AU621678B2 - Play surfaces - Google Patents

Description

6216 S 78 F Ref: 111058 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class 4; f Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: 4 Priority: Related Art: 8 Name and Address of Applicant: 6 c Nottinghamshire County Council County Hall West Bridgford Nottingham, NG2 7QP UNITED KINGDOM Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Address for Service: Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Play Surfaces The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us 5845/4 i. L -Li

T

A safety play area is, formed by having a layer of rounded particles on toy, of a layer of compressible material and covering the layer of rounded particles~ with a stiff upper aurface. For greater safety a furtter layer of compressible material may be placed between the stiff' 0 0 upe4ufceadt4 ayro onedprils lA The present invention relates to play surfaces and more particularly to surfaces which can provide a springboard or shock t absorbing effect.

j 5 Surfaces in play areas require to have a degree of resiliency so that children can jump and run in safety. Also areas underneath play frames require a shock absorbent character to cushion falls. Other areas such as sports areas can also benefit from having a springboard character giving athletes assistance.

10 It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface suitable for play which has a shock absorbent and/or springboard effect.

The term play is used hereinafter to include sports and safety uses.

Ooo The present invention threfore provides a surface for play areas including a structure comprising a first layer of compressible material, a second layer on top of the first layer including rounded particles either natural or man made and a third layer on top of the second layer comprising a stiffened surface and including at least one geotextile layer separating one of said first, second and third layers from its j adjacent layer.

too \r)CN LMM/588E In a preferred embodiment a fourth layer including compressible or elasticated material is provided intermediate between the second and third layers.

Preferably a fifth layer on top of the third layer provides a top surface.

Preferably a well is formed In natural ground by excavation and is lined with water permeable geotextile material, the structure being laid within the well.

In a preferred embodiment each of the first, second and fourth layers are separated by geotextile material.

This prevents contamination of one layer by the material of the other layer.

0 Preferably the first layer comprises foam, rubber or 4 f,4 synthetic fibre forming a compressible layer. The foam may be polyethylene in which case the geotextile material between the first and second layers and the bottom lining of geotextile material is not required. The first layer may alternatively be an organic material such as peat.

Such a material will not last as long as a synthetic material, but may be acceptable in some circumstances.

In a preferred embodiment the rounded part iees comprise man made material, gravel and/or sand with particle sizes between 0.2 to 10 min diameter.

Preferably the first, layer is between 25 and 75 mm thick, the second layer Is between 75 to 100 mm thick and the fourth layer Is between 25 to 75 mm thick Embodiments of' the present invention will now be described by way of example wi th reference 0o the accompanying drawings in which figures 1 to 4 show the construction of' a play surface according to the present; invention and figures 2 to 8 show the construction of a modification of the playing surface of figure 4 for laying on top of existing ground, With reference now to figures 1 to 4 a well, shown generally at 10, is formed either in natural ground by excavation or formed in a surface such as concrete by shuttering. If in natural ground the well is lined with a geotextile layer 12. (If in concrete then the play surface will normally be indoors, or if out of doors 'then an upper fourth layer comprising a stiffened pad 14 (see figure 3) *0*0 4 0 *0 04 .4 0 40 4 4 0 will be waterproof to prevent well 10 from filling with water). The geotextile layer 12 overlaps thei edge of the well 10 as shown at 121, 122 preferably by i50 mm.

As shown in figure 2 a first layer of compressible material 16 is laid on top of the gootesxtile 12 (or concrete). The layer is proforably foam, rubber, synthetic fibre or peat and though conpressible is of noncompactible material. The layer is preferably between 12 to 75 mm thick.

A first separating geotextile layer 18 is preferably interposed between the first layer 16 and a second layer 20 which comprises sand or gravel preferably of particle size between 0.2 to 10 mm and preferably between 75 to 100 mm thick. In a particular embodiment the particle sie is between 3 to 6 mm and preferably the particles are rounded. The layer 18 is upturned in the well as shown at 181, 182 preferably by 75 mm.

*4*0 4 00 $4 04 44 0 4 00 4*40 400 *40*0 t 4 A second separating geotextile layer interposed between the second layer 20 fourth layer 24 comprising stiffened material such as rubber crumb. The preferably overlaps the edges of the well 22 is preferably and an optional or elasticated second layer 22 as shown at 221, I, P 4 4 44 4l 4Q 4 44 4 44~ 44 4 4 9 44 4) 4 44 r 44c 4 4 4 T lahe Ia y Cr 24 may he (unni tt ed I' eert am reumotaneon, where it tenoer dlegree of tahotk lnorIlitn.ey of the turface in allowable.

The stiff pad 14, f'orming a Ihirvd laver, preferably water permeable, lien on top of the optional fourth layer 24 and preferably a fifth layer 20 of artlifioial raus o sinilar i laid on top of the fourth layer 24 as shown in f igure 4, Thin layer may be sand filled in linown manner.

Preferably the gotoextale layers f12, 18J and 22 are 0,6 mm, or I mm thiekt, the third layer 14 in 4 mm thick and the fifth lityor 26 in 20 mini thick.

With reference now to figures 6 to 8 the reference numerals used in figures 1 to 5 denote simniltir componenta.

