System for shading playground structures

Abstract

It is desirable to protect playground structures from direct exposure to sunlight. The present invention relates to a system and method for providing shade for playground structures to provide such protection. Playground structures include columns used to support the playground structure. A shade fixture can be made comprising shade material over supporting structural members, including at least one column. Such a shade fixture can be secured to a playground structure by attaching the column of the shade fixture to multiple columns of the playground structure. It may be desirable to have the length of a shade fixture column be variable to account for variable playground structure column heights. The one column creates a bridge between columns. The columns can be adjacent to each other or at a distance. The bridge creates a more rigid structure and supports the weight of the shade material.

1 . A shade structure for playground equipment having a plurality of substantially vertical supports, wherein said shade structure comprises: 
 (a) at least two canopy columns coupled to at least one primary support;    (b) a plurality of secondary supports coupled to at least one primary support; and    (c) a canopy coupled to the plurality of secondary supports.    
   
   
       2 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the at least one primary support further comprises a plurality of stringers for greater rigidity.  
   
   
       3 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the secondary supports comprise a truss.  
   
   
       4 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy is opaque.  
   
   
       5 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy is porous.  
   
   
       6 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy is non-porous.  
   
   
       7 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy is opaque to UV-light.  
   
   
       8 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy is larger than the playground equipment.  
   
   
       9 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy provides shade to a portion of the playground equipment.  
   
   
       10 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy columns further comprise length adjustment means.  
   
   
       11 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy columns are coupled to the vertical supports of the playground equipment.  
   
   
       12 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy columns space the canopy at least six feet above the playground equipment.  
   
   
       13 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy columns has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the vertical columns so that the canopy columns provide a slip fit over the vertical columns.  
   
   
       14 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy columns are coupled to the vertical columns with at least one bolt.  
   
   
       15 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy columns are coupled to the vertical columns with a bracket.  
   
   
       16 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       17 . The shade structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy is substantially parallel to the playground equipment.  
   
   
       18 . The shade structure of  claim 10  wherein the canopy columns are coupled to the vertical supports so that the support beam is substantially horizontal.