US3572698A

US3572698A - Playground shelter

Info

Publication number: US3572698A
Application number: US734817A
Authority: US
Inventors: Colin Greenly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-06-05
Filing date: 1968-06-05
Publication date: 1971-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-30

Abstract

A children''s playground shelter constructed of reinforced concrete, fiberglass, or the like, and formed of two mutually supporting, elongated wall members spaced apart at their lower ends and in an abutting relation at their upper ends to define a sheltered area. The external surface of the wall members is equipped with a plurality of vertically spaced handholds and foot supports to facilitate the climbing thereon by children. Apertured vertical extensions may be provided at the juncture of the wall members to provide the opportunity for a child to crawl therethrough in ascending one of the wall members and descending the other of the wall members. The width of the juncture may be sufficient to allow a child to walk thereon. Seats may be provided within the sheltered area. These seats may also be apertured to further stimulate the imagination of the child at play within the sheltered area. In an embodiment for more advanced children, an upper level or raised platform may be provided within the sheltered area to which access may be gained only by the climbing of a rope, pole, or other climbing means through an aperture in the platform. Seats may also be suspended from the climbing means which depend from one of the wall members through the aperture in the raised platform or from the platform itself.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor ColinGreenIy 1153 Bellview Road, McLean, Va. 22101 {21] AppLNo. 734,817 [22] Filed June5,l968 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 [54] PLAYGROUND SHELTER 17 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 272/60, 272/85 [51] lnt.Cl. A63b9/00, A63b 3/00 [50] FieldofSearch 272/60,58 85 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,584,742 2/1952 Schilling 272/58 3,472,509 10/1969 Flynn 272/60 3,485,494 12/1969 Lieberman. 272/60 3,008,711 11/1961 Dillon 272/60 3,294,196 12/1966 Rabelos... 272/85 3,360,883 l/1968 Glanzer 272/60 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,002,125 8/1965 GreatBritain 272/60 OTHER REFERENCES Sculpture continuum, 0.0. Barrett l/ 62 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard Dror Attorney-Burns, Doane, Benedict, Swecker and Mathis ABSTRACT: A children's playground shelter constructed of reinforced concrete, fiberglass, or the like, and formed of two mutually supporting, elongated wall members spaced apart at their lower ends and in an abutting relation at their upper ends to define a sheltered area. The external surface of the wall members is equipped with a plurality of vertically spaced handholds and foot supports to facilitate the climbing thereon by children. Apertured vertical extensions may be provided at the juncture of the wall members to provide the opportunity for a child to crawl therethrough in ascending one of the wall members and descending the other of the wall members. The width of the juncture may be sufficient to allow a child to walk thereon. Seats may be provided within the sheltered area. These seats may also be apertured to further stimulate the imagination of the child at play within the sheltered area. In an embodiment for more advanced children, an upper level or raised platform may be provided within the sheltered area to which access may be gained only by the climbing of a rope, pole, or other climbing means through an aperture in the platform. Seats may also be suspended from the climbing means which depend from one of the wall members through the aperture in the raised platform or from the platform itself.

Patent ecl March 30,1971 3,572,698

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR COLIN GREENLY 4J BY ELM/1s, bow Emma, M20651 5 Mia/rim ATTORNEYS Patented March so, 1971 3,572,698

2 Sheets-Sheet I iNVENTOR COLIN GREENLY Btu/w bum, Emma, Swecw Maw:

ATTORNEYS lPLAYGROUND SHELTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional play equipment such as swings, slides, seesaws, etc., are designed for specific and limited play activities. Children are noted for their short interest spans. They quickly lose interest in the single play situation presented by conventional playground equipment. Moreover, the use of conventional equipment in a manner other than that specific play possibility for which it is designed may become extremely dangerous.

Children are, however, quite imaginative. The sculpturing of shapes in reinforced concrete has been suggested as visually stimulating to the children and as allowing them to create innumerable play possibilities from their active imagination. While the use of child-scaled rocks, trees, animals, etc. to stimulate the imagination and thus the learning experience of the child at play has been suggested, these imaginative play forms have heretofore generallyfailed to provide any shelter for the child. The need for protection against sudden inclement weather as well as for a shaded and secluded place where a child may quietly rest or engage in more sedate games thus have not been met by the prior art play equipment.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a playground structure shaped for the stimulation of a childs imagination but which also provides a sheltered area wherein a child may take refuge from sudden precipitation or the heat of the sun. This object is, in the preferred embodiments hereinafter described, implemented by structures which provide innumerable opportunities for climbing, crawling, swinging, etc. at a level of difficulty appropriate for the individual child.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of one symmetrical embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken through lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a second and unsymmetrical embodiment of the present invention illustrating increased internal play stimulating seats and vertical support means as well as an external vertical extension;

