AU2015202639A1

AU2015202639A1 - Trampoline cover assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2015202639A1
Application number: AU2015202639A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joe ANDON
Original assignee: Vuly Property Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Vuly IP Holdings No 2 Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-05-16
Filing date: 2015-05-15
Publication date: 2015-12-03
Also published as: AU2015202734A1; AU2015101937A4; AU2018264069A1

Abstract

A trampoline cover assembly including: a skirt sized to surround a capping portion, the skirt extending from an upper edge; the capping portion being attached to at least some of the 5 upper edge of the skirt, the capping portion having a plurality of gourds radiating outwardly from a centre to the upper edge of the skirt, each said gourd being joined to two radially abutting gourds along a radial seam such the radial seams are arranged to extend diametrically across the capping portion, each gourd 0 having a circumferential width in excess of the circumferential distance between radial seams such that the centre of each gourd droops downward from the radial seams when the capping portion is supported at the intersection of each radial seam with the upper edge of the skirt. 15 typ 14 typ 16 typ 17 typ 28 typ 12 1-l3 Fig. 1 22 23- 21 Fig. 3 28 typ -- -- 30 typ 3 1 27 typ 32 25 typ 32 -26 33 7 Fig. 4 Fig. 2

Description

1 TRAMPOLINE COVER ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a trampoline cover assembly. The invention has particular application to an improved canopy or cover assembly for trampolines which have a safety net 5 surrounding the trampoline mat, but the invention may have application to canopies above trampolines generally as well as tent-like structures supported by poles. Trampolines having a safety net surrounding the trampoline mat are preferred for safety reasons over 0 trampolines without a safety net. Such trampolines sometimes have been provided with a cover or roof-like structure over the top of the safety net, the cover being spaced from the trampoline mat. Several forms have been provided, one such form including a trampoline mat resiliently supported from a 5 surrounding frame and a plurality of poles extending upward from the surrounding frame to which a safety net is fastened, tied or otherwise attached. Sometimes, the poles extend from that part of the frame which is close to the ground and sometimes the poles extend 0 from that port of the frame which is close to the mat. In either form, the covers so attached include a flexible sheet spaced upwardly from the mat. When trampolines are left outside in the rain, there is a tendency for rainwater to pool on the cover and not run off. The present invention is aimed 25 at providing a trampoline cover which allows rainwater to drain off. With the foregoing in view, the invention resides broadly in a trampoline cover assembly including: a skirt sized to surround a capping portion, the skirt 30 extending from an upper edge; 2 the capping portion being attached to at least some of the upper edge of the skirt, the capping portion having a plurality of gourds radiating outwardly from a centre to the upper edge of the skirt, each said gourd being joined to two 5 radially abutting gourds along a radial seam such the radial seams are arranged to extend diametrically across the capping portion, each gourd having a circumferential width in excess of the circumferential distance between radial seams such that the centre of each gourd droops downward from the radial seams 0 when the capping portion is supported at the intersection of each radial seam with the upper edge of the skirt. In another aspect, the present invention resides broadly in a trampoline cover assembly for a trampoline, the trampoline being surrounded by a plurality of spaced apart 5 support poles for supporting a safety net, each support pole including an upper end and a plurality of spars mountable between adjacent support poles and spaced downward from the upper ends, the trampoline cover assembly including: a skirt sized to surround the support poles, extending 0 downward from the upper ends thereof at least part-way down the length of the support poles from an upper edge; a capping portion attached to at least some of the upper edge of the skirt, the capping portion having a plurality of gourds radiating outwardly from a centre to the upper edge of 25 the skirt, each said gourd being joined to two radially abutting gourds along a radial seam such the radial seams are arranged to extend diametrically across from diametrically opposed support poles, the width of each gourd being sufficient to exceed the circumferential distance between 30 adjacent support poles such that the centre of each gourd droops downward from the radial seams when the capping portion is supported on the upper ends of the support poles.

