TUBE SLIDE
A helical tube slide that includes a plurality one-piece half-tube portions that are each substantially dimensionally the same. Two of the plurality of half-tube portions are coupled together to define a first curved tubular segment that defines a first portion of the tube slide. Another two of the plurality of half-tube portions are coupled together to define a second curved tubular segment that defines a second portion of the tube slide. The tube slide further includes a fastener that couples the first curved tubular segment and the second curved tubular segment.
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The present invention relates to tube slides, and more particularly to curved tube slides.
Playstations or playgrounds often include slides. One type of slide is often referred to as a tube slide and one type of tube slide is a curved or curving tube slide. Tube slides are typically supplied or shipped in several differently configured pieces that are assembled at the playground or near the playstation. Careful attention must be paid during assembly that the differently configured parts are assembled correctly and in the specific sequence required to obtain the final curved configuration of the tube slide.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention provides a helical tube slide that includes a plurality of one-piece half-tube portions that are each substantially dimensionally the same. Two of the plurality of half-tube portions are coupled together to define a first curved tubular segment that defines a first portion of the tube slide. Another two of the plurality of half-tube portions are coupled together to define a second curved tubular segment that defines a second portion of the tube slide. The tube slide further includes a fastener that couples the first curved tubular segment and the second curved tubular segment.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a helical tube slide that includes a first curved tubular segment defining a curved longitudinal axis and a second curved tubular segment defining a curved longitudinal axis. The first curved tubular segment and the second curved tubular segment are coupled such that the longitudinal axes of the first and second curved tubular segments define a portion of a continuous helix.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of assembling a helical tube slide. The method includes selecting two of a plurality of one-piece half-tube portions each being substantially dimensionally the same and coupling together the two of the plurality of half-tube portions to define a first curved tubular segment. The method further includes selecting another two of the plurality of one-piece half-tube portions each being substantially dimensionally the same, coupling together the another two of the plurality of half-tube portions to define a second curved tubular segment, and coupling together the first curved tubular segment and the second curved tubular segment to define at least a portion of the helical tube slide.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe playstation 20 further includes a helical tube slide 38. While in the illustrated construction the tube slide 38 is utilized with the playstation 20, it should be understood that in other constructions, the tube slide 38 can be a stand alone component (i.e., coupled directly to a ladder or steps such that the playstation is substantially omitted).
The illustrated tube slide 38 is formed from six curved tubular segments 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, and 42f. In other constructions, the tube slide 38 can be formed from more or less than six curved tubular segments. The tubular segments 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, and 42e are substantially the same, and more particularly in the illustrated construction, the tubular segments 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, and 42e are identical. Therefore, only the tubular segment 42a will be described in detail below.
The half-tube portions 46 are dimensionally the same, but more particularly in the illustrated construction, the half-tube portions 46 are identical. In one construction, the half-tube portions 46 are molded (e.g., injection molded, thermo-formed, roto-molded, blow molded, and the like) from plastic, and therefore, one mold can be used to form both of the identical half-tube portions 46 of the tubular segment 42a. Dimensionally the same, as used herein to describe the half-tube portions 46, means that the half-tube portions 46 can be formed or could have been formed in the same mold or by the same die or by the same operational procedure. As used herein and in the appended claims, the terms “identical” and “dimensionally the same” as used to describe the half-tube portions 46, takes into account inevitable minor variations that may occur during the molding process. As stated above, the tubular segments 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, and 42e are all substantially the same. Therefore, the same mold can be used to form the half-tube portions 46 of the other tubular segments 42b, 42c, 42d, and 42e such that the half-tube potions 46 of the tubular segments 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, and 42e are all dimensionally the same, and more specifically, all identical. It should be understood that the half-tube portions 46 of the tube slide 38 can have different colors, indicia, surface features, and the like, while remaining dimensionally the same.
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In the illustrated construction, the apertures 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d, 76e, 76f, 76g and 80 are integrally formed with the half-tube portion 46 during molding. The apertures 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d, 76e, 76f, 76g and 80 of each of the half-tube portions 46 are spaced and configured in substantially identical configurations. Accordingly, as stated above, one mold can be used to form all of the half-tube portions 46 of the tube slide 38 of
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Next, the tubular segment 42b is coupled to the tubular segment 42a using the fasteners 150 and the circumferential flanges 66 and 68 of the tubular segments 42a and 42b. The tubular segments 42a and 42b are aligned such the outer longitudinal flanges 64 of the tubular segment 42b are rotated counterclockwise (as viewed from the front) with respect to the outer longitudinal flanges 64 of the tubular segment 42a and there is one bolt 150 between the outer longitudinal flanges 64 of the tubular segments 42a and 42b. Referring to
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D1=the diameter of the helix 156 measured at a plane normal to the axis 157 (see
θ=the angle in degrees that the helix 156 extends around the axis 157 (see
C1=a constant that is the distance measured from the ground to the point where the helix 156 begins (see
P1=the pitch of the helix 156, which is defined as the height of one complete turn (i.e., 360 degrees) measured along the axis 157 of the helix 156 (see
In other words, every point along the longitudinal axes 50 of the slide 38 fits the helix equations. Also, at every point along the longitudinal axes 50 of the slide 38 a circular cross-section of the slide 38 is defined if a cross-section is taken normal to the longitudinal axis 50. As used herein and in the appended claims, the phrase “continuous helix” means that the helix is defined by the helix equations. A continuous helix differs from a discontinuous helix because every point along a discontinuous helix is not defined by the helix equations. For example, a tube slide that does not define a continuous helix typically includes several tubular segments that are coupled together, but the longitudinal axes of the tubular segments do not align to define a continuous helix. Rather, the longitudinal axes of the tubular segments are discontinuous, or do not completely fit the helix equations. Such a tube slide is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,744. It has been found that the tube slide 38 that defines the continuous helix 156 provides a smoother and more enjoyable ride than a tube slide that does not define a continuous helix by providing a constant slope and curvature to the slide path.
