AU2021104531A4

AU2021104531A4 - Playground apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2021104531A4
Application number: AU2021104531A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shane Janicki; Dylan Smith
Original assignee: Growplay Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Growplay Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-03-30
Filing date: 2021-07-24
Publication date: 2021-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-24

Abstract

A playground apparatus comprises a frame, wherein the frame is adapted to be placed on a ground surface, and monkey bars supported by the frame above the ground surface. The monkey bars comprise a plurality of rungs arranged in a row to allow a user to grasp and swing from the rungs. The playground apparatus also comprises a shade cover extending over the monkey bars, wherein the shade cover is held by at least one support in a pitched arrangement such that a pair of diagonally inclined surfaces of the shade cover meet together at a ridge above the frame. 1/10 0 ~

Description

1/10

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PLAYGROUND APPARATUS

Field

[0001]The present invention relates to playground equipment and, more particularly, to a playground apparatus comprising monkey bars.

Background

[0002] Monkey bars are playground apparatus used for exercise and recreational purposes. A monkey bar apparatus typically comprises a frame that supports a set of rungs arranged in a row. The rungs are supported by the frame in an elevated position above the ground surface to allow a user to grasp and swing from them.

[0003] A shade cover may be attached to the frame to protect users from harmful UV rays from the sun when swinging from the rungs of the monkey bars. These shade covers may be held suspended above the monkey bars by a set of elongate struts that extend from uppermost corners of the frame up to the corners of the shade cover. The cover typically comprises a single sheet of fabric-like material that is held taut like a sail over the monkey bars by the struts.

[0004] Rain and debris falling onto the shade cover is not able to drain and fall off the cover easily during use. For example, in wet and windy conditions rain and tree litter can collect on the shade cover which causes an untidy appearance and can also damage the cover. Wind blowing underneath the shade cover can also cause significant upwards lifting forces to be exerted on the cover. A large gust of wind can cause the frame to topple over if the frame is not adequately secured into the ground. Over time, these forces can result in damage to the shade cover and/or the various points at which the cover is attached to the struts.

[0005] The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Summary

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a playground apparatus, comprising: a frame adapted to be placed on a ground surface; monkey bars supported by the frame above the ground surface, wherein the monkey bars comprise a plurality of rungs arranged in a row to allow a user to grasp and swing from the rungs; and a shade cover extending over the monkey bars, wherein the shade cover is held by at least one support in a pitched arrangement such that a pair of diagonally inclined surfaces of the shade cover meet together at a ridge above the frame.

[0007] The shade cover may comprise one or more vents at the ridge to allow air to flow through the shade cover.

[0008] The shade cover may comprise a plurality of the vents arranged either side of the ridge.

[0009] The vents may be elongated and extend longitudinally along the ridge.

[0010] The support may comprise a horizontal-aligned support pole extending along the ridge between opposed sides of the frame. The pair of diagonally inclined surfaces may be separate sections of the shade cover, and uppermost edges of the diagonally inclined surfaces may be connected to the support pole at a plurality of connection points, such that each of the vents extends longitudinally between a pair of the connection points.

[0011] The support pole may comprise a plurality of hooks to connect the uppermost edges to the support pole at the connection points.

[0012] The support may further comprise a pair of side pole sections downwardly extending from the support pole to the opposed sides of the frame.

[0013] The monkey bars may comprise a pair of parallel-aligned elongate rung supports, wherein the plurality of rungs extend transversely between the rung supports.

[0014] The monkey bars may comprise first and second opposed ends, wherein the first and second opposed ends are held in an elevated position above the ground surface by respective first and second pairs of elongate monkey bar supports that extend down to the ground surface.

[0015] The frame may comprise a pair of dip bars attached to the first pair of elongate monkey bar supports.

[0016] The first and second individual dip bars of the pair of dip bars may be attached to and outwardly extend from, respectively, first and second supports of the first pair of elongate monkey bar supports.

[0017] The present invention also provides a shade cover assembly for a playground apparatus, the shade cover assembly comprising: a support arrangement extending horizontally between opposed sides of a frame of the playground apparatus; and a shade cover extending over the frame, wherein the shade cover is held by the support arrangement in a pitched arrangement such that a pair of diagonally inclined surfaces of the shade cover meet together at a ridge above the frame.

