WO2016077871A1

WO2016077871A1 - Trampoline

Info

Publication number: WO2016077871A1
Application number: PCT/AU2015/000704
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joe ANDON
Original assignee: Vuly Property Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-21
Filing date: 2015-11-20
Publication date: 2016-05-26

Abstract

A tent trampoline including: a trampoline having a mat supported by its periphery within or parallel to a frame by biasing means interposed between the periphery and the frame; a canopy assembly including a plurality of poles and a cover, each pole including a mounting end and an attachment end, each attachment end being attachable to the attachment ends of the other poles; the periphery of the mat having a plurality of mounting points for mounting the mounting ends of the poles such that the poles when assembled define a space above the mat, and the cover having a shape suitable for covering assembled poles to enclose the space.

Description

TRAMPOLINE

This invention relates to a trampoline. The invention has particular application to a trampoline which may be used as a tent, hereinafter referred to as a "tent trampoline". Trampolines are well known for sport and recreation, particularly early versions having a mat supported between opposed coil springs which are fixed to a frame, the frame being supported above the ground to provide clearance below the mat to accommodate deflection of the mat when a user is on the mat, including bouncing on the mat. A late version of trampoline has been developed in which the mat is elevated above the frame. In this specification, the term trampoline is to be taken to include both versions of trampoline unless the context indicates otherwise. Users may have appreciated that lying or sitting on the mat is quite comfortable, though such use of a trampoline has not been taken further. Trampolines may have a safety net around the mat to prevent a user bouncing off the mat onto the ground beside the trampoline. Because trampolines are often used outdoors, covers have been provided over the mat or, if present, the safety net.

When going camping, it is often necessary to carry a lot of equipment, particularly for bedding and including a tent. The tent is used almost exclusively for sleeping, but either has no floor or a floor which still requires padding such as mattresses, air beds or camp stretchers.

The present invention aims to provide a tent trampoline which takes the concept of usage of a trampoline outside the normal usage as a device used for jumping or bouncing. Other aims and advantages of the invention may become apparent from the following description. With the foregoing in view, this invention resides broadly in a tent trampoline including:

a trampoline having a mat supported by its periphery within or parallel to a frame by biasing means interposed between the periphery and the frame;

a canopy assembly including a plurality of poles and a cover, each pole including a mounting end and an attachment end, each attachment end being attachable to the attachment ends of the other poles;

the periphery of the mat having a plurality of mounting points for mounting the mounting ends of the poles such that the poles when assembled define a space above the mat, and the cover having a shape suitable for covering assembled poles to enclose the space . Preferably, the canopy assembly includes a plurality of peripheral frame members for operable interposition between the mounting points of the mat, more particularly, between the mounting ends of the poles. Preferably, the attachment ends are attachable to one another by way of a bracket. The bracket may be arranged such that the poles meet one another substantially collinearly to form a dome or dome-like structure. Alternatively, the bracket may be arranged such that the pole meet one another at an angle to form an ogive dome or similar structure. Preferably, the frame members are hollow and are connected to one another by stretchable cord, such as shock-cord or the like.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a tent trampoline according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of another tent trampoline according to the invention;

Fig. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic elevations illustrating alternative dome shapes for the tent trampolines of Figs. 1 and 2 ;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic detail view of part of a base for the tent trampoline of Fig. 1;

Fig 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the base of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of an alternative base for a tent trampoline according to the invention;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic section of an alternative form of tent trampoline according to the invention;

Fig. 9 is a pictorial view of part of a canopy assembly for a tent trampoline according to the invention;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the part of the canopy assembly of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a pictorial view of the part of the canopy assembly of Fig. 9 in a furled attitude;

Fig. 12 is a detail view illustrating attachment of the mat to a frame member;

Fig. 13 is a detail view illustrating connection of a frame member to a base frame member;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic assembly view of frame members for the canopy assembly of Fig. 9;

Figs 15 and 16 illustrate the bundling of the frame members for storage or transportation;

Fig. 17 is a detail view illustrating connection of frame members to a base frame strut; Fig. 18 is diagrammatic illustration of gourds for a cover for the canopy assembly of Fig. 9;

Fig. 19 is a detail view illustrating the connection of a pole, frame member and mat for a tent trampoline according to the invention; and

Fig. 20 is a more detailed view of the pole, frame member and mat of Fig. 19 also illustrating the arrangement of a padded flap in relation to the cover.

The tent trampoline 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a canopy assembly 11 mounted to a base frame 12. The base frame 12 has a plurality of triangulated struts shown typically at 13, the base frame supporting a mat 14 and is also illustrated in more detail in Fig. 5. It will be appreciated than padding may be required to protect users from impact on the top rail of the base frame. The other tent trampoline 15 illustrated in Fig. 2 includes the same canopy assembly and mat, but has a shaped base frame 16 having a plurality of curved struts shown typically at 17.

The canopy assembly may be in the form of an ogive dome 18 as illustrated in Fig. 3 or a flat-topped dome 19 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The part of the base illustrated in Fig. 5 includes a plurality of base rails shown typically at 20 extending between the lower ends of adjoining triangulated struts and a plurality of skirt rails shown typically at 21 extending between the upper ends of adjoining triangulated struts, the triangulation being provided to impart strength to the base frame.

