Trampolines typically include a frame assembly comprising a mat frame which is supported above the ground and a mat secured to the mat frame by a plurality of extension springs spaced about the periphery of the mat which connect to the frame at one end and to the mat at the other end. Modern trampolines typically include a safety barrier (or "net") extending about the mat frame and attached to posts upstanding therefrom. Generally, the posts are encased in a cylindrical padding to prevent injury if a user falls against a post and the net is attached at its lower edge to the bottom of the post or the mat frame and at its upper edge to the top of the post and consequently, the middle section of the net is not suitably restrained. Sometimes, the net is attached to the mat and can be attached by hooks to the mat at the same locations where the extension springs are attached to the mat .

Sometimes, a gap can appear between the bottom of the net and the edge of the mat, particularly when a user bounces on the mat close to the edge. This can be a problem because the user is more vulnerable to having a limb slip through the gap if they bounce near the edge of the mat, that being the instance when the gap is more likely to appear. Trampolines can be of several types, but the older style has coil springs as the extension springs which extend outward from the mat in substantially the same plane as the mat, leaving a gap between the edge of the mat and the mat frame, the extension springs extending across the gap. Such older style trampolines typically include a padded safety barrier (or "padding") extending about the mat and covering the extension springs and the spaces therebetween to prevent a user directly hitting the springs or slipping between them and possibly being thereby injured. Such padding is typically tied to the mat and/or the mat frame by ribbon ties or the like. However, the safety of such ties depends on them being correctly tied and if not done correctly they do not hold the padding as securely as desired.

The present invention is aimed at ameliorating the aforementioned problems and providing trampolines which are reliable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing in view, the invention in one aspect resides broadly in a trampoline including:

a mat frame mounted on supports for support the mat frame in spaced disposition from a surface;

a safety net having an upper edge and a lower edge supported within said mat frame, said lower edge having a plurality of connectors for connection to the mat frame by a corresponding plurality of spaced apart tensioning members; a trampoline mat supported within said mat frame and attached to the lower edge of the safety net by the plurality of connectors; and

a plurality of upper connection points for connection about the upper edge of the safety net for supporting the net to extend above or away from the mat by a upper support means.

In another aspect, the present invention resides broadly in a trampoline mat and net assembly including:

a safety net having an upper edge and a lower edge within said mat frame, said lower edge having a plurality of connectors for connection to a mat frame for a trampoline by a corresponding plurality of spaced apart tensioning members;

a trampoline mat supported within said mat frame and attached to the lower edge of the safety net by the plurality of connectors; and

a plurality of upper connection points for connection about the upper edge of the safety net for supporting the net to extend above or away from the mat by a upper support means.

The upper support means typically includes a plurality of support posts extending upward from the mat frame. Expandable tensioning means may be provided extending between the safety net and the posts and connecting the safety net thereto at the connection points.

The mat frame is typically supported by a plurality of legs and, when mounted substantially horizontally, arranged such that the mat is substantially horizontal in spaced disposition above a floor or the ground. Corresponding arrangements are made for mounting the mat frame and the mat obliquely. In some arrangements, the legs extend to the mat frame from a ground frame which can rest on the ground or be supported at an angle.

Advantageously, the attachment of the mat to the lower edge of the safety net and the connection of the lower edge of the safety net to the mat frame together with the expandable tensioning means allows the safety net to move up and down with the mat and reconfigure without undesirably bending the posts or tearing the safety barrier whilst preventing a gap from forming between the lower edge of the safety net and the edge of the mat .

In a preferred form, the expandable tensioning means are of a type described in our earlier patent specification No. 2010246564, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference .

In a preferred form straps extend radially outwards from the lower edge of the safety net for connection of said tensioning members and the mat is connected to said straps. In one such form, said mat has penetrations adjacent its edge and the straps pass through the penetrations through the mat so as to secure the safety net and the mat together near the aforesaid edges. Preferably, the penetrations are slots or slits. It can be seen that for older style trampolines, having the edge of the mat the lower edge of the safety net effectively joined obviates the necessity to provide a safety barrier (or padding) extending about the mat and covering the extension springs and the spaces therebetween.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 are photographs of a portion of a trampoline mat and safety net for a trampoline according to the invention ;

Fig. 3 is a photograph of the same portion of the trampoline mat and safety net of Figs 1 and 2 with part of the edges turned over.

The trampoline mat and safety net 10 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a mat 11 and a safety net 12 attached to one another adjacent their edges, those edged being the peripheral edge 13 of the mat and the lower edge 14 of the net. The net has a plurality of straps shown typically at 15 stitched to the lower edge in the form of a loop. A buckle shown typically at 16 is stitched into the loop by several rows of loop stitching shown typically at 17.

A net edge binding 18 is stitched about the edge of the net against the inside face of the net being the face which is obscured from view. The outside face of the net is that which can be seen in the photographs constituting Figs. 1 to 3. A mat edge binding 19 is stitched to the underside of the mat as shown in Fig. 3 in particular, part of the underside of the mat able to be seen in Fig. 3 and part of the upper side of the mat able to be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Several rows of cross stitching shown typically at 20 are provided in groups in regularly spaced disposition along the mat edge binding to provide a gap therebetween. A plurality of slits shown typically at 21 penetrate each alternate gap between the groups of cross stitching. Each slit is sized to receive one of the straps to pass therethrough so that, upon connecting each buckle to the end of a tensioning spring, the mat is held taught by its engagement with the slits adjacent its peripheral edge and the net is held by its lower edge against the upper face of the mat by virtue of the strap attached to the net and the buckle captured in the loop of the strap.

The net also includes a net edge binding 22 stitched to the inside face, but able to be seen in the Figs. Because the net is somewhat transparent.

In use, a trampoline according to the invention may be constructed as described in a horizontal attitude, an oblique attitude, or in a non-planar form using the mat and safety net as herein described surrounding part or all of the trampoline mat. A user bouncing on the mat is substantially protected from injury which could otherwise have been caused by having part or all of their body slip through the gap between the lower edge of the net and the peripheral edge of the mat. Of course, for a plurality of trampoline mat joined in the fashion of a trampoline park, the safety net may be arranged around part or all of the edge .

The foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and many 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 hereinbefore described.