FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a trampoline which may comprise curved spring members and a protective padding arrangement over the spring members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A trampoline is a gymnastic apparatus which in its most basic form generally comprises a rebounding mat fixed to a support frame so that the mat is supported above the ground. A user jumps or otherwise bounces on the rebounding mat for entertainment and exercise. Usually, trampolines are equipped with a safety enclosure, which extends upwards from the mat to surround or enclose the rebounding mat to prevent a user from falling off the trampoline onto the floor and injuring themselves.

A conventional trampoline incorporates a peripheral exterior metal frame with an interposed mat tensioned within the horizontal plane of the frame by conventional extension springs spaced about the edge of the mat and extending outwards from the mat to the frame and attached to the frame. The springs are generally in the same plane as the frame and the rebounding surface of the mat. There are therefore gaps between the springs, the edge of the mat and the frame.

US patent 6,319,174 discloses a form of soft-edged trampoline in which the mat of the trampoline is supported by a plurality of resiliency flexible rods received in a frame of the trampoline at the lower ends of the rods, the upper end of the rods coupled to the periphery of the bouncing or rebounding mat of the trampoline, this arrangement avoiding the need for a solid frame about the exterior of the bouncing mat, and exposed springs between the frame and periphery of the mat. The rods are angled or spiralled around the frame, extending outwards and upwards from the frame. The trampoline has a frame, a rebounding mat, and a safety enclosure, the safety enclosure held in position by a number of enclosure support members or poles. The frame and rebounding mat are mutually adapted so that the flexible rebounding mat is held above the frame and away from the ground in tension and aligned in a substantially horizontal plane above the frame. The enclosure support members or poles support the safety enclosure so that the enclosure surrounds, and extends upwards from, the rebounding mat to form an enclosed jumping area. In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved or at least an alternative form of trampoline or to provide a padding arrangement for a trampoline.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a trampoline system comprising:

a flexible rebounding mat,

a frame located beneath the mat,

a plurality of spring elements connecting between the frame and the mat, and a protective padding arrangement for at least partially covering the plurality of spring elements.

Preferably the padding arrangement isolates or absorbs the impact caused by a trampoline user accidentally stepping or jumping onto the spring elements to prevent injuries.

Preferably at least some portion of the padding arrangement is formed of a resiliently compressible material, for example, a closed cell foam material.

In another form, the padding arrangement may not be resiliently compressible but still effective to isolate any impact caused by a trampoline user accidentally stepping or jumping onto the spring elements. The padding arrangement may comprise a pouch filled with sand, water, air, foam, or made of any suitable material which is capable of isolating the impact for a trampoline user.

Preferably the padding arrangement at least partially covers the spaces between the spring elements.

Preferably the padding arrangement extends from the outer peripheral edge of the mat or the trampoline at an angle downwardly and outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the mat or the trampoline to or towards the frame of the trampoline located beneath the mat. In one form, the padding arrangement covers substantially all the spring elements and the spaces between the spring elements. In another form, the padding arrangement extend from the outer peripheral edge of the mat or the trampoline and only cover the portion of the spring elements which is most likely to cause any injury for a trampoline user for example by accidentally landing on the spring elements. In one embodiment, the portion is an upper portion of the spring elements.

In one form the padding arrangement comprises one or more pads. In one form the pad(s) is/are coupled to one or more of the spring elements. In one form, a single pad is coupled to each individual spring element. Preferably the pad(s) is/are coupled to each of the one or more of the spring elements via one or more ties.

Alternatively or in addition, the pad(s) is/are coupled at an upper edge to the outer peripheral edge of the mat.

Alternatively or in addition, the pad(s) is/are coupled at a lower edge to the frame.

In one form, the trampoline system comprises a single pad extending about substantially an entire outer peripheral edge of the trampoline to at least partially or entirely cover the plurality of spring elements. The single pad may be formed as a substantially flat and elongate sheet that extends in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. The sheet may be of a substantially rectangular shape in plan view before it is coupled to the other parts of the trampoline, or it may comprise a pre-formed curve in its longitudinal direction and/or in its transverse direction to accommodate the shape of the spring elements in their assembled state. Some portion of the pad may be made more stretchable than the rest portion of the pad.

