Playground cone with slots

Abstract

A playground cone may be molded from vinyl or other plastic material, and includes a base portion and a frustoconical portion. The frustoconical portion extends upwardly from the base portion to a top of the frustoconical portion. The frustoconical portion may define a hollow, interior section. The frustoconical portion further includes a slot defined in a wall. The slot may be a vertical slot and/or one or more horizontal slots. The slot, being vertical and/or horizontal, may be adapted to secure a playground hoop or crossbar within the frustoconical portion of the playground cone.

1 . A playground cone comprising:
 a flat base portion; and   a hollow frustoconical portion extending upwardly from the base portion toward a flat top that is substantially parallel with the base;   the frustoconical portion defining an elongated slot having different length and width dimensions and extending from a first end to a second end, the slot being sized and adapted to receive a circular playground hoop, and to support the playground hoop in a predetermined orientation relative to the base;   wherein the slot is a vertical slot, with the frustoconical portion defining a series of oval-shaped holes oriented in a vertical direction, the oval-shaped holes each including a bottom end and a top end, with the bottom end of one oval overlapping the top end of another to define the elongated vertical slot extending from a predetermined distance above the base portion to and through the top, whereby the cone can support the hoop in a predetermined number of vertical positions by inserting the hoop into the slot.   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A playground cone comprising:
 a flat base; and   a hollow frustoconical portion extending upwardly from the base toward a top end that is flat and substantially parallel to the base;   the frustoconical portion defining an elongated vertical slot extending from the top end downwardly toward the base, the frustoconical portion defining a perimeter of the slot including a series of arcs joining end-to-end as they extend around the perimeter, the vertical slot being sized and adapted to receive a playground hoop and to support the hoop in a predetermined vertical orientation.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The playground cone of  claim 6  wherein the frustoconical portion further defines at least one elongated horizontal slot spaced away from the vertical slot. 
     
     
         9 . The playground cone of  claim 8  wherein the frustoconical portion defines a plurality of horizontal slots extending parallel to one another between the top end and the base. 
     
     
         10 . The playground cone as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising a weight adapted to rest on the base of the cone in order to provide stability to the cone. 
     
     
         11 . The playground cone as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the weight defines an opening for receiving the frustoconical portion of the cone. 
     
     
         12 . The playground cone as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the weight is adapted to extend around the flat base portion such that edges of the base portion engage a groove defined in the weight to secure the weight to the base portion. 
     
     
         13 . A playground cone comprising:
 a flat base; and   a hollow frustoconical portion extending upwardly from the base toward a flat top that is substantially parallel to the base;   the frustoconical portion defining a series of oval-shaped holes oriented in a vertical direction, the oval-shaped holes each including a bottom end and a top end, with the bottom end of one oval overlapping the top end of another to define an elongated vertical slot extending from a predetermined distance above the base portion through the top and defining a plurality of support surfaces adapted to support a playground hoop in a number of predetermined vertical orientations relative to the base.   
     
     
         14 . A playground cone comprising:
 a flat base portion; and   a hollow frustoconical portion extending upwardly from the base portion toward a top end parallel to the base portion, with the frustoconical portion defining a hole through the top end, and a vertical slot having a perimeter of scallops, with the slot extending from the top end down toward the base to a point spaced a predetermined distance from the base and defining a plurality of support surfaces adapted to support a playground hoop in a number of predetermined vertical orientations relative to the base.