BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many playgrounds include elevated play structures as a central attraction. These elevated play structures provide children with various opportunities to climb to one or more heights and then slide down using one or more slides. Inevitably, children attempt to climb up the one or more slides to access the elevated play structures, which can lead to congestion and, in some cases, potentially dangerous situations. The present invention provides climbing units that are easily distinguished from slides and that offer a variety of enjoyable climbing experiences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to climbing units and other playground units (e.g. slides and the like) that provide an enhanced play experience, such as through the incorporation of one or more of a variety of different novel climbing elements (e.g. net-containing portions, suspended portions, etc.) and/or through a novel mounting assembly that reduces or eliminates obstructions on the play surface in the vicinity of the unit, and to playground structures that contain one or more of those climbing units.

In some embodiments, the climber unit may comprise one or more rigid portions and one or more net-containing portions connected end-to-end to produce a continuous climbing pathway. The rigid portion may comprise a tubular element having a central opening through which a child climbs. The net-containing portion may include a plurality of cords arranged to form a net over which a child climbs.

In some embodiments, the net-containing portion may also include a structure providing the child with at least a partial enclosure. This structure may be rigid, e.g. support bars, or flexible, e.g. protective netting. The combination of the net and the protective structure may define a central opening through which a child climbs (e.g. one that corresponds with that of a connected tubular portion). In other embodiments, the net-containing portion may not include any additional protective structure (for instance, where the climber unit is mounted close to the ground or play surface).

In some embodiments, the net-containing portion may be connected directly to flanges of the rigid tubular portions. For instance, the net may have first and second ends, each of which is secured to a flange of an adjacent tube portion. Similarly, the structure providing at least a partial enclosure may have first and second ends, each of which is also secured to a flange of an adjacent tube portion. In other embodiments, the net-containing portion may itself comprise a flange, which may be secured to a flange of an adjacent tube portion. In either case, one or more of the flanges may also include an additional element, such as a retaining ring or reinforcing plate, that provides additional structural support.

In some embodiments, the climber unit may comprise one or more rigid portions and one or more suspended portions connected end-to-end to produce a continuous climbing pathway. The rigid portion may comprise a tubular element having a central opening through which a child climbs. The suspended portion may also comprise a tubular element having a central opening through which a child climbs. The suspended element may be attached to adjacent rigid portions by flexible couplers, such as a coupler comprising a plurality of flexible cords. Due to the flexible coupling with adjacent rigid portions, the suspended portion (which may itself be made of a rigid material) will move when a child climbs on or through it. Some embodiments of the climber unit may include more than one suspended portions adjacent to one another. In those embodiments, the adjacent suspended portions may be joined by a single flexible coupler for example.

In some embodiments, the climber unit may be suspended from an elevated playground structure through the use of one or more coupling units, each of which is configured to mount an elevated section of the climber unit to a support post of the playground structure. These coupling units, which may include overhead trusses and/or underside coupling units, remove the need for footers connecting the elevated sections of the unit to the play surface. By removing footers connecting the climber unit to the play surface, one may provide a playground having an improved play space with fewer obstacles to free play. Indeed, the coupling units described herein are not limited to use on the enhanced climber units described herein. Instead, the overhead truss aspect of the present disclosure may be used to mount any number of play devices, including conventional climber units, slides, and the like, from an elevated play structure to achieve the same benefits.

Embodiments of the climber units may be attached to an elevated playground structure in a number of ways. For instance, a first end of the climber unit may be attached to an elevated playground structure and a second end of the climber unit may be freestanding. Optionally, the freestanding end61may be accessed by way of a net36positioned between the freestanding end and the play surface200. Alternatively, both ends of the climber unit may be attached to an elevated playground structure, such as at different elevations.

