EP3582863B1

EP3582863B1 - Sports facility for kindergarden

Info

Publication number: EP3582863B1
Application number: EP18717111.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: András MOLNÁR; Andrea MOLNÁR
Original assignee: Global Sport Kft
Current assignee: Global Sport Kft
Priority date: 2017-02-16
Filing date: 2018-02-15
Publication date: 2021-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-15
Also published as: EP3582863A1; SI3582863T1; RS62355B1; WO2018150209A1; HRP20211427T1; HU1700029V0; HUE055960T2

Description

The invention relates to sports facility for kindergartners, mainly for playing ball games, where the facility contains a rectangular playground, main pillars along the longer side of the playground, side wall panels and connection bars between main pillars; end wall panels and goal gate elements along the shorter side of the playground; and further provided with a cover net and a door.
The common characteristic of different facilities having the purpose of sports is that these are to be constructed by usual construction methods, generally by using rigid materials, or may be made of lightweight materials, but remained in a specific location after construction. These sports facilities always have idle capacities, since the rate of usage depends largely on sports activity of people living near that facility. So it is more the case for sports purpose buildings made for child-care institutions, as the occupancy of these buildings is even worse than that of facilities for general sport purposes, as for example, kindergarten or school children do not use these facilities all the time. Further disadvantage is that these facilities cannot be transported to other locations making greater demands on their utilization. EP 2567738 shows a sports facility according to the preamble of claim 1.
However, patent document HU 9500442 discloses a sports facility for exercising and playing different ball games and other sports by children aged 3-7 years, and provided with a playground fenced in by limiting members attached to pillars and with sporting or playground accessories for given sports. For this solution at least a part of pillars retaining fencing members are connected to each other with reinforcing bars at their highest section providing a frame like structure and at least one pillar is provided with bracket members clamping any accessory belonging to a given sport to the pillar. Moreover, the lowest section extending up to at most a third of the whole height of a fencing member is made of a rigid material such as wood, but its upper section is made of a resilient material e.g. a net.
A main disadvantage of this solution is that the structure made of pillars is not anchored rigidly to the ground that is it must be disassembled after use, because it does not stand extreme weather conditions. Further disadvantage is that balls bouncing from the resilient net material stretched on the fencing members fixed to the pillars might cause hurts in case of inadvertency, which treats first of all children having a relatively low level of prudence.
Therefore, our object is to provide a sports facility for kindergartners for playing and exercising different ball games, which can be firmly attached to the ground, but can be dismantled and conveyed away, if necessary, as well as the speed of a sporting good such as a ball falling down from the walls of the facility to the playground can be greatly reduced.
This aim can be achieved by providing a sports facility for kindergartners, mainly for playing ball games, where the facility contains a rectangular playground, main pillars along the longer side of the playground, side wall panels and connection bars between main pillars; end wall panels and goal gate elements along the shorter side of the playground; and further provided with a cover net and a door, and side wall panels and end wall panels in the corners of the playground are joined by corner members; and upper ends of main pillars arranged along the longer side of the playground are connected to an end of a main haunch, and another end of the haunch is connected to another end of a further haunch; at least a section of main pillars are cambered into arch, wherein main pillars, goal gate elements and corner members are secured to a ground retainer screw.
Each main pillar is rigidly reinforced by a net supporting bar.
Each corner member comprises a curved panel, three frame rods and net supporting rods.
Each goal gate element contains a plurality of curved columns and a backing connected together.
Said door is arranged on the goal gate element.
The playground is provided with a covering.
The invention will be described in details by referring to the drawing as attached. In the drawing

Fig. 1: is a top view of the sports facility according to the present invention,
Fig. 2: is a side elevation view of the sports facility according to the present invention,
Fig. 3: is a rear view of the sports facility according to the present invention,
Fig. 4a, b: depicts a corner member,
Fig. 5a, b: depicts structural build-up of a side wall panel,
Fig. 6a, b: depicts structural build-up of an end wall panel,
Fig. 7: side elevation view of two main haunches joined together,
Fig. 8a, b: depicts two different embodiments of a goal gate element,
Fig. 9: depicts a bottom member,
Fig. 10: depicts a door arranged on a goal gate element,
Fig. 11: depicts an embodiment of the ground retainer screw,
Fig. 12: depicts two different embodiments of main pillars, and
Fig. 14: a preferred embodiment of a basketball plank, that may be arranged above the goal gate.

