Exercise devices – Gymnastic – Play area climbing or traversing arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-29
2001-01-16
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Gymnastic
Play area climbing or traversing arrangement
C005S127000, C248S431000, C403S176000, C403S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174266
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to playground climbing equipment, and more particularly, to a climbing and play structure having a triangular shaped base and horizontally disposed nets positioned at different vertical levels within the structure.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Children enjoy playing on playground equipment that involves climbing and suspending themselves at in an elevated location. While children find these climbing structures fun and intriguing, such climbing structures are inherently dangerous. Typically, playground climbing equipment involves the interconnection of numerous structural members to form the climbing structure. The prior art describes a variety of climbing and play structures for children, however, none of the prior art climbing structures have the unique and innovative features of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,400 issued to Joseph Huberman on Jul. 19, 1994 discloses a climbing and play structure. The structure involves a polyhedral shape to which numerous tensile members are interconnected. The tensile members are placed around and within the structure. There is a support surface for the structure, but the structure itself is moveable. The support surface and anchor means to secure the tensile members of the structure severely limits the equipment and adds bulk.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,379 issued to Oscar Merritt on Jul. 15, 1958 teaches an amusement apparatus from which children can swing. The equipment provides rigid seats attached by flexible lines situated in a circle around a stationary vertical pole. The flexible lines do not provide a rigid structure. The swinging lines holding the seats limit the equipment's safety and accessibility to many children simultaneously.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,217 issued to Robert Gillis on Jul. 20, 1982 describes a monkey maze formed by interconnecting numerous equilateral triangles formed by rods together. There is no support structure within or below the maze to support the fall of a child, no structure to provide a surface for support or security of a child, and no structure for a child to sit on and relax, except for rods that make up the structure.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present play and climbing equipment invention involves an interconnection of sloping beams that creates an unique structure having attached thereto a flexible net-like substantially planar surface for use by children in a playground setting. One flexible net is preferably horizontally disposed approximately 12 feet above ground level while another, generally larger flexible net is preferably horizontally disposed approximately 6 feet above ground level. The number and height of the flexible net-like substantially planar surfaces can be varied. An important element of the present invention is that a contoured stabilizing piece or object is placed under the vertex formed by the sloping beams and serves to restrict the inward movement of the beams towards one another; such inward movement could result in instability, and eventual collapse of the structure. The increased stability provided by the contoured object means that the climbing and play structure of the present invention does not need to be anchored to the ground, compared to known playground structures that lack the structural features of the present invention, and therefore, typically must be anchored to the ground.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an outdoor play structure capable of limiting the motion of the vertical beam members that makeup the structure.
It is another object of the invention to provide an outdoor play and climbing structure that invigorates and encourages children to play, experiment and learn, while providing sufficient support to create a safe and stable play environment.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a climbing and play structure for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 34258 (1862-01-01), Lynch
patent: 974491 (1910-11-01), Huebner
patent: 1866175 (1932-07-01), Rogers, Jr.
patent: 2663306 (1953-12-01), Davis
patent: 2843379 (1958-07-01), Merritt
patent: 3547435 (1970-12-01), Scott
patent: 4340217 (1982-07-01), Gillis
patent: 5070665 (1991-12-01), Marrin et al.
patent: 5330400 (1994-07-01), Huberman
patent: 5356354 (1994-10-01), Owens
patent: 1812593 (1970-06-01), None
patent: 2310787 (1976-12-01), None
Hwang Victor K.
Litman Richard C.
Mulcahy John
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