Community Playthings L310 Starter 2 User manual

e Community Lo
L310 / MODEL 2 STARTER PRODUCT GUIDE
Model 2 Starter

Railing must be less than 3½" away from the
wall of your room, or more than 9". Anything
in between is an entrapment hazard.
Test the joints for stability before allowing
children to play on the structure.
Do not provide anything on the top level of
your lo which children can use to climb
over the sides.
Changing a lower level panel or splicing an
addition to a standing lo is not recommend-
ed as it is not possible to keep the structure
stable while liing weight-bearing rings.
Each platform should be held down on at
least two sides by panels and/or plugs to pre-
vent the possibility of a child pushing up the
oor from below.
Each platform section, whether 2'x 2' or
2' x 4', will bear a load of 750 lbs., or the
equivalent of one teacher and fourteen aver-
age ve-year-olds.
CAUTION
is product is intended for indoor
use only.
Build the lo right where you want it. Do not
reposition assembled los by dragging.
is Product Guide contains important infor-
mation. Please save for future reference. You
may want to move your lo or change your
lo conguration later on.
is product is intended for use by children
of immature judgment; therefore supervision
is required at all times.
is Model 2 lo is appropriate for children
3–7 years old.
Children should not be in the room during
setup.
is lo requires a minimum classroom ceil-
ing height of eight feet (96"). e gap between
the ceiling and the top railing must be at least
9".
If your room has a sprinkler system for re
protection, you should have your lo place-
ment checked by a local re inspector.
Your lo should be placed where hanging
ceilings, ceiling xtures, windows, or sky-
lights are not accessible to children.
Do not attempt to build or take apart your
lo by yourself. You need at least two adults
working together to do this safely.
Use the patterns supplied in this Product
Guide. We cannot take responsibility for free-
form structures.
community playthings®
for your safety…
WARNINGS
Failure to follow these warnings and the assembly
instructions could result in serious injury or death.

e rst pages show what each piece looks
like, and how many of each come with this kit.
en come the Basic Skills: the real nitty-gritty
techniques you need to build your lo. e best
part is next: choosing which one of the con-
gurations ts your room and your ideas. Each
conguration has four drawings of the lo as
it looks while you are building it. You can see
which panel goes where from these drawings.
You will probably want to ip back and forth
from these drawings to the basic skills as you
build your lo.
When you are done you might have some parts
le over. Keep them for possible future use.
We have also included instructions for taking
your lo apart and trying a new conguration.
Important maintenance and cleaning informa-
tion is in the back. You’ll nd you can extend
the beauty and life of your lo by following
these simple tips. And of course, keep in mind
the “for your safety” information on the facing
page.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call
Customer Service at 1-800-777-4244. We’ll be
glad to help you!
CONTENTS
Getting Started...........................4
Basic skills...............................6
Choosing your conguration..............14
Building your lo .......................16
Maintaining your lo ....................32
Cleaning your carpets....................33
Taking apart your lo ....................34
Contents

e Community Lo
4
GETTING STARTED
Lay the pieces of your Model 2 Starter kit on
the oor. You will see there are short panels and
tall panels. e short ones are for the rst and
second layers of the lo; the tall ones are for the
third layer.
Lay panels of the same size together so you can
nd them easily. Make sure you have all the
parts shown on these pages before beginning to
build your lo.
If any parts are broken or missing, do not try
to assemble your loft. Call Customer Service
right away (800-777-4244) and we’ll send you
replacement parts.
1 Tall Clear Panel1 Carpet Panel 4 Single Dowel Panels
10 Post Extenders 8 Long Posts
6 Couplings (22")
2 Couplings (29")
7 Single Solid Panels 4 Short Clear Panels 7 Single Arches1 Diagonal Arch
10 Arch Supports
60 Connector
Rings
12 Caps
1 Half-Circle
Plug
1 Circular
Plug
Getting Started

Model 2 Starter 5
1 Double Dowel Panel
4 Short Posts
1 Double Arch 1 Double Platform2 Single Platforms
2 Stairs
2 pair of Stair Railings

