Patent ID: 8079915

Claim:
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.