CLAMPING CONNECTION FOR A PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE

DISPOSITIF DE SERRAGE POUR STRUCTURE DE TERRAIN DE JEUX

English Abstract

Clamp connection for support structures, in particular for play purposes,
comprising a multiplicity of inter-connectable connector joints (1) and tubes
(3), which display undercut pegs (9) on the surfaces to be connected, whereby
said pegs (9) are connected in form-locking manner by couplings (2). These
couplings (2) consist of two hemispheric coupling halves (4) and (5) which
comprise grooves (10) corresponding to pegs (9). According to the invention,
the connector joints (1) may consist of two connector joint halves (11) and
(12) comprising grooves (10) which correspond to the pegs (9), so that the
connector joints (1) can be connected directly to each other in form-locking
manner by hemispheric connector elements (6).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif de serrage pour des structures de support, en particulier, pour des structures destinées à des jeux. Ce dispositif comprend une multitude de joints de raccord (1) et de tubes (3) interconnectables, présentant des chevilles (9) en surplomb sur les surfaces devant être connectées; ces chevilles (9) étant connectées par liaison de forme au moyen d'accouplement (2). Ces accouplements (2) consistent en deux moitiés de raccord hémisphériques (4) et (5) comprenant des rainures (10) qui correspondent aux chevilles (9). Selon le procédé décrit dans cette invention, les joints de raccord (1) peuvent consister en deux moitiés de joint de raccord (11) et (12) comprenant des rainures (10) qui correspondent aux chevilles (9), de telle sorte que les joints de raccord (1) puissent être connectés directement les uns aux autres par liaison de forme au moyen d'éléments de connexion hémisphériques (6).

Claims

5
Claims
1. Climbing structure, characterised in that the connector joints are not
directly inserted
in the connection tubes, but that the connection between the connector joints
1 and
the projecting pegs 9, and between the tube 3 and the projecting peg 9, is
effected in
form-locking manner by special couplings 2.
2. Climbing structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the coupling
2 consists
of the hemispheric coupling halves 4 and 5, which are connected to each other
by
connection screw 7 and nut 8.
3. Climbing structure according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the
two
hemispheric coupling halves 4 and 5 both comprise a circumferential groove 10
which encloses the pegs 9 of the connector joint 2 and of the tube 3 and
thereby
create a form-locking connection between the connector joint 1 and the tube 3,
if the
two coupling halves 4 and 5 of the coupling 2 are connected with each other by
the
screw 7 and nut 8.
4. Climbing structure, characterised in that the connector joints 1 are
connected by
hemispheric connector elements 6, which are screwed to each other by screws
and
nuts and thereby simultaneously enclose the pegs 9 of the connector joints 1
in form-
locking manner.
5. Climbing structure according to claims 1-4, characterised in that the
connector joint
1 consists of two connector joint halves 11 and 12, which comprise grooves 10,
into
which pegs 9 are inserted as required, and that the connector joint halves 11
and 12
are then connected with each other by a screw and corresponding nut, so that
the
pegs 9 are clamp-fastened in form-locking manner in connector joint 1.
6. Climbing structure for children according to claims 1-5, characterised in
that the
special peg 13 can be additionally fitted on the connector joint 1 by means of
a
longer special screw 14.

6
7. Climbing structure for children according to claims 4-6, characterised in
that the
special peg 13 can also be fitted on the connector element 6 by the special
screw 14.
8. Climbing structure according to claims 4-7, characterised in that the
interconnected
hemispheric connector elements 6 comprise a peg 9 on at least one front end,
which
is clamp-fastened in form-locking manner in the groove of the interconnected
connector joint halves 11 and 12.
9. Climbing structure according to claims 4-8, characterised in that a panel
(16) is tip-
stretched to a hemispheric connector element (15), whereby said panel is
screwed
together with the hemispheric connector element (6) and simultaneously
encloses
the pegs (9, 13) in form-locking manner.
10. Climbing structure according to claim 9, characterised in that two
connector
elements (15) of identical construction with a tip-stretched panel (16) can be
screwed together to form a double panel and simultaneously enclose the pegs
(9, 13)
in form-locking manner.
11. Climbing structure according to claims 1-5, characterised in that the pegs
9 are fitted
with a passage hole 17.
12. Climbing structure according to claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the
connector
joints 1, the coupling halves 4 and 5, the tubes 3, the connector elements
6,15,16 and
the pegs 9 and the special pegs 13 are partly made of plastic.

