FR3055218A1 - "FIXING SYSTEM FOR OUTDOOR GAME STRUCTURE, OUTDOOR GAME STRUCTURE COMPRISING SUCH A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SUCH A GOLF STRUCTURE OF OUTDOOR GAMES" - Google Patents

Abstract

An attachment system (12) for an outdoor play structure (10), the play structure (10) comprising a gantry (11) having an upper beam (13) extending a longitudinal direction (X) and at least one rectilinear support leg (16) comprising an upper end (17) connected to the upper beam (13) and a lower end (18), the fastening system (12) being configured to to be attached to the lower end (18) of the support foot (16) of the gantry (11) and comprising a plate (19) to be inserted into a hole (101) dug in the ground (100) generally in a direction vertical (Z), perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X), the plate (19) being arranged generally perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z) and configured to be disposed at a distance from the lower end (18) of the foot of support (16) of the next gantry (11) the vertical direction (Z), in a direction opposite to the upper end (17) of the support leg (16), when the fastening system (12) is fixed to the support leg (16) of the gantry (11).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a fastening system for an outdoor play structure, an outdoor play structure comprising such a fastening system, and a method of installing such a structure.

STATE OF THE ART

An outdoor play structure comprises in a known manner a gantry comprising an upper beam extending in a horizontal longitudinal direction and rectilinear support legs arranged, two by two, in inverted V and whose upper ends are connected to the beam superior.

In order to prevent the gantry from tilting, it is for example known to fix it to the ground by means of a sealing tab which is fixed, by a first of its ends, to the lower end of the support legs and which is sealed, by a second of its ends, in concrete. The structure of outdoor games thus obtained therefore comprises a gantry and concrete studs arranged in the extension of the lower ends of the support legs of the gantry.

However, such a solution is not satisfactory.

Indeed, this solution requires the implementation of specific means for its installation, such as a concrete mixer, which are restrictive and costly to use. The same is true when it comes to replacing and / or repairing the structure of outdoor games.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above. To this end, the invention provides a fastening system for an outdoor play structure intended to be connected to a lower end of a support leg of a gantry of said outdoor play structure, the fastening system comprising a plate intended to be installed in a hole dug in the ground and to be covered in the hole by a filling material, in particular a movable material, so that the mass of the filling material covering the plate of the fixing system prevents the tilting of the gantry of the outdoor play structure.

More specifically, the subject of the invention is a fixing system for an outdoor play structure, the outdoor play structure comprising a gantry comprising an upper beam extending in a longitudinal direction and at least one support leg. straight comprising an upper end connected to the upper beam and a lower end, the fixing system being configured to be fixed to the lower end of the support leg of the gantry and comprising a plate intended to be inserted in a hole dug in the ground generally in a vertical direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the plate being arranged generally perpendicular to the vertical direction and configured to be placed at a distance from the lower end of the support leg of the gantry in the vertical direction, in one direction opposite the upper end of the foot d e support, when the fixing system is fixed to the support leg of the gantry.

According to other characteristics of the invention, taken individually or in combination:

- The fixing system further comprises a fixing lug extending from the plate, the fixing lug comprising an end opposite to the plate, called the upper end, configured to be fixed to the lower end of the support leg of the gantry outdoor play structure;

- the mounting lug extends from the plate generally in the vertical direction;

- The fixing lug comprises a contact surface arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and configured to be tightened against the lower end of the support leg of the gantry by means of at least one fixing element.

The invention also relates to an outdoor play structure comprising:

- a gantry comprising an upper beam extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of rectilinear support legs each comprising an upper end connected to the upper beam and a lower end, the support legs of the gantry being for example arranged at ends opposite of the upper beam, in the longitudinal direction,

- at least one fixing system as previously described, connected to the lower end of at least one of the support legs.

The contact surface of the fixing lug of the fixing system is for example arranged on an opposite side, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and defined by the support foot connected to the fixing system, to the foot (s) support arranged at the opposite end of the upper beam.

The subject of the invention is also a method of installing an outdoor play structure as previously described, comprising steps of:

- digging a hole in the ground in the vertical direction;

- Installation of the fixing system in the hole, so that the plate is arranged generally perpendicular to the vertical direction;

- filling the hole with a filling material, so that the plate is covered by the filling material;

- installation of the gantry;

- fixing the lower end of the gantry support leg to the fixing system.

According to other characteristics of the invention, taken individually or in combination:

- the filling material corresponds to the material extracted from the ground, when digging the hole in the ground;

- the filling material is a loose material such as clay;

- the upper end of the fixing system fixing lug extends outside the hole, when the fixing system is put in place in the hole;

- the lower end of the support leg of the gantry is fixed to the upper end of the fixing lug of the fixing system.

