Trampolines

Abstract

A trampoline including: a frame including a plurality of frame segments/units connected together, each segment including lower and upper frame members secured together in spaced apart relationship for assembly with other like segments/units; a plurality of spaced apart flexible and resilient plates connected to the lower frame member of each segment/unit and extending upwards therefrom; a jumping mat extending between said plates and being operatively connected at or adjacent its periphery thereto, said plates engaging the upper frame member of each segment/unit respectively above the lower frame member of the respective segment and being arranged for movement inwards and outwards towards the opposite side of said mat and/or up and down in response to a user jumping on said mat, the plates having an upper portion preformed to have a bend in one direction and a lower portion preformed to have a bend in the opposite direction.

Claims

1. A trampoline including: a frame including a plurality of frame segments or units connected together, each segment including lower and upper frame members secured together in spaced apart relationship for assembly with other segments or units; a plurality of spaced apart flexible and resilient plates connected to the lower frame member of each segment or unit and extending upwards therefrom and engaged with said upper frame member, wherein each flexible and resilient plate has a lower portion curved in one direction and an upper portion curved in the opposite direction; a jumping mat extending between said spaced apart flexible and resilient plates and being operatively connected at or adjacent its periphery thereto, said plates engaging the upper frame member of each segment or unit respectively above the lower frame member of the respective segment, wherein each of said resilient plates engage with said upper frame member at a transition between said lower portion of each of said resilient plates and said upper portion of each of said resilient plates and being arranged for movement inwards and outwards and/or up and down in response to a user jumping on said mat.

2. The trampoline according to claim 1, and including legs arranged to support the frame above the ground or other foundation, the legs including connectors for connecting frame segments thereto with one frame segment extending in one direction and one frame segment extending in the generally opposite direction so that the two segments form a continuous frame wherein a plurality of frame segments are connected with legs including connectors to provide a frame comprising adjacent legs positioned between adjacent frame segments.

3. The trampoline according to claim 2, wherein the frame segments are formed from round tube and the connectors are spigots adapted to fit firmly in the hollows of the frame segments or sockets adapted to receive firmly therein the end portions of the frame segments.

4. The trampoline according to claim 2, wherein the legs extend as posts upwards beyond the mat to provide safety net support poles for supporting a safety net about the mat.

5. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the upper frame members engage the plates against their respective inner faces allowing the plates to freely move against the outer face thereof so as to provide a fulcrum about which each plate may pivot at least to a small extent upon placing a load on the mat while at the same time preventing or at least inhibiting lateral movement of the plates towards the opposite side of the mat at the region of engagement of the mat with the plates.

6. The trampoline according to claim 5, wherein said trampoline is configured to prevent-sliding movement of each plate along the upper frame member in either a circumferential direction around the mat or a longitudinal direction along the plate.

7. The trampoline according claim 1, wherein the mat is connected to the flexible and resilient plates adjacent their upper ends by connector assemblies incorporating a hook and a load bearing fitting mounted in a pocket formed in the mat adjacent its periphery.

8. The trampoline according to claim 7, wherein the hook is connected at one end to the mat via the load bearing fitting and to the plates at the other end via one or more hook openings formed in the plate adjacent its upper end.

9. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the lower and upper frame members are permanently secured together by spacer members welded thereto.

10. The trampoline according to claim 1 wherein said spaced apart flexible and resilient plates are connected to said lower frame member by locating in spaced apart slots formed in said lower frame member, the slots being suitably sized to form a tight fit about the plates.

11. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower frame members are secured together such that when fitted to each other for supporting the mat via the plates, the perimeter of the upper frame member is slightly less than the perimeter of the lower frame member.

12. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises arcuate segments of round tube which are joined together in a spigot and socket arrangement with the end portion of one segment sliding into the end portion of the adjacent segment, wherein the frame segments are keyed together against relative rotational movement with respect to one another.

13. A trampoline including: a frame adapted to rest on the ground or be mounted on a plurality of spaced apart legs, said frame including a bottom frame member and an upper frame member, said frame defining a space; a plurality of spaced apart flexible and resilient plates extending upwards from said bottom frame member, each of said flexible and resilient plates having an upper end and a lower end and being connected to said bottom frame member at or adjacent their respective lower ends against relative movement between each flexible and resilient plate and said frame; and a jumping mat extending over said space defined by said frame between said opposed flexible and resilient plates and being operatively connected at or adjacent its periphery to said flexible and resilient plates at or adjacent their upper ends for movement with said flexible and resilient plates upon a person jumping on said mat; and wherein each flexible and resilient plate has a lower portion curved in one direction and an upper portion curved in the opposite direction, wherein each of said resilient plates engage with said upper frame member at a transition between said lower portion of each of said resilient plate and said upper portion of each of said resilient plates.

