Patent Publication Number: US-8529362-B1

Title: Elevated hand-held merry-go-round

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/491,776 filed Jun. 25, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,926 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/703,027 filed Feb. 6, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,578,745. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a merry-go-round for use on playgrounds, and more particularly to an elevated device which provides at least one, and preferably a plurality of hand holds disposed about a central support by which users can grab a hand hold and utilize their momentum to rotate them about the center support in one of various embodiments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the playground equipment business, there is always a perceived need for more fun to be had on the playground. The applicant recognizes this need for fun and endeavors to provide new products for playground use. Monkey bars provide a hand over hand lateral movement type play for users. Horizontally fixably supported bars provide a location for children to swing about such as to skin the cat or otherwise swing and play thereon. 
     Traditional merry-go-rounds provide a structure onto which children or even adults can push the merry-go-round around a center support connected to the ground and then place their feet on a platform to go round and round the center support. While various forms of merry-go-rounds have been developed for use for standing and/or sitting thereon, the applicant is unaware of an attempt at making a merry-go-round type structure onto which users can hang with their hands therefrom and be supported off the ground without contacting the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,781 shows a typical merry-go-round structure as has been available for many years. U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,949 shows a sitting merry-go-round arrangement. 
     Accordingly, an improved merry-go-round type play device is believed to be an advantageous addition to a playground. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a present object of the present invention to provide an improved merry-go-round type device for a playground. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotating structure having hand holds by which at least one user can grab and swing about the center support. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an elevated merry-go-round having a plurality of hand holds which allow users to radially rotate about the center support while suspended by their hands. 
     It is another object of the present invention of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide a center support having hand holds angled at a tilt relative to the center support whereby a specific hand hold passes through multiple elevations during a revolution about the center support. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, a merry-go-round of the present invention provides a center support which connects to a frame a distance above the ground. More preferably, the center support elevates the frame a sufficient distance so that hand holds connected to the frame are at least a sufficient distance so that the feet and/or knees of a user do not touch the ground as they rotate about the center support. In some embodiments, the center support may be tilted where it connects to the frame and in other embodiments the center support portion may be supported in a pole like fashion perpendicular to the ground where it connects to the hand holds. 
     In some embodiments, a double ring type structure may be employed wherein a top ring is utilized to provide additional strength and support to the frame (and possibly additional hand holds) while in other embodiments such additional strength and/or hand holds may not be necessary or desired. By tilting the hand holds somewhat relative to a horizontal plane to the ground (such as perpendicular to a vertically extending pole, the applicant has found an embodiment which adds an additional type of fun). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of first presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  installed on a with a child playing thereon; 
         FIG. 3  is a front plan view of a first alternatively preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a front plan view of a second alternatively preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a merry-go-round  10  of the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. This merry-go-round  10  has a center support  12  which, in this embodiment, has a hub extension  14  connected to an upwardly extending post  16 . In this embodiment is illustrated the hub extension is tilted off axis with the post  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, this angle of tilt (alpha, α) is at about 10°, but a tilt of a few degrees such as up to about 5° or even 15° or more in other embodiments could be found to provide a desirable play effect as will be described below. Angle α could also be defined as an angle of a plane  11  extending through hand hold member  54  relative to plane  13  which is a parallel plane to plane  15  which is essentially the plane of the playing field  56  and/or a plane extending perpendicular to center support extending to post  16 . 
     Connected to the hub extension  14  is a hub  18  which is illustrated connected to arms  20 , 22 , 24 , 26  at exterior surface  36  or otherwise hub  18 . Gussets  28 , 30 , 32 , 34  are useful to assist in strengthening the structure and are illustrated connected to the exterior surface  36  of the gusset  18 . A first end  38  of gusset  34  is illustrated connected to the exterior surface  36  of hub  18  while the upper surface  40  of gusset  34  is illustrated connected to arm  26 . In the embodiment illustrated, the arms  26  extend from a hub connection point  42  downwardly to a first elevation change  44  in the preferred embodiment. In other embodiments, the arms  20 , 22 , 24 , 26  could drop less, drop none or even elevate hand hold assembly  46  at at least some portion of a revolution as will be described in further detail below. 
     Arms  20 , 22 , 24 , 26  are preferably downwardly directed and/or curved with a curve of the upper portion  40  of gusset  34  and others corresponding to the inner curve  48  of arms  20 , 22 , 24 , 26  as illustrated. 
