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WO2008029170A1 - Trampoline - Google Patents

Trampoline Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008029170A1
WO2008029170A1 PCT/GB2007/003405 GB2007003405W WO2008029170A1 WO 2008029170 A1 WO2008029170 A1 WO 2008029170A1 GB 2007003405 W GB2007003405 W GB 2007003405W WO 2008029170 A1 WO2008029170 A1 WO 2008029170A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
generally
cross
piece
coupler
tubular
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2007/003405
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jonathan Michael Schaffer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Plum Products Ltd
Original Assignee
Plum Products Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Plum Products Ltd filed Critical Plum Products Ltd
Publication of WO2008029170A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008029170A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B5/00—Apparatus for jumping
    • A63B5/11—Trampolines
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
    • A63B21/02—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using resilient force-resisters
    • A63B21/023—Wound springs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
    • A63B21/02—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using resilient force-resisters
    • A63B21/055—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using resilient force-resisters extension element type
    • A63B21/0552—Elastic ropes or bands

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates to trampolines, and more particularly to support structures for supporting a trampoline sheet.
  • a typical trampoline comprises a sheet, usually, though not invariably, circular supported around its periphery within a frame like support structure by spring connections (usually a plurality of helical springs or an elastic cord) under tension which link apertures around the edge of the sheet to openings in the frame.
  • the frame will generally have a configuration that matches that of the trampoline sheet.
  • the trampoline sheet is circular
  • the frame will usually take the form of a generally circular ring with a diameter larger than that of the sheet in order that the sheet is stretched.
  • the trampoline sheet is rectangular in shape
  • the frame will usually comprise a ring of generally rectangular form that is similarly larger than the sheet in order that the sheet may be supported by helical springs under tension.
  • the frame must be supported above the ground or floor.
  • a typical trampoline support structure comprises a plurality of tubular members adapted to fit together to form the frame. At least some of the tubular members have a stub pipe welded thereto, which is adapted to interfit with an upper end of a respective leg, the several legs together supporting the frame and the trampoline sheet above the ground or floor.
  • the respective legs are suitably tubular and pairs of legs will typically be formed from a single tube bent into a generally U- or W-shape in which the uprights of the U or W form the legs proper, the lower ends of which are interconnected by the bight portion of the U or the central portion of the W.
  • the bight portion of the U provides support from the floor or ground
  • the lower angular corners of the "W" serve the same purpose.
  • Trampolines in normal use are subjected to repeated stress.
  • corrosion or splitting of the welds between the tubular members and the stub pipes may occur over time, weakening the structure, potentially giving rise to a dangerous accident for a trampoline user.
  • Thomas A James proposes a structural coupler for joining the tubular members and the legs in US 2004/0091307.
  • the coupler is substantially T-shaped, providing a cross member support tube of square cross-section for receiving square cross-section ends of tubular members of the frame and an intersecting support tube of generally circular cross-section for receiving the upper end of a leg.
  • the coupler avoids welds by starting from a single piece of pre-formed metal, bending it to create a complete tube and a complete cross member. Seams are formed at overlapping edges, the seams running up sides of the intersecting tube member and then along the undersides of the cross-member.
  • His coupler comprises a sleeve into which respective ends of tubular members forming the frame are loosely received with the end of one such tubular member located within the other.
  • the sleeve is incomplete, its bottom wall being split, each half thereof being integral with one half of a split tubular portion, the two halves of which are adapted to be forced into the female opening at the upper end of a leg.
  • the interfitted ends of the frame tubular members have through apertures.
  • the present disclosure provides alternative solutions to the assembly of trampolines without welds.
  • a trampoline comprises a trampoline sheet supported around its periphery from a support structure by spring couplings (preferably a plurality of helical springs) under tension;
  • the support structure comprising a tubular frame supported by a plurality of legs, the tubular frame being formed from a plurality of tubular members and respective couplers that both couple end portions of the tubular members together to form the said tubular frame and couple upright ends of the legs to the frame, each coupler comprising a single piece of metal or plastics formed without welding generally into a T-shape having a cross-piece and an upright piece, in which ends of the cross-piece are received in male fashion within ends of the tubular member, and in which the upright piece is received in male fashion within a female end of a leg.
  • At least end portions of the tubular, members are of generally four sided (preferably generally square) cross-section, and the upright ends are also of four sided (preferably square) cross-section.
  • Each coupler may be formed from a flat sheet metal or plastics blank by no more than folding along straight lines to provide a hollow generally T-shaped box form having a hollow cross piece and a hollowupright piece.
  • a trampoline comprises a trampoline sheet supported around its periphery from a support structure by spring couplings (preferably a plurality of helical springs) under tension; the support structure comprising a tubular frame supported by a plurality of legs, the tubular frame being formed from a plurality of tubular members, and respective couplers that both couple end portions of the tubular members together to form the said tubular frame and couple upright ends of the legs to the frame, each coupler comprising a pair of separate and complementary coupler members each consisting of a single piece of metal or plastics formed without welding, the coupler members, when placed together, meeting generally in a medial central plane of the coupler to form a generally T-shape having a cross piece and an upright piece, ends of the cross piece being received in male fashion within ends of the tubular member, and ends of the upright piece being received in male fashion within
