An improved composite slide

Abstract: Improved composite slide for children to use. Comprising two pairs of modular parts (1) and (2) and a single part (3) made of a moulded material. Parts (1) are parallel and inclined, forming the sides of the slide, and are interconnected by parts (2) through conjugated connecting means existing in both. Said parts (2) form the rungs leading to the upper portion of the single part (3), which makes up the slide as such, the upper portion being linked to the upper areas of the sides, through conjugated means integrated therein.

Description: The present invention relates to a composite slide for children to use. The object of the invention specifically consists of a slide to be used by very young children as a plaything. The slide is of the kind which comprises a plurality of moulded material parts, including connecting means made at the moulding stage proper and integrated in said parts, with which the slide can be composed into a solid and perfectly stable structure, ensuring playing safety. A composite slide is known from US-A-5 453 055. The slide includes a supporting frame comprising a first and a second side support member, a ladder member interconnects with and spans between the first and second side support members at the rear of the slide apparatus, and a slide member with an angled slide surface. The slide member is connected to the first and second side support members by fasteners such as screws that pass through holes in mounting points at the front of the first and second support members and engage jacknuts set in mounting points a the top of the slide, and thus the slide 50 also spans between and connects the first and second side support members together. The slide member can be increased or decreased by changing the orientation of a slid-block component. The component can be mounted to the frame in a first orientation in which a first surface on the block forms a substantially horizontal platform surface leading to the top of the slide and a second orientation in which a second surface on the block forms a slide exterior surface meeting substantially contiguously with the slide surface to extend the overall slide surface length. It is an object of the invention to provide a composite slide, that is quick and simple to mount, requiring no implements, special tools or any joining element other than the parts of the toy. Another object is that the organisation allows the parts to be stored in a minimum space when the toy is not in use, and its assembly in due course. This object is achieved in a composite slide according to the introductory portion of Claim 1 by the characterising features of said claim. Broadly speaking, the slide proposed herein consists of two pairs of modular parts which altogether conform a ladder leading up to the upper portion of the slide as such, comprised by a single part. The ladder and the slide make up a sort of trestle of variable angular aperture, depending upon the desired slope of the slide track, the aperture being fixed by suitable means inherent in the parts. In detail, the ladder consists of a pair of modular parts. The side parts being elongate and substantially flattened in shape, with straight, parallel longitudinal sides, their lower end having a bend for their oblique support, whereas their top end comprises a material extension having a curvo-convex edge, including a hole making up a balustrade-handrail, whereas the straight portion has a pair of diametrically slotted holes. The holes are suitable to receive and fix two T-shaped heads lying on shafts coaxial with modular parts for ladder, which are elongate and have an elliptical section and a non-slip surface, which heads and holes establish a solid connection by means of a quarter turn rotation of parts, conforming a ladder structure in which modular side parts form the sides and the balustrade-handrail whereas modular parts for ladder form the rungs, which afford a maximum supporting surface in the functional position due to their elliptical section. Preferably, the slide part makes up the slide as such. Its top portion being linked to the material extensions of the side parts by means of an articulated support which conforms to a trestle-like structure of variable angle, which support is constituted by the combination of necks of the slide and two semi-circular seats provided in the holes of extensions. The slide part is capable of taking up a suitable slope, which is selectable due to anchorages made up by the same number of diametrically slotted openings, combined with shafts having a T-shaped head lying on both sides of the upper portion of the slide, close to the hinge pin. For ease of explanation, attached hereto is a sheet of drawings where an embodiment cited as an example has been represented. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of the slide. Figure 2 is a perspective of the assembled slide, ready to be used. With reference to the figures, the embodiment shows a composite slide to be used by very young children, who are preferably aged between two and seven, characterised by consisting of pairs of modular parts, numbered -1- and -2-, and a single part, numbered -3-. Parts -1- and -2- together make up a ladder, the sides being formed by said parts -1- whereas the rungs are comprised by parts -2-. The side parts -1- have slots -4- for the insertion of T-shaped heads -5- lying at the ends of two axial shafts-6- of the rungs -2-, which T-shaped heads are inserted in the slots -4- in a direction F and are then turned in a direction F' to establish a solid connection with the sides -1-, making up the ladder and with said rungs -2- lying in their functional position, affording a maximum bearing surface, determined by their elliptical section. Said sides -1- are formed by substantially flattened parts having a substantial bend -7- at their bottom end to be supported on the ground, whereas their top end conforms an extension or enlargement -8- provided with a hole which constitutes the balustrade-handrail -9-, which extensions respectively include three slotted openings-10-, -11- and -12- lying at a different height, for a selective anchorage of T-shaped heads -13- lying at the ends of shafts -14- projecting from the upper portion of the sides of the slide constituted by part -3-. Necks -15- ending in circular heads -16- are provided on both sides at the top end of such part -3-, which necks lie on two curvo-convex seats -17- serving as a bearing. This organisation allows the slide to turn about the supports -15-, -17- in order that the slope of the slide -3- may be altered, locating the heads -13- in the various anchorages -10-, -11- and -12-. The surface of the rungs -2- has non-slip ridges. The bend -7- on the sides -1- making up the ladder and the bend -19- at the bottom end of the slide -3- stand as stable supports for the structure, which keeps the child safe during playtime.

Claims: A composite slide with a pair of modular side parts (1), a slide part (3) with a slide surface and a ladder part at the rear thereof, both between and interconnected with the side parts (1), it being possible that the slide part (3) be increased or decreased, characterised in that said ladder part consists of a pair of modular parts (2), said side parts (1) being elongate and substantially flattened in shape, with straight, parallel longitudinal sides, their lower end having a bend (7) for their oblique support, whereas their top end comprises a material extension (8) having a curvo-convex edge, including a hole making up a balustrade-handrail (9), whereas the straight portion has a pair of diametrically slotted holes (4) suitable to receive and fix two T-shaped heads (5) lying on shafts (6) coaxial with parts (2), which are elongate and have an elliptical section and a non-slip surface, which heads (5) and holes (4) establish a solid connection by means of a quarter turn rotation of parts (2), conforming a ladder structure in which parts (1) form the sides and the balustrade-handrail whereas parts (2) form the rungs, which afford a maximum supporting surface in the functional position due to their elliptical section. A slide as in claim 1, characterised in that slide part (3) makes up the slide as such, its top portion being linked to the extensions (8) of side parts (1) by means of an articulated support which conforms a trestle-like structure of variable angle, which support is constituted by the combination of necks (15) of the slide and two semi-circular seats (17) provided in the holes of extensions (9), the slide part (3) being capable of taking up a suitable slope, which is selectable due to anchorages (10), (11) and (12) made up by the same number of diametrically slotted openings, combined with shafts (14) having a T-shaped head (13) lying on both sides of the upper portion of the slide, close to the hinge pin (15).

Inventors: RODRIGUEZ FERRE JOSE MANUEL, RODRIGUEZ FERRE, JOSE MANUEL, Rodriguez Ferre, José Manuel
Applicants: RODRIGUEZ FERRE JOSE MANUEL, RODRIGUEZ FERRE, JOSE MANUEL
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A63G21
IPC codes: A63G21