3 In another aspect, the present invention resides broadly in a trampoline cover assembly for a trampoline, the trampoline being surrounded by a plurality of spaced apart support poles for supporting a safety net, each support pole 5 including an upper end, the trampoline cover assembly including: a plurality of spars mountable between adjacent support poles and spaced downward from the upper ends; a skirt sized to surround the support poles, extending 0 downward from the upper ends thereof at least part-way down the length of the support poles from an upper edge; a capping portion attached to at least some of the upper edge of the skirt, the capping portion having a plurality of gourds radiating outwardly from a centre to the upper edge of 5 the skirt, each said gourd being joined to two radially abutting gourds along a radial seam such the radial seams are arranged to extend diametrically across from diametrically opposed support poles, the width of each gourd being sufficient to exceed the circumferential distance between 0 adjacent support poles such that the centre of each gourd droops downward from the radial seams when the capping portion is supported on the upper ends of the support poles. Preferably, the gourds are joined to one another by stitching along the adjoining edges. More preferably, the 25 stitching is strengthened and/or of a form which provides for tensioning along the seam rather than across the seam to that the joins between the gourds provide a tensioned support between diametrically opposed support poles. In a preferred form, the a binding tape is used to encapsulate the seam, 30 being folded over and stitched through. Single or multiple stitching is provided with a view to providing the seam with good tensile properties and also to be substantially inextensible.

4 Preferably, the seams are stretched taut across the support poles, and in order to limit the flexing of the support poles as a result of the tension across the cover portion between opposed support poles, the spars are provided 5 near to, but spaced from the upper ends of the support poles. Preferably, the spars are connected, attached or fastened to the support poles in a manner which provides for a resilient compression against a biasing means interposed between the ends of the spars and the corresponding support pole. 0 Another preference is to join, fasten or attach the lower edge of the skirt portion to the spars, particularly at or near the centre, to pull the gourds downward at their outer edges. In another aspect, the present invention resides broadly 5 in a connector for connecting a spar member substantially at right angles to a support member, the connector having a body portion adapted to circumscribe an axial length of the pole, fastening means operable in conjunction with the body portion for fastening the body portion to the support pole, a spar 0 connecting formation by into which or over which the spar may be connected and a resilient joining portion intermediate the connecting formation and whereby the joining between the connecting formation and body portion is resilient axially and angularly. Preferably, there are two connecting formations on 25 opposite sides of the body portion. Preferably the connecting formations are in the form of spigots for receiving an end portion of the spar. In a preferred form, the spigots extend at an obtuse angle for connecting spars circumferentially about the support 30 pole with resilience sufficient to accommodate relative displacement axially with respect to the spars and angularly 5 between adjacent spars, the flexibility being necessitated by the bouncing of a user on the trampoline in use. In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, reference will now be made 5 to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a trampoline cover assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the trampoline cover assembly of Fig. 1; 0 Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating detail 19 of stitching of a seam for the trampoline cover assembly of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic pictorial view of a connector for connecting a spar to each side of a support pole for the 5 trampoline cover assembly according to the invention. The trampoline cover 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a skirt 11 having a bottom edge 12 and an upper edge 13, the skirt surrounding a cap 18. The upper edge is scalloped between six apices shown typically at 16. The skirt 4O is divided into six pieces circumferentially by six apical corners shown typically at 28. Six gourds shown typically at 14 extend from a central aperture 24 to meet the skirt at its upper edge, the gourds being stitched thereto substantially all the way along the upper edge. 25 The gourds are joined to one to another along a gourd seam shown typically at 15, there being six gourd seams commensurate with the number of gourds. The gourd seams are stretched tight between the apices to minimise any drooping of the gourds towards the middle of the trampoline when 30 installed, extending radially from the central aperture.

