Floating sandbox

Abstract

To provide a sanitary floated sand pool where many children can play together.SOLUTION: A floated sand pool includes a sand pool placement base including a bottom part and a wall part surrounding the periphery of the bottom part. In the sand pool placement base, the bottom part and the wall part hold sand. The sand pool placement base is provided under the bottom part for holding the bottom part above the ground. A bottom surface of the sand pool in which sand is held by the bottom part and the wall part is separated from the ground.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sandpit, and more particularly to a floating sandpit whose bottom surface is separated from the ground and does not contact the ground.

Background Art

[0002] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional sandpit 100. Referring to FIG. 12, the conventional sandpit 100 provided a rectangular retaining wall portion 130 in the ground 110, and a permeable layer 140 composed of gravel or crushed stone at its bottom, and sand 120 was accommodated therein. Therefore, during heavy rain, there was a risk that the water in the ground would flow back into the permeable layer and various bacteria and moisture would enter the sandpit 100. As shown in FIG. 13, the conventional sandpit 100 dug in the ground 110 had a lot of moisture and became a breeding ground for problems such as the decay of fallen leaves and various bacteria. Therefore, centipedes, earthworms, insects, etc. might enter the sandpit 100.

[0003] The conventional sandpit 100 was configured as described above and has been used for children to play. However, since the sandpit 100 itself is directly provided in the ground in parks, childcare facilities, etc., it is often contaminated by fallen leaves, feces of dogs and cats, etc., and there are problems in terms of hygiene.

[0004] In order to address such problems, there is an example disclosed on the homepage of Kotobuki Co., Ltd. where sand is put into a large bowl-shaped plastic container with a diameter of about 1 m to prevent foreign substances from mixing into the sand, and a sandpit play equipment is provided around this bowl for several children to gather and use as a sandpit.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0005]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Traditional sandboxes were constructed as described above. There were similar sandboxes that took hygiene into consideration, such as those containing sand in bowl-shaped containers, but the number of children who could play there was limited, with only a few children playing around the bowls at a time, and there was a risk of falling if children played on the sand.

[0007] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a hygienic floating sandpit where many children can play together. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The floating sandpit according to this invention includes a bottom and a wall surrounding the bottom, the bottom and the wall holding the sand, and includes a sandpit stand provided below the bottom for holding the bottom on the ground, so that the bottom surface of the sandpit, where the sand is held by the bottom and the wall, is raised from the ground.

[0009] Preferably, the bottom and walls are made up of multiple logs that are adjacent to each other.

[0010] More preferably, the bottom or the inside of the wall is covered with a water-permeable sheet.

[0011] A means of moving the floating sandpit may be provided.

[0012] Electric heating equipment may be provided at the bottom of the part where the sand is held, or at the bottom and walls. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] In the floating sandbox according to this invention, a sandbox stand is provided between the bottom where the sand is held and the ground, creating a gap. This allows the bottom to dry easily and prevents bacteria and insects from entering the sandbox through the bottom. As a result, a hygienic floating sandbox can be provided where many children can play together. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the basic structure of a floating sandpit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view seen from the direction indicated by arrow 2-2 in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing the overall structure of a floating sandpit based on the basic structure shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a side view seen from the direction indicated by arrow 4-4 in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the sandpit play equipment shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the sandpit play equipment shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure using a plate material for the wall part of the sandpit play equipment shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure in which an electric heater is incorporated in the sand filling part of the floating sandpit shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure in which an electric heater is incorporated in the sand filling part of the floating sandpit shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 10] This is a diagram showing an illustration of the state where wind passes through the bottom surface of the floating sandpit. [Figure 11] This is a diagram showing how children play in the floating sandpit. [Figure 12] This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional sandpit play equipment. [Figure 13] This is an illustration showing a bad image of a conventional sandpit.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the basic configuration of a floating sand field according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view seen from the direction indicated by arrow 2-2 in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the floating sand field 10 is rectangular when viewed from above, and includes a bottom 11 formed by adjacent logs and a wall portion 13 formed by a plurality of adjacent logs surrounding the periphery of the bottom 11. The sand 15 is held between the bottom 11 and the wall portion 13. The bottom 11 is held by a sand field placement table 19 made of concrete, metal, or the like for holding the bottom 11 above the ground 17. The sand field placement table 19 is a rectangular parallelepiped member continuous with one side of the bottom 11, and is arranged at least at three intervals on the side intersecting with one side of the bottom 11. A gap 16 is formed between the bottom 11 and the ground 17 by the sand field placement table 19. Thus, since the gap 16 is provided between the bottom 11 and the ground 17, air flows through this portion, and the floating sand field 10 dries easily.

[0016] Here, the floating sand field 10 is of the placement type and can be moved to an arbitrary location by a crane or the like.

[0017] Rollers or the like may be used for the sand field placement table 19. At this time, since the floating sand field 10 may move due to some force, fixing means such as driving piles into the ground must be provided.