In another form, the trampoline system comprises a plurality of pads, such as two, three, five, six, seven or eight pads, each pad extending about a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the trampoline such that collectively the plurality of pads extend substantially the entire outer peripheral edge of the trampoline to cover the spring elements.

In one embodiment the padding arrangement may comprise one or more recesses or cut outs to assist a user to gain access to the trampoline. The cut outs can be used by a user as ladder rungs to climb into the trampoline enclosure. Preferably the cut outs have a width approximately larger than the width of an average human foot for example the cut outs 152 may comprise a width of approximately 4 to 8 centimetres, or more preferably about 10 centimetres enabling a user to put a foot inside while climbing into the trampoline enclosure,

Preferably the frame is located beneath the mat and extends outwardly of the outer peripheral edge of the mat.

Preferably the mat comprises a relatively smaller perimeter or dimension than a perimeter or dimension of the frame. Preferably the mat and the frame are concentric within two substantially parallel horizontal planes.

Preferably the mat and the frame are formed in a circular shape and the mat comprises a relatively smaller diameter than a diameter of the frame.

Alternatively the mat and frame are formed in a rectangular shape and the mat comprises a relatively smaller length and width than a length and width of the frame.

Preferably the spring elements are aligned in a substantially horizontal plane. In one form, an upper end of a spring element is coupled to the mat at and/or adjacent an outer peripheral edge of the mat, and a lower end of a spring element is coupled to the frame.

Preferably the trampoline further comprises one or more connectors coupled to the outer peripheral edge of the mat, each configured to couple an upper end of one or more associated spring elements. Preferably the one or more connectors are stitched to an underside of the mat about the outer peripheral edge of the mat.

Preferably the mat is held in tension above the frame by the spring elements.

Preferably the frame comprises one or more connectors along its length, each configured to couple a lower end of one or more associated spring elements.

Preferably each spring element is configured and adapted to curve along at least a portion of the spring element when coupled to the frame and the mat. In a preferred form, at least a portion of each spring element is convexly curved along at least a portion of its length and bows outwardly from the space between the mat and the frame after it is coupled to the frame and the mat. Preferably the spring elements curve upwards from the frame towards the mat and aligned to extend outwards substantially perpendicular to the frame.

In one form, each spring element is formed as a substantially linear element along its length (when no external force is applied) before it is coupled to the mat and the frame. In another form, each spring element may be pre-formed with a curve along a portion of its length such that it bows outwardly from the space between the mat and frame.

Preferably at least a portion or the entire length of the spring element is resiliently flexible. Preferably each spring element comprises fibreglass or spring steel. Preferably each spring element is a rod. The rod is formed as an elongate member with a circular, square, rectangular or other shaped cross-section.

Preferably the trampoline further comprises one or more legs for supporting the frame above the ground.

Preferably the trampoline system further comprises a safety enclosure with a wall or walls corresponding to each side of the mat and extending upwards from the edges of the mat substantially vertically. In one embodiment the wall or walls each have a connector attached to or forming part of the lower edge of the wall, the connector slotting in between the two side portions of a rail so that the base or lower edge of the side wall is connected to the mat, the walls supported by wall members or similar connected between an upper part or portion of the wall and the remainder of the trampoline system. The safety enclosure may also comprise a net, a plurality of net support assemblies such as pultruded fibreglass rods, spaced at intervals along the edge of the mat.

In a second aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a padding arrangement for a trampoline having a flexible rebounding mat, a frame located beneath the mat, and a plurality of spring elements connecting between the frame and the mat, said padding arrangement comprises one or more pads which absorbs or isolates the impact to prevent a trampoline user from injuries caused when accidentally stepping or jumping onto the spring elements.

The second aspect of the invention may comprise any one or a combination of the features according to the first aspect.