FIG. 4 is a section taken through lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a third and symmetrical embodiment of the present invention in which the sheltered area is enlarged and is equipped with a raised platform and other more challenging features; and

FIG. ti is a section taken through lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, a pair of generally arcuate, elongated, upstanding wall members III] are provided. The members are positioned so that they are horizontally spaced at their lower ends I4 and abut together along their upper ends to to provide mutual support and to define a sheltered area 17 sufficiently large to accommodate two or more children. Typical dimensions of the sheltered area may be, for example, 6 feet in height and in width at the lower end and 8 feet in length. The length may, of course, be extended by the end-toend placement of the shelters. The upper surface formed by the juncture of the upper ends 16 of the wall members 10 may be of sufficient width to provide a walkway along the length of the shelter. The width of this surface may be conveniently made on the order of 12 inches, about 3or 4 times the width of a balance beam.-Sufiicient room may thus be provided for a natural stance with the feet spaced side by side, or for a natural walking movement.

The wall members 10 may be individually cast in concrete and appropriately reinforced in a conventional manner. The weight distribution has been found to be such that special footings are not required in most situations. Other material, such as fiberglass and suitably reinforced plastics may also be utiiized. A suitable pigment may be included in the material to provide iii-depth coloring to thereby reduce the cost of upkeep by painting.

As shown in more detail in the elevation view of FIG. 2, the abutting surface 18 of the upper end 16 of one of the wall members l0 may be provided with a groove 20. A suitable gasket 22 or other appropriate means may be installed in the groove 20 to provide watertight integrity to the junction of the abutting surfaces 18 of the upper ends 16 of the wall members 10 and to thus prevent the leakage of water or other precipitation into the sheltered area 17 defined by the wall members It).

The upper ends I6 of both of the wall members It) may be provided with a number of aligned bolt holes 24!. The belt holes 24 may, as shown in FIG. I, be counterbored from the exterior surface 25 of each of the wall members It) to provide recesses 26 for the heads and nuts 30 of the bolts 28. The abutting surfaces B8 of the upper ends 16 of the wall members it) may thus be removably secured to each other.

The recesses 26 may receive the heads of the bolts 28 and the nuts 30 to remove a protruberance which may constitute a potential hazard to the safety of the children at play on the shelter. These recesses 26 may, of course, be grouted or otherwise filled after assembly of the shelter to present a smooth exterior surface 25, if desired.

While a plurality of threaded bolts 28 and nuts 30 have been illustrated as the means of securing the upper ends 16 of the wall members I0 in their abutting relationship, it is to be understood that any suitable securing means may be employed. Similarly, the groove 20 and sealing gasket 22 may be replaced by a suitable mastic or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.

REferring again to FIG. I, the exterior surface of the wall members 10 includes a series of outwardly extending protrusions 32 vertically spaced at intervals appropriate for the size of the child for which the shelter is designed. The uppersurface 34 of each of these protrusions 32 is shaped to provide a hand hold and also to serve as steps to facilitate the climbing thereon by the children at play. The distance from the top of one horizontal step to another is slightly less than the standard vertical separation of pipe equipment, so that a child can safely reach one step from another, and can readily coordinate hand and footholds. The curves of the steps serve not only the function of visually fostering the aesthetic sensibilities of the children, but also provide a comfortable and natural grip for the hands. The concrete may be provided with a slight tooth, enough to help gripping, but not enough to cause undue wear of the clothing of the child.

The shape and spacing of the protrusions 32 may be selected to avoid the possibility of lodging a foot therebetween in falling therefrom. A child may thus ascend one of the wall members 10, cross over the upper ends thereof at their juncture, and descend the other of the wall members 10.

These protrusions 32 may be continuous and equally spaced vertically as illustrated in FIG. 11 or may be serpentine or discontinuous to provide different spacings between adjacent ones of the protrusions 32 as may be desired. By way of example, the protrusions 32 may protrude outwardly from the wall members 110, 5 inches, and may be spaced vertically on the order of 12 inches.

The protrusions 32 may be cast integrally as part of the wall members 10 or may be individually formed and then subsequently secured to the external surface of the wall members It) by means of bolts, adhesives, or other suitable anchors.

With continued reference to FIGS. l and 2, a pair of seats 32 may be provided within the sheltered area 17. Each of the seats 32 may be coextensive with the length of the wall members I0 and may extend, cantilever fashion, into the sheltered area 17 from the internal surface 34 of one of the wall members 10.

