Recreation system with rain forest theme

• US 6,443,849 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PlayCore, Inc. (Irving Place Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: PlayCore, Inc. (Irving Place Capital Management LP)
• Inventors: Byrd, Daniel V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/592,152
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/136, 472/81, 472/64, 482/35, 482/36, 482/148, 434/150, 434/151, D21/811, D21/814, D21/826, D21/818, D21/820, 521/692, 521/74, 521/75, 428/15, 428/17, 428/18
• US Class Current: 472/116
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/006 Playground structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 9/00 Climbing poles, frames, or stages climbing walls for mountaineering training A63B69/0048; endless loop ladders A63B22/04

Abstract

A recreation system resembling a jungle scene is provided with platform elements surrounded by and elevated by support members disguised to look like bamboo rods and tree branches with leaves. The support elements are generally made of pipe materials covered with foam and plastic cable ties so as to resemble bamboo. The tree branch elements are interlocking members designed to appear as tree branches and are changeable to allow for different configurations of tree elements by pulling the present elements apart and then pushing them together in other configurations. The recreation system includes jungle and bird noises and simulated lightning and thunder which are activated during play on the recreation system. The recreation system allows the user to pretend to be in a jungle setting during play.

Claims

1. A recreation system comprising:

at least one platform for bearing at least one person;

actuatable sensor elements and actuatable sound producing elements, responsive to said sensor elements, such that upon actuation of said sensor elements said sound producing elements can be actuated;

support members elevating said platform above a surface, said support members being extendable above said platform; and

,

said support members resembling plant parts such that said recreation system resembles a rain forest scene.

2. The recreation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said sensor elements is a vibration sensor and the presence of a person proximate to said sensor can activate said sound system.

3. The recreation system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said sensor elements is a motion sensor and the movement of a person proximate to said sensor can activate said sound system.

4. A recreation system comprising:

at least one platform for bearing at least one person;

at least one actuatable sensor element and visual effect producing elements responsive to sensor elements, such that upon actuation of a sensor element a visual effect can be produced;

support members elevating said platform above a surface, said support members being extendable above said platform; and

,

said support members resembling plant parts such that said recreation system resembles a rain forest scene.

5. The recreation system of claim 4, wherein said visual effect producing elements can include light fixtures which emulate lightning strikes when activated.

6. A recreation system comprising:

a plurality of platforms, each platform capable of bearing at least one person;

a plurality of support members, a number of said support members elevating each of said platforms to a desired height above a surface, said support members being extendable above said platforms;

said support members comprising pipe sections decorated to resemble plant parts, including bamboo plants and trees;

said support members decorated to resemble trees further including decorative materials resembling branches having leaves, tree trunks and tree roots, such that said recreation system resembles a rain forest scene; and

,

a sound production system including actuatable sensor elements and actuatable sound producing elements, including vibration and motion sensors, said sound production system being responsive to said sensor elements, such that upon actuation of said sensor elements said sound producing elements can be actuated.

7. The recreation system of claim 6, wherein said support members and decorative materials can be assembled together to resemble trees of various shapes.

8. The recreation system of claim 6, wherein said decorative materials comprise a plurality of artificial tree branches each comprised of a at least one tubular padded post having a skeletal structure inserted therein, said tubular padded posts having artificial leaves inserted thereon, said skeletal structure and padded posts being manipulable such that a plurality of tree design configurations can be constructed therefrom.

9. The recreation system of claim 6, including at least one actuatable sensor element and visual effect producing elements, responsive to sensor elements, such that upon actuation of a sensor element a visual effect can be produced.

10. The recreation system of claim 6, wherein said visual effects can include light fixtures which emulate lightning strikes when activated.