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Playground equipmentRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Gymnastic, Play Area Climbing Or Traversing Arrangement (i.e., For Use By Children)Playground equipment description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080051257, Playground equipment. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/839,559, filed Aug. 23, 2006 and entitled PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention is generally related to playground equipment. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Conventional playground equipment is often used in a variety of locations and environments such as parks and schools. Children often use playground equipment for games, exercises and other activities. [0006] Conventional playground equipment is frequently constructed from materials such as wood. Conventional playground equipment constructed from wood, however, is relatively expensive and the wood must generally be treated or finished before use. For example, the wood may be sanded and/or painted. Disadvantageously, the wood may deteriorate over time, even if the wood is frequently repainted or refinished. If the wood deteriorates, then it may have to be replaced, which may be difficult, time consuming and costly. [0007] In addition, conventional playground equipment constructed from materials such as wood may be relatively heavy, which may make the playground equipment more difficult to install and more expensive to ship and transport. Conventional playground equipment may also include large components that may be heavy and difficult to ship. For example, known playground equipment may include components that are large, bulky and unwieldy to move. Disadvantageously, these large components may significantly increase shipping costs and make the equipment difficult to install and/or assemble. [0008] Known playground equipment may also be difficult to ship because it may be packaged within a number of large boxes. These boxes may be very heavy and awkward to move. Further, a large amount of unused spaced may be located within the boxes, which may require a large amount of shipping materials to fill the unused spaced. Various portions of conventional playground equipment may also require specialized boxes or containers, which may undesirably increase shipping and transportation costs. [0009] Conventional playground equipment may also require a significant amount of space for use. Disadvantageously, this may prevent the playground equipment from being used in many desired locations. For example, the playground equipment may be too large to fit within a consumer's yard. In addition, even if the consumer has sufficient space in their yard, the playground equipment may have a configuration that is incompatible with the available space. For instance, the playground equipment may have a length or width that is too large. [0010] Known playground equipment is typically arranged into a specific pattern or layout. Unfortunately, the pattern or layout may not be in the most efficient or desired configuration for a particular consumer. In addition, conventional playground equipment can include components that the consumer does not desire, while failing to include components that the consumer does desire. Accordingly, in order to allow for the different demands of the consumer, the manufacturer may have to make several different types of playground equipment and the retailer may have to carry several different types of playground equipment. Disadvantageously, the different type of playground equipment may increase manufacturing costs and require additional storage space. [0011] Playground equipment may include swings, which include a seat connected to a support structure using a plurality of chains. For example, some swings include a seat that has an elongated shape extending between the ends of the seat, which are connected to a support structure by a pair of chains. Some swings include a tire that is connected to a support structure by a plurality of chains connected to a hook attached to the support structure. Unfortunately, these and other swings may have a larger range of motion, which may cause the swings to inadvertently contact other portions of the playground equipment and thus disrupt or interfere with the use of the swing. BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0012] A need therefore exists for playground equipment that eliminates or diminishes the disadvantages and problems described above. [0013] One aspect is playground equipment that may include a variety of different types of equipment. For example, the playground equipment may include a main structure such as a playhouse. The main structure may include a floor and it may be raised above the ground. The main structure may also include railings, a roof, walls and the like. [0014] Another aspect is playground equipment that may include a number of components or pieces. For example, the playground equipment may include a main structure, a swing set, a climbing wall, a slide, monkey bars, a picnic table, sandbox, a ladder and/or the like. Advantageously, the playground equipment may include any desired number and type of components. Significantly, the components may be interconnected into any desired arrangement or configuration. [0015] Still another aspect is the playground equipment may include attachment portions that are sized and configured to facilitate connection of the various components. The attachment portions may assist in connecting the components in the desired arrangement or configuration. For example, the attachment portions may allow components, such as monkey bars or swing sets, to be attached to different portions of the main structure. [0016] A further aspect is playground equipment that may include one or more components that can be interchangeable. This may allow different configurations and arrangements of the playground equipment to be created. For example, various components may be connected to different structures or components to create various suitable configurations and arrangements. Significantly, this may allow the playground equipment to be customized to accommodate the needs of particular retailers and/or consumers. Further, because the components of the playground equipment may be arranged in a variety of configurations and combinations, this may reduce manufacturing costs. [0017] A still further aspect is playground equipment that may include a support structure. The support structure may include a platform and the platform may be raised above the ground. If desired, the support structure may include walls, railings, a roof and the like. The support structure may also be sized and configured to allow other components to be attached. For example, one or more swing sets, climbing walls, slides, monkey bars, picnic tables, sandboxes and the like may be attached to the support structure. In addition, one or more of these components may be sized and configured to be connected to a specific portion of the support structure such a frame or platform. This may facilitate attachment of the components in a suitable arrangement or configuration. [0018] Another further aspect is playground equipment that may include a support structure, and the support structure may include a platform and a plurality of supports sized and configured to position the platform above the ground. The supports may include two or more generally vertical supports and/or two or more generally angled supports. The generally angled supports are preferably positioned at an offset angle relative to the generally vertical supports. For example, the generally angled supports may be positioned about 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees or more offset from the generally vertical supports. The supports preferably include a pair of generally vertical supports and a pair of angled supports, and the pair of angled supports may be interconnected form an upside down V-shaped configuration. Desirably, the pair of angled supports may form a part of a swing set. [0019] Yet another aspect is playground equipment that may include a swing. The swing may include a seat and one or more tethers, such as chains, ropes, cables or the like, attached to the seat. In greater detail, the swing may have one chain, rope, cable or the like attached at the center of the seat, or it may have three chains, ropes or cables attached at three different portions of the seat. The playground equipment may also include a support structure, and the chains, ropes, cables or the like may be attached to the support structure, which may allow the seat to hang from the support structure. The chains, ropes, cables or the like are preferably attached to a plurality of generally fixed locations on the support structure and/or the seat. In particular, the chains, ropes, cables or the like are preferably attached to plurality of spaced apart portions of the seat and/or to a plurality of spaced apart portions of the support structure. Attaching the chains, ropes, cables or the like to a plurality of spaced apart portions of the seat and/or support structure may more effectively limit the movement of the seat to a desired range of motion, which may advantageously help prevent the seat from inadvertently contacting other portions of the playground equipment. The spaced apart portions of the support structure may be spaced apart, for example, at least about 6 inches, 12 inches, 18 inches or 24 inches apart from each other; and the spaced apart portions of the seat may be spaced apart, for example, at least about 6 inches, 12 inches, 18 inches or 24 inches apart from each other. [0020] A further aspect is playground equipment that may include a swing including a seat and at least three chains, ropes, cables or the like. The chains, ropes, cables or the like are preferably attached to plurality of spaced apart portions of the seat and/or to a plurality of spaced apart portions of the support structure. The spaced apart portions of the seat may be arranged in a generally regular polygon arrangement (such as a generally regular triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, etc.). The spaced apart portions of the support structure may also be arranged in a generally regular polygon arrangement. [0021] Yet another aspect is playground equipment that may include a swing including a seat. The seat may include at least three elongated portions extending from a generally central portion of the seat. Desirably, some or all of the elongated portions may be sized and configured to allow a child to sit upon the elongated portion. For example, a seat with three elongated portions may provide seating to accommodate three children. Continue reading about Playground equipment... Full patent description for Playground equipment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Playground equipment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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