Connection system for playground structure

Abstract

A playground structure has a playhouse with a base and a platform. The base and platform are separated by a variety of vertical posts. The vertical posts are secured to the base by a plurality of supports that are positioned within pockets in the base. The vertical posts are secured to the platform by a plurality of supports positioned within pockets in the platform.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A playground structure comprising: 
 a base having a plurality of pockets disposed therein;    a plurality of first supports positioned within the pockets in the base;    a plurality of vertical posts, wherein the vertical posts are secured to the base by the plurality of first supports positioned within the pockets in the base;    a platform having a plurality of pockets disposed therein, the platform positioned above the base; and    a plurality of second supports positioned within the pockets in the platform, the vertical posts secured to the platform by the plurality of second supports.    
     
     
         2 . The playground structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first support is circular with at least one outwardly extending projection, and the shape of the pocket in the base corresponds to the shape of the first support.  
     
     
         3 . The playground structure of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket in the base has an opening therethrough and is located within the underside of the base.  
     
     
         4 . The playground structure of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket in the base has an opening therethrough and is located within the top of the base.  
     
     
         5 . The playground structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first support has holes and the post has holes located at one end of the post, whereby the holes of the first support are aligned with the holes in the post and a fastener extends through the holes and secures the support to the post.  
     
     
         6 . The playground structure of  claim 3 , wherein the base has at least one pocket with an opening therethrough positioned within the top surface of the base, whereby the pocket within the top surface is positioned over the pocket within the underside of the base.  
     
     
         7 . The playground structure of  claim 6 , wherein the base has an opening extending from the top of the base, through the aligned pockets to the underside of the base.  
     
     
         8 . The playground structure of  claim 7 , wherein the post is disposed in the base through the pocket in the underside of the base and the pocket in the top of the base.  
     
     
         9 . The playground structure of  claim 6 , wherein an annular plate is positioned in the pocket in the top of the base for supporting the connection between the post and the base.  
     
     
         10 . The playground structure of  claim 9 , wherein the annular plate has at least one hole disposed in the top surface for receiving a fastener to secure the annular plate to the base.  
     
     
         11 . The playground structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second support is circular with at least one outwardly extending projection, and the shape of the pockets in the platform corresponds to the shape of the second support.  
     
     
         12 . The playground structure of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket in the platform has a opening therethrough and is located within the underside of the platform.  
     
     
         13 . The playground structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second support has holes and the post has holes located at approximately the middle of the post, wherein the holes of the second support are aligned with the holes in the middle of the post and a fastener extends through the holes to secure the second support to the post.  
     
     
         14 . The playground structure of  claim 1 , wherein the platform has an opening from the top of the platform, through the pocket to the underside of the platform.  
     
     
         15 . The playground structure of  claim 14 , wherein the post is disposed in the platform such that the post extends through the pocket in the underside of the platform and upwardly out of the platform.  
     
     
         16 . The playground structure of  claim 15 , wherein a roof is attached to the post extending upwardly from the platform thereby covering the platform.  
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling a playground structure comprising the steps of: 
 fastening one end of a post to a first support;    placing a base on one side;    inserting the post and first support combination through a hole in a bottom of the base, wherein the first support remains disposed within a pocket in the bottom of the base;    turning the base so that the bottom of the base is positioned on the ground;    positioning a plate over the post, wherein the plate is disposed within a pocket in the top of the base;    inserting a second support on the free end of the post;    fastening the second support to the post; and    inserting the post and second support combination through a hole in a bottom of a platform, wherein the second support remains disposed within a pocket in the bottom of the platform.    
     
     
         18 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 17 , 
 wherein the step of fastening one end of a post to the first support further comprises the step of fastening a first support to a plurality of posts.    
     
     
         19 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of inserting the post and first support combinations through holes located at corners of the base.  
     
     
         20 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the step of fastening the first support to the post includes the step of aligning holes in the support with holes in the post and inserting a fastener through the holes to secure the first support to the post.    
     
     
         21 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the step of positioning a plate over the post further includes positioning a plate over a plurality of posts.    
     
     
         22 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 21  further comprising the step of: 
 fastening the plate to the base thereby securing the post to the base.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 17  further comprising the step of: 
 fastening the plate to the base thereby securing the post to the base.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 22  further comprising the step of, 
 inserting at least one fastener into the top of the plate to fasten the plate to the base.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 23  further comprising the step of, 
 inserting at least one fastener into the top of the plate to fasten the plate to the base.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 18 , 
 wherein prior to the step of fastening the second support to the post, positioning the second support at approximately the center of the post.    
     
     
         27 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the step of fastening the second support to the post includes the step of aligning holes in the second support with holes in the post and inserting a fastener through the holes to secure the second support to the post.    
     
     
         28 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 18 , wherein the step of fastening the post to the second support further comprises fastening a second support to each of the plurality of posts.  
     
     
         29 . The method of assembling the playground structure of  claim 18 , wherein the step of inserting the post and second support combination through a hole in a bottom of a platform includes positioning the post through the platform such that a portion of the post extends upwardly from the platform.