6 Six spars are provided to extend between the apical corners of the skirt near its lower edge, each spar being attached by each end to extend between two of six support poles shown typically at 25 in Fig. 2. The attachment of the 5 spars to the support poles is by way of a connector 30 illustrated in more detail in Fig. 4. The support poles extend upward from a trampoline frame 26 and through pockets, loops, patches or the like internally of the apical corners of the skirt so that the trampoline canopy assembly is held firmly in 0 place. The gourd seam detail 20 illustrated in Fig. 3 illustrated that each gourd seam is formed by bringing respective edges of two adjoining gourds together and folding an edge portion 21 over or just bringing them together. A 5 binding strip 22 is placed over the edge portions and stitched through each side thereof by gourd seam stitching 23 passing through the binding strip twice as well as through the edge portions encapsulated therebetween. The connector illustrated in detail in Fig. 4 includes a 0 body portion 31 having two diametrically opposed holes 32 passing therethrough for receiving a grub screw, bolt and nut or the like (not shown) for fastening to a support pole. Two spigots 33 extend from opposed sides of the body portion, but not in alignment with one another, but rather in alignment 25 with an obtuse angle commensurate with the angle by which the spars are arranged about the circumference of the trampoline when attached to the support poles. The spigots are each joined to the body portion by way of a folded leaf spring 34 which affords a resilient connection 30 between the spars and the support poles. The resilient connection is 7 A typical application of the trampoline cover assembly as illustrated in Fig. 2, the spars are provided between adjacent support poles. The skirt and gourd seams are stretched tight enough for the gourd seams to extend across a relatively flat, 5 though it will be appreciated that there could be a slight dipping towards the middle. However, the gourds are circumferentially somewhat loose, dipping downwards between the support poles as shown typically at 17, particularly near the outer edges. The arrangement is thus a somewhat fluted or 0 corrugated form circumferentially, the drooping of the gourds outwardly providing for drainage of rainwater from their upper faces. Moreover, in order to better facilitate draining, the lower edge of the skirt may be pulled down and attached to the 5 spars by hook and loop fasteners or the like, this option also adding to the rigidity of the trampoline canopy assembly when installed on the support poles of the trampoline safety netting. This option also sharpens the base of the valleys between the gourd seams closer to a V-shaped cross section 0 than a U-shaped cross section as is the case when the skirt is not so attached. 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 25 the art may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A trampoline cover assembly including: a skirt sized to surround a capping portion, the skirt extending from an upper edge; 5 the capping portion being attached to at least some of the upper edge of the skirt, the capping portion having a plurality of gourds radiating outwardly from a centre to the upper edge of the skirt, each said gourd being joined to two radially abutting gourds along a radial seam such the radial 0 seams are arranged to extend diametrically across the capping portion, each gourd having a circumferential width in excess of the circumferential distance between radial seams such that the centre of each gourd droops downward from the radial seams when the capping portion is supported at the intersection of 5 each radial seam with the upper edge of the skirt.

2. A trampoline cover assembly for a trampoline, the trampoline being surrounded by a plurality of spaced apart support poles for supporting a safety net, each support pole including an upper end and a plurality of spars mountable 0 between adjacent support poles and spaced downward from the upper ends, the trampoline cover assembly including: a skirt sized to surround the support poles, extending downward from the upper ends thereof at least part-way down the length of the support poles from an upper edge; 25 a capping portion attached to at least some of the upper edge of the skirt, the capping portion having a plurality of gourds radiating outwardly from a centre to the upper edge of the skirt, each said gourd being joined to two radially abutting gourds along a radial seam such the radial seams are 30 arranged to extend diametrically across from diametrically opposed support poles, the width of each gourd being sufficient to exceed the circumferential distance between 9 adjacent support poles such that the centre of each gourd droops downward from the radial seams when the capping portion is supported on the upper ends of the support poles.

3. A trampoline cover assembly for a trampoline, the 5 trampoline being surrounded by a plurality of spaced apart support poles for supporting a safety net, each support pole including an upper end, the trampoline cover assembly including: a plurality of spars mountable between adjacent support 0 poles and spaced downward from the upper ends; a skirt sized to surround the support poles, extending downward from the upper ends thereof at least part-way down the length of the support poles from an upper edge; a capping portion attached to at least some of the upper 5 edge of the skirt, the capping portion having a plurality of gourds radiating outwardly from a centre to the upper edge of the skirt, each said gourd being joined to two radially abutting gourds along a radial seam such the radial seams are arranged to extend diametrically across from diametrically 0 opposed support poles, the width of each gourd being sufficient to exceed the circumferential distance between adjacent support poles such that the centre of each gourd droops downward from the radial seams when the capping portion is supported on the upper ends of the support poles. 25

4. A connector for connecting a spar member substantially at right angles to a support member, the connector having a body portion adapted to circumscribe an axial length of the pole, fastening means operable in conjunction with the body portion for fastening the body portion to the support pole, a spar 30 connecting formation by into which or over which the spar may be connected and a resilient joining portion intermediate the connecting formation and whereby the joining between the 10 connecting formation and body portion is resilient axially and angularly. Preferably, there are two connecting formations on opposite sides of the body portion. Preferably the connecting formations are in the form of spigots for receiving an end 5 portion of the spar.