Child's play set with a lift system

A child's play set including a playhouse type structure attached to a swing set is provided with a lift system including a four sided horizontal frame sized to match the foot print of the playhouse where the playhouse has no floor allowing the size of the play structure to be increased to suit larger children with porch structures resting on frame extensions to abut and hold the base of the playhouse between them on the lift structure with frame structures to raise the swing support members to match a height suitable for the larger children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a climbing play set sometimes described as a 
"jungle gym" and specifically relates to a lift system to increase the 
size of a play set so that it is suitable for larger children. 
One of the most effective toy investments that is long lasting in terms of 
healthy play value is the outdoor swing set and jungle gym type 
structures. These structures take the form of a play house or simply a 
box-like structure which includes various devices to aid the child in 
climbing up toward or to the top of the box shape. The box-like shape may 
include windows, ladders and doorways and may include a roof or an upper 
floor which may be reached by various ladder rung type structures built 
into the walls of the box-like structure. Swing sets generally include an 
upper horizontal swing support member with a pair of "A" frames 
structurally supporting each end of the horizontal swing support member. 
The swings hang from this horizontal swing support member in between the 
two frames. 
The play systems described above can be constructed of durable materials 
and can last a long time. Unfortunately, children quickly grow out of play 
sets if they are constructed for the smallest of children. For example, a 
three year old, with all of his or her energy can easily spend hours of 
time on such play sets so long as the rungs and the climbing apparatus and 
the size of the structures are suited to the infant's size. However, when 
that infant grows in stature and is about six or seven years old or even 
older, the size of the play set suitable for the three year old is too 
small. For the older child, there is insufficient head room and there is 
little excitement climbing up on such a small structure. Further, the 
"windows" are suitable for a three year old, are now much too short for 
the taller child. Likewise, a swing that is suitable for a three or four 
year old holds little interest to a ten year old. It is not a satisfactory 
answer to the problem to design a swing set and climbing devices to suit 
the older children. Such a set will tend to otherwhelm the smaller 
children and they will be unable to achieve any significant play value 
from a "full-size" play set. It is well recognized that for smaller 
children, it is much more effective to "scale-down" the structure in order 
to allow them to fully participate in the use of the device. 
Unfortunately, the only ansewr, heretofore, was to discard the old small 
play set and purchase a new one of a suitable size, when the children grew 
up. 
None of the prior play sets or structures have satisfied these needs and 
none have attained the objects described herein below for the present 
invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a play set that is 
capable of expansion upwardly to grow with the child's size. 
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a play set 
that includes a box-like structure, generally in the form of a play house 
with a lift system which will allow increase of the height of the box-like 
structure to more suitable size for larger children. 
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a lift 
system to increase the height of a play set that includes a box-like 
structure and a swing set such that the combination of the play set and 
the lift system provides a new play set suitable for larger children. 
It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an attachment 
system which will safely and easily allow the attachment of a lift system 
to the prior play set. 
The present invention is a play set that includes a box-like structure, 
preferably in the form of a play house. This box-like structure includes 
four walls, each having a base wood member that can rest on the ground 
together forming a foot print shape of the base members on the ground. The 
term "foot print" is the shape of the bottom surface of the elements of 
the box-like structure resting on the ground. The term "wall" is not 
intended to be limiting as to the structure and includes not only solid 
walls, but the more common foraminous structures of the typical play sets 
which are constructed of frames which provide many see-through apertures. 
