TRAMPOLINE

Abstract

 A trampoline (100) comprises a generally rectangular bouncing bed (102) at distance surrounded by a support frame (104). Laterally arranged resilient elements (106) connect the bouncing bed to the support frame. The support frame comprises a first support structure (104A) to position a first section (102A) of the bouncing bed in a horizontal planar field, a second support structure (104B) to position an end section (102B) of the bouncing bed in a second planar field at a variable angle with respect to the horizontal planar field and a horizontal stretching support structure (104H) which is rigidly positioned with respect to the first support structure and surrounding the edges of the end section of the bouncing bed when the variable angle is generally 180 degrees. Resilient tensioning means (108) connect a transition from the first section to the second section of the bouncing bed to the horizontal stretching support structure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The subject disclosure relates to the field of trampolines.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A typical trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched within a steel frame using many coiled springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes. The fabric on which users bounce (commonly known as the 'bounce mat' or 'trampoline bed') is usually not elastic in itself; the elasticity is provided by the springs that connect the fabric to the frame. The tension of the springs allows rebounding. A trampoline pad can cover the springs for increased safety.

[0003] Normally, a trampoline consists of a bouncing bed at distance surrounded by a support frame. The bouncing bed has a multitude of laterally arranged resilient elements connecting the bouncing bed to the support frame. The trampoline could have a rectangular or circular two-dimensional bouncing surface.

[0004] US2016/0107055 discloses a trampoline court having a trampoline frame providing a frame for multiple trampolines arranged in a regular pattern. A middle trampoline is generally horizontal and side trampolines are angled toward each other relative to the middle trampoline.

[0005] US2013/0310223 discloses a half-pipe trampoline. The half-pipe trampoline comprises a horizontal trampoline runway with inclined trampoline beds angled relative to the surface of the horizontal trampoline runway. The inclined trampoline beds are connected directly to the horizontal trampoline runway.

[0006] US2007/0010374 discloses an apparatus adapted to the sport of trampoline boarding. The apparatus includes a frame adapted to define plural planar field intersecting at obtuse angled, a flexible material mounted therein and supported and located thereat to retain definition of the obtuse angles as defined by the frame at the flexible material when mounted at the frame and during use of the apparatus. DE19938192 discloses a similar trampoline. However the angle of the inclined trampoline beds is variable.

[0007] US3501141 discloses a horizontal trampoline bed with an inclined backstop adjacent each end of its bed. Additionally a piece of material is provided for closing the gap between the lower ends of the backstop panels and the trampoline bed.

[0008] Furthermore, US5833557 discloses a trampoline basketball game structure comprising a rebound surface having an elevated horizontal rebound surface and two opposing and facing inclined rebound surfaces.

[0009] Similarly, US3339925 discloses a trampoline with a horizontal bouncing bed and two opposing and inclined bouncing beds. The horizontal bouncing bed and inclined bouncing beds does not form one continuous bouncing surface.

[0010] A characteristic of the known trampolines is that they are designed for one particular application, e.g. jumping, basketball, trampoline boarding, half-pipe.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0011] It is an object of the present technology to provide an improved trampoline which allows to transform easily its trampoline bed to provide different bouncing experiences or applications.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the subject technology, this object is achieved by a trampoline having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further ways of carrying out the present technology may be attained by the measures mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0013] A trampoline according to the present technology is characterized in that the rectangular support frame comprises a first support structure located at opposite sides of a first section of the bouncing bed and configured to position the first section of the bouncing bed in a horizontal planar field and a second support structure to position an end section of the bouncing bed in a second planar field at a variable angle with respect to the horizontal planar field. The second support structure being pivotally attached to the first support structure. The support frame further comprises a horizontal stretching support structure which is rigidly positioned with respect to the first support structure and configured to pull the first section in the horizontal planar field. The horizontal stretching support structure surrounds the edges of the end section of the bouncing bed when the variable angle is generally 180 degrees and the bouncing bed is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal planar field. The trampoline further comprises resilient stretching means connecting a strip of the bouncing bed to the horizontal stretching support structure. The strip is a transition from the first section to the second section of the bouncing bed. The horizontal stretching support structure is located at a distance from the first support structure such that when the end section is positioned horizontally next to the first section, the horizontal stretching support is not located beneath the bouncing bed.

