EP2962736B1 - Trampoline - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a trampoline and a method for controlling jumps carried out on a trampoline.

Such trampolines are used in a variety of applications both in the leisure and in the competition area.

When used in the field of competition jumps, which is performed by an athlete on the trampoline, evaluated by judges in a known manner. An important evaluation criterion here is the flight time at a jump of the athlete, that is, it must be determined as accurately and objectively as possible, how long an athlete in a jump on the trampoline of this remains in the air. This time-of-flight determination can only be estimated inaccurately by judges. In order to obtain more reliable values for the flight times, it is known to use photoelectric sensors as measuring systems that are installed below the level of the jump sheets. The operation of the light barriers is then such that the beam path is not interrupted when the trampoline is unused or the respective athlete is just lifted off the jump cloth in a jump on the trampoline. In contrast, the beam path is interrupted when the athlete comes up on the jumping cloth, so that it bulges down and thus enters the beam path of the light rays.

The disadvantage here is that the light barriers can be interrupted again by a reverberation of the jump cloth when the athlete just lifts off the jumping cloth, which can falsify the measurement results for the flight time.

Another disadvantage is given by the fact that the measuring system with the light barriers is limited to the determination of flight times.

The EP 2 505 235 A1 (D1) relates to a trampoline with a frame construction on which a jumping cloth running in a horizontal plane and a side cover oriented perpendicular to it are mounted. In the area of the jump cloth, sensors are installed which are connected to an evaluation unit. With the sensors, a feedback system is implemented such that activities of a user can be registered on the trampoline. For example, the number of jumps, the calorie consumption or movements of the user can be detected, which can then be stored in the evaluation device, so that they can be retrieved by the user after using the trampoline.

The US 2002/0137598 A1 (D2) relates to a fencing trampoline on which sensors may be provided for detecting movements of a user.

The WO 2014/098628 A1 (D3) relates to a trampoline with a bed sheet stored in a frame construction. There are sensors on the hammock that allow users to be located on the hammock.

The US 2005/0043122 A1 relates to a flat body which can be attached to a trampoline, in particular at the top of the jump surface. The flat body has markings that are used to perform games. The planar body may include pressure sensors connected to a visual display. With this sensor system, the number of jumps, the game score of the game and the game time can be displayed.

The invention has for its object to provide a system by means of which in a trampoline of the type mentioned with little effort As extensive and accurate information about carried out on this trampoline jumps are obtained.

To solve this problem, the features of the independent claims are provided. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The trampoline according to the invention comprises a frame construction and a jumping cloth mounted on the frame construction, an arrangement of sensors being provided by means of which forces or accelerations acting on the jumping cloth are detected. The signals from the sensors are read into an evaluation unit. Output variables are generated from the time profile of the signals. The sensors are arranged on the frame construction. The frame construction has a frame that accommodates the jumping sheet and associated foot parts in the form of feet for placement on a base. One sensor each is mounted on the underside of a base, so that the frame construction is completely on the sensors.

The method according to the invention serves to control jumps made on at least one trampoline, wherein the trampoline has a frame construction and a jumping cloth mounted thereon. By means of an array of sensors, forces or accelerations acting on the jump sheet are detected. The signals of the sensors are read into an evaluation unit, wherein output variables are generated from the temporal course of the signals.

The basic idea of the invention is to use, as a measuring system for a trampoline, sensors which supply forces and accelerations and thus measured quantities which represent an immediate reaction of the ski jump mat to jumps made thereon. With this, it is possible to analyze jumps that have been carried out exactly and directly on the hammock.

It is essential here that the evaluation of the sensor signals is time-resolved. This allows complete and exact analysis of the chronological course of jumps on the trampoline. The advantage here is that the sensor signals can be evaluated immediately, ie without delay in the evaluation unit for generating the output variables, so that the output variables in real time, that can be provided without delays during the jumps performed on the trampoline for a user.

