Abstract
The invention relates to play equipment, in particular for inferior spaces and small children, comprising at least one portable play equipment, having a thin, stable core element whichviewed from the sideis arched and, in the direction of the arch, is flat and flexibly ductile at least in sections, and an at least one-piece protective sheath made from a material which is soft and flexible at least in sections, preferably from foam, which is fastened in contact at least to the arched outer surface, preferably to the arched outer surface and the arched inner surface of the core element and protrudes beyond the edges of the arched core element extending in the direction of the arch and beyond the two ends thereof, and forms a flexible protection buffer, which can be pressed in, against risk of injury, and/or an interior space protective buffer, the end sections of which each form at least one flexible clamping and/or protection lip of the play element in the direction of the arch.
Claims
1. An arrangement comprising: a first balancing element and a second balancing element, each balancing element comprising an arched structure comprising: a core element which is arched, the core element comprising two end surfaces, an arched inner surface and an arched outer surface and two side surfaces, wherein the two end surfaces of the core element are inwardly directed to each other, and a protective sheath comprising a material which is soft and flexible, wherein the core element is embedded in the sheath so that the sheath protrudes beyond both side surfaces of the arched core element along the arch, wherein the sheath protrudes beyond the two end surfaces of the core element, wherein the sheath protrudes beyond the arched inner surface of the core element as well as the arched outer surface of the core element, and wherein an arched outer surface of the sheath, an arched inner surface of the sheath, the arched outer surface of the core element and the arched inner surface of the core element are slanted, wherein two opposite first and second buffers are formed along the arch of the first balancing element and two opposite third and fourth buffers are formed along the arch of the second balancing element, wherein an outer surface of the second buffer of the first balancing element is clamped with an inner surface of the third buffer of the second balancing element, wherein the second balancing element is stacked on top of the first balancing element, and wherein the first and second buffers are point symmetrical and not mirror symmetric and the third and fourth buffers are point symmetrical and not mirror symmetric.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arched outer surface of the sheath, the arched inner surface of the sheath, the arched outer surface of the core element and the arched inner surface of the core element are arranged parallel to one another.
3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sheath of each balancing element protrudes beyond the side surfaces of the core element in a rounded manner in order to form the buffers.
4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arched core element of each balancing element is partially hollow.
5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the protective sheath of each balancing element is made out of a washable material, or the protective sheath is made out of an integral foam.
6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a radius of the arched shape of the core element of each balancing element ranges from 40 to 120 centimeters.
7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the two opposite buffers of each balancing element has a width ranging from 5 cm to 9 cm.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Shown therein are:
(2) FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D are respective elevation views of a first to fourth embodiment of the play equipment according to the invention in the form of a portable, arched play element,
(3) FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a play tunnel unit formed out of two arched play elements of the second embodiment,
(4) FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are respective views of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the arch of a fifth to seventh embodiment of the arched play element,
(5) FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C are respective views of a section of an eighth to tenth embodiment of the play equipment according to the invention in the form of an arched play element, guided in the direction of the arch,
(6) FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are respective views of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the arch of a thirteenth and fourteenth embodiment of the arched play element,
(7) FIG. 6A is a view of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the arch of two identical arched play elements stacked one on top of the other with mirror-inverted, asymmetrical clamping and/or protection lips at the two ends of each play element, wherein the outer surface and inner surface of the arched core element along with the outer surface and inner surface of the protective sheath fastened in contact with the protective sheath are identically partially cylindrical in design,
(8) FIG. 6B is a view of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the arch of two arched play elements stacked one on top of the other in a seventh embodiment,
(9) FIG. 7 is a perspective viewas seen at an inclination from aboveof a play tower under construction with already four identical, arched play elements stacked one on top of the other, and a corresponding arched play element located in position above, whose core element has a respective uniformly conical configuration,
(10) FIG. 8 is a perspective viewas seen at an inclination from aboveof a play tower comprised of four identical arched play elements stacked one on top of the other, whose core element has a respective conical formation that rises toward its ends in the stacking direction,
(11) FIG. 9 is a view of a cross section through two play elements stacked one on top of the other of a fifteenth embodiment, in which a two-piece protective sheath is fastened in contact with the outer surface and inner surface,
(12) FIG. 10 is a side view of a schematic illustration of the arched play element as a ball-catching element, and
(13) FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C are top views of schematically illustrated open play configurations, which each are to be comprised of a plurality of arched play elements.