[0014] These features provides a trampoline which entire bouncing bed could be used in flat position with bouncing characteristics of a normal two-dimensional rectangular trampoline and in a position with at least one angle end section to provide additional bouncing experiences, for example halve-pipe trampoline experiences. The horizontal stretching support structure to which the horizontal stretching means are connected is next to the jumping region of the bouncing bed in the flat position and does not limit in that way the use of the region of the entire bouncing bed. Furthermore, the characteristic of the tension in horizontal stretching means in bouncing use is comparable with the characteristic of the tension in the springs attached to the short side of a known 2-dimensions trampoline. In angled position, the horizontal stretching support structure and horizontal stretching means ensures that the bouncing characteristics of the horizontal section of the bouncing bed does not change significantly and reduces significantly warping of the transition area between the horizontal section and angled section(s) due to tension in the angled section(s) of the bouncing bed along the length axis of the bouncing bed.

[0015] In an embodiment, the resilient tensioning means comprises a fabric part at the side of the trampoline bed and a stretching part which is coupled to the horizontal stretching support structure. In an advantageous embodiment, the fabric part has the same dimensions as the second section of the bouncing bed. When the second section is in horizontal position, the resilient tensioning means below the second section will also contribute to the bouncing characteristics of the bouncing bed. By using a fabric part instead of elastic cables, the bouncing experience will be improved as the user will almost not notice that he is jumping on a two layer bouncing bed.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the stretching part is arranged to stretch the first section of the bouncing bed generally along a length axis of the support frame. In this way, the difference between the bouncing characteristics of horizontal first section and the second section in horizontal position is reduced while maintaining a flat first section when the second section is in angled position.

[0017] In a further embodiment, an average force by the laterally arranged resilient elements around the second section acting along the long side of the bouncing bed is higher than the average force by the laterally resilient elements around the second section acting along the short side of the bouncing bed. In this way, the difference between the bouncing characteristics of horizontal first section and the second section in horizontal position is reduced while maintaining a flat first section when the second section is in angled position.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the average force by the laterally arrange resilient elements acting along the long side of the bouncing bed corresponds to the sum of the average force by the laterally resilient elements around the second section acting along the short side of the bouncing bed and the average force by the resilient stretching means acting along the strip (102S). By this feature, the bouncing characteristics of the first section and second section in horizontal position is almost similar.

[0019] In an embodiment, the second support structure is pivotally around a rotation axis. The trampoline further comprises at opposite sides of an end section of the bouncing bed at least one removable arc-shaped support element with an arc radius to position an end section at an angle with respect to the horizontal planar field other than 180 degrees. Each arc-shaped support element is affixed to the horizontal stretching support structure and to the second support structure at a distance from the rotation axis which is equal to the arc radius. These features provides a simple construction with one curved rod-like element to position the second section of the bouncing bed at different angles.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the second support structure comprises a space enabling the second support structure to move along the arc-shaped support element while changing the angle. In this way the arc-shaped support element does not have to change position when the angle is changed.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the space is a passage through the second support structure, the passage comprises a passage axis perpendicular to the second planar field and an arc-shaped support element is positioned in the passage. This feature makes the change of angle more easy as the second support cannot go out of the space when changing angle.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the second support structure comprises a first and a second passage at opposite corners of the second support structure. This feature provides a steady frame structure when the second section is at angled position.

[0023] In an embodiment, the space and arc-shaped support element are configured such that the second support structure can only be moved along the arc-shaped support element when a section of the second support structure between opposite corners of the second support structure is generally parallel to the rotation axis of the second support structure. This feature ensures that it is very unlikely that the second support structure falls automatically down in one go from angled position to horizontal position. This reduces the risk that a user will be harmed when he changes the angle of the second section.

