EP3659685B1 - Sand pit system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sandpit system according to the preamble of claim 1.

The sandpit system comprises in a known manner a sandpit as a play area for children. A protective umbrella can be placed in such a sandpit as rain and sun protection. By lowering such a protective screen, it can also be used as a cover for the sandpit.

Such sandpit systems are, for example, from DE 295 10 036 U1 and the DE 20 2014 104 436 U1 known.

The U.S. 3,171,651 A relates to a sandpit system with a sandpit on the bottom of which a mast is mounted, which supports an umbrella. The umbrella can be moved upwards and then used as sun or rain protection. In its lower position, the umbrella covers the sandpit.

The DE 20 2004 006 695 U relates to a lowerable roof using a simple cable pull for sandboxes. A double cable pull is attached to the ridge ridge of the roof, which is guided over two cable pulleys or sliding elements, which are attached to the cross member attached between the roof supports. A cable pulley or a sliding element takes over the one-sided merging of the double cable pull.

The invention is based on the object of providing a sandpit system of the type mentioned at the beginning, which has a high functionality with a simple structure.

To solve this problem, the features of claim 1 are provided. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a sandpit system with a sandpit and a protective screen assigned to it, which can be adjusted in height between an upper end position and a lower end position. The protective screen covers the sandpit in the lower end position and is arranged in the upper end position at a distance above the sandpit. The sandpit has a bottom and a side wall which protrudes upward from its edge and runs in the circumferential direction of the bottom. Receiving means for mounting a mast are provided on the floor, with the protective screen on the mast being adjustable in height. This has an arrangement of webs in the bottom area, the webs being fastened with a longitudinal end to a fastening element in the center of the sandpit. The webs running in the radial direction form an arrangement that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center.

The basic idea of the invention is that the sandpit system with the sandpit and the protective screen forms a preferably self-supporting complete system that can be installed on any floor coverings or substrates without further installation work, in particular without the incorporation of foundations into the substrate. The only prerequisite for installing the sandpit system according to the invention is that the subsurface has a sufficiently flat surface.

It is essential here that the sandpit not only has a side wall as usual. Rather, the bottom of the sandpit with the side wall connected to the bottom forms a stable unit on which the mast is also mounted, with a longitudinal axis preferably running perpendicular to the bottom.

The sandpit system also advantageously has a modular construction, the modules of which form prefabricated units.

Because the modules are completely prefabricated, it is no longer necessary to edit these modules during installation. Rather, they can be connected to one another by simple screw or plug connections in order to completely install the sandpit system.

The floor of the sandpit is formed by floor elements mounted on an arrangement of webs, which form a closed, flat floor surface.

The floor is thus constructed from only two different parts, which enables efficient production and also simple assembly.

According to the invention, the webs are fastened with a longitudinal end to a fastening element in the center of the sandpit. The webs running in the radial direction form an arrangement that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center.

Furthermore, the floor elements form an arrangement that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center of the sandpit, each floor element being fastened to lie on two adjacent webs.

Two floor elements lying one on top of the other with edge segments are screwed onto each web.

Since the webs with the base elements form a rotationally symmetrical arrangement and thus the webs on the one hand and the base elements on the other hand are each identical, only a few types of parts are required, which can also be assembled without confusion. The screw connections required for fastening the floor elements to the webs can be produced quickly and easily. By overlapping the edge areas of two adjacent floor elements on the respective web, a completely tightly closed floor surface is obtained, which preferably rests on a base in a horizontal plane.

Instead of the floor formed by the floor elements, the webs can also be placed on a water-permeable floor support. This can consist of a textile surface, in particular a fleece.

The sandpit construction is advantageously completed in that the side wall is formed from an arrangement of wall elements which are attached to the outer edge of the floor.

The side wall itself thus has a modular structure.

The wall elements advantageously complement each other to form a polygonal side wall that is rotationally symmetrical to the center of the sandpit.

