Not Applicable.
This invention relates generally to playground equipment, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for supporting a play unit on a support post.
Mounting a rotational molded play unit in a playground system can be challenging. For example, drilling a rotational molded play unit is not desirable because it can fill with water which can freeze during cold weather and damage the plastic part. In addition, tolerances due to part variance and expansion and contraction due to temperature changes also make mounting difficult. Variation in molding tolerances and differences in plastic shrink can occur with different colors of plastic.
Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus and method of mounting a plastic part that accommodates for variances and changes in tolerances.
Briefly stated, a playground system comprises one or more play units supported on one or more support posts which are secured to a foundation. The play unit defines a passage way, and a cam assembly is provided to secure the play unit to the post. The cam assembly comprises a cam base plate and a cam lock. The cam base plate defines an opening sized and shaped to receive the support post, and includes at least one upright extending upwardly from the base plate, with a cam extending inwardly from the upright toward the support post. The cam base plate can define a ring, or can be shaped to correspond generally to the shape of decking defined by the play unit. The cam lock comprising a cover plate with a circular cam wall extending from the cover plate. The cam lock cover plate can define a ring, or can be solid. The cam wall is sized and shaped receive the support post. An opening in the cam wall is sized and shaped to receive the cam. Further, the cam wall includes an upwardly sloping slot extending from the cam wall opening. The slot is sized to receive said cam. The play unit is sandwiched by the cam base plate and the cam lock cover plate. As the cam lock is rotated relative to the cam base, the cam lock is tightened down on the play unit to secure the play unit in place on the support post.
According to one aspect, the slot defines a plurality of steps which are sized and shaped to seat the cam to provide an adjustment range to accommodate for variances in sizes and tolerances of the play unit and support.
In accordance with another aspect, the cam assembly comprises a securement member which extends through the upright of the cam base to engage the support post.
In accordance with another aspect, the play unit can be polygonal and include an end structure at each apex or corner of the play unit. In this play unit, each end structure includes a passage way, and the play unit is supported by a plurality of posts. In a variation, the passage way is in the center of the play unit, and the play unit is supported (or supportable) by a single support post.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.
The following detailed description illustrates the claimed invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the claimed invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the claimed invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the claimed invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The claimed invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As shown in
Each support post 12 is preferably a cylindrical post with a lower end secured to a foundation 16 or mounted in the ground. For example, a hole can be dug in the foundation or ground 16 for receipt of the lower end of the support post 12 and filled with concrete to secure and stabilize the post in a generally vertical position. Alternatively, the support posts 12 can be attached to the foundation with fasteners. The support posts 12 can be made from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, and wood.
In
The overall size and shape of the play unit 14 should be self-supporting and capable of supporting the weight of persons and other typical forces encountered during use of playground equipment. Each play unit 14 can be manufactured using any suitable method, including, but not limited to rotational molding, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, or other processes. As can be apparent, if the play unit 14 is formed in any of these just noted ways, it is made from a plastic. However, the play unit could be formed from other materials as well.
The cam assembly 30 includes a cam base 32 (
The cam lock 34 includes a generally circular cam cover plate 46 and a generally cylindrical wall 47 which extends generally perpendicularly to the cover plate 46 (
To assemble the playground system 10, the supports 12 are mounted to a foundation 16 or in the ground in a predetermined pattern. The cam base 32 is slid over one of the supports 12 so that the support 12 extends through the cam base opening 38 and the uprights 40 extend upwardly. The cam base 32 is secured to the support 12 using a lower fastener 54 (
As a next step in the mounting of the play unit 14 on the support post 12, the cam lock 34 is slid over the support 12 until the cam lock wall 47 inserts into the passage 24 of the end structure 20 and the cover plate 46, 46′ seats against the recessed area 26. As can be appreciated, the passage 24 of the end structure 20 has a diameter greater than the diameter of the support post 12, such that the cam lock wall 37 can be received in an annular space defined by the support post 12 and the passage 24. The slots 48 in the cam lock wall 47 enable the wall 47 to pass over the upper fasteners 55 and the cams 44. In this position, openings to the slots 50 in the cam lock wall 47 are generally aligned with the upper fasteners 55 and cams 44. The cam lock 34 is rotated to an engagement position where the upper cams 44 engage the steps 52 of the slots 50. To this end, the cams 44 preferably have a radius that corresponds to the radius of the steps 52. As noted above, the slots 50 are sloped upwardly. Thus, as the cam lock 34 is rotated relative to the post (and the cams), the cam lock 34 is tightened against the top surface of the end structure 20. The further the cam lock 34 is rotated, the tighter the engagement.
