GB2110944A

GB2110944A - Flexible water

Info

Publication number: GB2110944A
Application number: GB08235134A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Stanley Sillitoe
Original assignee: Tube Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Tube Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1981-12-10
Filing date: 1982-12-09
Publication date: 1983-06-29
Also published as: GB2110944B

Abstract

The slide comprises an elongate strip of flexible material 10 having at one end a water retaining area comprising a kerb 11, formed of a soft resilient material, secured to the strip. The kerb may be secured to an outer surface of the strip or retained in a pocket (as shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Recreational slide This invention relates to a recreational slide which may for example be used by children in gardens or parks, the object of the invention being to provide such a slide in an improved form.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a recreational slide comprising an elongate strip of flexible material which has a smooth upper surface and which is provided at or adjacent to one end with means for retaining water on the strip over a part of its length so as in use to form, when the strip is laid on the ground and water is applied to said end, a shallow pool or water-splash area through which a child can slide.

Conveniently, the strip may be formed from polyethylene of suitable thickness and width or from any other suitable synthetic resin material. Means are also preferably provided for preventing movement of said strip in a direction parallel to its length when in use it is laid on the ground. There may also be provided (although this is not essential) a chute which in use would be arranged so that it is inclined to the horizontal with its lower end adjacent to or connected to that end of said strip of flexible material provided with the water retaining means.

The water retaining means may be formed by a kerb or barrier which is held in position on the strip of flexible material. Such a kerb or barrier may be formed for example from a ring of a soft resilient material such as a foamed synthetic resin material and in one convenient way of securing said ring there is provided a sleeve or bag of flexible material in which the ring is inserted, said sleeve or bag forming one end of the strip of flexible material.

Thus the sleeve or bag would comprise a double thickness of flexible material, the remainder of the strip (to which the sleeve or bag is connected) being formed of a single thickness of material.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure lisa fragmentary perspective view of one example of a recreational slide constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the slide seen in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the slide when arranged in association with a chute.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown in Figure 1 one example of a recreational slide constructed in accordance with the invention, the slide comprising an elongate strip of flexible material generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The strip is made of flexible material having a smooth upper surface and it is conveniently formed from polyethylene or any other suitable synthetic resin material. In one example (which is not to be taken in any limiting sense) the strip may be of the order of one metre in width and 10 metres in length and in use it would be laid on the ground in a suitable location for instance on a grass surface.

At or adjacent to one end of the aforementioned elongate strip 10 there is provided means for retaining water on the slide and such means in the example shown comprises a kerb or barrier 11 which is in the form of a ring formed of a foamed synthetic resin material so that it is soft and resilient. Said kerb 11 may be mounted on the strip 10 in any convenient manner. It may for example be inserted into a sleeve or bag 10a forming one end of said strip 10, the kerb being retained in position by the bottom seam 12 of the bag and an intermediate seam 13 formed after the kerb has been inserted into the bag.If therefore water is applied to the slide (for example by means of a hose) some water will be retained on the slide lying within the area of the kerb 11 so as to form a shallow pool or water-splash area on to which a child can dive or jump from that end of the slide adjacent to the kerb. The momentum of the child moving towards the remainder of the slide indicated by reference numeral 1 Ob will serve to carry over some of the water from the aforementioned shallow pool contained by the kerb 51 so asto provide lubrication for further movement of the child down the slide towards that end thereof remote from the kerb 11. The quantity of water lying within the kerb 11 can of course be replenished when desired.In the example above described it will be realised that the end 10a of the strip will be of double thickness, being formed by the aforementioned sleeve or bag whereas the end of the slide indicated by reference numeral lOb may be of single thickness.

It is however desirable to provide means for preventing movement of the strip 10 relative to the ground in a direction parallel to its length and this can be achieved if desired by driving suitable nails or spikes into the ground through the strip material at suitable positions along the length thereof. It will however usually be found to be sufficient to secure the two corners of the strip adjacent to the kerb 11 and to this end there may be provided a pair of elongated wire loops 14 and 15 which are arranged so that one of said corners is inserted through one of the loops whereupon the latter is turned to roll up a small portion of the strip material and then a U-shaped securing hoop 16 can be driven into the ground so that the two legs of the hoop extend through the opposite ends of the associated wire loop.

It is envisaged that a slide constructed as above described will be capable of providing much recreational enjoyment for children but if a chute such as depicted by reference numeral 17 in Figure 3 is also available then the chute can be assembled with its lower end adjacent to or overlapping the end 1 Oa of the slide in order that a child travelling down the chute will land on the slide and will then continue in a forward motion towards the far end of the slide remote from the chute. It is however to be enphasized that a slide constructed in accordance with the present invention can be used without the necessity of providing a chute 17.

