WO2015197999A1

WO2015197999A1 - Play structure comprising an element having a first part slidably mounted inside a second part

Info

Publication number: WO2015197999A1
Application number: PCT/FR2015/051760
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guillaume NGUYEN; William Lanigan; David Leleu
Original assignee: Decathlon
Priority date: 2014-06-27
Filing date: 2015-06-29
Publication date: 2015-12-30
Also published as: FR3022796A1; FR3022796B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a play structure comprising an element (2) having a first part (2a) mounted inside a second part (2b) such that it can slide between a retracted position inside the second part and a raised position outside the second part. The element is equipped with an actuation system for actuating the movement of the first part into the raised position. The actuation system comprises a belt (19) having a first end secured to the second part (2b) and said belt is mounted on a winding means (20) for winding the belt about its second end. The above-mentioned first part (2a) bears on the belt between the first and second ends thereof so that the part can be moved into the raised position or the retracted position by means of the winding or unwinding of the belt.

Description

A game structure comprising an element having a first portion slidably mounted in a second portion

The invention relates to a game structure comprising an element which has a first portion slidably mounted in a second part.

It applies in particular to a structure for the practice of a sport, including basketball, said structure comprising an element of which a first part carries a basketball panel and is slidably mounted in a second part between a retracted position and a position raised out of said second part, in particular to allow adjustment of the height of said panel.

US-3,341,197 discloses such a play structure, in which a first part which carries the basketball panel is immobilized in a raised position relative to a second part by means of at least one locking system which exerts a pressing on the periphery of said first part to prevent its sliding in the retracted position in said second part.

However, this type of structure is not entirely satisfactory, in that the user must partly lift the first part carrying the basketball board to raise it outside the second part, which can be binding because of significant weight of the whole.

Furthermore, the support locking system is not sufficiently reliable, in that its effectiveness can be easily compromised by a bad actuation of the user and / or wear over the uses of the structure, which increases the risk of sudden and untimely, and therefore potentially dangerous, sliding of the first part carrying the basketball sign down. The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a play structure in which the displacement of a first portion slidably mounted in a second part is facilitated, the locking of said first part in a raised position out of said second part being furthermore reliable for safe use of said structure.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a game structure comprising an element which has a first part slidably mounted in a second part between a position retracted in said second part and a raised position outside said second part, said element being equipped with a system for actuating the displacement of said first part in a raised position, said system comprising a strap whose one end is fixed to the second part, said strap being mounted on a winding means around its second end, the first part being supported on said strap between its first and second ends to be moved in the raised position - respectively retracted - by winding - unwinding respectively - of said strap.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures, in which:

- Figures 1 show a game structure according to the invention in storage position, respectively in perspective (Figure 1a) and side (Figure 1b), the element being rotatably mounted on a base and disposed in folded position on said base, the first portion of said member being in the retracted position in the second portion;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the play structure of FIGS. 1 in which the element is in an erect position, respectively in perspective (FIG. 2a) and from the side (FIG. 2b), the first part of said element being in the retracted position in the second part; ;

FIGS. 3 and 3 show the play structure of FIGS. 1 in position of use, respectively in perspective (FIG. 3a) and from the side (FIG. 3b), in which the element is in an upright position and an upper element rotatably mounted on said element is in the deployed position, the first part of the element being in the retracted position in the second part;

FIGS. 4 represent the play structure according to FIG. 3, respectively in perspective (FIG. 4a) and from the side (FIG. 4b), in which the first part of the lower element is in the raised position out of the second part;

- Figure 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional representation of the game structure according to Figures 3, 5a and 5b showing an enlargement of respectively a lower end and an upper end of the element;

- Figures 6 and 7 are perspective representations of the base of the game structure of Figures 1 to 4, the element being upright.

In connection with these figures, there is described below a game structure, especially for the practice of basketball.

The game structure comprises an element 2 which has a first portion 2a slidably mounted in a second portion 2b between a retracted position in said second portion (Figures 3) and a raised position out of said second portion (Figures 4).

In the embodiment shown, the first part 2a carries a basketball panel 4 and its displacement relative to the second part 2b makes it possible to adjust the height of said panel, in particular according to the level of practice of the user, his age and / or its size.