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6
2Slide a connector ring at side down onto each long post.
BASIC SKILLS
We said no-tools assembly and we meant it. But
you will need a friend to help you. It takes four
hands to build a lo, but no tools at all!
ese basic skills are for building any of the
lo patterns in this book. Aer you have read
them through, choose the lo you would like to
build (see pages 12–13) and follow the pattern
provided.
1Screw rubber feet into posts until they are snug.
Basic Skills

Model 2 Starter 7
3
Stand two long posts and slide a short
panel into the connector rings.
6
To add the next panel, li one of the connec-
tor rings and use it to secure the new panel.
Assemble your lo by following the pat-
tern you have chosen (see pages 12–13). Go
slowly; it is not easy to replace a panel aer a
layer is placed on top.
5
Check the joints. Every panel should be
locked in place by four connector rings.
Repeat this step for each panel as you
build your lo.
4Secure the panel by sliding another con- nector ring at side up onto each post.

e Community Lo
8
10 Place the landing platform(s) in position, and add stairs. All four corners of the
stairs should t into the connector rings.
9Slide another connector ring at side down onto each post.
8Screw post extenders on top of the short posts which will support your landing. Do
not over-tighten the posts. Align the sides.
A slight looseness will not aect the stabil-
ity of the nished lo.
7 Warning:
 When arches are used on the second level they MUST be supported underneath by
Arch Supports.

Model 2 Starter 9
11 Lay the le stair railing on the oor. (Railings are labeled on their underside.) Ax a 22" coupling (with the shaped end up) to the top end of the railing, by sliding the metal
connectors over their mates on the railing.
Attach a 22" coupling in the same way to the bottom end of the railing. e sub-assem-
bly should appear as in the gure above.
Repeat this procedure for the right stair railing.
notches
22" Coupling
Le Railing
Le Bottom
Label
22" Coupling

e Community Lo
10
13 Secure the railings using connector rings. en, use short panels to com-
plete the second layer. Add more con-
nector rings as you build so each panel
is secured by four rings. Be sure to fol-
low the pattern you have chosen.
12 Add the railings. e railings slide into slots on the stairs with the ‘bottom’ label
down.
Hint: Hold couplings and press down.
14 Any stair railing which connects to a tall post at its base must be next to a panel which extends above the railing, and this may not
be an arch panel. is prevents an entrapment hazard in the angle
formed by the railing and the tall post.
Warning:
Never use an arch panel next to a stair railing.

Model 2 Starter 11
15 Slide another connector ring at side down onto each post.
18 Check all the joints. en, add the sec- ond layer stairs the same way you put in
the rst layer stairs.
17 Screw post extenders on top of each post which goes to the third layer. Do
not over- tighten the posts. Align the
sides. A slight looseness will not aect
the stability of the nished lo.
16 Lay the platforms in place. Any half- circle holes should be lled with the
half-circle plug at this time.

e Community Lo
12
20 Add the stair railings. e railings slide into the slots on the stairs with
the ‘bottom’ label down.
Hint: Hold couplings and press down.
19 Follow the same procedure as you did in Step 11 for the lower stairs. However, note that on the lower stairs, the 4 couplings that are used are 22" long. On these upper stairs, the 2 cou-
plings on the top are 29" long and the 2 couplings on the bottom are 22" long. Otherwise,
they are assembled in the same way.
notches
29" Coupling
Le Railing
Le Bottom
Label
22" Coupling

Model 2 Starter 13
21 Use tall panels to create the third layer. Add connector rings as you go so each
panel is secured by four rings and will
not fall down. You may want to stand
on the platform to do this.
22 Check all joints. Make sure all panels are where you want them to be. en ll the
hole between platforms using a circular
plug. Step on the plug to lock it in place.
23 Screw a cap onto each post to lock the construction together. You will hear
a clicking sound as you turn the cap;
screw it all the way down.
24 Check that all post feet are rmly on the oor. If a post needs lengthening, turn
the rubber foot clockwise until the post
is anchored.

