REINFORCED COVERING MATERIAL FOR BEARING MEMBERS OF PLAY STRUCTURES

Abstract

The present invention relates to siding/covering materials (20) which are made of composite materials to be covered over metal posts (10) or horizontal bearing members (50) with angular or circular cross-section and which comprise reinforcing cells (25). Said composite material is composed of materials such as wood, plastics or a derivative thereof, pressed wood and paper, pressed plastics etc.

Claims

1. A play structure bearing members (40) comprising; a metal post (10) and/or a horizontal bearing member (50) having angular or circular cross-section, and at least two siding/covering materials (20) made of a composite material and covered over said metal post 5 (10) and/or over said horizontal bearing member (50).

2. The play structure bearing members (40) according to claim 1, wherein said composite material is made of wood, plastics or a derivative thereof, or pressed wood and paper, or pressed plastics.

3. The play structure bearing members (40) according to claim 1, wherein the siding/covering material (20) covered over said metal post (10) and/or said horizontal bearing member (50) comprises conductivity-reducing, impact-damping and reinforcing cells (25).

4. The play structure bearing members (40) according to claim 1, wherein the siding/covering material (20) covered over said metal post (10) and/or horizontal bearing 15 member (50) comprises an uncovered metal part (12) which avoids contact with soil or floor covering and thus prevents negative factors such as mould growth, decay.

5. The play structure bearing members (40) according to claim 1, wherein said siding/covering material (20) comprises a connection channel (23) and a connection lock (24) which provides the fixation of the siding/covering material (20) to the metal post (10) by means 20 of a locking system.

6. The play structure bearing members (40) according to claim 1, wherein said siding/covering material (20) comprises a circular clamp (60) or an adapter used to assemble the siding/covering material (20) in a rigid manner.

7. A play structure bearing members (40) comprising; a metal post (10) and/or a horizontal bearing member (50) having angular or circular cross-section, at least two siding/covering materials (20) made of a composite material and covered over said metal post 5 (10) and/or over said horizontal bearing member (50), wherein said composite material is made of wood, plastics or a derivative thereof, or pressed wood and paper, or pressed plastics, the siding/covering material (20) covered over said metal post (10) and/or said horizontal bearing member (50) comprises conductivity-reducing, impact-damping and reinforcing cells (25) and wherein the siding/covering material (20) covered over said metal post (10) and/or horizontal bearing 15 member (50) comprises an uncovered metal part (12) which avoids contact with soil or floor covering and thus prevents negative factors such as mould growth, decay, and said siding/covering material (20) including a connection channel (23) and a connection lock (24) which provides the fixation of the siding/covering material (20) to the metal post (10) by means 20 of a locking system, wherein said siding/covering material (20) comprises a circular clamp (60) or an adapter used to assemble the siding/covering material (20) in a rigid manner.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a covering material and a metal piece according to the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view illustrating how a bearing joining piece is positioned according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a two dimensional top view of a siding/covering materials having different cell structure.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a two dimensional top view wherein two siding/covering materials having different cell structures are interlocked using a locking system.

[0029] FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating how a metal post with an angular cross-section is covered.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a view wherein a siding/covering material is partially worn over a circular metal post like a ring is worn.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective detail view of a circular clamp used as a support and retainer according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 8A is an exploded view of a circular clamp coupling-version for a siding/covering material and a metal post.

[0033] FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a circular clamp coupling-version of a sliding/covering material and a metal post.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a representative view of a play structure embodiment incorporating a horizontal bearing member and vertical posts.

TABLE-US-00001 10. Metal post 11. Outer metal surface 12. Uncovered metallic part 13. Connection channel of covering material 20. Siding/covering material 21. Inner surface 22. Outer surface 23. Connection channel 24. Connection lock 25. Cells 30. Bearing joining piece 31. Mechanical fit 40. Bearing members of a play structure 50. Horizontal bearing member 60. Circular clamp

[0035] The figures are not scaled to actual size and some details which are not required to understand the invention may be omitted. Additionally, the components which are substantially identical or which have functions which are substantially identical are indicated with the same reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENT

[0036] In the following detailed description, preferred embodiments of a bearing member (40) for play structures according to the present invention will be described illustratively only to make clear the present invention without any limiting effect.

