GB2317578A

GB2317578A - Wall bracket for play apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2317578A
Application number: GB9719649A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence William John Bradbury; Mark David Wozencroft
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-17
Filing date: 1997-09-17
Publication date: 1998-04-01
Also published as: GB9719649D0

Abstract

A means for supporting physical play apparatus, eg swings, slides or climbing frames, comprises a bracket 2 with a first part 3 for mounting on a vertical surface, eg a wall, and at least one outwardly extending arm 11 for supporting the play apparatus. The bracket can be removably mounted on a wall by use of sockets (21 fig 2) and there may be more than one arm (11 fig 3). The arms 11 may be pivotable for storage.

Description

PHYSICAL PLAY APPARATUS This invention relates to means for sup porting physical play apparatus such as swings, slides and the like.

Such play apparatus is very useful, both for keeping children occupied and for helping their physical development. Families often like to have swings and slides in the garden, but swings in particular require quite a large area of ground, as they are mounted from a support frame comprising a horizontal bar supported at each end by an A-frame. Swing frames must also be securely fixed in the ground to ensure that they are safe. They cannot therefore easily be removed for storage, or if they are temporarily not required.

According to the present invention, means for supporting physical play apparatus comprises a bracket having a first part adapted to be mounted on a substantially vertical surface and at least one second part projecting from the surface and adapted to support at least one item of physical play apparatus.

This invention enables play items to be mounted from a substantially vertical surface such as a wall, rather than from their own support frames. It is particularly useful for a swing, as it does not require a lot of ground area, but can also be used to support slides or climbing frames.

A bracket with one second part would be sufficient to support a swing. However, a bracket with two or more second parts would be needed to support more than one play item, or an extensive climbing frame. Each second part could of course be provided on a respective first part, so that several brackets would be required.

The play items are preferably detachable from the projecting second part. This enables them to be readily removed for storage, or replacement by another play item.

The first part of the bracket may be fixed directly to the surface.

Alternatively, the first part may be detachably mounted on the surface by at least one socket fixed to the surface. Preferably two sockets would be used. Each socket is conveniently of angle-section, enabling the first part to slide in between the socket and the surface. The first part is conveniently T-shaped. If it is fixed directly to the surface, the fasteners are provided at the free end of each arm.

The second part of the bracket preferably comprises an arm projecting substantially perpendicularly from the first part. It may be supported by a bracing arm. The projecting arm and the bracing arm are preferably rigidly mounted on the first part. However, they may be pivotally mounted, so that they are movable between the projecting position, and a second position in which they are substantially parallel to the surface. This enables the arm to fold flat when not in use. A locking means is preferably provided to lock the arm at least in the projecting position, for safety. The locking means may operate automatically.

The second part is preferably provided with at least two rings for mounting the play items.

Where the play item is a swing, the seat of the swing is preferably extended at one end. This end is intended, in use, to be the one adjacent the surface, so that it prevents the swing going too near the surface.

Various embodiments of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracket for mounting a swing from a vertical surface; Figure 2 shows the bracket of Figure 1, but mounted in a different way on the surface; and Figure 3 shows a modified bracket for mounting climbing apparatus.

Figure 1 shows a means for supporting a swing 1 comprising a bracket 2 having a first part 3 adapted to be mounted on a vertical surface such as a wall 4, and a second part 5 projecting from the wall 4 for supporting the swing 1.

The first part 3 of the bracket 2 is T-shaped, having an elongate rectangular-section metal top bar 6, at each end of which is a respective hole 7, 8 for fixing the bar 6 to the wall 4 by bolts or similar fasteners (not shown). A shorter bar 9 depends centrally from the top bar 6. The bar 9 is also of rectangular-section metal, and has a hole 10 at its lower free end for fixing to the wall 4, by a fastener (not shown).

The second part 5 of the bracket comprises an elongate rectangular-section metal arm 11 projecting substantially at right-angles from the middle of the top bar 6, and a rectangular-section metal bracing arm 12 extending at an angle, from the arm 11 to the bar 9. The arms 11, 12 are welded together, and to the bars 6, 9 and the bracing arm 12 supports the arm 11, which has a pair of rings 13 adapted to mount ropes 14 of the swing 1. The seat 15 of the swing 1 is rigid, and one end 16 projects further beyond the adjacent rope 14 than the other end 17. The projecting end 16 is designed to be mounted adjacent the wall 4, and ensures that the swing seat 15 does not go too close to the wall 4 in use.

