Children's climbing playsets

Abstract

Climbing playsets for children are provided. In some implementations, the playsets include removable stair steps.

1 . A children's playset comprising 
 a multi-level structure; and    a plurality of steps configured to allow a child to climb from a first level of the structure to a second level of the structure;    the steps being mounted within the multi-level structure so that they are removable without damaging the structure.    
   
   
       2 . The playset of  claim 1  wherein the steps are sized to accommodate the entire body of the child.  
   
   
       3 . The playset of  claim 1  further comprising removable upright members to which the steps are attached.  
   
   
       4 . The playset of  claim 3  wherein the steps are removably attached to the removable upright members.  
   
   
       5 . The playset of  claim 3  further comprising a horizontally mounted member configured to removably receive an upper portion of the removable upright members.  
   
   
       6 . The playset of  claim 5  wherein said upper portion of the removable upright members is notched, and the horizontally mounted member is configured to be received in the notched portions of the removable upright members.  
   
   
       7 . The playset of  claim 1  wherein each step has four corners, and the playset includes an upright member positioned adjacent to each of the four corners of each step.  
   
   
       8 . The playset of  claim 7  wherein a plurality of climbing rungs extend substantially horizontally between at least one pair of adjacent upright members.  
   
   
       9 . The playset of  claim 8  wherein the climbing rungs extend between two adjacent pairs of upright members, defining a pair of ladders at an outer corner of the playset.  
   
   
       10 . The playset of  claim 1  wherein the first level is at ground level.  
   
   
       11 . The playset of  claim 1  wherein the playset is configured so that removal of the steps leaves an open play area within the first level.  
   
   
       12 . The playset of  claim 1  wherein the steps are mounted so as to be removable from the playset at any time during the life of the playset.  
   
   
       13 . A method of using a playset comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing a multi-level structure; and    (b) removably installing within the structure a plurality of steps configured to allow a child to climb from a first level of the structure to a second level of the structure and to be removable from the structure without damage to the structure.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising (c) subsequently removing the steps from the structure when they are no longer needed.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the structure comprises a plurality of climbing rungs configured to allow the child to climb from the first level to the second level, and the steps are removed when the child has developed sufficiently to use the climbing rungs.