Playground climbing structures

Abstract

A climbing wall assembly or climbing structure made in accordance with the present invention comprises at least two adjacent climbing panels and at least three support posts. The climbing panels are mounted between the support posts and adjacent climbing panels share a common support post. The panels include hinge elements which enables two adjacent panels to be oriented relative to each other at a desired angle. In addition, base members are provided to which the support posts are removably mounted, to enable removal and replacement of an individual panel of a wall assembly. Lastly, caps are provided to substantially close openings in the top surface of the climbing assembly and gaps between adjacent panels of the climbing assembly.

1 . A climbing structure for a playground comprising a plurality of support posts and at least two climbing panels mounted between the support posts; each climbing panel comprising a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface and a second side surface; the front and back surfaces of said panels being configured to be climbed; a first of the two panels having at least one hinge member on its first side surface, and a second of the two panels having at least one hinge member on its second side surface; the hinge members of said first and second panels being vertically off-set from each other such that the hinge members of said first and second panels are generally axially aligned when said panels are positioned adjacent each other; said panel hinge members defining a tube shaped to receive one of said support posts; said hinge members having a length such that the combined length of the hinge members of adjacent panels will surround the substantially the entire length of said support posts; the hinge member of one of said panels being an upper hinge member and having an upper surface and the hinge member of the second of said panels being a lower hinge member and having a lower surface; said support posts and said hinge members being shaped such that an assembler can selectively set the relative angle between two adjacent panels.  
     
     
         2 . The climbing structure of  claim 1  wherein said tube defined by said hinge member has an inner surface; the inner surface of said hinge member tube at a top and a bottom of said tube being sized and shaped to snugly receive said support post and said inner surface of said hinge member tube along a center portion thereof being sized and shaped such that a gap is formed between said tube inner surface and said support post.  
     
     
         3 . The climbing structure of  claim 1  wherein said front and back surfaces of said panels are shaped to simulate a rock wall.  
     
     
         4 . The climbing structure of  claim 1  wherein said first and second panels each comprise two or more hinge members on their respective first and second side surfaces.  
     
     
         5 . The climbing structure of  claim 1  comprising three or more panels; said panels comprising two end panels and the remainder of said panels being center panels; said end panels having said at least one hinge member along only one side thereof and said center panel having hinge members on both is first and second side surfaces.  
     
     
         6 . The climbing structure of  claim 5  wherein the hinge members of said center panel first side surface are vertically offset from the hinge members of said center panel second side surface.  
     
     
         7 . The climbing structure of  claim 5  wherein said end panels include a vertically extending passage; said passage being horizontally spaced from the hinge member of said panel; said passage being sized and shaped to receive a support post.  
     
     
         8 . The climbing structure of  claim 1  wherein said support posts are generally cylindrical and said tube defined by said at least one hinge member is generally cylindrical.  
     
     
         9 . The climbing structure of  claim 1  including a post cap adapted to close a top end of said support posts.  
     
     
         10 . The climbing structure of  claim 9  wherein said support posts include an interior surface extending generally normal to the axis of said support posts; said surface including an opening; said climbing structure including a fastener which extends through said post cap and into said surface opening to secure said post cap to said post.  
     
     
         11 . The climbing structure of  claim 9  wherein said first panel upper hinge member comprises a recess on an upper surface thereof; said post cap being sized and shaped to be received in said recess.  
     
     
         12 . The climbing structure of  claim 11  wherein said second panel comprises a recess in an upper surface thereof at said second panel first side; said first panel recess being opened along an outer surface thereof and said second panel recess being generally aligned with said first panel recess when said first and second panels are positioned adjacent each other; said cap comprising a flange, said flange being sized to extend across a gap between adjacent panels and into the recess of said second panel.  
     
     
         13 . The climbing structure of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of base members; said base members comprising a mounting post to which said support post is mounted.  
     
     
         14 . The climbing structure of  claim 13  wherein said mounting post comprises a hollow sleeve; said support post being received in said sleeve.  
     
     
         15 . The climbing structure of  claim 14  including a fastener which secures said support post to said sleeve.  
     
     
         16 . The climbing structure of  claim 15  wherein said base members include a support plate on said mounting post above said fastener.  
     
     
         17 . The climbing structure of  claim 13  wherein said support post is removably mounted to said mounting post.  
     
     
         18 . The climbing structure of  claim 13  wherein said base member comprises a surface engaging base plate; said mounting post extending upwardly from said base plate.  
     
     
         19 . The climbing structure of  claim 18  wherein said base member further comprises a plurality of anchors which extend through said base plate into said surface.  
     
     
         20 . The climbing structure of  claim 13  wherein said base member comprises a pole which extends into said ground; said support post comprising an upper portion of said pole.  
     
