Swinging play equipment

Abstract

To provide rocking play equipment which generates no impact force, which has excellent ride comfort, which hardly causes breakage and deterioration in components through an extended period, and which does not require a long time for maintenance, inspection, and replacement work.SOLUTION: A piece of rocking play equipment 1 is composed of a platform 2, a platform support frame 3, a rocking mechanism 4, and a support medium 5. The rocking mechanism 4 is structured with a fixed link 41, two rocking links 42, 43, and a movable link 44. The fixed link 41 is fastened to the upper end face of a post 52 of the support medium 5 while the movable link 44 is anchored in the center of a horizontal rod 33 of the platform support frame 3. The rocking links 42, 43 are pivotally attached, with intermediate parts 42b, 43b placed on both front and rear sides of the fixed link 41, and are pivotally attached, with lower end parts 42c, 43c placed on both front and rear sides of the movable link 44. Further, through a front-side cylindrical body 45a and a rear-side cylindrical body 45b that are installed on the upper end parts 42a, 43a, a sliding shaft body 47 is freely slidably inserted, with an elastic energizing member 48 externally jacketed and arranged on the sliding shaft body 47.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rocking play equipment installed in parks, squares, nurseries, kindergartens, etc., which allows young children to play safely and enjoyably.

Background Art

[0002] In facilities where children play in parks, squares, nurseries, kindergartens, etc., various forms of play equipment such as swings, seesaws, slides, bars, sandboxes, etc. are installed. Among these, rocking play equipment in the form of animals such as ponies and giraffes, vehicles such as cars and trains, etc., which young children can ride on and play alone, is one of the popular play equipment for young children, especially infants, because they can enjoy movements such as rocking up and down, back and forth, and left and right, which they cannot experience in daily life.

[0003] As such a rocking play equipment, a base plate 2 is disposed at the tip of a vertically provided support column 1, a rotary shaft support column 3 is vertically provided at the center of this base plate 2, a rocking frame 4 is pivotally supported on this rotary shaft support column 3, and springs 7, 7 for elastically supporting the rocking frame 4 from the lower side are arranged at the front and rear parts of the base plate 2 (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Also, a base 7 is disposed at the tip of a vertically provided support column 4, two rocking arms 8, 9 are pivotally attached to the front and rear parts of this base 7, fixed-side cushioning materials 12a, 12b are provided on the base 7, and rocking-side cushioning materials 11a, 11b are provided on the rocking arms 8, 9, and a rocking play equipment is known in which the rotation angle range of the rocking arms 8, 9 is regulated (see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The rocking amusement device described in Patent Document 1 performs the buffering action when the riding platform 31 is rocked back and forth and the application of the repulsive force when returning to the normal state by the springs 7, 7 arranged at the front and rear portions. However, if the rocking amusement device is used for a long period of time, there is a risk that these springs 7, 7 may be damaged or deteriorated.

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to periodically check the damaged and deteriorated states of the springs 7, 7 and replace them if necessary. However, since two springs 7, 7 are used, it incurs component and working costs. In addition, since they are housed in the spring case 6, there is a problem that maintenance, inspection, and replacement work take time.

[0008] On the other hand, the rocking amusement device described in Patent Document 2 performs the buffering action when the upper part 2 is rocked back and forth by the fixed-side buffer materials 12a, 12b and the rocking-side buffer materials 11a, 11b. However, since it is caused by the collision between the buffer materials, an impact force is inevitably generated, the buffering action is not sufficient, and there is a problem that the riding comfort is poor.