Each wall element runs in a plane oriented perpendicular to the floor surface and adjoins the outer edge of a floor element that runs along a straight line.

The wall elements thus form modules that are optimally adapted to the floor elements and webs.

The wall elements are particularly advantageously fixed to the webs by means of plug-in and screw connections.

With these plug-in connections, the wall elements can be attached to the bars quickly and easily. The wall elements fastened in this way form a closed side wall of the sandpit that runs around in the circumferential direction of the floor.

Furthermore, a support element is advantageously mounted on the upper edge of each wall element, which runs in a plane oriented parallel to the floor surface. The wall element and the support element are advantageously formed from one part, in particular a plastic injection-molded part.

The support elements formed in this way form a seat surface that runs around the circumference of the sandpit.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the fastening element in the center of the sandpit forms the receiving means for mounting the mast.

The fastening element thus fulfills a double function as a storage for the webs and the mast. As a result, the number of individual parts of the sandpit system can be kept low.

The protective screen advantageously has a covering attached to struts.

The protective screen designed in this way provides rain and sun protection for children playing in the sandpit when the protective screen is retracted into the upper end position.

In the lower end position, the covering of the protective screen rests on the support elements of the sandpit.

The support elements thus serve not only as a seat but also as a support surface for the covering of the protective screen in its lower end position. This creates a tight seal that prevents water, dirt and small animals from entering the sandpit.

In the lower end position, the struts of the protective screen particularly advantageously engage in grooves opening out on the upper sides of the support elements.

This gives the protective screen a particularly good hold on the sandpit, which prevents the protective screen from detaching from the support elements even in stronger winds.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, means for adjusting the height of the protective screen are provided in the mast, which can be actuated by actuating means on the outside of the sandpit.

The attachment of the actuating means on the outside of the sandpit is very user-friendly. In particular, the actuating means are thus also accessible when the protective screen has moved into its lower end position and closes the sandpit.

A threaded spindle running in the mast is advantageously provided along the longitudinal axis of the mast running perpendicular to the bottom of the sandpit.

A threaded nut is mounted on the threaded spindle, which is coupled to a strut ring which receives the struts of the protective screen and which is guided on the outer surface of the mast.

By actuating the actuating means, the threaded spindle is set in a rotary movement, whereby the height of the threaded nut is adjusted on the threaded spindle, and the adjustment movement of the threaded spindle is transmitted to the strut rim.

With the threaded spindle and the threaded nut, a structurally simple and at the same time robust, failure-prone height adjustment mechanism is provided.

According to a first variant, the threaded nut is coupled to the strut ring via a driver, the driver being guided through a slot running in the longitudinal direction of the mast. The slot in the mast is preferably designed as a labyrinth so that no dirt can penetrate directly into the interior of the mast.

The driver forms a simple direct coupling to the strut rim, whereby the movement of the threaded nut is transmitted directly to the strut rim.

According to a further variant, the threaded nut is coupled to the strut ring via cables, which are guided from the threaded nut over the upper open end of the mast and via pulleys to the strut ring.

In this variant, the movement of the threaded nut is indirectly transmitted via the cables to the strut rim in such a way that an upward movement of the threaded nut is converted into a downward movement of the strut rim and vice versa. The advantage of this variant is that no slot has to be provided in the mast, that is to say the outer surface of the The mast can be completely closed so that no sand or dirt can penetrate into the interior of the mast.

The mast is particularly advantageously designed in the form of a profile tube.

Since the inner and outer circumferential surface does not have a circular but a profiled cross-section, the strut ring is guided on the outer circumferential surface of the mast and the threaded nut on the inner circumferential surface of the mast.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the actuating means is coupled to the threaded spindle via a shaft running below the floor and a gear on the underside of the mast.

As a result, the actuation of the actuating means is converted in a simple manner into a rotary movement of the threaded spindle, which in turn effects the height adjustment of the protective screen.