The seats 32 may also be constructed of reinforced concrete or the like, and may be integrally molded or separately cast, as desired. If separately cast, the seats 32 may be secured to the internal surface 34 of the wall members I0 in any conventional manner.

' Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment is illustrated which has a substantially straight elongated wall member 30 on the left side only and an elongated wall member 42 of a distinctly different configuration on the right-hand side. The lower portions 44 of each of the

wall members

40 and 42 are spaced apart and the upper portions 46 are placed in an abutting relation to each other to provide mutual support and to define a sheltered area 44. Either one of the

wall members

40, 42 may, of course, be combined with its mirror image to produce a symmetrical shelter, as illustrated in FIG. I or combined with an appropriate one of the wall members of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to provide still further combinations.

The

elongated wall members

40 and 42 may be secured in the manner similar to that described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, by a plurality of bolts 48 inserted through aligned bolt holes 50 in the upper portions 46 of bolts 48 into threaded engagement with a nut 52. The heads 53 of the bolts 48 and the nuts 52 may be recessed, as desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a groove 58 may be provided in one of the abutting surfaces 60 of the wall members 40. A sealing gasket 62 may be installed in the groove 58 to provide for the watertight integrity of the sheltered area 44.

One of the upstanding wall members 40 may be provided with a portion 64 which extends vertically above the upper portion 46 of the other wall member 42. This portion 64 of the wall member 40 may be provided with one or more apertures 66 of sufficient size to allow a child to climb through it. The upward extension of the portion 64 may be low enough to allow an adventurous child to cross over the top 68 thereof in ascending one of the

wall members

40 or 42, and descending the other of the

wall members

42 or 40. Similar apertured wall extensions may, of course, be provided at other points on the exterior surface of the wall members.

In FIG. 3, both of the

wall members

40 and 42 are shown as being provided with a series of vertically spaced protrusions 70. These protrusions 70 may vary in size and shape but the upper portions 72 thereof must be configured to provide a series of hand holds and foot supports to facilitate the safe climbing thereof by a child.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusions 70 may be variably spaced to present challenges to children of different abilities. The utilization of an unsymmetrical design, i.e.,

wall members

40 and 42 having different slopes, presents a further range of difficulties and allows the use of the shelter by children of varying abilities.

Depending from each of the

wall members

40 and 42 within the sheltered area 44 is a substantially vertical internal wall 74 which may provide additional support for their

respective wall members

40 and 42. The internal walls 74 may be coextensive and integrally cast with the wall members. Alternatively, the internal walls 74 may be independently cast and secured to the internal surface 75 of the

wall members

40 and 42 by any suitable conventional means.

A pair of

elongated seats

76 and 78 extend horizontally in opposite directions from the lower portion 80 of each of the internal wall members 74. These seats 76 may be coextensive with the length of the internal walls 74. The shelter centerline facing seats 78 may be provided with an abutting surface 80 to provide additional mutual support for the

wall members

40 and 42 by steadying the internal walls 74. A tunnel 82 may 7 thus be formed between the seats 78 and the lower portions 80 of the internal walls 74. The upper surface 84 of the seats 78, the internal surfaces 75 of the

wall members

40 and 42, and the internal walls 74 may thus also define a raised tunnel 86.

The internal walls 74 may optionally be provided with one or more apertures 84 of sufficient size to allow the passage of a child therethrough. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, these apertures may be of diverse sizes and shapes, as desired, to present additional play possibilities and to further stimulate the imagination of the child.

A third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Designed to challenge children with still greater ability, this embodiment achieves additional vertical height by the vertical stacking of two of the elongated wall members to form each side of the shelter. Increased sheltered area play possibilities are provided by a raised platform area and the exterior surface providing the shelter for that area.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of symmetrical upper wall members are secured together at their upper portions 82 as by means of a plurality of threaded bolts 84 and nuts 86 in the manner of the embodiments of FIGS. 1- -4.

Both of the upper portions 82 of the upper wall members 80 may be provided with a vertically extending section 88. The vertically extending sections 88 may be elongated less than the length of wall member 80. In addition, the sections 88 may have an aperture 90 of sufficient size to allow the passage of a child therethrough. In this manner, additional challenge is provided to a child ascending the outer surface of one of the wall members 80 in crossing over the upper portions 82 to descend the outer surface of the other wall member 80. Routes around, through, and over the extensions 88 may thus be provided.

