Patent Application
20170232288
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to physical training machines, and in particular, to exercise machines commonly referred to a foldable trampoline.
Whereas people today are more conscious of fitness thanks to the ever-improved living standard, fitness equipment has become very popular. However, some of the fitness equipment emphasizing sit up in bear hands may get too rough and violent resulting in stretch in larger angles that causes injuries to the user having overweighed problem or in middle ages or elder. Furthermore, the sit up may become so monotonous and the user may be disinterested very quickly. Besides, fitness equipment generally available in the market either consumes too much space at home or is very expensive, plus other factors, such as the users in a family whose age, physical strength vary, the confined space available at home, the limit to only one function, and nature and length of training session.
A jump exercise device such as a trampoline is commonly used to exercise one body part of a human body. Most of the trampolines are constructed in fixed structures. It takes a large storage space to store a trampoline. In order to save the storage space, users typically have to take it apart and store the parts individually. Such a disassembling process proves to be time consuming and inconvenient. In addition, such a configuration may also take a considerable amount time and effort to reassemble it.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.
Various embodiments and aspects of the inventions will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present inventions.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.
According to some embodiments, a trampoline device includes a tubular frame having a first section and a second section coupled to each other via a pair of frame hinges. Each of the first section and the second section is formed in a substantially half circular shape. The trampoline device further includes a flexible fabric stretched outwardly attached to the tubular frame to form a trampoline mat or jumping mat. The tubular frame is configured to in an unfolded configuration or a folded configuration via the pair of frame hinges. When the tubular frame is in the unfolded configuration, the first section and the second section of the tubular frame are laid out or extended flat away from each other via the frame hinges to form a full-pie shape. When the tubular frame is in the folded configuration, the first section and the second section of the tubular frame are folded towards to each other via the pair of frame hinges, without having to remove the flexible fabric from the first and second sections of the tubular frame. The trampoline device further includes at least three legs attached to the tubular frame to provide support and to raise the tubular frame and the flexible fabric above a support platform (e.g., floor). In one embodiment, each of the legs is attached to the tubular frame via a leg hinge and each leg is foldable inwardly via a corresponding leg hinge towards a center of the tubular frame.
According to another embodiment, a trampoline device includes a tubular frame in a substantially circular shape and a flexible fabric stretched outwardly attached to the tubular frame to form a trampoline mat or jumping mat. The flexible fabric includes an array of belt loops or hooks disposed on the edge of the fabric. The belt loops allow a rope or string to be inserted therethrough to tighten the flexible fabric onto the tubular frame, by pulling the flexible fabric outwardly using the rope or string and wrapping the rope or string around the tubular frame, without having to use the metal spring required in a conventional trampoline. The trampoline device further includes at least three legs attached to the tubular frame to provide support and to raise the tubular frame and the fabric above a support platform (e.g., floor), when the legs are configured in an unfolded position. Each of the legs is individually foldable inwardly without being detached from the tubular frame, when the leg is configured in a folded position.
In one embodiment, trampoline device 100 further includes a strong fabric or cloth 104 (e.g., canvas) stretched and tied to first section 101 and second section 102 of the tubular frame to form a bouncing mat or bouncing bed (also referred to as a trampoline mat or trampoline bed). The shapes of fabric 104 may conform to the shape of the tubular frame. In this embodiment, fabric 104 is in a circular shape with a diameter slightly less than the diameters of the tubular frame, such that fabric 104 can fit within interior edges of first section 101 and second section 102 of the tubular frame without being stretched over or covering the tubular frame.
In addition, trampoline device 100 further includes a set of at least three support members or legs 103 distributed substantially evenly along a perimeter of the tubular frame to provide support to first section 101 and second section 102 of the tubular frame. In one embodiment, each of legs 103 is mounted on first section 101 or second section 102 of the tubular frame substantially perpendicular to a cross plane of the tubular frame. Similarly to first tubular frame 101 and second tubular frame 102, support members 103 may be in a tubular shape and made of strong or hard enough material (e.g., steel tube, fiber glass) that can support the weight of a typical user. In one embodiment, each of support members 103 is made of a steel tube or steel rod. In one embodiment, an upper end of each of legs 103 can be attached to or detached from the tubular frame by screwing the leg onto or unscrewing the leg from the tubular frame. A lower end of each leg may be covered by a cap such as caps 132. Caps 132 may be made of non-slippery material such as tuber to provide anti-slippery friction against a support platform (e.g., floor) or prevent legs 103 from scratching the support platform.