In the simplest case, the actuating means can be operated manually, this being designed, for example, as a hand crank. A cordless screwdriver is also possible as an actuating means. In both cases, a suitable connection for the actuating means is provided on the outside of the sandpit.

In general, an electric motor can also be provided as the actuating means. A simple energy supply unit in the form of an accumulator or solar panel is advantageously assigned to the electric motor.

According to an advantageous embodiment, another strut ring coupled to the struts is provided on the outside of the mast. By adjusting the height of this ring of struts, the protective screen is opened or closed relative to the first ring of struts.

The distance between the strut rings is limited by a spacer tube when the umbrella is open. The spacer tube ensures a defined tension in the covering of the umbrella.

In particular, the further strut ring can be adjusted by means of a hand lever or a cable pull.

This enables user-friendly opening and closing of the protective screen.

Figur 1:

Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Sandkastensystems mit einem in einer oberen Endposition oberhalb eines Sandkastens positionierten Schutzschirms.

Figur 2:

Sandkastensystem gemäß Figur 1 mit dem Schutzschirm in seiner unteren Endposition.

Figur 3:

Schnittdarstellung des Sandkastensystems gemäß Figur 1.

Figur 4:

Detaildarstellung des Sandkastensystems gemäß Figur 1 mit einem Befestigungselement zur Befestigung von Streben und eines Masts des Schutzschirms.

Figur 5:

Detaildarstellung des Sandkastensystems gemäß Figur 2 mit zwei an einer Strebe befestigten Wandelementen des Sandkastens.

1. a) Querschnittdarstellung
2. b) Längsschnittdarstellung

Figur 6:

Erste Variante einer Ankopplung einer Gewindemutter im Mast des Schutzschirms an einen Strebenkranz.

Figur 7:

Zweite Variante einer Ankopplung einer Gewindemutter im Mast des Schutzschirms an einen Strebenkranz.

Figur 8:

Dritte Variante einer Ankopplung einer Gewindemutter im Mast des Schutzschirms an einen Strebenkranz.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1:

Representation of an embodiment of the sandpit system according to the invention with a protective screen positioned in an upper end position above a sandpit.

Figure 2:

Sandpit system according to Figure 1 with the protective screen in its lower end position.

Figure 3:

Sectional view of the sandpit system according to Figure 1 .

Figure 4:

Detailed representation of the sandpit system according to Figure 1 with a fastening element for fastening struts and a mast of the protective screen.

Figure 5:

Detailed representation of the sandpit system according to Figure 2 with two wall elements of the sandpit attached to a strut.

1. a) Cross-sectional view
2. b) Longitudinal section

Figure 6:

First variant of a coupling of a threaded nut in the mast of the protective screen to a strut ring.

Figure 7:

Second variant of a coupling of a threaded nut in the mast of the protective screen to a strut ring.

Figure 8:

Third variant of a coupling of a threaded nut in the mast of the protective screen to a strut ring.

The Figures 1 to 8 show an embodiment of the sandpit system 1 according to the invention.

The sandpit system 1 comprises a sandpit 2 and a protective screen 3. The protective screen 3 can be moved between an upper end position and a lower end position. In the upper end position, the covering 5 mounted on struts 4a is extended upwards on a mast 6 of the protective screen 3 so that it is positioned at a distance above the sandpit 2 ( Figure 1 ). Further struts 4b, which are used to open and close the protective screen 3, are mounted on the struts 4a. In this upper end position, the protective screen 3 is used as rain or sun protection for children playing in the sandpit 2. In the upper end position, the covering 5 on the mast 6 is lowered so that it closes the sandpit 2 ( Figure 2 ). The protective screen 3 forms a cover for the sandpit 2 for this purpose.

The sandpit system 1 forms a self-supporting modular construction consisting of prefabricated units. The sandpit 2 is made of wood, plastic or a metallic material such as aluminum.

