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DIM360 (Ver 1.5 21 Nov 2005) - 1100000/0
1516649
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
A1
20050323
EP
04077574.4
20040915
sv
en
en
0302513
20030919
SE
20050323
200512
20050323
200512
7
7A 63B 26/00 A
de
Spiel- und Trainingsgerät
en
Playing and training appliance
fr
Dispositif de jeu et d'entrainement
3
HAGS Aneby AB
00950262
EP-21014901
Box 133
578 23 Aneby
SE
Sjöstam, Sven-Ake
Lommarydsvägen 22
578 00 Aneby
SE
Granström, John
Simons väg 19
578 33 Aneby
SE
Arwidi, Bengt
et al
00039278
Awapatent i Linköping AB Gjuterigatan 9
553 18 Jönköping
SE
AT
BE
BG
CH
CY
CZ
DE
DK
EE
ES
FI
FR
GB
GR
HU
IE
IT
LI
LU
MC
NL
PL
PT
RO
SE
SI
SK
TR
AL
HR
LT
LV
MK
The present invention relates to a playing and training appliance, which is characterised in that it comprises at least two essentially parallel horizontal rods (2) and a board (4) for standing. The board (4) is turnably arranged with at least two wholly or partly enclosing means (14), one for each rod (2). The board (4) is further movably arranged relative to the rods (2) by the wholly or partly enclosing means (14).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a playing and training appliance. The appliance is in the first place intended for use in playgrounds and similar environments, but can also advantageously be used as a training appliance.

BACKGROUND ART
Many outstanding sportsmen today perform their training on a ground that is very flexible, for instance training sessions in swamp-like environments. This type of training yields a greater effect on the actual training result. It is time-consuming and relatively difficult to find suitable environments for this type of training. The appliance according to the invention offers to some extent a possibility of such training. The appliance comprises rods constituting a track on which a board for the user to stand on is movably arranged. The track is arranged to be resilient and the user moves back and forth on the track by means of the board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a different and new approach to a playing and training appliance by means of which the user rhythmically moves back and forth along a track and which
- provides a feeling of moving on a flexible base
- offers a possible element of competition
- satisfies all security requirements placed on a playing and training appliance.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a playing and training appliance which comprises at least two essentially parallel horizontal rods and a board for standing. The board is turnably arranged with at least two (wholly or partly) enclosing means, one for each rod, and the board is movably arranged relative to the rods by the (wholly or partly) enclosing means.
The present invention offers an element of playing and training in which coordination, rhythmic, motor behaviour and balance are trained and in which fine motor ability and technique beat brute force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by means of a number of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the playing and training appliance according to the invention,
- Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a part included in the appliance,
- Fig. 3 shows obliquely from below the appliance in the assembled state,
- Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the appliance in Figs 1-3, and
- Fig. 5 shows the appliance according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The playing and training appliance according to the invention comprises at least two rods designated 2 in the drawing. The rods 2 are advantageously arranged parallel to each other so as to form a track. By "parallel" is here meant parallel with a deviation in terms of tolerances. The rods 2 are arranged horizontally relative to a base. By "horizontally" is here meant horizontally with a deviation of ±10°. In a further embodiment, several pairs of rods 2 can be arranged next to each other.
The rods 2 may consist of, for instance, some kind of tubular blank or be wholly or partly massive. The rods 2 can also advantageously be circular in cross-section, but can also have a square cross-section or the like. The arrangement of the rods 2 satisfies all safety standards that are applicable to playing appliances. According to the safety standards, there must be at least 230 mm between two parallel elements in order to prevent a child's head from getting caught between the rods 2. In the track according to the invention, the rods 2 are placed in parallel at a distance of about 250-300 mm between each other, preferably about 285 mm. It goes without saying that this distance can be varied within the safety standards according to needs and wishes. The two or more rods 2 which constitute the track are preferably of the same length and have a length of about 1-5 m, preferably about 3 m, but may of course be both shorter and longer according to needs and according to how much room is available. The rods 2 can be made, for instance, of stainless steel, hard metal, rigid plastic or similar hard materials.
