Playground Equipment

Abstract

First and second frame supports ( 12, 13 ) with each including a frame support body ( 21 a, 13 a ) and a frame support base ( 12 b, 13 b ). The frame support bodies are substantially A-frames and the frame support bases are substantially C-shaped cylindrical rods connecting to the ends of a respective one of the A-frame frame support bodies ( 12 a, 13 a ) to form outwardly extending frame support bases. The cross beam ( 15 ) sized or extended by addition of extension beam ( 16 ) to protrude beyond the connection points ( 17 ) and to substantially overly the extension of the frame support base ( 12 b , or 13 b ). This allows a further swing or climbing means or the like to be connected therebetween. Alterable suspension means ( 51 ) includes a cleat plate ( 53 ) with a plurality of holes ( 54 ) to allow the rope ( 52 ) or other elongated flexible cord to be woven through the plurality of the cleat holes ( 54 ) to provide a frictional hold of the rope or other elongated flexible cord.

1 : Playground equipment comprising
 a frame structure having first and second frame supports arranged in opposing manner and connected at respective upper connecting points to a cross beam from which swing means of various types can be suspended;   each of the opposing first and second frame supports including a frame support body and a frame support base;   the respective frame support bodies extending substantially in a first plane in a diverging manner from a top connecting point to the cross beam;   the respective frame support bases extending substantially in a second plane from an outer side of, and at an angle to, the first plane of the diverging frame support bodies;   wherein the frame support bases respectively extend outwardly of the opposing first and second frame support bodies to provide a stable support of the playground equipment.   
   
   
       2 : Playground equipment according to  claim 1  wherein the frame support bases extend from a distal end of the first and second frame support bodies from the connecting point and at an angle to the frame support bodies such that in use a substantial portion of the frame support bases are ground engaging. 
   
   
       3 : Playground equipment according to  claim 2  wherein the frame support bodies are substantially A-frame and the frame support bases are opposing curved cylindrical rods extending from the bottom of each frame support base. 
   
   
       4 : Playground equipment according to  claim 3  wherein the frame support bases comprise a substantially C-shaped cylindrical rod connecting the ends of a respective one of the A-frame frame support bodies. 
   
   
       5 : Playground equipment according to  claim 1  wherein the frame support bases extend outwardly from the from the frame support bodies at a ratio of the extension frame support base to the height of the frame support body of at least 1:5. 
   
   
       6 : Playground equipment according to  claim 1  wherein the cross beam is sized to extend beyond the connection points to the first or second frame supports to provide a cantilevered suspension arm and to substantially overly the extension of the frame support base and allow a further swing or climbing means or the like to be connected therebetween. 
   
   
       7 : Playground equipment according to  claim 1  including one or more alterable suspension means for use in supporting swing elements or climbing means or the like of playground equipment;
 the alterable suspension means including a rope or other elongated flexible cord and a cleat having a plate with a plurality of holes to allow the rope or other elongated flexible cord to be woven through a plurality of said cleat holes to provide a frictional hold of said rope or other elongated flexible cord;   and the alterable suspension means further including a closable casing for enclosing the cleat holes;   wherein the alterable suspension means is able to receive said rope or other elongated flexible cord and allow a selective supporting suspended length and the alterable suspension means is encased.   
   
   
       8 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  wherein the cleat is encased by two mating substantially hemispherical type bodies of circular, elliptical or other curved shape and is fixed together by detachable fixing means such as screw means or child proof locking catch. 
   
   
       9 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  having a rope or other elongated flexible cord and two alterable suspension means wherein the first allows adjustable length of suspension along rope or other elongated flexible cord suspended from the cross beam and the second is used as a rope or other elongated flexible cord ending means such that a loose end after fitting around a piece of swing elements or climbing means can be connected back to the suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord to attach the swing elements or climbing means to the suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord. 
   
   
       10 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  having a rope or other elongated flexible cord and an alterable suspension means, and the attachable swing elements or climbing means having an attachment engagement body portion which is shaped complementary to at least a top portion of the alterable suspension to the suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord wherein the attachment engagement body portion is used to rest and support the swing elements or climbing means on the alterable suspension means to the suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord. 
   
   
       11 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  wherein the attachment engagement body portion of the swing elements or climbing means includes a cup shape with a vertical cutaway extending from a side to a top portion to allow the suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord to be received in the vertical cutaway and allow mounting of the swing or climbing means while the alterable suspension means is attached to the suspended rope or other elongated flexible cord. 
   