It is important that the box-like structure have no floor, although it 
should be understood that the terminology of "no floor" limit includes 
structures where a floor is not attached to the box-like structure and 
rests directly on the ground. It is preferred that the base frame 
structure of the box-like structure have no cross members attached across 
the opening of the frame sufficiently to interfere with movement of the 
playing child after the box-like structure has been raised using the 
present invention. The box-like structure preferably has no floor at all 
such that children entering the box-like structure will stand directly on 
the ground. The height of the play set and specifically the box-like 
structure or play house is chosen to be suitable for the smallest of 
children allowing them at a young age to climb on the structure and not be 
overwhelmed by the size of it and afraid of the heights capable of being 
scaled. A lift system includes four vertically positioned rectangular 
frame structures of a height chosen to raise the box-like structure a 
sufficient distance to provide total interior and exterior heights 
suitable for larger size children. Throughout the specification the term 
"vertical frame" is intended to mean "vertically positioned rectangular 
frame". An attachment device is provided to fix the four vehicle frame 
structures into a four-sided horizontal frame of a size to match the foot 
print of the base wood members of the box-like structure. It is preferred 
that there be no cross members spanning across between the vertical 
structures of the horizontal frame so as to not interfere with movement 
within the raised structure. The box-like structure is lifted upwardly and 
placed on the four sided horizontal frame such that the base wood members 
rest on the upper surface of that horizontal frame. Preferably, on two of 
the vertical frame structures, added lengths are included so that these 
added lengths extend outwardly from the four-sided horizontal frame at 
each end generally forming a horizontal shape of the Roman Numeral Two 
(II). The preferred lift system also includes two porch member structures 
which are constructed to allow a person to stand on each porch member. The 
preferred lift system further includes two porch attachment devices to 
structurally fix the porch members on top of the added lengths of the 
vertical frame members to abut and hold the base members of the box-like 
structure between the porch members. It is preferred that the porch member 
structures have a width longer than the added lengths of the vertical 
frame structures such that when the porch structures are affixed to the 
four sided horizontal frame structure, the porch structures extend 
outwardly past the ends of the added lengths. It is further preferred that 
an outside frame member be included on the porch structure along the 
length of the porch structure and depending downwardly outside of the ends 
of the added lengths of the two larger vertical frame members leaving a 
space between the outside frame member and the ends of the added lengths. 
In this fashion, fasteners, preferably lag bolts, extend through these 
depended outside frame members to engage the ends of the added lengths of 
the two larger vertical frame members exerting a constant pressure from 
the porch structures against the base wood members of the box-like 
structure holding it in place. 
A preferred play set and lift system includes a horizontal swing support 
member and two "A" frame structures supporting the swing support member at 
each end with each "A" frame structure having an "A" frame base member 
that can rest on the ground. The preferred play set also includes a 
horizontal support member structurally attached a tone end to the swing 
support member and at the other end to a top portion of the box like 
structure. This horizontal support member is preferably a ladder. The 
preferred lift system includes a pair of second vertical frame structures 
of the same height as the four vertical frame structures above and of a 
length to match the length of the "A" frame base members. The preferred 
lift system further includes an "A" frame attachment device to 
structurally attach the "A" frame base members to the second vertical 
frame structure. A preferred "A" frame attachment device includes two 
vertical members structurally attached to and extending vertically 
upwardly frame each of the second vertical frame structures and 
structurally attachable to the "A" frame structures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, box-like structure 10 generally in the form of a 
play house includes upper floor 12 and base wood members 14, 16, 18, and 
20 which are constructed to rest on the ground when the lift system of the 
present invention is not being used. These four base members, generally in 
the shape of a square, form the "foot print", of box-like structure 10, 
that also includes upper structural horizontal member 22 on which ladder 
24 is structurally attached extending outwardly toward swing play set 26 
and is structurally attached to horizontal swing support member 28. "A" 
frame structures 30 and 32 support horizontal swing support member 28 at 
each end allowing swings 34 to hang down and swing freely. Lift system 40 
includes four vertical frame structures, of which vertical frame 
structures 42 and 44 may be seen in this view. Porch structures 46 and 47 
are structurally attached to the top of the added lengths of vertical 
frame structures 42 and 44. Outside porch frame member 48 is structurally 
attached to porch structure 46 depending downwardly and outside ends 51 
and 53 of the added lengths of vertical frame structures 42 and 44. Swing 
lift structures 50 include vertical frame structure 52 and vertical 
attachment members 54 and 55 to support and structurally attach to "A" 
frames 30 and 32. Unless otherwise mentioned, the entire structure is made 
from 2 inch by 4 inch lumber attached together with nails, glue and lag 
bolts where appropriate. 
In FIG. 2, swing lift system 50 is illustrated including second vertical 
frame 52 constructed of a height identical with that of a height as the 
lift system 40 and of a length equivalent to the base members, that can 
sit on the ground of "A" frames 30 and 32. Vertical attachment members 54 
and 55 are structurally attached to frame 52 extending upwardly and 
attached through lag bolts to the structure of "A" frames 30 and 32. 