  • At least end portions of the tubular members are of four sided
  • Each coupler member may be formed from a flat sheet metal or plastics blank by no more than folding along straight lines to provide half of a hollow generally T-shaped box form having a hollow cross piece and a hollow upright piece.
  • each coupler member may be injection moulded from plastics as a solid unitary structure.
  • the respective T-shaped couplers have cross pieces that are slightly curved to follow the shape of the circular ring.
  • the two members may meet on a slightly curved surface rather than in a true medial plane.
  • the expression "meeting generally in a medial central plane of the coupler to form a generally T-shape" is used herein with the intention of encompassing such arrangements.
  • Trampolines in accordance with the teachings herein have a support structure coupled together with couplers that do not require welding either in manufacture or use and provide all male coupling connections, a configuration that would be impossible with either James's or Chu's teachings.
  • the all-male connections allow the couplers to be force-fitted into ends of the tubular members and into the upright ends of tubular legs.
  • spring couplings are preferably helical springs, it will be understood that other forms of spring may be substituted, including the possibility of an elastic cord interlaced between apertures around the periphery of the trampoline sheet and openings in the tubular frame.
  • Fig.l is an exploded perspective view of portions of a trampoline support structure including tubular members and a coupler that form a frame, and a leg;
  • Fig 2 is an enlarged view of the portion, of Fig 1 shown in a circle;
  • Fig 3 is a further enlarged perspective view of the coupler from one end;
  • Fig 4 shows the coupler of Fig 3 in end elevation;
  • Fig 5 shows a flat blank fro m which the coupler of Figs 2, 3 and 4 may be formed
  • Figs 6 to 8 are views respectively, similar to Figs 1 to 3 for an alternative embodiment of coupler
  • Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig 8 but with the two halves of the coupler separated; and Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2 for a further embodiment of coupler.
  • a support structure 1 for a trampoline comprises a plurality of tubular members 2 coupled together to form a complete frame, supported above the ground or a floor by legs 3.
  • both the tubular members 2 and the legs 3 have four sided, (preferably square) cross-sections, but only their respective ends need have these cross-sections. While a four-sided cross-section for the ends of the tubular members is generally to be preferred, since this prevents rotation of a coupler within a tubular member end, a four-sided cross- section is not essential.
  • the tubular members are coupled together to form the frame and the frame is coupled to the legs by respective T-,couplers 4, of which only one is shown.
  • a trampoline sheet is stretched within the frame, which may be generally circular if the sheet is circular, by spring couplings in conventional fashion.
  • the spring couplings preferably comprise a plurality of helical springs coupled between eyelets formed in a reinforced edge of the sheet and respective openings in the tubular members 2 making up the frame.
  • the openings for the springs may be provided on the radially inner side of the tubular members or on the vertically upper side thereof.
  • an elastic cord may interlace the eyelets with the frame.
  • Coupler 4 is best shown in Figs 2, 3 and 4 and comprises a hollow T-shaped structure with a cross piece 5 and an upright piece 6.
  • Coupler 4 is formed from a single sheet metal or plastics blank 7, shown in Fig. 5, by folding along lines 8, 8a, 9, 9a, 10 and 11 to form a box section cross piece 5; and folding along lines 12, 13, 14 and 15 to provide a box section upright piece 6. Construction of the coupler is thus extremely simple.
  • Box-shaped ends 16 of the cross piece 5 are sized to fit in male fashion within four sided female end portions of tubular members 2.
  • box section upright piece 6 is sized to fit in male fashion within four sided end portion of leg 3.
  • coupler 4 is a shown operating in a male-male-male configuration, a configuration that would not be possible with the teachings of either James or Chu.
  • upright piece 6 has longitudinal splits 17 extending along both opposed sides of the upright piece throughout its whole length.
  • Figs 6 to 9 illustrate an alternative embodiment for the male-male-male configuration coupler.
  • coupler 104 of this embodiment is formed in two separate pieces 104a and 104b.
  • these separate pieces are not only complementary mirror images of each other, but are actually identical, which makes manufacture simple.
  • a sheet metal or plastics blank for forming the ;pieces' 104a, 104b comprises half of the blank of Fig 5.
  • the two pieces 104a and 104b are brought into confronting relation, as in Figs 7 and 8, and inserted together into the female openings respectively provided by the ends of the two tubular members 2 and the upper end of leg 3.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates another alternative male-male-male coupler employed in forming a support structure for a trampoline.
  • T-shaped coupler 204 is simply injection moulded from plastics as a solid unitary structure.
  • a suitable structural plastics material is Nylon 6.
  • Ends of cross-piece 205 may be force-fitted into ends of the tubular members 2.
  • the end of upright piece 206 may be force-fitted into the upper end of leg 3.
  • Hie ..embodiment of coupler 204 illustrated in Fig. 10 has a generally four-sided (preferably square) cross-section to both cross- piece 205 and upright piece 206, which helps to prevent rotation of the coupler relative to the tubular members 2 or leg 3, this is not essential.
  • the cross-piece 205 and upright 206 may be of circular cross-section intended to fit in male fashion within generally cylindrical ends of the tubular members 2.
  • the cross-piece of any coupler is preferably slightly curved to follow the circular shape of the ring, and hence the curved shape of any tubular member.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)