[0018] The shade cover of the shade cover assembly may comprise one or more vents at the ridge to allow air to flow through the shade cover.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a playground apparatus according to an example embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a further isometric view of a playground apparatus; FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of a shade cover of the playground apparatus; FIG. 4 is a further enlarged isometric view of the shade cover; FIG. 5 is a further enlarged isometric view of the shade cover; FIG. 6 is a plan view of the playground apparatus; FIG. 7 is a further enlarged isometric view of the shade cover; FIG. 8 is an enlarged isometric view of one end of the shade cover held by a support of the playground apparatus; FIG. 9 is an enlarged isometric view of a corner of a frame of the playground apparatus; and FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the playground apparatus with the shade cover removed.

Description of Embodiments

[0020] Referring to the FIGS. 1 to 9, an example embodiment of the present invention provides a playground apparatus 10. The playground apparatus 10 comprises a frame 12 adapted to be placed on a ground surface and monkey bars 14 supported by the frame 12 above the ground surface. The monkey bars 14 comprise a plurality of rungs 16 arranged in a row to allow a user to grasp and swing from the rungs 16. The playground apparatus 10 also comprises a shade cover 18 extending over the monkey bars 14, wherein the shade cover 18 is held by at least one support 20 in a pitched arrangement such that a pair of diagonally inclined surfaces 22, 24 of the shade cover 18 meet together at a ridge 26 above the frame 12.

[0021] More particularly, the shade cover 18 may comprise one or more vents 28 at the ridge 26 to allow air to flow through the shade cover 18. Each diagonally inclined surface 22, 24 may be a separate section of the shade cover 18. Each section 22, 24 may comprise an individual sheet of flexible fabric material that is held taut in a single flat dimensional plane, like a sail, over the frame 12 and/or over a part of the monkey bars 14. The fabric may comprise a mesh-like material, such as high-density polypropylene mesh (HDPE), or a tough woven fabric material, such as hessian. In another example, each sheet-like cover section 22, 24 may be made of a waterproof material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fabric, or woven polyester yarn coated on one or both sides with PVC. Each sheet may be treated with UV blocking polymeric materials. Each sheet may be attached to a pair of corners of the frame 12 and to the support 20.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 10, the support 20 may comprise a pair of support poles upwardly extending from opposed sides of the frame 12. The support poles may be connected to a single horizontal-aligned support pole 32 extending transversely above the monkey bars 14 between the support poles 30. The support pole 32 may be positioned such that it effectively serves as a spine for the shade cover 18 and is aligned generally with the ridge 26.

[0023] As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the horizontal-aligned support pole 32 may comprise a plurality of fasteners 34 that provide a set of connection points for the shade cover sections 22, 24. The fasteners 34 may comprise a set of hooks that are spaced apart from each other on the pole 32 at regular intervals. The hooks 34 may be operatively configured to connect the uppermost edges of each shade cover section 22, 24 to the support pole 32. As best shown in FIG. 9, the lowermost corners of each shade cover section 22, 24 may be connected to the frame 12 by a plurality of fasteners 36. Each fastener 36 may comprise a clamp member that attaches to one end of an individual horizontally-aligned pole of the frame 12. The lowermost corner of the relevant shade cover section 22, 24 may be attached to the clamp member 36 using a suitable connection means, such as by a metal cable or clip arrangement.

[0024] The shade cover sections 22, 24 may be dimensioned such that they are each held taut by the relevant hooks 34 and fasteners 36. Furthermore, the uppermost edges of the cover sections 22, 24 may comprise crescent-shaped portions positioned between each pair of adjacent hooks 34 on the support pole 32. The gaps that are formed between the crescent-shaped edge portions and the support pole 32 provide the vents 28 of the shade cover 18. In this configuration, the vents 28 are elongated and extend longitudinally along the ridge 26 either side of the support pole 32. Each shade cover section 22, 24 may be specifically shaped such that they include the crescent-shaped edge portions. In other examples, each cover section 22, 24 may be rectangular in shape and may be stretched when held taut by the hooks 34 and fasteners 36 such that the crescent-shaped edge portions are formed.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 10, the monkey bars 14 may comprise a pair of parallel-aligned elongate rung supports 38 extending generally horizontally across the frame 12, and the plurality of rungs 16 may extend transversely between the rung supports 38. The monkey bars 14 may comprise a first end 40 and a second end 42 opposed to the first end 40. The first end 40 of the monkey bars 14 may be held in an elevated position above the ground surface by a first pair of elongate monkey bar supports 44 that extend down to the ground surface. Similarly, the second end 42 of the monkey bars 14 may be held in an elevated position above the ground surface by a second pair of elongate monkey bar supports 46 that extend down to the ground surface.