The increased vertical height is achieved by stacking the upper wall members 80 upon a pair of lower wall members 92. To this end, the inner, upper end 94 of the lower section 92 and the outer, lower end 96 of the upper section 80 may be provided with mutually cooperating extensions. These extensions of the upper end 94 and the lower end 96 of the respective wall members 80 and 90 may be secured to each other by the passage of a threaded bolt 100 through the aligned transverse apertures I02 into threaded engagement with a nut I04. The head I06 of the bolt I00 and the nuts 104 may be countersunk into recesses 107, if desired.

The outer surface 108 of the shelter wall members thus formed may be provided with outwardly extending ridges H0 at both ends 112 of the wall members. An intermediate outwardly extending ridge 114 may also be provided. Each of the ridges I10 and 114 has a number of apertures I16 at vertically spaced intervals. The apertures 116 of the ridges I10 and 114 may be arranged in substantially vertical alignment to facilitate the insertion of a rod 118 therethrough. The rods 118 may be constructed of wood or other suitable material and may be secured to the ridges I10 and 114 of the wall members by means of a transverse aperture I20 in the extremities thereof and the insertion of a pin I22 therethrough. Abutment of the pins 122 with the ridges serves to prevent movement of the rods 118 relative to the wall members.

The rods 118 provide the vertically spaced hand holds and footrests which facilitate the climbing of the external surface 108 of the shelter by a child. The diameter of the rods I18 and the vertical spacing between them may be selected so as to accommodate the physical abilities of the children of the age group for which the shelter is designed.

Seats 124 may be provided in the sheltered area 126 defined by the wall members. These seats 124 may extend inwardly along the entire length of the lower wall members 92 at a height appropriate for a child. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, these seats 124 may be integrally molded with the lower wall members 92, or may be attached by an appropriate means (not shown).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, an elongated horizontal projection 128 extending into the sheltered area I26 may be provided at the lower end 96 of the upper wall member 80. The projections 128 provide, by their upper surface, a shoulder 130 upon which a raised platform 132 may be supported. The platform 132 may be comprised of reinforced concrete or the like and may have a central aperture 134 of sufficient size to allow the passage of a child therethrough. The platform 132 may be extended along the axis of the shelter to provide a second level outside of the sheltered area.

An eyebolt 136 may be anchored by any conventional means to the upper interior surface 138 of the upper wall member 80. A rope 140 of sufficient tensile strength to withstand the weight of several children may be attached to the eye bolt 136. The rope 140 thus depends through the aperture 134 in the platform 132 and provides the means by which a child may attain the upper surface 142 of the platform 132. The rope 140 may be knotted or otherwise provided with means to facilitate the ascending thereof through the aperture 134, if desired.

An optional swing or seat 144 may be attached to the lower extremity 146 of the rope 140 at a height approximately that of the seats 124 which extend into the sheltered area 126 from the lower wall members 92.

An increased number of more difficult challenges may thus be presented by the platform 132 and rope 140 without sacrificing the adaptability of the climbing means on the external surface 108 of the

wall members

80 and 92 for use by smaller children. The increased height will, of course, also provide an additional challenge for the adventurous child.

The rope 140 may be replaced by a pole, ladder, or other suitable climbing means, as desired. The platform 1.32 may be cantileverly supported from one of the wall members and the climbing means attached to the free side thereof, if desired.

While not illustrated, the ends of two or more of the shelters may be modified so that the shelters may be placed in an end to end abutting relation to form a V, X, Y, or other composite shape.

The invention may, of course, be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

lclaim:

l. A freestanding playgroundshelter for children comprisa pair of elongated upstanding wall members; each of said members being generally imperforate over a substantial width, spaced apart at the lower ends thereof and rigidly connected at the upper ends thereof to provide mutual support and to define a sheltered area sufficiently large to accommodate at least two children; means carried by one of said members externally of said sheltered area to facilitate the climbing thereon by children; and

seat means within said shelteredarea.

2. The playground shelter of claim 1 wherein said members are constructed of a moldable material and wherein said climbing means are integral with said one member.

3. The playground shelter of claim ll wherein said seat means are carried by one of said members.

4. The playground shelter of claim 3 wherein said climbing means are carried by both of said members, wherein said seat means are carried by both of said members, and including means for providing a watertight seal at the connection of the upper ends of said members.

5. The playground shelter of claim 4 wherein one of said members includes a portion extending outwardly from one of said wall members, said portion having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough whereby a child may climb through the aperture in said portion in climbsaid sheltered area.

The playground shelter of claim 7 wherein said seat means is integral with one of said members and includes a substantially upright portion having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough, and wherein said members are constructed of reinforced concrete.