In a third aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a trampoline comprising : a flexible rebounding mat,

a frame located beneath the mat and extending outwardly of an outer peripheral edge of the mat,

a plurality of spring elements connecting between the frame and the amt to hold the amt in tension, and

a resiliently compressible pad or pads extending from an outer peripheral edge of the mat or the trampoline and long or adjacent at least a portion of each spring element. The third aspect of the invention may comprise any one or a combination of the features according to the first aspect. The term "comprising" as used in this specification and indicative independent claims means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting each statement in this specification and indicative independent claims that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun. This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompany drawings which show one or more embodiments of the system by way of example, and in which :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of preferred form trampoline system of the invention without the protective padding arrangement fitted,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trampoline of Figure 1, with pads of the invention around the outer periphery of the trampoline,

Figure 3 is a close up perspective view of the mat, springs and frame of the trampoline system of Figure 1, without the pad fitted and without an enclosure,

Figure 4 is a close up perspective view of the mat, springs and frame of the trampoline system of Figure 1, with the pad fitted and without an enclosure, in accordance with a first form padding arrangement,

Figure 5 is a close up perspective view of the mat, springs and frame of the trampoline system of Figure 1, with the pad fitted and without an enclosure, in accordance with a second form padding arrangement,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second form protective pad of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the first form protective pad of Figure 4, and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the trampoline showing an overall coupling system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a protective pad coupling system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 10 is a plan view of the second form protective pad of Figure 5,

Figure 11 is a plan view of the first form protective pad of Figure 4, and

Figure 12 is perspective view of the mat, springs and frame of the trampoline system of Figure 1, with the pad fitted and without an enclosure, in accordance with a third form padding arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, a trampoline 100 is shown having a flexible rebounding mat 110 and a frame 120. The mat 110 and frame 120 are held in position relative to one another by a plurality of spring elements (hereinafter referred to as support rods 130 or spring rods 130). The frame has legs 125 for supporting the trampoline 100 above the ground. The trampoline is generally circular in plan view but could have any suitable shape, such as rectangular, square, oval or other polygonal shape.

The mat 110 and frame 120 have a circular shape in plan view but the frame 120 is larger/wider, so that when the mat 110 is placed above the frame 120, the frame 120 overlaps or extends outwardly of the outer peripheral edge 111 of the mat 110. In other words the mat 110 comprises a relatively smaller perimeter or dimension than a perimeter or dimension of the frame 120. The mat 110 and the frame 120 are concentric within the horizontal plane. In the case of the preferred embodiment, the mat 110 comprises a relatively smaller diameter than a diameter of the frame 120. Alternatively, if the mat 110 and frame 120 are rectangular for example, the mat 110 comprises a relatively smaller length and width than a length and width of the frame 120. The mat 110 is formed from a resiliently flexible material for example woven polypropylene.

The mat 110 is held above the frame 120 in tension by spring elements 130. Each spring element 130 is a rod having a lower end 131 connected to the frame 120, and an upper end 132 connected to the mat 110. The support rods 130 are aligned in a substantially horizontal plane above the frame 120, the upper ends of the rods 130 connected to the mat 110 around the periphery of the mat 110, the lower ends of the rods 130 connected to the frame 120. In the preferred embodiment, the upper end 132 of each rod 130 is connected to the mat 110 so that the upper end 132 is angled or curved outwards and downwards from mat 110. Each support rod 130 has a free length 133 between the upper end and the lower end of the rod 130 which bows, bends or extends outwards from the frame 120 along the entire free length 133, the rod 130 curving upwards from the frame 120 towards the mat 110 and aligned to extend outwards substantially perpendicular to the frame 120. The support rods 130 are, in the preferred embodiment, formed from fibreglass or a similar material having flexible and resilient properties. Alternatively the support rods 130 are formed from spring steel for example. The support rods 130 are formed as elongate members with a circular, square, rectangular or other shaped cross-section. In one embodiment, the support rods 130 are flat or straight when no external force is applied - that is, they are not pre-formed with a curve. When coupled to support the mat 110 from the frame 120, the support rods 130 are convexly curved. The curve of each rod 130 may have a substantially uniform radius along its length or a varying radius, for example, having a relatively smaller radius closer to the upper end 132 of the rod 130 adjacent the mat 120. In the most preferred form of this type of trampoline, the rods 130 are substantially evenly distributed about the outer periphery 111 of the mat. In another embodiment, the support rods 130 may be pre-formed to have a curved profile along its length.