[0018] The inside of the bottom 11 or the bottom 11 and the wall portion 13 is covered with a water-permeable sheet 18. Further, since a plurality of logs are arranged adjacent to each other for the bottom 11 and the wall portion 13, gaps are generated between the adjacent logs, and the bottom 11 and the wall portion 13 of the sand field 10 are water-permeable. The water-permeable sheet 18 may be a mesh-like fabric that also serves to prevent leakage of sand in the floating sand field 10 and to prevent entry of insects and small animals from the ground into the bottom 11 and the wall portion 13. Thereby, even if it rains on the floating sand field 10, the rainwater can drain.

[0019] Although not shown in the diagram here, perforated metal (metal mesh) may be provided inside the logs that make up the bottom 11 and wall 13, and a water-permeable sheet 18 may be provided inside that.

[0020] In Figures 1 and 2, 11a indicates the bottom sand containment side, and 11b indicates the bottom ground side.

[0021] Next, the side view of the floating sandpit 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be described. Figures 3 and 4 are side views of the floating sandpit shown in Figures 1 and 2. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the floating sandpit 10 is composed of wall sections 13 made up of multiple adjacent wall sections 27 stacked in the vertical direction.

[0022] Next, the specific configuration of the floating sandpit 10 will be described. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the specific overall configuration of the floating sandpit 10 based on the basic configuration shown in Figure 1. Referring to Figure 5, seats 21 are provided around the floating sandpit 10, and the top of the wall section 13 is flattened so that children can play with it as a play table 14. In addition, a tarp 23 is positioned above the floating sandpit 10.

[0023] Referring to Figure 5, the bottom 11 extends to the outside of the wall 13 where the sand 15 is held. Additionally, benches 21 are provided outside the wall 13 of the floating sandbox 10, surrounding it so that children playing in the floating sandbox 10 can sit on the benches 21 and rest.

[0024] Furthermore, it is preferable that the top of the floating sand area 10 be covered with a tarp 23. This prevents fallen leaves and other debris from entering the floating sand area 10, thereby maintaining the dry state of the sand 15 for a longer period of time.

[0025] Next, a modified version of the floating sandpit 10 will be described. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the modified version. Referring to Figure 6, in the modified version, the length of the bottom 11 of the floating sandpit 10 shown in Figure 5 is shortened, and the bench 21 is provided outside the bottom 11.

[0026] Next, further variations will be described. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a further variation of the floating sandpit 10. Referring to Figure 7, this shows a configuration in which a plate material 24 is used for the wall portion 11 of the floating sandpit 10 shown in Figure 6.

[0027] Here, it is preferable to ensure a gap of 10 cm to 15 cm between the ground surface 17 and the bottom ground surface 11b. Preferably, it is 5 cm to 10 cm, and more preferably, within 5 cm. If it exceeds 15 cm, there is a possibility that a part of a child's body could get in and cause harm, while a gap of 5 cm to 10 cm makes it easy for a child's toys to fit in. Also, if it is less than 5 cm, it becomes difficult for a child's toys to fit in.

[0028] Next, the depth of the sand 15 in the floating sandpit 10 (from the top of the wall) will be described. The depth of the sand 15 is preferably 15 cm to 60 cm. More preferably 20 cm to 50 cm, and most preferably 25 cm to 40 cm.

[0029] If the depth of the sand 15 is less than 15 cm, it is too shallow for toddlers to play in, and the sand being shoved out during play will expose the bottom sand storage side 11a of the wall section 13, which is the side where the sand 15 is contained, requiring frequent replenishment of the sand 15. If it exceeds 60 cm, the height difference between the top of the floating sandbox 10 and the ground 17 will be large, potentially increasing the risk of injury if a toddler falls. If it exceeds 25 cm, the impact of sand being shoved out by toddlers playing in the sand will be reduced.

[0030] If the height is less than 40 cm, the difference in height between the top of the floating sandpit 10 and the ground 17 will be lower, reducing the severity of injuries from falls.

[0031] Here, it is preferable that the bottom 11 and wall 13 be constructed from wooden logs or the like. With this configuration, the surface area of ​​the logs is large, which can increase the drying rate of the sand. In addition, it is preferable that the surface of the bottom sand-containing side 11a be made of a water-permeable sheet (for example, nonwoven fabric).

[0032] Next, further modifications of the floating sandpit 10 will be described. Figures 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views showing yet another modification, corresponding to the cross-sectional views of the floating sandpit from the two directions shown in Figures 1 and 2. Here, an electric heating device is installed in the sand filling section 15.

[0033] In the above embodiment, logs were described as the main component, but the invention is not limited to logs, and square timbers or other shapes of components may also be used.

[0034] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, in the floating sandbox 10a according to this embodiment, an electric heater (heating equipment) 26 covered with a heater protection sheet 25 is provided in the sand 15 inside the wall portion 13 and the bottom portion 11. By providing the electric heater 26 in the part of the floating sandbox 10a that holds the sand, a drop in the temperature of the sand is prevented, making it possible for children to play in the sand even in cold environments. In addition, because the electric heater 26 is covered with a heater protection sheet 25, it is possible to prevent the wires from being cut by shovels or other tools when children play near the electric heater 26.