9. The playground shelter of claim 1 including:

a platform carried by at least one of said wall members within said sheltered area; and

second climbing means adjacent to said platform whereby children may climb said second climbing means to the upper surface of said platform.

10. The playground shelter of claim 9 wherein said platform is carried by both of said wall members, said platform having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough, whereby a child may climb said second climbing means through the aperture in said platform.

11. The playground shelter of claim 9 wherein said second climbing means includes a rope and including a rigid seat secured to said rope at substantially the vertical level of said seat means.

12. The playground shelter of claim ll wherein said first mentioned climbing means are carried by both of said members, wherein said members are constructed of a moldable material, and wherein said first mentioned climbing means are integral with said members.

13. The playground shelter of claim 12 wherein one of said members includes an outwardly extending portion having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough whereby a child may pass through the aperture in said portion in climbing up one of said members and down the other one of said members externally of said sheltered area.

14. The playground shelter of claim I wherein said climbing means includes a plurality of vertically spaced projections adapted to provide handholds and foot supports.

15. The playground shelter of claim 14 wherein said members are constructed of reinforced concrete and wherein said climbing means are integral therewith.

T6. The playground shelter of claim 1 wherein said climbing means comprise:

a plurality of paired supports projecting outwardly from said one member, the supports of each of said pairs being arranged at substantially the same vertical height; and

a plurality of elongated rods, said pairs of supports being apertured to receive one of said rods whereby said rods provide vertically spaced handholds and foot supports.

17. The playground shelter of claim l wherein said seat means is integral with one of said members and includes a substantially upright portion having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 693 Dated March 30, 1971 Inventor(s) Colin Greenly It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE SPECIFICATION:

C01. 2, line 30, delete "REferring" and insert --Referring--; Col. 2, line 32, delete "32" and insert --31--;

C01. 2, line 34, delete "32" and insert --31--;

C01. 2, line 46, delete "32" and insert --31--;

C01. 2, line 51, delete I'32" and insert ---31-} C01. 2, line 54, delete "32" and insert --31--;

C01. 2, line 55, delete "32" and insert --31--;

C01. 2, line 58, delete "32" and insert ---31---;

C01. 3, line 16, delete "bolts 48" and insert --

wall members

40 and 42--;

C01. 3, line 56, delete "80" and insert --81.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of October 1971.

SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSOHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Pate:

Claims

1. A freestanding playground shelter for children comprising: a pair of elongated upstanding wall members; each of said members being generally imperforate over a substantial width, spaced apart at the lower ends thereof and rigidly connected at the upper ends thereof to provide mutual support and to define a sheltered area sufficiently large to accommodate at least two children; means carried by one of said members externally of said sheltered area to facilitate the climbing thereon by children; and seat means within said sheltered area.

3. The playground shelter of claim 1 wherein said seat means are carried by one of said members.

5. The playground shelter of claim 4 wherein one of said members includes a portion extending outwardly from one of said wall members, said portion having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough whereby a child may climb through the aperture in said portion in climbing up one of said members and down the other one of said members externally of said sheltered area.

6. The playground shelter of claim 1 wherein said climbing means are carried by both of said members.

7. The playground shelter of claim 6 wherein one of said members includes an outwardly extending portion, said portion having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough, whereby a child may climb through the aperture in said portion in climbing up one of said members and down the other one of said members externally of said sheltered area.

8. The playground shelter of claim 7 wherein said seat means is integral with one of said members and includes a substantially upright portion having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough, and wherein said members are constructed of reinforced concrete.

9. The playground shelter of claim 1 including: a platform carried by at least one of said wall members within said sheltered area; and second climbing means adjacent to said platform whereby children may climb said second climbing means to the upper surface of said platform.

12. The playground shelter of claim 11 wherein said first mentioned climbing means are carried by both of said members, wherein said members are constructed of a moldable material, and wherein said first mentioned climbing means are integral with said members.

14. The playground shelter of claim 1 wherein said climbing means includes a plurality of vertically spaced projections adapted to provide handholds and foot supports.

16. The playground shelter of claim 1 wherein said climbing means comprise: a plurality of paired supports projecting outwardly from said one member, the supports of each of said pairs being arranged at substantially the same vertical height; and a plurality of elongated rods, said pairs of supports being apertured to receive one of said rods whereby said rods provide vertically spaced handholds and foot supports.

17. The playground shelter of claim 1 wherein said seat means is integral with one of said members and includes a substantially upright portion having an aperture sufficiently large to allow the passage of a child therethrough.