With the sensors, forces acting on the jump sheet can be accurately detected while performing jumps on the trampoline. When evaluating the sensor signals, the behavior of the jump cloth that is characteristic when performing jumps is taken into account. If a gymnast is in a jump in the downward movement in the Spruchtuch, so there is an increase in strength on the jump sheet. Conversely, the forces decrease when a gymnast is in an upward motion in the jump sheet. As soon as the gymnast is lifted off the jump cloth, the jump cloth swings with its natural frequency, which leads to oscillating forces, which are detected with the sensors. Finally, the force load is constant when the jump sheet is in its rest position. Considering these relationships, the beginning and the end of a jump on the jumping mat of the trampoline can be detected exactly with the sensors of the measuring system according to the invention. From this, the flight time and, derived therefrom, the altitude of a jump can be calculated in the evaluation unit as output variables. A particularly advantageous type of measured value evaluation consists in the fact that the currently determined sensor signals of the sensors are related to reference values.

This allows the output quantities to be determined easily and with high accuracy. The reference values are advantageously determined by reference measurements before commissioning of the measuring system.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensors are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction of the trampoline, so that position-dependent output variables for jumps carried out on the trampoline are obtained from the signals of the sensors in the evaluation unit.

The output variables generated from these sensor signals can in particular provide information as to whether a gymnast is performing his jumps in the middle of the jump cloth or laterally offset from the center of the jump cloth. As a result, a considerably enlarged range of functions of the measuring system according to the invention is obtained.

In general, a combination of sensor signals is formed for this purpose, in which case differences of sensor signals are preferably formed. A jump on the trampoline offset laterally to the center of the jump cloth leads to different sensor signals of the distributed sensors.

The sensors of the measuring system according to the invention can in principle be designed as acceleration sensors, by means of which accelerations of the jump cloth, which are caused by jumps on the trampoline, are detected. In this case, the acceleration sensors are designed so that they detect not only the amounts, but also the directions of accelerations. Such acceleration sensors can be arranged, for example, on elastic elements with which the jumping cloth is fastened to the frame construction. In general, the acceleration sensors can also be arranged on the frame construction of the trampoline.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the sensors of the measuring system may be designed as force sensors, which are advantageously arranged on the frame construction of the trampoline. The sensors designed in this way then measure the forces which act on the jumping cloth during jumps on the hammock and are then transferred to the frame construction of the trampoline.

For example, the sensors are designed as force sensors in the form of pressure sensors or strain gauges.

According to the invention, the frame construction has a frame and foot parts accommodating the jumping cloth. The sensors are arranged on the foot parts, wherein a sensor is expediently arranged on each foot part.

By attaching the sensors to the footboards they are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction of the jump cloth. By combination, in particular by subtraction of the sensor signals, spatially resolved information is then obtained, which provide information on which point of the jump sheet of each gymnast in the execution of jumps occurs.

A particularly simple mounting of the sensors is possible because the sensors are arranged on the undersides of the foot parts.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the evaluation unit has an output unit.

The output unit can be, for example, from a terminal of a PC, laptop or tablet computer, the computer unit of which forms the evaluation unit.

The measuring system according to the invention can be installed easily, in particular also as a retrofit kit on trampolines of any type. The measuring system is robust and not susceptible to manipulation.

A first field of application of the measuring system according to the invention is the acquisition of measured values in trampolines used in the field of competition. On the one hand, judges at a terminal of a PC or the like can follow the output variables generated for this purpose with the measuring system during the jumps of an athlete. In addition, the output variables can also be displayed on a video screen or the like as a further output unit so that the starting values can also be followed by the audience.

The output variables generated with the measuring system are an aid that leads to a substantial relief of the judges. Furthermore, the output variables are used to generate objective quantities which allow a rating of the jumps of an athlete that is free of subjective considerations.

Advantageously, the flight time and, derived therefrom, the jump height during the execution of the jumps on the trampoline are determined as output variable and output on the display unit in real time. These starting values form essential evaluation criteria in competitions conducted on trampolines.

As an additional evaluation criterion, the position of the athlete on the jumping mat of the trampoline can be determined by a spatially resolved evaluation of the sensor signals. For example, the position determination can be used to determine exactly whether and to what extent the point of impact of the athlete on the jumping mat varies during the individual jumps. In doing so, it is possible to evaluate a crossing of the impact points with a point deduction. Finally, these measurements may also be evaluated as a safety criterion in that an athlete is sanctioned, and in particular disqualified, when leaving a certain safety zone of the jump cloth.

