GB2572596A - Children's natural play cabana - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-contained, portable children's play cabana structure comprises a combination of fixed and removable play panels 1,5, built-in games 1,4, and specially shaped cushions 6,12. The structure enables natural play to be conducted.

Description

Children's natural play cabana

This invention relates to a portable play cabana (recreational structure) that is designed specifically for use by children. It provides a structure that enables ail six types of natural play to be conducted in one product, through the physical design of the product and its built-in features and components.

The play cabana encourages and enables all types of natural play to take place in a safe, comfortable and shaded environment, in public or private locations. When away from traditional playgrounds, creches or organised activities, play facilities for parents and carers with young children are currently limited. This is especially the case when a family is on holiday by a swimming pool, on a beach or in another public leisure space, where the challenge is to keep children entertained, engaged, safe and protected for several hours at a time. Typically, parents and carers are faced with limited 'play-friendly' and engaging equipment when in these locations. Usually they only have access to standard furniture and shade-providing items; such as adult-sized seating, sun loungers and parasols. Or they have to provide their children with toys, games and play items brought from home. There is also a growing demand for young children to be able to play naturally as they develop - not to spend their important playtime just watching TV, playing video games or with content provided by mobile devices.

To overcome this challenge this invention proposes a portable children's cabana specifically designed to stimulate natural play, based on the well documented types of children's play. There are six known types of natural play: exploratory play, physical play, social play, loose parts play, imaginative play and quiet play.

This is an inclusive product, allowing every child to be able to play in or with it regardless of their ability. In addition, the play cabana provides shade and a safe, comfortable environment, through its design and components. For the play cabana owner, the structure provides a new children's indoor or outdoor entertainment play product, which can be offered to families for free as part of their visit to the venue or hired-out to them for an agreed length of time, for example for the morning adjacent to a hotel's swimming pool. For parents and carers, the cabana provides a natural play product that encourages active play yet, due to its design, can also provide a safe place for children to rest and relax.

The design provides a wide variety of play options through a combination of fixed and removable bespoke play panels, built-in games, loose toys, specially shaped cushions and through the physical design of the structure, which itself forms part of the unique play experience and visual attraction. The overall size of the cabana is scalable but initially it will be designed to accommodate 2-3 young children at a time, allowing easy access also for a supervising carer.

Removable play panels on the Internal or external walls can be customised according to the target age group, a particular theme of play (e.g. music, puzzles, marble run, black board or magnetic games) or according to the operator's own requirements (e.g. a jungle, outer-space or pirate theme). Play panels, play walls, cushions and toys can be easily replaced if damaged, worn or if the operator wishes to refresh the product seasonally.

The structure will be delivered in sections. It can be assembled, moved and disassembled by the operator as required, using basic tools. Wheels or skids are built into the structure to enable it to be positioned in an appropriate location on any terrain. The cabana also includes built-in storage for additional toys, cushions, towels or personal items. Hooks can be attached to the outside of the cabana to hang towels, clothing and bags. Curtains can be towered from the roof structure to provide additional shading or to encourage play based on enclosure, e.g. making a pretend camp or a fairy house. A ships helm, steering wheel or other control component can be attached to the main frame to encourage imaginative and rotational play.

The main cabana structure can be constructed from a variety of child-friendly materials to enable the purchaser to order a structure that complements existing interior or exterior design: e.g. wood, composite wood, plastic, weave or metal tubing. The roof can be made from waterproof fabric, or from the same material as the main structure, and can be secured at the sides if necessary to avoid being damaged by strong winds. The floor surface finish can be varied to add further interest, e.g. rubber, artificial grass or grooved wood. All components are child-safe and environmentally friendly, constructed and assembled in accordance with the latest safety and construction regulations for a children's play product in the region where it will be used.

The invention will now be described solely by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the complete cabana, assembled and ready for play

Figure 2 shows the cabana with a child at play

Figure 3 shows the underside of the cabana

Figure 4 shows multiple cabanas positioned together

Figure 5 shows some removable sections of the cabana

In Figure 1, the cabana structure comprises of a roof 2 which provides shade and protection from the elements. The side walls are solid, or have shaped cut-outs 3, or can be assembled and disassembled by the user from individual sections 5. The central play area 4 is removable and can be reversed to provide a sandpit. Play panels can be attached to the internal or external walls of the cabana. Figure 1 shows where three of the play panels can be fitted internally 1 (the play detail is not shown on the panels). Cushioning is provided by floor cushions 6 or loose cushions. In-built storage is provided by pullout drawers 7 or under the central play area 4. Drop down curtains 8 provide shading and enclosure. Rotational feature 9 and a flag 10 encourage imaginative play and can be changed by the operator as required, for example adding a telescope or periscope.

Figure 2 illustrates a child at play inside the cabana 11. Loose cushions, shaped to encourage play are shown towards the rear of the cabana 12. These cushions can be joined to build ramps, tubes or towers. External pegs provide a place to hang towels, clothes, bags and toys 13.

Figure 3 illustrates the underside of the cabana where skids or wheels can be attached to enable the structure to be moved 14. The underside of the central play pit feature is also shown 4.

Figure 4 illustrates how several play cabanas could look at a venue. It will be up to the operator as to how and where the cabanajs) will be positioned. The design, size, shape and weight of the cabana will provide the operator with flexibility. When positioned, the cabana will be ready for use. It does not require a power or water supply, although these options can be included on request, for example adding lighting to enable use at night and a power socket for charging electronic devices.

Figure S illustrates that the central play pit 4 can be used outside of the cabana, for example for board games or a racing track. When reversed it becomes a sandpit or an area for play blocks or other loose toys. Sections of the floor can be overprinted with appropriate illustrations or board games, such as snakes and ladders 15. Panels of the self-build play walls are shown ready to be assembled 5.

Claims (6)

1. A self-contained, portable children's play cabana structure that is designed to encourage and enable all types of natural play to take place in a safe, comfortable and shaded environment, indoors or outdoors.

2. A self-contained, portable children's play cabana structure according to claim 1, comprising walls, floor, roof, storage, fixed and loose cushioning

3. A self-contained, portable children's play cabana structure according to claim 1, comprising built-in and loose play features and toys

4. A self-contained, portable children's play cabana structure according to claim 1, where parts of the physical cabana structure itself, such as a buildable wall, provide a key play component

5. A self-contained, portable children's play cabana structure according to claim 1, where lighting and power can be provided if required

6. A self-contained, portable children's play cabana structure according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cushions, floor, roof and play components can be replaced or customised according to the user's requirements.