GB2482319A

GB2482319A - A cuboid play frame with mesh faces

Info

Publication number: GB2482319A
Application number: GB1012712.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher J Fawcett; Aidan Dorman
Original assignee: BCT OUTDOORS Ltd
Current assignee: BCT OUTDOORS Ltd
Priority date: 2010-07-29
Filing date: 2010-07-29
Publication date: 2012-02-01
Also published as: GB201012712D0

Abstract

A rigid cuboid frame comprising elongate padded edge members 2 with mesh 14 extending across at least two of the frames faces. Additional supporting members may extend across the faces between the edge members. The frame 2 may be made of metal and the mesh 14 from a plastic sheet or netting. The frame 2 may be provided in a set of modules with the same dimensions which can be strapped or coupled together. Feet 12 may be provided on the frame elements. Various play devices such as bags or slides may be provided in connection with the frames.

Description

Play Equipment The present invention relates to play equipment. In particular, the present invention relates to play equipment components which form a modular play equipment system.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a modular fully enclosed play equipment system.

It is known to provide fuiiy enclosed play equipment, in particular for young children, such as children less than 5 years old. Fully enclosed play equipment generally comprises a three dimensional framework providing a variety of passages for children to explore. Fully enclosed play equipment may be formed over several levels and incorporate transitional elements such as steps and ramps allowing children to change between levels. Typically, such play equipment defines a variety of paths through the equipment for children to follow, with specified entry and exit points. Between the entry and exit points the framework may be provided with solid or mesh walls so as to constrain the freedom of children to explore the equipment to a limited number of options. Advantageously, such fully enclosed play equipment provides for a safe play environment, in which children are protected from harm by padding, including covering the framework and surfaces. The solid or mesh walls prevent children from falling from raised play levels. The mesh walls further provide peace of mind for parents / carers as the children can be observed and supervised. The play equipment may be provided with built in obstacles and toys for the children to negotiate or play with.

Fully enclosed play equipment is commonly provided at purpose built play centres, and also provided in other places, for instance nurseries, shopping centres, shops, pubs and offices. However, conventional fully enclosed play equipment is expensive, with a typical installation costing between £40,000 and £90,000. Furthermore, conventional fully enclosed play equipment is provided as a fixed installation, which does not allow for ready modification, and is difficult or impossible to relocate.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the problems associated with the prior art, whether identified herein or elsewhere.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a play equipment component comprising: a rigid cuboid frame formed from elongate frame elements extending along the edges of the cuboid, the frame having a first face arranged to support the frame on a horizontal surface; padding extending around at least the frame elements which extend along edges of the frame other than those defining the first face; and mesh extending at least partially across at least two faces of the frame which extend vertically when the first face is supported on a horizontal surface.

An advantage of the first aspect of the present invention is that a play equipment component can be provided with a frame having a single, or a limited number of standardised shapes and sizes, that allows interoperation with other similar play equipment components.

Preferably, when the first face is supported on a horizontal surface the frame has a height between 0.5m and 2m, a width between 0.5m and im and a length between 0.5m and 2m.

Most preferably, the frame has a height between 1.75m and 2m, a width between 0.5m and im and a length between 0.5m and im or 1.25m and 1.75m.

The frame may further comprise at least one further frame element extending across a face of the frame either parallel or perpendicular to the first face. Said at least one further frame element may be provided to support further play equipment provided within the frame.

Said at least one further frame element may divide a face of the frame which extends vertically when the first face is supported on a horizontal surface into first and second face portions.

The frame elements may be formed from metal tubes which are joined at the vertices of the cube, the padding extending around the tubes comprises a compressible material and the mesh comprises plastic sheet or string netting.

The padding may be covered by a plastics material or plastics covered fabric.

The play equipment component may further comprise a least one padded platform extending parallel to the first face across at least part of the frame, the at least one padded platform being provided either generally at the first face or spaced apart between the first face and a second face opposite to the first face and supported by at least one further frame element extending across a vertical face of the frame.

The at least one padded platform may comprise a rigid support sheet formed from metal, plastic or wood, a layer of compressible material and a covering of a plastics material or plastics covered fabric.