The measurement system according to the invention can also be used for purposes of training control. A trainer can use the starting values to rate the jumps of an athlete on the trampoline. In particular, it can be analyzed whether certain new jumps to be learned lead to strong movements of the athlete on the jump-sheet. Furthermore, the output quantities can also be used to document the performance of different athletes.

The measurement system according to the invention can be extended to the effect that sensors are arranged on a plurality of preferably adjacent trampolines, the sensor signals of all sensors being evaluated in a common evaluation unit for generating output variables. In particular, it can be determined to what extent athletes perform synchronous jumps on the individual trampolines.

The measuring system according to the invention can furthermore be used as a means of quality control of the respective trampoline. For example, can be determined by recording over a longer period of force gradients that are detected with the sensors, whether fatigue phenomena occur on the components of the trampolines, in particular the jump sheet and the elastic elements with which the jump cloth is fixed to the frame construction ,

Finally, the measuring system according to the invention can also be used for trampolines that are used in the play and leisure sector.

Figur 1:

Schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Trampolins mit einem Messsystem.

Figur 2:

Schnittdarstellung der Rahmenkonstruktion des Trampolins gemäß Figur 1 mit darin eingespanntem Sprungtuch.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1:

Schematic representation of the trampoline according to the invention with a measuring system.

FIG. 2:

Sectional view of the frame construction of the trampoline according to FIG. 1 with a jump sheet clamped in it.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a trampoline 1, which has as essential components a frame construction 2 and a stored therein jump sheet 3.

The frame structure 2 consists essentially of a rectangular frame 4 and connected thereto foot parts in the form of feet. 5 for placing on a surface. In general, the frame construction 2 can be collapsible.

In the frame 4 of the frame structure 2 is as out FIG. 2 seen, the jump sheet 3 clamped. For this purpose, 3 springs 6 are attached as elastic elements along the entire circumference of the jump cloth, which are then fixed to the inside of the frame 4.

How out FIG. 1 can be seen, the springs 6 are covered by covers 7 to avoid the risk of injury from contact of the person using the trampoline 1 with the springs 6.

At the trampoline 1 is a measuring system. The measuring system comprises an arrangement of sensors 8, which in the present case are designed as force measuring plates in which strain gauges or the like are integrated as sensor elements. How out FIG. 1 it can be seen, in each case a sensor 8 is mounted on the underside of this stand 5, so that the frame construction 2 is completely on the sensors 8. The sensors 8 are formed identically and connected via unillustrated leads to a central evaluation unit 9. To the evaluation unit 9, an output unit 10 is connected. In the simplest case, the evaluation unit 9 consists of a computer unit of a PC, laptop or tablet computer, the terminal of which forms the output unit 10. In general, a non-contact data transmission between the sensors 8 and the evaluation unit 9 may be provided.

With the sensors 8 are time-resolved while performing jumps on the trampoline 1 detects the forces exerted by a gymnast on contact with the jumping cloth 3 on this and transmitted from the jumping cloth 3 on the frame structure 2.

The sensor signals are read into the evaluation unit 9. In the evaluation unit 9 are in real time, that is without delay, from the sensor signals Generated output variables and also output to the output unit 10 without delay.

The output variables formed in this way form parameters for jumps carried out on the trampoline 1, wherein these characteristics are continuously generated in the evaluation unit 9 during execution of the jumps and output at the output unit 10.

As first output variables, the flight times or altitudes at the individual jumps carried out on the trampoline 1 can be determined. For this purpose, on the one hand based on the sensor signals of the sensors 8, the time is determined when a gymnast leaves the jumping sheet 3, that is, at the beginning of a jump from the jumping cloth 3 lifts. On the other hand, it is determined on the basis of the sensor signals the impact point of the gymnast on the jump sheet 3.

Here, in the evaluation of the sensor signals determined by the sensors 8, the known reaction behavior of the jumping cloth 3 is utilized in the exercise of the jumps. At the end of a jump after hitting the jumping sheet 3 is a gymnast in a downward movement in the jumping cloth 3. This causes an increasing force on the jumping sheet 3, which is transmitted to the frame structure 2 and then registered by the sensors 8. Accordingly, declining force values are registered when the gymnast is in an upward movement in the jumping sheet 3. If the gymnast is lifted off the jumping towel 3, the jumping towel 3 swings with its natural frequency, resulting in oscillating force values registered by the sensors 8. If the jumping sheet 3 of the trampoline 1 is at rest, 8 constant force values are obtained at the sensors.

