Connection/Structure
AssigneeLandscape Structures Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Berglund, Steve King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A climbing structure includes a first strut having an elongate portion, a first end portion and a transition portion between the elongate portion and the first end portion. The transition portion has a reduced thickness relative to the first end portion. A connection member has first and second connectable plates defining a first cavity. The first cavity is sized to receive and secure the first end portion therein.
Claims18
A modular entertainment-oriented climbing structure, comprising:
- a first strut having an elongate portion, a first end portion and a transition portion between the elongate portion and the first end portion, the transition portion having a reduced thickness relative to the first end portion;
- and
- a connection member having first and second connectable plates defining a first cavity, the first cavity being sized to receive and fixedly secure the first end portion therein;
- and
- a covering disposed about the elongate portion of the first strut, the covering being formed of an elastomeric material that is soft relative to the elongate portion of the strut.
A modular apparatus for use in forming a children's climbing structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a connection member having first and second connectable plates defining a first cavity and a second cavity separated by a reduced thickness portion, the first cavity being sized to receive and fixedly secure a first end portion of an elongate strut therein and the second cavity being sized to receive an elongate portion of the strut therein, the second cavity also being sized to engage a covering disposed about an elongate portion of the elongate strut, the covering being formed of a substantially continuous material that enables the cover to bend without separating in response to an application of force.
A climbing entertainment structure, comprising:
- a plurality of struts each having first and second enlarged ends and an elongate member there between, the elongate member including a cable surrounded by a cover that is soft relative to the cable;
- and
- a plurality of connection members each having a pair of plates defining a plurality of cavities, each cavity receiving and fixedly securing a first or second enlarged end of one of the plurality of struts such that at least some of the plurality of struts form rungs in the climbing structure, said cover having a tapered exterior surface that is engaged by a corresponding tapered interior surface formed in and defined by the pair of plates proximate each of the plurality of cavities.
A climbing structure, comprising:
- a first strut having an elongate portion, a covering disposed about the elongate portion, a first end portion and a transition portion between the elongate portion and the first end portion, the transition portion having a reduced thickness relative to the first end portion, wherein the covering is formed of a material which is soft relative to the elongate member;
- and
- a connection member having first and second connectable plates defining a first cavity, the first cavity being sized to receive and secure the first end portion therein, wherein the first and second connectable plates define a transition covering portion sized to receive and frictionally engage the covering proximate the transition portion, the covering having a tapered exterior proximate the transition portion, and wherein the transition covering portion has a tapered interior surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.