Granted Patent B2

US 12,723,685 · App. 18/723,320 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Joe Andon (Wakerley, AU); Akira Yamada (Wakerley, AU); Michael Williams (Wakerley, AU)

Assignee: Systems IP Pty Ltd

F16L19/005A63B5/11A63B2009/006

Abstract

Claims (31)

1 . A frame having a connector system, said frame configured for an apparatus intended to be walked on, swung on or jumped on in use, the connector system comprising

a plurality of frame elements, each frame element comprising an insertion portion, at least one protrusion, and frame element rotation reducing portions;

a plurality of first connector members, each first connector member configured to receive the insertion portion of at least one frame element into a channel of each first connector member;

a plurality of second connector members, each second connector member configured to mate with one first connector member;

whereupon insertion of the insertion portion of at least one frame element into a first connector channel of the one first connector member, and mating of the one first connector member with one second connector member,

the at least one frame element cannot be removed from the one first connector member due to the at least one protrusion of each frame element engaging with the one second connector member; and

the at least one frame element is substantially unable to rotate in the one first connector member due to the frame element rotation reducing portions engaging with the first connector channel of the one first connector member.

2 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein each frame element has a longitudinal axis, and the frame element rotation reducing portions comprise longitudinal splines, each longitudinal spline having a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of each frame element, and

wherein each longitudinal spline has a front wall and a rear wall, and the front wall of each longitudinal spline forms a series of protrusions thereby providing the at least one protrusion.

3 . The frame having the connector system of claim 2 , wherein there are at least 8 longitudinal splines.

4 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is a circumferential protrusion.

5 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is integral with the insertion portion of each frame element.

6 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein an inside wall of the first connector channel of each first connector comprises first connector rotation reducing portions, wherein the first connector rotation reducing portions and the frame element rotation reducing portions engage with one another and are unable to pass over one another and thereby substantially prevent rotation.

7 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein each second connector member mates with each first connector member by complementary screw threads on an outside wall of each first connector member and an inside wall of cach second connector member.

8 . The frame having the connector system of claim 7 , configured to generate an aural indicator as each second connector member is screwed onto each first connector member.

9 . The frame having the connector system of claim 8 , wherein each first connector member comprises a series of teeth arranged around the periphery of an outside surface of the channel of each first connector member, and each second connector member comprises at least one ratchet arm, engageable with teeth during connection of each second connector member to each first connector member.

10 . The frame having the connector system of claim 9 , wherein the teeth are each sized and shaped to make a different pitch of sound as the ratchet arm moves over the teeth.

11 . The frame having the connector system of claim 9 , wherein the ratchet arm comprises a head that substantially prevents rotational movement of each second connector member in one direction once in place on each first connector member.

12 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein each second connector member is provided in two half-parts which come together to form each second connector member.

13 . The frame having the connector system of claim 12 , wherein each half part of the each second connector comprises a part of a barrier wall which sandwiches the at least one protrusion between each first connector member and each second connector member.

14 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein each frame element is substantially circular in cross-section and each first connector member and each second connector member are each configured to receive frame elements being substantially circular in cross-section.

15 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein the frame is rigid in an XY plane under application of 500 Newtons of force.

16 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein each frame element is held about its entire outer periphery with substantially equal forces.

17 . The frame having the connector system of claim 1 , wherein each first and second connector member is formed from a plastic polymer and each frame element is metal.

18 . An apparatus supported by a frame having frame elements connected by the connector system of claim 1 .

19 . A first connector member for use in the connector system of claim 1 .

20 . A kit for building a playground apparatus, the kit comprising the following components,

a plurality of frame elements according to claim 1 ;

a plurality of first connector members according to claim 1 ;

a plurality of second connector members according to claim 1 ;

the components of the kit being provided with instructions on how to use the components in the connector system according to claim 1 .

Priority Claims (3)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (18)