The base illustrated in Fig. 6 includes all of the elements described with reference to Figs. 1 and 5, the plan view illustrating a generally octagonal shape and with the canopy assembly having somewhat spiral shaped gourds. One of the gourds includes a zipper opening 22. The alternative base 25 illustrated in Fig. 7 is generally hexagonal and is illustrated in a form that may be taken in the case of a trampoline having coil springs, necessitating the inclusion of six edge pads shown typically at 26. The alternative form of tent trampoline illustrated in Fig. 8 may have either type of canopy above the mat, but the rails are arranged external to the tent.

The canopy assembly illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11 includes cover 28 supported by a plurality of poles shown typically at 29. A padded flap 30 is sewn to the bottom edge of the cover and has a zippered edge for attachment to the mat. The poles each extend through a pocket 31.

The detail of Fig. 12 illustrates the provision of a loop tab 33 for elasticity, such elasticity being provided by flexibility of the frame member, or elasticity of the tab or strap, or renitency of the mat itself, or a combination of same. The detail of Fig. 13 illustrates the connection of the base rails to the curved struts, generally by a spigot and socket arrangement, there being relatively short T-shaped terminations on each end of the curved struts. The frame members are illustrated in exploded view in Fig.

14 and in a folded attitude in Figs. 15 and 16. A shock cord 34 extends through the frame members, each of which includes a spigot end shown typically at 35 and a socket end shown typically at 36. In the folded attitude, the frame members are arranged alongside one another with their ends substantially aligned to form a bundle held together with a strap 37 which has a handle 38 extending in arcuate form, though being formed from flexible material. In the detail of Fig. 17, it can be seen that the shock cord may be inserted into a slot or slit 39 in the side of a tee 40 being the cross-member of a T-formation at the end of curved strut so that the spigots and sockets of the frame members may be joined to the T-pieces, extending through the bore of the cross-member of the tee. The tee also has an aperture 41, as does the socket at 42 and the spigot at 43.

The cover for the canopy assembly is formed from a plurality of gourds 44, two of which are illustrated in Fig. 18. Selected gourds, optionally all of them, include a gauze net or window 45 intermediate the ends. The curvature of the sides of the gourds is selected to be commensurate with the intended shape of the canopy assembly.

The detail illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20 shows the connection of the mat and poles to the tee by way of a hook 46 which engages with the apertures 41, 42 and 43 which align with one another when in the assembled condition. The poles likewise are supported in the tee. The padded flap is attached to the mat by a zipper 47, the mat being a very stretchy mat for the form of tent trampoline illustrated.

The tent trampoline according to the invention may be assembled from a kit which includes the frame members, poles and other rigid elements packed in a similar fashion to that illustrated and described with reference to Figs. 15 and 16. Of course, the tent trampoline may be dismantled and repacked if desired. Once set up, the tent trampoline according to the invention may be used as a trampoline with the poles not connected to one another at the top. However, with the poles connected to one another at the top, the tent trampoline may be used for comfortable reclining or even sleeping without the need for mattresses, camp stretchers or the like. Bedding may be used directly on the mat. The tent trampoline according to the invention provides camping accommodation without the need for mattresses, air beds or camp stretchers. Bedding, such as a sleeping bag or the like, may be used directly on the mat which provides comfort to users wishing to rest, recline or even sleep in the tent trampoline according to the invention. The tent trampoline according to the invention may be adapted from coil spring, leaf spring or rod spring trampolines, but may also be adapted from an unsprung form of trampoline which relies on a stretchy mat, extensible tabs or straps between the edge of the mat and the frame, flexibility of the frame members to which the mat is attached, or any combination of these.

The foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and any modifications and variations which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tent trampoline including:

the periphery of the mat having a plurality of mounting points for mounting the mounting ends of the poles such that the poles when assembled define a space above the mat, and the cover having a shape suitable for covering assembled poles to enclose the space .

2. The tent trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the canopy assembly includes a plurality of peripheral frame members for operable interposition between the mounting points of the mat, the mounting points being between the mounting ends of the poles.

3. The tent trampoline according to claim 2, wherein the frame members are hollow and are connected to one another by stretchable cord extending through the hollow.

4. The tent trampoline according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the canopy assembly is mounted to a base frame.

5. The tent trampoline according to claim 4, wherein the base frame has a plurality of triangulated struts, the base frame supporting a mat.

6. The tent trampoline according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the base illustrated in includes a plurality of base rails extending between the lower ends of adjoining triangulated struts and a plurality of skirt rails extending between the upper ends of adjoining triangulated struts, the triangulation being provided to impart strength to the base frame.

6. The tent trampoline according to claim 4, wherein the base frame is a shaped base frame having a plurality of curved struts.

7. A tent trampoline according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the canopy assembly includes a cover having a bottom edge, the canopy being supported by a plurality of poles, and wherein a padded flap is sewn to the bottom edge of the cover and has a zippered edge for attachment to the mat.

8. The tent trampoline according to claim 7, wherein the poles each extend through a pocket .