Spring articulation structure

Details Spring articulation structure Spring articulation structure

1999-05-21

2001-10-23

Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)

Spring devices

Resilient shock or vibration absorber

C267S141000, C267S153000, C472S135000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305674

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to an articulation structure serving as a spring, which structure is suitable to be employed for instance in equipment used in fitness training, sports and children's plays.
Children's playgrounds and parks often include play equipment where various springs are used in order to create a rocking motion, for example play animals that can be rocked back and forth, so that the child is seated on top of said animal. The elastic springs that allow the rocking motion in these instruments must be wearresistant and safe.
For example the U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,610 introduces a resilient pivotal structure suited to be used in playground equipment and including elongate rubber elements, on top of which the pivotal structure is supported. By means of said arrangement, there are created play instruments that can be rocked back and forth while the rubber element serves as the spring. However, the resilient spring structure described in said U.S. patent is a closed structure and hence very difficult to be properly maintained. By means of the arrangement to be introduced in the present invention, there is now achieved a spring articulation structure which can be easily opened for maintenance and whereby the play instrument can be freely rocked in any direction.
Thus the object of the present invention is to realize a spring articulation structure for play, fitness training and sports instruments, which structure can be freely and flexibly inclined to any direction. Another object of the invention is to realize a flexible articulation structure for play, fitness training and sports instruments, which structure is safe and wear-resistant as well as easily installed and maintained. Yet another object of the invention is to realize a spring articulation structure which is simple and economic to manufacture and can be employed in several different applications. These objects are achieved by means of the spring articulation structure of the present invention, and the essential novel features of said invention are described in the appended claims.


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