Modular system for assembling play furniture

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular system (1) for assembling play furniture (2). The modular system (1) comprises at least two interlocking box elements (8). Each box element (8) has four side panels (11) arranged at right angles to one another, forming a rectangular base (6) of the box element (8). At least one of the box elements (8) is designed as a rectangular base element (10). The rectangular base element (10) has corner tabs (12) at all four corners, projecting upwards from the side panels (11). Additionally, the rectangular base element (10) has at least two double-tab elements (13), each with two upwardly projecting center tabs (13a). The double-tab elements (13) are each arranged between corner tabs (12) on two opposing side panels (11).The central tabs (13a) are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the side plates (11) in order to accommodate side plates (11) of other box elements (8) between the central tabs (13a).

Description

The invention relates to a modular system for assembling play furniture. Play furniture is furniture designed as play equipment for children. Children can, for example, climb on the play furniture, stand or sit on it, or move back and forth between two pieces. Several pieces of play furniture can be used to create so-called movement construction sites or movement landscapes, which serve as psychomotor play and learning systems for children. However, play structures can quickly become boring for children if they are already very familiar with the individual pieces of furniture and their arrangement. As a result, many play structures and play areas are no longer used by children after a while. DE 195 07 093 C1 shows a gymnastics equipment system with stool-like basic boxes, rolling boards, mats and box connection devices that can be combined with each other. In DE 81 26 804 U1 a multi-part vaulting box is shown as a gymnastics and exercise apparatus, consisting of an upper part with padding, a lower part with standing thresholds and several intermediate parts. JP H07 - 313 621 A shows a vaulting box consisting of several stacked parts, where the upper parts are smaller than the lower parts. In DE 20 2008 016 895 U1 a rolling board is shown which has four upward-protruding wooden slats, so that a small jumping box placed on it does not slip. The object of the present invention is to provide a modular system for play furniture for building movement construction sites, with which a large variety of different play furniture and variations of movement construction sites can be built. This problem is solved by a modular system for constructing play furniture, comprising at least two interlocking box elements, wherein the box elements each have four side panels arranged at right angles to each other and spanning a rectangular base of the box element, wherein at least one of the box elements is designed as a rectangular base element, wherein the rectangular base element has corner tabs at all four corners that project upwards from the side panels, wherein the rectangular base element additionally has at least two double-tab elements, each with two upwardly projecting middle tabs, wherein the double-tab elements are arranged between the corner tabs on two opposing side panels, wherein the middle tabs are oriented longitudinally along the side panel to accommodate side panels of other box elements between the middle tabs. The advantage of this modular system is that play furniture pieces can be combined in many different ways to create ever-changing types of movement playgrounds. In this way, children can be offered constantly evolving play landscapes. To assemble the play furniture, the box elements are stacked on top of each other. If two box elements have the same base area, they can be easily stacked by sliding the side panels of the upper box element onto the corner tabs of the box element below. However, the double-tab element also allows for stacking box elements of different sizes. For example, a smaller box element can be placed on top of a base element so that two of its corners rest against corner tabs and the other two corners against center tabs of the base element. In this way, the different box elements can be stacked and combined in a variety of ways to create a wide range of differently shaped play furniture. According to one embodiment, the double-tab elements are arranged centrally between the corner tabs. In other words, the double-tab elements are arranged on the side plates such that the center of the double-tab element is located exactly halfway along the length of the side plates. The longitudinal direction of the side plate is the direction in which the side plates extend from one corner of the base element to an adjacent corner. By arranging the center tabs spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction of the side plate, the side plates of the box element mounted on them can be inserted between the center tabs to stack the box elements. The corner tabs and / or the center tabs are arranged, in particular, on the inside of the side plates facing the inside of the base element. The side panels are, in particular, side boards. Specifically, the length of the side panels is greater than the width of the side flaps, and the width of the side panels is greater than the thickness of the side panels. The side panels and / or box elements are, in particular, made of or comprise wood. Specifically, the box elements are made of birch wood. Specifically, the side panels and / or the box elements are made of plywood. Specifically, all components of the modular system are made of plywood. The surfaces of the components of the modular system are, in particular, finished with a transparent hard wax oil, e.g., OSMO brand hard wax oil. In particular, the box elements have no base. The base element, in particular, has neither a lid nor a base. The rectangular base element has, in particular, short and long side panels. The long side panels have, in particular, the double-tab elements. In particular, the long side panels have a length that is essentially a multiple of the length of the short side