Swing set

Abstract

A frame for a swing set comprising at least a pair of legs connected to a support bar for supporting at least one swing. The upper end of each pair of legs being connected at or near an end of the support bar. The widest distance between the connected upper ends of the pair of legs being distance D1. The lower ends of each of the pair of legs having at least one foot for standing on the ground, the widest distance between the lower ends of the pair of legs being distance D2. The distance D2 is greater than distance DI and at least one of the pair of legs comprising an inwardly extending support arm connected along a length of the leg between the upper and lower end thereof, the inwardly extending support arm extending from the leg and terminating at the ground within the distance D2.

Description

[0001] Swing set

[0002] This document claims priority to AU2024902375 entitled swing set as filed 31 July 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention relates to kids play equipment which comprises one or more swings.

[0005] Background

[0006] Kids enjoy playing by running, climbing, and exploring. Playground equipment, like swings, slides, and climbing frames, provide safe and structured ways for children to engage in these activities. This equipment helps them develop physical skills, social interaction and creativity.

[0007] A playground swing consists of a sturdy seat attached to strong ropes or chains, which are connected to a solid frame. The swing moves back and forth in an arc when pushed or when the rider kicks their legs. This simple design allows children to enjoy safe and fun play.

[0008] An unstable swing frame can pose significant safety risks for children. If the frame is not securely anchored or if the materials are weak, it may tip over or collapse, leading to potential injuries. Proper installation, including securing the frame into the ground and using high-quality materials can help prevent these hazards and provide a safe play environment. However, even when installed properly, some swing frames can have too much unwanted movement simply due to the forces applied by the swinging motion over time.

[0009] The present invention is aimed at providing an improved swing set frame which can ameliorate at least some of the problems of the prior art or which can at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of invention

[0010] In a first aspect there is provided a frame for a swing set comprising: at least a pair of legs connected to a support bar for supporting at least one swing; each of the pair of legs having an upper end and a lower end; the upper end of each of the pair of legs being connected at or near an end of the support bar, the widest distance between the connected upper ends of the pair of legs being distance D1 ; the lower ends of each of the pair of legs having at least one foot for standing on the ground, the widest distance between the lower ends of the pair of legs being distance D2; wherein distance D2 is greater than distance D1 ; and at least one of the pair of legs comprising an inwardly extending support arm connected along a length of the leg between the upper and lower end thereof, the inwardly extending support arm extending from the leg and terminating at the ground within the distance D2.

[0011] The inwardly extending support arm, in embodiments, provides the frame with improved stability when compared to frames which do not have the inwardly extending support. By improved stability, it is meant that the frame moves less in all directions when the inwardly extending support is in place and the user is applying forces to the frame in use.

[0012] The present frame can be used with a swing set. However, it should be understood that other apparatus, which have force applied can be within the spirit and scope. For example, the apparatus can be another type of playground apparatus on which there is a swing or some other type of item (such as a rope, chair, platform) on which the user can swing or ride.

[0013] The frame comprises at least a pair of legs. The legs are spaced out on either side of the swing set. There can be more than two leg assemblies set apart over the span of the swing, but two is the minimum to ensure that the frame can stand up at either end. The pair of legs can comprise frame members which are the same as each other at either end of the frame. However, it should be understood that the legs in the pair of legs do not have to be identical to one another. Each of the leg assemblies (sometimes referred to simply as “legs”) can comprise a plurality of frame members joined to one another to form a structure. For example, one or both of the legs can be a ladder which comprises two vertical struts with horizontal bars along its length. In an embodiment, one or both of the legs comprises an A-frame formed by two elongate poles joined by at least one horizontal strut. The horizontal strut or cattle rail can be formed by one tube or two connected tubes. The strut can provide structural integrity to the legs in the assembly. There can be further cross bracing in the leg assembly.

[0014] Any number of frame elements can be used to form the leg. The legs can be formed from rods or tube. The rods or tubes forming each leg can be hollow. The cross section of the rod or tube of the leg is not limited but can be for example, circular. The legs can be formed from any material including metal. The leg part of the frame provides structural support to the frame and, when used as a pair, the frame is self-standing. Accordingly, the leg is configured to cause the apparatus to stand upright and to be useable as a swing set. The or each leg can form a part of a more complex frame structure with additional frame elements being attachable to them at various locations if desired.

