GB2116861A - Playground equipment and connecting members for use therein - Google Patents

Abstract

Playground equipment comprises an assembly of log-elements such as 30,31 joined by connecting members to form a rigid structure, each log- elements including first and second spaced series of mutually perpendicular transverse diametric bores 33, 34 and the connecting members comprising rods 37 and fasteners engageable with the ends thereof. The rods may be hollow with threaded end inserts 38 and locating spacers 39 and spacer bars or rails 32 may be provided. Spigots 42 on the spacer are arranged with slow tapers 43 which provide a tight interference fit with the bores 33, 34. The rod 37 passes freely through the spacer 39 and the logs are clamped together by means of end caps 44 and 45 which engage with threaded rods or bolts 46 and 47 screwed into the inserts 38. The end caps seat in countersinkings in the logs and have a tapered surface 49 and spigot 50 which engages the logs in a similar manner to the spacer 39. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Playground equipment for children This invention relates to playground equipment for children and to a means for securing together log-shape elements primarily for use in the construction of such equipment.

It is one object of this invention to provide playground equipment which is assembled from standardised component parts in a simple manner and which can be made-up into various configuration according to particular needs. Another object of this invention is to provide a means for securing together log-shape elements which affords stability in the connection and simplified assembly.

By log-shape elements, hereinafter simply called "logs", is means not only natural timber logs but also generally cylindrical members which may have regular or irregular surface shape, length and diameter made of other materials for example composites.

According to this invention there is provided playground equipment comprising a plurality of logs each of which includes along its length a regular spaced series of first transverse bores extending in one diametric direction and a regular spaced series of second transverse bores extending in a second diametric direction at right angles to said one direction, and a plurality of connecting members comprising rods to pass through said bores and fasteners engageable with the ends of the rods to bear against a surface of a log whereby two or more logs may be clamped together.

The equipment may include bars which serve to connect spaced logs thus forming hand rails. The connecting members may comprise rods of varying lengths enabling a number of logs to be connected together. The rods preferably have a threaded insert in an end and threaded connectors such as bolts may engage therewith to secure a log in clamped engagement.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a connecting memberforjoining log elements said member comprising a tubular rod of diameter less than the diameter of a bore in a log so as to freely pass therethrough, the rod having threaded inserts in each end thereof, a fastener having a threaded spigot to engage the insert or a bore to receive a bolt passing therethrough to engage the insert and a slow taper shoulder providing an interference fit with the bore in the log, the fastener or the bolt having a head for engagement with a tool to tighten the fastener or the bolt, the fastener having a head to bear against an outer surface of the log.

The logs used in the assembly of the invention preferably have a countersunk entrance to the bore whereby a part of the head of the fastener may lie therein when tightened fully. The head part may have a further slow taper providing an interference fit with the entrance to the bore.

Preferably the fastener has a threaded bore which receives a threaded rod also engaging the threaded insert. This enables a threaded rod to be used which projects from the fastener to connect with a further tubular member having an insert. Thus an assembly can be constructed from component parts in a simple manner providing a variety of different arrangements with interconnection of the logs and connecting members.

The invention and other aspects thereof are individually and collectively described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing embodi ments by way of example only. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a childrens play apparatus in front view, Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 in side view at "A", Figure 3 shows a detail of a log connecting member, Figures 3a and 3b show in exploded view details of the fastening methods, and Figure 4 shows a detail of a further assembly feature.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 these show a play apparatus constructed according to requirements from a number of log elements 1 of varying lengths but all of a common nominal diameter. Each log has a longitudinally extending series of bores 2 and at right angles thereto a second set of longitudinally extending bores 3 which are pitched in staggered relationship to the first set. The chosen configuration of logs are joined by connecting members 4 which enable a rigid construction to be built-up. The length of the connecting members is selected according to the number of logs in a connected assembly and in addition hand bars 5 can be provided to join spaced logs such as 6 and 7.

The assembly also includes T-connectors 8 which can effect a joint between bars 9 and handrails 10 as well as elbows 11.

The assembly therefore broadly includes accurately drilled logs which are cut to appropriate lengths, metal connecting members, spacers and bars for assembly as required at a particular site. The connecting members are more fully described thereafter.

Figure 3 shows a typical connection between two logs 30 and 31 with provision for a spacer bar or rail 32. Each log includes a transverse bore 33, 34 of which the ends are countersunk at 35,36. A rod 37 passes through the bores, this rod being hollow with threaded end inserts 38. Between the two logs is a locating spacer 39 which has a body part 40 with opposed conical tapers 41 which partially seat in the countersinkings 35, 36. Spigots 42 on the body are arranged with slow tapers 43 which provide a tight interference fit with the bores 33,34. The rod 37 passes freely through the spacer 39 which forms a good bearing support between the two logs.The two logs are clamped together by means of end caps 44 and 45 forming fasteners which engage with threaded rods or bolts 46 and 47 screwed into the inserts 38, the end cap 44 is tightened by a keyed fastener 48 in the end face thereof. The end caps similarly seat in the countersinkings in the logs and have a tapered surface 49 and tapered spigot 50 which engages the logs in a similar manner to the spacer 39.