panels. For example, the long side panels are essentially twice as long as the short side panels. Depending on how the side panels are attached to one another, the short side panels and / or the long side panels may deviate from the standard dimensions. The corner tabs have a height that essentially corresponds to the height of the side plates. Specifically, the corner tabs are arranged on the side plates such that half the height of the corner tabs projects beyond the side plates. Preferably, the modular system comprises a uniform grid for the base areas of all box elements, such that the base areas of all box elements correspond to a uniform base area or a multiple thereof. By using a uniform grid based on a uniform base area, the box elements can be assembled in a large number of different ways. In particular, the base element has a base area that corresponds to two adjacent base areas. In other words, each base area is defined by two of the corner tabs and two of the center tabs of the base element. Preferably, the uniform base is square. A square base or grid allows the various box elements to be arranged at 90° angles to each other. For example, two rectangular base elements can be arranged at 90° angles to each other to create an L-shaped piece of play furniture. Specifically, a long side of the rectangular base element is twice the length of a short side. This is particularly advantageous with a square base, allowing for a wide variety of configurations of the different elements. Preferably, each box element has four tabs for each base surface encompassed by its base, with one of the four tabs being located at each corner of the base surface, and the four tabs being corner tabs and / or center tabs. In other words, each base surface of the box element is spanned by four tabs of the box element. For a small box element, these can be the four corner tabs; for a larger base element, two corner tabs and two center tabs. Very large box elements with a base surface equivalent to three base surfaces can also have a total of four double-tab elements, each with two center tabs, so that a central base surface is spanned by four center tabs. Such a triple box element allows for even more design possibilities for the construction site. Preferably, the modular system comprises at least one individual box element whose base area corresponds to the base area. The individual box element has, in particular, four corner tabs and no center tabs. By combining the base element with the individual box element, very differently shaped pieces of play furniture can be constructed, which, for example, are higher in some places than in others. Preferably, the modular system comprises at least one caster plate, wherein one surface of the caster plate corresponds to the base surface, and wherein four longitudinal tabs are arranged on a top surface of the caster plate, extending between the corners of the caster plate, and wherein, in particular, a caster is arranged at each of the four corners on a bottom surface of the caster plate. The caster plates are designed to be positioned under the box elements so that the play furniture can be moved. The longitudinal tabs rest against the inside of the side panels of the box elements mounted on them to prevent the box elements from slipping. Since the surface of the caster plates corresponds to the base surface, several caster plates can be combined and / or pushed together to create movable play furniture even for larger pieces. The longitudinal tabs leave the corners of the caster plate free.In this way, the longitudinal tabs take up less installation space, yet still securely hold the box elements arranged on them. In particular, the roller plate is a roller board. Preferably, the modular system includes at least one lid element, wherein the lid element has a lid that is supported by the side panels of the lid element. The lid element forms the top of the play furniture. In particular, the lid element has no upward-protruding tabs. This prevents children from bumping into the tabs when climbing on the play furniture. The base area of ​​the lid element corresponds in particular to the base area or a multiple thereof. In particular, the lid is covered with a textile material and / or designed as a transparent plastic cover. For example, differently colored textile materials or textile materials with different textures are used to make the play experience with different lid elements more interesting. The lids, in particular, form the intended standing surface for the children. Preferably, at least one of the side panels of at least one of the box elements has longitudinally extending slots and / or windows. The windows are used, for example, as viewing windows. The slots are designed to receive plank elements. In particular, the modular system comprises several planks designed to be inserted into the slots. The planks have, in particular on their underside, one or more crossbars for attachment to the slots or windows. Preferably, the height of all side panels is incremented so that the height of all side panels corresponds to a base height or a multiple thereof. By providing a grid in the vertical direction as well, single-height and double-height box elements, for example, can be used. When constructing more complex pieces of play furniture, the height grid allows these elements to be easily combined, for example, by placing two single-height box elements next to one double-height box element. In particular, the base height is 10 to 30 cm, and more specifically, substantially 20 cm. According to one embodiment, the length of all side plates is at least 30 cm, and in particular at least 40 cm. In particular, the rectangular base element has a short side edge length of at least 30 cm, and in particular at least 40 cm. In particular, the square base has a side length of 40 to 60 cm. For example, the square base has a side length of substantially 50 cm. In particular, the material thickness of the side panels and / or the box elements is 15 to 25 mm, and in particular substantially 18 mm. The corner tabs have a material thickness of 20 to 25 mm, and in particular substantially 27 mm. Preferably, at least