[0009] Also, since the number of parts is large, such as arranging the fixed-side buffer materials 12a, 12b on the base 7 and the rocking-side buffer materials 11a, 11b on the rocking arms 8, 9, it incurs component and working costs. In addition, in order to check the damaged and deteriorated states of these parts, it is necessary to disassemble a part of the mechanism, and there is a problem that maintenance, inspection, and replacement work take time.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and when the rocking amusement device is rocked back and forth, no impact force is generated, the riding comfort is good, and the buffering action and the application of the repulsive force are performed with as few component numbers as possible, reducing the component and working costs. Also, even if the rocking amusement device is used for a long period of time, the parts are hardly damaged or deteriorated, and the object is to provide a rocking amusement device that does not require much time for maintenance, inspection, and replacement work.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the rocking amusement device of the present invention is composed of a riding platform, a riding platform support frame for supporting the riding platform, a rocking mechanism for rocking the riding platform back and forth, and a support for supporting the rocking mechanism, The rocking mechanism is a four-link mechanism composed of a fixed link, two rocking links, and a moving link. The fixed link is fixed to the upper end surface of the column of the support, the moving link is fixed to the central part of the horizontal rod of the riding platform support frame, and the rocking link is pivotally attached at its middle part to the fulcrums on both the front and rear sides of the fixed link, and its lower end part is pivotally attached at the fulcrums on both the front and rear sides of the moving link. Further, a front cylinder body and a rear cylinder body are respectively connected and arranged between the upper end parts of the two rocking links. A holding member is spanned and arranged between the front cylinder body and the rear cylinder body, a sliding shaft body is slidably inserted between the front cylinder body, the rear cylinder body, and the holding member, and an elastic force biasing member is externally mounted and arranged on the sliding shaft body. This is the characteristic.

[0012] Here, the elastic force biasing member may be a compression spring or an elastic rubber.

Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the rocking amusement device of the present invention, when the rocking amusement device is rocked back and forth, no impact force is generated, the riding comfort is good, and the buffering action and the imparting of the repulsive force are carried out with as few component parts as possible, so that the component parts and the working cost are reduced. Also, even when the rocking amusement device is used for a long time, the component parts are not easily damaged or deteriorated, and the maintenance, inspection, and replacement work do not require much time.

Brief Explanation of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the rocking play equipment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the rocking play equipment 1 of the present invention is composed of a riding platform 2, a riding platform support frame 3, a rocking mechanism 4, and a support 5.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the riding platform 2 is for young children to straddle and ride on, and has a seat portion 21 and a gripping bar 22. Young children straddle the seat portion 21, sit down, and play while gripping the gripping bar 22 with both hands.

[0018] And if a child inclines the upper body forward and moves the center of gravity forward, as shown in Fig. 5, the riding platform 2 rocks forward. If the child inclines the upper body backward and moves the center of gravity backward, as shown in Fig. 6, the riding platform 2 rocks backward. Therefore, the child can enjoy movements in the vertical and front - rear directions that cannot be experienced in daily life.

[0019] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the riding platform 2 is in the form of a foal. However, if the seat portion 21 and the gripping bar 22 can be configured at appropriate positions, forms such as animals like giraffes or whales that can arouse the interest of young children, vehicles such as cars or trains, etc. may be adopted.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1, the riding platform support frame 3 is composed of a vertical rod 31 that supports the front lower end of the riding platform 2, a vertical rod 32 that supports the rear lower end of the riding platform 2, and a horizontal rod 33 that connects these vertical rods 31 and 32.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, the swing mechanism 4 is a four-link mechanism composed of a fixed link 41, swing links 42 and 43, and a moving link 44. Further, a cylindrical holding member 46 is disposed between the upper ends of the swing links 42 and 43.

[0022] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the fixed link 41 is a rod-shaped member with a U-shaped cross section, and is fastened and fixed to the upper end surface of the support column 52 of the support 5 by bolts and nuts.

[0023] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the moving link 44 is a rectangular plate-shaped member, and is fastened and fixed to the central portion of the horizontal rod 33 of the platform support frame 3 by bolts and nuts.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, the swing links 42 and 43 are plate-shaped members disposed on both the front and rear sides of the fixed link 41, and are formed to have an arc shape from the middle portions 42b and 43b to the lower ends 42c and 43c, and a linear shape from the middle portions 42b and 43b to the upper ends 42a and 43a.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, the middle portions 42b and 43b of the swing links 42 and 43 are pivotally attached at the fulcrums E2 and E3 on both the front and rear sides of the fixed link 41, and the lower ends 42c and 43c are pivotally attached at the fulcrums F2 and F3 on both the front and rear sides of the moving link 44. The distance M between the fulcrums E2 and E3 is set to be slightly longer than the distance N between the fulcrums F2 and F3.

