Playground slide

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9427670-B2
Application number	US-201414565196-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2013
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

In one example, a playground slide includes first and second side rails each having respective first complementary structures. As well, a slide bed is provided that includes second complementary structures configured to releasably engage the respective first complementary structures of the first and second side rails. The slide bed and side rails are configured to releasably lock together with nothing more than the first and second complementary structures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A playground slide, comprising:
first and second side rails each including respective first complementary structures; and
a slide bed including second complementary structures configured to releasably engage the respective first complementary structures of the first and second side rails, wherein the first and second complementary structures collectively define a locking mechanism operable to releasably lock the side rails and slide bed together, and wherein the first complementary structures of the side rails comprise tabs, and the second complementary structures of the slide bed comprise slots, each of which is configured to receive a corresponding tab.

2. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , wherein the side rails are configured such that when the slide bed is connected to the side rails, the slide bed is suspended below the side rails.

3. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slide bed is substantially flexible in a longitudinal direction, and substantially rigid in a transverse direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

4. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , wherein the side rails are configured such that when the slide bed is attached to the side rails, the slide bed implements a wave configuration.

5. A playground set, comprising:
the playground slide as recited in claim 1 ; and
any one or more of a ladder, elevated platform, railing, swing or ramp.

6. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a support element configured to connect one side rail to the other side rail.

7. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slide bed and side rails are configured to releasably lock together with nothing more than the first and second complementary structures.

8. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , wherein one or more of the side rails and slide bed are in the form of respective unitary single piece structures, and one of the unitary single piece structures includes a hollow portion.

9. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , wherein a lower end of each side rail defines a groove configured to receive part of an edge of the slide bed, and wherein each groove is substantially shorter than an overall length of the side rail in which that groove is defined.

10. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , wherein the side rails and slide bed fit together to define a packaging configuration in which the slide bed and side rails lie flat, the side rails arranged so that a first edge of one side rail faces a first edge of the other side rail, and the slide bed is positioned between respective second edges of the side rails and resides partly on the side rails.

11. The playground slide as recited in claim 10 , wherein the packaging configuration defines a volume that is as small as about 86 inches long, about 29 inches wide, and about 2 inches deep.

12. The playground slide as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slide bed includes a hook configured to engage a tab positioned inside an interlock pocket of one of the side rails.

13. A playground slide, comprising:
first and second side rails each including respective first complementary structures; and
a slide bed including second complementary structures configured to releasably engage the respective first complementary structures of the first and second side rails, where a length of the slide bed is greater than a width of the slide bed, and a lengthwise cross-section of the slide bed has a different shape than a widthwise cross-section of the slide bed, and wherein when the slide bed is not engaged with the side rails, the slide bed is substantially more flexible in a lengthwise direction than in a widthwise direction that is generally perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.

14. A playground set, comprising:
the playground slide as recited in claim 13 ; and
any one or more of a ladder, elevated platform, railing, swing or ramp.

15. The playground slide as recited in claim 13 , wherein one or more of the side rails and slide bed is in the form of respective unitary single piece structures.

16. The playground slide as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a support element configured to be positioned beneath the slide bed and releasably connected to each of the side rails.

17. A playground slide, comprising:
first and second side rails each including respective first complementary structures; and
a slide bed including second complementary structures configured to releasably engage the respective first complementary structures of the first and second side rails, and the slide bed and side rails are configured to releasably lock together, wherein an upper surface of the slide bed is substantially flat, and wherein the slide bed includes a plurality of hollow ribs extending in a transverse direction, and a gap between two successive hollow ribs has a width that is substantially less than a width of one of the ribs.

18. The playground slide as recited in claim 17 , wherein the gap is defined by a tack-off that is disposed between the two successive hollow ribs.

19. The playground slide as recited in claim 17 , wherein the slide bed comprises a unitary single piece construction that is at least partly hollow.

20. A playground set, comprising:
the playground slide as recited in claim 17 ; and
any one or more of a ladder, elevated platform, railing, swing or ramp.

21. The playground slide as recited in claim 17 , wherein the side rails and slide bed fit together to define a packaging configuration in which the slide bed and side rails lie flat, the side rails arranged so that a first edge of one side rail faces a first edge of the other side rail, and the slide bed is positioned between respective second edges of the side rails and resides partly on the side rails.

22. The playground slide as recited in claim 17 , further comprising a support element configured to be positioned beneath the slide bed and connected to each of the side rails.

23. A playground slide, comprising:
first and second side rails each including respective first complementary structures;
a slide bed including second complementary structures configured to releasably engage the respective first complementary structures of the first and second side rails, and the slide bed and side rails are configured to releasably lock together with nothing more than the first and second complementary structures;
a support element configured to be positioned beneath the slide bed and releasably connected to each of the side rails; and
a brace configured to be positioned proximate respective lower ends of the side rails, and the brace connectible to the side rails.

24. The playground slide as recited in claim 23 , wherein the slide bed includes a plurality of hollow ribs extending in a transverse direction, and the slide bed including a tack-off that is located between successive ribs, the tack-off extending in the transverse direction.

25. The playground slide as recited in claim 23 , wherein the first complementary structures of the side rails comprise tabs, and the second complementary structures of the slide bed comprise slots, each of which is configured to receive a corresponding tab.

26. The playground slide as recited in claim 23 , wherein the side rails each include a pad eye that is configured to receive a portion of the support element, and each pad

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Vandyke Lynn
• Kearl Jacob

Classifications

• A63G31/00

  Amusement arrangements · CPC title

• A63G21/04 Primary

  with fixed rails · CPC title