Outdoor play-sets have become increasingly popular in residential areas. The play-sets come in a variety of shapes and sizes. However, many play-sets typically incorporate one or more ground level play areas, such as a sandbox. These areas may be filled with sand, rubber or composite material in which children may dig and play. However, due to the fact that the play-sets reside outdoors, the play areas tend to fill with rainwater, leaves and other debris. While the accumulation of such foreign material within the play area is undesirable, none may be more undesirable than the unwanted addition of pet waste.
While it is desirable to provide a simple means for covering such play areas when they are not in use, the prior art has failed to provide an adequate cover. For example, various outdoor sandboxes have been provided with a rigid cover that secures with a lower portion of the sandbox. While these can be effective for keeping water and other debris from within the play area when it is not in use, such covers are bulky and cumbersome to deal with when installing and removing the same. Moreover, such covers frequently become the subject of play with many children and may lead to unwanted injury to children or surrounding articles within the area. Other prior art methods of covering the play areas may simply utilize a tarp. However, the tarp typically sags into a concave shape over the play area and tends to accumulate water and debris. Accordingly, when the play area is to be used, the cover is difficult, if not impossible, to remove from the play area without spilling the water or debris into the play area. Moreover, the use of a tarp typically involves the use of inadequate anchoring systems, such as large rocks, or the like that weigh-down the peripheral edges of the tarp outside the play area. However, such means typically become the subject of play with some children and are either lost or risk injury to the children or surrounding articles.
Accordingly, what is needed is a play area cover that substantially prevents water and other debris from accumulating within a play area, without accumulating the same water and debris on top of the cover, and also prevents animals from entering the play area. Moreover, such a play area cover should be provided in a manner that is lightweight, safe and easy to use.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A play area cover is generally provided with a flexible sheet member, having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral edge portion. An anchoring means is provided for securing the peripheral edge portion of the sheet member with a base frame of the play area. A support means is also provided for urging the upper surface of the sheet member into a generally convex shape above the play area, so that water and debris is effectively shed from the cover.
In one aspect of the invention, an elongated cable supports a central portion of the flexible sheet member by securing a distal end portion of the cable to a play structure above the play area. A detachment means may be provided for automatically uncoupling a portion of the cable with the play structure when an external force is applied to the sheet member or the cable in order to prevent harm to individuals or the cover system. In another embodiment, one or more elongated, deformably resilient braces are coupled within sleeves along the sheet member, in a manner that supports the sheet member into a generally convex shape above the play area. In still another embodiment, a support block may be placed beneath the sheet member on top of the play area. An upper end portion of the support block engages the lower surface of the sheet member in a manner that urges the sheet member into a generally convex shape above the play area.
The anchoring means may be provided by a plurality of elongated anchor cables that extend outwardly from the peripheral edge portion of the sheet member. Securement pins may be coupled with the distal end portions of the elongated cables for releasably engaging the same with the base frame of the play area.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a play area cover that substantially prevents animals, water and other debris from entering a play area when it is not in use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a play area cover that is comprised of a flexible sheet member that is urged into a generally convex shape above a play area.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a play area cover that is urged into a convex shape above the play area through the use of an elongated cable that is secured with a play structure above the play area.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a play area cover that is comprised of a flexible sheet member, which is urged into a generally convex shape above a play area with the assistance of deformably resilient braces that are coupled within sleeves coupled to the sheet member.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a play area cover that is comprised of a flexible sheet member, which is urged into a generally convex shape above a play area through the use of a deformably resilient support block placed beneath the sheet member.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a play area cover that is releasably anchored to a base frame of the play area using a plurality of elongated anchor cables.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a play area cover that incorporates the use of several safety mechanisms in supporting and securing the play cover with respect to the play area.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a play area cover that is relatively simple to manufacture and use.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a play area cover that may be conveniently folded and stored in a compact form.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent after consideration of the Detailed Description and Figures herein.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
The play area cover 10 is generally provided for use with a play area having a base frame 12 that surrounds a portion of the play area. The play area cover 10 is preferably formed from a generally flexible sheet member 14, having an upper surface 16, a lower surface 18, and a peripheral edge portion 20. It is contemplated that the sheet member 14 could be comprised of nearly any flexible material, including various fabrics, polymers, and combinations thereof. It will simply be desirable to form the sheet member 14 from a material that is substantially water resistant to prevent the infiltration of water into the play area when the play area cover 10 is installed. It may be desirable to form the sheet member 14 from a material that is sufficiently flexible to permit the sheet member 14 to be folded into a compact size for easy storage when the play area cover 10 is not in use.
The play area cover 10 is preferably provided with a support means for urging the upper surface 16 of the sheet member into a generally convex shape above the play area, as depicted in
In another embodiment, depicted in
In another embodiment, depicted in
The anchoring means of the play area cover 10 may be provided in the form of a plurality of elongated anchor cables 48 that are coupled with the peripheral edge portion 20 of the sheet member 14 in a spaced-apart relationship with one another, as depicted in
Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
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5621926 | La Madeleine | Apr 1997 | A |
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6487734 | First | Dec 2002 | B1 |