In one embodiment, trampoline device 100 further includes an array of hooks or belt loops disposed substantially evenly on an edge 105 of fabric 104, such as hooks or mesh belt loops 106. The color of the edge portion 105 of fabric 104 may be different than the color of the rest of fabric 104 to provide an indication of the edge, for example, for safety reasons. Edge 105 may use an extra thickness of fabric to provide additional strength or enforcement for belt loops 106 and string 107 to pull fabric 104 outwardly to form a tension surface. Trampoline device 101 further includes a string or rope 107 inserted or traveling through an opening of each of hooks or belt loop 106. The size or diameter of fabric 104 is slightly smaller than a diameter of a cross plane of the tubular frame. String or rope 107 is configured to wrap around first section 101 and second section 102 of the tubular frame, while stretching and pulling fabric 104 outwardly towards the tubular frame 101 via hooks 106 to form a tension surface. Hooks or mesh belt loops 106 may be made of a wear resistant and heat tolerance material. Hooks or mesh belt loops 106 may be attached to edge 105 of fabric 104 using machine sewing. String 107 may include a rubber tube or rubber string enclosed by a wear resistant and heat tolerance material to form a tension rope. The tension rope provides resistance and stores energy when a user steps onto fabric 104. Unlike a conventional trampoline, the configuration as shown in
Referring now to
According to one embodiment, via the pair of frame hinges 111-112, after detaching legs 103 from first section 101 and second section 102 of the tubular frame, first section 101 and second section 102 can be folded towards to each other. Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, first end 131 of first section 101 includes mounting bracket 141 fixedly attached thereon, where mounting bracket 141 includes a mounting hole for mounting purposes. Similarly, first end 133 of second section 102 includes mounting bracket 142, where mounting bracket 142 includes a corresponding mounting hole. The mounting hole of mounting bracket 141 attached to first end 131 of first section 101 can be aligned with the mounting hole of mounting bracket 142 attached to first send 133 of second section 102 to allow a rod inserted therethrough and tighten with a nut.
Similarly, second end 132 of first section 101 includes mounting bracket 143 fixedly attached thereon, where mounting bracket 143 includes a mounting hole for mounting purposes. Similarly, second end 134 of second section 102 includes mounting bracket 144, where mounting bracket 144 includes a corresponding mounting hole. The mounting hole of mounting bracket 143 attached to second end 132 of first section 101 can be aligned with the mounting hole of mounting bracket 144 attached to second send 134 of second section 102 to allow a rod inserted therethrough and tighten with a nut.
In this embodiment as shown in
In one embodiment, mounting bracket 141 is positioned within mounting bracket 142 to align mounting holes 151 with mounting holes 152. The aligned mounting holes 151-152 allow a hinge rod 153 to be inserted therein and tightened with nut 154 to form hinge 111. As a result, first end 131 of first section 101 and first end 133 of second section 102 can be folded by rotate downwardly via hinge 111. According to one embodiment, mounting bracket 142 further includes a pair of tightening holes 155 to allow a tightening pin, such as tightening pin 166, to be inserted therethrough to tighten or lock first end 131 of first section 101 and first end 133 of second section 102 in an unfolded position.
According to one embodiment, mounting bracket 144 is a U-shape mounting bracket having a pair of mounting holes 161 disposed on the fins or wings of U-shape bracket 144. In this example, the exterior surface of the bottom of the U-shape bracket 144 is fixedly attached to second end 134, for example, by melding or soldering. Similarly, mounting bracket 143 is a U-shape mounting bracket having a pair of mounting holes 162 disposed on the fins or wings of U-shape bracket 143. In this example, the bottom of the U-shape is fixedly attached to second end 132, where the shape of the bottom or valley of the U-shape is substantially conformed to an exterior shape of second end 132 of first section 101 of the tubular frame. For example, second end 132 is melded or soldered within a valley of the U-shape bracket 143.
In one embodiment, mounting bracket 144 is positioned within mounting bracket 143 to align mounting holes 161 with mounting holes 162. The aligned mounting holes 161-162 allow a hinge rod 163 to be inserted therein and tightened with nut 164 to form hinge 112. As a result, second end 132 of first section 101 and second end 134 of second section 102 can be folded by rotate downwardly via hinge 112. According to one embodiment, mounting bracket 162 further includes a pair of tightening holes 165 to allow tightening pin 166 to be inserted therethrough to tighten or lock second end 132 of first section 101 and second end 134 of second section 102 in an unfolded position. Tightening pin 166 may include some threads disposed on its tip and knob 168 on the other end to allow a user to hold and rotate tightening pin 166 to tighten or loosen mounting brackets 143-144.
According to another embodiment, in addition to foldable sections 101-102 of the tubular frame, each of legs 103 can also be foldable. Each of legs 103 can be folded inwardly towards the center of the tubular frame without being detached from the tubular frame. Each of legs 103 is coupled to the tubular frame via a respective leg hinge that allows the leg to be folded inwardly without detaching the leg.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, when leg 103 is attached to bracket 202 by aligning tube 221 with hinge holes 203 with rod 204 inserted therein, locking holes 222 can be aligned with either locking holes 211 or locking holes 212 to allow locking pin 213 inserted therethrough to lock leg 103 in an unfolded or folded position. The axis of the elongate tube 221 is parallel with locking holes 222. In one embodiment, when leg 103 is in an unfolded position, the opening of tube 221 of leg 103 is aligned with hinge holes 203 of bracket 202, while locking holes 222 are aligned with locking holes 211 of bracket 202. When leg 103 is in a folded position, the opening of tube 221 of leg 103 is aligned with hinge holes 203 of bracket 202, while locking holes 222 are aligned with locking holes 212 of bracket 202.
As described above, according to one embodiment, a trampoline device utilizes a flexible fabric with an array of belt loops disposed on an edge of the fabric and a rope or string to pull the belt loops to tie the fabric with the tubular frame, without using any metal springs, etc.
According to some embodiments, the features of foldable legs can also be applicable to a trampoline device with a non-foldable tubular frame.
In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.
