Participatory play structure having discrete play articles

• US 6,283,871 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 07-12690, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Koala Corporation
• Inventors: Briggs, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/133,505
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 472/136, 482/35, 482/36, 482/37, 273/335, 124/16, 124/17, 124/23.1, 124/29.1, 124/36
• US Class Current: 472/136
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/002 Flat climbing nets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/006 Playground structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/008 with water spraying means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2047/028 pneumatic ball transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/025 Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/40 Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405; traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 9/00 Climbing poles, frames, or stages climbing walls for mountaineering training A63B69/0048; endless loop ladders A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0087 with means for producing an air current
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0092 Air gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/02 Shooting or hurling games throwing-implements for sports or recreational use A63B65/00; throwing or projecting toys per se A63H33/18; gun simulators F41A33/00, e.g. light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; practice apparatus for gun-aiming F41G3/26, e.g. using a light-emitting device F41G3/2616; targets, target ranges, bullet catchers F41J, photo-electric hit-detector systems F41J5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water

Abstract

An interactive play system and method of interactive play is provided in which a plurality of interactive play elements are provided for creating various desired effects utilizing soft foam balls or other suitable play media. The interactive play system comprises a multi-level support structure on which the interactive play elements are disposed. These allow play participants to create desired play effects using a fun and familiar play media. Some of the play elements may be multi-order play elements in that they receive play media from a first effect to create yet another effect. Various play-participant-operated conveyers are provided throughout the structure for transporting play media from a source to the various interactive play elements.

Claims

1. A play structure for amusing or entertaining one or more play participants comprising:

a support structure for safely supporting one or more play participants;

a source of play media comprising a plurality of discrete play articles, said play articles comprising an impact-safe foam or plastic ball or projectile; and

means provided in, on, or around the support structure for allowing play participants to create desired effects using the play media, said effects creating means comprising at least one projectile accelerator for accelerating or shooting said play media at one or more targets or other play participants.

2. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the play media comprises soft foam, balls.

3. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the play media comprises hollow plastic balls.

4. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the play media comprises soft foam balls.

5. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the projectile accelerator comprises a pump-gun accelerator.

6. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the projectile accelerator comprises a cannon accelerator.

7. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the projectile accelerator comprises a catapult, cross-bow or sling-shot accelerator.

8. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the effects creating means comprises at least one spilling basket adapted to be filled or emptied by play participants.

9. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the effects creating means comprises at least one a geyser adapted to eject play media generally upward.

10. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the effects creating means comprises at least one second-order play element adapted to receive play media from a first effect to create a second effect.

11. The play structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising play participant operated means mounted in, on, or around the support frame for circulating or transporting the play media to the effects creating means.

12. The play structure in accordance with claim 11, wherein the play media circulating means comprises one or more hollow pneumatic conduits.

13. A play structure for amusing or entertaining play participants comprising:

a support structure for safely supporting one or more play participants;

play media comprising a plurality of discrete play articles, said play articles comprising impact-safe foam or plastic balls or projectiles disposed in, on or around the support structure; and

a plurality of interactive play elements provided in, on, or around the support structure for allowing play participants to create desired effects using the play media, wherein at least one of the interactive play elements comprises a projectile accelerator adapted to allow a play participant to accelerate or shoot play media at one or more targets or other play participants or to achieve a desired effect.

14. The play structure in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one of the interactive play elements comprises a second-order play element adapted to receive play media from a first effect to create a second effect.

15. The play structure in accordance with claim 13, further comprising play participant operated means for circulating or transporting the play media to one or more of the interactive play elements.

16. A play structure for amusing or entertaining play participants using a plurality of discrete play articles comprising impact-safe foam or plastic balls or projectiles, said play structure comprising:

a support frame for safely supporting one or more play participants; and

a plurality of interactive play elements provided in, on, or around the support frame for allowing play participants to create desired effects using the play media, wherein at least one of the interactive play elements comprises a projectile accelerator adapted to allow a play participant to accelerate or shoot play media at one or more targets other play participants.

17. The play structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein the projectile accelerator comprises a pump-gun, catapult, cross-bow or sling-shot accelerator.

18. The play structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one of the interactive play elements comprises a spilling basket adapted to be filled or emptied by play participants.

19. The play structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one of the interactive play elements comprises a geyser adapted to eject play media generally upward.

20. The play structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one of the interactive play elements comprises a second-order play element adapted to receive play media from a first effect to create a second effect.

21. The play structure in accordance with claim 16, further comprising play participant operated means mounted in, on, or around the support frame for circulating or transporting the play media to one or more of the interactive play elements.

22. A play structure for amusing and entertaining play participants using pneumatically propelled impact-safe projectiles comprising:

a plurality of support members assembled together in cooperative relationship to form a support frame and/or elevated platform for safely supporting one or more play participants thereon;

at least one play-participant-actuated pneumatic accelerator mounted and arranged on the support frame so as to receive one or more of said impact-safe projectiles, said at least one pneumatic accelerator being operable by one or more play participants to impart energy to said one or more impact-safe projectiles so as to pneumatically propel said one or more projectiles into the air and/or at a selected target;

whereby the play structure enables play participants to safely observe and experiment with various pneumatic effects.

23. The play structure of claim 22 wherein said at least one play-participant-actuated pneumatic accelerator comprises a solenoid-activated pneumatic accelerator.

24. The play structure of claim 22 wherein a source of compressed air is provided in pneumatic communication with said at least one play-participant-actuated pneumatic accelerator.

25. The play structure of claim 22 wherein said one or more impact-safe projectiles comprise foam balls.

26. The play structure of claim 25 further comprising one or more conduits for supplying said foam balls from a collection source to said at least one play-participant-actuated pneumatic accelerator.

27. The play structure of claim 26 further comprising means for transporting or circulating said foam balls through said one or more conduits using pressurized air.

28. The play structure of claim 26 wherein said one or more conduits comprise clear or colored transparent pneumatic conduits having an inner diameter of between about 2″

and 6½

″

.

29. The play structure of claim 22 further comprising at least one interactive target adapted to produce various desired effects when struck by one or more of said pneumatically propelled impact-safe projectiles.