Playground appliance

Details Playground appliance Playground appliance

1998-01-08

2001-10-16

Donnelly, Jerome (Department: 3764)

Exercise devices

Gymnastic

Arm or hand type climbing arrangement

C482S035000, C482S033000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06302824

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to amusement devices, more particularly to a playground appliance comprised of sheet-like membranes suspended from vertical posts to form a plurality of inclined slopes that can be climbed by children. The characterizing element of the invention resides in a novel anchoring device for fastening the vertical posts to the ground without the need of laying concrete foundation blocks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The prior art in the field of playground equipment discloses a variety of structures, particularly for outdoor use, designed to provide a three-dimensional spacial network where children can climb. Examples of such amusement appliances are found in the following Japanese Utility Model publications:
Publication
Serial Number
date
Filing Date
Applicant
SHO-58-37477
Sept. 17, 1980
March 7, 1979
Toshiko Horiuchi
SHO-59-25410
Sept. 8, 1980
March, 6, 1979
Toshiko Horiuchi
SHO-50-20826
Feb. 6, 1973
June 17, 1971
Mitsuru Senda
More specifically, the amusement appliances include a series of net units suspended from vertical posts. The attachment points of the individual nets to the respective posts are at different vertical elevations so the nets acquire a non-planar configuration. In a particular embodiment, the individual net units are disposed around a main central post and they are suspended from it at a predetermined distance from the ground, say generally at least two meters. The individual net units slope downwardly, toward smaller posts at the periphery of the spacial-network to hold the free edges of the nets and thus maintain a level of tension and stability in the whole structure.
Advantageously, the net units are made from a material that has a certain resiliency. This feature enables the net units to stretch repeatedly and contract when children climb or jump on them, thus enhancing the overall enjoyment provided by the apparatus. However, this otherwise desirable characteristic leads to an increased strain on the various posts that support the net units above the ground. For instance, when a group of children is climbing and jumping on only one side of the spacial network of net units, rather than being spread over the entire playing surface of the network, significant bending moments are induced particularly in the central post.
One approach of providing a robust supporting structure that is capable to resist the dynamic forces developed when the playing surface of the spacial network is heavily loaded, consists of casting in the ground heavy concrete blocks on which the various posts are anchored. However, this procedure significantly increases the cost of the playground appliance. Further the procedure is suitable only for permanent installations.
OBJECTIVES AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is a supporting member for use in a playground apparatus that can be secured to the ground without the need of laying a permanent concrete foundation.
Another object of the invention is a playground apparatus utilizing the aforementioned supporting member.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a supporting member for use in a playground appliance which is capable of inducing significant bending moments in said supporting member, said supporting member comprising:
an elongate post;
an anchoring device for supporting said elongate post in an upright position on the ground, said anchoring device including:
a) a ground engaging support plate mounted at an end portion of said elongate post, said ground engaging support plate having a surface area substantially exceeding a cross-sectional area of said end portion;
b) a plurality of ground penetrating spike members, each said spike members including a spike head engaging said ground engaging support plate when the spike member is driven in the ground, thereby stabilizing said ground engaging support plate and said elongate post.
In one embodiment, the ground engaging support plate includes four sections which are assembled to receive therebetween a socket in which the lower end of the post is secured. Each section is made of sheet metal and has a main generally planar triangular surface. Two side edges of the triangular section are bent downwardly to form web segments rigidifying the ground engaging plate, also forming anchoring pegs that assist the ground penetrating spike members to stabilize the post, as will be described in greater detail later. The apex of the triangular section is cut out according to a pattern corresponding to a quarter of a circle to clear the post holding socket which is to be secured to the ground engaging support plate.
Alternatively, in a second embodiment, each of the four triangular sections have web sections on all three sides. These web sections extend upwardly from and perpendicular to a bottom planar surface. When the four triangular sections are brought together and fastened at the mating surfaces of the web sections, the four bottom planar surfaces together constitute a square bottom surface whose underside rests on the ground. The post slides into a cylindrical socket, reinforced by circumferential wing ribs, which is welded to a base plate. The base plate is, in turn, bolted to four small plates via four anchor bolts. Depending from the underside of each of the four small plates is a cross-shaped protrusion. When the four small plates are fastened to the base plate, the four cross-shaped protrusions mate with the raised web sections of the four fastened triangular sections. At each corner of the square bottom surface is located a vertical channel that is formed by the mating of adjacent web sections. Through each channel the ground-penetrating spikes are fastened to the triangular sections. This arrangement provides greater overall structural stability when the playground appliance is heavily and asymmetrically loaded. Moreover, the presence of a square bottom surface ensures that the soil beneath it is well compacted and is thus more applicable for varying soil types.
With respect to either embodiment, to assemble the ground engaging support plate, the four triangular sections are placed in a co-planar mating relationship which brings the web segments of adjacent triangular sections in mutual engagement. Suitable fasteners, such as bolts, passing through the abutting web segments secure the triangular sections together. The resulting structure displays a central generally circular opening formed by the cut-outs at the apexes of the individual triangular sections. A metallic sleeve forming the post holding socket is then secured in that circular opening. The longitudinal axis of the socket is oriented transversely to the plane of the ground engaging support plate, whereby when the plate is positioned on the ground the post held in the socket will be oriented generally vertically.
To effect the installation of the playground appliance according to the invention, the ground engaging support plate is placed flat against the ground on the site where the supporting member is to be erected. A plurality of elongate spikes are driven through holes near the periphery of the ground engaging support plate to anchor it in place. Advantageously, the ground-penetrating spikes have threads which significantly increase the anchoring strength at the spike-ground interface. A pull-out strength of 600 kilograms (1320 pounds) has been deemed to provide an ample factor of safety for the expected loads on the structure. Finally, the lower extremity of the post is then inserted in the metallic sleeve and fastened therein with screws or other suitable fasteners.
One or more secondary supporting members are erected on the playground site in a spaced apart relationship with the main supporting member to provide the desired number of anchoring points for holding the sheet-like membrane suspended at the requisite distance above the ground. The secondary supporting members are identical to the main supporting member with the exception that they are shorter so that the sheet-like membrane when installed will form a slope

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