GB2278292A

GB2278292A - Combined seesaw and roundabout

Info

Publication number: GB2278292A
Application number: GB9410766A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Paul Sefton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-29
Filing date: 1994-05-27
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Also published as: GB9410766D0; GB9410765D0; GB9311181D0; GB2278291A

Description

2278292 1 PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to playground equipment. Its objects include the provision of improved forms of such equipment.

A more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a new form of playground equipment %ihich is safe and interesting.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a combined seesaw and roundabout.

More specifically, the present invention provides playground equipment in the form of a seesaw comprising a lever arranged for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis relative to a supporting base and f or rotary movement about a vertical axis relative to the supporting base.

Seat structures are preferably provided at each end of the lever, and may be arranged so that the users of the seesaw will sit in the seat structures facing transversely to the longitudinal axis of the lever. Alternatively, the seat structures may be arranged so that the users all face inwardly towards the vertical axis.

The seat structures may be arranged so that the users of the seesaw will all face in the same direction, either clockwise or anti-clockwise, relative to the axis about which rotary movement is effected.

The seat structures at the two ends of the lever will preferably be such that there will be more than one person at each end of the lever. Typically, there will be spaces for two people to sit side-by-side at each end of the lever.

Damping means may be provided for restraining the rate of pivotal movement of the lever about its horizontal axis and its rate of rotary movement about the vertical axis.

The damping means acting in respect of movement about the vertical axis may comprise hydraulic fluid contained within the supporting base and baffles fixed to the relatively rotatable members.

The damping means acting in respect of pivotal movement about the horizontal axis may comprise elements spring-loaded into contact with the lever.

The lever may include a central platform on which a child can stand and a framework so positioned as to provide support for a child standing on the platform. The framework is preferably designed to serve also as a climbing frame so that the equipment is a combined seesaw, roundabout and climbing frame.

In useg for example, younger children may sit in the seats at the two ends of the lever and an older child may stand on the platform assisting in the generation of the pivotal movement of the seesaw.

jo _5 The supporting base may be installed in a playground in an enclosed area, there preferably being a fence around the area within which the lever can be turned about the vertical axis. This will thus avoid or reduce the possibility of other users of the playground venturing into positions in which they can be hit by the turning and pivoting seesaw lever.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of playground equipment comprising a combined seesaw and roundabout, Figure 2 is a view showing the installation of the equipment shown in Figure 1 in a playground, Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of part of the equipment shown in Figure 1, and Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of playground equipment In the form of a combined seesaw, roundabout and climbing frame.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The equipment shown in the drawings is f or use in a children's playground and the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 includes a supporting base 10 having a peripheral collar 11 and outwardly extending arms 12 whereby the base 10 may be securely and positively mounted within a fenced area within the playground. The base 10 includes a top cover or lid 13 which carries a central bearing 14 which supports a vertical shaf t 15. A plate 16 is fixed to the shaf t 15 and has a peripheral skirt 17 which surrounds the cover or lid 13.

14 The shaft 15 is arranged for rotation about a vertical axis relative to the base 10, the vertical axis being located centrally of the base 10. The base 10 is filled with oil and acts as the outer member of a hydraulic damper. A series of radially inwardly extending blades 18 are attached to the base 10 and a series of radially outwardly extending blades 19 are attached to the shaf t 15. As shown in Figure 3, there is a small radial gap between the inner edges of the blades 18 and the outer edges of the blades 19 so that, as the shaft 15 rotates about its vertical axis relative to the base 10, the oil within the base 10 will function as a speed-limiting means preventing the shaft 15 from being rotated at an excessive speed.

The shaft 15 is attached to a vertical column 20. the lower end of Which is attached to the plate 16. A frame structure 21 is attached to the column 20 and. adjacent its upper end, the column 20 is pivotally connected, by pivot pin 22, to a beam 23 which forms the lever of the seesaw. The beam 23 is arranged for pivotal movement relative to the shaft 15 about the horizontal axis of the pivot pin 22 and the shaft 15, in turn, is arranged for rotary movement about its central vertical axis relative to the base 10.

The beam 23 is provided with central skirt formations 24 which overlie the frame structure 21 which, as shown in Figure 3, has an arcuate lower face. The skirt formations 24 carry a cover or seal 25 to close the gap between the lower edges of the skirt formations 24 and the lower face of the frame structure 21 so as to reduce or avoid the possibility of users' fingers accidentally becoming trapped between the skirt formations 24 and the frame structure 21 during pivotal movement of the beam 23.

Seat structures 26 and 27 are located at the two ends of the beam 23. As shown, each seat structure 26, 27 is designed to receive two occupants sitting side-by-side and facing at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the beam 23. Each seat structure 26,27 includes a base portion 28, a back-rest portion 29, end frame members 30, a dividing member 31 and a front frame member 32. The members 30, 31 and 32 are formed from welded steel tube and provide secure support for the users of the equipment.

