ROUND TRAMPOLINE WITH U-SHAPED LEG

TREMPLIN CIRCULAIRE A PIEDS EN U

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A round trampoline having a sectional, circular frame combined
with a circular mat of lesser diameter than the frame resiliently supported
from the frame by a plurality of radially arranged coil springs. A
plurality of U-shaped legs support the frame with each U-shaped leg being
of rigid, one-piece construction and rigidly connected to the frame in
bridging relation to the joints in the segments of the frame to prevent
relative rotation between the segments and eliminate bending of the
frame at the joints. The mat includes a pair of intersecting and over-
lapping strips oriented in perpendicular relation to each other to form
a reinforced center jumping area with the portions of the mat externally
of the intersecting portions being of mesh material to enable passage
of air in order to prevent ballooning of the mat and to eliminate the
feeling of being air supported when contacting the mat.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A substantially round trampoline comprising a
sectional, substantially annular frame including a frame rail
formed by a plurality of sections, means joining the ends of
adjacent sections, a U-shaped leg bridging the joint between
adjacent sections with the U-shaped leg including upper ends
secured to the sections of the frame rail in spaced relation
to the joint between adjacent sections of the frame rail thereby
preventing relative rotation between adjacent sections of the
frame rail and preventing bending of the frame rail.
2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each
frame rail section includes a depending member rigid therewith
disposed in adjacent but spaced relation to each end of the
frame rail section, each U-shaped leg including substantially
vertical upper ends telescoped in relation to the depending
members on the frame rail sections for rigidifying the frame
rail sections and leg and preventing rotation of the frame rail
sections with the U-shaped leg bridging the joint between
adjacent sections and being of one-piece construction and
forming the sole support for the trampoline.
3. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with
a mat supported within said annular frame, said mat being
substantially concentric with respect to the frame, a plurality of
radial springs of equal length and equally spaced circumferen-
tially between the mat and frame, said mat being constructed of
a dual thickness central jumping area, the portion of the mat
exteriorly of the central jumping area being of mesh construction
to enable passage of air therethrough to prevent ballooning of the
mat and eliminate the soft or "squooshy" feeling caused by air
support of the mat during use.




4. The structure as defined in claim 2 together with
a mat supported within said annular frame, said mat being
substantially concentric with respect to the frame, a plurality
of radial springs of equal length and equally spaced circum-
ferentially between the mat and frame, said mat being constructed
of a dual thickness central jumping area, the portion of the mat
exteriorly of the central jumping area being of mesh construction
to enable passage of air therethrough to prevent ballooning of
the mat and eliminate the soft or "squooshy" feeling caused by
air support of the mat during use.
5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said
springs exert an inward force on said frame rail to retain the
sections in assembled relation, said U-shaped leg engaging
adjacent sections of the frame rail preventing outward expansion
of the frame rail.
6. The structure as defined in claim 5 together with
a peripheral cushioning pad overlying the frame rail and extending
radially inwardly to cover a substantial portion of said springs,
said pad including a depending padded skirt extending downwardly
around the outside of the frame rail a short vertical distance
to retain the pad in position.

Description

11;28~85
The present inventlon generally relates to a round
trampoline and more particularly a trampoline of this type in
which the circular frame forming the trampoline is sectional
and provided with U-shaped supporting legs bridging the joints
between the sections with the U-shaped legs being free of and
not connected with adjacent legs or other legs on the frame
with the circular frame supporting a mat having a central double
thickness or reinforced area and a peripheral area of mesh
material enabling air passage therethrough.
My prior U.S. Patent No. 3,948,575, issued to the
present patentee on April 6, 1976, discloses a circular
trampoline of the type disclosed herein. The references of
record in that patent disclosure various trampoline structures
and while prior trampolines have functioned successfully,
improvements of the structural characteristics thereof are
desirable in order to overcome certain problems relating to
the strength of the frame especially in the joints between
adjacent segments of the frame and in the mat which tends to
balloon or provide a "squooshy" feeling when constructed of
air impervious material throughout its area.
In general, the present invention provides a
substantially round trampoline comprising a sectional, substan-
tially annular frame including a frame rail formed by a
plurality of sections and means for joining the ends of adjacent
sections. U-shaped legs bridge the joint between adjacent
sections with each leg including upper ends secured to the
sections of the frame rail in spaced relation to the joint
between adjacent sections of the frame rail thereby preventing
relative rotation between adjacent sections of the frame rail
and preventing bending of the frame rail.
These and other features of the invention will become
more apparent from the following description wherein reference




