GB2041227A - Slides - Google Patents

Abstract

A slide comprises a flexible base capable of conforming substantially to the contours of a ground area on which the slide is laid with flexible side members to the slide free from sharp edges. The base of the slide may be formed from sections of relatively rigid material having battens secured thereto for anchoring the sections to the ground, a continuous length of low friction material such as rubber being secured over said sections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slides This invention relates to slides particularly though not necessarily exclusively for use by children.

Hitherto, the production of childrens slides has predominantly involved a rigid construction and in which the upper end of the slide is held at an appropriate height from the ground by appropriate framework. Such a construction inevitably introduces an element of risk to the user of the slide and it is not unknown for children to be seriously injured by falling from the top of the slide either when actually at the start point or when climbing to the start point. It is also the case that slides hitherto have involved the use of rigid side pieces to contain the user which, whilst for the most part serving their function of preventing the user from falling from the slide, introduce a further potential source of injury to the user by forming relatively sharp edges which can themselves cause injury.

The object of the present invention is to provide a slide suitable for use by children which eliminates the majority of the causes of serious risk of injury to the user.

According to the present invention, a slide comprises a flexible base capable of conforming substantially to the contours of a ground area on which the slide is laid, and flexible side members to the slide free from sharp edges.

Thus, with the slide formed of an appropriate continuous length of a flexible material the operative surface of which is formed from or coated with a low friction material, the slide can be laid on any appropriate inclined surface such as a hill or embankment.

In this way the upper end or start position of the slide is not in itself elevated from the ground, eliminating completely the risk of injury to the user by avoiding any need for the user to climb to the start point of the slide. Preferably, the side members are of circular section to provide the required freedom from sharp edges, suitably secured to the slide itself.

Whilst the slide surface can itself be laid directly on the ground it is preferred to provide a means whereby the slide is rigidly secured to the ground.

Thus, the slide may be constructed from a base in the form of a series of sections of, for example, marine ply, to the lower surface of which are secured a number of battons. Thus, the marine ply sections are first laid on the inclined surface, after cutting recesses in the ground to accept the battons. By having the marine ply in sections the sections largely conform to the contour of the ground. The sections of marine ply may further be secured to the ground by the provision of appropriate anchor pegs which can themselves be secured to the timber batton.

With the marine ply sections laid in place, they are overlaid by a continuous length of a material forming the slide surface proper secured in place by a suitable adhesive, which material can be a hard faced rubber having the required relatively low friction effect at its surface. To prevent water damage, the ground at least in the area of the battons can first be overlaid by a water impervious material such as polythene.

To provide the tubular side members, a preferred construction which greatly facilitates assembly, comprises two spaced support members secured to and bridged by a flexible rubber member. Thus, with both support members secured, e.g., to a part of each batton protruding beyond the edge of the slide surface, the flexible bridging member lies in circular configuration extending from each support member.

Thus, there can be an inner plywood tongue forming one support member and an outer plywood tonge forming the second. The inner plywood tonge is secured to the flexible bridging member in such a manner that one edge of the tonge can be pushed below the slide surface and then secured to, e.g., the batton by a location pin or the like. The bridging member can then be pulled into circular configuration to bring the outer plywood tonge into contact with the outer edge of, e.g., the batton and then secured by a further location pin or the like. To give the side member additional rigidity it is preferable that the bridging member is formed from two layers of rubber.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a part of the slide according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of a securing batton overlaid by a marine ply base board; Figure 3 is a sectional end view of a slide side arm prior to assembly; and Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation of part of the slide of the invention showing the securing slide side arm in place.

In the drawings, a slide is formed by a base 1 that has a sufficient degree of flexibility to allow it to conform substantially to the contours of a ground area on which the slide is to be laid. To each side of the base 1 are side members 2 both of which are flexible and free from sharp edges.

As is shown more particularly by Figures 2 to 4, the base 1 is formed from a series of sections 3 of, for example, marine ply or any other reasonably rigid water and rot resistant material. To the underside of the marine ply sections are secured a number of battons 4 which can be sunk into the ground on which the slide is to be laid thus forming an anchor for the slide as a whole. After the marine ply sections have been laid on an appropriate inclined surface, they largely conform to the contour of the ground, and are then overlaid by or coated with a material 5 having a low coefficient of friction and which may be secured in place by an appropriate adhesive. If necessary the marine ply sections may be further secured to the ground by the provision of appropriate anchor pegs 6 which can be driven through the batton and into the ground below.To assist in the prevention of water damage, the ground over which the slide is to be laid or the ground at least in the area of the battons can first be overlaid by a water impervious material such as polythene.

Each flexible side member 2 is of generally circular configuration and is so constructed that there are no sharp edges and the anchoring means holding the side members in place are masked by the side mem bers themselves. Thus, as is shown particularly by Figures 3 and 4, each side member 2 is formed by two support members 7,8 secured to and bridged by a flexible rubber member 9 which can be single ply ortwo-ply as illustrated. The marine ply section overlaying the batton is of such a width that it overlays a shoulder 10 on the batton to form a recess 11.The support member7 is then inserted into the recess 11 and secured to the batton, e.g., by driving a nail 12 through the support member and into the batton and the flexible rubber member 9 bent in generally circular configuration until the support member 8 lies flat against the batton and abuts the support member 7.

The support member8 is similarly secured to the batton such as by driving a nail or indeed a screw 13 through the support member 8 and into the batton.

To mask the head of the screw or nail 13 the support member 8 can, if thought advisable be overlaid by a rubber or plastics layer 14 suitably secured to the support member 8, e.g., by glue.

The invention therefore provides an extremely safe form of slide because of the fact that the start position of the slide is not in itself elevated from the ground and neither is any part of the slide raised from the ground with the complete elimination of risk of injury to the user falling from the slide if, whilst climbing to the start position or during sliding down the slide.

Claims (11)

1. A slide comprising a flexible base capable of conforming substantially to the contours of the ground area on which the slide is laid, and flexible side members to the slide free from sharp edges.

2. A slide as in Claim 1, wherein the side mem bers are of circular section to provide the required freedom from sharp edges.

3. A slide as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the side members are separately formed and suitably secured to the slide.

4. A slide as in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the base of the slide is constructed in the form of a series of sections of relatively rigid material.

5. A slide as in Claim 4, wherein a number of battons are provided secured to the lower surface of each section of relatively rigid material, said battons serving to anchor the sections of relatively rigid material to the ground.

6. A slide as in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the operative surface is formed by a continuous length of a material having a low co-efficient of friction.

7. A slide as in any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the operative surface of the slide is formed by a continuous length of a material of low coefficient of friction overlaid on to the sections of relatively rigid material and secured in place by a suitable adhesive.

8. A slide as in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the said continuous length is of hard faced rubber.

9. A slide as in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein each side member is tubular and is formed by two spaced support members secured to and bridged by a flexible rubber member.

10. A slide as in Claim 5 and Claim 9 when appended to Claim 5, wherein both support members are secured to a part of each batton protruding beyond the edge of the slide surface, the flexible bridging member lying in a circular configuration extending from each support member.

11. A slide substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.