Patent Application
20220361679
None.
The invention generally relates to playground equipment. Specifically, the invention relates to modular retaining wall systems for retaining cushion material around playground equipment.
It is well known to provide retaining modular retaining wall systems for playground areas. These modular systems typically are comprised of molded plastic pieces which are held in place by spikes driven into the ground for quick assembly. Adjacent retaining wall sections fit together like a puzzle with metal spikes serving as the dual function of connection points between adjacent sections of the retaining wall and as stabilizers to retain the sections in an upright position. Once a desired area is encircled with a number of retaining wall sections, the area defined by the retaining wall sections is filled with a cushioning material such as wood chips, bark, or composite materials such as shredded tires or other well-known materials. The retaining wall sections tend to be on the order of 10 inches to two feet high.
It is known in the prior art to provide pieces to coordinate with the retaining sections to provide for wheelchair handicap access to play equipment. This section tends to be the same length as the pother pieces but provide a sloped access point into the play area.
Often in playground areas parents accompanying their children. The Prior art systems do not provide any place for parents to rest while watching or monitoring their children's play. Prior art systems involved providing separate seating surfaces outside of the area defined by the modular retaining wall. The extra distance between the seating surfaces and the playground equipment with the retaining wall in between increased the response time for a person acting in loco parentis to get from the seat to the playground, if needed, to supervise or physically assist any children in their care. The additional seating surfaces also are an extra expense that must be borne by the school, municipality or other building the playground. It is therefore desired to have comfortable place for parents to rest while watching or monitoring their children near the play equipment while minimizing the cost to provide the necessary equipment.
The invention provides a seat, called a border bench, near and facing the playground equipment. Persons serving in loco parentis often need to be near play equipment to monitor children's play. The present invention provides modular equipment for use with playground retaining wall systems to provide a seat near and facing the play equipment. The invention is sized to replace at least one retaining wall section. It serves the function of retaining the fill material in place and also provides a seat near and facing the play equipment. The invention can be quickly installed in a new playground setting or can easily be swapped into place for an existing retaining wall section easily and interchangeably engaging adjacent retaining wall sections.
There have thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out several purposes of the present invention. Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
The border bench 100 of present invention is shown with a seating surface 102 at an upper edge 104. A first end 106 is at the right edge and a second end 108 is at the left edge. A cut-out 110 is defined in the first end. The cut-out 110 is adapted to receive and cooperate with a lower engagement projection 306 from a first wall section 302. The upper edge 104 is supported by a body 112.
The body 112 is preferably hollow, having been rotomolded or blow molded. Defined within the hollow body 112 are stiffeners of several different varieties. Geometric stiffeners 116 as well as circular stiffeners 120 are shown, though mechanical design and fabrication concerns may dictate a variety of stiffener configurations. A sign stiffener 118 is also shown. The sign stiffener 118 maintains the two sidewalls of the body 112 the desired distance from one another, preferably by joining them together physically. This same configuration applies to each of the stiffeners which generally comprise indentations that close the distance between the sidewalls and join a section of the sidewalls together. In addition to holding the sidewalls together, the sign stiffener 118 serves as a surface on which the manufacturer's information or information desired by the purchaser (such as a school name or logo) can be displayed.
A wing 122 extends out from the second end 108. The wing is adapted to engage the upper engagement projection 308 from the second wall section 304. A spike 600 passes down through the upper engagement projection 308, through the wing hole 124 and into the ground to hold the two adjoining pieces together.
The overall height of the border bench 100 is preferably greater than would normally be provided for a seating surface. Chairs usually have a seating height of around 18″ give or take a couple of inches. The border bench is preferably at least 10″ higher than typical chair seating height. The reason for the extra height is that persons resting on the border bench 100 usually face toward the playground equipment, in which case their feet are on the fill material, which is typically 10″ or so above the surrounding ground level. Therefore, a standard chair seating height is provided for persons facing the playground equipment.