In FIG. 3, the lift device 40 is illustrated as constructed of vertical 
frame structures 41, 42, 43, and 44. Each of these vertical frame 
structures are constructed to a height which will raise house box 
structure 10 to a height suitable for larger children such that upper 
floor 12 will be above the heads of larger children and the apertures and 
climbing structures will be more appropriate for the larger child. 
Generally, this desirable increase in height is about two feet, so that 
each of the vertical frame structures is about two feet in height 
constructed of two by four members. The lengths of the vertical frame 
structures are chosen such that when attached together the top surfaces of 
the vertical frame members include surfaces that match the "foot print" of 
box-like structure 10. The term "foot print" is intended to describe the 
shape of the bottom surface of the box-like structure 10. It can be 
pictured as a line drawn on the ground around all of the elements resting 
on the ground, that shape being designated the "foot print". When the 
vertical frame structures are structurally attached to each other, they 
form a four sided horizontal frame with upper frame members 58, 60, 62 and 
64 forming a shape to allow the base frame members 14, 16, 18 and 20 of 
structure 10 to rest on the lift system. Structure 10 has its base frame 
members resting on and supported by the upper frame members of lift system 
40. Attachment between these members is usually sufficient to prevent any 
sliding or movement side to side and the preferred basic attachment system 
will be described herein below. In FIG. 4, porch structures 46 and 47 have 
been added and attached to lift system 40. As noted in FIG. 3, vertical 
frame structures 42 and 44 each have added lengths at each end extending 
outwardly from the four sided frame that matches the foot print of 
structure 10. Added lengths 66 and 68 extend in one direction as part of 
vertical frame structures 42 and 44 respectively while added lengths 70 
and 72 extend in the opposite direction from vertical frame structures 42 
and 44 respectively. Overall, a top view of lift structure 40 illustrated 
in FIG. 3 is generally in the form of Roman Numeral Two (II), also 
described as a two rung ladder shape. Porch structures 46 and 47 are 
structurally attached on top of the added lengths of the vertical frame 
structure. Thus, porch structure 46 rests on the top of added lengths 66 
and 68 and porch structure 47 rests on the top of added lengths 70 and 72. 
These porch structures are not only nailed directly to the tops of the 
extra lengths of the vertical frame structures, but are first attached by 
lag bolts or like fasteners. Lag bolts or like fasteners extend through 
outside frame members 48 and 49 into the ends of the vertical frame 
structures. As illustrated in FIG. 5, porch structure 47 fits on the top 
of added lengths 66 and 68. Porch structure 47 abuts against base frame 
member 18 of structure 10 (see FIG. 1) and the ends of base members 16 and 
20 of structure 10. Outside frame member 48 extends along the entire 
length of porch structure 47 and is structurally attached thereto. Member 
28 depends downwardly outside of ends 56 and 57 of added lengths 70 and 72 
respectively. The width of porch structures 46 and 47 are longer than the 
added lengths of the vertical frame structures on which they rest so that 
outside frame members 48 and 49 depending downwardly do not abut the ends 
of the vertical frame structure. As specifically illustrated in FIG. 5, 
space 74 is left between outside frame member 49 and end 57 such that when 
lag bolt 76 is fixed through outside frame member 49 and into end 57 of 
vertical frame structure 44, constant force is exerted from porch 
structure 47 against the base of house structure 10 and specifically 
against base frame member 18 (See FIG. 1). This force holds structure 10 
in place. With the addition of nails 78 through base frame member 16, 
structure 10 is effectively held in place on top of lift system 40. As 
further illustrated in FIG. 6, nail attachments 78 are used to attach the 
base frame members to the upper frame members of lift system 40, but a 
major force holding the structure in place is obtained by the pressure by 
porch structures 46 and 47 against the base of structure 10. The 
cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 shows frame structure 30 is fixed to base 
structure 30 through the attachment with lag bolts 80 through vertical 
attachment member 55 which provides support for the structural attachment. 
While this invention has been described with reference to the specific 
embodiments disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth 
and the patent is intended to include modifications and changes which may 
come within and extend from the following claims.