   
       12 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  including an alterable swing chair comprising a substantially planar swing seat that is suspended by ropes or other elongated flexible cords from the cross beam; the alterable swing chair further including a swing chair waist means having an encircling structure that can be positioned between the spaced ropes or other elongated flexible cords at a position spaced above the swing seat; and the alterable swing chair further including a cage attachment means extending between the swing seat and the swing chair waist means for forming a cage like structure preventing child under the age of 3 sliding off the swing seat. 
   
   
       13 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  wherein the swing chair waist means and rear of the cage attachment means further includes a supporting rear surface for providing at least a partial back support for the child under the age of 3. 
   
   
       14 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  wherein the swing chair waist means includes opposing rope receptacles for receiving the ropes or other elongated flexible cords or attachments on the ropes at opposite sides of the swing seat to assist retention of the swing chair waist means in position. 
   
   
       15 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  wherein the swing chair waist means includes cage connection means at front and back and spaced from the opposing rope receptacles to further assist retention of the swing chair waist means in position. 
   
   
       16 : Playground equipment according to  claim 15  wherein the cage connection means includes a central front narrow element extending between the swing seat and the swing chair waist means allowing the user of the swing chair to have legs astride either side to provide a caged arrangement preventing the child under the age of 3 sliding off the front of the swing chair. 
   
   
       17 : Playground equipment according to  claim 7  wherein the central front narrow element connects to the swing chair waist means by the front cage connection means. 
   
   
       18 : An alterable swing chair which can be used for playground equipment comprising a swing seat, a swing chair waist means, and an interconnecting cage attachment means wherein the swing seat is able to be suspended by ropes or other elongated flexible cords from the playground equipment;
 the swing seat being substantially planar and having two spaced bores at either side and parallel grooves extending across the underside of the seat between respective side bores such that ropes or other elongated flexible cords by which the swing seat is suspended extends through the side bores and fits within the parallel grooves and connects back to the suspended rope for connection such as by alterable suspension means having encased cleat means;   the swing chair waist means having an encircling structure with a double wall structure which is substantially closed at the top and substantially open at the bottom, and including opposing rope receptacles including shaped side body cavities with slits in the outer of the double wall structure to receive the ropes or other elongated flexible cords for allowing mounting of the rope receptacles on the encased cleat means which allows positioning of the swing chair waist means between the spaced ropes or other elongated flexible cords at a position spaced above the swing seat;   and the cage attachment means including a U shape for extending around the swing seat and between the swing seat and the swing chair waist means for forming a cage like structure substantially preventing child under the age of 3 sliding off the swing seat,   the cage attachment further having engagement means for engaging the swing seat and having cage connection means for mating with cage connection means on the front and rear of the swing chair waist means.   
   
   
       19 : A method of converting a swing seat suitable for children over 3 years of age to a swing chair suitable for children under 3 years of age the method including the steps of: positioning a substantially rigid swing chair waist means forming a encircling means between opposing ropes, which are suspending a swing seat, by means of providing side rope receptacles on the swing chair waist means able to receive the rope and engage the rope or attachments; connecting a U-shaped cage able to be positioned around the swing seat and connecting to connection means at front and rear of the rigid encircling swing chair waist means to form a cage like swing chair. 
   
   
       20 : A kit for converting a swing seat suitable for children over 3 years of age to a swing chair suitable for children under 3 years of age the kit including: a swing chair waist means having encircling means and side rope connectors able to engage or receive the rope suspending a swing seat and capture the rope or an attachment on the rope; and a U-shaped cage able to be positioned around the swing seat and connect to connection means at front and rear of the rigid encircling swing chair waist means to form a cage like swing chair. 
   
   
       21 : A suspended see-saw which for use on playground equipment, the suspended see-saw includes a pivot rod able to be fixedly mounted to a cross member of playground equipment and a plurality of opposing suspension bars supporting seat structures at a lower end and mounted at spaced positions at an upper end to the respective ends of each of two spaced see-saw arms which are centrally and pivotally mounted on the pivot rod at spaced positions, whereby the supported seat structures undertake a limited swing and see-saw action. 
   
   
       22 : A suspended see-saw according to  claim 21  wherein the limit of the swing and see-saw action is limited by the lengths of the see-saw arms and their relative spacing. 
   
   
       23 : A suspended see-saw according to  claim 21  wherein the two spaced see-saw arms are substantially parallel and equal length and pivotally mounted at central points to spaced positions on linear pivot rod with suspension bars joined at respective end points of the see-saw arms so as to form a shape between the see-saw arms and suspension bars extending therebetween moving from a rectangular to a trapezoidal shape, which results in opposing C-shape travel of the supported seat structures at the lower end of the suspension bars.