The present invention relates generally to playground systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a safety surface for use with playground systems and to playgrounds incorporating such a safety surface.
Most modern playgrounds have some form of shock absorbent safety surface intended to reduce the risk of injury. The industry has developed a number of different safety surfaces, including, for example, chipped wood products, resilient rubber foam, shredded tires, and poured-in-place rubberized surfaces.
Unfortunately, some existing safety surfaces may be prone to one or more drawbacks. For example, some applications, such as chipped wood products, absorbent rubber foam, and shredded tires offer favorable shock absorption qualities, but some of the softer options lack stability. As a result, the shock absorbent material tends to migrate away from high traffic areas, leaving many high traffic areas of a playground unprotected. On the other hand, many poured-in-place surfaces are very stable and thus not subject to migration, but these more stable options are often harder than desired. It can be difficult to find the proper balance between stability and shock absorption, and thus many playgrounds can benefit from an improved surface that offers favorable shock absorption as well as resistance to migration.
In accordance with one exemplary aspect, a safety surface for use over a supporting base in a designated area of a playground comprises a bottom layer arranged for placement over the supporting base, a plurality of mesh bags, each of the mesh bags filled with a plurality of pieces of a shock absorbent material, and a border arranged for placement along selected edges of the designated area. The mesh bags are sized and shaped to abut adjacent mesh bags, with a portion of the mesh bags arranged to abut the border. And internal divider is positioned in an interior of the mesh bags, with the internal divider arranged to divide the interior of the mesh bags into a plurality of interior compartments. A top layer is arranged to overlie the mesh bags and arranged for securement to the border.
In accordance with one or more preferred forms, the top layer may be formed from a plurality of tiles, connectors may be provided to connect adjacent tiles one another. Further, a connection may be provided for attaching edges of selected tiles to the border. Adjacent bags may be arranged to abut one another along a generally vertical interface, such that the interface and the internal divider cooperate to inhibit migration of the shock absorbent material.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect, a safety surface for use over a supporting base in a designated area of a playground comprises a water permeable bottom layer sized and shaped for placement over the supporting base, a border arranged for placement along selected edges of the designated area, and a plurality of mesh bags, each of the mesh bags forming an interior, with an internal divider positioned in the interior, the internal divider arranged to divide the interior into a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments is filled with a plurality of pieces of a shock absorbent material, and the mesh bags are sized and shaped for placement adjacent to one another so as to abut any adjacent mesh bags along an interface. One exemplary shock absorbent fill material is commonly referred to as rubber mulch. The border is positioned to abut an edge portion of the mesh bags positioned adjacent to the border, and a top layer arranged to overlie the mesh bags and arranged for securement to the border. Consequently, the internal divider, the top layer and the border cooperate to inhibit lateral migration of the shock absorbent material.
In accordance with yet another preferred form, the disclosed system may include an anti-cut layer beneath the top layer, which anti-cut layer may take the form of a wire mesh or grid, a Kevlar mesh, grid, or layer, or any other suitable material offering cut resistance. Further, the system may include an anti-abrasion layer over the bags.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect, a safety surface for use over a supporting base in a designated area of a playground comprises a plurality of mesh bags, each of the mesh bags filled with a plurality of pieces of a shock absorbent material, the mesh bags being arranged for placement over the supporting base. A border may be arranged for placement along selected edges of the designated area. The mesh bags may be sized and shaped to abut adjacent mesh bags, a portion of the mesh bags being arranged to abut the border. At least some of the mesh bags may include at least one an internal divider positioned in an interior of the at least some mesh bags, the internal divider being arranged to divide the interior of the at least some mesh bags into a plurality of interior compartments. A top layer may be arranged to overlie the mesh bags and may be arranged for placement adjacent to the border.
In accordance with yet another preferred form, the disclosed system may include a top layer that is formed from a plurality of tiles, the top layer having a connector arranged to connect one tile to an adjacent tile along a seam. Further, the disclosed system may include at least one connector having a first portion that is arranged for placement along the seam and beneath the tiles, and a second portion that is arranged for placement along the seam and above the tiles. Still further, the disclosed system may include at least one internal divider having a pair of internal panels forming three compartments, each of the three compartments including a pair of top sections positioned to meet along a top seam. Still further, the disclosed system may include adjacent bags that are arranged along a generally vertical interface, the interface and the internal divider cooperating to inhibit migration of the shock absorbent material.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention, the legal scope of the present invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, and these alternatives would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the full scope of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings,
Preferably, the lower layer 14 is a geotextile fabric, which is water permeable. A number of commercially available geotextile fabrics may prove suitable. The lower layer 14 may be suitably secured to the base 12 using a plurality of anchors 26 at suitable intervals. The top layer 16 preferably is formed from a plurality of tile sections 28 (a number of which are shown to advantage in
Referring now to
Preferably, the bags 20 are placed to abut one another, and to abut the surrounding border 18 in a manner similar to placing brick pavers. As shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Any and all dimensions shown or referred to herein are to be regarded as exemplary only and, unless expressly recited in a specific one of the appended claims, are not intended to expressly or inherently limit the scope of any of the other appended claims in any way.
In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed examples, when the safety surface 10 is assembled at a designated area on a playground, the bags 20 are positioned to abut adjacent bags such that the bags effectively brace one another via contact along a generally vertical interface 52 (shown in
Referring again to
Those of skill in the art, upon reading the present disclosure, will understand that the teachings outlined herein may be applied to an entire playground area, to selected areas within a playground, or only to selected high traffic areas of a playground. Those of skill in the art will also understand that, although certain dimension may be shown in the attached drawings, the dimensions ultimately may be chosen by the designer in order to meet the specific needs of a particular application.
The preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20130165243 A1 | Jun 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61524664 | Aug 2011 | US |