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'

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is made to the appended drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the round
trampoline of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a detailed elevational vlew of one of the
U-shaped legs and the associated joint between adjacent sections
of the frame.
Figure 3 is a fragmental plan view of a portion of the
frame and periphery of the mat.
Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the
pad associated with the trampoline.
Referring now to the drawings, the trampoline of the
present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10
which includes a sectional, substantially circular frame 12
provided with U-shaped




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supporting legs 14 which support the frame 12 on a suitable support
surface S. A substantially circular mat 16 is resiliently mounted
within frame 12 by a plurality of coiled springs 18. The springs 18
are placed radially around the frame 12 which distributes the weight
of a person jumping on the trampoline evenly to all of the springs
18 with resultant longer spring life. This arrangement also provides
forces which tend to retain the jumper in the center of the mat 16 thus
providing better body control and less chance of injury which some-
times can occur when a person using a trampoline jumps to the side
edge portion thereof and engages the frame or possibly the ground
surface.
Mat 16 includes a pair of strips 22 and 24 each having ends
thereof curved to the same radius and being arranged in perpendicular
relation to provide a double thickness center jumping area with the
intersecting portions of the mat being stitched at 28 and 30 so that the
jumping area 26 is reinforced. A backing ring 31 reinforces the perimeter
of the mat and is stitched to the strips 22 and 24 by stitching 32 and
filler pieces 33 of vinyl covered nylong are stitched to the ring 31 and
strips 22 and 24. A plurality of straps 34 are secured to the ring 31 and
a conventional D-ring 36 is arranged for receiving a hook end of springs
18. The other hook end of the springs 18 i9 arranged in a respective hole
38 provided in rail 40 of frame 12.
The mat material is preferably of woven polypropylene or similar
material with the material being of mesh construction so that those areas
which are of single thickness, such as all of the areas externally
of the central jumping area 26 will enable air passage therethrough.
This reduces the ballooning effect or air support of the mat during use
thereby eliminating the soft or "squooshy" feeling which occurs when the
entire mat is of air impervious material.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the frame rail 40 is in the form

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of sections with the joint 42 between adjacent sections being
connected by a connecting plug 44 rigidly secured to one of the
sections of the frame rail 40 and telescoped into the other of the
sections. In spaced relation to the joint 42, the frame rail 40 is
provided with a depending tubular sleeve 46 fixed thereto such
as by welding or the like in perpendicular depending relation.
The sleeves 46 are parallel to each other and equally spaced
from the joint 42 between adjacent sections of the frame rail 40.
A U-shaped supporting leg 48 rigidly connects the frame sections
and supports the frame. The U-shaped leg 48 is of one-piece
construction and includes a horizontally disposed bottom or
bight portion 50 and upwardly inclined and diverging legs 52
each of which terminates in a vertical upwardly extending
upper end portion 54 that is telescoped into a depending
sleeve 46 thereby bridglng the joint 42 and preventing relative
rotation of the adjacent sections of the frame 40 due to the
telescopic engagement between the upper ends 54 of the legs and
the sleeves 46. This prevention of rotation prevents bendin8
of the frame and rigidly connects adjacent sections of the
frame rail 40 into a rigid continuous truss-like frame structure
peripherally of the mat w;th the entire area enclosed by the
frame being free of connecting braces or other components so
that only the bight portions 50 of the plurality of U-shaped
supporting legs 48 form supporting means for the trampoline.
While the telescopic engagement between the upper ends of
the legs 48 and the sleeves 46 provides a rigid connection, the jamming
of the lower ends of the sleeves 46 around the curved portion of the legs
52 where the ends 54 are formed serves to retain the legs assembled when
lifting the trampo~ine such as when moving it from one area to another.
While the dimensional characteristics of the trampoline may vary, an

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overall diameter of approximately 13 1/2 feet has been found satisfactory
with 100 springs 18 being employed. Frame pads 56 are provided over
the springs 18 and the frame rail 40 as illustrated in Fig. 4 with the
pads 56 being preferably in the form of a hollow enclosure formed by any
suitable waterproof material such as vinyl material or the like filled
with a resilient material such as foam rubber, foam plastic or other
cushioning material to completely eliminate the possibility of injury due
to persons using the trampoline coming into contact with the frame
rail, springs or associated components. The pad 56 has a depending
padded skirt 58 around the frame rail 40 which retains the pad in place
and protects against contact with the rail during use of the trampoline.