In one construction of the tube slide 38, the diameter D1 of the helix 156 is approximately 28 inches, the angle θ is approximately 360 degrees, the constant C1 is approximately 22.5 inches, and the pitch P1 is approximately 56 inches. Of course, in other constructions, the diameter D1, the angle θ, the constant C1, and the pitch P1 can have any suitable value.
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Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A helical tube slide comprising:
- a plurality of one-piece half-tube portions, each of the plurality of the half-tube portions being substantially dimensionally the same; and
- a fastener,
- wherein two of the plurality of half-tube portions are coupled together to define a first curved tubular segment that defines a first portion of the tube slide,
- wherein another two of the plurality of half-tube portions are coupled together to define a second curved tubular segment that defines a second portion of the tube slide, and
- wherein the fastener couples the first curved tubular segment and the second curved tubular segment.
2. The helical tube slide of claim 1, wherein the plurality of half-tube portions are substantially identical.
3. The helical tube slide of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a plurality of bolts, wherein each of the plurality of half-tube portions includes a flange and a plurality of apertures that extend through the flange, wherein one of the plurality of bolts extends through one of the plurality of apertures.
4. The helical tube slide of claim 3, wherein the plurality of apertures of each of the plurality of half-tube portions are spaced and configured in substantially identical configurations.
5. The helical tube slide of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bolts utilized to couple the two of the plurality of half-tube portions to define the first curved tubular segment.
6. The helical tube slide of claim 1, wherein the plurality of half-tube portions each define a curved longitudinal axis.
7. The helical tube slide of claim 1, wherein the helical tube slide defines a helix, wherein the helix extends through at least about 90 degrees, and wherein the first curved tubular segment defines a first portion of the helix that extends through less than 90 degrees.
8. The helical tube slide of claim 7, wherein the first portion of the helix defined by the first curved tubular segment extends through about 60 degrees, and wherein the second curved tubular segment defines a second portion of the helix that extends through about 60 degrees.
9. The helical tube slide of claim 8, wherein the helix extends through about 360 degrees, the tube slide further comprising third, fourth, and fifth curved tubular segments each formed from two of the plurality of half-tube portions.
10. The helical tube slide of claim 9, wherein the tube slide defines an exit end, the tube slide further comprising a sixth curved tubular segment that at least partially defines the exit end, the six curved tubular segment formed from one of the plurality of one-piece half-tube portions and a half-tube portion that is not dimensionally the same as the plurality of one-piece half-tube portions.
11. The helical tube slide of claim 1, further comprising a tapered entrance portion that defines an entrance of the tube slide, the tapered entrance portion defining an entrance area and an exit area, the exit area being less than the entrance area.
12. The helical tube slide of claim 11, wherein the entrance area defines a rectangle and the exit area defines a circle.
13. The helical tube slide of claim 11, wherein the entrance portion is coupled to a platform configured to mount to a support structure.
14. The helical tube slide of claim 13, wherein the platform includes a floor and two sidewalls.
15. The helical tube slide of claim 1, wherein the tube slide defines a continuous helix.
16. The helical tube slide of claim 15, wherein the helix extends through about 360 degrees.
17. A helical tube slide comprising:
- a first curved tubular segment defining a curved longitudinal axis;
- a second curved tubular segment defining a curved longitudinal axis;
- wherein the first curved tubular segment and the second curved tubular segment are coupled such that the longitudinal axes of the first and second curved tubular segments define a portion of a continuous helix.
18. The helical tube slide of claim 17, wherein the continuous helix is greater than 90 degrees.
19. The helical tube slide of claim 18, wherein the first curved tubular segment defines a first portion of the helix that extends through less than 90 degrees.
20. The helical tube slide of claim 19, wherein the first portion of the helix defined by the first curved tubular segment extends through about 60 degrees, and wherein the second curved tubular segment defines a second portion of the helix that extends through about 60 degrees.
21. The helical tube slide of claim 18, wherein the continuous helix is about 360 degrees.
22. The helical tube slide of claim 17, wherein the first and second curved tubular segments are each formed from two of a plurality of half-tube portions, the plurality of the half-tube portions being substantially dimensionally the same.
23. The helical tube slide of claim 17, further comprising a fastener that couples the first curved tubular segment and the second curved tubular segment to define a portion of the tube slide.
24. The helical tube slide of claim 23, wherein the fastener includes a plurality of bolts, wherein the first and second tubular segments each include a flange and a plurality of apertures that extend through the flange, wherein one of the plurality of bolts extends through one of the plurality of apertures.
25. A method of assembling a helical tube slide, the method comprising:
- selecting two of a plurality of one-piece half-tube portions each being substantially dimensionally the same;
- coupling together the two of the plurality of half-tube portions to define a first curved tubular segment;
- selecting another two of the plurality of one-piece half-tube portions each being substantially dimensionally the same;
- coupling together the another two of the plurality of half-tube portions to define a second curved tubular segment; and
- coupling together the first curved tubular segment and the second curved tubular segment to define at least a portion of the helical tube slide.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 26, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2008
Applicant: PLAYSTAR, INC. (Janesville, WI)
Inventors: Ernesto Huerta (Mukwonago, WI), Brian K. Zeilinger (Janesville, WI)
Application Number: 11/678,770