GB2404878A

GB2404878A - Play roundabouts for wheelchair users

Info

Publication number: GB2404878A
Application number: GB0425151A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hefin Lloyd Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-04
Filing date: 2001-08-31
Publication date: 2005-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-31
Also published as: GB2404878B; GB0425151D0

Abstract

A play roundabout 10 comprises a platform 24 rotatable about a central axis. The platform 24 has at least an area 20 for receiving and retaining a wheelchair (62, see Figure 7) and comprises a gated enclosure with single or split gates 60. Said gate or gates 60 may only open inwards for entry of a wheelchair and may include a pivot spring system, figure 5, for biasing said gates 60 into a closed position. The roundabout 10 may also have one or more seats 22 provided on the platform 24.

Description

TITLE: Improvements in and relating to play roundabouts.

DESCRIPTION

This invention concerns improvements in and relating to play roundabouts.

Play roundabouts generally comprise a circular plafform rotatable about a central post. The plafform is supported 60 to 100mm above the surrounding ground surface and has radially arranged hand rails, whereby the platform can be pushed by a person off the plafform to give it sufficient rotational speed for those on the plafform and gripping the hand rails.

Such roundabouts are enjoyed by children with the ability to stand on the À:.

plafform and grip the handrails. However, children who are confined to À.. e À À e wheelchairs are unable to enjoy such roundabouts. Firstly, it is difficult to mount A...

À a wheelchair on the plafform because of the step up and secondly there is no À.-.e À means of retaining a wheelchair on the platform. The centrifugal force created À À as the platform rotates will tend to throw the wheelchair off the plafform.

À..-.e À An object of this invention is to provide a play roundabout suitably for use by occupiers of wheelchairs.

According to this invention there is provided a play roundabout comprising a plafform rotatable about a central vertical axis, the platform having at least one area for receiving and retaining a wheelchair and the area for receiving and retaining a wheelchair comprising a gated enclosure, wherein the gate or gate parts are moveable between a gate closed and a gate open position and in which the gate system comprises a pivot system that includes an off-axis pin which is located in a depression in a closed gate position, and wherein movement of the gate or gate parts to an open position is achieved by lifting the gate and disengaging the pin from its depression and pivoting the gate.

A second depression may be provided at the opposite end of the track, into which the pin can drop with the gate to hold the gate open.

The gate or gate parts, however, are preferably biased towards closing, such as by spring means urging the gate downwards, preferably also having a lower pivot pin for the gate with a sloping surface pivoting in a slot with an oppositely sloping base, so that the gate will tend to a closed position with the two sloping faces fully meeting. À:-

À The gate or gate parts may also have their pivoting movement damped by À À. - .

any suitable means. À...e

À Preferably the roundabout comprises a surround that can be sunk into the À...e À ground, so that the platform is at ground level. In that way a wheelchair can À. À a

À À easily be pushed onto the platform. À. À

Within the surround there are preferably provided rolling supports for the platform, such as wheels, rollers or balls. The wheels, rollers or balls are preferably provided in diametrically opposed pairs and are preferably towards the periphery of the platform. The wheels, rollers or balls may be mounted on beams, which are preferably fixed under the surround.

The platform will preferably have a central axis post rotatably mounted in a support structure preferably finked to the surround by the aforementioned beams. The support structure preferably includes bearings to facilitate smooth rotation of the platform.

The area for receiving and retaining a wheelchair preferably comprises a Dated enclosure. Preferably a pair of such areas will be provided, conveniently opposite each other. The gated enclosure can have a single gate but ideally a split gate will be provided each part of the gate opening and closing independently. The gate or gate parts preferably only open inwards for entry of a wheelchair. Once the wheelchair is on the platform the gate or gate parts when closed preferably cannot open outwards, so that the wheelchair cannot roll off the platform. À...

À The play roundabout of the invention preferably has means for preventing À À sideways tipping of a wheelchair on the platform. Conveniently, gates or gate A..

À parts may be provided with a projection or shelf that extends inwardly to overlie À.. À

the rear wheels of a wheelchair on the platform with its rear facing a gate. À- À

À The preferred roundabout of the invention may also have one or more À . e.e À seats where particularly a handicapped person can be seated. Preferably two seats will be provided and preferably opposite each other. The seats preferably face inwards and are preferably accessible for a wheelchair user by firstly pushing the wheelchair into one of the wheelchair enclosures.

The wheelchair enclosures preferably have sides in the form of handrails, as do the seats so that the roundabout can be used concentrically. Preferably cross braces are provided linking handrails across the platform, preferably diametrically, for additional strength.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has a pair of opposed wheelchair enclosures and a pair of opposite seats with free platform space between sides of the wheelchair enclosures and sides of the seats.

The roundabout of the invention may also be a roundabout according to the first aspect of the invention.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a partially completed play roundabout according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows underside detail of the roundabout of Figure 1; À:.

À Figure 3 shows gate system detail of the roundabout of Figure 1; À À...

Figure 4 shows further detail of the gate system of Figure 3; I: À Figure 5 shows yet further detail of the gate system of Figure 3; À e.e À Figure 6 is a perspective view of a play roundabout according to another À.

À embodiment of the present invention; a.. À

Figure 7 is a side view of the gate for the roundabout of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the gate of Figure 6; Figure 9 shows the gate of Figure 6 in the closed position; and Figure 10 shows the gate of Figure 6 in the open position.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, a play roundabout 10 comprises a circular platform 12 arranged for axial rotation within a surround 14. The platform and top of the surround are flush, so that when the surround is set into the ground, the platform is level with the ground.

Below the surround 14 are radial beams 16 on which are mounted pairs of wheels 18 on which the platform runs and is supported. The platform has a central post on its underside rotatable in bearings (not shown).