By exploiting this characteristic behavior, the flight time and, derived therefrom, the flying height of the jumps carried out on the trampoline 1 can be determined in the evaluation unit 9. In principle, the Sensor signals of a sensor 8 off. Advantageously, the determination of the mentioned characteristic quantities takes place from the sum of several or all sensors 8.

By subtracting the sensor signals, the position of the gymnast on the trampoline 1 can be determined as a further output variable. Here, the symmetrical arrangement of the sensors 8 with respect to the jump cloth 3 is utilized. If a gymnast arrives after a jump exactly in the center of the jump cloth 3, the sensors 8 deliver the same sensor signals due to their symmetrical arrangement, ie force values. If, on the other hand, the gymnast moves to the center on the jumping cloth 3, the sensors 8 deliver different sensor signals. By evaluating the differences of the sensor signals, the position of the gymnast on the jumping sheet 3 can thus be determined.

The force measurements with the sensor signals are advantageously related to reference values which are determined by reference measurements before the measuring system is put into operation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. (1) trampoline
2. (2) frame construction
3. (3) Jumping sheet
4. (4) framework
5. (5) pedestal
6. (6) spring
7. (7) cover
8. (8) sensor
9. (9) Evaluation unit
10. (10) Output unit

Claims (12)

1. Trampoline (1) with a frame construction (2) and with a jumping bed (3) mounted on the frame construction (2), wherein an arrangement of sensors (8) is provided, by means of which forces or accelerations acting on the jumping bed (3) are detected, and the signals of the sensors (8) are read into an evaluating unit (9), wherein output variables are generated from the time plot of the signals, wherein the sensors (8) are arranged at the frame construction (2), wherein the frame construction (2) comprises a frame (4), which receives the jumping bed (3), and foot parts, which are connected with the frame, in the form of support feet (5) for setting up on a surface, and wherein a respective sensor (8) is mounted at the underside of each support foot (5) so that the frame construction (2) stands entirely on the sensors (8).
2. Trampoline according to claim 1, characterised in that the sensors (8) are arranged in distribution in circumferential direction of the trampoline (1) so that position-dependent output variables for jumps performed on the trampoline (1) are obtained in the evaluating unit (9) from the signals of the sensors (8).
3. Trampoline according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the sensors (8) are constructed as force sensors in the form of pressure sensors or strain gauges.
4. Trampoline according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the evaluating unit (9) has an output unit (10).
5. Trampoline according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that during a period of use in which a gymnast performs jumps the output variables are continuously generated as characteristic variables for the jumps performed.
6. Trampoline according to claim 12, characterised in that the output variables are represented continuously at the output unit (10) during the period of use.
7. Trampoline according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the instantaneously determined sensor signals of the sensors (8) are referred to reference values.
8. Trampoline according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the position of a person performing jumps on the jumping bed (3) is determined in the evaluating unit (9) as an output variable.
9. Trampoline according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the airborne time and/or height of a gymnast performing jumps on the jumping bed (3) is or are determined in the evaluating unit as an output variable or output variables.
10. Method of checking jumps carried out on at least one trampoline (1), wherein the trampoline (1) comprises a frame construction (2) and a jumping bed (3) mounted thereon, wherein forces or accelerations acting on the jumping bed (3) are detected by means of an arrangement of sensors (8) and the signals of the sensors (8) are read into an evaluating unit (9), wherein output variables are generated from the time plot of the signals, wherein the sensors (8) are arranged at the frame construction (2), wherein the frame construction (2) comprises a frame (4), which receives the jumping bed (3), and foot parts, which are connected therewith, in the form of support feet (5) for setting up on a surface, and wherein a respective sensor (8) is mounted at the underside of each support foot (5) so that the frame construction (2) stands entirely on the sensors (8).
11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that this is used in the competition field, in the field of training control, in the field of play or leisure or for quality control of the trampoline (1).
12. Method according to one of claims 10 and 11, characterised in that the sensor signals of sensors (8) at different trampolines (1) are evaluated in parallel in an evaluating unit (9).

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