AU2010100958A4 - Trampoline Deck - Google Patents

Description

Editorial Note for 2010100958 There are four description pages Background The use of boards on a trampoline is gaining popularity as a method for training for other board sports. For example, people wishing to improve snowboarding, wakeboarding, wakeskating or skateboarding skills. Boards used could be the conventional boards themselves (e.g. snowboards, skateboards, wakeboards, wakeskates) or some other soft foam type trampoline or swimmingpool board. The use of conventional boards usually entails sharp sections inherent from their design or through damage to the board from its conventional use, these attributes pose a large threat to both the user's safety level, and the trampoline becoming damaged, however they do give a realistic basis to train from. Many trampoline boards and swimming pool play boards are typically comprised of soft foam in a board-like shape most commonly with foot strap arrangements. They are designed primarily to not damage the trampoline or injure the user, however they do not meet the requirement to behave as the conventional board does, therefore minimising the effectiveness of the activity as a form of training, and for the development of trampoline deck tricks in its own right. Each of these approaches clearly suffers shortcomings. Soft foam trampoline boards lack sufficient rigidity to provide a realistic training experience. In use, the board flops around, and in fact interferes with any type of conventional board training. Soft foam boards also lack the appropriate weight to provide a realistic training experience. Thus, airborne manoeuvring of the soft foam board does not realistically simulate the feel of manoeuvring a snowboard, wakeboard, wakeskate or skateboard. When conventional boards (e.g. snowboards, skateboards, wakeboards, wakeskates) are used on trampolines or other jumping devices, they bring dangers to the user and equipment due to fact that they are not designed for this purpose. They commonly have edges of the board that are sharp by design, or have worn/chipped sections that can quickly destroy a trampoline or other jumping device easily, and also severely injure a user. In view of the foregoing state, it would be advancement to provide a soft, tough, yet quite rigid board for use on trampolines, which is simple in design, provides realistic training experience for manoeuvres and also for development of trampoline deck tricks in its own right, whilst being considerate to avoiding damage to the trampoline or other jumping equipment, and most importantly to minimise the potential for severe injury or any possible discomfort to the lowest level possible for the user. The present invention meets these needs in the form of the said "Trampoline Deck".

Brief Description of the Drawings People skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures. Shapes, relative sizes, proportions or materials shown in the figures can vary. Figure 1 Shows a conceptual drawing of the Trampoline deck in use on a standard type trampoline. 1. Trampoline 2. User 3. Trampoline deck 4. Direction of general bouncing movement Figure 2 Plan view of an embodiment of the trampoline deck. Note: the exact shape can vary; this is just one embodiment of the trampoline deck. Figure 3 Side view of an embodiment of the trampoline deck. Note: the exact shape can vary; this is just one embodiment of the trampoline deck. Figure 4 Cross section view of an embodiment of the trampoline deck. Note: the exact materials used that can be revealed in this view can vary; this is just one embodiment of the trampoline deck.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 The invented trampoline deck may be used on many different jumping and play devices, as long as proper safety precautions are taken. For example, a ground-based, water-based, frame or air suspending trampoline may be used, an inflated children's jumping castle, on the grass, on mats or any other soft floor covering. The invented trampoline deck is preferably not used on hard surfaces, sand or snow, for safety reasons and longevity of the product. The term "trampoline" is not intended to limit the device to being used with a particular jumping structure, however most preferably a trampoline would be used, and should be used with safety fences (screens or netting) or other guards that surround the trampoline and prevent a user from falling or flying off of the trampoline to the ground or other hard surface. Figure 2 The invented trampoline deck as shown in this embodiment displays a simple symmetrical trampoline deck shape. Variation to the shape can be made to taste. To accommodate various sizes/weights of individuals the approximate length range of the trampoline deck would be 60cm to 90cm. This length range allows the board to behave in a manner allowing for a realistic training experience for manoeuvres to transfer to other sports and also for development of trampoline deck tricks in its own right while still conforming well to the trampoline mat flexing during jumping. Figure 3 The invented trampoline deck as shown in this embodiment displays a simple symmetrical trampoline deck shape. Variation to the shape can vary, such as the addition of concave or convex sections throughout any section of the trampoline deck. The tips of each end (nose and tail) are commonly arched upwards, they can be arched upwards to any angle desired and each end can vary independently of the other. Generally there is a mostly flat section with uplifted ends to enable simulation to other board sports, a good surface area for use on a trampoline, and so the user can use the nose and tail to help manoeuvre the trampoline deck with their feet. Figure 4 The invented trampoline deck in this Cross section embodiment displays the general material build up of the device. The exact materials used that can be revealed in this view as the 'Rigid core' and the 'Soft Outer' can vary. The core requires a strong material with rigidity and a minor amount of flexibility, materials such as but not limited to Plywood, Molded Polymers, Molded or layered up Composite materials can be used to provide this. These materials possess the ability to be shaped and smoothed to various contours, curves and shapes while being strong and rigid enough with a minor amount of flex to satisfactorily provide the performance required of the trampoline deck. The soft outer requires a strong, tough, yet soft and forgiving material, such as but not limited to PE or EVA families of materials. These materials possess the ability to be shaped and smoothed to various contours, curves and shapes while providing a tough surface that will not have sharp edges, points or similar attributes that could damage equipment such as trampoline mats. They are also quite resilient and tough to impacts. The material also provides a level of safety to the user by being soft and free from sharp edges, points or similar attributes that could injure a user.

Summary of the Invention This invention comprises a skateboard deck type device that is adapted for use on a trampoline, soft floor coverings or other resilient jumping devices. (Herein known as a "Trampoline deck"). The trampoline deck comprises a board that is preferably quite rigid in its core and soft on its entire exterior, and is quite resilient in itself. The user manoeuvres the board predominantly with their feet, although there are no solid or flexible connections made between the trampoline deck and the user. The concept of no attachment to the user allows the user to experience a full range of actions and tricks with the trampoline deck. With the invented trampoline deck the user may perform many forward, aft and lateral board moves along with grabs, spins and flips in any desired direction or orientation that the user can manage. The rigidity of the trampoline deck optimises the manoeuvrability for the trampoline deck user, allowing for a realistic training experience for manoeuvres to transfer to other sports and also for development of trampoline deck tricks in its own right. Some of the tricks and movements would not be possible with soft and very flexible type boards or with a board with connection to the user's feet. It would be unsafe for a user to use a conventional board not designed for the use on a trampoline to attempt or develop tricks and movements as described above. (E.g. snowboards, wakeboards, wakeskates or skateboards) It can be seen that an object of the invented trampoline deck is to provide a toy or accessory for trampolines, to enhance the fun and options for trampoline jumping, and to provide a new avenue of trampoline deck performing as a sport. Another object is to provide a board that allows practice of other board sports aerial moves on a trampoline. Another object is to provide exercise and family entertainment, by encouraging safe play with a specifically designed apparatus for the trampoline.

Claims (8)

1. A trampoline deck with a rigid core with minor flexibility.

2. A trampoline deck with a soft yet tough exterior encasing on all surfaces.

3. A trampoline deck having a top surface and a generally flat bottom surface for impacting the jumping device, the top surface having a reasonable area for receiving a user's feet.

4. A trampoline deck shaped as in figure 2, 3 and 4, allowing for variation to the exact shape, including concave and convex deck variations.

5. A trampoline deck with nose and tail uplifted sections

6. A trampoline deck without any connection device to the user.

7. A trampoline deck for the use on trampolines or other types of jumping apparatus.

8. A trampoline deck for use on soft floor coverings mats and grass.