[0015] Each leg has a lower end and an upper end. The lower end of each leg is the part that is near to or extends towards the floor or ground. The lower end of each leg has at least one foot. The foot can be for contact with the ground. The foot can be secured to the ground if desired. The foot can provide an area of increased surface area for improved stability. In some embodiments, there is no foot and instead the lower end of the leg is buried in the ground or otherwise held into its location. Each leg can be provided in one or more parts. The legs can have a continuous profile appearing to be straight. Alternatively, the legs can have bends or kinks along their lengths.

[0016] The distance between the lower ends of the pair of legs, measured as the widest distance along the ground between the spaced apart feet or buried part of the leg at the ground level, from one side of the frame to the other, can be a distance D2. Distance D2 provides space for various play equipment on the swing set including one or more swings. D2 also permits the user to walk around the frame in use and play and engage with the other users. In one or all embodiments, the legs of the frame are angled from the upper end to the lower end, so that the lower end of each leg is spaced at a distance away from the upper end of the leg. This angle or splay can provide additional structure in the frame. Therefore, the distance D2 can be longer than the horizontal top part of the frame.

[0017] At their top ends, the legs are connected to a support bar. In an embodiment, the support bar is a substantially horizontal support bar. The horizontal support bar can be formed from one or more support bars. The one or more support bars are intended to be the location at which the swing(s) or other playground apparatus are supported. The horizontal support bar can be a single beam. The horizontal support bar can be more than one beam such as in a ladder comprising a pair of beams with rungs in between them. The play equipment including swing can be attached to the horizontal support bar using known means in the art.

[0018] By substantially horizontal support bar it is meant that the support bar is about the same level as the horizontal ground on which it is located along its length. The support bar can deviate from horizontal. However, it should be understood that too much angle deviation in the support bar could cause the swing attached to the frame to swing in an unusual way or to become unstable. Nevertheless, in some designs of the frame, the support bar can be offset from horizontal, especially where the fixture is a single pivot, so non-horizontal support bars are in scope.

[0019] The upper end of each of the pair of legs is connected at or near an end of the horizontal support bar. The connection can be a permanent connection. The connection can be any means that securely joins the support bar and the leg to one another. The widest distance between the connected upper ends of the pair of legs is a distance D1.

[0020] In the frame according to the present invention, distance D2 as described herein is greater than distance D1 . The shape of the frame can be thought of as having been braced. Bracing involves positioning structural elements in a way that they support each other, creating stability by distributing forces throughout the structure. This can also be referred to as triangulation. The key principle behind triangulation is that a triangle, by nature, is a geometrically stable shape. When force is applied to a triangle, it distributes the load evenly across all three sides, maintaining its shape and providing strength and stability to the structure.

[0021] In the frame, at least one of the pair of legs, and optionally both, comprises a support arm. The support arm further braces the frame. Each support arm can be connected at the top end thereof to a location along the respective leg between the upper end and lower end thereof. The connection can be any means but should be strong and robust and able to withstand forces in use. In a preferred embodiment, the connection can be by a connector with sockets that receives the end of each tube or pole forming the leg and support arm.

[0022] The support arm can extend out from the leg at a substantially horizontal angle. In an embodiment, about one-quarter or one-fifth of the support arm can be configured almost horizontally before the support arm deviates towards the ground. The support arm curves downwardly towards the ground. The support arm can be referred to as inwardly extending with respect to the frame. The support arm terminates at the ground or is buried in the ground or otherwise secured to the ground within the distance D2. At the ground level, the support arm can have one or more feet or it can be buried in the ground similar to the description relating to the leg. Alternatively, the support arm can engage at its bottom with a socket or other holding means arranged on the ground to secure it in place.

[0023] In an embodiment, as the support arm extends towards the ground, there is a footing part of the support arm which extends for contact with the ground. The footing part can be a part of the support arm length that is substantially parallel with the lower end of the respective leg. In this embodiment, the bottom end of the support arm, which was extending away from the leg inwardly, then bends to extend back towards the leg as the footing. This deviation in the support arm can provide additional structurally rigidity to the overall frame. It can also minimise disruption caused by the support arm within distance D2. Brief Description of the Figures

[0024] Embodiments of the invention and other embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which are not drawn to scale and which are exemplary only and in which:

[0025] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swing set according to an embodiment.

