The current invention relates to a climbing structure arranged on a supporting surface, said climbing structure comprising: a first vertical post arranged on the supporting surface, a second vertical post arranged on the supporting surface and arranged offset from the first vertical post in a horizontal direction, a first climbing element connected to the first and the second vertical post to span the distance between the first and second vertical posts and a second climbing element connected to the first and the second vertical posts to span the distance between the first and second vertical posts, said second climbing element being arranged above the first climbing element and where the first and second climbing elements have a length (between the posts), a height (parallel to the posts) and a thickness (perpendicular to the plane of the area between the posts), said length being at least 1 ,5 times greater than the height.

Description of related art

Climbing structures for playgrounds are well known in the art. Such climbing structures are typically arranged as vertically arranged structures on which children can climb. A very simple form of climbing structure is a ladder like construction with wooden rungs. However, more complex forms of climbing structures are available where vertically arranged plates are provided and climbing grips are attached to the plates via screws. Other climbing structures can be provided with large rectangular plates with handholds formed directly in the plate.

The known climbing structures can however be complicated and/or expensive to build. Furthermore, for the climbing structures which comprise plates and handholds screwed to the plate, complicated assembly is required. Furthermore for the structures which comprises large pre-moulded plates, these can be expensive to manufacture and can be a bit monotonous to climb on due to the lack of variety.

Summary of the invention

A first aspect of the current invention is therefore to provide a climbing structure which has a large number of assembly variations while maintaining a low number of product variants which need to be manufactured and kept in stock.

A second aspect of the current invention is to provide a climbing structure which is easy to assemble.

These aspects are provided at least in part via a climbing structure as mentioned in the opening paragraph and comprising the features in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

In this way a simple construction is provided based on simple climbing elements which can be mounted to the vertical poles with different spacings, thereby achieving a very varied appearance and experience for the climber.

In one embodiment, the recess on the lower edge and/or the recess on the bottom edge defines a projected area of at least 5 square centimetres, at least 10 square centimetres or at least 15 square centimetres on a vertical plane passing through the connections between the climbing element and the vertical posts.

In one embodiment, the length of the climbing element is at least 2 times, at least 2,5 times or at least 3 times the height of the climbing element. In one embodiment the climbing element is made in a rotation moulding process. In one embodiment, the thickness of the climbing element is at least 10% of the height, at least 15% of the height or at least 20% of the height. By making the element thick, the stiffness of the climbing element can be increased. In certain embodiments, a ridge is provided along the upper and/or lower surface of the climbing element. In certain embodiments, the ridge is in the shape of a gripping element for providing a better grip for the climber. According to one embodiment, the ridge is formed as an upwardly/downwardly protruding flange which extends along at least 50% of the upper/lower edge of the climbing element. In one embodiment, the height of the ridge is at least 3%, at least 5%, at least 7% or at least 10% of the height of the climbing element. In one embodiment, the free edge of the ridge has a rounded shape to be comfortable for holding.

In one embodiment, there is space between the first and second climbing modules. In one embodiment the climber is able to look through the climbing structure via the space between the first and the second climbing modules. In this way, an airy lighter structure is provided when compared to traditional structures where grips are mounted on large plates. In one embodiment, the space is a vertical space which is at least 50% of the height of the first and/or the second climbing element.

In one embodiment, the first climbing element and/or the second climbing element have/has an arc shaped cross section taken on a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first or second vertical posts. In one embodiment, the arc has a radius less than 100m, less than 80m, less than 50m, less than 30m, less than 20m or less than 10m. In one embodiment, the minimum horizontal distance from the centre of gravity of the climbing element to a vertical plane which intersects the connection between the climbing element and the two vertical poles is greater than 0, greater than 1 cm, greater than 5cm or greater than 10cm. In one embodiment, the first and second climbing elements are identical. In this way, the number of product variants is reduced and the number of elements which need to be manufactured and stocked is reduced.

In one embodiment, the upper and lower edges of the first and/or the second climbing elements are not symmetrical about a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertical posts. By having different upper and lower edges, the climbing element is made more versatile and by rotating the element about its centre, different functionalities can be provided.

In one embodiment, the first and/or the second climbing elements each comprise at least one through going opening suitable for use as climbing grips. In one embodiment, the open area of the through going openings is greater than 10 square centimetres, greater than 15 square centimetres or greater than 20 square centimetres. In one embodiment, the inside surface of a through opening comprises an inwardly protruding ridge. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the ridge is flush with the outer surface of the climbing module.

In one embodiment, the first climbing element bends one way and the second climbing element bends in the opposite direction when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the first and/or second posts. In one embodiment, the distance between opposite ends of the climbing element is shorter than the distance between the first and second posts from centre to centre.

In one embodiment, the climbing structure further comprises a third climbing element arranged above the second climbing element, the vertical distance between the first and second climbing elements being different than the vertical distance between the second and third climbing element. In one embodiment, the third climbing element is identical to the first and/or the second climbing element.

In one embodiment, the climbing structure further comprises an additional vertical supporting element arranged between the two vertical posts, said additional vertical supporting element being connected to the first and the second climbing element and being connected to a supporting surface. In one embodiment, the additional vertical supporting element is arranged centred between the two vertical posts. In one embodiment, the additional vertical supporting element is arranged parallel with the first and/or second vertical posts.

The invention also relates to a climbing element which is suitable for a climbing structure and where the climbing element has a length which is at least two times greater than its height and in that the upper and/or lower edge of the climbing element comprises a recess. In one embodiment, the climbing element has a length which is greater than 60cm, greater than 80cm, greater than 100cm or greater than 125cm.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising/comprised of when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to embodiments shown by the enclosed figures. It should be emphasized that the embodiments shown are used for example purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of a climbing structure according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the climbing structure of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the climbing structure of figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the climbing structure of figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a rear view of the climbing structure of figure 1. Figure 6 shows an exploded perspective view showing the connection between a climbing element and a post.