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14
Tom’s lo page
14–17
Maria’s lo
page 18–21
CHOOSING YOUR CONFIGURATION
Which lo would you like to build? It may depend on where you want your lo to stand. Near win-
dows so the children can look out? Far from the windows so it is cooler in summer? Look for a place
where ceiling xtures will not be within a child’s reach, then build the lo right where you want it.
Do not reposition assembled los by dragging. e pages indicated have step-by-step drawings of
the los, so look at them to see what the rst oor is like.
Tom’s loft has doors, stairs,
and crawl through tunnels on
all sides—great for the center of
the room, or as a room divider.
Placed in the middle of a large
space, it will create many child
size play areas. Walk around it and
you may meet a group of clerks
running a department store, a ship
sailing in a brisk wind, a troupe of
reghters courageously ghting
a blaze, or a quiet little mousy
reading a book.
Maria’s loft is shown in our
catalog. ough the design is
compact, the front facing arch
opens a space for a bunny cage,
a dolly corner, or tea for two.
e possibilities are as varied as
the children themselves.
77"
77"
53"
77"
Choosing your conguration

Model 2 Starter 15
Annette’s lo
page 22–25
Robin’s lo
page 26–29
For more variety…Try customizing your lo by rearranging the panels. Any panel can be sub-
stituted for another panel of the same size, with one exception. An arch panel may not be placed
next to a stair (see Step 14, Basic Skills). Did you know you can ip a pattern and build it facing the
other direction? It’s easy if you photocopy the plan on a sheet of transparent overhead material. Turn
the transparency over on a piece of white paper to work from.
Annette’s loft has a royal
staircase for Cinderella’s grand
entrance! e double arch
below makes the lower level
feel big enough for a ballroom
while the tunnel under the
landing is a niy place for
the fairy godmother to hide.
Because the interior has three
glass panels, you’ll be able
to keep an eye on the story
whether you are inside look-
ing out, or outside looking in.
Glass slipper not included.
Robin’s loft is a space sav-
ing pattern that has plenty of
room for impromptu plays
and puppet shows. You’ll nd
the clear panels bring sunshine
to the interior if placed near
classroom windows. Under the
landing, however, is a tunnel
for a little quiet time out of the
crowd. Add some big throw
pillows on the top oor and
you have a cozy nest that will
delight and soothe all your
little chicks.
101"
53"
53"
77"

e Community Lo
16
Tom’s loft
Checklist in order of installation:
8 long and 2 short posts?
8 arch supports as shown in Floor
Plan?
4 single arches and 5 single solid panels
in bottom layer?
1 single and 1 double arch on second
level to hold structure together?
All panels, arches and arch supports
held properly with connectors?
8Arch Supports
Floor Plan - First Level
1
Building your lo
Arch Support
Arch Support

Model 2 Starter 17
Checklist in order of installation:
1 single platform landing?
2 post extenders on top of 2 short posts?
1 stair, 2 short posts at bottom, and 1 stair, 2 stair railings with 4 short couplings?
4 short clear panels, 2 solid panels, 1 diagonal arch, and 3 single arches to complete
the second layer?
All panels and couplings held properly by the connectors?
Tom’s loft
2
2

e Community Lo
18
Checklist in order of installation:
1 single and 1 double platform on top with a half-circle plug?
8 post extenders on top of long posts?
1 stair, 2 stair railings with 2 short couplings at bottom and 2 long couplings on top?
Tom’s loft
3

Model 2 Starter 19
Checklist in order of installation:
7 upper panels?
All panels, stairs, and couplings held properly by the connectors?
12 caps screwed down tight?
 Refer to Safety page.
Levelling feet adjusted?
Tom’s loft
4

e Community Lo
20
Maria’s loft
Checklist in order of installation:
8 long and 2 short posts?
8 arch supports as shown in Floor
Plan?
4 single arches and 5 single solid panels
in bottom layer?
1 single and 1 double arch on second
level to hold structure together?
All panels, arches and arch supports
held properly with connector rings?
Floor Plan - First Level
8Arch Supports
1
Arch Support
Arch Support