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended figures among which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor play structure according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a detail view, in perspective, of a fastening system and a lower end of a gantry support leg of the outdoor play structure illustrated in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a sectional view of the fastening system and the lower end of the support leg illustrated in Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a detail view, in perspective, of the fixing system and the lower end of the support leg illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, a filling material covering a plate of the fixing system having been hidden;

- Figure 5 is a detail view, in section, of the fastening system illustrated in Figures 2 to 4;

- Figure 6 is a flowchart of a method of installing the structure of outdoor games illustrated in Figure 1, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an outdoor play structure 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, the outdoor play structure 10 is installed on a floor 100.

An orthogonal coordinate system is defined comprising a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y and a vertical direction Z. The longitudinal X and transverse Y directions are horizontal.

The outdoor play structure 10 comprises a gantry 11 and at least one fixing system 12. When the outdoor play structure 10 is installed, the gantry 11 and the fixing system or systems 12 are fixed together.

The gantry 11 comprises an upper beam 13 extending in the longitudinal direction X. The upper beam 13 supports one or more apparatus, for example one or more swings 14, a ladder 15 in rope, etc.

The gantry 11 further comprises a plurality of straight support legs 16 extending from the upper beam 13 in the direction of the ground 100. The support legs 16 are arranged, in pairs, in inverted V. The support legs 16 are arranged, for example in pairs, at opposite ends of the upper beam 13, in the longitudinal direction X. The support legs 16 include an upper end 17 connected to the upper beam 13 and a lower end 18 The lower end 18 of each of the support legs 16 is for example connected to a fixing system 12.

The gantry 11 may include wood or steel.

The fixing system 12 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 5. Figure 3 is a sectional view of the fixing system 12 and the lower end 18 of the support leg 16, in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction X and in the vertical direction Z.

The fastening system 12 comprises a plate 19 generally arranged perpendicularly to the vertical direction Z and at a distance from the lower end 18 of the support leg 16 in the vertical direction Z, in a direction opposite to the upper end 17 of the support leg 16. The plate 19 is inserted into a hole 101 dug in the ground 100 in the vertical direction Z and covered in the hole 101 by a filling material M. The filling material M is for example a loose material.

In this way, it is the weight of the filling material M covering the plate 19 which prevents the tilting of the gantry 11. It is therefore no longer necessary except the lower end 18 of the support leg 16 and the filling material M are in one piece, as was the case when a concrete block was formed in the extension of the lower end 18 of the support leg 16. Indeed, the force applied to the plate 19 of the fixing system 12 by the mass of the filling material M filling the hole 101 is sufficient to ensure the stability of the gantry 11. Thus, the filling material M is not limited to concrete and it is for example possible to use filling materials M which are already available on the installation site of the outdoor play structure 10 to cover the plate 19 of the fixing system 12.

The filling material M corresponds for example to the material extracted from the ground 100 for digging the hole 101, the waste being thus reduced.

The filling material M comprises loose and dense materials, for example clay, sand, gravel, earth, etc.

The outdoor play structure 10 is thus particularly easy to install. Installation is also done cheaply. Indeed, it is not necessary to obtain a specific material, such as for example concrete, or even to obtain and use specific, restrictive and expensive tools, such as a concrete mixer, to install the structure of outdoor games 10.

The plate 19 comprises a metal plate, for example of square or rectangular section, in a plane generally perpendicular to the vertical direction Z.

The plate 19 is for example connected to the lower end 18 of the support leg 16 by means of a fixing lug 20. The fixing lug 20 extends from the plate 19 to the lower end 18 of the foot of support 16. The fixing lug 20 comprises one end 21, called the upper end, fixed to the lower end 18 of the support foot 16.

For this, the upper end 21 of the fixing lug 20 receives, for example, at least one fixing element 22 with the lower end 18 of the support leg 16.

The fixing lug 20 extends for example from the plate 19 generally in the vertical direction Z. This makes it possible to prevent the upper end 21 of the fixing lug 20 from deforming towards the plate 19 under the effect of the weight of the gantry 11, and therefore that the gantry 11 sinks into the ground 100. In other words, this improves the mechanical strength of the structure of outdoor games.

The upper end 21 of the fixing lug 20 extends for example outside the hole 101. This makes it possible to fix the lower end 18 of the support leg 16 after filling the hole 101. Thus, when repairs or a replacement of the gantry 11 is necessary, it suffices to disassemble the support leg 16 from the fixing lug 20, the fixing system 12 being able to remain in place in the hole 101 filled with filling material M.

