Community Playthings L320 User manual

e Community Lo
Model 2 Classic
L320 / MODEL 2 CLASSIC PRODUCT GUIDE

for your safety…
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
recommended 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
prevent 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
average 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
information. 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
ceiling 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
placement checked by a local re inspector.
Your lo should be placed where hanging
ceilings, ceiling xtures, windows or
skylights 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.
WARNINGS
Failure to follow these warnings and the assembly
instructions could result in serious injury or death.
community playthings®

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 tech-
niques 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 nished you might have some
parts le over. Keep the parts 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 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 ....................36
Cleaning your carpets................. . . 37
Taking apart your lo ....................38
Contents

e Community Lo
4
Getting Started
6 Couplings (22")
2 Couplings (29")
14 Arch Supports
GETTING STARTED
Lay the pieces of your Model 2 Classic 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 lo. Call Customer Service
right away (800-777-4244) and we’ll send you
replacement parts.
1 Tall Clear Panel2 Carpet Panels 7 Single Dowel Panels
14 Post Extenders 12 Long Posts
10 Single Solid Panels 5 Short Clear Panels 10 Single Arches1 Diagonal Arch
82 Connector
Rings
15 Caps
3 Circular
Plugs
1 Half-Circle
Plug

Model 2 Classic 5
1 Double Dowel Panel
3 Short Posts
3 Double Arches 3 Double Platforms3 Single Platforms
2 Stairs
2 pairs of Stair Railings

e Community Lo
6
Basic Skills
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 congurations in this book. Aer you have
read them through, choose the lo you would
like to build (see page 14) and follow the in-
structions provided.
1Screw rubber feet into posts until they are snug.

Model 2 Classic 7
3Stand two long posts and slide a short panel into the connector rings.
6To add the next panel, li one of the con- nector rings and use it to capture the new
panel. Assemble your lo by following the
conguration you have chosen (see page
14-15). Go slowly; it is not easy to replace
a panel aer a layer is placed on top.
5Check the joints. Every panel should be locked in place by four connector rings.
Repeat this step for each panel as you
build your lo.
4Capture the panel by sliding another connector ring onto each post, at side up.

e Community Lo
8
10 Place the landing platform(s) in posi- tion, and add stairs. All four corners of
the stair should t into 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 sta-
bility of the nished lo.
7Warning:
When arches are used on the 2nd level
they MUST be supported underneath
by Arch Supports!

Model 2 Classic 9
notches
22" Coupling
Le Railing
Le Bottom
Label
22" Coupling
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 con-
nectors over their mates on the railing.
Attach a 22" coupling in the same way to the bottom end of the railing. e sub-assembly
should appear as in the gure above.
Repeat this procedure for the right stair railing.

e Community Lo
10
13 Capture the railings using connector rings. en, use short panels to complete
the second layer. Add more connector
rings as you build, so each panel is cap-
tured by four rings. Be sure to follow the
conguration 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 rail-
ing, 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 next to a stair railing.

Model 2 Classic 11
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 en lay the platforms in place. Any half-circle holes should be lled with
the half-circle plugs at this time.
15 Slide another connector ring at side down onto each post.

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 upper stairs, the 2 couplings at the top are 29" long and the 2 couplings on the bottom
are 22" long.
notches
29" Coupling
Le Railing
Le
Bottom
Label
22" Coupling

Model 2 Classic 13
21 Use tall panels to create the third layer. Add connector rings as you go so each
panel is captured 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 platform using a
circular plug. Step on the plug to lock
it in place.
23 Screw a cap onto each post to lock 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.

e Community Lo
14
77"
101"
101"
77"
Choosing your conguration
CHOOSING YOUR CONFIGURATION:
Which of the 5 los would you like to build? It may depend on where you want your lo to stand.
Near windows 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 of your choice
right where you want it. Do not reposition assembled los by dragging. e 5 dierent lo congu-
rations indicated have step-by-step drawings.
Rick’s lo has a secret shelf
under the stairs, and a tunnel
entrance. Corners and cubbies
are all over this lo, providing
lots of snug nooks for quiet
time. e double arch is big
enough for a wheelchair to
enter, so no one has to be le
out. Arched windows inspire
puppet shows and better still,
provide the perfect setting for
“Ye Olde Ice Cream Shoppe!”
Gretchen’s lo features
a shelf perfect for a bunny’s
cage, an aquarium, or a
bookworm. Underneath is
a snug niche, while on top
a little balcony begs you to
sail paper airplanes. Lots
of doors below make trac
ow a breeze in this fun pat-
tern.
see page16–19
page 20–23
page 32–35
Carole’s lo has a big open
space on the rst oor, and
enough room for the whole
group on the top. Are books
your theme for the month?
Add a few chairs and the rst
oor will be a cozy reading
corner; the top can be a story
time rug. e extra platform
under the stairs is a secret
shelf, and creates a private
crawl-through space below.
77"
101"

Model 2 Classic 15
page 28–31
Krista’s lo has a look out
tower so Captain Hook can
nally sight land aer many
weeks at sea. On the rst oor,
windows are the theme, bring-
ing sunshine to all corners.
e windows also provide a
clear view of activities wheth-
er you are inside or outside
the lo. Captain Hook’s secret
treasures can be safely stowed
on the shelf under the stairs,
or deep in the hold below.
For more variety… You
can also try customizing your
lo by rearranging the panels.
Any panel can be substituted
for another panel of the same
size, with one exception. An
arch panel may not be placed
next to a stair (see Step 14, Ba-
sic 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.
Ken’s lo is only 53 inches
wide, making it the perfect
room expander. It’s designed
to stretch along a wall with
windows, so children can see
out on both levels. A shelf
and a tunnel under the stairs
make interesting nooks, while
wide open spaces invite group
activities. Rainy Day? Have a
picnic in your own treehouse,
high and dry!
page 24–27
77"
101"
125"
53"

e Community Lo
16
Floor Plan - First Level
Building your lo
Rick’s lo
Checklist in order of installation:
12 long and 2 short posts?
8 single solid panels, 4 single arches in
bottom level?
1 double and 2 single arches holding
second level together?
14 arch supports placed as the oor
plan shows?
All panels, arches and arch supports
properly held by connectors?
1
14 Arch supports
Arch Support
Arch Support

Model 2 Classic 17
2Rick’s lo
Checklist in order of installation:
2 single platforms for the landing?
2 post extenders on top of 2 short posts?
1 short post at bottom of stair, 1 pair of stair railings with 4 short couplings?
5 short clear panels, 2 solid panels?
1 diagonal, 2 double and 4 single arches to complete the second layer?
All panels, arches and couplings held properly by the connectors?

e Community Lo
18
3Rick’s lo
Checklist in order of installation:
1 single and 3 double platforms and 2 circular and 1 half plug?
12 extender posts placed on top of long posts?
Stair, 1 pair of stair railings, 2 short couplings at bottom and 2 long couplings at top?

Model 2 Classic 19
4Rick’s lo
Checklist in order of installation:
11 upper panels?
All panels and couplings held properly by the connectors?
15 caps screwed down tight?
 Refer to Safety page.
Levelling feet adjusted?

e Community Lo
20
1
14 Arch supports
Gretchen’s lo
Checklist in order of installation:
12 long posts and 2 short posts?
8 single solid panels, 1 clear panel, 3
single arches in bottom level?
1 double and 2 single arches to hold
structure together?
14 arch supports placed as the oor plan
shows?
All panels and arch supports properly
held by connectors?
Floor Plan - First Level
Arch Support
Arch Support