EP1243292A1

EP1243292A1 - A play tunnel

Info

Publication number: EP1243292A1
Application number: EP02251772A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anthony Paul c/o The Ninja Corporation Brereton
Original assignee: Finecard International Ltd
Current assignee: Finecard International Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-22
Filing date: 2002-03-13
Publication date: 2002-09-25
Also published as: GB0126605D0; GB0107155D0; US20030022761A1

Abstract

A play tunnel structure (11) providing passageways through which children can crawl and play. The tunnel structure (11) has loops (12) supporting a covering (14) thereby forming a tunnel passageway. The loops (12) comprise discrete rings, (16) and (18), disposed between helical members (20) and (22). When extended, the helical members, (20) and (22), form straight sections of tunnel passage way and the discrete rings, (16) and (18), may form bends in the tunnel passageway. Each discrete ring, (16) and (18), has eyes, (40) and (42), disposed to line up with each other on the outer circumference thereof. A tie (32) is threaded through the eyes, (40) and (42), and pulled taut to gather adjacent rings to thereby form and secure a bend in the passageway of the tunnel structure (11).

Description

This invention relates to a play tunnel structure, and in particular to collapsable play tunnel structures.
These tunnel structures provide passageways through which children can crawl and safely play. However, these tunnel structures are not limited to use by children, and may also be used by adults or pets. In their collapsed state these tunnels can be easily transported and stored.
A known type of play tunnel structure provides straight tunnel passageways through which children can crawl. They are made from covering a helically-shaped looped structure with material to form a tunnel passageway.
It is also known to have separate connectors on to which tunnel structures are attached. These separate units can then be linked together by straight tunnel structures, similar to those mentioned above. Accordingly, these separate connectors are used to change direction of the tunnel.
However, children soon become bored and disinterested with straight tunnels as they can see through the exit at the opposing end which limits their enthusiasm for adventure.
Furthermore, straight tunnel structures having predetermined lengths and having separate connectors are often difficult to assemble in confined areas or indoors.
An object of this invention is to provide a play tunnel which is capable of being adapted to provide bends in the tunnel passageway and which is also capable of being collapsable for ease of transportation and storage.
The present invention provides a collapsable tunnel structure comprising a plurality of loops which are moveable in relation to each other, and a covering supported by the loops to define a tunnel passageway, characterised in that the plurality of loops comprises an elongate strip formed into a helical member as a first tunnel structure, to at least one end of which is connected a second tunnel section the axis of which may be set at an angle with respect to that of the first tunnel section to thereby form a bend in the tunnel passageway
The present invention also provides a collapsable tunnel structure comprising a plurality of loops which are moveable in relation to each other, and a covering supported by the loops to define a tunnel passageway, characterised in that the tunnel structure comprises gathering means attached at intervals along the wall of the tunnel structure, at at least one corresponding circumferential position of the loops, for gathering at least two loops at that circumferential position to thereby form a bend in the tunnel passageway.
The plurality of loops may comprise a helical member in combination with discrete wire rings.
Advantageously, the tunnel structure may comprise of at least two discrete rings disposed between a first helical loop structure and a second helical loop structure.
The loops may be formed from a metal or a plastics material.
The covering may comprise at least one sleeve wherein the loops are retained, thereby supporting the covering to provide a tunnel passageway.
The covering may at least partially comprise a mesh material and may be at least partially opaque or transparent.
The tunnel structure may be collapsable along a longitudinal axis and may have means for securing it in a collapsed state.
The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsable tunnel structure shown in a straight extended state according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a collapsable tunnel structure as shown in figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tunnel structure as shown in Figures 1 and 2, showing the tunnel structure secured in a collapsed state;
Figure 4 shows a loop having ties attached to its circumference;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tunnel structure, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, showing bends formed in the tunnel passageway.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a repeated section (10) of a collapsable play tunnel structure (11) according to the present invention comprises wire loops (12) supporting a flexible material covering (14) thereby forming a tunnel passageway.
The material covering (14) comprises sleeves sewn around its circumference in which the wire loops (12) are retained. The material covering (14) is advantageously a woven or mesh material and may be opaque or transparent, or a combination of the two.
The loops (12) comprise a first discrete ring (16) and a second discrete ring (18), disposed between a first helical member (20) and second member (22). The discrete rings (16), 18) are moveable in relation to each other and both are also moveable in relation to the helical members (20, 22).
The first helical member (20) comprises a proximate end (24) and a distal end (26) both of which are formed into a ring (28, 30) respectively (a shown in Figure 4).
The proximate end ring (28) comprises a first tie (32) and a second tie (34) each attached at opposing positions on the circumference of the proximate end ring (28). In other embodiments a greater number of ties may be attached. The distal end ring (30) also comprises a first tie (36) and a second tie (38) which are attached in positions as described for the proximate end ring (28), hereinbefore.
The first discrete ring (16) comprises a first eye (40) and a second eye (not shown) which are attached at opposing positions on the circumference of the discrete ring (16), to correspond with the first and second ties (32, 34) attached to the proximate end ring (28).
The second discrete ring (18) also has a first eye (42) and a second eye (not shown). The first eye (42) and the second eye (not shown) are attached in positions on the circumference of the second discrete ring (18) to correspond with the first eye (40) and the second eye (not shown)which are attached to the first discrete ring (16), and the first tie (32) and the second tie (34) which are attached to the proximate end ring (28).
The second helical member (22) comprises a proximate end (44) and a distal end (46), both of which are formed into a ring (47, 48) respectively, as hereinbefore described in relation to the first helical member (20).
The proximate end ring (47) comprises a first eye (48) and a second eye (not shown). The first eye (48) and the second eye (not shown) are attached on the circumference of the proximate end ring (47) to correspond with the first eye (42) and the second eye (not shown) attached to the second discrete ring (18); the first eye (40) and the second eye (not shown) attached to the first discrete ring (16); and the first tie (32) and the second tie (34) attached to the proximate end ring (28) of the first helical member (20).
To form a bend in the tunnel passageway the first tie (32) is threaded through the first eye (40), disposed on the first discrete ring (16), then through the first eye (42), disposed on the second discrete ring (42), and finally through the first eye (48), disposed on the proximate end ring (46) of the second helical member (22). The rings (28, 16, 18, 46) are then gathered at that common circumferential position, at which the tie (32) and the eyes (40, 42 and 48) are attached, to form a bend in the tunnel passageway, as shown in Figure 5. The rings (28, 16, 18, 46) can be temporarily secured in this position by knotting the tie (32).
The play tunnel structure (11) can be collapsed along a longitudinal axis into a smaller state (50), as shown in Figure 3. This is carried out by compressing one end of the tunnel structure (11) against the opposing end. Once the tunnel structure has been collapsed into a smaller state it can be secured in that state using the first tie (36) and the second tie (38) disposed on the distal ring end (30) of the first helical member (20).

