AU2014100262A4 - Improved structure of trampoline - Google Patents

Abstract

OF TUE DISCLOSURE A trampoline includes a ring-shaped main body, which includes a plurality of legs extending downwards therefrom and a bed unit arranged therein, the bed unit including a mat and a fence, the mat being connected by a 5 plurality of first elastic elements to the main body; and a plurality of support units, each of which includes at least one coupling member, at least one second elastic element, and at least one first support bar, each of the support units being mounted to the main body in such a way that the support units are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, the fence having a top 10 coupled the first support bar, whereby when the first support bar is compressed and pushed by an extemal force, the second elastic element provides a reaction force for position restoration of the first support bar so as to enhance security and safety.

Description

1 TITLE: IMPROVED STRUCTURE OF TRAMPOLINE (a) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a trampoline, and more particularly to an improved structure of a trampoline featuring 5 omnidirectional-swing shock-absorption. (b) Description of the Prior Art A conventional trampoline is generally composed of a circular or rectangular frame and a plurality of legs extending from a lower circumference of the frame to be positioned on the ground. A net, serving as 10 a trampoline bed, is arranged at a center of the trampoline and has an outer circumference that is connected by a plurality of springs or elastic cables to an inner circumference of the frame. When a force is applied to the bed, the bed displaces downward in a normal direction thereof; when the force is removed, the springs or elastic cables provides the bed with a restoration force, causing 15 the bed to retum to the original home position. As such, a user can jump up and down on the bed to achieve an effect of sports exercise. However, the conventional trampoline is generally not provided a safety device on the circumferential edge thereof If a user is not of skillful, or if an accident occurs, the user may get hurt. The use of the trampoline is definitely not 20 safe.

2 A protection screen is thus available for use with a training trampoline to prevent a player from falling off the trampoline. However, the known protection screen is structured to mount, in a fixedly secured manner, to the trampoline and this results in a non-elastic mounting of the protection screen 5 and may easy cause impact injuries or graze injuries of the player. Further, if the mounting is not made secure enough, the protection that the screen offers may be insufficient. These are generally shortcomings of the conventional trampolines. In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a 10 solution to overcome or at least alleviate the problems.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above discussed problems, the present invention provides an improved structure of a trampoline, which comprises: a ring-shaped main body, which comprises a plurality of legs extending downwards therefrom, the 5 main body comprising a bed unit arranged therein, the bed unit comprising a mat and a fence, the mat being connected by a plurality of first elastic elements to the main body; and a plurality of support units, wherein each of the support units comprises at least one coupling member, at least one second elastic element, and at least one first support bar, each of the support units 10 being mounted to the main body in such a way that the support units are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, the fence having a top coupled the first support bar, whereby when the first support bar is compressed and pushed by an extemal force, the second elastic element provides a reaction force for position restoration of the first support bar so as to enhance security 15 and safety. The primary object of the improved structure of a trampoline of the present invention is to provide a fence having a capability of protection realized with omnidirectional-swing shock absorption in order to prevent a user from falling off the trampoline and getting hurt and also to overcome the 4 drawback of easy damage of the conventional trampoline caused by stress concentration occurring at jointing portions thereof. The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the 5 present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 10 Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 15 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1 is a perspective view showing an improved structure of a trampoline according a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the trampoline of FIG 1. 5 FIG 3 is an exploded view of FIG 2. FIG 4 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of a use of the trampoline according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an improved structure of a trampoline according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 FIG 6 is an exploded view of FIG 5. FIG 7 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of a use of the trampoline according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an improved structure of a trampoline according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 15 FIG 9 is an exploded view of FIG 8. FIG 10 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of a use of the trampoline according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG 11 is a view of a portion of an improved structure of a trampoline according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

