Playground slide

Abstract

A playground slide that is specially designed to provide superior longitudinal strength for load support and superior transverse strength to avoid warping or distortion during outdoor use. The playground slide is formed from plastic by means of a rotational molding process and includes a longitudinally extending upper sliding surface and a spaced-apart lower surface that in cooperation with the upper sliding surface forms an elongated internal cavity. Additionally, the playground includes a plurality of transversely spaced-apart, longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs formed on the lower surface and also uniquely includes a plurality of transversely extending reinforcing ribs formed on the lower surface and disposed intermediate the longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs.

1 . A playground slide having an upper end connected to a supporting structure and a lower ground-engaging end, said slide including an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced-apart reinforcing ribs and a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart transversely extending reinforcing ribs disposed between said longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs. 
   
   
       2 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 1  in which said lower surface is spaced-apart from said upper surface to define a cavity therebetween, said cavity having an upper portion and a lower portion. 
   
   
       3 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 2 , further including at least one integrated fastener mounted within said upper portion of said cavity for use in interconnecting the playground slide to said supporting structure. 
   
   
       4 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 2 , in which said lower ground-engaging end includes a generally convex ground-engaging surface. 
   
   
       5 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 2  in which said upper surface of said slide has an exit area, said exit area being pitched downwards to avoid collection of water. 
   
   
       6 . A playground slide having an elongated body portion having upper end connected to a supporting structure and a lower ground-engaging end, said elongated body portion including an upper surface and a spaced-apart lower surface, said upper surface and said spaced-apart lower surface defining a cavity therebetween, said lower surface having a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced-apart reinforcing ribs and a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart transversely extending reinforcing ribs disposed between said longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs. 
   
   
       7 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 5  in which said cavity has an upper portion and a lower portion and in which said playground slide further includes a pair of spaced-apart integrated fasteners mounted within said upper portion of said cavity for use in interconnecting the playground slide to said supporting structure. 
   
   
       8 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 5 , in which said lower ground-engaging end includes a generally convex ground-engaging surface. 
   
   
       9 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 5 , in which said elongated body portion is formed from plastic by means of a rotational molding process. 
   
   
       10 . A playground slide having an elongated body portion having upper end connected to a supporting structure and a lower ground-engaging end, said elongated body portion including an upper surface and a spaced-apart lower surface, said upper surface and said spaced-apart lower surface defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having a pair of spaced-apart integrated fasteners mounted therewithin for use in interconnecting the playground slide to said supporting structure, said lower surface of said elongated body having a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced-apart reinforcing ribs and a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart transversely extending reinforcing ribs disposed between said longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs. 
   
   
       11 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 9  in which said lower ground-engaging end of said elongated body portion includes a generally convex ground-engaging surface. 
   
   
       12 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 11  in which said upper surface of said slide has an exit area, said exit area being pitched downwards to avoid collection of water. 
   
   
       13 . The playground slide as defined in  claim 12 , in which said elongated body portion is formed from plastic by means of a rotational molding process. 
   
   
       14 . A playground slide having an elongated body portion formed from plastic by means of a rotational molding process, said elongated body portion having upper end connected to a supporting structure and a lower ground-engaging end having a generally convex ground-engaging surface, said elongated body portion including an upper surface and a spaced-apart lower surface, said upper surface and said spaced-apart lower surface defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having a pair of spaced-apart connector bolts, each including a head portion mounted therewithin and a threaded shank portion extending therefrom for use in interconnecting the playground slide to said supporting structure, said lower surface of said elongated body having a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced-apart reinforcing ribs and a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart transversely extending reinforcing ribs disposed between said longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs, said upper surface of said slide having an exit area, said exit area being pitched downwards to avoid collection of water.