The playing and training appliance further comprises a board 4 for standing. The user stands on one side of the board 4 and the other side is intended for the rods 2. The board 4 is preferably a polyurethane cast plate with inserts of wood/sheet material or the like. The board 4 is also reinforced by, for instance, stainless steel sheet or the like on the side intended for the rods 2. The board 4 can also be made of other materials, such as entirely of wood or like materials. On the side of the board 4 intended for the rods 2, two sleeves are arranged. The first sleeve 6a is fixedly arranged in the board 4 and the second sleeve 6b is arranged between roller bearings 8 with the function of two wheels, see Fig. 2. The sleeves 6a, 6b are provided with pivot bearings 10. The sleeves 6a, 6b are further connected to each other by means of a telescoping device 12 consisting of two tubes, one telescoping in the other, or some other model according to prior art. The telescoping device 12 takes up the change in length that occurs when the board 4 is angled relative to the rods 2. The telescoping device 12 together with the roller bearings 8 makes it possible to vary the distance between the sleeves 6a, 6b.
At least two means 14 are arranged for the sleeves 6a, 6b, see Fig. 4. The means 14 connect the board 4 to the rods 2. The means 14 are enclosing and can be wholly enclosing and then consist, for instance, of tubular sleeves or similar elements. In another embodiment, the means 14 can be partly enclosing and then consist of, for instance, open tubular sleeves, snap fasteners or the like. When the sleeves 6a, 6b comprise pivot bearings 10, the attachment of the means 14 to the sleeves 6a, 6b is articulated. Owing to the pivot bearings 10, the enclosing means 14 are pivotally arranged relative to the board 4.
In another embodiment, the enclosing sleeves 6a, 6b may consist of separate units.
To reduce the risk of squeezing, the means 14 are provided with bearings 16, which also makes it easier for the user to move by means of the board 4 along the rods 2 of the track. The bearings 16 may consist of slide bearings, roller bearings, ball bearings or the like.
The board 4 is movably arranged relative to the rods 2 by the means 14. A means 14 can be arranged on each rod 2. For the function to be intact, however, it is necessary to provide a clearance between the enclosing means 14 and the rod 2. The clearance 18 is preferably about 4-7 mm. The clearance 18 can be adjusted to achieve an optimal function without reducing the safety. In one more embodiment, the clearance 18 can be fixedly arranged.
The rods 2 are further connected to connecting elements 20 which are turnably attached to fixed mounting points, for instance to the ground in a playground or the like. The rods 2 are also spring-suspended by spring suspensions 22 either directly in the rods 2 or indirectly by means of the connecting elements 20. The spring suspension 22 is a rubber mounting with a torsion spring, but may also be some other type of spring suspension 22, for instance, a hinge suspension where the spring action is achieved using a loose hinge. When subjected to a load, for instance when a user walks by means of the board 4 on the rods 2, it will thus be possible to make the entire track move in depth, which provides the feeling of moving on a flexible base.
Two tracks which comprise the two rods 2 can also be arranged at an angle, so that the goal will be one and the same post, thus resulting in an interesting element of competition. Start and finish of the track 2 consists of a surface 24 for standing, which advantageously is made of a friction material, such as Ekogrip or like material.
In another embodiment, the board 4 is formed with two opposite parts 26a, 26b which together form the wholly or partly enclosing means 14, see Fig. 5.
The present invention has now been described by means of a number of embodiments, and it should be understood that various modifications and supplements can be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

REFERENCE NUMERALS
Rod
2
Board for standing
4
Sleeves
First 6a
Second 6b
Roller bearing
8
Pivot bearing
10
Telescoping device
12
Enclosing means
14
Bearing
16
Clearance
18
Connecting element
20
Spring suspension
22
Surface for standing
24
Opposite parts
26a, 26b
1. A playing and training appliance,
characterised in that
it comprises at least two essentially parallel horizontal rods (2) and a board (4) for standing, said board (4) being turnably arranged with at least two wholly or partly enclosing means (14), one for each rod (2), the board (4) being movably arranged relative to the rods (2) by the wholly or partly enclosing means (14).
2. A playing and training appliance as claimed in claim 1,
characterised in that
the rods (2) are interconnected by connecting elements (20) which are turnably attached to fixed mounting points.
3. A playing and training appliance as claimed in claim 2,
characterised in that
the rods (2) are spring-suspended directly or indirectly by means of the connecting elements (20).
4. A playing and training appliance as claimed in claim 1,
characterised in that
a fixed or adjustable clearance (18) is obtained when the enclosing means (14) are slipped on to the rods (2).
5. A playing and training appliance as claimed in claim 1,
characterised in that
the wholly or partly enclosing means (14) are connected to each other.
6. A playing and training appliance as claimed in claim 1,
characterised in that
the wholly or partly enclosing means (14) consist of tubular sleeves or similar elements.
7. A playing and training appliance as claimed in claim 1,
characterised in that
said board (4) is formed with two opposite parts (26a, 26b) which together form the (wholly or partly) enclosing means (14).