The vertices of the first face may be provided with feet to support the frame upon a horizontal surface. Each foot may comprise a flange having at least one bore to receive screw or bolt to secure the frame to a horizontal surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided modular play equipment comprising at least two play equipment components as described above arranged to couple together, wherein each play equipment component has at least one face or face portion which extends vertically when the first face is supported on a horizontal surface having the same width as at least one face or face portion of a further play equipment component which extends vertically when its first face is supported on a horizontal surface.

An advantage of the second aspect of the present invention is that because the play equipment is modular, installation is simple and quick relative to convention fixed fully enclosed play equipment. Furthermore, due to the modular design, the fully enclosed play equipment is readily modifiable, extendable and adjustable to accommodate future changes in use. The modular system may also be readily relocated, or disassembled for storage.

The at least one face or face portion of each play equipment component may have the same height as the at least one face or face portion of the further play equipment component.

The modular play equipment may further comprise at least one strap or clamp for coupling together two play equipment components by passing around and securing together adjacent frame elements from each play equipment component.

When the play equipment components are coupled together, at least part of a face or a face portion of adjacent components may be open to allow access between the frames through that face or face portion.

When the play equipment components are coupled together a majority of the outer vertical faces and the faces opposite the first face of each coupled play equipment component may be covered by mesh.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 respectively illustrate first and second perspective views and a plan view of a play equipment component in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; and Figures 4 to 8 illustrate play equipment components in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention; and Figure 9 illustrates a modular fully enclosed play equipment system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to figures 1 to 3, these illustrate a play equipment component according to a first embodiment of the invention. The play equipment component comprises a frame 2 in the shape of a cuboid formed from elongate frame elements 4 (not directly visible, except towards the bottom of the frame 2). The frame elements 2 may comprise rods or tubular elements, and may be formed from wood, plastics or metal. Preferably the frame 2 is formed from tubular steel for instance with a 28mm outer diameter, which is welded or otherwise joined together at the vertices of the cuboid frame 2. It will be understood that other metals or plastics with the required strength and rigidity may be used. Alternatively, the frame may be formed from solid metal or plastics rods.

The frame 4 is covered in padding 6, which may comprise a layer of a compressible material such as expanded foam. In particular, the tubular steel 4 may be covered with tubular expanded foam, of the type known for insulating water pipes. The padding 6 may further comprise a layer of a plastics or plastics coated fabric to provide a waterproof, and easy to clean outer layer. The padding 6 may be secured to the frame 2 by hand bound polypropylene cord or plastic ties wrapped around the padding 6 along each elongate element 4.

The frame 2 illustrated in figures 1 to 3 has a height of 1.81m, a length of 1.45m and a width of 0.75m. It can be seen that the side faces along the length of the frame are divided into two by a vertical intervening frame element 4. In alternative embodiments of the invention the vertical intervening frame elements may be omitted, and / or horizontal intervening elements may be provided. Furthermore, in alternative embodiments the frame 2 may be truncated such that in the plan view of figure 3 the alternative frame would appear square. The dimensions are chosen so that the play equipment components can be manoeuvred through standard size interior doorways. It will be appreciated that the exact dimensions may vary. A minimum size is formed by the requirement for children to be able to freely move through the frame. An important feature of embodiments of the present invention is that the frames of various play equipment components (such as are illustrated in the following figures) are of one of a range of standard sizes such that when brought together the faces of the cuboid, or face portions such as defined by the vertical intervening element 4 in figures ito 3, are of the same size to allow children to pass between the frames, as will be described in greater detail below in connection with figure 9. Specifically, and most preferably, all of the components are the same size, for instance the size illustrated in figures ito 3, except for components which are half as long and serve only to interconnect other components, in particular to provide a 90° turn.