Abstract

Trampoline comportant un tapis de trampoline fixé sur sa périphérie à une structure support au moyen d'accouplements à ressorts sous tension. La structure support comporte un cadre tubulaire supporté par une pluralité de pieds. Le cadre tubulaire est composé d'une pluralité d'éléments tubulaires. Des accouplements respectifs connectent les parties terminales des éléments tubulaires de manière à former le cadre tubulaire et connectent les extrémités verticales des pieds au cadre. Chaque accouplement comporte un élément individuel en métal ou en plastique formé sans soudage, essentiellement sous forme de T, présentant une partie transversale et une partie verticale. Les extrémités de la partie transversale sont logées par accouplement mâle dans les extrémités de l'élément tubulaire, et la partie verticale est logée par accouplement mâle dans une extrémité femelle d'un pied. Dans un autre mode de réalisation, chaque accouplement comporte une paire d'éléments d'accouplement séparés et complémentaires respectivement composés d'une pièce individuelle de métal ou de plastique formée sans soudage. Lorsqu'ils sont assemblés, les éléments d'accouplement se rencontrent essentiellement dans un plan central médian de l'accouplement de manière à former essentiellement un T présentant une partie transversale et une partie verticale. Les extrémités de la partie transversale sont logées par accouplement mâle dans les extrémités de l'élément tubulaire, et les extrémités de la partie verticale sont logées par accouplement mâle dans une extrémité femelle d'un pied.
PCT/GB2007/003405 2006-09-08 2007-09-10 Trampoline Ceased WO2008029170A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0617657.2 2006-09-08
GBGB0617657.2A GB0617657D0 (en) 2006-09-08 2006-09-08 Trampoline

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008029170A1 true WO2008029170A1 (fr) 2008-03-13

Family

ID=37232560

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2007/003405 Ceased WO2008029170A1 (fr) 2006-09-08 2007-09-10 Trampoline

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0617657D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008029170A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016096784A1 (fr) * 2014-12-16 2016-06-23 Balance-Bounce Ag Structure de cadre pour mini-trampoline
CN107320895A (zh) * 2017-08-25 2017-11-07 扬州市康乐机械有限公司 一种可调节弹力的蹦床
RU188770U1 (ru) * 2018-09-27 2019-04-23 Николаев Василий Васильевич Батут с металлическими ножками с конусообразным расширением в основании резьбы для предотвращения ослабления резьбового соединения при вибрации металлической конструкции при прыжках на батуте.

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4339123A (en) * 1981-06-10 1982-07-13 Rich Rolland W T-Joint structure for trampolines and the like
US20050143225A1 (en) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-30 Craig Adams Recreational structure using a sleeve-joint coupling
DE202005020393U1 (de) * 2005-12-29 2006-03-02 Chu, Arthur, Chu Pei Halterungsstruktur für ein Trampolin
GB2417996A (en) * 2004-09-01 2006-03-15 Shen Tai Industry Co Ltd Tee joint of tubular members formed from sheet material

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2119471B (en) * 1982-02-24 1986-03-12 Lionel William King Structural couplings

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4339123A (en) * 1981-06-10 1982-07-13 Rich Rolland W T-Joint structure for trampolines and the like
US20050143225A1 (en) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-30 Craig Adams Recreational structure using a sleeve-joint coupling
GB2417996A (en) * 2004-09-01 2006-03-15 Shen Tai Industry Co Ltd Tee joint of tubular members formed from sheet material
DE202005020393U1 (de) * 2005-12-29 2006-03-02 Chu, Arthur, Chu Pei Halterungsstruktur für ein Trampolin

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016096784A1 (fr) * 2014-12-16 2016-06-23 Balance-Bounce Ag Structure de cadre pour mini-trampoline
CN107106888A (zh) * 2014-12-16 2017-08-29 安格恩Ag金属成型技术公司 用于迷你蹦床的框架结构
US10617901B2 (en) 2014-12-16 2020-04-14 Angehrn Ag Umformtechnik Frame structure for a mini trampoline
CN107320895A (zh) * 2017-08-25 2017-11-07 扬州市康乐机械有限公司 一种可调节弹力的蹦床
WO2019037141A1 (fr) * 2017-08-25 2019-02-28 扬州市康乐机械有限公司 Trampoline à force élastique réglable
CN107320895B (zh) * 2017-08-25 2020-04-07 扬州市康乐机械有限公司 一种可调节弹力的蹦床
RU188770U1 (ru) * 2018-09-27 2019-04-23 Николаев Василий Васильевич Батут с металлическими ножками с конусообразным расширением в основании резьбы для предотвращения ослабления резьбового соединения при вибрации металлической конструкции при прыжках на батуте.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0717590D0 (en) 2007-10-17
GB0617657D0 (en) 2006-10-18
GB2441661A (en) 2008-03-12

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