Figures 2 and 4 show the trampoline of Figure 1 with a protective padding arrangement fitted thereto according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the example shown, the padding arrangement comprises a pad 140 which extends about the periphery of the trampoline 100 to substantially cover the plurality of spring rods 130 and the spaces formed in between the rods 130. The pad 140 is formed of a resiliently compressible material such as a closed cell foam material for example, and is attached to the trampoline 100 at or adjacent the outer peripheral edge 111 of the mat 110 of the trampoline. The pad 140 extends from the mat 110 at an angle downwardly and outwardly towards the frame 120 in the assembled state. The pad 140 may substantially cover the space between the mat 110 and the frame 120 and each rod 130 along its length, or it may only cover the space between the mat 110 and the frame 120 where a user is most likely to get injured from jumping onto the spring rods 130, for example immediately adjacent the outer peripheral edge 111 of the mat 110.

In another form, the pad or pads may not be resiliently compressible but still effective to isolate any impact caused by a trampoline user accidentally stepping or jumping onto the spring elements. The pad or pads may comprise a pouch filled with sand, water, air, foam, or made of any suitable material which is capable of isolating the impact for a trampoline user.

In a disassembled state, the pad 140 may be a flat elongate sheet such as that shown in Figure 7 and Figure 11 and extends in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. The pad 140 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction to substantially cover the entire perimeter of the mat/frame and all the spaces between the rods 130. The pad also preferably extends in the transverse axis to substantially cover the space between the mat and the frame and each rod 130 along its length.

In the embodiment shown, the pad 140, when coupled to the trampoline 100, is convexly curved (along a transverse axis of the pad 140) to complement the shape of the rods 130 in the assembled state of the trampoline 100. The pad 140 may be preformed to have a curved shape along its transverse axis, or as in the preferred embodiment, becomes curved upon connection to the trampoline 100. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7 and Figure 11, the pad 140 is formed as a substantially straight and flat panel which becomes convexly curved upon connection of either edge 142/141 of the pad 140 to the mat 110 and frame 120 respectively and/or upon connection to one or more of the rods 130. When coupled to the trampoline 100, the pad 140 is also curved along a longitudinal axis of the pad 140 to complement the shape of the mat 110 and frame 120 (annular in the preferred embodiment but alternatively may be any other polygonal shape as described above in relation to mat 110).

The pad 140 may be preformed to have a curved shape along its longitudinal axis such as that shown in Figure 10 or, as in the preferred embodiment, may be formed as a flat elongate pad 140 that is curved upon coupling of the pad 140 to the trampoline 100. A portion of the pad 140 may be more stretchable than the rest of the pad 140 to compliment the shape of the convex spring rods 130 in the assembled state. For example when the pad 140 is formed as a substantially flat and straight panel as that shown in Figure 11, a mid area 147 and/or the lower edge 141 of the pad 140 may be made more stretchable than the upper 142 to accommodate the convex spring rods 130.

In the preferred embodiment, the pad 140 is formed as an elongate length that can wrap around the entire periphery of the trampoline 100. The pad 140 may be connectabie to itself at either end 143/144 as shown in Figures 4 and 7. A suitable coupling such as a snap fit engagement may be provided at either end 143/144 to achieve this. Alternatively, the pad 140 may be preformed to complement the profile of the outer periphery of the trampoline (e.g. annular) as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 10. In yet another alternative, a plurality of pad lengths, segments (such as quarter segments), or pads may be provided and coupled about the periphery of the trampoline to cover the rods 130. Each segment or pad may or may not be pre-formed to have a curved shape along its length. For example, the trampoline 100 may comprise a plurality of pads or pad segments, such as (but not limited to) two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight pads/pad segments (or any other number of pads/pad segments), each pad/segment extending about a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the trampoline such that collectively the plurality of pads/segments extend substantially about the entire outer peripheral edge of the trampoline 100. Each pad/segment may be coupled to adjacent pads/segments via any suitable method such as snap fit connectors or hook and loop fasteners provided at adjacent edges of adjacent pads/segments.

Referring to Figure 8, the pad 140 comprises one or more coupling members distributed about a surface 146 of the pad (the inner surface in the assembled state) for coupling the pad 140 to the spring rods 130 of the trampoline 100. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of ties 145 are provided and distributed in one or more rows 145a and 145b about the surface 146 of the pad 140 for coupling a plurality of the rods 130. The ties 145 may be strings or hook and loop fastener type ties. Alternative coupling mechanisms may be used such as resilient plastic clamps or similar to couple the pad 140 to the rods 130.

