1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exercise or amusement device, more particularly to a water trampoline that floats on water.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
Although the conventional water trampoline can permit tumbling exercises and provide water amusement at the same time to the user, it has the following disadvantages:
1. Because the rebound member 1 has a considerable area, the inflatable tube 2 that supports the rebound member 1 has to have a considerable size, such that a relatively large equipment must be used to produce the inflatable tube 2, thereby resulting in high costs.
2. Since the inflatable tube 2 is a hollow unitary body, when a puncture or damage occurs on a peripheral wall of the inflatable tube 2, air slowly leaks out of the inflatable tube 2 such that the conventional water trampoline exposes the user to danger.
3. Even if the damage on the inflatable tube 2 can be repaired, the strength properties of the inflatable tube 2 after repair deteriorate.
4. The rebound member 1 has a large volume such that it is difficult to fold and such that assembly, storage, and transport of the same are relatively inconvenient.
5. Because the inflatable tube 2 has a relative height, it is difficult for the user to climb on top of the rebound member 1. Moreover, if the user applies a pressing force on one side of the inflatable tube 2 when climbing, the other side of the inflatable tube 2 may rise and turn over, thereby rendering the conventional water trampoline dangerous to use.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a water trampoline that has a plurality of independent floating members, which are replaceable individually, and that is safe to use.
According to this invention, a water trampoline comprises a tumbling unit, a plurality of floating members, and a rope assembly. The tumbling unit includes a bed frame, a tumbling mat, and a plurality of elastic members connecting the tumbling mat to the bed frame. The floating members are connected to and are mounted independently around the bed frame. The rope assembly interconnects the floating members.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring to
The tumbling unit 10 includes an annular bed frame 11, a tumbling mat 12, and a plurality of elastic members 13 connected between peripheries of the bed frame 11 and the tumbling mat 12.
Referring to
The tumbling mat 12 (see
The elastic members 13 (see
In this embodiment, each of the inflatable floating members 20 is made of a ball body that is inflatable and deflatable. The floating members 20 are mounted independently around the bed frame 11. Through the inflated floating members 20, the tumbling unit 10 can be raised upwardly so as to be apart from a water surface. Each floating member 20 has an upper ear member 21 connected detachably to the bed frame 11 by means of a ring piece 211, and a lower ear member 22 opposite to the upper ear member 21. Each of the upper and lower ear members 21, 22 is formed as a triangular loop. The rope assembly 30 (see
The ladder 40 (see
The anchor unit 50 (see
When the floating members 20 and the bed frame 11 are interconnected through the ring pieces 211 on the upper ear members 21 of the former, the floating members 20 surround the periphery of the tumbling unit 10. Afterwards, the rope member 31 and the guide ropes 32 are connected to the lower ear members 22 of the floating members 20. The tumbling unit 10 is raised by the floating members 20 to a height higher than the water surface. Subsequently, the ladder 40 is hung on one of the floating members 20 through the hook members 41 and the positioning units 42, and the anchor unit 50 is attached to another one of the floating members 20 opposite to the ladder 40 so as to balance the tumbling unit 10.
In use, after the water trampoline of the present invention floats on the water surface, the user can proceed with tumbling exercises or resting on the tumbling unit 10. The user can use the ladder 40 to get down into the water, or he can jump directly from the tumbling unit 10 into the water, to proceed with swimming and other water games. To return to the tumbling unit 10, the user can easily climb the ladder 40. Even if the user exerts a pressing force on one side of the water trampoline during climbing of the ladder 40, the presence of the anchor unit 50 on the other side of the water trampoline balances the force exerted by the user such that the water trampoline of the present invention is not likely to turn over.
To store the water trampoline of the present invention after use, the user first removes the ladder 40 and the anchor unit 50, and the floating members 20 are then detached one by one from the bed frame 11 and are deflated so as to save storing space. Afterwards, the removable pins 114 are removed from the respective pivot plates 119 so that the second curved rod 112 can rotate relative to the fixed pins 113 until the second curved rod 112 lies under the first curved rod 111 (see
When the screw bolts 116′ are loosened, and the rod sections 115, 116 of the first and second curved rods 111, 112 are separated, the tumbling unit 10 can be folded into a much smaller size, as best shown in
When use of the water trampoline of the present invention is desired, the rod sections 115, 116 of the first and second curved rods 111, 112 are interconnected using the screw bolts 116′, followed by insertion of the removable pins 114 into the pivot plates 119 so as to connect the first and second curved rods 111, 112 so that the bed frame 11 has a fixed shape to support the tumbling mat 12. Afterwards, the floating members 20 are inflated and connected to the bed frame 11, and the rope assembly 30, the ladder 40, and the anchor unit 50 are mounted and positioned accordingly. The water trampoline is now ready for use.
Therefore, the water trampoline of the present invention has the following advantages:
1. Each of the floating members 20 is independently mounted to and detached from the bed frame 11 so that the size of each floating member 20 is relatively small. As such, each floating member 20 can be produced using smaller equipment so that production can proceed with ease at a relatively low cost.
2. Even if any one or up to half of the floating members 20 are punctured or damaged, the water trampoline of the present invention is unlikely to submerge. Moreover, each floating member 20 can be removed individually to serve as a floater or a life-saving tool.
3. Since the size of each floating member 20 is relatively small, when one of the floating members 20 is damaged, the damaged floating member 20 can be easily replaced by a new one because the user can prepare many spare floating members 20 beforehand so that the present invention is very safe to use.
4. Even if the floating members 20 have a relative height, the user can use the ladder 40 to climb on top of the tumbling unit 10. For users, which are too old or too young, the ladder 40 further has a supporting function.
5. The bed frame 11 can be folded and unfolded as desired so that assembly, storage, handling, and transport of the same are relatively easy. Moreover, the bed frame 11 has a fixed shape after it is unfolded so that it poses no obstacle during tumbling exercises.
6. When the user climbs up the ladder 40, the anchor unit 50 provides counterweight and balancing effects so that the water trampoline of the present invention is safer to use as compared to the aforesaid conventional water trampoline.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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