14. The trampoline according to claim 13, wherein the frame includes a plurality of frame segments or units connected together, each segment including lower and upper frame members secured together in spaced apart relationship for assembly with other segments or units.

15. The trampoline according to claim 13, wherein the curvature of the lower portion is less in extent than the curvature of the upper portion.

16. The trampoline according claim 13, wherein the curvature of the upper portion of each resilient plate, when in a relaxed condition has a larger radius of curvature than that of the lower portion, but when strained by attaching the jumping mat thereto, the upper portion has a curvature much the same as the curvature of the lower portion.

17. The trampoline of claim 13, wherein said flexible and resilient plates comprise a knuckle at said junction between said lower portion of each of said resilient plates and said upper portion of each of said resilient plates, wherein said knuckle is configured to engage said upper frame member.

18. A trampoline including: a frame adapted to rest on the ground or be mounted on a plurality of spaced apart legs, said frame including a bottom frame member defining a space; a plurality of spaced apart flexible and resilient plates extending upwards from said frame, each of said flexible and resilient plates having an upper end and a lower end and being connected to said frame at or adjacent their respective lower ends against relative movement between each flexible and resilient plate and said frame; and a jumping mat extending over said space defined by said frame between said opposed flexible and resilient plates and being operatively connected at or adjacent its periphery to said flexible and resilient plates at or adjacent their upper ends for movement with said flexible and resilient plates upon a person jumping on said mat; and wherein each flexible and resilient plate has a lower portion curved in one direction and an upper portion curved in the opposite direction, wherein the curvature of the upper portion of each resilient plate, when in a relaxed condition has a larger radius of curvature than that of the lower portion, but when strained by attaching the jumping mat thereto, the upper portion has a curvature much the same as the curvature of the lower portion.

Description

(1) In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of the trampoline from the front according to the invention resting on a floor with a safety enclosure fitted;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic pictorial representation of the trampoline of FIG. 1 with some components removed for clarity;

(4) FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of another trampoline from the front according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged pictorial representation of part of the trampoline of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is another enlarged pictorial representation of part of the trampoline of FIG. 1; and

(7) FIG. 6 is another enlarged pictorial representation of part of the trampoline of FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of a trampoline according to the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a detailed pictorial view showing part of the trampoline of FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 is a more detailed pictorial view showing part of the trampoline of FIG. 7;

(11) FIG. 10 is a detailed pictorial view from the underside showing part of the trampoline of FIG. 7

(12) FIG. 11 is a pictorial view of a prebent leaf spring for a trampoline according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 12 is a pictorial view of the leaf spring of FIG. 11 of different weight;

(14) FIG. 13 is a pictorial view of an alternative leaf spring for a trampoline according to the invention; and

(15) FIG. 14 is a pictorial view of the alternative leaf spring of FIG. 13 for a different application.

(16) The trampoline 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an elevated circular frame 11 constructed of inter-connected arcuate frame segments 12 which are supported on seven angularly spaced legs 13. Each segment comprises spaced apart lower frame members 14 and upper frame members 15 formed of circular cross section steel tube which are permanently secured to each other by spaced apart connecting members or gussets 16 which are welded to each of the lower and upper frame members.

(17) Each segment 12 is connected to the next angularly spaced segment 12 via opposed tubular leg mounts 21 which receive therein the end portions of the lower and upper frame members.

(18) While the two frame members in the trampoline shown are circular in cross section, other cross sectional shapes are also satisfactory, for example, obround, oval, elliptical, etc.

(19) Suitably, a jumping mat 24 is operatively connected to the frame 11 via a number of equi-angularly spaced resilient plates or leaf springs 31 which extend upwardly and curve inwardly from the frame.

(20) The lower ends of the leaf springs 31 are fitted in respective slots 32 in the lower frame member 14 and generally parallel to the curved longitudinal axis of the lower frame member and the mat 24 is connected at its periphery to the leaf springs 31 adjacent their upper ends by connector assemblies and hooks similar to those described and illustrated in the first and second PCT applications.

(21) A safety net 51 extends fully about the mat 24 as can be seen in FIG. 1 and is supported by angularly spaced posts 54 which are mounted to the respective legs 13. The posts 54 are formed of steel tube having the same cross sectional shape as the legs and are connected to their upper ends in a spigot and socket arrangement.