The self-supporting construction is achieved in that the sandpit 2 has a closed, flat floor 7, on the outer edge of which a side wall 8 is fastened in the circumferential direction, which is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the floor 7. The side wall 8 is formed by several identically designed wall elements 8a. A support element 9 is attached to each wall element 8a. The support elements 9 run in a parallel to the floor 7 running level. The support elements 9 complement each other to form a closed seat surface extending around the circumference of the sandpit 2. The sandpit 2 can be set up with the floor 7 on a substrate without foundations.

How out Figure 1 Grooves 10 can be seen in the edge regions in which two support elements 9 adjoin one another. If the protective screen 3 is lowered into its lower end position ( Figure 2 ), the covering 5 rests tightly on the support elements 9 and the struts 4a engage in their outer edge regions in the grooves 10, whereby a secure hold of the protective screen 3 on the sandpit 2 is obtained.

As from the Figures 1 and 2 As can be seen, the sandpit 2 has a polygonal outer contour which is delimited by the flat wall elements 8a.

The bottom 7 of the sandpit 2 consists of a rotationally symmetrical arrangement of webs 11 and base elements 12 ( Figure 4 ). The identically designed webs 11 are formed by rectangular hollow profiles. These webs 11 are fastened to a fastening element 13 in the center of the sandpit 2. The fastening element 13 consists essentially of two plates 13a, 13b arranged one above the other at a distance, between which the free ends of the webs 11 are inserted and then screwed there. The webs 11 fixed in this way form a star-shaped rotationally symmetrical arrangement. The identically designed floor elements 12 are attached to these webs 11. The floor elements 12 have a triangular contour. The bottom elements 12 are placed on the webs 11 in such a way that two adjacent bottom elements 12 overlap with their lateral edges and rest on a web 11 and are screwed tight there. Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the struts with some floor elements 12 attached there.

The wall elements 8a are placed on the free end-side edges of the floor elements 12 and fastened there by means of plug-in connections, as in FIG characters 5a, 5b demonstrate. An angle bracket 14 is mounted on the lateral edges of each wall element 8a. The wall element 8a and the angle 14 are preferably made in one piece. One leg 14a of the angle 14 is attached to the wall element 8a. The second leg 14b protrudes perpendicularly from the wall element 8a. The legs 14a, 14b of two wall elements 8a adjoining one another run parallel to one another and bear against one another and are inserted into the cavity of the web 11 to form the plug connection. The plug connection can also be secured with screw connections.

How in particular Figure 4 shows, the mast 6 of the protective screen 3 is also attached to the central fastening element 13, so that its longitudinal axis runs perpendicular to the bottom 7 of the sandpit 2.

How out Figure 1 As can be seen, the struts 4a are mounted on the mast 6 in a height-adjustable manner by means of a first strut ring 15. The struts 4b are mounted in a height-adjustable manner on the mast 6 by means of a second strut ring 16.

By adjusting the height of the strut ring 15 on the mast 6, the protective screen 3 can be moved between the upper end position ( Figure 1 ) and the lower end position ( Figure 2 ) are proceeded. If the protective screen 3 is in the upper end position, the protective screen 3 can be opened or closed by adjusting the height of the second strut ring 16 relative to the first strut ring 15. A spacer tube 17 between the strut rings 15, 16 ensures a minimum distance between these strut rings 15, 16. In the present case, a cable 18 is provided as an actuating device for opening and closing the protective screen 3. In principle, a hand lever can also be used for this purpose.

For the height adjustment of the first strut ring 15 on the mast 6, a threaded spindle 19 is provided in the mast 6 running in its longitudinal direction. The threaded spindle 19 is coupled via a gear 20 on the underside of the mast 6 to a shaft 21 extending below the floor 7. The connection element 22 of the shaft 21 lies on the outside of the sandpit 2. A coupling element 23 leads from the connection element 22 to a connection 24 for a fastening element 13, which can be formed by a hand crank or a cordless screwdriver. In principle, the fastening element 13 can also be formed by an electric motor with an autarkic energy supply. The connection element 22 and the connection 24 are preferably designed identically.