[0026] Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

[0027] As can be seen in Figure 1 , the frame 10 comprises at least a pair of legs 12. Each leg assembly 12 is provided in multiple parts although the legs in the assembly as shown by poles 12’ and 12” have a continuous profile appearing to be straight. The legs 12 are spaced out on either side of the swing set 10. Each of the legs 12 comprises a plurality of frame members joined to one another to form a structure. The structure of legs shown is a A-frame formed by two elongate poles 12’, 12” joined by at least one horizontal strut 13. The horizontal strut 13 or cattle rail 13 can be formed by one tube or two connected tubes. The strut 13 is joined to the legs 12 at connector 15.

[0028] Each leg 12 has a lower end and an upper end as labelled in Figure 1 . The lower end of each leg 12 is the part that extends towards the floor or ground 22. The lower end has at least one foot 20. The foot 20 can be for contact with the ground 22. The foot 20 can be secured to the ground if desired. The foot can provide an area of increased surface area for improved stability. The upper end of the leg 12 is remote from the ground 22.

[0029] The distance between the lower ends of the pair of legs 12 is distance D2. Distance D2 provides space for various play equipment 16 on the swing set 10 including one or more swings 16. Distance D2 can one longitudinal side of the area formed by the swing set 10.

[0030] At their top ends, the legs 12 are connected to a support bar 14 which is shown as horizontal. The horizontal support bar 14 in Figure 1 as a single beam. The upper end of each of the pair of legs 12 is welded to the ends of the horizontal support bar 14. The widest distance between the connected upper ends of the pair of legs 12 to the support bar 14 is a distance D1 . In the frame shown in Figure 1 , distance D2 is greater than distance D1.

[0031] I n the frame 10 one of the pair of legs 12 comprises a support arm assembly 18 formed from support arms 18’ and 18”. The support arm 18 further braces the frame and can reduce unwanted movement in use. Each support arm 18 c an be connected at the top end thereof to a location along the respective leg 12’, 12” between the upper end and lower end thereof. The connection can be by socket connector 15 which provides a junction between the leg 12, the strut 13 and the support arm 18.

[0032] The support arm 18 can extend out from the leg at a substantially horizontal angle relative to the ground 22. The support arm 18 then deviates towards the ground 22. In an embodiment, as the support arm 18 extends towards the ground 22, there is a footing part 24 of the support arm 18 which eventually contacts with the ground 22. The footing 24 can be a part of the support arm 18 that is substantially aligned or co-planar with the lower end of the respective leg 12.

[0033] It will of course be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

[0034] It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

[0035] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[0036] Any promises made in the present description should be understood to relate to some embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to be promises made about the invention as a whole. Where there are promises that are deemed to apply to all embodiments of the invention, the applicant / patentee reserves the right to later delete them from the description and does not rely on these promises for the acceptance or subsequent grant of a patent in any country.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A frame for a swing set comprising: at least a pair of legs connected to a support bar for supporting at least one swing; each of the pair of legs having an upper end and a lower end; the upper end of each of the pair of legs being connected at or near an end of the support bar, the widest distance between the connected upper ends of the pair of legs being distance D1 ; the lower ends of each of the pair of legs having at least one foot for standing on the ground, the widest distance between the lower ends of the pair of legs being distance D2; wherein distance D2 is greater than distance D1 ; and at least one of the pair of legs comprising an inwardly extending support arm connected along a length of the leg between the upper and lower end thereof, the inwardly extending support arm extending from the leg and terminating at the ground within the distance D2.

2. The frame of claim 1 , wherein the support arm comprises a footing at the bottom thereof, the footing being a part of the support arm that extends back towards the respective leg.

3. The frame of claim 1 or 2, wherein both of the pairs of legs comprise a respective support arm.

4. The frame of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each pair of legs comprises an A- frame having two leg portions.

5. The frame of claim 4, wherein there is at least one strut between the leg portions of the A-frame.

6. The frame of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support bar is substantially horizontal.

7. The frame of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support bar comprisesa single beam.

8. The frame of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower ends of the legs are buried in the ground.

9. The frame of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the swing set is part of a larger overall playground frame.

10. The frame of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a connector is located at the junction between the leg and the support arm.

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