CLAMPING CONNECTION FOR A PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE

Abstract: Clamp connection for support structures, in particular for play purposes, comprising a multiplicity of inter-connectable connector joints (1) and tubes (3), which display undercut pegs (9) on the surfaces to be connected, whereby said pegs (9) are connected in form-locking manner by couplings (2). These couplings (2) consist of two hemispheric coupling halves (4) and (5) which comprise grooves (10) corresponding to pegs (9). According to the invention, the connector joints (1) may consist of two connector joint halves (11) and (12) comprising grooves (10) which correspond to the pegs (9), so that the connector joints (1) can be connected directly to each other in form-locking manner by hemispheric connector elements (6).

Description: Clamping Connection for a Playground Structure Specification The invention concerns the components of a support structure for playing purposes, which are connected to each other by means of an easy to use clamp connector. For playing purposes, these parts are made of plastic, but the same parts may also be made of metal or any other material for support structures subject to greater stress. From the CH-P 613 741 and the DE-O 28 06 764 climbing structures for children are known which consist of connector joints comprising plug pegs, onto which plastic tubes are fitted. A variety of safety procedures is employed here to ensure that the tubes do not detach from the plug pegs. It is a disadvantage of this construction that, due to manufacturing tolerances, the connection between the connector peg and the tube is not flush and hence not form- locking, but rather loose. Climbing structures of this kind are therefore not very stable during play. Hence it is usually necessary to stabilise them by installing additional support wall members. It is a further disadvantage of these systems that individual tubes can not be removed from a completed structure, because the projecting pegs of the connector joints prevent this. It is therefore necessary to disassemble considerable portions of a completed structure to perform alterations on the same. The problem of the present invention is to provide a climbing structure of the type described above, which is already so stable during play due to the connection technology connecting the parts, that no reinforcement by wall members is required and that individual tubes can be removed from a completed climbing structure without any need to disassemble large parts of the climbing structure. The arrangement of the panels according to the invention converts the same into bearing parts of the climbing structure, or they may also be used as doors. According to the invention, the problem is solved by fitting the connector joints and the front ends of the tubes with undercut round pegs which are connected to each other by a 2-part coupling and which then form the form-locking connection between connector joint and tube. The coupling consists of two hemispheric halves which are held together by screws or another connection technology. When using a support structure according to the invention for fair stalls, it is advantageous for the pegs (9) which provide the force- and form-locking connection between the parts of the support structure to be fitted with a passage hole (17), so that mechanical rotary or push movements, electrical power or control commands can be passed on within the support structure. The tubes can therefore be removed after disassembly of the couplings, or the connector members can be removed from the completed structure after being disassembled. The features described above and to be explained further below can naturally be used not only in the combination respectively specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The inventive idea is described in greater detail below by reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a clamp connector between parts of a support structure according to the invention Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a development of the clamp connection according to the invention, in which the tube is replaced by two hemispheric connector elements which then themselves assume the function of the coupling . between two connector joints. Fig. 3 shows a perspective plan or bottom view of a hemispheric disc (15) with a panel (16) tip-stretched thereto and a connector element (6) which can be screwed together to form a bearing part of a climbing structure. Fig. 4 shows the diametrical section through a climbing structure and the use of the parts crewed together according to Fig. 3 as a door. Fig. 5 shows a perspective plan view of a double panel formed by screwing together two hemispherical discs (15, 15') with the tip-stretched panels (16, 16'). Fig. 6 shows a diametrical section through a climbing structure with a double panel according to Fig. 5, whereby the improvement of bearing strength due to the hemispherical discs (15, 15') is clearly recognisable. Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a double peg (9) according to the invention, comprising the passage hole (17), through which mechanical rotary or push movements, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic energy and control commands can be passed on within the support structure. A cross-section and a lateral view are also provided for better comprehension. Fig. 8 shows the tube (3) of a support structure with pegs (9) and the passage hole (17) for passing on different forms of energy or control commands. Fig. 1 shows the parts of a support structure consisting of the tube 3 with pegs 9 and two connector joints 1, which are connectable by couplings 2. The coupling 2 consists of the two hemispheric coupling halves 4 and 5 and comprises circumferential grooves 10 which enclose the corresponding pegs 9 and hence create a form-locking connection between the connector joint 1 and the tube 3. The coupling halves 4 and 5 are connected to each other by the screw 7 and nut 8. However, other effective connection technologies may also be used to connect the coupling halves 4 and 5 with each other. Fig. 2 shows the parts of a support structure consisting of the hemispheric connector elements 6 with the circumferential grooves 10 and two connector joints 1 with pegs 9. The connector joints consist of the connector joint halves 11 and 12 and also comprise circumferential grooves 10 which enclose the corresponding pegs 9. The connector joint halves 11 and 12 of connector joint 1 can be connected by the screw 7 and nut 8. If the longer special screw 14 is used to connect the connector joint halves 11 and 12, the special peg 13 can simultaneously be attached to provide a connection in the third axis. Reference numerals 1. Connector joint 2. Coupling 3. Tube 4. Coupling half 5. Coupling half 6. Connector element 7. Screw 8. Nut 9. Peg 10. Groove 11. Connector joint half 12. Connector joint half 13. Special peg 14. Special screw 15. Hemispheric disc of tip-stretched panel 16 16. Panel with tip-stretched hemispheric disc 15 17. Passage hole

