GB2195259A - Playground and amusement apparatus for disabled people - Google Patents

Abstract

Playground apparatus such as a swing, see-saw (Fig. 3) or roundabout (Fig. 2) has a platform forming a movable portion of the apparatus which is designed for receiving a wheelchair so that a wheelchair bound person can use the apparatus. There is means 42 on the apparatus accessible to the wheelchair bound person whereby such person may manually propel the movable portion and therefore himself. The platform receiving the wheelchair is provided with side walls 28, 30, 32, 34 for retaining the wheelchair on the platform in use. Side wall 34 can be pivoted between a lowered position, in which it forms a ramp for the wheel chair, and a lockable raised, vertical position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Playground and amusement apparatus This invention relates to amusement apparatus and more particularly to playground apparatus which, in addition to providing entertainment, also provides therapy, for wheelchair bound persons.

Whilst there are many amusement playgrounds throughout the country for use by healthy children, no consideration appears to have been given to the provision of equivalent playground park facilities for wheelchair bound children. Additionally, it has been assumed that wheelchair bound children or indeed adults require constant supervision, and therefore the provision of playground equipment for such persons heretofore has been considered inappropriate. The present invention however is directed to providing amusement apparatus for wheelchair bound persons, and in its preferred form the apparatus is such that the wheelchair bound persons can make use of same without the necessity of having- constant supervision.Additionally, the preferred forms of the apparatus of the invention are such that the wheelchair bound persons will in using the apparatus experience exercising of their muscles, and therefore will achieve a therapeutically beneficial effect.

The present invention is directed towards playground equipment apparatus of the type having a movable portion such as a swing, or roundabout platform, or see-saw seat, although it is envisaged that there may be other forms of playground equipment having a movable portion.

According to the invention there is provided playground apparatus of the type having a movable portion for receiving an occupant, and wherein said movable portion is designed to receive a wheelchair so that the wheelchair when received by said portion will be firmly held thereby.

The apparatus is preferably provided with two or more of such portions each adapted to receive a wheelchair.

The apparatus preferably is such that the or each movable portion is movable manually, and the apparatus has means adapted to be gripped by the or each wheelchair occupant on the apparatus to move the movable portion receiving the or each wheelchair.

The or each portion preferably includes a platform with side walls one of which can be pivoted to a lowered position in which it forms a ramp to enable a wheelchair to be wheeled onto or off the platform and which in its raised position is operated with the other side walls to retain the wheelchair on the platform during operation of the apparatus.

In one form of the invention, the apparatus takes the form of a swing. In another form of the invention, the apparatus takes the form of a roundabout, and in yet another form is in the form of a see-saw.

In order that the invention may be morereadily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of exampie, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swing apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a roundabout apparatus embodying the invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a see-saw apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figure 1, playground apparatus, in the form of a swing indicated generally by reference numeral 2, includes an inverted U-shaped support frame, part of which is indicated by reference numeral 4 and which is supported from opposing sides by bracing members 6 and 8, the lower ends of support frame and bracing members being embedded in concrete, not shown.

Carried by the support frame 4 are shackles 10 and 12 from which are suspended rods 14 and 16 respectively, the rods 14 and 16 between them supporting a movable portion in the form of a platform 18, the arrangement being that the platform may move in an arc relative to the support frame 4 through the intermediaries of the rods 14, 16and shackles 10, 12.The rods 14 and 16 are braced by rigid bracing members 20, 22, and 24 which also serve as grab rails when the platform is in use.

The platform 18, as will be seen, has side walls 28, 30, front wall 32 and a rear wall 34. The rear wall 34 is hinged to platform 18 so that it can be pivoted between the position shown in Figure 1 in which it serves as a ramp to facilitate entry onto the platform by a wheelchair, not shown, and a raised, preferably vertical position trapping the wheelchair on the platform 18. When on the platform, the wheelchair may be secured thereto by straps 36 and 38, or alternatively by chocks other means, the hinged flap 34 being secured in the second position by means (not shown).

Thus, the wheelchair is firmly held to the platform 18.

The support frame 4 carries a projecting arm 40 from which is suspended a rope 42 which when pulled by a person in the wheelchair on the platform will cause the platform to swing relative to the support bar 4.

Turning now to Figure 2, the apparatus takes the form of a roundabout 50 which includes a rotatable arm 52 on the opposed ends of which are wheelchair support platforms 54 and 56. The arm 52 is rotatable both clockwise and anticlockwise about a bearing member 58. Located above the bearing 58, and stationery relative to rotatable arm 52 is a handrail 60 which is supported on spokes 62 secured to a base member 64.

Each of the wheelchair support portions 54 and 56 consists of a platform, front and side guard rails or walls, and a movable wall, these parts being referenced 54A, 54B, 54C, and 54D, and 56A, 56B, 56C and 56D respectively. The platform 54A and 56A are firmly secured to the arm 52, and the walls act as described with reference to Figure 1. Thus, the wall 54D and the wall 56D each is adapted to be pivoted as indicated in chain dotted lines between the upright vertical position retaining the wheelchair on the platform, and a downwardly inclined ramp position in which the wheelchair can be wheeled onto or off the platform. The said wall 54 or 56 also is provided with means enabling it to be locked in the vertical position.

In use, with a wheelchair and occupant located-on one or both of the support platforms, the occupant(s) may propel themselves around by gripping the handrail 60 and exerting sideways pressure thereto so as to cause movement of the arm 52 about the bearing member 58.

Reference to Figure 3 will show the inventive concept applied to a see-saw. An arm 70, pivotable about bearings 72 (only one of which is shown) mounted in the limbs of an inverted U-shaped frame member 74 supports at its opposed ends movable 76 and 78. As in previous embodiments; the platform 76 and 78 has side walls one of which is movable between an upright position retaining the wheelchair on the platform, and a downwardly inclined ramp position enabling the wheelchair easily to be wheeled onto or off the platform.

The pivotable wail again is adapted to be locked in position when it is upright in order to ratain the wheelchair on the platform, and as in the Figs. 1 and 2 embodiments, there may be securing straps such as straps 36 and 38 for strapping the wheelchair to the platform when it is supported thereby.

Secured to the cross-member of the inverted U-shaped frame member 74 are handgrips 80 and 82 which are braced by a strut 84 and which are immovable relative to the frame member 74.

In use, with a wheelchair and occupant located on either or both of the platform supports, the arm 70 and hence the platform supports may be caused to see-saw relative to the inverted U-shaped frame 74 by holding on to the handgrip or handgrips and pushing towards and away from said handgrip or handgrips.

Apparatus according to the invention, as well as providing amusement for wheelchair bound persons, also provides therapeutic means for muscle improvement for such units, as all of the preferred units involve the user or users manually propelling the platform(s) to cause movement of the platform(s) and hence themselves.

Claims (9)

1. Playground apparatus of the type having a movable portion for receiving an occupant, and wherein said movable portion is designed to receive a wheelchair so that the wheelchair when received by said portion will be firmly held thereby.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with two or more of such portions each adapted to receive a wheelchair.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each movable portion is movable manually and the apparatus has means adapted to be gripped by the or each wheelchair occupant on the apparatus to move the movable portion receiving the or each wheelchair.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each portion includes a platform with side walls one of which can be pivoted to a lowered position in which it forms a ramp to enable a wheelchair to be wheeled onto or off the platform and which in its raised position cooperates with the other side walls to retain the wheelchair on the platform during operation of the apparatus.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, including means for locking the pivotable side wall in the raised position.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is in the form of a swing.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the apparatus is in the form of a roundabout.

8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the apparatus is in the form of a see-saw.

9. Playground apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.