's outdoor play equipment which is suitable for use in situations such as parks, school playgrounds and the like.

Children are attracted to moving apparatus. Play equipment which incorporates movement provides a special thrill and challenge to children. However, playground equipment which 10 incorporate a rotating and/or rocking motion can often be potentially dangerous. This can, for example, arise due to rotational movement being confined to one plane with the centrifugal force increasing in direct proportion to the angular momentum. With rocking apparatus such as a swing the rocking motion is essentially unrestricted.

A further disadvantage with some playground equipment is that there is a danger of injury to hands and feet of children using the equipment. This can arise because of the close approach or indeed contact between a fixture of the equipment and a part of the equipment where the user places his/her hands and/or feet.

An object of the present invention is to provide play equipment which provides a rotating and rocking motion but endeavours to reduce the dangers associated with known rotating and rocking play equipment.

Broadly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a play equipment including an upright support, a mounting located atop the support and retained for rotational and rocking movement, a plurality of individual arms extending from the mounting each arm having a seat means at a lower distal end thereof, and a skirt which extends downwardly over at least part of the lower length of the upright support.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a cross-section view of the play equipment, ••and o• So Figure 2 is a detailed view of the head structure of the play equipment.

eooe •ego In the preferred form of the invention as illustrated, the 20 play equipment has a central support pole 10. The pole is

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firmly fastened to the ground such that it projects substantially vertically. Fixed to the upper end or top of the pole 10 is a head 11.

A top mount 12 is engaged with the head 11 as will hereinafter be described. Mounted to and extending downwardly from the top mount 12 are a plurality of arms 13.

In the illustrated form two diametrically opposed arms are provided. However, in another form of the invention three or four arms could be provided, the four arm version having the arms located at mutual right angles.

In the preferred form of the invention the arms 13 have a substantially centrally located cranked portion 14. This is provided for aesthetic purposes and also to deter or prevent a user climbing up the arm.

Attached to the lower end of each arm 13 is a seat 15 formed 0. to from a vehicle tyre. As will hereinafter be described, a child can sit on the tyre 16 in the area indicated by reference numeral 17.

S The lower end of the supporting pole 10 is fixedly anchored .to the ground by, say, a concrete or similar foundation.

Encircling the base is a skirt 18 which is essentially in the shape of a truncated cone with the base thereof being located at ground level. In the preferred form, the upper or narrow end of the skirt 18 is located within a collar or sleeve or a band 19. An intermediate internal band 19' can also be provided to support/stabilise the skirt.

An encircling flange 20 or series of flanges project inwardly and downwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the skirt 18 to be fastened, in use, to the ground using suitable mechanical fasteners or anchors. The lower end of the skirt 18 is thereby firmly anchored to the ground with the result that the skirt does not substantially move relative to the supporting pole The lower end of each arm 13 is provided with a mounting plate or plates 21 which have openings which align with openings in the peripheral surface of the tyre. Mechanical 10 fastenings such as bolts can engage through the aligned openings and those of a backing plate located within the confines of the tyre. When nuts are screwed onto the bolts the portion of the tyre is sandwiched between the mounting plate(s) 20 and the backing plate so as to firmly attach the tyre to the arm 13.

Preferably the backing plate extends under that part of the tyre in area 17 where a child will sit during use of the equipment. This extension of the backing plate thus provides a support to carry the weight of the child.

In the preferred form of the invention an insert is located within the confines of the tyre. This insert 22 is recessed at 23 to provide a clearance for the feet of the child sitting on the tyre to engage within and be protected by the tyre.

The arms are able to rock and rotate relative to the supporting pole 10. This is achieved by the manner in which the top mount is mounted with the head 11.

The head 11 consists of a plurality of support elements 24 which are bolted to the upper end of the pole 10. The distal ends of the elements 24 extend beyond the end of the pole and converge toward a mounting plate 25. A shaft 26 with a bulbous end 27 is threaded and locates through an opening in 10 the mounting plate 25 to be fastened in place by lock nuts 28.