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Climbing structure, characterised in that the connector joints are not directly inserted in the connection tubes, but that the connection between the connector joints 1 and the projecting pegs 9, and between the tube 3 and the projecting peg 9, is effected in form-locking manner by special couplings 2. 2. Climbing structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the coupling 2 consists of the hemispheric coupling halves 4 and 5, which are connected to each other by connection screw 7 and nut 8. 3. Climbing structure according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the two hemispheric coupling halves 4 and 5 both comprise a circumferential groove 10 which encloses the pegs 9 of the connector joint 2 and of the tube 3 and thereby create a form-locking connection between the connector joint 1 and the tube 3, if the two coupling halves 4 and 5 of the coupling 2 are connected with each other by the screw 7 and nut 8. 4. Climbing structure, characterised in that the connector joints 1 are connected by hemispheric connector elements 6, which are screwed to each other by screws and nuts and thereby simultaneously enclose the pegs 9 of the connector joints 1 in form- locking manner. 5. Climbing structure according to claims 1-4, characterised in that the connector joint 1 consists of two connector joint halves 11 and 12, which comprise grooves 10, into which pegs 9 are inserted as required, and that the connector joint halves 11 and 12 are then connected with each other by a screw and corresponding nut, so that the pegs 9 are clamp-fastened in form-locking manner in connector joint 1. 6. Climbing structure for children according to claims 1-5, characterised in that the special peg 13 can be additionally fitted on the connector joint 1 by means of a longer special screw 14. 7. Climbing structure for children according to claims 4-6, characterised in that the special peg 13 can also be fitted on the connector element 6 by the special screw 14. 8. Climbing structure according to claims 4-7, characterised in that the interconnected hemispheric connector elements 6 comprise a peg 9 on at least one front end, which is clamp-fastened in form-locking manner in the groove of the interconnected connector joint halves 11 and 12. 9. Climbing structure according to claims 4-8, characterised in that a panel (16) is tip- stretched to a hemispheric connector element (15), whereby said panel is screwed together with the hemispheric connector element (6) and simultaneously encloses the pegs (9, 13) in form-locking manner. 10. Climbing structure according to claim 9, characterised in that two connector elements (15) of identical construction with a tip-stretched panel (16) can be screwed together to form a double panel and simultaneously enclose the pegs (9, 13) in form-locking manner. 11. Climbing structure according to claims 1-5, characterised in that the pegs 9 are fitted with a passage hole 17. 12. Climbing structure according to claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the connector joints 1, the coupling halves 4 and 5, the tubes 3, the connector elements 6,15,16 and the pegs 9 and the special pegs 13 are partly made of plastic.

Inventors: LARWS PETER DI, LARWS, PETER DI
Applicants: PALIMONDIAL SA, PALIMONDIAL S.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A63B9
IPC codes: A47B47, A63B9, A63G31, E04B1, F16B7, F16B12