EMBODIMENTS
(14) FIG. 1A shows an elevation view of a first embodiment of the play equipment according to the invention in the form of a portable, arched play element 1, which has an arched core element 2 that is flat over its entire arched shape, has the same comparatively slight thickness and is elastic. The play element 1 further has a one-piece protective sheath 3 made out of a material which is soft and flexible, preferably out of foam, which is fastened in contact with the arched outer surface and arched inner surface of the core element. The one-piece protective sheath 3 protrudes beyond the edges of the arched outer surface or the arched inner surface of the core element 2 that extend in the direction of the arch and beyond the two ends 4 thereof, and forms a telescoping, flexible protective buffer against the risk of injury and/or an interior space preserving buffer, the end sections of which each form at least one flexible clamping and/or protection lip 5 of the play element 1 in the direction of the arch.
(15) FIG. 1B shows an elevation view of a second embodiment of the arched play element 1, in which the ends 4 of the arched core element 2 along with the clamping and/or protection lips 5 are inwardly directed at the two ends of the play element 1 relative to the arched extension of the latter.
(16) FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D show an elevation view of a third and fourth embodiment of the play element 1, wherein the arched shape of the play element 1 has a relatively flatly convex design in its third embodiment according to FIG. 1C or in its fourth embodiment according to FIG. 1D. As further evident from FIG. 1D, the two ends 4 of the core element 2 along with the clamping and protection lip 5 in the fourth embodiment are bent slightly upward at each end of the arched play element 1 relative to its arched extension.
(17) As evident from FIG. 2, which shows an elevation view of a play tunnel unit comprised of two arched play elements 1 of the second embodiment, two such play elements 1 can be comfortably assembled in a mirror-inverted arrangement to the play tunnel unit by moving the flexible and elastic clamping and/or protection lips 5 slightly outward at the respective ends of the lower play element 1, and then telescoping the two play elements 1 into each other in a mirror-inverted manner, whereupon the latter spring back against the arched outer surface of the upper play element 1 when the clamping and/or protection lips 5 are released, so as to abut against and join the play tunnel unit.
(18) Additional embodiments of the play equipment according to the invention in the form of an arched play element 1 are indicated on FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C, which each show a view of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the arch of the corresponding play element 1.
(19) FIG. 3A shows a fifth embodiment of the arched play element 1, in which the arched inner surface and arched outer surface of the core element 2 along with the outer surface of the protective sheath 3, which in this embodiment does not cover the arched inner surface of the core element 2, are each uniformly conical in design.
(20) FIG. 3B shows a sixth embodiment of the arched play element 1, whose ends are rounded and form the respective clamping and/or protection lip 5, in addition to which the arched inner surface and arched outer surface of the core element 2 are cylindrical, and the outer surface and inner surface of the protective sheath 3 have a correlating, uniformly conical design.
(21) FIG. 3C shows a seventh embodiment of the arched play element 1, whose ends are here each mirror-inverted asymmetrically to each other to form the respective clamping and/or protection lip 5, in addition to which the arched inner surface and arched outer surface of the core element 2 along with the outer surface and inner surface of the protective sheath 3 have a correlating, uniformly conical design.
(22) FIG. 4A shows a view of a section of an eighth embodiment of the arched play element 1 guided in the direction of the arch, wherein the arched core element 2 is comprised of two identical, ribbed thin shells 6 sandwiched together. The predominantly larger portion of the ribbing is here aligned in the direction of the arch, while the smaller portion of the ribbing is aligned transverse to the latter.
(23) FIG. 4B shows a section of a ninth embodiment of the arched play element 1 corresponding to the one on FIG. 4A, whose outer contours correspond to those of the eighth embodiment, but the arched core element 2 has snakelike ribbing in the direction of the arch.
(24) FIG. 4C shows a section of a tenth embodiment of the arched play element 1 corresponding to the one on FIG. 4A, but the arched core element 2 is designed like an undivided hollow container.
(25) Further presented on FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are views of a respective cross section perpendicular to the direction of the arch of an eleventh and twelfth embodiment of the arched play element 1, in which the respective flat core element 2 is also slightly bent in design perpendicular to the direction of the arch. In addition, the ends of the protective sheath 3 running in the direction of the arch are each mirror-inverted and symmetrically rounded in the eleventh and twelfth embodiments.