[0024] In an embodiment the trampoline further comprises another second support structure to position another end section of the bouncing bed in a third planar field at a variable angle with respect to the horizontal planar field. The another second support structure has the technical features of the second support structure. Having two inclined end parts increases the possibilities of the trampoline further.

[0025] In an embodiment, the trampoline comprises at each long side a support construction. The support construction enables to affix the end sections of the bouncing bed at an angle. The support construction has two arc-shaped sections with an arc radius. One end of each arc-shaped section is mounted to a horizontal stretching support structure and other ends of the two arc-shaped sections are coupled by a rod-shaped section which is parallel to the first support structure. The support construction could be used to attach a safety net to improve the safety of the trampoline.

[0026] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] These and other aspects, properties and advantages will be explained hereinafter based on the following description with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like or comparable parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a perspective view of a trampoline with all sections of the trampoline in horizontal position;

Fig. 2 shows schematically a cross sectional view of the trampoline in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 shows schematically a perspective view of the trampoline with one end section at an angled position;

Fig. 4 shows schematically a cross sectional view of the trampoline in Figure 3; and,

Fig. 5 shows schematically a perspective view of the trampoline having two end sections at angled positions.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The advantages, and other features of the technology disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings which set forth representative embodiments of the present technology.

[0029] Figures 1 and 3 show a perspective view of a trampoline 100 according to the present invention and figures 2 and 4 show schematically a cross sectional view of the trampoline in figure 1 and 3 respectively. The trampoline comprises a rectangular bouncing bed 102 stretched in a rectangular support frame 104. The bouncing bed 102 is biased by a multitude of laterally arranged resilient elements 106, 106' connecting the bouncing bed to the support frame. The trampoline may further include a trampoline pad (not shown) encircling the bouncing bed to cover the resilient elements for increased safety. The resilient elements 106, 106' (wherein only some of which are numbered) may be of any type suitable for trampoline construction. For example, resilient elements may be helical springs or elastic cables, and may be selected with different rebound factors to allow for different feels or responses from firm to soft. The bouncing bed may be a fabric composed of reinforced nylon. The bouncing bed has a single continuous surface and may be one piece of fabric or composed of one or more pieces of fabric which are sewn together. The support frame has to be strong enough to resist the forces acting on the frame when a person is jumping on the bouncing bed. Two cross-connection elements 114 are provided to reduce the amount of material of the long sides needed to resist the forces acting on the long sides of the rectangular frame 104. According to the present invention, the bouncing bed 102 can easily be transformed from a flat trampoline to a trampoline with a horizontal part and one or two inclined parts, while the bouncing characteristics of the horizontal part does not change significantly and the characteristics of the bouncing bed part(s) which angle could be changed is in horizontal position almost similar to the horizontal part.

[0030] Figures 1 and 2 show the trampoline 100 in the state that the trampoline bed 102 is fully flat. The bouncing bed 102 comprises a first section 102A, a left end section 102B and a right end section 102B'. The first section 102A is a middle part of the bouncing bed 102. A first support structure 104A of the rectangular support frame 104 consists of two tubular elements 104A positioned next to opposite long side parts of the bouncing bed 102 belonging to the first section. The first support structure 104A positions the first section 102A in a horizontal planar field. The rectangular support frame 104 further comprises a left second support structure 104B end a right second support structure 104B'. Each of the second support structures 104B, 104B' is pivotally attached to the first support structure 104A. The second support structure 104B is a U-shaped pivotally frame member, with two leg parts and a base part. The free ends of the leg parts are coupled to the hinge structure 110 for rotating the second support structure around a rotation axis. The direction of the legs parts define the angle of the taut end part of the bouncing bed surrounded by the second support structure. The hinge structure may be any suitable hinge structure. The second support structure 104B positions a second section 102B of the bouncing bed in a second planar field. The second planar field may be the same as the horizontal planar field. This corresponds to an angle in the top surface of the bouncing bed created by the first section 102A and end section 102B of 180 degrees. Preferably, the construction of the trampoline allows to provide an angle in a range of 90 - 180 degrees. A multitude laterally arranged resilient elements connect the edges of the bouncing bed corresponding to the end section 102B to the second support structure 104B and position the end part in the second planar field defined by the angle of the second support structure 104B.