In addition or alternatively, the pad 140 is coupled along the upper edge 142 to the mat 110 via a suitable connector. The pad 140 may be provided with a plurality of ties along the upper edge 142 to couple the periphery 111 of the mat 110 or to couple a connector 150 associated with the mat 110. The upper edge 142 of the pad 140 may be formed with a shape that is complementary to a receiving portion of a connector located about the periphery of the mat 110 for coupling the pad 140 to the mat.

The pad 140 may additionally or alternatively be coupled about its lower edge 141 to the frame 120 via any one of the above described methods in relation to the mat 110 or via any other suitable connector known in the art. One or more connectors 150 are provided about the peripheral edge 111 of the mat 110. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of connectors 150 are stitched or otherwise coupled to an under-surface 112 of the mat 110. Each connector 150 is configured to couple one or more adjacent rods 130. In particular, a connector or formation at an upper end 132 of each rod is received within an aperture 151 of the associated connector 150 at the periphery of the mat 110. The connector 150 may be in the form of a wedge. A single connector may extend about the entire periphery 111 of the mat 110 or multiple connectors may be distributed about the periphery 111 as in the preferred embodiment. The lower end 131 of each rod 130 comprises a connector or other formation for connecting to a corresponding connector or formation of the frame 120. It will be appreciated that any suitable connection mechanism known in the art may be used to connect the mat 110 and upper end 132 of spring rods 130, and any suitable connection mechanism known in the art may be used to connect the frame 120 and lower end 131 of spring rods 130. In one embodiment the pad 140 may be fixed to the peripheral edge of the trampoline through a 'channel and rope' attachment system. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9 a downwardly facing channel 18 is provided on the underside 19 of the top portion 142 of the pad 140. The channel 18 extends longitudinally of the underside of the pad 140, or alternatively may be formed as a series of spaced segments. A matching longitudinally extending male element 20 which is preferably flexible such as a rope is provided on the upper surface of the trampoline mat 110 extending around the mat adjacent the periphery of the mat 110. The rope 20 is attached by a short flexible connection portion 21 which may be formed of a fabric such as a strong synthetic canvas strip for example. To fit the separately formed pads to the trampoline the pads and trampoline are brought together so that a portion of the rope 20 enters into the channel 18 on the underside of the pad at one end of the pad, and then the pad is slid along the side of the trampoline feeding the rope into the full length of the channel until the pad is fully home. Alternatively the rope or equivalent male member may be provided on the frame of the trampoline. Alternatively again the relative positions of the channel and rope or male and female elements of the connection system may be reversed so that the channel or equivalent is provided around the edge of the mat or on the frame and the male element or rope on the underside of the pad. In one embodiment the pad 140 may comprise one or more recesses or cut outs 152 such as that shown in Figure 12 to assist a user to gain access to the trampoline. The cut outs 152 can be used by a user as ladder rungs to climb into the trampoline enclosure. Such cut outs 152 may come in various different shapes such as oval, rectangular, square, round and so on. Preferably the cut outs 152 are dimensioned to have a width approximately larger than the width of an average human foot. For example the cut outs 152 may comprise a width of approximately 4 to 8 centimetres, or about 10 centimetres.

The trampoline is preferably provided with a safety enclosure 160 typically formed of a flexible net material and supported by poles or resiliently flexible (such as fibreglass) rods 161 or other support members such as shown fitted to the trampolines of Figures 1 and 2. In one embodiment the wall or walls each have a connector attached to or forming part of the lower edge of the wall, the connector slotting in between the two side portions of a rail so that the base or lower edge of the side wall is connected to the mat, the walls supported by wall members or similar connected between an upper part or portion of the wall and the remainder of the trampoline system. The safety enclosure may also comprise a net 162, a plurality of net support assemblies such as pultruded fibreglass rods, spaced at intervals along the edge of the mat. A person exiting the enclosure 160 in such an embodiment is prevented from slipping their foot or leg in between the outwardly curved rods 130 and injuring themselves by action of the protective pad 140. In the case of a trampoline without the enclosure 160, a person is prevented from "over jumping" and injuring themselves on the outwardly curved rods 130 by action of the protective pad 140.

The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.