IP Library Granted Patent US 8,777,767
Granted Patent B2
US 8,777,767 · App. 13/343,760 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Hybrid play set

Inventors: Robert G. Kopp (Elburn, IL); Michael R. Vogler (Oswego, IL); Torrence Anderson (Overland Park, KS)
Assignee: Suncast Technologies, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,777,767
App. No.
13/343,760
Granted
Jul 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hybrid play set is disclosed which includes twin towers. Each of the towers includes at least two levels. A play house and an enclosed area can be provided within one tower. A sand box, a ladder, a slide and a climbing wall can be provided within the other tower. A swing set is also secured to one side of one of the towers. The components from which the play set is made can be plow molded plastic, wood or a composite of blow molded plastic and wood/metal reinforcement.

Claims (27)

1. A play set comprising:

a plurality of tiers, said tiers being secured together, each said tier having an upper level and a lower level, at least one of said upper level or said lower level being enclosed by a plurality of walls;

at least one of said upper level or said lower level having no walls and being open on all sides, said upper level including a floor panel said floor panel includes a plurality of features along a perimeter, said features enable said walls to be secured to said floor panel without the use of fasteners, an underside of said floor panels including a plurality of tack offs which provide reinforcement of said floor panel;

at least one of a slide, a ladder, and a climbing wall being secured to one of said upper level, said upper level to which said at least one said slide, said ladder and said climbing wall is secured being open on all sides;

at least one of said lower level having a play house;

all of said upper levels having a roof enclosing a top of said upper levels; and

a swing set secured at one end to one of said tiers, an opposite end of said swing set having a frame which supports said swing set on a surface.

2. The play set of claim 1 wherein said walls, said roofs, said play house, said climbing wall, and said ladder are made from blow molded plastic.

3. The play set of claim 1 wherein said walls, said roofs, said play house, said climbing wall, and said ladder are made from blow molded plastic with a reinforcing member within said blow molded plastic.

4. The play set of claim 1 wherein each said tier includes a plurality of vertical posts, said posts extending from a surface upward to an upper portion of said tier; and

a plurality of roof rafters secured between two of said posts, said roof rafters providing support for said roof.

5. The play set of claim 4 including a plurality of cross members secured between said posts, each said cross member being secured to at least two posts.

6. The play set of claim 5 wherein said cross members are secured to said posts at a lower end of said posts, at an intermediate height of said posts, and at an upper portion of said posts.

7. The play set of claim 6 including a plurality of floor joists secured to said cross members at an intermediate height of said posts; and

a floor panel secured to both said cross members at an intermediate height of said posts and said floor joists.

8. The play set of claim 4 including at least one gable secured to said roof rafters.

9. The play set of claim 1 wherein said upper level to which said at least one said slide, said ladder, and said climbing wall is secured having grab rails adjacent said open side, said grab rails being secured to said posts.

10. The play set of claim 1 wherein said swing set is made from blow molded plastic with reinforcements therein, thereby preventing injures from rough wood surfaces and splinters from wood.

11. The play set of claim 1 including a plurality of windows secured to at least one of said upper levels.

12. The play set of claim 11 wherein openings of said windows are constructed and arranged to prevent children from crawling through said windows.

13. The play set of claim 1 wherein said play house includes a door on one side and a plurality of short walls on the remaining sides of said play house.

14. The play set of claim 13 wherein one of said short walls of said play house has a countertop secured to an upper side thereof.

15. The play set of claim 1 wherein said climbing wall includes a plurality of hand holds secured to an upper surface of said climbing wall, said hand holds are secured to said climbing wall with a plurality of removable fasteners.

16. The play set of claim 1 wherein said walls include at least one tab, said tab engaging said feature of said floor panel thereby securing said wall to said floor panel.

17. The play set of claim 1 where each said roof includes two roof sections secured to each other along one side of each of said roof sections by a living hinge.

18. The play set of claim 1 wherein said tiers are different heights.

19. The play set of claim 2 wherein said walls, said roofs, said play house, said climbing wall, and said ladder are made from blow molded plastic having different colors.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2019
From: SUNCAST TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048840/0588 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2012
From: KOPP, ROBERT G.; VOGLER, MICHAEL R.; ANDERSON, TORRENCE
To: SUNCAST TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 027481/0991 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130178299A1 · Jul 11, 2013