[0031] Furthermore, Figure 2 show horizontal stretching support structures 104H, 104H' and resilient tensioning means 108. A horizontal stretching support structure 104H is rigidly coupled to the first support structure 104A by two tubular elements 104H1. The tubular elements 104H1 are positioned below the legs of the second support structure 104B. It might be clear to the skilled person that there are many other constructions possible to couple rigidly the horizontal stretching support structure to the first support structure. Important is that the rigid coupling structure is outside the region of movements of the bouncing bed when a person is bouncing on the bouncing bed. The resilient tensioning means 108 couples a strip 102S of the bouncing bed 102 to the horizontal stretching support structure 104H. The strip 102S corresponds to the transition from the first section 102A to the second section 102B of the bouncing bed.

[0032] Suitable dimensions of the bouncing bed 102 have a width in the range of 2 - 2.50m and a length in the range of 4.50 - 8m. The long side length of the bouncing bed corresponding to the first section may be in the range of 1 - 2.30m. The long side length of the bouncing bed corresponding to an end section may be in the range of 1.75 - 2.50. The dimensions of the first section and the second depend on the type of exercises to be performed on the trampoline and/or the age of the persons the trampoline is designed for.

[0033] Figures 3 and 4 show the trampoline 100 in the a state that the left end section 102B of the trampoline bed 102 is inclined. These figures elucidate the position and effect of the resilient tensioning means 108. The effect of the horizontal stretching means is that flatness of the horizontal first section 102A and the inclined end section changes minimally when the end section is not in horizontal position. Without resilient tensioning means 108, the forces of the resilient elements 106 acting on the short sides of the bouncing bed 102 will pull up a middle area of the first section 102A near strip 102S and move right the middle area of the left end section 102B near strip 102S. The resilient tensioning means 108 stretch the first section 102A in axial direction resulting in a pull down force at the strip 102S when the surface is moved upwards and in this way compensating at least a part of the pull up forces acting on strip 102S caused by the resilient elements 106 acting on the short side of the bouncing bed.

[0034] According to the present embodiment the resilient tensioning means 108 comprises a fabric part 108A and a stretching part 108B. The fabric part 108A is preferably made of the same material as the bouncing bed 102. A side of the fabric part 108A is sewn on the underside of the bouncing bed 102 at the rotation axis of the corresponding second support structure to a strip 102S of the bouncing bed. An opposite side of the fabric part is coupled to the stretching part 108B. The stretching part 108B comprises a multitude of laterally arranged springs elements. Instead of springs other elastic components of materials may be used. The stretching part 108B is arranged to stretch the first section of the bouncing bed generally along a length axis of the support frame 104. It can be seen that the fabric part 108A has about the same dimensions as the left end section 102B. If the fabric part is smaller, a person will notice this as irregularities in the bouncing bed when he is bouncing on the end side in horizontal position. In case the resilient tensioning means 108 are elastic cables arranged between the strip 102S and the horizontal stretching support 108, a person will notice this also as irregularities in the bouncing bed.

[0035] A user will not experience the presence of the fabric part 108A below the end section 102B in horizontal position when the distance between the end section 102B and fabric part 108A is less than 10cm. This means with an end section 102B with a length of 1.75m that the angle formed by end section 102B and the fabric part 108A should be smaller than 4 degrees.

