SUSPENDED TARGET TRAMPOLINE GAME

Abstract

A suspended target trampoline game includes a trampoline having a trampoline frame which includes a trampoline leg supporting the trampoline frame, and an enclosure. The enclosure includes an enclosure pole connected to the trampoline frame. The enclosure pole supports an enclosure net. An overhanging pole is connected to the enclosure pole. A line is suspended from the overhanging pole. A target is suspended from the line. A detachable connection can be formed between the target and the line. The detachable connection releasably attaches the target to the line. A slack control mechanism can adjust a height of the target. The target can be a ball.

Claims

1. A suspended target trampoline game comprising: a. a trampoline having a trampoline frame which includes a trampoline leg supporting the trampoline frame, and an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes an enclosure pole connected to the trampoline frame, wherein the enclosure pole supports an enclosure net; a. an overhanging pole connected to the enclosure pole; b. a line suspended from the overhanging pole; and c. a target suspended from the line.

2. The suspended target trampoline game of claim 1, further including a detachable connection between the target and the line, wherein the detachable connection releasably attaches the target to the line.

3. The suspended target trampoline game of claim 1, further including a slack control mechanism for adjusting a height of the target.

4. The suspended target trampoline game of claim 1, wherein the target is a ball.

5. The suspended target trampoline game of claim 1, wherein the target is a piñata.

6. The suspended target trampoline game of claim 5, wherein the piñata is a string piñata with an active line connected to a piñata hatch, wherein the piñata hatch is configured to release from the string piñata when a user pulls on the active line.

7. The suspended target trampoline game of claim 6, further including a detachable connection between the target and the line, wherein the detachable connection releasably attaches the target to the line.

8. The suspended target trampoline game of claim 6, further including a slack control mechanism for adjusting a height of the target.

9. The suspended target trampoline game of claim 7, further including a detachable connection between the target and the line, wherein the detachable connection releasably attaches the target to the line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the suspended target game with a telescopically mounted overhanging pole.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suspended target game with an externally mounted overhanging pole.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ball and target line connection.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the line retainer.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the line retainer.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the externally mounted overhanging pole.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a string piñata with an openable piñata hatch.

[0016] The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the element numbers of the drawings. [0017] 21 Target [0018] 22 Target Connection [0019] 23 Target Line [0020] 24 Target Line Eyelet [0021] 25 Target Line Eyelet Opening [0022] 26 Eyelet Opening Connector [0023] 31 Overhanging Pole [0024] 32 Enclosure Pole [0025] 33 Reel [0026] 34 Reel Handles [0027] 35 Target Line Weight [0028] 36 First Overhanging Pole Connector [0029] 37 Second Overhanging Pole Connector [0030] 38 First Enclosure Pole Connector [0031] 39 Second Enclosure Pole Connector [0032] 40 Line Retainer [0033] 41 Line Retainer Body [0034] 42 Line Retainer Clamp [0035] 43 Line Retainer Clamp Slot [0036] 44 Line Retainer Hinge [0037] 45 Piñata Hatch [0038] 46 Piñata Active Line [0039] 47 Piñata Decoy Line [0040] 51 Trampoline Frame [0041] 52 Net [0042] 53 Upper Enclosure Support [0043] 54 Trampoline Leg [0044] 55 Enclosure Pole Connection [0045] 56 Enclosure Pole Connection Nut [0046] 58 Spring Cover

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0047] A trampoline generally has a trampoline frame 51 having a ring of horizontal members. The trampoline frame 51 is connected to multiple trampoline legs 54. The trampoline legs 54 are U-shaped and connected to the trampoline frame 51 to support the trampoline frame 51 above the ground. The trampoline legs have enclosure poles 32 connected to them. The enclosure poles 32 are connected to the trampoline legs at an enclosure pole connection 55. The enclosure pole connection 55 includes a first enclosure pole connector 38 and a second enclosure pole connector 39 which can be formed of a screw or bolt for example. The enclosure pole connection nut 56 can thread to the enclosure pole connectors when the enclosure pole connectors are formed as bolts. The enclosure poles 32 support an upper enclosure support 53. The upper enclosure support 53 has a net 52 suspended from the upper enclosure support. The net 52 retains users bounding on the trampoline bed. The trampoline bed is connected to the trampoline frame 51 at a plurality of springs that are covered by spring cover 58.