     
         21 . A climbing structure for a playground comprising: 
 a plurality of support posts;    a plurality of ground engaging base members; said base members each comprising a mounting post to which said support post is removably mounted;    a pair of end climbing panels and at least one central climbing panel; each climbing panel comprising a front surface, a back surface, a first side, a second side, a top and a bottom; the front and back surfaces of said panels being configured to be climbed;    said end panels each comprising at least one hinge member along one of the first and second sides thereof;    said at least one central panel comprising at least one first side hinge member along said central panel first side and at least one second side hinge member along said central panel second side; said first and second side hinge members being vertically offset from each other; such that the at least one hinge member of one panel of said climbing structure will be generally axially aligned with the at least one hinge member of an adjacent panel when said panels are positioned adjacent each other;    said panel hinge members being hollow and being sized and shaped to receive one of said support posts; said hinge members having a length such that the combined length of the hinge members of adjacent panels will surround substantially the entire length of said support posts; said support posts and said hinge members being shaped such that an assembler can selectively set the relative angle between two adjacent panels.    
     
     
         22 . The climbing structure of  claim 21  wherein said end panels comprise a left end panel and a right end panel; the hinge members of said left end panel being vertically off set from the hinge members of said right end panel.  
     
     
         23 . The climbing structure of  claim 21  wherein said end panels include a vertically extending passage horizontally spaced from the hinge member of said end panel; said passage being sized and shaped to receive a support post.  
     
     
         24 . The climbing structure of  claim 21  including a post cap adapted to close a top end of said support posts, said post cap including a cap body and a flange extending from said cap body; said flange being sized to extend across a gap between adjacent panels.  
     
     
         25 . The climbing structure of  claim 24  wherein one of the hinge members of two adjacent panels comprises an upper hinge member; said upper hinge member having a surface spaced below an upper surface of its panel; said adjacent panel having a recess aligned with said hinge upper surface; said cap body being received on said flange upper surface and said cap flange being received in said recess.  
     
     
         26 . The climbing structure of  claim 25  including at least one fastener to secure said cap in place.  
     
     
         27 . The climbing structure of  claim 25  including at least one fastener extending through said cap body and at least one fastener extending through said cap flange.  
     
     
         28 . The climbing structure of  claim 21  wherein said base member post comprises a hollow sleeve; said sleeve being sized and shaped to receive said post.  
     
     
         29 . The climbing structure of  claim 28  including a fastener which secures said post to said sleeve.  
     
     
         30 . The climbing structure of  claim 21  wherein said base member comprises a ground engaging plate; said mounting post extending upwardly from said plate; said climbing structure further including a plurality of anchors which extend through said base plate into the ground.  
     
     
         31 . The climbing structure of  claim 21  wherein said base member comprises a pole which extends into said ground; said support post comprising an upper portion of said pole.  
     
     
         32 . A climbing wall comprising at least two adjacent climbing panels and at least three support posts; said climbing panels being mounted between the support posts, wherein the adjacent climbing panels share a common support post; 
 each climbing panel comprising a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface and a second side surface; the front and back surfaces of said panels being configured to be climbed; a first of the two panels having a connecting element on at least its first side surface, and a second side of the two panels having at least one connecting element on its second side surface; the connecting elements of said panels defining an elongate tube which surrounds a support post.    
     
     
         33 . The climbing wall of  claim 32  wherein said support post and said connecting elements are shaped to permit the panels to be oriented at a desired angle relative to each other.  
     
     
         34 . The climbing wall of  claim 33  wherein said tube defined by said connecting elements is generally cylindrical tube and said support post is generally cylindrical.  
     
     
         34 . The climbing wall of  claim 32  wherein said tube defined by said connecting elements surrounds substantially the entire above ground length of said support pole.  
     
     
         35 . The climbing wall of  claim 32  wherein said connecting element of said climbing panel comprise at least one hinge member on the adjacent side surfaces of said panels; the at least one hinge member of said first panel being vertically offset from the at least one hinge member of said second panel.  
     
     
         36 . A wall panel for use in assembly a climbing wall; said wall panel comprising: 
 an upper surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a back surface, a first side and a second side;    a plurality of hand/foot holds on at least one of said front and back surfaces to enable said panel to be climbed; and    at least one connecting member on at least said first side of said panel to facilitate connection of said panel to an adjacent panel; said connecting member comprising a hinge member extending from said first side; said hinge member having a length less than the length of said first side; said hinge member defining a tube having an inner surface.    
     
     
         37 . The wall panel of  claim 36  wherein said hinge member tube has a first circumference at a top and a bottom of said tube, and a second, greater circumference along a center section of said tube; said first circumference being less than said second circumference.  
     
     
         38 . The wall panel of  claim 36  wherein said hinge member has an upper surface proximate said panel upper surface; said hinge upper surface comprising a recessed surface spaced below said panel upper surface.  
     
     
         39 . The wall panel of  claim 38  wherein said panel includes a second recessed surface in said panel upper surface at the opposite side of said panel upper surface from said hinge member.