A new structure for children's games

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present Patent of Invention relates to a new structure for children's games which provides for the function to which it is directed several advantages to be listed hereinafter, apart from others inherent in its organization and constitution.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are presently known structures to be used by children in their games, installed in public or private parks, gardens or appropriate places and made from metal parts, moulded material parts or others, fixedly attached together to form random shapes forming precincts accessible to the children, planes on different levels or places where to climb, passageways, staircases and slides which to descend, all designed so that the child may use them in his games, depending on his imagination, physical capacity and development, without running any risk of injury.

A fabricated amusement platform which can be easily assembled and dismantled so as to be reassembled into another pattern or at another location is disclosed in US-A-4 941 658. This amusement platform includes a plurality of skeleton members having at least one pair of columns adapted to be disposed vertically in relation to a mounting surface; a pluratlity of block members having a pair of throughholes adapted to be simultaneously passed by a pair of columns of one of the skeleton members; and a plurality of plate members each having a plurality of holes formed therethrough. Each of the holes of the plate members are spaced apart from each other at a distance equaling the distance between the two columns of one of the skeleton members. The fabricated amusement platform is assembled by passing the columns of the skeleton members through the throughholes of the block members and the holes of the plate members so as to vertically pile up te block members which may be interposed between the plate members and stably support the plate members which are suspended among the columns of certain of the skeleton members. In addition, the fabricated amusement platform can be disassembled by pulling the columns of the skeleton members out from the throughholes in the block members and the holes in the plate members. Therefore, the fabricated amusement platform can be easily assembled into another pattern or at another desired location. In addition, the fabricated amusement platform is preferably made of a plastic material so that children playing thereon will not be injured while playing thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this invention, there has been devised a structure formed by a plurality of components made from rigid moulded material and including means for the assembly thereof, either by engagement, sliding, plugging or other systems, but always without the need to use complementary binding members, so that the structure may be assembled and dismantled with ease, even by the child user himself.

Some of the said components form corner modules and wall modules, to form a prismatic structure providing a precinct communicating at the top with the outside and through openings in the wall modules, through which the child may have access. Inside the precinct there is provided at least one raised horizontal member forming a platform located at a level attainable by the child, from which he may reach a slide or like component, external to the precinct, along which he may slide to the ground.

The structure is characterized in that it comprises corner parts and side parts and an upper bar connecting two opposite sides, the corner parts being constructed by vertically extending rectangular parts, provided at the longitudinal edges thereof with oblique extensions of material having an alternate slope, the free edges of which curve inwards in opposite directions, forming longitudinal guideways on both sides of said corner part adapted axially to receive respective edges of a rounded section or a section appropriate to the cross section of the guideway, said edges extending longitudinally parallel to the vertical edges of the side parts, with which they are connected by a portion of material of smaller section.

According to the foregoing, the structure is adapted to be assembled either outdoors or indoors and may also be transported and stored, after being dismantled, in a small space in a motor vehicle or at home.

The structure of the present Invention offers the advantages described above, apart from others which will be easily gathered from the embodiment described in fuller detail hereinafter to facilitate an understanding of the above mentioned features, while disclosing at the same time several details. For such purpose, the specification is accompanied by drawings in which a practical embodiment of the invention is shown as a non-limiting example of the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

• Figure 1 is a detail perspective view showing how the corner modules and the wall modules are joined together.
• Figure 2 is a top view of the previous Figure contributing to an understanding of the joining system between the said modules.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the structure assembled in a functional arrangement, according to one embodiment.
• Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view better showing the components forming the structure, some of which are connected together or partially connected in the assembly stage, also according to one embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

There is to be seen in the drawings a structure for children's games comprising four corner components 1, four side components 2, a round bar 3, a part 4 forming a horizontal platform at an intermediate height and a slide member 19.

The corner components 1 are provided at the longitudinal edges thereof with alternately oblique extensions 5 of material curving inwards in opposite directions to form guideways for respective rounded edges 6 extending along the vertical sides of the side components 2 and which are connected thereto by way of smaller section material portions 20, enabling said edges 6 to slide axially in the said guideways, forming inseparable connections when subjected to transverse pulling forces.

One of the side components is provided with a rectangular gap 7 which is formed on the bottom edge thereof with a projection 8 forming recesses 9 on either side to receive respective projections 10 formed on the part 4. Projections 11 of part 4 are engaged in openings 12 of the adjacent components 2, providing for stable horizontal support of the said part 4.

Two components 2 are provided at the top end thereof with respective pointed forms 13 with an orifice 14 for connection of the ends 15 of the bar 3.

The part 19 forming the slide is provided at the upper end thereof with transverse projections 16 for engagement with the sides of the rectangular gap 7, being fixed in the operative position, as shown in the figures.