one of the box elements is designed as a stand element, wherein at least two of the side panels of the stand element each have at least one outwardly projecting rib. In particular, the rib projects at an angle of 90° from the side panels. The rib is designed as a base. The base prevents the play furniture from tipping over, even when very tall pieces of play furniture are assembled. In particular, all four side panels of a stand element have at least one outwardly projecting rib, and in particular, at least two ribs. In particular, both base elements and individual box elements can be designed as stand elements. Preferably, a gap exists between the center tabs of a double-tab element, extending longitudinally along the side plate to which the double-tab element is fixed, with the gap corresponding to twice the wall thickness of the side plates. If the gap between the center tabs corresponds to twice the wall thickness of the side plates, for example, two single box elements can be arranged on a single rectangular base element. The inwardly positioned side plates of the two single box elements abut each other and are each enclosed between the center tabs of the double-tab elements. Preferably, the double-flange elements have a U-shape, with the center flanges forming the legs, which are connected by a crossbar. The crossbar is arranged perpendicular to the center flanges and connects the two center flanges. In particular, the double-flange element is formed in one piece, so that the center flanges and the crossbar are formed from a single component. In particular, the thickness of the double-flange element is less than the thickness of the corner flanges. Preferably, the double-tab elements are arranged centrally between the corner tabs of the base element. This central arrangement of the double-tab elements between the corner tabs allows the box elements to be stacked very easily on top of each other in the grid with the base surface. Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention, together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention may fulfill individual features or a combination of several features. Within the scope of the invention, features marked with "in particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features. The invention is described below, without limiting the general concept of the invention, with reference to exemplary embodiments and the drawings, whereby for all details of the invention not explained in detail in the text, explicit reference is made to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematically simplified perspective view of a base element and a single box element, Fig. 2 a schematically simplified top view of the box elements from Fig. 1, Fig. 3 an enlarged view of part of the base element from Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a schematically simplified perspective view of various lid elements, Fig. 5 a schematically simplified top view of the lid elements from Fig. 4, Fig. 6 an exemplary assembly of a piece of play furniture consisting of two single box elements and a lid element.Fig. 7 A schematically simplified perspective view of various pieces of play furniture, which are constructed from rectangular base elements and lid elements; Fig. 8 A schematically simplified front view for the assembly of a piece of play furniture; Fig. 9 A schematically simplified perspective view of a piece of play furniture with a square base, which is composed of differently shaped parts; Fig. 10 A top view and schematic representation of the piece of furniture from Fig. 9; Fig. 11 A schematically simplified perspective view of a piece of play furniture with an L-shaped base; Fig. 12 A schematically simplified top view and schematic representation of the piece of play furniture from Fig. 11; Fig. 13 A schematically simplified representation of caster plates and box elements arranged on caster plates; Fig. 14 A schematically simplified top view of the caster plates and box elements from Fig. 13.Fig. 15 is a schematically simplified perspective view of play furniture pieces assembled from box elements and rolling plates; Fig. 16 is a schematically simplified perspective view of plank elements; Fig. 17 is a schematically simplified perspective view of the undersides of the plank elements from Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a schematically simplified perspective view of a large number of different building elements of a modular system; and Fig. 19 is a schematically simplified perspective view of a modular system used to build a mobile construction site. In the drawings, identical or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numbers, so that a re-presentation is omitted. Fig. 1 shows, in a schematically simplified perspective view, two box elements 8 of a modular system 1. The first box element 8 is a rectangular base element 10 with a rectangular base 6. The base element 10 is composed of four side panels 11, which are attached to one another at right angles, for example, by screws or nails. Two of the side panels 11 are long, approximately twice as long as the short side panels 11. Each of the side panels also has a longitudinal slot 14, which serves, for example, as a viewing slot or is designed to hold plank elements 60. On the inside of the side panels 11, corner tabs 12 are provided at all four corners, projecting upwards beyond the side panels 11. These corner tabs 12 allow the box elements 8 to be stacked on top of each other.In the middle between the corner tabs 12, double tab elements 13 are provided on the long side plates 11, which have additional upwardly projecting middle tabs 13a. Furthermore, a single box element 20 is shown, which has a square base 6. Thus, the side lengths of all four sides of the single box element 20 are the same. Unlike the basic element 10, the single box element 20 does not have double flap elements 13, but only the four corner flaps 12. As shown in the schematic top views in Fig. 2, the base area 6 of the single box element 20 corresponds to a square, standardized base area 5. This base area 5 is based on a grid that all elements of the modular system 1 follow. For example, the base area 6 of the base element 10 corresponds to a double base area 5, with the two base areas 5 arranged side by side forming the base area 6 of the base element 10. Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of part of the base element 10 from Figure 1. This view clearly shows that the double-tab element 13 has a U-shape and comprises two center tabs 13a and a crossbar 13b connecting the center tabs 13a. The double-tab element 13, like the corner tabs, is attached to the inside of the side panels 11. The center tabs 13a allow, for example, a single box element 20 to be attached to the base element 10 in such a way that it is held by two of the corner tabs 12 and two of the center tabs 13a. In this case, the base surface 5 of the single box element 20 rests precisely on one of the two base surfaces 5 of the base element 10. Another single box element 20 or another box element 8 can also be attached to the other base surface 5 of the base element 10. This allows for great flexibility in the construction of play furniture. Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of another form of box elements 8 in the form of lid elements 30, 40. The lid element 30 corresponds essentially in shape to the base element 10, but instead of the four corner tabs 12 and the double-tab elements 13, it has a lid 32. Likewise, the smaller lid element 40, unlike the single box element 20, does not have corner tabs 12, but rather a lid 32. The lid elements 30, 40 thus form the end of a piece of play furniture 2, which is assembled from several box elements 8. They allow children to climb onto and stand on the play furniture 2 without the risk of injury from the tabs 12, 13a. Lids 32 are, for example, covered with various textile materials or made of transparent plastic. Fig. 5 shows a top view of the lid elements 30, 40. Fig. 6 shows an example of the construction of a piece of play furniture 2 consisting of two individual box elements 20 that are stacked on top of each other and a lid element 40 that is placed on top of the two individual box elements 20. In this way, a tower can be easily built. Fig. 7 shows the assembly of various play furniture pieces 2 with a rectangular base 6 using different base elements 10, individual box elements 20 and lid elements 30, 40. In all three play furniture pieces 2, two base elements 10 are first stacked on top of each other and then either one lid element 30, two lid elements 40 or first two individual box elements 20 and then two lid elements 40 are stacked on top of each other. Figure 8 schematically illustrates how the side panels 11 of the stacked box elements 8 engage with the various tabs 12, 13a to assemble the play furniture 2. When a base element 10 is placed on top of another base element 10, the corner tabs 12 of the lower base element 10 rest against the inside of the corners of the upper base element 10 to hold them securely. The individual box elements 20 stacked on top of this rest with two corners against corner tabs 12 and with two other corners against center tabs 13a of the base element 10 below. The distance between the center tabs 13a of a double-tab element 13 is chosen to correspond approximately to twice the wall thickness of a side panel 11. In this way, the two individual box elements 20 can be easily stacked on top of the base element 10.Additional single box elements 20 or lid elements 40 can be stacked on top of the single box elements 20 as shown, by engaging the corner tabs 12 of the single box element 20. Fig. 9 shows the construction of a more complex piece of play furniture 2 with a square base 6, which corresponds to four times the base area 5, as shown in Fig. 10. First, two base elements 10 are arranged side by side, and a third base element 10 is placed on top of the first, rotated by 90°, so that it is held by the corner tabs 12 and middle tabs 13a of the two base elements 10 below. Further individual box elements 20 and lid elements 40 can then be arranged on the third base element 10. Figures 11 and 12 show the construction of another piece of play furniture 2, which has a base 6 in the form of two rectangles offset from each other. For this purpose, two base elements 10 are arranged side by side such that one end of one base element 10 is at the level of the double-tab elements 13 of the other base element 10. The third base element 10 is then rotated by 90° and positioned transversely across the two base elements 10. A single box element 20 and a lid element 40 are subsequently stacked on top of the third base element 10. Figures 13 and 14 show another component of the modular system 1 in the form of a roller plate 50 or a roller board. The roller plate 50 has a substantially square base 6, which corresponds to the base area 5. A roller 51 is arranged at each of the four corners on the underside of the roller plate 50. On the top side, four longitudinal tabs 52 are fixed, arranged in such a way that they securely hold a single box element 20 or a lid element 40 placed on the roller plate 50 by bearing against the side plates 11 from the inside. Two roller plates 50 can also be arranged side by side in order to attach a rectangular base element 10 to the roller plates 50. As shown in Fig. 15, various pieces of play furniture 2 can be constructed in this way, which are movable by means of the casters 51. By having a base surface 6 in the shape of the base surface 5 on the caster plates 50, pieces of play furniture 2 with other base surfaces 6 can also be made movable, such as the pieces of play furniture 2 shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 11. Fig. 16 shows a total of four plank elements 60, consisting of a short plank 61, a medium plank 62, a long plank 63, and a narrow plank 64. As can be seen in Fig. 17, the planks 61, 62, and 63 each have several crossbars 65 on their undersides, which allow the planks 61, 62, 63, and 64 to be hooked into the slots 14 of the side panels 11. The plank 64 has grooves 66 on its underside, which serve the same purpose. The plank elements 60 can be used, for example, to construct ramps, play furniture pieces 2, or bridges between two play furniture pieces 2. Figure 18 shows an overview of a modular system 