Figures 3a and 3b show, in more detail, the method of securing the parts and in exploded view for clarity.

The arrangement may be such that the end cap fasteners 44, 45 have a plain bore into which a bolt 48 may be inserted to be tightened into the threaded inserts 38 with the head of the bolt 48 received in a counterbore thus clamping the assembly. Alterna timely the end caps 44,45 may have integral threaded spigots or the bores in the end caps may be themselves threaded to receive threaded studding 47.

The end caps 45 have a length of spigot 50 that extends half-way into the bore so that it may abut a similar end cap inserted from the opposite direction into the bore.

The threaded rod 47 extends beyond the end cap 45 to connect with a further threaded insert 51 provided inside a tubular spacer bar 32 which would then connect with a similar assembly to that described using the same components.

Figure 4 shows a connection between two logs 51, 51a and a hand rail 52 with a connecting assembly generally referenced 53 being similar to that described. The other end of the hand rail 52 is secured using similar components at 55 as may be seen in the drawing. The drawing also shows the end caps 54 of other connections which extend at right angles to those described and the two series of bores 2, 3 along the length ofthe log is also illustrated.

The arrangement described has the feature of provision of a slow taper on the locating spigots of the end caps and spacers which enter the bores in the logs and when assembled this provides structural rigidity due to the interference fit achieved following tightening. In addition the connecting rods are of various lengths and when the structure is fully tightened they are designed to be in end abuting metal to metal contact with the end caps and spacers thus taking up the calculated interference fit in the logs this further makes for a very rigid structure wherein the assembly structurally comprises essentially a self-sustaining rigid metal framework which cannot loosen overall due to changes in the dimensions of the logs or their disintegration or destruction.

Claims (14)

1. Playground equipment comprising a plurality of logs each of which includes along its length a regular spaced series of first transverse bores extending in one diametric direction and a regular spaced series of second transverse bores extending in a second diametric direction at right angles to said one direction, and a plurality of connecting member.

comprising rods to pass through said bores and fasteners engageable with the ends of the rods to bear against a surface of a log whereby two or more logs may be clamped together.

2. Equipment according to Claim 1, wherein the rods and fasteners are engageable by means of screw thread connectors.

3. Equipment in accordance with Claim 2, wherein the rods have inserts with a threaded bore at each end, the fasteners having a bore, the two being connected by a threaded insert passing through the bore in the fastener to engage the bore in the insert of the rod.

4. Equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the fasteners have a head portion and a spigot portion with a slot taper, the spigot portion progressively engaging the bore in a log and forming a tight interference fit therewith when the head portion abuts the log surface.

5. Equipment in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the logs have a counterbore to receive the head portion of the fastener.

6. Equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, including spacers with a body having a bore through which a rod may pass and opposed spigots having slow tapers to engage the respective bores of two adjacent connected logs, the spigots forming a tight interference fit with a respective bore when the body is in abutment with the respective log surfaces.

7. Equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the rods and fasteners are arranged to come into fully engaged contact when a log or logs are secured, whereby an assembled equipment is structurally rigid independently of the log or logs clamped.

8. Equipment in accordance with Claims 4,5 or 6, wherein the spigot extends into the bore, when the fastener or spacer is fully engaged, to a distance of one half the log diameter.

9. Equipment in accordance with Claim 4 or 5, wherein the fastener has a counter bore in the head portion to receive a keyed securing bolt, the head of the bolt lying within the counter bore.

10. Equipment in accordance with Claims4or5, wherein the head portion of the fastener has a counter bore to receive and embrance an end of a spacer bar or tube, the bar or tube having a threaded bore in said end to engage a threaded studding passing through the bore in the fastener to engage the rod, the bar or tube being screwed-up on the studding to effect clamping of the fastener and rod.

11. Aconnecting memberforjoining log elements said member comprisinga tubular rod of diameter less than the diameter of a bore in a log so as to freely pass therethrough, the rod having threaded inserts in each end thereof, a fastener having a threaded spigot to engage the insert or a bore to receive a bolt passing therethrough to engage the insert and a slow taper shoulder providing an interference fit with the bore in the log, the fastener or the bolt having a head for engagement with a tool to tighten the fastener or the bolt, the fastener having a head to bear against an outer surface of the log.

12. A connecting member in accordance with Claim 11, wherein the head of the fastener has a slow taper providing an interference fit with a counter bore in the log.

13. A connecting member in accordance with Claim 11 or 12, wherein the fastener has a threaded bore which receives a threaded rod also engaging the threaded insert.

14. Playground equipment or the parts and fittings for making-up such equipment as described herein and illustrated in the drawings.