Playground surface enhancement

Abstract

If an existing playground surface is unsatisfactory (for example, has a damaged surface or is too hard), the invention provides a remediation method including repair of any localised damage, then covering the surface with previously manufactured resilient modular mats, then adhering the mats side by side so that a continuous surface is formed. Preferred mats include internal voids that improve their impact properties. An extrusion enclosing the perimeter is fastened to a substrate and receives the outer edge of the array of mats within an inwardly directed groove. The grooves serve to hold the edges of the mats down against the ground, and allow for some shrinkage or expansion. The impact performance is thereby made acceptable and can be tested according to a relevant standard method.

1 . A remediated playground for children based on an original playground surface having an inadequate capability for absorbtion of impact energy, hence presenting a risk of injury to users; the playground comprising the original playground surface remediated by addition of an overlying surface comprised of a plurality of modular, manufactured tiles made from a resilient composition selected from the range of natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a plastics material; the plastics material including polyvinyl chloride; each tile having when in use an upper surface, a lower surface, and outer edges and the plurality of tiles collectively having a perimeter, the remediated playground surface having acceptable characteristics in terms of absorbtion of impact energy when tested by an appropriate test method. 
   
   
       2 . A tile for a remediated playground as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient nature of each tile owing to its composition is enhanced by inclusion of a plurality of supported voids beneath the upper surface so that upon impact the upper surface is capable of being temporarily deformed into at least one void; the or each tile having predictable characteristics in relation to absorbtion of impact energy applied to the upper surface. 
   
   
       3 . A plurality of mutually adherent modular tiles for a remediated playground as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the or each tile is secured about the outer edges to adjacent tiles by a process involving welding the tile edges together with heat. 
   
   
       4 . A perimeter enclosure for a plurality of mutually adherent modular tiles for a remediated playground as claimed in  claim 1 ; the perimeter enclosure comprising an elongate beam comprised of an upper strip and a parallel lower strip side by side, and a third connecting strip opposite an open side thereby forming a rectangular groove along the beam; the perimeter enclosure being capable of being fastened to a substrate, the groove being capable when in use of closely encompassing an exposed edge of a modular tile and then restraining the encompassed tile, so that the tiles around the edge of the remediated playground cannot inadvertently be lifted above the height of the shared upper surface. 
   
   
       5 . A perimeter enclosure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the groove has sufficient depth to accommodate expansion and contraction in a horizontal plane of the array of tiles, when in use. 
   
   
       6 . A perimeter enclosure as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the lower strip extends further towards the groove from the base than does the upper strip, so that, when in use, the lower strip may more conveniently be fastened to a substrate. 
   
   
       7 . A perimeter enclosure as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the upper strip extends further from the base in a direction opposite the groove than the lower strip, so that, when in use, the extended upper strip protects the corner between the upper strip and the joining strip from damage. 
   
   
       8 . A method for providing a remediated playground as claimed in  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of (a) repairing the original surface so that the surface is flat and has consistent properties in terms of impact attenuation; (b) laying an array of prefabricated modular mats on the topmost surface; (c) adhering the mats together by their edges, and (d) affixing the array of mats to the perimeter of the playground surface by means of the perimeter enclosure. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the method includes the additional step of placing a resilient material over the entire original surface so as to provide a flat surface having consistent properties in terms of impact attenuation. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the method includes the step of assessing the impact attenuative properties of the remediated surface when tested by an appropriate test method, before the remediated playground is accepted as safe for use by children.