The fixing lug 20 comprises for example a contact surface 23 arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and clamped against the lower end 18 of the support leg 16 by the fixing element 22.

The contact surface 23 of the fixing lug 20 of the fixing system 12 is for example arranged on an opposite side, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and defined by the support foot 16 connected to said lug 20 , or to the support legs 16 arranged at the opposite end of the upper beam 13.

In this way, the fixing lugs 20 of the fixing system 12 apply to the gantry 11 a force in the longitudinal direction X tending to bring together, with respect to each other, the support feet 16 arranged at the opposite ends of the upper beam 13. Thus, the forces applied by the fixing lugs 20 to the gantry 11 come to oppose the forces applied by the users of the games 14, 15 which on the contrary tend to separate, with respect to each other, the support feet 16 arranged at opposite ends of the upper beam 13.

This improves the mechanical strength of the outdoor play structure 10.

The fixing element 22 comprises for example a screw housed in an opening 24 arranged at the upper end 21 of the fixing lug 20 in the longitudinal direction X. The screw 22 can be completed by a washer (not shown) arranged between the head of the screw 22 and the fixing lug 20 or by a nut arranged opposite the head of the screw 22 relative to the support leg 16. A washer (not shown) can also be arranged between the nut and the support leg 16.

The upper end 21 of the fixing lug 20 has for example a curved portion 25 towards the lower end 18 of the support leg 16 (FIG. 3). The curved portion 25 of the fixing lug 20 extends for example generally in the longitudinal direction X. The curved portion 25 is planted in the lower end 18 of the support leg 16, in order to eliminate the risk of scratches or injuries to users of gantry 11, in particular apparatus 14, 15.

The fixing lug 20 is for example connected to the plate 19 by means of a slot 26 made in the plate 19 and in which is housed the lower end 27 of the fixing lug 20. For this, the end lower 26 of the fixing lug 20 has for example a curved portion 28 which is received under the plate 19, the fixing lug 20 thus being locked in translation in the vertical direction Z towards the lower end 18 of the support leg 16. The curved portion 28 extends for example in the longitudinal direction X. The connection between the fixing lug 20 and the plate 19 is shown in FIG. 5.

The dimensions of the fixing system 12, in particular of the plate 19 and, where appropriate, of the fixing tab 20, are defined so that the plate 19 is covered by a volume of filling material M corresponding to a mass of between 25 and 30kg, preferably 27kg.

The dimension of the fixing lug 20 between the plate 19 and its upper end 21 can vary as a function of the volume required filling material M covering the plate 19 to ensure the stability of the gantry 11, the depth of the hole 101 dug depending itself of the dimension of the fixing lug 20. The dimensions of the plate 19 can also vary as a function of the necessary volume of filling material M covering the plate 19 to ensure the stability of the gantry 11.

The plate 19 and / or the fixing lug 20 comprise, for example, galvanized steel in order to avoid corrosion.

FIG. 6 shows a method 30 of installing the structure of outdoor games 10. The method 30 takes place for example as follows.

Firstly, a hole 101 is dug 31 in the ground 100 in the vertical direction Z.

The fixing system 12 is then put in place 32 in the hole 101, so that the plate 19 is disposed generally perpendicular to the vertical direction Z and if necessary that the upper end 21 of the fixing tab 20 extends outside hole 101.

Then, the hole 101 is filled 33 with a filling material M, so that the plate 19 is covered by the filling material M. The filling material M is for example a loose material. When the filling material M comprises earth, it can also be beaten.

The gantry 11 is then put in place 34, the lower end 18 of the support leg 16 being placed on the filled hole 101, where appropriate facing the upper end 21 of the fixing lug 20. The curved portion 25 of the fixing lug 20 of the fixing system 12 is for example planted in the lower end 18 of the support leg 16.

Finally, the fixing system 12 is fixed to the lower end 18 of the support leg 16. For this, the screw 22 is for example threaded through the opening 23 of the upper end 21 of the fixing lug 20 and screwed to the lower end 18 of the support leg 16.

The method 30 of installing the outdoor play structure 10 is particularly simple and economical to implement. Indeed, the weight of the filling material M covering the plate 19 is sufficient to prevent the tilting of the gantry 11.11 is therefore not necessary that the filling material M is in one piece with the lower end 18 of the support leg 16 to ensure the stability of the gantry 11, as was the case for example when a concrete block was formed in the extension of the lower end 18 of the support leg 16. Thus, the filling material M is not not limited to concrete and it is for example possible to use filling materials M which are already available on the installation site of the outdoor play structure 10 to cover the plate 19 of the fixing system 12. This also avoids the use of specific tools, restrictive and costly to implement, such as a concrete mixer, for the installation of the structure of outdoor games

10.