The play equipment component further comprises a padded platform 10 formed at the base of the frame 2 to define a floor of the interior of the frame 2. The padded platform 10 extends across the whole of a first face of the frame 2 (that is, the face of the frame 2 which rests upon the ground). The padded platform 10 is secured to the frame elements 4 forming the edges of the first face of the frame 2. The padded platform 10 may be formed from a layer of plastics, wood or metal and covered with a layer of padding and an outer coating similar to the padding 6 covering the elongate elements 4. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the padded platform 10 may not extend across the whole of the floor of the frame 2.

At the vertices of the frame 2 defining the first face there are provided feet 12, which may comprise flanges formed at the ends of the elongate elements 4, to provide a stable support for the frame 2. The feet 12 may further comprise holes to receive bolts or screws to secure the feet 12 to the ground.

The majority of the frame other than the first face is covered by a mesh 14 which may be formed from a plastics netting or similar material. Preferably, the mesh is formed from a narrow gauge material, for instance 20mm to 25mm holes, to prevent children climbing the outside or inside of the mesh. The mesh 14 may extend over the top face and all of the faces or face portions except for a small number of faces which are left open to allow access for children to play within the frame 2. For instance, as shown in figure 1, only the smaller end faces may be left open. The mesh 14 serves to form a fully enclosed play equipment component to minimise the risk of accident by preventing children climbing out of the frame 2. The term "fully enclosed" is not to be understood as meaning that there are no open faces. The faces which are left open define a path for children to follow through the play equipment component, which when coupled to other components can collectively form a longer path. The component illustrated in figures 1 to 3 comprises a single level component forming a path between other components. It will be appreciated that by rearranging the mesh the path through the component can be made to turn through 90°, or multiple exits may be provided allowing for a split path.

Referring now to figure 4, this illustrates an alternative play equipment component comprising a step 20 for accessing the upper level of double level components (such as illustrated in figure 5). The step 20 comprises a padded platform, similar to the padded platform 10, secured to horizontal intervening elements. It will be understood that the step allows a child to climb up to an upper level, or to crawl over or under to access a lower level in an adjacent component. The component of figure 4 further comprises a guard rail 22, again formed from horizontal elongate elements. The guard rail 22 serves to prevent a child falling sideways, particularly in the event that another component providing an upper level is not provided to the left of the component of figure 4. Figure 4 is an example of a transitional component to allow children to move between upper and lower levels of adjacent components. Further example components could replace the step with a ramp, optionally including horizontal ridges for grip, or a slide as illustrated in figure 8.

Figure 5 illustrates an example of a double level component in which the lower level 30 is formed by the padded platform 10 and the upper level 32 is formed by a similar padded platform 34, secured to horizontal frame elements. Figure 5 further illustrates a hanging foam sack 36 on the upper level 32, which can be passed by a child by pushing to the side.

Figure 6 shows a similar double level component in which the upper level 32 comprises a foam hump 38 for children to clamber over. Figure 7 illustrates a further example of a single level component in which multiple horizontal frame elements are provided across the top face, and foam rods 40 dangle from the frame 2.

It will be appreciated that many variants of the double and single level components may be provided, for example by providing longer or shorter variants (sub divided into standard size face portions by intervening vertical frame elements), opening or closing off different frame faces or face portions or by providing alternative interior play equipment. For instance, the alternative interior play equipment may comprise large or small dangling foam pads, different shape blocks to be negotiated, nets to scramble through or over, ball pools, or other types of play equipment which will be readily apparent to the skilled person, including those adapted from conventional fixed fully enclosed play equipment structures.

Figure 8 illustrates a further play equipment component having an upper level 32, which at one end has a wall 50 with a shaped hole 52 providing access to a slide 54. The slide 54 comprises a shaped and covered foam wedge. The slide includes side rails 56 formed from sheet material to prevent a child falling from the slide sideways. Covered foam mats are provided around the base of the slide 54. It will be appreciated that the mats could be provided elsewhere around entry and exit points to the play equipment component.

Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of modular play equipment formed from a number of play equipment components. It can be seen that due to the standard size of the frames at least one face or face portion of each pair of adjacent components are aligned. Mesh is omitted where components are adjacent to one another to allow children to move through the play equipment. It will be readily apparent that a significant advantage of the modular play equipment shown in figure 9 is that it can be rearranged and expanded by the purchase of further components in an effectively unlimited number of ways.