(26) Presented on FIG. 6A is a view of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the arch of two identical arched play elements 1 stacked one on top of the other with respectively mirror-inverted, asymmetrical clamping and/or protection lips 5 at the two ends of each play element 1, wherein the outer surface and inner surface of the arched core element 2 along with the outer surface and inner surface of the protective sheath 3 fastened in contact with the core element 2 are identically partially cylindrical in design.
(27) FIG. 6B shows a view of a cross section corresponding to the one on FIG. 6A of two arched play elements 1 stacked one on top of the other of the seventh embodiment depicted on FIG. 3C, wherein the outer surface and inner surface of the arched core element 2 along with the outer surface and inner surface of the protective sheath 3 fastened in contact with the latter are uniformly conical in design at a cone angle of 2? to the vertical.
(28) FIG. 7 is a perspective viewas seen at an inclination from aboveof a play tower 7 under construction already with three identical, arched play elements 1 stacked one on top of the other and a corresponding fourth arched play element 1 located in position above, whose core elements 2 (not visible on FIG. 7) each have a respective uniformly conical configuration. Due to the uniform conical configuration of the core elements 2 of the play elements 1, a generally speaking partially cylindrical play structure in the form of the play tower is obtained by uniformly telescoping the arched play elements 1 while stacking them. As evident from FIG. 7, a centrally constant arch progression of the inner surface and outer surface is here provided for the arched play elements 1 stacked together in the as yet incomplete play tower 7.
(29) FIG. 8 is a perspective viewas seen at an inclination from aboveof a play tower 8 comprised of four identical, arched play elements 1 stacked one on top of the other, whose core elements 2 (not depicted on FIG. 8) have a respective conical formation that rises in the stacking direction toward their ends 4, so that uniformly telescoping the play elements 1 while stacking them yields the play tower 7 as an organically curved play structure. For example, when stacking five arched play elements 1, the stability of the play tower 8 is increased by shifting the center of gravity.
(30) FIG. 9 is a view of a cross section through two play elements of a thirteenth embodiment stacked one on top of the other, in which the protective sheath 3 consists of two pieces, such that a first protective sheath part 3a is fastened in contact with the outer surface, and a second protective sheath part 3b with the inner surface of the core element 2. The first protective sheath part 3a and second protective sheath part 3b each project for the same distance s over thevisible on FIG. 9upper edge and lower edge of the core element 2, thereby yielding a respective groove 8, whose base is formed by the upper edge or lower edge of the core element 2, and whose width corresponds to the thickness of the core element 2. The section of the length s of the outer first protective sheath part 3a as well as of the inner second protective sheath part 3b that protrudes over the respective upper edge and lower edge of the core element 2 forms quasi support and protection lips 9 each lying on the outside and inside, and extend over the respective arch length of the play element 1. As shown on FIG. 9, when stacking two play elements 1 in this embodiment, the upper exterior support and protection lip 10 of the outer first protective sheath part 3a of the lower play element 1 in the stacking direction engages into the lower groove 9 of the upper play element 1 in the stacking direction, and comes to engage the lower edge of the corresponding core element 2, while the lower interior support and protection lip 9 of the inner second protective sheath part 3b of the upper play element in the stacking direction simultaneously engages into the upper groove 8 of the lower play element in the stacking direction, and comes to engage with the upper edge of the corresponding core element 2. This ensures a very stable and safe structure of a stable play tower 7, in particular as the play elements 1 alternatingly shift inward and outward.
(31) FIG. 10 shows a schematic side view of the play equipment according to the invention in the form of the arched play element 1, which functions as a catching element for a ball 10.
(32) Finally, FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C present a top view of various possible layouts for play configurations to be variably comprised of several play elements 1, [which] can be open and/or closed and/or positioned into a play course.
REFERENCE LIST
(33) 1 Play element 2 Core element 3 Protective sheath 3a Outer protective sheath part 3b Inner protective sheath part 4 Ends of core element 5 Clamping and/or protection lips 6 Ribbed thin shells of core element 7 Play tower 8 Groove 9 Support and/or protection lips 10 Ball
