Patent Application
20250144502
The present invention does not claim priority to an earlier application.
The present disclosure relates to trampoline safety.
A variety of different trampoline covers and spring connectors have been discussed in United States patents. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,180,328 entitled Trampoline by inventors Jonathan M. Schaffer and Christopher J. Neale, published Nov. 10, 2015, the inventors describe, “A trampoline comprises a trampoline sheet or mat supported around its periphery from a circumextending support structure by spring couplings, preferably a plurality of helical springs, under tension. The trampoline is provided with a net enclosure in which a generally circumextending net is mounted by respective sheaths on a plurality of poles coupled to the Support structure and extending generally upright therefrom. In use, for the greater part of its height, the position of the net corresponds generally to the periphery of the support structure, while lower edge regions of the net are coupled to the periphery of the sheet or mat inboard of the support structure, thereby at least largely preventing a user from falling or treading upon the spring couplings or on an annular pad overlying said couplings, if present”.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,339,676 issued May 17, 2016, entitled Trampoline Or The Like With The Enclosure, by Mark W. Publicover and Donald Strasser, the inventors describe, “A fence surrounds a trampoline and extends above the rebounding surface, reducing the risk of injury. Shock absorption is aided in the preferred embodiment by a support system of independent poles, linked at their tops by a flexible strap or line. An impact anywhere on the fence causes the posts to flex inwardly, absorbing the force. Much of this impact injury is stored in system components and is subsequently returned, helping propel an errant jumper back onto to the rebounding surface. Numerous other embodiments and accessories are also detailed. Similar arrangements are suitable for use with above ground pools”.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,545,532 issued Jan. 17, 2017, entitled Trampoline Accessory Attachment System, by David J. Miller, the inventor describes, “A trampoline accessory attachment system comprises an accessory attachment rail enables attachment of an enclosure, pad, or other accessories to a trampoline”.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,780,334 issued Sep. 22, 2020, entitled Zippered Safety Layer In A Trampoline, by Henrik Nilsson and Tomas Hagel, the inventors describe, “Embodiments of the invention provide a zipper attached safety layer applied between a flexible mat and an edge pad of a trampoline. The safety layer moves with the flexible mat and prevents a user from accidently inserting an appendage into the suspension system (e.g., coiled springs) of the trampoline. Embodiments of the invention further relate to a trampoline comprising such a zippered safety layer and to a method of arranging the safety layer in a trampoline”.
For example, in United States patent number 2019/0314679 issued Oct. 17, 2019, entitled Trampoline Wiring Loom And Mat Sensor Attachment System, by McGrane et al., the inventors describe, “A trampoline comprises multiple movement sensors associated with one or more parts of the trampoline which move when the trampoline is bounced on by a user such as the trampoline mat, and an electrical wiring loom which connects to the movement sensors to a controller or a common connector at another end of the wiring loom. Various sensor mount and wiring loom options are described”.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. RE45,182 issued Oct. 7, 2014, entitled Trampoline Enclosure Attachment To Trampoline Mat, by Chris Nelson, the inventor describes, “A way to attach a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline frame is described. This process involving constructing the enclosure with a buttonhole at or near its bottom edge. This buttonhole is designed to receive a spring attachment feature located on the rebounding mat of the trampoline structure. Generally, this spring attachment feature will be the D-ring (or V-ring) that is used to attach the rebounding mat to the springs. The D-ring will pass through the buttonhole and, when connected to a corresponding spring, will securely attach the trampoline enclosure to the trampoline”. The disclosures of the above cited references are Incorporated herein by reference.
A trampoline has a frame, legs, a bed, springs, an upper spring cover, and a lower spring cover. The frame is horizontally oriented. The legs attach to the frame and support the frame. The bed is suspended across the frame. The springs are in tension and stretch the bed across the frame. The upper spring cover covers the springs from the frame to the bed and a lower spring cover. The lower spring cover attaches to the upper spring cover at a pad to sheath connection.
The pad to sheath connection is on the lower distal end of the upper spring cover. The lower spring cover wraps around a horizontal frame portion of the frame around an outside portion of the horizontal frame portion of the frame. The bed is smaller than the frame such that a gap is formed between the bed and the frame. The springs are helical springs having a spring body with a proximal hook engaging a connector link on the bed. The springs have a distal hook engaging a frame hollow portion of the frame. The distal hook has a distal hook end that inserts into the hollow frame portion.
The lower spring cover is formed as a sheath with a sheath upper part and a sheath lower part. The sheath upper part and the sheath lower part meet at a sheath opening edge. The lower spring cover encapsulates the connector link and the proximal hook. The proximal hook further includes a proximal hook end. Further including a loop swivel opening. The connector link is mounted to a loop swivel. The loop swivel is mounted to the bed.
The lower spring cover attaches between the bed and the springs. The lower spring cover attaches to the bed at sheath inside attachment which is the connection between a sheath upper edge and the bed. The lower spring cover attaches to the springs at a sheath lower edge at a sheath outside attachment. The springs have a spring body with a proximal extension extending toward the bed and a distal extension extending toward the frame. The proximal extension bends downwardly to a proximal bend. The distal extension bends downwardly to pass through a spring connection opening formed on the frame. The proximal bend terminates at a hook end cover. The proximal bend bends upwardly to an upward extending hook. The proximal bend bends back toward the frame at a proximal bend back. The proximal bend back terminates at a proximal hook end that forms a spring biased gate with a spring body barrel edge.
The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the element numbers of the drawings.
As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
The upper spring cover 15 can have a multilayer construction. The lower spring cover 40 can also have a multilayer construction having multiple layers of laminated sheet material such as high density polyethylene or high density polyurethane woven fibers. The lower spring cover proximal connector 43 can be formed as a series of multiple loops the loop around the connector link 25.
As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
The sheath lower edge 56 extends past the proximal hook end 35 and connects to the sheath outside attachment 58 on the spring 30. The sheath upper edge 55 attaches to the sheath under inside attachment 57 on the bed 18. The upper spring cover 15 having a pad 20 cooperates with the lower spring cover so as to encapsulate the proximal hook end 35.
As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
The hook end cover can be made of an elastomeric material such as a high density polyethylene bead of plastic that is formed to the proximal hook tip. The lower distal end of the upper spring cover 88 is formed as an annular portion around the upper spring cover 15. The lower distal end of the upper spring cover 88 is preferably adjacent to the outside portion of the horizontal frame portion of the frame 89.