[0048] An overhanging pole 31 is connected to the enclosure pole 32. The overhanging pole 31 can be connected telescopically such as seen in FIG. 1, or can be connected with overhanging pole connectors such as a first overhanging pole connector 36 and a second overhanging pole connector 37 as seen in FIG. 2. The first overhanging pole connector 36 and the second overhanging pole connector 37 preferably bisected and are orthogonally oriented relative to the enclosure pole 32. When telescopically connected, the overhanging pole 31 can slide into the enclosure pole 32. The overhanging pole 31 can be flexible and of a smaller diameter than an internal diameter of the enclosure pole 32. When externally connected in a parallel fashion as seen in FIG. 2, the overhanging pole 31 preferably fits over a top portion of the enclosure pole 32. The enclosure pole 32 can be made of tubular steel, while the overhanging pole 31 is made of a fiberglass or flexible steel rod.

[0049] A target 21 is connected to a target line 23 which suspends the target 21 above the trampoline bed. The target connection 22 connects the target 21 to the target line 23. The target connection 22 can be a detachable hook and loop or magnetic connection. The target line 23 is retained to the pole system by a target line eyelet 24 that retains the target line 23 so that it drapes over a center portion of the trampoline bed. Preferably, the target line eyelet 24 has a target line eyelet opening 25 on an upper surface of the target line eyelet 24. The target line eyelet opening 25 is formed as a gap to allow release and attachment of the target line 23 to facilitate assembly. The target line opening 25 can be closed by a clip or carabiner or the like. The eyelet opening 25 can be connected to the overhanging pole 31 by the eyelet opening connector 26.

[0050] The target can be formed as a tetherball such as a sponge ball, foam ball or as a traditional tetherball. A user can grasp at the target. If the target has extending lines such as cords, strings or rope, the user can pull on the lines which may activate certain features of the target such as lights, sound on the target, or open a hatch such as in the case of a string piñata.

[0051] A slack control mechanism such as a reel, a line retainer 40 or a hitch knot retains line tension in the target line 23 and also adjust the height of the target 21. Preferably, a reel 33 can control slack in the target line 23. The real 33 can be controlled by a reel handle 34. The reel handle 34 can be optionally geared to a higher or lower ratio for faster or slower reeling. A slack portion of the target line extends from the reel and can be weighted by a target line weight 35. The slack portion of the target line can also be clamped with a line retainer such as a nautical line retainer. Instead of a reel or line retainer, the user can also hitch the line around the lower end of the trampoline enclosure pole, or can hitch the line around one of the trampoline legs.

[0052] The line retainer 40 could be used in conjunction with the reel. The line retainer 40 includes a line retainer body 41. The line retainer body 41 can be attached to the enclosure pole 32. The line retainer body 41 includes a line retainer clamp slot 43. The line retainer clamp slot 43 is formed vertically along a length of the line retainer 40 and holds the line retainer clamp 42. The line retainer clamp 42 is hinged to the line retainer body 41 at a line retainer hinge 44. The line retainer clamp 42 can rotate toward the line retainer slot 43 and retain the target line 23 between the line retainer clamp 42 and the line retainer body 41. The end of the line retainer clamp 42 can have an eccentric cam that binds to the target line 23. The line retainer clamp 42 could also be formed as a wheel, a lever or a wheel mounted on a lever.

[0053] Alternatively as seen in FIG. 6, the first overhanging pole connector can be formed as a helical spring that provides a spring tension to the overhanging pole 31. The helical spring can receive a lower end of the overhanging pole 31. The helical spring can be attached to the second overhanging pole connector 37. The second overhanging pole connector 37 can be attached to an upper end of the enclosure pole 32 get the second overhanging pole connector 37 is formed as a plastic end cap that fits over the enclosure pole 32.

[0054] User play can involve touching the target 21 at different heights. The target height can be adjustable by the reel or by the line retainer. As a user increases jumping height, the user can track the record height jumped.

[0055] The target 21 can be formed as a piñata designed to hold candy and be activated when burst such as by impact. Instead of a traditional impact burst piñata, 21 the target can be formed as a string piñata that opens a piñata hatch 45 for releasing candy or other small prizes when a particular piñata active line 46 is pulled on the string piñata. For example, as seen in FIG. 3 the string piñata can be styled as an insect with extending legs being the string lines. At least one string line is connected to a piñata hatch 45 for opening the piñata hatch of the string piñata. The piñata hatch 45 can be hinged, or held in place by weak adhesive. After pulling, the piñata active line 46 remains attached to the piñata hatch 45 which means that the piñata hatch 45 and the piñata active line 46 are pulled away from the target 21. The piñata is a string piñata with an active line connected to a piñata hatch. The piñata hatch is configured to release from the string piñata when a user pulls on the active line. To a child, this would appear as if he pulled away a leg of the insect which remained attached to a body section of the insect.

[0056] The following claims define the scope of the invention.