On its top surface the platform 12 has a hand rail system providing a pair of opposed enclosures 20 for receiving and retaining wheelchairs, a pair of opposed spaces for seats 22 and free platform spaces 24 between each of the enclosures 20 and seat spaces.

The wheelchair enclosures 20 extend to the centre of the platform where there is a transverse rail 28. Entry to the enclosures 20 is via gate pairs 30 (only one shown on each side of the platform in Figure 1). The gates are arranged to À:.

open inwards only and the enclosures 20 are sufficiently deep to allow a À À...

wheelchair to be pushed onto the platform beyond the open gates, so that they A...

À can then be closed. À..e À

The seats 22 are padded and are accessible via the wheelchair À.

À. enclosures. Possibly seat belts may be provided for securing users of the seats

I À

for safety.

The free platform spaces 24 may be used conventionally.

The gates 30 have at the base of side member 31 a central lower pivot pin 40 located in a hole 42 and a second offset pin 44 that locates in an arcuate track 46 (see, in particular, Figures 3 to 5). At one end (gate closed position) the track has a depression 48 into which the pin 44 drops to hold the gate closed.

The gate is opened by lifting it to clear the pin 44 from the depression 48 and then pivoting the gate about the pin 40.

At its top the gate side member 31 is slidably and pivotally located in an inverted cup 50 on the adjacent handrail. In the cup is spring means (not shown) to urge the gate downwards to help urge it to and hold it in a closed position.

The pin 40 has a sloping bottom surface 54 and the hole 42 has an oppositely sloping bottom 56. The sloping surfaces are arranged so that when the gate is closed, the faces abut but as the gate is opened they separate but on release of the gate in combination with the abovementioned spring means, the gate will automatically return to the closed position.

Finally in Figures 6 to 10 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a À:.

preferred play roundabout according to the present invention. Features that are À À.e identical to the roundabout shown in Figure 1 have been given the same I..

À reference numerals and only the differences will be discussed in detail. The I.. À

roundabout 10 is provided with gates 60 which have been designed to provide À. À

À À. additional stability for a wheelchair 62 on the platform 12, especially against Àe À sideways tipping. The gate 60 operates in the same manner as gate 30 except that it has a shelf 64 projecting from its top rail 66 at a slightly upward angle. As can be seen from Figure 7, the shelf 64 is provided at a height to overlie the rear wheels of wheelchair 62, so as to prevent the wheelchair from tipping over sideways as the roundabout revolves. Diagonal cross braces 68 are provided across the central region of the roundabout linking handrails across the platform.

The play roundabout illustrated has the advantage that the platform can be level with the surrounding ground, and so wheelchairs can be pushed onto and off the platform easily. Thus, the roundabout can be used by wheelchair occupants. The different spaces provided on the platform allow not only wheelchair users but also handicapped persons generally (on the seat) as well as able-bodied persons to use the roundabout together. À:sec. À.e c ace. : À

À:e'.: À- c À À.

I .

Claims

Claims 1. A play roundabout comprising a platform rotatable about a

central vertical axis, the platform having at least one area for receiving and retaining a wheelchair, and the area for receiving and retaining a wheelchair comprising a Dated enclosure, wherein the gate or gate parts are moveable between a gate closed and a gate open position and in which the gate system comprises a pivot system that includes an off-axis pin which is located in a depression in a closed gate position, and wherein movement of the gate or gate parts to an open position is achieved by lifting the gate and disengaging the pin from its depression and pivoting the gate.

.
2. A play roundabout as claimed in claim 1, having a pair of areas for À.ec À . receiving wheelchairs.

À.ree.
3. A play roundabout as claimed in claim 2, wherein said areas are opposite a.....

each other. c.

À r.
4. A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the gated enclosures have single gates.
5. A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gated enclosures have split gates.
6. A play roundabout as claimed in claim 5 in which each part of the gates opens and closes independently.
7. A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gate or gate parts only open inwards for entry of a wheelchair.
8. A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the depression is at one end of an arcuate track and the off-axis pin is moveable in the arcuate track on pivoting of the gate untli it reaches the other end of the track in its open position.
9. A play roundabout as claimed in claim 8, wherein a second depression is provided at the opposite end of the track, into which the pin can drop with the gate to hold the gate open.
10.A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the gate or gate parts are biased towards closing.
11.A play roundabout as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein ce ee c. spring means is provided to urge the gate downwards. À a.ec
12.A play roundabout as claimed in claim 11, and comprising a lower pivot cacecc pin for the gate with a sloping surface pivoting in a slot with an oppositely asecce c sloping base, so that the gate will tend to a closed position with the two ce c c c sloping faces fully meeting.

Àe,cac c
13.A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the gate or gate parts have means for damping their pivoting movement.
14.A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a gate or gate part has a shelf or the like projecting therefrom to overlie rear wheels of a wheelchair on the platform.
15.A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 having one or more seats where particularly a handicapped person can be seated.
16.A play roundabout as claimed in claim 15, wherein two seats are provided on the platform.
17.A play roundabout as claimed in claim 16, wherein the two seats are opposite each other.
18.A play roundabout as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein the seats face inwards.
19.A play roundabout as claimed in claim 18, wherein the seats are accessible for a wheelchair user by firstly pushing the wheelchair into one of the wheelchair enclosures.
20.A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the wheelchair enclosures have sides in the form of handrails. À:. Àe e.
21.A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the A..

seats have sides in the form of handrails.

I À
22.A play roundabout as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the À platform has a pair of opposed wheelchair enclosures and a pair of À À À.

opposite seats with free platform space between sides of the wheelchair

I À

enclosures and sides of the seats.