Figure 1 shows a sports facility according to the invention in top plan view. The playground P of the sports facility is a field having an area approximately flat ground selected at the site of installation, in which a soil covering suitable for making sports, like artificial grass, live grass or tartan surface can be arranged, but the sports facility according to the invention can be used with natural soil without covering as well. The selected area of the playground P is preferably rectangular and side wall panels 11, end wall panels 12 (see Figure 2) are arranged along its periphery, so that side wall panels 11 are aligned along the longer sides of the rectangle while end wall panels 12 are aligned along both sides of the goal gate formed by gate elements 1a, 1b in the middle section of the shorter sides of the rectangle, closing the playground P. A curved panel 10 arranged in each corner of the rectangular playground P connects the side wall panel 11 and wall panel 12. Side wall panels 11 arranged along the longer side of the rectangular playground P are fastened to main pillars 2, where a ground T side end of each main pillar 2 (see Figure 2) is connected to a tubular ground retainer screw 17 shown in Figure 11, and the other end is connected to a main support haunch 5. The upper ends of the haunches 5 connected to the two main pillars 2 arranged along the two opposite longitudinal sides of the playground P are secured together e.g. by screws over the playground P. In order to achieve a proper strength for the sports facility according to the invention connecting rods 9 are arranged perpendicularly to or at an acute angle between haunches 5, which are fixed to haunches 5 e.g. by screwed connection. Main pillars 2, haunches 5 and connecting rods 9 of the structure as shown hold a covering net 14.
Figure 2 shows a side view of sports facility according to the invention. It can be seen that so-called ground screws 17 (Fig. 11) are recessed in the ground T of the area designated for the installation of the sport facility. Main pillars 2 or bisecting pillars 3 having similar shape used between two main pillars 2 as shown in this embodiment can be inserted into the upper, hollow part of the screws 17. The use of bisecting pillars 3 is particularly useful if it is sufficient to insert a main pillar 2 for each second or third ground screw 17 in order to retain the covering net 14. Side wall panels 11 arranged between vertical main pillars 2 and bisecting pillars 3 are fixed to the pillars 2,3 e.g. by screws. A ball game goal gate is arranged along each shorter side of the rectangular playground P.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the sports facility according to the invention. In this figure it can be observed that end wall panels 12 are arranged beside the football gate formed by goal gate elements 1a, 1b at the end of the playground P, the height of which exceeds the height of the side wall panels 11. This will ensure that a sporting device, like a ball, impacted with a high energy into delimiting means of the playground P does not tear the net 14 covering the playground P. A basketball plank 15 can be arranged above the football gate.
Over the panel of the curved corner element S rods 16 holding the net 14 is placed above the corner panel 10.
Elements of the sporting facility shown in Figures 1 to 3 are depicted in details in Figs. 4-11. In Figures 4a and 4b a corner member S consisting of a curved panel 10, two frame rods 10a, 10b, two main pillar 2 and net supporting rods 16 is shown by two views having a curved shape being similar to the shape of the main pillar 2 so as to form a transition between an arcuate and bulged upper part D, as can be seen in Fig. 3, running along the longer side of playground P, and the arcfree contour of the shorter side of playground P. The lower ends of each frame rod 10a, 10b and main pillars 2 can be inserted into a ground screw 17. The curved and bulged upper part D is responsible for decreasing the value of vertical component of the velocity of the ball impacted onto upper part of the net 14 then rolling down in the arcuate portion, thus beginning a freefall only at the lower portion of curved part D, e.g. at a point V as shown in Fig. 4a.
Figures 5a and 5b show the structure of a side wall panel 11. In this embodiment, the side wall panel 11 consists of a bent tubular frame 11a, a fixed plate 11b fixed thereto and a lower covering sheet 11c. The lower ends of the bent tubular frame 11a can be inserted into ground screws 17.
FIG. 6a and 6b show the structure of an end wall panel 12. In this present embodiment the panel 12 consists of a bent tubular frame 12a, stiffening rods 12c strengthening the tubular frame 12a, a panel plate 12b fixed thereto, and a lower covering sheet 12d. The lower ends of the bent tubular frame 12a can be inserted into ground screws 17.
Figure 7 is a side view of main haunches 5 attached together by two ends 51 thereof. The ends 5a of the supporting haunches 5 can be fastened to a main pillar 2 by means well known to those skilled in the art, e.g. with tube or screw joints. In the illustrated embodiment a sheet like strengthening means 5b having bores 5c as lightening holes is fixed to the main haunch 5, preferably by welding, which significantly increases the stability of the structure of sporting facility. In this view fixing points 9p for connecting rods 9 shown in Figures 1 and 15 can be observed on the haunch 5.
Fig. 8a and 8b show slightly different embodiments of the gate elements 1a, 1b. For both embodiments the gate elements 1a, 1b is formed with a shaped tubular frame comprising a vertical arcuated column 101 and a backsheet 102 connected to each other. Two gate members 1a, 1b are closed on the lowest part of it by a bottom member 7 provided with a net fixing rod 7a in case of gate member 1b and without that rod for member 1a as shown in Fig. 9. Side wall of a gate member 1b shown in Fig. 8a is formed as a door 6 shown in Fig. 10 covered by the net 14, while in Fig. 8b 6a a goal gate 1b without any door 6 but covered with the net 14 is seen. When using the door 6, no other door opening providing entry into the playground P has to be formed in the structure of the sporting facility. The lower ends of column 101 and a backsheet 102 can be inserted into a ground screws 17, respectively.
Figure 11 shows a preferred embodiment of the ground screw 17. In this embodiment, the ground screw 17 comprises an upper section 171 to be inserted into an element, e.g. a main pillar 2 having a tubular part on at least one of its ends, and a tip 172, and an external thread M is formed on the section 171 over the tip 172. For applying the ground screw 17, the tip 172 is placed on the ground at a designated location and then moving the thread M into the soil T by rotating the ground screw 17 about its axis until a necessary and sufficient length of the section 171 of the ground screw 17 protrudes the soil T to fit frame rods 10a, 10b, 10c, tubular frame 12a, main pillars 2, as well as columns 101 and backsheets 102.
Figures 12 and 13 illustrate two embodiments of the pillar 2, 3 in front and side views. The arcuated main pillar 2 shown in FIG. 12 is provided with a net supporting bar 4, which also serves to stiffen the pillar 2. The upper end 21 of the main pillar 2 can be connected to a main haunch 5, eg. by screw joint. The form of arcuate bisecting pillar 3 shown in Fig. 13 is similar to that of the arcuate main pillar 2 shown in Fig. 12, but its upper end cannot be connected to a main haunch 5. The arcuate bisecting pillar 3 can be located between main pillars 2 along the longitudinal side of playground P along with the connecting rod 9 fixed to its upper end 22 to the adjacent pillars 2, 3, and its bottom end can be mounted on a ground screw 17, as it is seen in Fig 1 and 2.
FIG. 14 shows a preferred embodiment of a basketball plank 15 positioned above the goal gate in front and rear view, with a net supporting rod 4 fastened to the back. Preferably, the basket plank 15 can be screwed to the columns 101 of the game gate elements 1a, 1b.
During the installation of the sports facility according to the invention opposite main pillars 2, 3 arranged along the longitudinal sides of the playground P and fitted with ground screws 17 driven into the soil are attached by main haunches 5 above the playground P of the facility, and then side wall panels are fixed in between the pillars 2, 3. In the corners at the junction of the longer and shorter sides of the rectangular playground P, the bottom end of the corner members 10a, 10b, 10c is inserted into the ground screws 17 driven in the soil T, and end wall panels 12 are fixed in between two corner members S, then goal gates are arranged on ground screws 17 in between the members (S) along the shorter side of the playground P. If necessary, basket planks 15 can be mounted, then placing and fastening the connecting rods 9 between the haunches 5 and the main pillars 2, 3. Finally, the structure of the sporting facility is covered with the net 14.
It can be observed by the illustrated embodiment of the sports facility according to the invention, that due to the form of the main pillars 2,3 a sporting device like a ball impacting the net 14 between the arcuated sections D of pillars 2,3 does not immediately fall back into the playground P, but loses some kinetic energy while rolling down along the arcuated part D and falls back onto the playground P along the straight or vertical portion of the main support pillars 2, 3 only. This design prevents sport devices falling backward from causing serious injuries, as players have a longer time to observe sporting goods falling down.
The greatest advantage of the sports facility according to the invention to the prior art is that it can be securely, quickly but removably fixed to the ground, dismantled and removed if necessary, and the speed of a sporting device, e.g. a ball falling back to the playground from the side delimiting structure can be reduced.