The struoture in to be laid over existing ground without excavation of a welL A furrow 30, pro fe rab l approximately 100 mm deep, in formed in the ground (which could be concrete or tarmac). The bottom geotextilo layer 12 in "let into" the f'trrow 30 as hewn at 123.

Layer 10 is laid on top of the geoteostile layer 12, the edges 161 of layer 10 being "feathered" as shown forming a wedge shape. Dimension A is preferably 0.6 m (600 mm), 6 The O('voInd geotextilp layer 18 in laid on top of layer and aloo let into" the furrow 30 ain nhown at 18$.

Layer 20 in then laid (in top* of layer 18 and is again "feathered" to a wedge athape tin indicaLtea d at, 201.

eotextile layer U In laid on lop of layer 20 and in "lot into" furrow 30 an ahown at 203.

*0 0 a The optional layer 24 may be laid on top of layer 22 and 'fathered" .o form a wedge an ahown at 241.

The otiff Vad 14 in then laid on top of layer 24 (or layer 20 if layer 24 in not prenent) and artificial grass layer 20 in laid on top of the pad 14. both, of thene are *let i nto furrow 30 an ahown at. 141 and 261 and then furrow in filled top oealed with aealant) an shown at 301.

The struoture thun formed han a ramped external edge aa ghown at 202 which al lown eany aeonn by unern without.

any deep step being pronent.. Thto edgea are necured In the filled groove 30, 301 and the at ructure in reciLatnuz to damage at the edges.

The central portion therefore provides a safe playing surface which can be laid over, for example, voncrete play areas without any substantial excavation.

With all three layers, 16, 2U and 24 the shock absorbency is such that a child could normally fall several metres without severe damage. Without layer 24 the shock absorbency is reduced, but the surface provided is still far safer than concrete or tarmac.

4 Unlike wood ehippings or loose rubber crumb or other loose surfaces the surface provided by this invention will last for many years requiring virtually no maintenance and giving consistent shock absorbency over its whole life.

4 j

Claims (8)

1. 2. A surface for play areas as claimed In Claim I in which the structure also includes a fourth layer including compressible or elasticated material provided intermediate between the second and third layers. 3, A surface for play areas as claimed in Claim 2 In which the struicture Includes a fifth layer on top of the third layer providing a top surface.
2. 4. A surface for play areas as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 including a well formed in natural ground by excavation the well being lined with water permeable geotextile, material, the structure being laid 0within the well. A surface for play areas as claimed in Claims 2 or 3 or 4 in oo 20 which each of the first, second and fourth layers are separated by geotextile material. A's'(?-LMHI588E IA surfae for play ares an claimed Claim 6 in which Athe foam is polyethylone, the gotxliloe material bettween the first and second layers and the bot, Lom lining of geotextile material being then not required. Ott, 8. A surface for play areas as claimed in any one of il Claims 1 to 5 in which the first layer comprises foan Srubbe organic material such as peat, tA 9. A play surface a r claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 in which the rounded particles comprise man made material, gravel and/or sand with particle sizes between 0.2 to 0 mm diameter. A play surface as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 9 SCai m n which the first rayer is between 2 and 75 mm thick, the j second layer ial between 7 to 100 mm thick and the pourth layer is between 26 to 75 mm thick.
3. 11. A play surface substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. 12. A method of constructing a surface for play areas the metheod coprising the steps of excavating a well in natural ground, lining the well with a watern permeable geotextile material, depositing a first layer of compressible material in the well, depositing a second layer of rounded particles either man made of natural on top of the first layer, laying a third layer comprising a stiffened surface on top of the second layer and interposing at least one geotextile layer between the first and second layers or the second and third layers or between both the first and second layers and the second and third layers.
5. 13. A method of constructing a surface for play areas as claimed in Claim 12 in which a fourth layer of compressible or elasticated material Is laid on top of the second layer, the third layer being laid on top of the fourth layer.
6. 14. A method of constructing a surface for play areas the method on 'comprising the steps of laying on top of an existing ground surface a first layer of water permeable geotextile material, depositing a layer of second compressible material on top of the first layer, laying a third layer of geotextlle material on top of the second layer, depositing on 15 top of the third layer a fourth layer of rounded particles of either natural or man made material and laying a fifth layer comprising a stiffened material on top of the fourth layer.
7. 15. A method of constructing a surface as claimed in Claim 14 including the step of laying a sixth layer of geotextlle material and a 20 seventh layer of compressible or elasticated material intermediate between the fourth and fifth layers, the sixth layer being adjacent the fourth layer. S LMM/588E 11
8. 160. A method of constructing a surface as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15 in which the edges of the perimeter of the play area are constructed by tapering each of the second, fourth and seventh layers towards the outside edges of the play area to provide a safety ramp edge construction for the play area. 17. A method of construeting a surface as claimed in Claim 16 in which the first, third, fifth and sixth layers are extended beyond the play area and are let into a recess in fthe ground the reeess then being filled to conceal and anchor the edges of the play area. 18. A method of constructing a surface for play areas substantially as described. DATED this THIRTY FIRST day of OCTOBER 1989 Nottinghamshire County Council Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON it I I t