[0036] For a good bouncing experience on a horizontal positioned end section 102B, an average force by the laterally arranged resilient elements around the second section 102B acting along the long side of the bouncing bed is higher than the average force by the laterally resilient elements around the second section acting along the short side of the bouncing bed. The lower average force acting on the short side will be compensated by the average force in the resilient tensioning means 108. The bouncing characteristics of the end section in horizontal positioned will be almost equivalent to the bouncing characteristics of horizontal first section 102A when the average force by the laterally arrange resilient elements acting along the long side of the bouncing bed corresponds to the sum of the average force by the laterally resilient elements around the second section acting along the short side of the bouncing bed and the average force by the resilient tensioning means 108 acting along the strip 102S. In an embodiment the average force by the laterally arranged resilient elements 106 acting along the short side of the bouncing bed is equal to the average force by the resilient tensioning means 108 acting along the strip 102S of the bouncing bed and half of the average force by the laterally arranged resilient elements acting along the long side of the bouncing bed 102.

[0037] In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 removable arc-shaped support elements 112 are provided at opposite corners of the left end section 102B of the bouncing bed to position and affix the left end section 102B at an angle with respect to the horizontal planar field other than 180 degrees. The arc-shaped support elements form an angle setting construction. An arc-shaped support element 112 is affixed to the horizontal stretching support structure 104H and the second support structure 104B at a distance from the rotation axis which is equal to the arc radius. The second support structure 104B comprises a space enabling the second support structure to move along the arc-shaped support element 112 while changing the angle. In the present embodiment, the space is a passage through the second support structure 104B, with a passage axis perpendicular to the second planar field. The arc-shaped support element 112 is positioned in the passage. The second support structure 104B may be affixed to the arc-shaped support element 112 by mean of a bolt, pin or any other suitable fastening means though a wall of the second support structure around the space.

[0038] It might be clear that is the second support structure is strong enough one removable arc-shaped support element 112 might be used. For safety reasons it is desired that the space and arc-shaped support element 112 are configured such that the second support structure 104B can only be moved along the arc-shaped support element when a section of the second support structure between opposite corners of the second support structure is generally parallel to the rotation axis of the second support structure. This can be achieved if the circumference of a cross section of the arc-shaped support element fits accurately in the space of the second support structure.

[0039] Fig. 5 shows schematically a perspective view of the trampoline 100 having two end sections at angled positions. The outside panels of the frame have been removed in this figure to illustrate that the basis of the support frame 104 comprises two rectangular tubular frames above each other. The lower frame is a rigid frame and the upper frame is a frame with rotating end parts. The lower frame comprises the horizontal stretching structure 104H. The upper frame comprises the first support structure 104A and the rotatable second support structures 104B, 104B' around the hinge structures 110. Preferably, the distance between the horizontal stretching support and the second support structure is as short as possible.

[0040] At each long side of the rectangular support frame, the trampoline comprises a support construction 116. The support construction enables to affix both end sections of the bouncing bed 102B, 102B' at an angle. The support construction has two arc-shaped sections 116A with an arc radius. One end of each arc-shaped section is mounted to a horizontal stretching support structure 104H, 104H' and the other ends of the arc-shaped sections are coupled by a rod-shaped section 116B which is parallel to the first support structure 104A and the lower frame.

[0041] The safety of the trampoline can be improved by applying canvas to close the opening between the second support structure and the lower frame such that the space below an end section of the bouncing bed at angled position is not accessible for a person.

[0042] It should be noted that instead of an arc-shaped support element other angle setting constructions could be used to set the end parts of the bouncing bed at an angle. Examples are not limited to: a telescopic element, bars with a fixed length which length define the angle, spindle drive, hydraulic cylinder, etc.

[0043] It should be noted that the trampoline described above is designed for in-ground application. By attaching additional supports near the corners of the trampoline frame resting on the ground and having the same height as the cross connection elements 114, the trampoline can be installed stably on the ground.