Dampers 33 (of which only one is shown in Figure 3) act between the frame structure 21 and the underside of the beam 23. Each damper 33 includes a bolt 34 which passes through a sleeve 35 fixed to the frame structure 21 and disc springs 36 which act between the head of the bolt 34 and the sleeve 35 so that the head of the bolt 34 is urged continuously into engagement with the beam 23. During pivotal movement of the beam 23, the springs 36 of one or other of the dampers 33 will be being compressed. Violent pivotal movement of the beam 23 %t cl about the axis of the pivot pin 22 will thus be reduced or avoided.

Looking down on the equipment as viewed in Figures 1 and 21 it can be seen that the users of the equipment, i.e. the occupants of the seat structures, will all be facing in an anti-clockwise direction. Thus, as they push down on the ground during each- seesawing movement, they will impel the beam not only upwards but also in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 15. The beam 23 will thus be caused to rotate, at a steady, fairly uniform rate, about the axis of the shaft 15 at the same time as it is pivoting about the axis of the pivot pin 22.

As will be seen from Figure 2, the equipment is installed within a fenced area and is surrounded by fencing 37 which prevents other users of the playground from moving inadvertently into positions in which they could collide with the beam 23 or the scat structures 26 and 27. The fencing 37 includes two diametrically opposed access points to facilitate access by the users of the equipment.

The playground equipment shown in Figures 1 to 3 will thus be seen to provide an interactive ride facility which is interesting and exciting. As shown, the seat structures 26 and 27 provide seating for four users who face at right angles to the axis of the beam 23. In an alternative arrangementg seating is provided facing radially inwardly and may be such that one person only can sit at each end of the lever.

Turning next to the embodiment shown in Figure 4, this includes a base 40 which is fixed in position in a playground area so as to provide support for a cover 41 which is rotatably mounted on top of the base 40 for rotation relative to the base 40 about a central vertical axis. A damper arrangement, corresponding to the damper arrangement shown in Figure 3, is contained within the base 40 so as limit the rate at which the cover 41 can be rotated relative to the base 40.

carries a embodiment The cover 41 itself provides a pivot mounting for a main lever 42 so that the main lever 42 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis relative to the cover 41. The main lever 42 skirt 43, corresponding to the skirt 24 of the shown in Figures 1 to 3, and damping means (not shown) are arranged to act between the main lever 42 and the cover 41 so as to limit the rate at which the main lever 42 can be pivoted about its horizontal pivot axis. The damping means is similar to the damping means shown in Figure 3 and serves to avoid excessive acceleration of the main lever 42.

A platform 44 is positioned centrally of the main lever 42 and tubular frame members 45 are positioned adjacent the skirt 43 so that a child can climb up and stand on the platform 44. When standing on the platform 44, the child will be r, positioned centrally o.f a support ring 46 located at an appropriate height above the platform 44 by tubular support members 47.

A pair of seats 48, 49 are located at each end of the main lever 42. Each seat 48, 49 includes a backrest portion, a seat portion and a T-shaped front portion which a child can hold. When the children are sitting in the seats 48, 49, they will again be facing in the same direction about the central axis of the base 40. When, therefore, the main lever 42 is being pivoted about its horizontal axis, and the children in the seats 48 and 49 push against the ground, such pushing will cause the main lever 42 and cover 41 to rotate about the central vertical axis of the base 40.

The provision of the central platform 44 makes the equipment more interesting in that, not only does it enable a further child to be involved in the activity, but it also enables an older child to supervise and keep watch on younger brothers and sisters.

Claims

Claims: -

1. A combined seesaw and roundabout.

2. Playground equipment in the form of a seesaw comprising a lever arranged for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis relative to a supporting base and for rotary movement about a vertical axis relative to the supporting base.

3. Playground equipment as claimed in Claim 2, in which seat structures are arranged at each end of the lever.

4. Playground equipment as claimed in Claim 3 9 in which the seat structures are arranged so that the users of the seesaw will sit in the seat structures facing transversely of the longitudinal axis of the lever.

5. Playground equipment as claimed in Claim 4, in which the seat structures are arranged so that the users of the seesaw will all face in the same direction relative to the axis about which rotary movement is effected.

6. Playground equipment as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, in which the seat structures at the two ends of the lever are such that more than one person can sit at each end of the lever.

- 1 1 -

7. Playground equipment as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, in which damping means is provided for restraining the rate of pivotal movement of the lever about its horizontal axis.

8. Playground equipment as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, in which damping means is provided for restraining the rate of rotary movement of the lever about its vertical axis.

9. Playground equipment as claimed in Claim 8. in which the damping means acting in respect of movement about the vertical axis comprises hydraulic fluid contained within the supporting base and baffles fixed to the relatively rotatable members.

10. Playground equipment as claimed in Claim 7, in which the damping means acting in respect of pivotal movement about the horizontal axis comprises elements spring-loaded into contact with the lever.

11. A combined seesaw and roundabout substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A combined seesaw, roundabout and climbing frame.

13. Playground equipment as claimed in Claim 2, in which a platform is positioned centrally of the lever and frame members are provided to enable a child to climb on to the platform.

14. Playground equipment as claimed in Claim 13, in which frame members are provided for supporting a child standing on the platform.

15. A combined seesaw, roundabout and climbing frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.