GB2235389A - Trampoline - Google Patents

Abstract

A trampoline has a deck (18) with a substantially continuous border portion (30) around its edges formed from elastomeric webbing or strip material resiliently connecting the main part of the deck to the frame, side members of the latter being received in substantially continuous loops or tube formations 32 of the border portion or attached thereto. The tubes or loops may be elastomeric or may be of the same material as the deck. <IMAGE>

Description

TRAMPOLINE This invention relates to trampolines, particularly but not exclusively those in smaller sizes for use by small children in the home or garden for amusement though it may have application to larger sizes of trampoline as used by gymnasts and athletes.

Known constructions of trampolines incorporate an operatively rigid supporting frame which may be circular or oblong and which includes legs for supporting it above ground level. The frame defines a central opening on a horizontal plane in use in which is mounted a deck of strong non-stretch canvas or like flexible sheet material having its edges tensioned to the frame by resilient connecting means which, in known constructions, commonly consist of a series of tension springs or a lacing of elastomeric cord.

These known arrangements are complex to manufacture and not always easy to assemble securely and correctly, the latter consideration is a particular problem where smaller sizes of trampoline are sold in a "knocked down" condition for assembly by the purchaser. The decking sheet has to be provided with a reinforced margin including strong eyelets, usually of metal, to receive the connecting means which adds to manufacturing processes and costs, and this construction is open to objection on safety grounds, the eyelets themselves and the metal tension spring if used as connecting means can cause injury and the open gaps between the edge of the deck and the frame between these springs or lacing of the cord are dangerous in that a child's leg or arm may become trapped therein.There is also no padding or protection over the exposed metal frame so that quite serious injury may result from a slip or fall on the deck or uncontrolled or misdirected bouncing thereon.

The object of the invention is to provide a trampoline which is economical to manufacture, is easy to assemble so that it is securely erected, is neat and pleasing in appearance, and which provides substantially enhanced safety in use.

According to the invention there is provided a trampoline in which the deck is formed with a substantially continuous border portion around its edges comprising elastomeric webbing or strip material for its resilient connection to the frame in use, said border also defining a substantially continuous loop or tube formation in which the side members of the supporting frame are received in use.

Conveniently the whole of said border portion is formed from said elastomeric material including the loop or tube formation through for some applications a composite construction may be employed e.g. the loop or tube formation may be formed from non-stretch fabric or other material (typically the same material as is used to form the deck) but connected to the latter by a bridging portion around the edges of the elastomeric material.

The term "substantially continuous" means that on assembly there are no gaps or openings of any size between the deck and the frame though the border portion and/or the loop or tube need not be completely continuous, for example minimum size slots or openings may be required, e.g. at the corners of a square frame to accommodate the supporting legs and/ or the webbing or strip material may not be continuous but may comprise a series of pieces arranged side by side or end to end in abutment or close proximity as the material may not be readily available in sufficiently large sheets or strips to provide a truly continuous construction.

Some examples of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a typical small rectangular trampoline frame of known kind, Figure 2 is a first, example of a decking assembly embodying the invention for a trampoline, Figure 3 is a detail of one corner of said decking assembly positioned on a frame, and Figures 4 and 5 are illustrations of two further forms of decking assembly embodying the invention.

In Figure 1 a frame 10 is built up of tubular metal components including four inverted U-shaped members forming the legs 12 and horizontal side members 14, together. with an upstanding handrail 16. This frame is for the known type of child's trampoline in which the deck is secured to side members 14 by a lacing of elastomeric cord secured through eyelets in the margin of the deck. The frame for use with the examples of the invention described have the same assembled shape though it will not be possible to use the U-shaped members as side members 14 have to be threaded through tubular formations on assembly as referred to hereafter.

Turning to Figure 2 a deck assembly is shown comprising a rectangular deck 18 which will be sheet of non-stretch canvas or similar strong flexible fabric or other material as used for the known trampolines and a border portion 20 which is permanently sewn substantially continuously around all four edges of deck 18. This border portion comprises a series of strips of elastomeric webbing disposed in abutting relationship (except at the actual corners) and doubled back on themselves to form open ended pockets which together define a substantially continuous loop or tube formation along said edges.

On assembly the side members 14 of the frame are threaded through the respective loop or tube formations along each edge of the deck 18 and are then secured together to complete the frame at the same time tensioning the elastomeric border portion 20 so that deck 18 is drawn tight. The bounciness of the deck is provided by the elastomeric border portion 20 which gives a very strong and secure construction, there are no gaps or openings of any size around the edges of the deck which could trap a child's limb, there are no. metal eyelets or other hard components of the deck assembly which might cause injury and the side members 14 are substantially enclosed and covered by the border portion 20 giving them a degree of padding which again may reduce the likelihood of injury, indeed further padding for extra protection could easily be Incorporated in or on the frame engaging parts of the border portion 20 for added protection.

For added safety to make it less likely that a limb or the like could be trapped between the abutting edges of the elastomeric material around the border safety strips 22 may be added as shown in Figure 3 comprising lengths of flat webbing threaded through the loop or tube formation along each edge between the associated side member 14 and the outer edge of deck 18 and secured at each end at the corners of the frame. As the strips 22 extend normally to the direction of stretching of the border portion they do not affect the action of the latter and can be formed of non-stretch material tensioned longitudinally.

In an alternative and simpler construction shown in Figure 4 each edge of the deck 18 is provided with a continuous border portion 19 formed from sheet elastomeric material folded back on itself to form a continuous loop or tube between each corner and stitched securely to the edges of the deck. While this arrangement may be more desirable for ease of manufacture and assembly and maximum safety elastomeric material of the necessary dimensions and strength may not be readily available or may be unduly expensive to provide.

A further alternative construction is shown in Figure 5. Here the deck 18 has a border portion 20a of a composite construction. A strip or strips 30 of elastomeric webbing or like material is strongly sewn to the edges of deck 18 on all sides and the outer edges of said material 30 are in turn strongly sewn to tubular margin portions 32 of non-stretch material e.g. the same material as used for deck 18, which is doubled back on itself to provide loop or tube formations for.. receiving the frame side members as described above. Thus the deck is connected to the frame by way of a bridging portion constituted by strip or strips 30.

Claims (5)

1. A trampoline in which the deck is formed with a substantially continuous border portion around its edges comprising elastomeric webbing or strip material for its resilient connection to the frame in use, said border also defining a substantially continuous loop or tube formation in which the side members of the supporting frame are received in use.

2. A trampoline as in Claim 1 wherein the whole of the border portion including the loop or tube formation is formed from the elastomeric material.

3. A trampoline as in Claim 1 wherein the loop or tube formation is formed from non-stretch material.

4. A trampoline as in any preceding claim wherein frame engaging parts of the border portion include protective padding.

5. A trampoline substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the accompanying drawings.