Claims

Sports facility for kindergartners, mainly for playing ball games, where the facility contains a rectangular playground (P), main pillars (2, 3) along the longer side of the playground (P), side wall panels (11) and connection bars (9) between main pillars (2, 3); end wall panels (12) and goal gate elements (1a, 1b) along the shorter side of the playground (P); and further provided with a covering net (14) and a door (6), wherein side wall panels (11) and end wall panels (12) in the corners of the playground (P) are joined by corner members (S); and upper ends (21) of main pillars (2, 3) arranged along the longer side of the playground (P) are connected to an end (5a) of a main haunch (5), and another end (5a) of the haunch (5) is connected to another end (5a) of a further haunch (5); characterised in that at least a section of main pillars (2, 3) are cambered into arch (D), wherein main pillars (2, 3), goal gate elements (1a, 1b) and corner members (S) are secured to a ground retainer screw (17).
Sports facility according to claim 1, characterized in that each main pillar (2, 3) is rigidly reinforced by a net supporting bar (4).
Sports facility according to claim 2, characterized in that each corner member comprises a curved panel (10), three frame rods (10a, 10b, 10c) and net supporting rods (16).
Sports facility according to claim 3, characterized in that each goal gate element (1a, 1b) contains a plurality of curved columns (101) and a backing (102) connected together.
Sports facility according to claim 4, characterized in that said door (6) is arranged on the goal gate element (1a, 1b).
Sports facility according to claim 5, characterized in that the playground (P) is provided with a further covering.