Play equipment components are secured together by straps or clamps which wrap around and secure adjacent frame elements 4. One such strap 60 is identified connecting frame elements 62, 64 of adjacent frames 66, 68. The straps 60 may be secured by hook and loop fastenings, such as Velcro®, or in other ways such as using buckles, as will be readily apparent to the appropriately skilled person. Clamps may be made from metal or plastic and provide a firmer connection between adjacent play equipment components.

Advantageously the play equipment components of embodiments of the present invention are lightweight due to the materials used in their construction and so can be readily manoeuvred by a single person. They are sized to fit through standard domestic interior doorways. While they may be permanently secured to the ground, this is not necessary and the feet may simply rest upon the ground so that the modular play equipment system may be stored away, and reassembled in a short period of time.

Further modifications to the play equipment components and the modular play system will be readily apparent to the appropriately skilled person from the teaching herein, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A play equipment component comprising: a rigid cuboid frame formed from elongate frame elements extending along the edges of the cuboid, the frame having a first face arranged to support the frame on a horizontal surface; padding extending around at least the frame elements which extend along edges of the frame other than those defining the first face; and mesh extending at least partially across at least two faces of the frame which extend vertically when the first face is supported on a horizontal surface.
2. A play equipment component according to claim 1, wherein when the first face is supported on a horizontal surface the frame has a height between 0.5m and 2m, a width between 0.5m and lm and a length between 0.Sm and 2m.
3. A play equipment component according to claim 2, wherein the frame has a height between 1.75m and 2m, a width between 0.5m and im and a length between 0.5m and lmor 1.25m and 1.75m.
4. A play equipment component according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame further comprises at least one further frame element extending across a face of the frame either parallel or perpendicular to the first face.
5. A play equipment component according to claim 4, wherein said at least one further frame element is provided to support further play equipment provided within the frame.
6. A play equipment component according to claim 4, wherein said at least one further frame element divides a face of the frame which extends vertically when the first face is supported on a horizontal surface into first and second face portions.
7. A play equipment component according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame elements are formed from metal tubes which are joined at the vertices of the cube, the padding extending around the tubes comprises a compressible material and the mesh comprises plastic sheet or string netting.
8. A play equipment component according to claim 7, wherein the padding is covered by a plastics material or plastics covered fabric.
9. A play equipment component according to any preceding claim, further comprising a least one padded platform extending parallel to the first face across at least part of the frame, the at least one padded platform being provided either generally at the first face or spaced apart between the first face and a second face opposite to the first face and supported by at least one further frame element extending across a vertical face of the frame.
10. A play equipment component according to claim 9, wherein the at least one padded platform comprises a rigid support sheet formed from metal, plastic or wood, a layer of compressible material and a covering of a plastics material or plastics covered fabric.
11. A play equipment component according to any preceding claim, wherein the vertices of the first face are provided with feet to support the frame upon a horizontal surface.
12. A play equipment component according to claim 11, wherein each foot comprises a flange having at least one bore to receive screw or bolt to secure the frame to a horizontal surface.
13. Modular play equipment comprising at least two play equipment components according to any of claims ito 12 arranged to couple together, wherein each play equipment component has at least one face or face portion which extends vertically when the first face is supported on a horizontal surface having the same width as at least one face -l 1-or face portion of a further play equipment component which extends vertically when its first face is supported on a horizontal surface.
14. Modular play equipment according to claim 13, wherein the at least one face or face portion of each play equipment component has the same height as the at least one face or face portion of the further play equipment component.
15. Modular play equipment according to claim 13 or claim 14, further comprising at least one strap or clamp for coupling together two play equipment components by passing around and securing together adjacent frame elements from each play equipment component.
16. Modular play equipment according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein when the play equipment components are coupled together at least part of a face or a face portion of adjacent components is open to allow access between the frames through that face or face portion.
17. Modular play equipment according to claim 15, wherein when the play equipment components are coupled together a majority of the outer vertical faces and the faces opposite the first face of each coupled play equipment component are covered by mesh.