Using this assembly method, additional play units 14 can attach to the supports 12 to form the playground system 10. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the supports 12 and play units 14 can be arranged in a multitude of patterns. As can be appreciated, the play units 14 are supported by multiple support posts 12, there being a support post 12 for each end structure 20, as seen in
The cam lock 34 can be rotated using the tool 56 shown in
The support posts 112 are generally similar to the support posts 12. However, because a single support post 112 is used to support the play unit 114, the support post 112 can be an arced cylindrical post. A lower end of the support post 112 is secured to or mounted in a foundation 116 the ground. For example, a hole can be dug in the foundation for receipt of the lower end of the support and filled with concrete to secure and stabilize the post in a generally vertical position. Alternatively, the support posts 112 can be attached to the foundation with fasteners. The support posts 112 can be made from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, and wood.
Each play unit 114 has a generally planar decking area 118 with defined end structures 120 positioned along the edge of the decking area 118. In
The overall size and shape of the play unit 114 should be self-supporting and capable of supporting the weight and other typical forces encountered during use of playground equipment. Each play unit 114 can be manufactured using any suitable method, including, but not limited to rotational molding, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, or other processes. As can be apparent, if the play unit 14 is formed in any of these just noted ways, it is made from a plastic. However, the play unit could be formed from other materials as well.
The cam assembly 130 includes a cam base 132 and the cam lock 34 or 34′ (depending on where the play unit is positioned on the support post). The cam base 132 is substantially identical to the cam base 32. However, rather than have a ring shaped base plate, the cam base 132 includes a base plate 136 that is shown to be generally triangular (
The cam base 232 includes a generally triangular base plate 236 having an area somewhat smaller than the area of the bottom surface of the play unit 114. The triangular base plate 236 defines a generally circular opening 238 sized to receive the support 112. The base plate 236 includes holes 237 proximate its corners. Two generally parallel uprights 240 extend generally perpendicularly from the base plate 236. The uprights 240 are positioned on the base plate 236 at the inner surface of the ring. The uprights 240 can be fixed to the base plate 236 by means of arms 242, such as by welding or fasteners, which will actually space the uprights 240 slightly from the of the base plate opening 238. The arms 242 can be integral with the base plate 236 and can serve to reinforce the attachment between the uprights 240 and the base plate 236. Alternatively, the uprights 240 can, themselves, be integral with the base plate 236, thus eliminating the need for the arms 242. Each upright 240 and corresponding arm 242 defines a threaded hole 243 sized and shaped for receipt of the securement member 233, such as a set screw. A generally cylindrical cam 244 extends inwardly from the inner face of each of the uprights 240, near the top thereof. The cams 244 can be fixed to the uprights by welding, for example. If the uprights 240 are opposed to each other, the cams 244 face each other. The cams 244 are shaped and sized for engagement with the cam lock 34, 34′ (as described above in conjunction with the cam assembly 30).
During assembly, the cam base 232 is slid over one of the supports 112 so that the support 112 extends through the cam base opening 238 and the uprights 240 extend upwardly. The cam base 232 is secured to the support 112 using a lower fastener 254 which extends through the uprights 240, the arms 242, the arms 244 and the support post 112. The fastener 254 can be a bolt which receives a nut 254a. Upper fasteners 255 extend through the cams 244 at the upper ends of the uprights 240 and into the support 112. The securement members 233 insert through the holes 243 until the securement members 233 engage the support post 112, to create a secure connection between the securement member 233 and the support post 112. The remaining assembly of the playground system 110 is substantially the same way as set forth above in conjunction with the playground system 10.
As can be appreciated from the above, the two play units 14, 114 can be mounted on straight or arced supports. Play systems can be comprised of only the play units 14, only the play units 114, or a combination of the two (
A support 12, 112 can have only a single play unit 14, 114 mounted thereto, or two or more play units 14, 114 can be mounted to a single support. When two or more play units 14, 114 are mounted to a single support, each play unit 14, 114 is supported by its respective cam assembly 30, 130. When two play units are mounted to the support, the lower play unit does not support the upper play unit. As noted, each play unit is supported on the support 12, 112 by its respective cam assembly 30, 130. Further, there is a least a small gap G between adjacent play units, as shown in
Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, although the end structure 20 is shown to be generally spherical, it can be formed in any desired shape.
This Non-Provisional application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/426,824 filed Dec. 23, 2010, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61426824 | Dec 2010 | US |