Figure 7 shows a cross section view showing the connection between a climbing element and a post.

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of a climbing structure using the same climbing elements as the climbing structure of figure 1 , but with a different arrangement and more variation. Figure 9 shows some different views of the climbing element of figure 1. It is noted that the views show tangent lines to show curvature of the surfaces of the element. The person skilled in the art of technical drawings will be able to interpret the tangent lines and replace them with appropriate shading lines if necessary. Figure 10 shows another embodiment of a climbing structure according to the current invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments

The climbing structure 1 shown in figures 1 to 7 is a first embodiment of a climbing structure according to the current invention. The climbing structure comprises a first vertical post 2 and a second vertical post 4. The first and second vertical posts are supported on a supporting surface (not shown) via a foundation element (not shown). This type of arrangement is well known and could take many forms. One non limiting example is a supporting surface of pavement where the posts are mounted to steel foundations which are bolted into the pavement. Another non limiting example is where the supporting surface is earth and the posts are wooden posts which are at least partially buried in the earth. In one embodiment, the posts are embedded in concrete. In one embodiment, the posts are steel tubes.

In this embodiment, five identical climbing elements 6 are arranged between the posts. Each climbing element is attached to the post via two fittings 8 arranged at each end of the climbing element. As can be seen from the figures, the climbing elements are all identical, but are arranged differently to provide a more interesting visual impression. In this case, the climbing elements are rotated about the centre axis of the elements. In this embodiment, the climbing elements are provided with upper and lower edges 10,12. Each upper and lower edge is provided with a recess 14,16. Furthermore, the climbing elements are provide with through going openings 17 which can be used as hand and/or foot holds. In another embodiment (not shown), protrusions could be formed on the outwardly and/or inwardly facing surfaces of the climbing elements to act as hand and/or foot holds.

As can be seen from the figures, the climbing elements 6 are bent to form arc shaped elements. In this way, the centre portion of the climbing elements extends outwardly past the plane which connects the two vertical posts. This gives a more dynamic arrangement of the climbing elements. As can be seen from figure 10 which shows another embodiment of the climbing structure, the climbing elements can be mounted to the vertical posts about opposite axes to give an even more dynamic appearance.

In the current embodiment, an additional vertical supporting element 18 is provided to support the central portion of the climbing elements. In this embodiment, the additional vertical supporting element is provided in the form of a vertical post which is supported on the ground and which is screwed into the rear surfaces of the climbing elements. The additional vertical supporting element is arranged to connect to all five of the climbing elements.

Figures 6 and 7 show some more details of how the climbing elements are connected to the posts. In this example a metal fitting 20 is fastened to the post via a screw (not shown). The climbing element is then pressed against the fitting 20 and then a screw 22 is used to fasten the climbing element to the metal fitting via a wedge shaped washer element 24. A lid 26 is provided to cover the opening in the washer element. A cover element 28 is provided to cover the screw connection of the metal fitting to the post. In this way, no screws are visible and a clean visual appearance is provided in addition to being a safe arrangement with no risk for kids to catch clothing or body parts in screws or openings. A similar mounting system is described in more detail in applicant’s previously filed patent application WO2015140284A1 which is incorporated herein in its entirety. The previously described mounting system could be used in this structure as well. Furthermore, climbing elements as described in this specification could be mixed with the elements described in the applicant’s previous application.

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment 100 of a climbing structure according to the current invention. In this embodiment, three vertical posts and two additional vertical supporting elements are provided. Nine identical climbing elements are provided where the spacing between adjacent climbing elements is non uniform and the arrangement of the climbing elements is also non uniform. This provides an interesting climbing structure with many different variations, even though all the climbing elements are identical. This provides interesting structures, while requiring only a single variant to be manufactured and kept in stock.

Figure 9 shows a number of views of a climbing element 6. These views could be used to form the basis for a design application. It is to be noted that the views show tangent lines. Tangent lines are typically used in CAD drawings to show details of surfaces. A technical draftsperson will have enough basis from these drawings to provide better drawings with different shading lines.

In this embodiment of the climbing element, the climbing element is made via rotation moulding operation where relatively large elements can be made with a hollow centre portion to reduce weight while still providing the necessary stiffness. Flence the thickness of the climbing elements is relatively thick when compared to the height. Due to this, in order to make the climbing elements easier to hold onto, the upper and lower edges 12, 14 are formed with a gripping edge 102, where the thickness of the upper and lower edge are thinner than the central portion of the climbing elements. The gripping edge 102 could also be considered to be a ridge formed on the upper portion of the climbing element for making it easier to grip the edge.

Figure 10 shows a third embodiment of a climbing structure according to the current invention. In this case, the climbing element is again the same as in the first and second embodiments, but in this case, the climbing elements are arranged slightly differently to again provide a completely different climbing experience. While the embodiments of climbing structures shown in figures 1 to 8 and 10 have shown climbing structures comprising only a single version of a climbing element, within the scope of the current invention, climbing structures could be imagined which have more than one different type of climbing element.

It is to be noted that the figures and the above description have shown the example embodiments in a simple and schematic manner. Many of the specific mechanical details have not been shown since the person skilled in the art should be familiar with these details and they would just unnecessarily complicate this description. For example, the specific materials used and the specific injection moulding procedure have not been described in detail since it is maintained that the person skilled in the art would be able to find suitable materials and suitable processes to manufacture the container according to the current invention.