Tube slide having a telescoping base

Abstract

Disclosed is a tube slide having the following sections: an entrance, an exit, and one or more curved sections. Each slide section includes at least one radially extending flange on at least one end of the particular slide section. The one or more curved sections may include a first half and a second half coupled together by inserting a fastener through an opening in one of the halves and into a threaded borehole that is molded into the other half. Both halves include a plurality of openings and threaded boreholes that alternate along the length of the halves. A telescoping base is coupled to the exit of the slide. The telescoping base allows the slide to be used on a variety of uneven or varying height support or ground surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tube slide extending upwardly from a support surface to an upper elevation above the support surface, the tube slide comprising:
 an entrance positioned proximate the upper elevation, the entrance defining a partially enclosed space having a downward sloping support and a covering above the sloping support, the entrance having a first radially extending outer flange;   an exit positioned proximate the support surface, the exit defining a partially enclosed space having a sloping seat and a truncated covering above the sloping seat, the exit having a second radially extending outer flange;   one or more curved sections, each curved section extending between the entrance and the exit, each curved section having a seating surface and a covering above the seating surface, each curved section having a third radially extending outer flange at a first end and a fourth radially extending outer flange at a second end;   wherein the flanges of the entrance, exit, and one or more curved sections are coupled to each other in a predetermined configuration, and wherein a telescoping base is coupled to the exit to support the tube slide on the support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The tube slide of  claim 1 , wherein the telescoping base is selectively positionable in a first configuration and a second configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The tube slide of  claim 2 , wherein the first configuration has a height that is higher with respect to the support surface than the second configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The tube slide of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of clamp rings, each clamp ring comprising a curved outer circumference and a ribbed inner circumference for securing adjacent flanges to each other in the predetermined configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The tube slide of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more elbow sections, each elbow section having a downwardly sloping slide bed and a roof above the sloping slide bed, each elbow section having a fifth radially extending outer flange at a first end and a sixth radially extending outer flange at a second end.   
     
     
         6 . The tube slide of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more elbow sections are configured to be coupled to at least one of the entrance, the exit, and the one or more curved sections. 
     
     
         7 . The tube slide of  claim 1 , wherein each of the curved sections comprises a first half coupled to a second half, wherein when the first half and the second half each half comprises a plurality of apertures and a plurality of threaded boreholes. 
     
     
         8 . The tube slide of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of apertures and the plurality of threaded boreholes alternate with each other along a length of each half. 
     
     
         9 . The tube slide of  claim 7 , wherein the threaded boreholes are molded into a lateral side of each half of each curved section. 
     
     
         10 . The tube slide of  claim 7 , wherein the first half is coupled to the second half by inserting a threaded fastener through at least one of the one or more apertures and into at least one of the one or more threaded boreholes. 
     
     
         11 . The tube slide of  claim 1 , wherein the telescoping base comprises a first portion having an opening for at least partially telescopically receiving a second portion, wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of holes located at predetermined points for coupling the first portion to the second portion. 
     
     
         12 . A method of assembling a slide that extends upwardly from a support surface to an upper elevation above the support surface, the method comprising:
 (a) providing an entrance, the entrance defining a partially enclosed space having a downward sloping support and a covering above the sloping support, the entrance having a first radially extending outer flange;   (b) providing an exit, the exit defining a partially enclosed space having a sloping seat and a truncated covering above the sloping seat, the exit having a second radially extending outer flange;   (c) providing one or more curved sections, each curved section having a seating surface and a covering above the seating surface, each curved section having a third radially extending outer flange at a first end and fourth radially extending outer flange at a second end;   (d) providing a telescoping base, the telescoping base configured for supporting the slide on the support surface;   (e) providing instructions for assembling the entrance, the exit, and the one or more curved section into a predetermined configuration in which the sections are aligned flange-to-flange;   (f) pursuant to the instructions, positioning the sections in the aligned flange-to-flange configuration; and   (g) coupling the sections in the predetermined configuration and coupling the telescoping base to the exit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the telescoping base comprises a housing for telescopically receiving a support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the telescoping base housing is telescopically positionable in at least one of a first position and a second position with respect to the support structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein when in the first position, the housing is at a higher elevation with respect to the support surface than when in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the telescoping base housing and support structure each comprise a plurality of holes located at predetermined points for coupling the housing to the support structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each curved section comprises a first half and a second half, and wherein the first half and the second half of each curved slide section comprises a plurality of apertures and a plurality of threaded boreholes, wherein the method further comprises:
 (a) positioning the first half adjacent the second half first half;   (b) inserting a plurality of fasteners through the plurality of apertures; and   (c) securing the plurality of fasteners to the plurality of threaded boreholes.   
     
     
         18 . A kit of parts for a tube slide having a first configuration and a second configuration, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of slide sections, each slide section having a first end and second end, the slide sections configured for connecting to one another with the first end of a first slide section adjacent a second end of a second slide section, each slide section having a rounded outer circumference and a flange extending radially from the outer circumference, a first flange positioned at a first end of a first slide section for aligning with a second flange positioned at a second end of a second slide section;   a plurality of clamp rings, each clamp ring having a plurality of ribs for securing the first flange to the second flange, each clamp ring having a first segment and a second segment secured together with a fastener;   a telescoping base configured for supporting an end of the tube slide on a support surface in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration, the telescoping base having a first portion telescopically received within a second portion, the telescoping base having one or more apertures for receiving a fastener at one or more predetermined positions that correspond to the first configuration and the second configuration; and   instructions for connecting the slide sections to each other and to the telescoping base in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the first configuration raises the height of the exit with respect to the support surface higher than the second configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein each slide section comprises a first half and a second half, and wherein the first half and the second half of each slide section comprises a plurality of apertures and a plurality of threaded boreholes.