Description

CA 02390908 2002-05-08
WO 01/91859 PCT/IB00/01284
1
Clamping Connection for a Playground Structure
Specification
The invention concerns the components of a support structure for playing
purposes,
which are connected to each other by means of an easy to use clamp connector.
For
playing purposes, these parts are made of plastic, but the same parts may also
be made
of metal or any other material for support structures subject to greater
stress.
From the CH-P 613 741 and the DE-O 28 06 764 climbing structures for children
are
known which consist of connector joints comprising plug pegs, onto which
plastic tubes
are fitted. A variety of safety procedures is employed here to ensure that the
tubes do
not detach from the plug pegs.
It is a disadvantage of this construction that, due to manufacturing
tolerances, the
connection between the connector peg and the tube is not.flush and hence not
form-
locking, but rather loose. Climbing structures of this kind are therefore not
very stable
during play. Hence it is usually necessary to stabilise them by installing
additional
support wall members.
It is a further disadvantage of these systems that individual tubes can not be
removed
from a completed structure, because the projecting pegs of the connector
joints prevent
this. It is therefore necessary to disassemble considerable portions of a
completed
structure to perform alterations on the same.
The problem of the present invention is to provide a climbing structure of the
type
described above, which is already so stable during play due to the connection
technology connecting the parts, that no reinforcement by wall members .is
required and
that individual tubes can be removed from a completed climbing structure
without any
need to disassemble large parts of the climbing structure.
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The arrangement of the panels according to the invention converts the same
into bearing
parts of the climbing structure, or they may also be used as doors.
According to the invention, the problem is solved by fitting the connector
joints and the
front ends of the tubes with undercut round pegs which are connected to each
other by a
2-part coupling and which then form the form-locking connection between
connector
joint and tube.
The coupling consists of two hemispheric halves which are held together by
screws or
another connection technology.
When using a support structure according to the invention for fair stalls, it
is
advantageous for the pegs (9) which provide the force- and form-locking
connection
between the parts of the support structure to be fitted with a passage hole
(17), so that
mechanical rotary or push movements, electrical power or control commands can
be
passed on within the support structure.
The tubes can therefore be removed after disassembly of the couplings, or the
connector
members can be removed from the completed structure after being disassembled.
The
features described above and to be explained further below can naturally be
used not
only in the combination respectively specified, but also in other combinations
or on
their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The inventive idea is described in greater detail below by reference to
exemplary
embodiments shown in the drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a clamp connector between parts of a support
structure
according to the invention
Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a development of the clamp connection according to
the
invention, in which the tube is replaced by two hemispheric connector elements
which then themselves assume the function of the coupling , between two
connector joints.
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Fig. 3 shows a perspective plan or bottom view of a hemispheric disc (15) with
a panel
(16) tip-stretched thereto and a connector element (6) which can be screwed
together to form a bearing part of a climbing structure.
Fig. 4 shows the diametrical section through a climbing structure and the use
of the
parts crewed together according to Fig. 3 as a door,
Fig. 5 shows a perspective plan view of a double panel formed by screwing
together
two hemispherical discs (15, 15') with the tip-stretched panels (16, 16').
Fig. 6 shows a diametrical section through a climbing structure with a double
panel
according to Fig. S, whereby the improvement of bearing strength due to the
hemispherical discs (15, 15') is clearly recognisable.
Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a double peg (9) according to the invention,
comprising the
passage hole (17), through which mechanical rotary or push movements,
electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic energy and control commands can be passed
on
within the support structure.
A cross-section and a lateral view are also provided for better comprehension.
Fig. 8 shows the tube (3) of a support structure with pegs (9) and the passage
hole (17)
for passing on different forms of energy or control commands.
Fig. 1 shows the parts of a support structure consisting of the tube 3 with
pegs 9 and two
connector joints 1, which are connectable by couplings 2. The coupling 2
consists of the
two hemispheric coupling halves 4 and 5 and comprises circumferential grooves
10
which enclose the corresponding pegs 9 and hence create a form-locking
connection
between the connector joint 1 and the tube 3. The coupling halves 4 and 5 are
connected
to each other by the screw 7 and nut $.However, other effective connection
technologies
may also be used to connect the coupling halves 4 and 5 with each other.
Fig. 2 shows the parts of a support structure consisting of the hemispheric
connector
elements 6 with the circumferential grooves IO and two connector joints I with
pegs 9.
The connector joints consist of the connector joint halves 11 and 12 and also
comprise
circumferential grooves 10 which enclose the corresponding pegs 9. The
connector joint
halves I l and 12 of connector joint 1 can be connected by the screw 7 and nut
8. If the
longer special screw 14 is used to connect the connector joint halves 11 and
I2, the
special peg 13 can simultaneously be attached to provide a connection in the
third axis.
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Reference numerals
1. Connector joint
2. Coupling
3. Tube
4. Coupling half
5. Coupling half
6. Connector element
7. Screw
8. Nut
9. Peg
10. Groove
11. Connector joint half
12. Connector joint half
13. Special peg
14. Special screw .
15. Hemispheric disc of tip-stretched panel 16
16. Panel with tip-stretched hemispheric disc 15
17. Passage hole
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Representative Drawing