US1680753A - Playground chute - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1928.

R. W. THORNTON PLAYGROUND CHUTE Original Filed July 19,

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Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED .sTA'rEs 1,680,753 PATENT oF lc I RICHARD W. THORNTON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PLAYGROUND onu'm. 1 151; 2T7;

Application filed July 19, 1926, Serial No. 123,393. Renewed June 9, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in childrens all steel chutes for playgrounds.

It is the almost universal custom to provide schools and public parks with amusement devices of all kinds, among which the chute or slide is perhaps, the most popular. Heretofore these chutes have almost invariably been made of wood, such as hard maple. Wood, however, isnot well suited for this use as such apparatus must be exposed to the weather and even the best hard ma le will soon become weatherbeaten and lia le to splinter.

It is an object of this invention to produce a playground chute or slide that shall be constructed entirely of steel so that it will be better adapted to withstand the action of the rain and sun and which will always be safe. 1

The above, and other objects that may appear as the description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and arrangement of parts which will now be described in detail, reference for this purpose being had to r the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 shows the device in perspective;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1 and shows the manner of securing the steps in place;

Fig. 3 is a section of the chute, taken on line 3-3 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1 and shows a detail of the construction;

Fig. 5 is a section showing the connection indicated by arrow 5 in Fig, 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the construction indicated by arrow 6 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a detail.

The chute which has been designated as a whole by reference numeral 1 is made of sheet steel and has a transverse section like that shown in Fig. 3. The bottom 2 is flat and in the actual device is about sixteen inches wide. The edges 3 of the sheet have been bent at right angles and are about three inches in height to the top of the roll 4. From Fig. 3 it will be observed that the rolls 4 are cylindrical and that the planes of the sides 3 extended pass through the axes of the rolls 4 so that these extend equi-distantly to each side of the sides. This is an important feature of the construction and gives a firm grip. It is evident that if the rolls 1 were all at one side or the other of the sides that the childs hand would be more likely to secured by means of rivets 21.

lose its hold which might cause it to become frightened. In the device as actually con-' structed the chute is sixteenfeet longand made of galvanized steel. The lower end terminates in a short horizontal section A which is connected by a curved portion B with an inclined section C whose upper end terminates adjacent the platform D. This platform is preferably made of cast iron and is provided on each side of its under side H with three integral lugs 5 (Fig. 4) to which the double ended connecting sleeves 6 are: connected by means of bolts 7. Pipe sup-- ports 8, 9 and 10 have their upper ends secured in the lower sockets of the sleeves 6 by means ofset screws 11. The lower ends of the pipe supports terminate in cast iron flanged bases 12, 13which preferably rest upon and are secured to concretesupports (not shown), The pipe supports 8 are connected together by means of acrossbar 14 and each pipe support 8 is connected to the corresponding pipe 10 by means of a horizontal pipe 15. The pipe supports 9 serve as braces for steadying the structure. Braces 16 extend from the cast iron sockets 17 to the fittings 18 that are secured to the pipe 8. These fittings are provided with plugs 19 which receive the coupling sleeve 6. The sockets 17 have an angular portion 20, one side of which is adapted to rest against the outer surface of the side 3 to which it is a The horizontal section A is supported by two short sections 22 of pipe whose upper ends are secured to sockets 17 and whose lower ends have flanged bases 12 that are fastened to a plank 23 or to a concrete support.

The pipes 10 form the side pieces of stairs by means of which the children reach the platform D. The steps have been designated by numeral 24 and are preferably cast. Each end of these steps is provided with a semi-cylindrical portion 25 which fits about the pipes 10 and is secured to the latter by means of a bolt 26. Extending vertically from the upper surface of the platform D are two U-shaped frames, each consisting of two vertical pipes 27 and one horizontal pipe 28 connected by Us 29. Secured to each vertical pipe 27 is a connector 30 which has an inclined socket portion 31. Pipes 32 have their upper ends secured in the sockets 31 and have their lower ends connected with the pipes 10 by means of connectors having a center cylindrical portion 33 provided at their ends with cylindrical tubular sleeves 34;, the pipes 32 form balustrades or railings which may be grasped by the children in climbing. Pipes 35 extend along the sides of the chute and have their upper ends secured in the sockets 31. These pipes are supported at points along their lengths by means of supports 36 whose upper ends have transverse tubular sleeves 37 and whose lower ends have flat tened portions 38 that are secured to sides 3 by means of rivets 39.

The children mount the platform D by means of the stair and then seat themselves in the chute resting their weight on the bottom 2, their hands grasp the rolls 4 and they slide down. The fact that the rolls 4 extend equally on both sides of the sides 3 makes it easy for the child to hold on and to control the speed of descent. When the child reaches the horizontal portion A, his speed is checked and he is brought slowly to a sto in all steel chute like the one described will resist the elements better than wood and besides this there is no danger of slivers getting loose and penetrating the flesh as often happens when the wooden chutes get old and weatherbeaten.

Having now described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In an article of the class described, a

chute having a flat bottom and parallel sides extending vertically therefrom, the sides having their upper edges formed into cylindrical rolls whose axes lie in the plane of the sides 2. An amusement device comprising, in combination, an elevated platforn'i, a sheet metal chute having one end attached to the platform and extending downwardly at an angle, the lower end of said chute being horizontal, said chute having a flat bottom provided with parallel sides extending perpendicularly from the same, each side having its upper edge formed into a cylindrical roll whose axis lies in the plane of the side.

3. An amusement device comprising an elevated platform, means for supporting said platform, said means consisting of a ladder having its upper end secured to the underside of the platform, two supporting bars having their upper ends secured to the underside oi. the platform near the opposite edge thereof, an outwardly inclined brace secured to each of the other sides of the platform, an inclined chute extending downwardly from the platform on the side opposite from the ladder and brace members extending from the lower ends of the supporting bars to the underside of the chute.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

RICHARD w. THORNTON.

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