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The top mount comprises a top piece 29 which is of i substantially truncated conical shape. Extending downwardly from the side of the top piece 29 are a plurality of sleeves or similar mounts 30 in which the ends of the arms 13 are "located and pinned or bolted by a suitable fastener extending through aligned openings 31 in the sleeve 30 and arm 13.

e• The top piece 29 includes a cavity 32 in which the bulbous end 27 is mounted. The bulbous end 27 is captured in place by a locking plate 33 which has an opening 34, the smaller cross-sectional area of which is less than that of the bulbous end 27. To provide clearance the lowermost end of the opening is inclined outwardly as shown in Figure 2. Cap screws, bolts or the like 35 are used to mount the locking plate 33 to the truncated conical top piece 29.

A grease nipple 37 is associated with a grease passage 38 so that grease can be forced into the interface between the bulbous end 27 and the cavity 32.

A buffer 39 surrounds the head 11. The buffer 39 can be a tubular member of resilient material. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 a ring 40 can be mounted with the head 11 and have applied thereto a resilient material facing 41. The outer o• 10 face of the ring 40 is preferably machined to an angle which eeo.

:offers maximum surface contact to the inside of the top cone.

eo In use, the play equipment is set into motion either by someone (externally) giving it a push or by the person(s) 1" 5 seated on the tyres pushing with their feet off the wooden skirt. The play equipment provides both rotational and "rocking movement as induced and controlled by the users.

oo SS The car tyres make contact with the wooden skirt before the top cone makes contact with the buffer. This protects the bearing from being over-stressed. Both the wooden skirt and the buffer limit the movement of the rocking motion but with the buffer limiting the movement in the event that two adjacent tyres swing past the wooden skirt. The invention thus provides playing equipment in which forces are not restricted to one plane. This results in a more gentle motion that is still exciting and encourages active participation and cooperation.

The invention also minimises the possibility of injury to hands and feet. Generally the user will place his or her hands on hand grips 42 of the arm 13 with the result that the hands are kept clear of the central pole 10 and wooden skirt.

Furthermore, the user's feet are located within the confines of the tyre and thus away from any potential sandwiching ,e 1 0 between the tyre and the wooden skirt.

oo Modifications to the play equipment and within the scope of the invention can be made as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example, the bearing arrangement atop the post can be changed to include a plan spherical bearing. This would have two advantages, namely, more economical and easier to maintain/replace.

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Claims (12)

1. Play equipment including an upright support, a mounting located atop the support and retained for rotational and rocking movement, a plurality of individual arms extending from the mounting each arm having a seat means at a lower distal end thereof, and a skirt which extends downwardly over at least part of the lower length of the upright support. S 2. The play equipment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of arms extending from the mounting means are substantially evenly spaced apart. 15 3. The play equipment of claim 1 or 2 wherein the skirt provides a buffer which is contactable by said seat means to thereby limit the rocking movement of the arms/seat means. e °ooo

4. The play equipment of any one of the preceding claims wherein the skirt includes an encircling flange which, in use, is fastenable to a surface by mechanical fasteners or anchors.

5. The play equipment of any one of the preceding claims wherein each seat means is formed at least in part by a rubber vehicle tyre.

6. The play equipment of claim 5 wherein the means of affixing the vehicle rubber tyre is a mounting plate or plates suitably fastened together so as to sandwich the tyre rubber between an inner (within the tyre) and outer mounting plate.

7. The play equipment of claim 6 wherein at least the inner mounting plate extends partially around the circumference of the tyre.

8. The play equipment of any one of claims 5, 6 or 7 wherein an insert substantially the diameter of the inner tyre is located within the tyre. S

9. The play equipment of claim 8 wherein the insert includes a recess. 5000 The play equipment of any one of the preceding claims 20 wherein the mounting includes a ball and socket joint. 0

11. The play equipment of claim 10 wherein the ball of the ball and socket joint is located at the upper end of the support and the socket is located within a mounting element from which the arms radiate.

12. The play equipment of any of the above claims wherein an upper buffer is provided at the upper end of the support to limit the rocking movement of the arms.

13. The play equipment of any one of the preceding claims wherein the arms include a cranked portion.

14. The play equipment of any of the above claims wherein hand grips are provided on the arms and/or seat means. iee

15. Play equipment substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 19thday of August 1997. .*4 COLLISON CO GPO Box 2556 Adelaide SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5001 *0 7r, ft•