The threaded spindle 19 is guided in the cavity of the mast 6, which is formed by a profiled tube made of a metallic material, that is, the cross section of the tube is profiled and thus not circular. A threaded nut 25 sits on the threaded spindle 19, like that Figures 6 and 7th demonstrate. The threaded nut 25 is coupled to the first strut ring 15. Due to the profiling of the tube forming the mast 6, the threaded nut 25 is rotatably mounted in the mast 6 and the strut ring 15 is rotatably mounted on the outside of the mast 6.

The height of the protective screen 3 is adjusted by actuating the fastening element 13. As a result, the threaded spindle 19 is set in a rotary movement via the shaft 21 and the gear 20. Depending on the direction of rotation, the threaded nut 25 in the mast 6 is thereby moved up or down. Since the threaded nut 25 is coupled to the strut ring 15, this results in an upward or downward movement of the strut ring 15 and thus a height adjustment of the protective screen 3, which is continuously adjustable. In particular, this causes the protective screen 3 to be retracted into the upper end position or lower end position.

Figure 6 shows a first variant of a coupling of the threaded nut 25 to the strut ring 15. In this case, a slot 26 running in the longitudinal direction is provided in the profile tube of the mast 6. A driver 27 is guided through this slot 26, which connects the threaded nut 25 directly to the strut rim 15 connects. If the threaded nut 25 is moved up or down by turning the threaded spindle 19, this movement is transmitted directly to the strut rim 15.

Figure 7 shows a second variant of a coupling of the threaded nut 25 to the strut rim 15. In this variant, no slot has to be machined in the mast 6, since the coupling of the threaded nut 25 to the strut rim 15 takes place via ropes 28 or cords that come from the threaded nut 25 via the open top of the mast 6 are led out and then guided to the strut ring 15 via deflection rollers 30 mounted on brackets 29. As with the arrows in Figure 7 As shown, a downward movement of the threaded nut 25 is converted into an upward movement of the strut ring 15. Conversely, an upward movement of the threaded nut 25 is converted into a downward movement of the strut ring 15.

Figure 8 FIG. 8 shows a modification of the embodiment according to FIG Figure 6 . In the embodiment, wall segments of the profiled tube forming the mast 6 form a labyrinthine slot 26 which is hidden behind one of the wall segments of the tube so that only a little dirt can penetrate into the mast 6 from the outside. The driver 27, which couples the threaded nut 25 to the strut ring 15, is adapted to the shape of the slot 26 and is S-shaped. Holders 31 for mounting the struts 4a are located on the outside of the strut ring 15. In the strut ring 15, buffers 32 are stored, which ensure improved guidance on the mast 6. Otherwise, the variant corresponds to Figure 8 according to the embodiment Figure 6 .

List of reference symbols

(1)

Sandpit system

(2)

Sandpit

(3)

Protective screen

(4a)

Bracing

(4b)

further bracing

(5)

Covering

(6)

mast

(7)

ground

(8th)

Side wall

(8a)

Wall element

(9)

Support element

(10)

Groove

(11)

web

(12)

Floor element

(13)

Fastener

(13a)

plate

(13b)

plate

(14)

angle

(14a)

leg

(14b)

second leg

(15)

first strut ring

(16)

second strut ring

(17)

Spacer tube

(18)

Cable

(19)

Threaded spindle

(20)

transmission

(21)

wave

(22)

Connection element

(23)

Coupling element

(24)

connection

(25)

Threaded nut

(26)

slot

(27)

Carrier

(28)

rope

(29)

bracket

(30)

Pulley

(31)

bracket

(32)

buffer

Claims (14)