[0026] The frame 12 may also comprise a set of dip bars attached to the first pair of elongate monkey bar supports 44. A first of the dip bars 48 may be attached to, and outwardly extend from, a first support 50 of the first pair of elongate monkey bar supports 44. Similarly, a second of the dip bars 52 may be attached to, and outwardly extend from, a first support 54 of the first pair of elongate monkey bar supports 44.

[0027] In use, a person may grasp and swing from the rungs 16 underneath the monkey bars 14 and travel back and forth between the ends of the 40, 42 of the monkey bars 14 rung by rung. The shade cover 18 covers the monkey bars 14 and, therefore, shields the user from harmful UV rays from the sun when they are swinging underneath the rungs 16. Wind blowing underneath the shade cover 18 flows up through the vents 28 to substantially reduce the forces exerted by wind on the shade cover 18.

[0028] Now that example embodiments of the playground apparatus have been described, it will be apparent that it provides a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following:

(i) The pitched arrangement of the shade cover 18 enables wind and debris to drain and fall off the cover 18 under gravity;

(ii) The vents 28 substantially reduce the magnitude of forces exerted by wind on the shade cover 18 during use. This enables the frame 12 to remain stable in windy and gusty conditions and avoids damage to the shade cover 18 and its various points of connection with the frame 36 and support 20;

(iii) The hooks 34 allow the shade cover 18 to be attached and detached to/from the frame 12 as may be required, for example for cleaning and maintenance. The two separate cover sections 22, 24 may be individually attached and detached for cleaning and maintenance; and

(iv) Because the dip bars are attached directly to the elongate monkey bar supports 44, the dip bars advantageously support the frame 12 and keep it stable when a user is swinging from the rungs 16 of the monkey bars 14.

[0029] For the purpose of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

[0030] The above embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A playground apparatus, comprising: a frame adapted to be placed on a ground surface; monkey bars supported by the frame above the ground surface, wherein the monkey bars comprise a plurality of rungs arranged in a row to allow a user to grasp and swing from the rungs; and a shade cover extending over the monkey bars, wherein the shade cover is held by at least one support in a pitched arrangement such that a pair of diagonally inclined surfaces of the shade cover meet together at a ridge above the frame.

2. The playground apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shade cover comprises one or more vents at the ridge to allow air to flow through the shade cover.

3. The playground apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shade cover comprises a plurality of the vents arranged either side of the ridge.

4. The playground apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the vents are elongated and extend longitudinally along the ridge.

5. A shade cover assembly for a playground apparatus, the shade cover assembly comprising: a support arrangement extending horizontally between opposed sides of a frame of the playground apparatus; and a shade cover extending over the frame, wherein the shade cover is held by the support arrangement in a pitched arrangement such that a pair of diagonally inclined surfaces of the shade cover meet together at a ridge above the frame.

28 10 26 18

14

22 20 36

12

16 1/10

FIG. 1

26 28 18 16 14 10

24 22 20 36

12 2/10

FIG. 2

26 18 28

24

12 20 22 3/10

14

16

36

FIG. 3

28 26 18 10

24

36 22

14 4/10

16

12

FIG. 4

26 10 18 32

24 22 20 36 14 30 5/10

12

16

FIG. 5

36 10

22

34 34 34 6/10

28 24 32 12

FIG. 6

32

18 28

34

22 24 7/10

34

20 30

FIG. 7

18

22 8/10

32

20

30

FIG. 8

24

36 9/10

12

FIG. 9

30 32 20 40 14 30 16 36

12 44 42 38 48 52

54 50 10/10

46

FIG. 10