Playground equipment
AssigneeLifetime Products, Inc.
InventorsDon Spencer, Jacob Kearl, Carl R. Stanford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support member for playground equipment may include a first section with a flared end and a second section with a tapered end. An opening may be disposed in the flared end of the first section and an elongated slot may be disposed in the tapered end of the second section. When the tapered and flared ends are initially connected, the openings may be aligned and a fastener may be inserted into the aligned openings. When the tapered and flared ends are forced together and overlap a greater amount, which may create a more secure connection, the fastener may help keep in the first and second sections in alignment and may help prevent unintended rotational movement of the first and second sections.
Claims22
A support member for playground equipment, the support member comprising:
- a first section including a flared end;
- an opening in the flared end of the first section;
- a second section including a tapered end, the tapered end being sized and configured to be inserted into the flared end of the first section;
- an elongated slot in the tapered end of the second section;
- a first fastener configured to be disposed in the opening in the flared end of the first section and disposed towards a first end of the slot in the tapered end of the second section when the flared end and the tapered end overlap a first amount, the first fastener being configured to be disposed towards a second end of the slot when the flared end and the tapered end overlap a second amount, the first fastener being sized and configured to facilitate connection of the first section and the second section of the support member:
- and
- an attachment assembly that is sized and configured to facilitate attachment of a component to the support member, the attachment assembly comprising:
- a first bracket attached at least proximate the flared end of the first section;
- a second bracket attached at least proximate the tapered end of the second section;
- and
- a second fastener configured to connect the first bracket and the second bracket.
A method of connecting a first section and a second section of a support member for playground equipment, the method comprising:
- connecting a flared end of the first section with a tapered end of a second section a first amount, the first section including a first flange located proximate the flared end, and the second section including a second flange located proximate the tapered end;
- aligning an opening in the flared end of the first section with an opening in the tapered end of the second section;
- inserting a first fastener into the aligned openings in the flared end of the first section and the tapered end of the second section;
- and
- connecting the flared end of the first section with the tapered end of the second section a second amount;
- connecting the first flange and the second flange by a second fastener;
- wherein the first fastener helps maintain the first section and the second section in the desired position and helps prevent unintended rotational movement of the first section and the second section when the first section and the second section are connected the second amount;
- and
- wherein the second fastener provides an attachment point that is sized and configured to allow a component to be attached to the support member.
A method of connecting a first section and a second section of a support member for playground equipment and providing an attachment point for a component to be attached to the support member, the method comprising:
- connecting a flared end of the first section with a tapered end of a second section a first amount;
- connecting a first flange attached to the first section with a second flange attached to the second section with a fastener by performing the following;
- inserting the fastener through an opening in the second flange;
- inserting the fastener through an opening in a connector that is sized and
- configured to allow the component to be connected to the support member;
- and
- inserting the fastener through an opening in the first flange;
- securing the fastener in place;
- and
- connecting the component to the support member by the fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.