GB2449755A

GB2449755A - Play structures

Info

Publication number: GB2449755A
Application number: GB0809518A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Susan Beverley Clift Mcgowan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-05-26
Filing date: 2008-05-27
Publication date: 2008-12-03
Also published as: GB0809518D0; GB0710127D0

Abstract

A kit of parts can be assembled to form an open-topped play structure. The kit of parts comprises a plurality of panels 10, at least one of which is formed with an opening 14 corresponding to a doorway or other form of entrance so that children can obtain access to the interior of the erected structure and the panels being provided with releasable fasteners to enable them to be assembled together to form the structure.

Description

PLAY STRUCTURES

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to play structures, i.e. structures that can be erected to facilitate imaginative play by young children.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a play structure that is readily transportable, easily assembled and easily taken down.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts that can be assembled to form an open-topped play structure, the kit of parts comprising a plurality of panels, at least one of which is formed with an opening corresponding to a doorway or other form of entrance so that children can obtain access to the interior of the erected structure, the panels being provided with releasable fasteners to enable them to be assembled together to form the structure.

The releasable fasteners preferably comprise pads or strips of inter-engaging plastic hook and loop formations, particularly the fasteners sold under the Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO".

Some of the "VELCRO" pads or strips may be provided with loops through which tent pegs can be passed to facilitate anchoring of the erected structure.

The panels may be of cardboard or of a lightweight plastic or plastic and board laminate. The panels may be pre-decorated but are preferably such as to require a degree of decoration so that the children can have at least double the fun, i.e. they will decorate the panels, assemble them to form the play structure and then play within the play structure. The finished play structure may resemble a castle, a fort, a vehicle, e.g. a pirate ship, or the like.

One or more of the panels may be formed with a fold line.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a play structure that is obtained by assembling the kit of parts defined above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of an assembled play structure, Figure 2 is a side view of the assembled play structure of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view showing a stage in the assembly of the play structure of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a schematic view of part of a second embodiment of a play structure, Figure 5 shows a joint between two panels of the play structure of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a plan view of the second embodiment of play structure.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The play structure shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings is produced by assembling together four panels 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Each of the panels 10 to 13 is of cardboard, though it may be of any other relatively inexpensive material that is light in weight. Panel 10 is the front panel and is formed with an opening 14 that serves as a doorway to allow the children to enter the interior of the structure formed by assembling together the four panels 10 to 13. The sizes of the panels 10 to 13 and the weights thereof are such that small children, for example, of age four to seven, can lift the panels 10 to 13 and assemble them together to form the completed structure.

The front panel 10 comprises a main body portion and end portions 15 and 16 connected to the main body portion by vertical fold lines 17 and 18. The rear panel 11 similarly comprises a main body portion and end portions 19 and 20 connected to the main body portion by vertical fold lines 21 and 22. The front and rear panels 10 and 11 can be stored in either a flat condition or (preferably) a folded condition so as to minimise the amount of storage space that is required.

The side panels 12 and 13 are smaller than the front and rear panels 10 and 11 and each of the side panels 12, 13 can be formed with a central vertical fold line 23, 24. It will be appreciated that the particular play structure shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings is a very simple structure of rectangular form in plan view and that more complex structures can be produced by using a larger number of panels.

Each of the panels 10 to 13 carries a number of pads or strips (not shown) comprising releasable fasteners as sold under the Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO". The pads or strips are located adjacent the vertical edges of the panels 10 to 13 and are so positioned that the edges of the side panels 12 and 13 can readily be attached releasably to the edges of the end portions 15, 16, 19 and 20 of the front and rear panels 10 and 11.

As shown, the configurations of the panels 10 to 13 are such that the assembled open-topped structure resembles a castle, though many other configurations are possible.

The panels 10 to 13 may be pre-decorated so that all that the children have to do is to take the panels 10 to 13 and assemble them together.

The panels 10 to 13 are, however, preferably such as to require at least a degree of decoration so that the children can have at least double the fun, i.e. they will decorate the panels 10 to 13, assemble them to form the play structure and then play within the play structure.

The play structure shown in Figures 4 to 6 is formed from seven panels 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 that can be assembled together to form an open-topped structure resembling a ship. End panel 30 is formed with a central opening 37 through which a child can enter the interior of the assembled structure. Panel 30 is also formed with a peripheral up-standing wall 38 and the arrangement is such that, when the panels 31 and 36 are separated from each other and from the end panel 30, they can be stacked within the space defined by the up-standing wall 38 to facilitate storage of the kit of parts.

The horizontal edges of each of the panels 30 to 36 are reinforced by means of permanently bonded strips of p.v.c. or the like secured to the inside faces of the panels 30 to 36. The panels to 36 can be positioned flush with one another, so that any design on the outside of the structure is not interrupted and releasable fastener strips (not shown) of the kind sold under the registered trade mark "VELCRO" are attached to the vertical edges of the panels 30 to 36. Adjacent panels are then joined together using complementary "VELCRO" strips 39 that are at least twice as wide as the "VELCRO" strips permanently attached to the edges of the panels 30 to 36. The strips 39 are located on the inside of the panels and are so positioned that the edges of panels 31 and 36 can readily be attached releasably to the vertical portions of the wall 38 around panel 30. The edges of panels 31 to 36 can thus readily be joined releasably to one another to form the assembled structure as shown in Figure 6.

Bracing strips 40 may be provided to interconnect panels 31 and 36 and/or panels 32 and 35, the bracing strips 40 having up-turned end portions that carry releasable fastener strips or pads (not shown) that can be engaged releasably with appropriately positioned fastener strips or pads (not shown) located on the inside of panels 31 and 36 and/or panels 32 and 35. The bracing strips 40 may be formed with openings (not shown) through which tent pegs can be passed so that the assembled structure can be anchored in position if used outside, for example, in the garden. The bracing strips 40 may alternatively carry loops through which tent pegs can be passed.

As before, the panels 30 to 36 may be pre-decorated but are preferably such as to require at least a degree of decoration so that the children can have at least double the fun, i.e. they will decorate the panels 30 to 36, assemble them to form the play structure and then play within the play structure by going into the interior of the structure through the opening 37.

Claims

Claims:- 1. A kit of parts that can be assembled to form an open-topped

play structure, the kit of parts comprising a plurality of panels, at least one of which is formed with an opening corresponding to a doorway or other form of entrance so that children can obtain access to the interior of the erected structure and the panels being provided with releasable fasteners to enable them to be assembled together to form the structure.
2. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 1, in which the releasable fasteners comprise pads or strips of inter-engaging plastic hook and loop formations.
3. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 2, in which some of the pads or strips are provided with loops through which tent pegs can be passed to facilitate anchoring of the erected structure.
4. A kit of parts as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the panels are of cardboard or of a lightweight plastic or plastic and board laminate.
5. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 4, in which the panels are pre-deco rated.
6. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 4, in which the panels are such as to require a degree of decoration.
7. A kit of parts as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the panels is formed with a fold line.
8. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
9. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
10. A play structure that is obtained by assembling the kit of parts as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.