The swing 1 is detachable from the rings 13 for storage. It can be replaced by another play item such as a ladder (not shown) mounted on the rings 13, or a slide (not shown) which may fit over the arm 11.

The bracket 2 enables the swing 1 and other play items to be used in a relatively small space, and adjacent a wall. The construction of the arm 11 with the bracing arm 12 is very strong, so that the play items are securely mounted. It will be appreciated that the bracket 2 itself, although permanently fixed, can readily be removed when it is no longer required.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 1, in which the bracket 2 is detachably mounted on the wall 4, so it can be removed for storage purposes. In Figure 2 the bracket 2 is the same as in Figure 1, but instead of being fixed to the wall 4 directly it is mounted in a pair of sockets 20, 21. Each socket 20, 21 is of angle section metal, having a first part 22 fixed to the wall 4 by a suitable fastener (not shown), a second abutment part 23 projecting at right-angles, and a third upstanding part 24 which is substantially parallel to but spaced from the wall 4. The top bar 6 of the bracket 2 slots between each upstanding part 24 and the wall, and rests on the abutment parts 23. This arrangement holds the bracket 2 securely, while enabling it to be removed for storage.

In a modification of Figure 2 (not shown) there could be a further socket for the lower end of the short bar 9. Naturally, the holes 7, 8 and 10 could also be omitted.

Figure 3 shows a further modification, in which the bracket 2 is adapted to mount climbing apparatus. The bracket 2 of Figure 3 has a longer first part 3, again fixed directly to the wall 4, and two second parts 5, 5' each comprising an arm 11 and a bracing arm 12. The shorter bar 9 is extended so that both bracing arms 12 are attached to it. Naturally, there could instead be two bars 9, 9' one for each second part 5, 5'. The second parts 5, 5' are each adapted to mount a ladder 25 (of metal or rope) and a horizontal ladder frame 26 is mounted between them.

In a modification of Figure 3 (not shown), each second part 5, 5' could be mounted by its own first part 3, so that in effect two brackets 2 like those of Figure 1 would be provided. This has the advantage that there is flexibility over positioning of the brackets.

Although the brackets 2 are described as being made from metal bar welded together, they could be cast from metal, such as steel or aluminium, or form polymeric materials.

In a further modification (not shown), applicable to all the embodiments, each second part 5, 5' is pivotally mounted on the first part 3, so that the arms 11, 12 are movable between the projecting position, and a second position in which they are substantially parallel to the wall 4. This enables the arms 11, 12 to be kept out of the way, flat against the wall 4, when they are not in use. Each arm 11, 12 is mounted by a hinge on the first part 3, and an automatic locking means is provided to lock the arms 11, 12 in the projecting position. The locking means may be a spring-loaded catch provided on the first part 3 and engaging in a recess in the arm 11.

Claims

1. Means for supporting physical play apparatus, comprising a bracket having a first part adapted to be mounted on a substantially vertical surface and at least one second part projecting from the surface and adapted to support at least one item of physical play apparatus.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, in which the bracket has one second part.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1, in which the bracket has two or more second parts.

4. Means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the play items are detachable from the projecting second part or parts.

5. Means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first part is fixed directly to the surface.

6. Means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the first part is detachably mounted on the surface by at least one socket fixed to the surface.

7. Means as claimed in claim 6, in which the or each socket is of angle section.

8. Means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first part is T-shaped.

9. Means as claimed in claim 5 and claim 8, in which fasteners are provided at the free end of each arm.

10. Means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second part comprises an arm projecting substantially perpendicularly from the first part.

11. Means as claimed in claim 10, in which the arm is supported by a bracing arm.

12. Means as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the or each arm is rigidly mounted on the first part.

13. Means as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the or each arm is pivotally mounted to be movable between the projecting position and a second position in which each is substantially parallel to the surface.

14. Means as claimed in claim 13, in which a locking means is provided to lock the arm at least in the projecting position.

15. Means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second part is provided with at least two rings for mounting the play items.

16. Means for supporting physical play apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Means for supporting physical play apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.