Claims

A collapsable tunnel structure comprising a plurality of loops (12) which are movable in relation to each other, and a covering (14) supported by the loops to define a tunnel passageway, characterised in that the plurality of loops comprises at least one helical member (20) forming with the covering (14) a first tunnel section, to at least one end of which is connected a second tunnel section (14, 16) the axis of which may be misaligned with respect to that of the first tunnel section to thereby form a bend in the tunnel passageway.
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second tunnel section comprises at least one discrete ring (16) which is movable in relation to the first tunnel section (20), the covering (14) being supported by the, or each, ring (16) to form a tunnel passageway.
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in Claims 1 or Claim 2, comprising a third tunnel section (14, 22) which is connected to the second tunnel section (14, 16) at an opposite end to the first tunnel section (14, 20).
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the third tunnel structure comprises at least one helical member (22).
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the loops (12) are formed from a flattened metallic strip material.
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the covering (14) comprises a plurality of sleeves wherein the loops (12) are retained.
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the tunnel is collapsable along a longitudinal axis.
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims including means (36, 38) for securing the tunnel structure in a collapsed state.
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one tunnel section comprises gathering means (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 48) attached at intervals along the wall of the tunnel, at at least one corresponding circumferential position of the loops (12), for gathering at least two loops at that circumferential position to thereby form a bend in the tunnel passageway.
A collapsable tunnel structure as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the gathering means comprises at least one tie (32, 34, 36, 38) in combination with at least one eye (40, 42, 48).
A collapsable tunnel structure comprising a plurality of loops (12) which are movable in relation to each other, and a covering (14) supported by the loops to define a tunnel passageway, characterised in that the tunnel structure comprises gathering means (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 48) attached at intervals along the wall of the tunnel passageway, at at least one corresponding circumferential position of the loops (12), for gathering at least two loops at that circumferential position to thereby form a bend in the tunnel passageway.