(22) The combination of the lower frame member 14 and the upper frame member 15 being secured to each other as a unit or segment 12 provides for easy assembly of a trampoline frame with the spigot and socket fittings 21 on the posts being welded thereto so that when the segments 12 are connected to the posts during assembly it automatically results in the lower and upper frame members being in the correct relationship.

(23) Further, the spacing between the lower and upper frame members allows shorter leaf springs to be used to achieve the desired bounce and also allows leaf springs with a single leaf to be used to achieve the desired bounce thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

(24) The trampoline 40 illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10 includes a circular bottom frame member 41 constructed of round steel tube which is supported above a support surface on seven angularly support poles shown typically at 42 each of which is connected to the frame member by a connection member 43. Suitably, a jumping mat 44 is operatively connected to the upper ends of forty-nine equally angularly and circumferentially spaced leaf springs shown typically at 22 which extend upwardly from the bottom frame member.

(25) An upper circular frame member 45, also constructed of round steel tube, is supported by the support poles above the bottom frame member by the same for, of connection member 43. The leaf plates fit into spaced apart slots 23 respectively which are formed in the bottom frame member and run substantially parallel to the curved longitudinal axis of the frame member. The leaf springs are secured therein by virtue of frictional engagement provided by the tensioning of the leaf springs when connected to the mat. The leaf springs are curved in opposite directions along their length. Each spring plate has a lower portion 46 which proceeds upward and outward to the level of the upper circular frame member, and then to an upper portion 47 which proceeds upward and inward. At the transition between the upper and lower portions, a knuckle portion 48 is provided to engage the upper circular frame member. The double curvature of the resilient plates or leaf springs has been found surprisingly to provide a superior bounce quality to the mat in use.

(26) The mat is connected at its periphery to the leaf springs adjacent their upper ends by connector assemblies 25 as can be seen more clearly in FIG. 10. Each connector assembly comprises a load bearing connector block 26 and a hook 27. The connector blocks are adapted to engage in circumferential pockets formed at the periphery of the mat in a manner suitable for carrying the tensile load of the stretched mat. The hook 27 is a twin ended loop hook with the free ends both hooking to the connector block and the loop 28 hooking to the leaf spring in side by side relation through a holes 29 in the leaf spring as can be seen more clearly in FIG. 10.

(27) A safety net 51 extends fully about the mat as can be seen in FIG. 7 and is secured to the mat at its lower edge 52 by circumferentially spaced D hooks. The net is connected along its upper edge 56 at seven connection points 55 and is supported by the seven spaced apart support posts.

(28) The leaf spring illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 has a lower portion 61 having a lower curve 62 concave to the right in the orientation shown, an intermediate portion 63 which is substantially straight extending upward therefrom and an upper portion 64 having an upper curve 65 convex to the right. The leaf spring has a lower aperture 66 of rectangular form, the lower end of the leaf spring being substantially square, whereas the upper end has an upper aperture 67 of obround form, the upper end being tapered at 68. The leaf spring illustrated in FIG. 12 is more suited to trampolines of lighter construction.

(29) The alternative leaf spring illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 is also prebent, but has only one curve towards the upper, tapered end. The same reference numerals are used for the same elements of the alternative leaf springs as those used in describing the leaf springs of FIGS. 11 and 12, the intermediate portion being a straight portion 63a. This form of alternative leaf spring is particularly suited to trampolines having a continuous mat. The alternative leaf spring illustrated in FIG. 13 is more suited to trampolines in a trampoline park orientated to form a trampoline wall, whereas the alternative leaf spring illustrated in FIG. 14 is more suited to the periphery of a continuous trampoline mat forming the floor of a trampoline park.

(30) The trampoline according to the invention may be provided in knock-down or kit form suitable for a consumer to transport home from a retailer and assemble according to instructions provided in the kit. The leaf springs or resilient plates are relatively light weight, but being shorter and being provided in a more closely packed spacing, together with the double or compound curvature, provide superior bounce for a lighter weight trampoline which also has a lower material cost. When bouncing on the mat, the upper portions of the resilient plates bend downwards at the top and may also be displaced inwards slightly. However, the lower portions of the resilient plates are displaced generally outwardly with the downward displacement of the upper ends and of the resilient plates. Each portion of the resilient plates has a somewhat different spring constant by virtue of the length and curvature thereof.

(31) The foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and many modifications and variations which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinbefore described and defined by the following claims.