6 FIG 12 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of a use of the trampoline of FIG 11.

7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration 5 for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Firstly, reference is made to FIGS. 1-3, which are respectively a 10 perspective view of an improved structure of a trampoline 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an enlarged view and an exploded view of a portion of the trampoline of the present invention, the improved structure of the trampoline 1 of the present invention comprises: a ring-shaped main body 10 and a plurality of support units 20. 15 The ring-shaped main body 10 comprises a plurality of legs 11 extending downward therefrom. The main body 10 comprises a bed unit 12 arranged therein. The bed unit 12 comprises a mat 121 and a fence 122. The mat 121 is connected by a plurality of first elastic elements 13 to the main body 10. The support units 20 are structured such that each of the support units 20 20 comprises at least one coupling member 21, at least one second elastic 8 element 22, and at least one first support bar 23. The support units 20 are each mounted to the main body in such a way that the support units 20 are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. The fence 122 has a top coupled to the first support bar 23. 5 Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the coupling member of each of the support units 20 is mounted to the leg 11 of the main body 10 to project outward. The second elastic element 22 has two ends that are respectively coupled to a lower end of the first support bar 23 and a top of the coupling member 21. The second elastic element 22 is a spring, preferably a helical spring. 10 The first support bar 23 comprises a thread 231 formed on an end thereof for coupling with the second elastic element 22 through screwing engagement. Referring to FIG 4, for at least a user jumping or bouncing on the bed unit 12, when the fence 122 is compressed or pushed, the first support bar 23 swings or oscillates about a fulcrum defined by the second elastic element 22 15 for shock absorption. After the pushing or compressing force is removed, the first support bar 23 returns to a home position. With such an arrangement, security and safety can be enhanced. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an improved structure of a trampoline 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which 20 the components of the main body 10 and the arrangements thereof are similar 9 to the counterparts of the first embodiment so that repeated description will be omitted here and also omitted in the subsequent embodiments. In the instant embodiment, each of the support units 20 further comprises at least one second support bar 24 and the coupling member 21 is provided 5 with an insertion compartment 211 to receive insertion of the second support bar 24 therein. The second elastic element 22 has two ends that are respectively coupled to a lower end of the first support bar 23 and a top end of the second support bar 24. The second elastic element 22 is composed of a plurality of elastic steel 10 plates and as shown in FIG 7, the operation is similar to what shown in the first embodiment but simply replacing the helical spring with the plurality of elastic steel plates. When the first support bar 23 is compressed or pushed by an external force, the second elastic element 22 provides a reaction force that helps enhance position restoration of the first support bar 23 to improve 15 security and safety. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an improved structure of a trampoline 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which each of the support units 20 further comprises at least one second support bar 24 and at least one third elastic element 25 and the coupling member 21 is 20 provided with an insertion compartment 211. The second support bar 24 is 10 inserted in the insertion compartment 211. Two ends of the second elastic element 22 are respectively coupled to a lower end of the first support bar 23 and a top end of the second support bar 24. The third elastic element 25 has two ends that are respectively mounted to outside surfaces of the first support 5 bar 23 and the second support bar 24. The second elastic element 22 is a spring and the third elastic element 25 comprises a plurality of elastic steel plates. Referring to FIG 10, the third elastic element 25 is arranged to face the main body 10 so that when the first support bar 23 is compressed and pushed by a force, the force is spread over 10 the second elastic element 22 and the third elastic element 25 to thereby enhance the capability of shock absorption thereof. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, an improved structure of a trampoline 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which the coupling member 21 of each of the support units 20 is pivotally coupled to 15 the leg 11 of the main body 10. An end of the second elastic element 22 is attached to a predetermined location of the coupling member 21 and an opposite end of the second elastic element 22 is attached to the leg 11 of the main body 10, whereby when the first support bar 23 is compressed and pushed by an external force, the coupling member 21 follows the action of the 11 force to rotate outwards. The second elastic element 22 provides a reaction force for restoring the first support bar 23 back to the original home position. It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods 5 differing from the type described above. While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device 10 illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. A trampoline, comprising: a ring-shaped main body, which comprises a plurality of legs extending downwards therefrom, the main body comprising a bed 5 unit arranged therein, the bed unit comprising a mat and a fence, the mat being connected by a plurality of first elastic elements to the main body; and a plurality of support units, wherein each of the support units comprises at least one coupling member, at least one second elastic 10 element, and at least one first support bar, each of the support units being mounted to the main body in such a way that the support units are spaced from each other by a distance, the fence having a top coupled the first support bar.

2. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member 15 of each of the support units is mounted to and projects outward from one of the legs of the main body, the second elastic element having two ends respectively coupled to a lower end of the first support bar and a top of the coupling member.

3. The trampoline according to claim 2, wherein the second elastic 20 element comprises a spring and the first support bar comprises a 13 thread formed on an end thereof for coupling with the second elastic element through screwing engagement.

4. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein each of the support units comprises at least one second support bar and the coupling 5 member comprises an insertion compartment to receive insertion of the second support bar therein, the second elastic element having two ends respectively coupled to a lower end of the first support bar and a top end of the second support bar.

5. The trampoline according to claim 4, wherein the second elastic 10 element comprises a plurality of elastic steel plates.