1. Sand pit system (1) with a sand pit (2) and a protective screen (3), which is associated therewith and which is adjustable in height between an upper end position and a lower end position, wherein the protective screen (3) in the lower end position covers the sand pit (2) and the protective screen (3) in the upper end position is arranged at a spacing above the sand pit (2), wherein the sand pit (2) comprises a base (7) and a side wall (8) which protrudes upwardly from the edge thereof and encircles in circumferential direction of the base (7), and wherein mounting means for mounting a mast (6) are provided at the base (7), wherein the protective screen (3) is adjustable in height at the mast (6), characterised in that the sand pit (2) has an arrangement of webs (11) in the base region, wherein the webs (11) are secured by a longitudinal side end to a securing element (13) in the centre of the sand pit (2), and the webs (11) extending in radial direction have a rotationally symmetrical arrangement with respect to the centre.
2. Sand pit system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that this forms a self-supporting construction and/or a modular construction, the modules of which form prefabricated units.
3. Sand pit system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the webs (11) form supports for the base mats (12), which form a closed base surface, or the webs rest on a water-permeable base support.
4. Sand pit system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the side wall (8) is formed from an arrangement of wall elements (8a), which are secured at the outer edge of the base (7), wherein the wall elements (8a) complement one another to form, in particular, a polygonal side wall (8) rotationally symmetrical with respect to the centre of the sand pit (2).
5. Sand pit system (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the wall elements (8a) are fixed to the webs (11) by means of plug connections and screw connections.
6. Sand pit system (1) according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterised in that a support element (9) extending in a plane oriented parallel to the base surface is mounted on the upper edge of each wall element (8a).
7. Sand pit system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the securing element (13) forms in the centre of the sand pit (2) the mounting means for mounting the mast, the protective screen (3) has a covering (5) secured to struts (4a) and in the lower end position the covering (5) of the protective screen (3) rests on the support elements (9) of the sand pit (2).
8. Sand pit system (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that in the lower end position the struts (4a) of the protective screen (3) engage in grooves (10) opening at the upper sides of the support elements (9).
9. Sand pit system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the mast (6) is constructed in the form of a profile tube and that means for adjustment of the protective screen (3) in height are provided in the mast (6) and are actuable by actuating means at the outer side of the sand pit (2), wherein the actuating means is, in particular, coupled to the underside of the mast (6) at a threaded spindle (19) by way of a shaft (21), which extends below the base (7), and a transmission (20).
10. Sand pit system (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that provided along the longitudinal axis, which extends perpendicularly to the base (7) of the sand pit (2), of the mast (6) is a threaded spindle (19) which extends therein and on which is mounted a threaded nut (25), the nut being coupled to a strut collar (15) which receives the struts (4a) of the protective screen (3) and which is guided to the outer circumferential surface of the mast (6), and the threaded spindle (19) is set into rotational movement by actuation of the actuating means, whereby the threaded nut (25) is adjusted in its height position at the threaded spindle (19) and wherein the adjusting movement of the threaded spindle (19) is transferred to the strut collar (15).
11. Sand pit system (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that the threaded nut (25) is coupled to the strut collar (15) by way cables (28), which are guided from the threaded nut (25) by way of the upper open end of the mast (6) and by way of deflecting rollers (30) to the strut collar (15), or the threaded nut (25) is coupled to the strut collar (15) by way of an entrainer (27), wherein the entrainer (27) is guided through a slot (26) which extends in longitudinal direction of the mast (6) and is of, in particular, labyrinthine configuration.
12. Sand pit system (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the actuating means is a hand crank, a cordless screwdriver or an electric motor, wherein an autonomous energy supply unit in the form of a battery or solar panel is associated with the electric motor.
13. Sand pit system (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that a further strut collar (16) coupled with the struts (4b) is provided at the outer side of the mast (6), wherein the protective screen (3) is opened or closed by height adjustment of this strut collar (16) relative to the first strut collar (15) and the further strut collar (16) is adjustable by means of a hand lever or a cable pull (18).
14. Sand pit system (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that a spacer tube (17) by means of which the covering (15) is kept at a defined tension is provided.

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