In particular, the structure comprises an upper member 3 rotatably mounted on an upper end of the first portion 2a between a folded position and an extended position, and on which is mounted the basketball panel 4. Alternatively, the basketball panel 4 can be mounted directly on the upper end of the first part 2a. To allow the movement of the first part 2a in the raised position, the element 2 is equipped with a system for actuating said displacement.

In relation to FIGS. 5, the actuation system comprises a strap 19 whose first end is fixed to the second part 2b, said strap being mounted on a winding means around its second end. In particular, the winding means comprises a crank 20 mounted on the second portion 2b, in particular on a housing 21 carried by said second portion and inside which the second end of the strap 19 opens to wind around said crank.

In addition, the second portion 2b comprises a slide 22 fixed on its upper end, the strap 19 sliding out of said slide during its winding around its second end.

Furthermore, the first part 2a is supported on the strap 19 between its first and second ends to be able to be moved in the raised position - respectively retracted - by winding - unwinding respectively - of said strap, the effort to achieve this deployment being reduced by pulley effect of the strap 19.

In relation to FIGS. 5 and 5a, the first part 2a comprises a slide 23 formed on its lower end and in which the strap 19 slides during actuation of the system.

To prevent the total weight of the assembly formed by the first part 2a, the upper element 3 and the basketball panel 4 does not rest on the strap 19, in particular on the portion of said strap disposed in the slide 23 of said first In part, the actuating system may comprise a safety device which, when actuated, supports said first portion to lock it to the desired height. In particular, such a safety device may comprise a pin intended to be arranged in an orifice formed on the first part 2a and corresponding to a desired height for the panel 4, the user pulling said pin out of said orifice before unrolling the strap 19 of the winding means 20 when it wishes to retract said first part in the second part 2b.

To ensure the safety of the users during the use of the game structure, the actuation system further comprises a locking device of the first part 2a in the raised position, in order to prevent any inadvertent movement of said first part towards its end. retracted position, and therefore any brutal and uncontrolled and therefore potentially dangerous lowering of the basketball board 4.

To do this, the locking device is in particular arranged to block the winding means 20 of the strap 19, so that the user must manually actuate said device to be able to unroll said strap and thus have the first part 2a in the retracted position .

In particular, the locking device may be a pin safety device as described above, whose pin is arranged to lock the first part 2a in the raised position while blocking in rotation the winding means 20 of the strap 19. Thus, in order to unroll the strap 19, the user is obliged to first remove the pin, which prevents the strap 19 is unwound while the first part 2a is locked in the raised position. Indeed, if the user unlocked the first part 2a while the strap 19 is unwound, said first part would slide sharply in the second part 2b, which would lead to a brutal and uncontrolled descent, and therefore potentially dangerous, the basketball panel 4 In another embodiment, the locking device may comprise a ratchet wheel comprising teeth on its circumference and rotatably connected to the winding means 20, as well as a latch intended to snap into one of the teeth of said wheel. when the winding means 20 is actuated to winding the strap 19 and raising the first portion 2a, so as to form a stop with said tooth to prevent the rotation of said means in the reverse direction of unwinding said strap. Thus, to be able to unwind the strap 19 and retract the first part 2a, the user must first manually release the latch of the ratchet wheel.

According to another embodiment, particularly when the winding means comprises a crank 20, the locking device may also comprise means for interfering with said crank to prevent its rotation in the direction of unwinding of the strap 19. In particular, the actuating system comprises a latch 24 rotatably mounted on the second portion 2b near the crank 20, the user manually rotating said latch to arrange it against the handle of the crank 20 to lock it in rotation.

In the embodiment shown, the game structure comprises a base 1 disposed in abutment on the ground, on which the element 2 is rotatably mounted between a folded position (FIG. 1) and an erected position (FIG. 2). In particular, the base 1 comprises a central frame 5 on the front end of which a lower end of the second portion 2b is rotatably mounted.