[0037] Bearing members (40) of play structure is defined as all metal posts (10) and horizontal bearing members (50) with angular or circular cross-section, positioned in an angular or vertical/horizontal manner.

[0038] Play structure bearing members (40) composed of metal posts (10) and/or horizontal bearing members (50) having angular or circular cross-section are characterized by comprising at least two siding/covering materials (20) covered over said metal post (10) and made of a material (composite material) such as wood, plastics or a derivative thereof, pressed wood and paper, pressed plastics etc.

Structural Basis

[0039] The metal post (10) making up the play structure bearing members (40) is rather produced from a rustproof galvanized material to bear the play structure elements, to fix the structures to the ground and to function as leg. The metal post (10) has an outer metal surface (11) that is in contact with the covering material, whereas the part of the metal that remains in concrete when it is installed to the ground is designated as the uncovered metal part (12). FIG. 1 shows the uncovered metal part (12) in a clear manner. The outer side of the metal post (10) is provided with a siding/covering material (20), which covers the exterior of the post in any desired size and which is not influenced by water and outdoor conditions. Said siding/covering material (20) is produced from materials such as wood, plastics or a derivative thereof, pressed wood and paper, pressed plastics etc.

[0040] The siding/covering material (20) is composed of conductivity-reducing, impact-damping and reinforcing cells (25). It further comprises a connection channel (23) and a connection lock (24) forming a locking system, facilitating the assembly thereof around the metal post (10). FIG 3 is a two dimensional view of the siding/covering material (20) only. FIG. 4, in turn, is a two dimensional top view of mutually-assembled siding/covering materials (20).

[0041] It is the inner surface (21) of the siding/covering material (20) which contacts the outer metal surface (11) of the metal post (10). On the other hand, it is the outer surface (22) of the siding/covering material (20) that is visible on the outside of the play structure bearing member (40), that is contacted by men, is exposed to ambient conditions, and is lacquered/polished/sanded/smoothed.

[0042] A bearing joining piece (30) is provided for the connection between the metal post (10) and platform-like elements to be disposed on the play structure bearing members (40). The bearing joining piece (30) provides mechanical fit (31) for providing connection onto the metal post (10). FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view illustrating how a bearing joining piece (30) is positioned according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] A circular clamp (60) is provided, which is used to connect the metal post (10) to other elements by clamping the periphery of metal post (10) without deforming the latter. It is also possible to use an adapter piece in place of said circular clamp (60). FIG. 7 clearly shows the function of the circular clamp (60) in connecting a platform to the metal post (10). FIGS. 8A and 8B, in turn, show how the siding/covering material (20) covered over the metal post (10) is made more robust using the circular clamp (60).

Installation Basis

[0044] The siding/covering material (20) comprising at least two parts is applied over the metal post (10) wherein the parts are locked to each other. This operation is performed by means of the connection channel (23) and the connection lock (24) as described above. During the siding operation, the part of the metal post (10) to be introduced into the ground is left uncovered. This is the part called as the uncovered metal part (12), whereby the metal post (10) is fixed into the ground.

[0045] The method of siding/covering the siding/covering material made of at least one of wood, plastics or a derivative thereof, pressed wood and paper, pressed plastics, etc. over a metal post (10) or over a horizontal bearing member (50) is not implemented by means of a mutual form fit only, but also by wearing it over the circular or angular metal post (10) like a ring is worn. The target of both methods are the same, the only difference being in the installation. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the method of applying a covering material over an angular metal post (10). FIG. 6, in turn, is a perspective view of the covered form of a siding/covering material (20) covered like a ring over a circular metal post (10).

[0046] After the metal post (10) is covered, the bearing joining piece (30) is fixed to the covering connection channel (13) by means of mechanical fit (31). If another platform is to be connected to the metal post (10), it is fastened to the bearing joining piece (30).

[0047] A perspective view of a play structure formed using play structure bearing members (40), after the assembly of the siding/covering material (20) over metal posts (10) or over horizontal bearing member (50) is completed, is given in FIG. 9.