1 with a large number of components from which a wide variety of play furniture 2 can be assembled. The modular system 1 includes, for example, various basic element variants 10a, 10b, and 10c. The side panels 11 of variant 10b are, for example, twice as wide as the side panels 11 of variant 10a, so that basic element variant 10b is twice as high as basic element variant 10a. Basic element variant 10c has additional ribs 15 that project outwards from the underside of the side panels 11. In this way, basic element variant 10c is designed as a stand element, which has greater stability than other components and allows the construction of taller play furniture 2. Furthermore, there are various individual element variants 20a, 20b, and 20c, which essentially correspond to basic element variants 10a, 10b, and 10c.There are also different variants 30a, 30b for the lid element 30, which either have a continuous lid 32 or two separate lids 32. Figure 19 shows the modular system 1, with which a movement construction site consisting of various play furniture pieces 2 was built. The individual play furniture pieces 2 were connected to each other using the plank elements 60 in order to create an interesting movement landscape for children. All features mentioned, including those discernible from the drawings alone as well as individual features disclosed in combination with other features, are considered essential to the invention, both individually and in combination. Inventive embodiments may be fulfilled by individual features or by a combination of several features. Reference symbol list 1 Modular system 2 Play furniture piece 5 Base area 6 Base area 8 Box element 10 Base element 10a, 10b, 10c Base element variant 11 Side panel 12 Corner flap 13 Double flap elements 13a Middle flap 13b Crossbeam 14 Slot 15 Bridge 20 Single element 20a, 20b, 20c Single element variant 30 Lid element 30a, 30b Lid element variant 32 Lid 40 Lid element 50 Roller plate 51 Roller 52 Longitudinal flap 60 Plank element 61, 62, 63, 64 Plank 65 Cross brace 66 Groove

Claims

Modular system (1) for constructing play furniture (2), comprising at least two interlocking box elements (8), wherein the box elements (8) each have four side panels (11) arranged at right angles to each other and spanning a rectangular base (6) of the box element (8), wherein at least one of the box elements (8) is designed as a rectangular base element (10), wherein the rectangular base element (10) has corner tabs (12) at all four corners projecting upwards from the side panels (11), wherein the rectangular base element (10) additionally has at least two double tab elements (13) each with two upwardly projecting middle tabs (13a), wherein the double tab elements (13) are each arranged between the corner tabs (12) on two opposing side panels (11), wherein the middle tabs (13a) are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the side panel (11),to accommodate side plates (11) of other box elements (8) between the central tabs (13a). Modular system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the modular system (1) comprises a uniform grid for the base areas (6) of all box elements (8), such that the base areas (6) of all box elements (8) correspond to a uniform base area (5) or a multiple of the uniform base area (5). Modular system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the uniform base surface (5) is square. Modular system (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each box element (8) has four tabs (12, 13a) per base surface (5) encompassed by its base surface (6), wherein one of the four tabs (12, 13a) is arranged at each corner of the base surface (5), wherein the four tabs (12, 13a) are corner tabs (12) and / or center tabs (13a). Modular system (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4 comprising at least one single box element (20) whose base area (6) corresponds to the base area (5). Modular system (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5 comprising at least one roller plate (50), wherein a base surface (6) of the roller plate (50) corresponds to the base surface (5), wherein four longitudinal tabs (52) are arranged on a top side of the roller plate (50) extending between the corners of the roller plate (50), wherein in particular a roller (51) is arranged on a bottom side of the roller plate (50) at each of the four corners. Modular system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6 comprising at least one cover element (30, 40), wherein the cover element (30, 40) has a cover (32) which is supported by the side plates (11) of the cover element (30, 40). Modular system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one of the side plates (11) of at least one of the box elements (8) has longitudinally extended slots (14) and / or windows. Modular system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the height of all side plates (11) is griddled, such that the height of all side plates (11) corresponds to a base height or a multiple of the base height. Modular system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the length of all side plates (11) is 40 cm to 60 cm. Modular system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one of the box elements (8) is designed as a stand element, wherein at least two of the side plates (11) of the stand element each have at least one outwardly projecting web (15). Modular system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that there is a free space between the middle tabs (13a) of a double tab element (13) which extends in the longitudinal direction of the side plate (11) to which the double tab element (13) is fixed, wherein the free space corresponds to twice the wall thickness of the side plates (11). Modular system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the double tab elements (13) have a U-shape, wherein the middle tabs (13a) form the legs which are connected by means of a crossbar (13b). Modular system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the double tab elements (13) are each arranged centrally between the corner tabs (12) of the basic element (10).

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