Thus, the structure is disposable between a storage position, in which the element 2 is in the folded position, its first part 2a being in the retracted position in its second part 2b, and the upper element 3 being in the folded position, and a position of use, wherein said element, said first portion and said upper member are respectively upright, raised and deployed. In particular, the movement of the storage position to the position of use can be done by successively passing the element 2 from the folded position to the erected position, the upper element 3 from the folded position to the deployed position, then the first part 2a from the retracted position to the high position. The structure further comprises a system for assisting the displacement of the element 2 in an erect position. Such an assistance system is all the more desirable that the user, by moving the element 2 upright, must not only handle said element, but also the upper element 3 disposed in folded position on said element, and that the basketball panel 4 mounted on said upper element, which can be binding because of the total weight of the assembly.

In connection with the figures, the assistance system comprises a linking arm 8 which has a first end rotatably mounted on the second part 2b, and a second end mounted in translation on the base 1, for example on a rail formed for this purpose on the central frame 5.

Furthermore, the assistance system comprises spring means 9 mounted on the central frame 5 on either side of the second end of the link arm 8, said spring means being arranged to actuate the translation of the link arm 8 by relative to the central frame 5, so as to assist the movement of the element 2 upright. To do this, the spring means 9 are locked in the constrained position when the element 2 is in the folded position. For example, the spring means 9 may be compression springs - traction respectively - which are contracted - respectively stretched - when the element 2 is in the folded position, so as to accompany the translation of the connecting arm 8 while relaxing - respectively by contracting - towards their rest position.

To ensure safety, whether during use of the structure or during its disposition in the position of use, said structure further comprises a locking system 10 of the element 2 in an erect position, in order to avoid that said element does not tilt unintentionally in the folded position.

In particular, the locking system 10 comprises means for locking the link arm 8 in translation and / or in rotation, in particular studs 11 carried by one of said connecting arm and the element 2, said pads being intended to be locked in a receiving device carried by the other of the element 2 and the connecting arm 8 when said element is in the erect position . In connection with the figures, the receiving device comprises a plate 12 which is rotatably mounted on the element 2 and which has a locking slot of the studs 11 mounted on the link arm 8.

Thus, during the deployment of the element 2 in the erected position, the studs 11 are positioned in the locking slot of the plate 12, so as to activate the locking system 10.

Moreover, to arrange the structure in the storage position, the plate 12 is manually actuated in rotation to unlock the studs 11 of the slot, so as to move the link arm 8 in translation and thus allow the arrangement of the element 2 in the folded position.

In connection with FIG. 7, the locking system 10 also comprises a hook 13 rotatably mounted on the link arm 8 and intended to be manually hooked to a front transversal bar 14 mounted above the rail on the central frame 5, to prevent the translation of said connecting arm in said rail and thus contribute to blocking the element 2 in the erect position.

To bring more stability to the structure during use, the element 2 is arranged to bear on the ground in upright position, which prevents the tilting of said structure during said use.

To do this, the second portion 2b of the element 2 comprises two feet 15 mounted on either side of its lower end and intended to bear on the ground when said element is in the upright position. Thus, the feet 15 provide a better stability of the structure, particularly preventing its tilting on the sides. The base 1 further comprises wheels 6 mounted on the frame 5 to allow movement of the structure. In connection with Figure 6, the wheels 6 each comprise a hub secured to the central frame 5, said hubs being arranged to allow the wheels 6 to rotate independently of each other.

In particular, at least some of the wheels 6 are arranged to be filled with a ballast material, for example water or sand, to form a counterweight to the element 2 upright. To do this, the refillable wheels 6 each comprise a cylindrical reservoir on the periphery of which an opening 7 is arranged to allow their filling with such a ballast material.

For a good distribution of the weight, the fillable wheels 6 are distributed in pairs on either side of the central frame 5. In connection with the figures, the base 1 comprises in particular three pairs of fillable wheels 6 distributed on both sides of the central chassis 5.

Furthermore, the axis of revolution of the tanks extends horizontally and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the frame 5, so that the base 1 is movable by rolling said tanks on their periphery.

Thus, the fillable wheels 6 ensure a better stability of the structure by preventing its tilting forwards or backwards, and this in combination with the feet 15 of the element 2 which, when they bear on the ground , prevent tilting on the sides. In addition, the feet 15 make it possible to prevent the base 1 from rolling when the element 2 is in the upright position, in particular during the use of the structure or during its disposition in the use position.