[0026] Therefore, if the child inclines the upper body backward and moves the center of gravity backward, as shown in Fig. 4, the lower ends 42c and 43c of the swing links 42 and 43 swing backward, and the moving link 44 moves backward. Conversely, if the child inclines the upper body forward and moves the center of gravity forward, the lower ends 42c and 43c of the swing links 42 and 43 swing forward, and the moving link 44 moves forward.

[0027] The upper ends 42a and 43b of the swing links 42 and 43 are respectively connected and pivotally supported by the front cylinder 45a and the rear cylinder 45b as shown in FIG. 2, serving as the fulcrums D2 and D3 of the upper ends 42a and 43b of the respective swing links 42 and 43. And the distance L0 between the fulcrums D2 and D3 is set to be slightly longer than the distance M between the fulcrums E2 and E3.

[0028] Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cylindrical holding member 46 is spanned and disposed between the central portions of the front cylinder 45a and the rear cylinder 45b, and a sliding shaft body 47 is slidably inserted through the front cylinder 45a, the rear cylinder 45b, and the holding member 46. Here, nuts are screwed onto both ends of the sliding shaft body 47 to prevent the sliding shaft body 47 from moving axially and escaping from the front cylinder 45a or the rear cylinder 45b.

[0029] An elastic force biasing member 48 is externally mounted and disposed on the sliding shaft body 47 between the front cylinder 45a and the rear cylinder 45b, and one end or both ends thereof are brought into contact with the end surface of the holding member 46.

[0030] Here, the elastic force biasing member 48 may be a compression spring or an elastic rubber. However, since the swing play equipment 1 is usually installed outdoors, it is preferable to adopt a material excellent in durability as well as weather resistance and water resistance.

[0031] The swing play equipment 1 of the present invention has the above-described configuration and exhibits the following functions, actions, and effects.

[0032] When a child tilts the upper body backward and moves the center of gravity backward, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower ends 42c and 43c of the swing links 42 and 43 swing backward, and the moving link 44 moves backward. Conversely, when the child tilts the upper body forward and moves the center of gravity forward, the lower ends 42c and 43c of the swing links 42 and 43 swing forward, and the moving link 44 moves forward.

[0033] During swinging, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, since the sliding shaft body 47 slides within the front cylinder body 45a and the rear cylinder body 45b, the distance L1 between the fulcrums D2 and D3 of the upper ends 42a and 43b of the swing links 42 and 43 becomes shorter than the distance L0 between the fulcrums D2 and D3 during normal times.

[0034] When the distance L1 between the fulcrums D2 and D3 of the upper ends 42a and 43b of the swing links 42 and 43 becomes shorter than the distance L0 between the fulcrums D2 and D3 during normal times, the elastic force biasing member 48 disposed on the sliding shaft body 47 is pressed by the holding member 46 and is compressed.

[0035] Therefore, when the swing play equipment 1 is swung back and forth, the elastic repulsive force of the elastic force biasing member 48 causes a buffering action, no impact force is generated, the riding comfort is improved, and a repulsive force is applied. Thus, the child does not need to perform such a large movement to swing the swing play equipment 1 in the reverse direction. Also, since the swinging action is improved by the repulsive force, it will give pleasure to the child.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the support 5 is composed of a base 51 and a support column 52. The base 51 is firmly fixed by attaching concrete or the like to the ground in facilities where children play, such as parks, squares, nurseries, and kindergartens, and fastening it to a strong installation surface with bolts, nuts, etc. And on the upper part of the support column 52, as described above, the riding platform 2, the riding platform support frame 3, and the swing mechanism 4 are disposed.

[0037] The swing play equipment 1 of the present invention has the above-described configuration and functions, and when used and played by young children, it exhibits the following actions and effects.

[0038] First, a young child is placed on the seat portion 21 of the riding platform 2 of the swing play equipment 1 while being held by a parent or the like. Then, the child straddles the seat portion 21 securely and holds the gripping bar 22 with both hands to prevent falling even when the swing play equipment 1 swings.

[0039] When the child inclines the upper body forward and moves the center of gravity forward, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper ends 42a, 43a of the swing links 42, 43 tilt backward, and the lower ends 42c, 43c tilt forward. Therefore, the platform support frame 3 swings forward, and ultimately, the platform 2 swings forward.