     Internal to hub  18  are preferably one or more bearings. In the preferred embodiment two bearings are pressed fit into the hub  18  on the hub extension  14 . In the preferred embodiment, arms  20 , 22 , 24 , 26  connect to a first member  50  which in some embodiments may provide a hand hold locations. In the preferred embodiment, spacers  52  separate first member from hand hold member  54  which provides a plurality of hand holds which can be seen in  FIG. 2  where a user such as a child or adult may grab the hand hold member  54  and propel it around at least a portion of the center support  12  without being interfered with by first member  50 . Others may also grab hand hold member  54  and/or first member  50 . Hand holds preferably have a round cross section and are disposed on hand hold member  54  such as in the form of a loop which is substantially continuous as illustrated and round, but could be elliptical and/or discontinuous in other embodiments such as having segments missing from the loop, etc. The first member  50  is similarly constructed to the hand hold member and the preferred embodiment but has a slightly larger diameter, and other embodiments could have similar or dissimilar construction of the handle member  54 . In fact, users may elect to grab the first member  54  in addition to or instead of the hand hold member  54  in some embodiments. First member is a 1¼ in. pipe and hand hold member is a 1.029 in. pipe both bent into rounded across to provide at least portions of round loops in the preferred embodiment but other dimensions and/or shapes could be utilized in other embodiments. 
     Although center support  12  and post  16  are shown extending from the ground  56  upwardly, in alternative embodiments, it may be supported from above as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. In  FIG. 2 , a user illustrated a child  58  is shown moving from right to left running and jumping and grabbing the hand hold support  54  at which time the momentum would assist in carrying him (or her) from right to left upwardly until reaching a maximum elevation  60  at which time gravity and/or momentum would assist in pulling him back toward lower elevation  62  which is illustrated as being greater than three, four or even five feet at five feet, two inches. 
     In practice, the upper elevation  60  and lower elevation  62  are assisted in being created as a result of the length  64  as shown in  FIG. 3  as effected by the tilt of the hub extension  14  relative to the post  16  and/or to a device supporting the hub extension  14 . Length  64  in the preferred embodiment illustrated is about over four feet and is illustrated at about six feet. 
     When providing a sufficient change in upper and lower elevations  60 , 62 , the applicant has discovered that a user such as child  58  may pump their body inwardly and outwardly at appropriate times during revolution about the center support  12  so that they may maintain the motion about the center support  12  by themselves. This is somewhat like “pumping” a swing to maintain its motion by one&#39;s self. 
       FIG. 3  shows an alternatively preferred embodiment of a merry go round  65  in which the hub extension  114  is essentially collinearly with the post  116 . In fact, in this embodiment, the applicant has discovered that gussets  34  may not be preferred to handle similar loads as that shown in the embodiment of that of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  since the pumping action is not affected with the change in elevation as occurs with the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2  (and the anticipated loading is much smaller). Nevertheless, in this embodiment, a first member  66  is illustrated above hand hold member  68  which is separated by spacers  70 . Arms  72  are illustrated downwardly extending to a first member  66  but may downwardly extend to either of the first member  66  if utilized and/or the hand hold member  68 . The length  78  may be the same length as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , such as about six feet or may be smaller such as about four feet or larger. The first member  66  may have a round cross section or other shapes and somewhat similar to the hand hold member  68  illustrated. The hand hold member  68  may be similar or dissimilar to that shown in the embodiments of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     While the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are a first preferred embodiment, the embodiment of  FIG. 3  is also in production and has been tested by the applicant.  FIG. 4  shows yet another embodiment of a smaller version having less elevation drop  90  than elevation drop  44  or  74  of the other two embodiments and is also in production at this time. The embodiment of  FIG. 4  has a hand hold member  92  without a separate support member illustrated as first members  50  and  66  in the other embodiments. Furthermore, the hub  93  is significantly smaller than the hubs  76 , 18  in the other two members. Finally, the length  94  may be significantly shorter than length  78  and  64  of the other embodiments such as about two feet or other dimension. While these three embodiments are presently preferred designs, it is likely that there are others which can be provided based on the teachings herein. 
     Although only one child  58  is shown playing in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , it can be easily seen that two, four, and possibly many more can also play at the same time. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the first member  50  is illustrated to be somewhat ring shaped as is the hand support member  54 . However, they need not be continuous rings as illustrated and could be discontinuous and also need not be circular as illustrated. They could be oval, angularly connected such as a pentagon, or other appropriate geometrical shape. Furthermore, they need not provide a continuously circular path about the center support  12 , but instead could provide a wobble such as by providing an oval shape for a hand hold member  54  and/or a cam as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Various elevations  60 , 62  and others can be selected based on the anticipated heights of children  58  and/or adults which play with the merry-go-round  10 , 65  and/or  88 . An unobstructed zone  55  is located between the hand hold members  54 , 68 , 92  and the playing surface  56  as shown in  FIG. 2 . This zone is somewhat of a squared donut shape in the preferred embodiments, but could have an elliptical nature, or other shape in other embodiments. The unobstructed zone has a height  57  of at least three feet and preferably at least about five feet and a width  59  of at least a foot and a half if not about two, four or six feet preferably centered at the hand hold member  54  following a path below the hand hold member  54  where a user  58  is traversing between the hand hold member and the playing surface  56 . The unobstructed zone allows the user  58  to rotate unobstructedly. Other shaped unobstructed zones  55  may be provided with other embodiments. 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.