Once the element 2 is in the upright position, the user can move the upper element 3 from the folded position (FIG. 2), in which the said upper element is disposed against the said element in the deployed position (FIGS. ), and this by manually rotating said upper member relative to the upper end of the element 2 on which it is rotatably mounted.

The upper element 3 comprises a free end on which is mounted the basketball panel 4, said panel comprising a board 4a and a bow 4b on which a net can be hung.

To limit the bulk of the game structure when arranged in the storage position, the basketball panel 4 can be arranged to be folded against the upper element 3 which is itself arranged against the element 2 when arranged in folded position. To do this, the basketball panel 4 can be rotatably mounted on the free end of the upper element 3. In addition, the hoop 4b can be rotatably mounted on the panel 4 to be folded against the board 4a when the game structure is in the storage position. Alternatively, the arch 4b can be mounted reversibly on the panel 4 by means of a system without tools, to allow the user to easily dismount said arch when it wants to store the game structure.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper element 3 comprises two pairs of upper parallel bars 3a and lower 3b each having a rear end rotatably mounted on the upper end of the first part 2a, as well as a front end on which the basketball panel 4 is rotatably mounted. Thus, the upper member 3 forms a deformable parallelogram which allows the user to move said upper member in the deployed position and train the basketball panel 4 in one gesture. In addition, to facilitate the arrangement of the upper member 3 in the deployed position, said upper member comprises a handle 16 that the user can grasp to manipulate said upper member. The game structure further comprises a locking system of the upper member 3 in the deployed position, to prevent inadvertent tilting of said upper member in the folded position, especially during the use of the structure, and thus ensure the safety of the users.

To do this, the locking system comprises a hook 17 mounted on one of the upper element 3 and the first part 2a, said hook being hooked manually on the other of said first part and said upper element when said upper element is in the deployed position. In particular, the hook 17 can be mounted in rotation to facilitate its handling by the user.

In connection with Figure 5b, the hook 17 is mounted on the upper member 3 and the first portion 2a comprises a device carrying a pin 18 on which said hook is hooked when said upper member is in the extended position.

Once the upper element 3 and the basketball panel 4 have been deployed, the user can adjust the height of said panel by moving the first part 2a from a retracted position (FIG. 3) to a raised position outside the second part 2b ( Figures 4). The game structure is then ready for use.

Claims

A game structure comprising an element (2) having a first portion (2a) slidably mounted in a second portion (2b) between a retracted position in said second portion and a raised position out of said second portion, said member being provided a system for actuating the displacement of said first part in a raised position, said structure being characterized in that said system comprises a strap (19) whose one end is fixed to the second part (2b), said strap being mounted on a means (20) for winding around its second end, the first part (2a) being supported on said strap between its first and second ends to be able to be moved in the raised position - respectively retracted - by winding - respectively unfolding - of said strap.

2. Game structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the winding means comprises a crank (20) mounted on the second portion (2b) of the element (2).

3. Play structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating system comprises a locking device of the first part

(2a) in the raised position.

4. Play structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first part (2a) comprises a slide (23) formed on its lower end and in which slides the strap (19) during the actuation of the system.

5. Game structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second portion (2b) comprises a slide (22) fixed on its upper end, the strap (19) sliding out of said slide at the its winding around its second end.

6. Game structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a base (1) disposed in abutment on the ground, the element (2) being rotatably mounted on said base between a folded position and an erect position for the use of said structure.

7. Play structure according to claim 6, characterized in that the base comprises:

a central frame (5) on which said element is mounted in rotation;

- Wheels (6) mounted on said frame to allow the displacement of said structure.

8. Game structure according to claim 7, characterized in that at least some of the wheels (6) are arranged to be filled with a ballast material to form a counterweight to the element (2) in the erect position for the use of said structure.

9. Play structure according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises an upper element (3) on which is mounted a basketball panel (4), said upper member being rotatably mounted on a upper end of a lower member (2) between a folded position and an extended position, said play structure being arranged in a storage position at a position of use by successively passing the lower member (2) of the position folded to the upright position, and then the upper member (3) from the folded position to the extended position.

10. Game structure according to claim 8, characterized in that the lower member (2) is arranged to bear on the ground in upright position to prevent tilting of the game structure disposed in the use position. .