The outdoor play structure 10 and the method 30 for installing said structure 10 are particularly advantageous since they make it possible to dispense with the use of concrete to install the outdoor play structure 10. In fact, the weight of the filling material M covering the plate 19 of the fixing system 12 is sufficient to prevent the tilting of the gantry 11. It is also possible to reuse, to fill the hole 101 housing the plate 19, the material extracted from the ground 100 during digging 31 of the hole 101, such as clay, so that the installation 30 of the outdoor play structure 10 is particularly easy and economical to implement.

Claims (11)

1. Fastening system (12) for an outdoor play structure (10), the outdoor play structure (10) comprising a gantry (11) comprising an upper beam (13) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and at least one straight support leg (16) comprising an upper end (17) connected to the upper beam (13) and a lower end (18), the fixing system (12) being configured to be fixed to the lower end (18) of the support leg (16) of the gantry (11), the fixing system (12) being characterized in that it comprises a plate (19) intended to be inserted in a hole (101) dug in the ground (100) generally in a vertical direction (Z), perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X), the plate (19) being arranged generally perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z) and configured to be arranged at a distance from the lower end (18) of the support leg (16) of the gantry (11) in the vertical direction (Z), in a direction opposite to the upper end (17) of the support leg (16), when the fixing system (12) is fixed to the support leg (16) of the gantry (11). 2. Fixing system (12) according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing tab (20) extending from the plate (19), the fixing tab (20) comprising an end (21) opposite the plate (19), said upper end, configured to be fixed to the lower end (18) of the support leg (16) of the gantry (11) of the outdoor play structure (10). 3. Fixing system (12) according to claim 2, wherein the fixing tab (20) extends from the plate (19) generally in the vertical direction (Z). 4. Fastening system (12) according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the fixing lug (20) comprises a contact surface (23) arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and configured to be tightened against the 'lower end (18) of the support leg (16) of the gantry (11) by means of at least one fixing element (24). 5. Outdoor play structure (10) comprising: - a gantry (11) comprising an upper beam (13) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and a plurality of straight support legs (16) each comprising an upper end (17) connected to the upper beam (13) and a lower end (18), - at least one fixing system (12) according to one of claims 1 to 4, connected to the lower end (18) of at least one of the support legs (16). 6. Outdoor play structure (10) according to claim 5, comprising a fixing system (12) according to claim 4, in which the support legs (16) of the gantry (11) are arranged at opposite ends of the upper beam (13), in the longitudinal direction (X), and in which the contact surface (23) of the fixing lug (20) of the fixing system (12) is arranged on an opposite side, with respect to to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and defined by the support leg (16) connected to the fixing system (12), to the support leg (s) (16) arranged at the opposite end of the upper beam ( 13). 7. A method (30) of installing an outdoor play structure (10), the outdoor play structure (10) comprising: - a gantry (11) comprising an upper beam (13) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and a plurality of straight support legs (16) each comprising an upper end (17) connected to the upper beam (13) and a lower end (18), - at least one fixing system (12) according to one of claims 1 to 4, the method (30) comprising the steps of: - digging (31) of a hole (101) in the ground (100) in the vertical direction (Z); - Installation (32) of the fixing system (12) in the hole (101), so that the plate (19) is arranged generally perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z); - filling (33) of the hole (101) with a filling material (M), so that the plate (19) is covered by the filling material (M), - positioning (34) of the gantry (11); 5 - fixing (35) of the lower end (18) of the support leg (16) of the gantry (11) to the fixing system (12). 8. Method (30) according to claim 7, wherein the filling material (M) corresponds to the material extracted from the ground (100), during the digging (31) of the hole (101) in the ground (100). 9. A method (30) according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the filling material (M) is a soft material such as clay. 10. Method (30) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the fixing system (12) further comprises a fixing lug (20) 15 extending from the plate (19), the fixing lug (20) comprising an end (21) opposite the plate (19), called the upper end, configured to be fixed to the lower end (18) of the foot support (18) of the gantry of the outdoor play structure (10), in which the upper end (21) of the fixing lug (20) of the fixing system (12) 20 extends outside the hole (101), when the fixing system (20) is put in place (32) in the hole (101), and in which the lower end (18) of the support leg (16) of the gantry (11) is fixed (35) to the upper end (17) of the fixing lug (20) of the fixing system (12). 1/4