[0035] Alternatively, a water-permeable sheet 18 may be used instead of the heater protection sheet 25. In this case, the water-permeable sheet 18 has a double-layer structure, with an electric heater 26 built inside.

[0036] The electric heater 26 used here should preferably be an agricultural soil heater. With such a heater, neither plant roots nor children will get burned. Also, since it is for agricultural use, moisture and humidity are not a problem. Furthermore, it can be used with household power supplies of 100V or 200V, is economical in terms of electricity costs, and can be used with solar panels.

[0037] With this type of heater, the temperature can be set from 10 to 800 degrees Celsius, but since it's for a sandbox, 10 to 30 degrees Celsius is ideal.

[0038] In typical sandboxes, the high moisture and humidity create a breeding ground for bacteria, so adding an electric heater 26 would likely increase the chances of bacterial growth, which would be a disadvantage. In typical sandboxes, permeable sheets 18 are not used, and instead crushed stone or gravel is used, which increases the risk of wire breakage. Even if permeable sheets 18 are used in typical sandboxes, there is no way for water to escape, and crushed stone or gravel is the mainstream material.

[0039] As described above, the floating sandpit according to this embodiment has the following advantages over conventional sandpits.

[0040] Rain can wash away the sand, and sunlight can provide natural disinfection.

[0041] Especially during heavy rain, bacteria are washed away, and a significant cleaning effect on the sand can be expected.

[0042] Moisture evaporates from all six sides (top, sides, and bottom), keeping the entire sandbox dry at all times.

[0043] This can reduce the frequency of disinfecting the sandbox.

[0044] Unlike traditional sandboxes, there is no layer of sand below ground level, so disinfectant and rainwater do not accumulate, making it clean.

[0045] In conventional sandboxes, during heavy rain, seepage water can backflow into the permeable layer of the sandbox, causing dirty water to accumulate. However, in the floating sandbox according to this embodiment, even during heavy rain, the dirt in the sand is simply washed away.

[0046] Furthermore, it has good drainage and dries quickly, providing a clean sandbox, and the difference in elevation from the ground increases the amount of exercise children get.

[0047] The materials used to construct the bottom and walls of the floating sandpit can be wood, resin, metal, or concrete.

[0048] In the case of a wooden floating sandbox, there is a 3% to 5% shrinkage in dry conditions depending on the moisture absorption conditions of the wood, and when wet due to rainwater, it is necessary to create gaps in the contact areas of the bottom 11 and the walls 13.

[0049] Therefore, it is essential to leave a gap of 3% to 10% during assembly. If the gap is less than 3% during assembly, the gap may disappear when water is absorbed, hindering rainwater drainage. When rainwater drainage is hindered, the decay process accelerates.

[0050] If the gap during assembly exceeds 10%, the gap will become larger when it dries, and there is a risk that the sand in the sandbox container may leak out.

[0051] Since the areas where pieces of wood come into contact with each other are difficult to dry, it is preferable to apply a preservative treatment.

[0052] Furthermore, by providing a means (for example, wheels) to move the part of the floating sandbox above the bottom surface (the entire floating sandbox), it may be possible to move the floating sandbox and clean the debris that has accumulated in the gaps. This would allow it to be moved to a sunny location and sun-dried.

[0053] Figures 10 and 11 show illustrations illustrating infants and children playing in a floating sandpit. Referring to Figures 10 and 11, infants and children can play in a floating sandpit in a safe, clean, and pleasant environment.

[0054] Although embodiments of this invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, this invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiments within the same scope as this invention, or within the equivalent scope. [Industrial applicability]

[0055] This invention provides a hygienic floating sandbox where many children can play together. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 10, 10a Floating sandbox, 11 Bottom, 11a Bottom sand containment side, 11b Bottom ground side, 13 Wall section, 14 Play table, 15 Sand, 16 Gap, 17 Ground, 18 Permeable sheet, 19 Sandbox stand, 21 Bench, 23 Tarp, 24 Wall surface (board), 25 Heater protection sheet, 26 Electric heater, 27 Wall section logs, 100 Conventional sandbox, 110 Ground, 120 Sand, 130 Retaining wall section, 140 Permeable layer.

Claims

1. A floating sandbox, comprising a bottom and a wall surrounding the bottom, wherein sand is held between the bottom and the wall, and a sandbox support provided below the bottom for holding the bottom on the ground, wherein a gap is formed between the bottom surface of the sandbox where the sand is held between the bottom and the wall and the ground by the sandbox support, and the bottom and the wall are made up of a plurality of adjacent logs.

2. The floating sandpit according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom or the inside of the wall is covered with a water-permeable sheet.

3. The floating sand area according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the floating sand area is provided with means for moving the floating sand area.

4. The floating sandpit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an electric heating device is provided at the bottom of the portion where the sand is held.

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