[0040] At this time, the sliding shaft body 47 slides within the front cylinder 45a, the rear cylinder 45b, and the holding member 46. The distance L1 between the fulcrums D2, D3 of the upper ends 42a, 43b of the swing links 42, 43 becomes shorter than the distance L0 between the fulcrums D2, D3 in normal times. Thus, the elastic force biasing member 48 is compressed, and a buffering action occurs due to this elastic repulsive force. Therefore, no impact force is generated, and the riding comfort is improved.

[0041] Next, when the child inclines the upper body backward and moves the center of gravity backward, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper ends 42a, 43a of the swing links 42, 43 tilt forward, and the lower ends 42c, 43c tilt backward. Therefore, the platform support frame 3 swings backward, and ultimately, the platform 2 swings backward.

[0042] At this time, the sliding shaft body 47 slides within the front cylinder 45a, the rear cylinder 45b, and the holding member 46. The distance L1 between the fulcrums D2, D3 of the upper ends 42a, 43b of the swing links 42, 43 becomes shorter than the distance L0 between the fulcrums D2, D3 in normal times. Thus, the elastic force biasing member 48 is compressed, and a buffering action occurs due to this elastic repulsive force. Therefore, no impact force is generated, and the riding comfort is improved.

[0043] As described above, according to the rocking play equipment 1 of the present invention, when the rocking play equipment 1 is rocked back and forth, a buffering action occurs due to the elastic repulsive force of the elastic force biasing member 48. Therefore, no impact force is generated, and the riding comfort is good. Also, since a repulsive action occurs due to the elastic repulsive force of the elastic force biasing member 48, the rocking play equipment 1 can be smoothly rocked from the front to the rear.

[0044] In addition, since the provision of the buffering action and the repulsive action is carried out with as few component parts as possible, namely the sliding shaft body 47 and the elastic force biasing member 48, the component cost is reduced, and the working costs during installation, maintenance, replacement, etc. are also reduced.

[0045] Furthermore, the provision of the buffering action and the repulsive action is carried out with a simple configuration of the sliding shaft body 47 and the elastic force biasing member 48, which are simple components, and no large impact force is applied to these components. Therefore, even if the rocking play equipment 1 is used for a long time, the components are not easily damaged and are difficult to deteriorate. Also, the maintenance, inspection, and replacement work do not require much time.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0046] 1 Rocking play equipment 2 Platform 3 Platform support frame 33 Horizontal rod 4 Rocking mechanism 41 Fixed link 42 Rocking link 42a Upper end portion 42b Intermediate portion 42c Lower end portion 43 Rocking link 43a Upper end portion 43b Intermediate portion 43c Lower end portion 44 Moving link 45a Front cylinder 45b Rear cylinder 46 Holding member 47 Sliding shaft body 48 Elastic force biasing member 5 Support 52 Support column D2 Fulcrum D3 Fulcrum E2 Fulcrum E3 Fulcrum F2 Fulcrum F3 Fulcrum

Claims

1. It is composed of a platform, a platform support frame for supporting the platform, a swing mechanism for swinging the platform back and forth, and a support body for supporting the swing mechanism, wherein the swing mechanism is a four-link mechanism composed of a fixed link, two swing links, and a moving link. The fixed link is fixed to the upper end surface of the column of the support body. The moving link is fixed to the central part of the horizontal rod of the platform support frame. The swing link is pivotally attached at its middle part to the fulcrums on both the front and rear sides of the fixed link, and its lower end part is pivotally attached at the fulcrums on both the front and rear sides of the moving link. Further, a front cylinder and a rear cylinder are respectively connected and arranged between the upper ends of the two swing links. A holding member is spanned and arranged between the front cylinder and the rear cylinder, and a sliding shaft body is slidably inserted between the front cylinder, the rear cylinder, and the holding member. An elastic force biasing member is externally mounted and arranged on the sliding shaft body. A swing play equipment characterized by this.

2. The swing play equipment according to claim 1, wherein the elastic force biasing member is a compression spring.

3. The swing play equipment according to claim 1, wherein the elastic force biasing member is an elastic rubber.

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