[0044] While the invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and upon study of the drawings. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Changes can be made without departing from the scope which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A trampoline (100) comprising a generally rectangular bouncing bed (102) having a continuous bouncing surface and at distance surrounded by a support frame (104), the bouncing bed having a multitude of laterally arranged resilient elements (106) connecting the bouncing bed to the support frame,
characterized in that,
the support frame comprises a first support structure (104A) located at opposite sides of a first section (102A) of the bouncing bed and configured to position the first section (102A) of the bouncing bed in a horizontal planar field, a second support structure (104B) to position an end section (102B) of the bouncing bed in a second planar field at a variable angle with respect to the horizontal planar field; the second support structure (104B) being pivotally attached to the first support structure (104A), the support frame further comprises a horizontal stretching support structure (104H) which is rigidly positioned with respect to the first support structure (104A) and configured to pull the first section (102A) in the horizontal planar field; and
the trampoline further comprises resilient tensioning means (108) connecting a strip (102S) of the bouncing bed to the horizontal stretching support structure (104H) and the strip (102S) is a transition from the first section (102A) to the second section (102B) of the bouncing bed (102), the horizontal stretching support structure being located at a distance from the first support structure such that when the end section (102B) is positioned horizontally next to the first section, the horizontal stretching support is not located beneath the bouncing bed (102).

2. The trampoline (100) according to claim 1, wherein the resilient tensioning means (108) comprises a fabric part (108A) at the side of the trampoline bed and a stretching part (108B) which is coupled to the horizontal stretching support structure (104H).

3. The trampoline (100) according to claim 2, wherein the fabric part (108A) has the same dimensions as the second section (102B) of the bouncing bed.

4. The trampoline (100) according to any of the claims 2 - 3, wherein the stretching part (108B) is arranged to stretch the first section of the bouncing bed generally along a length axis of the support frame (104).

5. The trampoline (100) according to claim 4, wherein an average force by the laterally arranged resilient elements around the second section (102B) acting along the long side of the bouncing bed is higher than the average force by the laterally resilient elements around the second section acting along the short side of the bouncing bed.

6. The trampoline (100) according to claim 5, wherein the average force by the laterally arrange resilient elements acting along the long side of the bouncing bed corresponds to the sum of the average force by the laterally resilient elements around the second section acting along the short side of the bouncing bed and the average force by the resilient tensioning means (108) acting along the strip (102S).

7. The trampoline (100) according to any of the claims 1 - 6, wherein the second support structure (104B) is a U-shaped pivotally frame member.

8. The trampoline according to any of the claims 1 - 7, wherein the second support structure (104B) is pivotally around a rotation axis, the trampoline further comprises at opposite sides of an end section (102B, 102B') of the bouncing bed at least one removable arc-shaped support element (112) with an arc radius to position an end section (102B, 102B') at an angle with respect to the horizontal planar field other than 180 degrees, each arc-shaped support element is affixed to the horizontal stretching support structure (104H) and the second support structure (104B) at a distance from the rotation axis which is equal to the arc radius.

9. The trampoline according to claim 8, wherein the second support structure (104B) comprises a space enabling the second support structure to move along the arc-shaped support element (112) while changing the angle.

10. The trampoline according to claim 9, wherein the space is a passage through the second support structure (104B), with a passage axis perpendicular to the second planar field and an arc-shaped support element (112) is positioned in the passage.

11. The trampoline according to claim 10, wherein the second support structure (104B) comprises a first and a second passage at opposite corners of the second support structure.

12. The trampoline according to any of claims 9 - 11, wherein the space and arc-shaped support element (112) are configured such that the second support structure (104B) can only be moved along the arc-shaped support element when a section of the second support structure between opposite corners of the second support structure is generally parallel to the rotation axis of the second support structure.

13. The trampoline according to any of the claims 1 - 12, further comprising another second support structure (104B') to position another end section (102B') of the bouncing bed in a third planar field at a variable angle with respect to the horizontal planar field, and having the technical features of the second support structure.

14. The trampoline according to claim 13, further comprising at each long side a support construction (116), the support construction enabling to affix the end sections of the bouncing bed (102B, 102B') at an angle, the support construction having two arc-shaped sections (116A) with an arc radius, one end of each arc-shaped section mounted to a horizontal stretching support structure (104H, 104H') and the other ends of the arc-shaped sections are coupled by a rod-shaped section (116B) which is parallel to the first support structure (104A).

15. The trampoline according to any of the claims 1 - 14, wherein the trampoline is an in-ground trampoline.

Drawing