1. A recreational slide comprising an elongate strip of flexible material which has a smooth upper surface and which is provided at or adjacent to one end with means for retaining water on the strip over

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Recreational slide This invention relates to a recreational slide which may for example be used by children in gardens or parks, the object of the invention being to provide such a slide in an improved form. In accordance with the invention there is provided a recreational slide comprising an elongate strip of flexible material which has a smooth upper surface and which is provided at or adjacent to one end with means for retaining water on the strip over a part of its length so as in use to form, when the strip is laid on the ground and water is applied to said end, a shallow pool or water-splash area through which a child can slide. Conveniently, the strip may be formed from polyethylene of suitable thickness and width or from any other suitable synthetic resin material. Means are also preferably provided for preventing movement of said strip in a direction parallel to its length when in use it is laid on the ground. There may also be provided (although this is not essential) a chute which in use would be arranged so that it is inclined to the horizontal with its lower end adjacent to or connected to that end of said strip of flexible material provided with the water retaining means. The water retaining means may be formed by a kerb or barrier which is held in position on the strip of flexible material. Such a kerb or barrier may be formed for example from a ring of a soft resilient material such as a foamed synthetic resin material and in one convenient way of securing said ring there is provided a sleeve or bag of flexible material in which the ring is inserted, said sleeve or bag forming one end of the strip of flexible material. Thus the sleeve or bag would comprise a double thickness of flexible material, the remainder of the strip (to which the sleeve or bag is connected) being formed of a single thickness of material. The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure lisa fragmentary perspective view of one example of a recreational slide constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the slide seen in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the slide when arranged in association with a chute. Referring now to the drawing there is shown in Figure 1 one example of a recreational slide constructed in accordance with the invention, the slide comprising an elongate strip of flexible material generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The strip is made of flexible material having a smooth upper surface and it is conveniently formed from polyethylene or any other suitable synthetic resin material. In one example (which is not to be taken in any limiting sense) the strip may be of the order of one metre in width and 10 metres in length and in use it would be laid on the ground in a suitable location for instance on a grass surface. At or adjacent to one end of the aforementioned elongate strip 10 there is provided means for retaining water on the slide and such means in the example shown comprises a kerb or barrier 11 which is in the form of a ring formed of a foamed synthetic resin material so that it is soft and resilient. Said kerb 11 may be mounted on the strip 10 in any convenient manner. It may for example be inserted into a sleeve or bag 10a forming one end of said strip 10, the kerb being retained in position by the bottom seam 12 of the bag and an intermediate seam 13 formed after the kerb has been inserted into the bag.If therefore water is applied to the slide (for example by means of a hose) some water will be retained on the slide lying within the area of the kerb 11 so as to form a shallow pool or water-splash area on to which a child can dive or jump from that end of the slide adjacent to the kerb. The momentum of the child moving towards the remainder of the slide indicated by reference numeral 1 Ob will serve to carry over some of the water from the aforementioned shallow pool contained by the kerb 51 so asto provide lubrication for further movement of the child down the slide towards that end thereof remote from the kerb 11. The quantity of water lying within the kerb 11 can of course be replenished when desired.In the example above described it will be realised that the end 10a of the strip will be of double thickness, being formed by the aforementioned sleeve or bag whereas the end of the slide indicated by reference numeral lOb may be of single thickness. It is however desirable to provide means for preventing movement of the strip 10 relative to the ground in a direction parallel to its length and this can be achieved if desired by driving suitable nails or spikes into the ground through the strip material at suitable positions along the length thereof. It will however usually be found to be sufficient to secure the two corners of the strip adjacent to the kerb 11 and to this end there may be provided a pair of elongated wire loops 14 and 15 which are arranged so that one of said corners is inserted through one of the loops whereupon the latter is turned to roll up a small portion of the strip material and then a U-shaped securing hoop 16 can be driven into the ground so that the two legs of the hoop extend through the opposite ends of the associated wire loop. It is envisaged that a slide constructed as above described will be capable of providing much recreational enjoyment for children but if a chute such as depicted by reference numeral 17 in Figure 3 is also available then the chute can be assembled with its lower end adjacent to or overlapping the end 1 Oa of the slide in order that a child travelling down the chute will land on the slide and will then continue in a forward motion towards the far end of the slide remote from the chute. It is however to be enphasized that a slide constructed in accordance with the present invention can be used without the necessity of providing a chute 17. CLAIMS

1. A recreational slide comprising an elongate strip of flexible material which has a smooth upper surface and which is provided at or adjacent to one end with means for retaining water on the strip over a part of its length so as in use to form, when the strip is laid on the ground and water is applied to said end, a shallow pool or water-splash area through which a child can slide.

2. A recreational slide as claimed in Claim 1 wherein means are also provided for preventing movement of said strip in a direction parallel to its length when in use it is laid on the ground.

3. A recreational slide as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said water retaining means is formed by a kerb or barrier which is held in position on the strip of flexible material, said kerb or barrier being formed of a soft resilient material.

4. A recreational slide as claimed in Claim 3 wherein one end of said strip comprises a pocket or sleeve into which said kerb or barrier is inserted and thereafter retained therein by closing the bag or sleeve.

5. A recreational slide as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a chute which in use is disposed so that it is inclined to the horizontal with its lower end arranged either adjacent to or in an overlapping relationship with one end of said strip.

6. A recreational slide substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.