US20030064861A1

US20030064861A1 - Trampoline

Info

Publication number: US20030064861A1
Application number: US09/968,784
Authority: US
Inventors: Jimmy Chen
Original assignee: Sportspower Ltd
Current assignee: Sportspower Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-03
Filing date: 2001-10-03
Publication date: 2003-04-03

Abstract

An improved trampoline consists of an air mattress equipped with a first inflation valve having a first fastening section attached to an inner peripheral rim and a jumping pad mounted to the inner periphery of the air mattress having a second fastening section attached to an outer peripheral rim thereof to couple with the first fastening section through a fastening element. The air mattress has a plurality of guarding struts mounted thereon to surround the jumping pad to form a jumping space. The air mattress is filled with air pressure to allow the jumping pad generating resilient force for people to jump in the jumping space up and down for exercise.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved trampoline and particularly a trampoline that uses an air mattress filled with air pressure to allow a jumping pad generating resilient force and results in light weight, great portability, easy storing and having protective effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To improve conventional trampolines for guarding people from falling out of the jumping bed of the trampoline, applicant has filed an U.S. patent application by application Ser. No. 09/547,851 on Apr. 12, 2000. In that application, a guarding means is provided and mounted to the frame through fastening elements (as shown in FIG. 1). The guarding means and the jumping pad surrounded by the frame form a jumping space. People can jump in the jumping space without falling out and are protected from injury that might otherwise incur. While it can greatly reduce the risks of using the trampolines, practical experiences indicate that there are still rooms for improvement, notably:

1. The frame of the trampoline is made of metallic material and does not have resilience. The jumping pad mounted to the frame generates resilient force by means of extension springs fastened between the jumping pad and the frame. While the guarding means can prevent people from falling out of the trampoline, people, especially children or girls of relatively small bodies, could fall and trap in the gaps between the springs inside the jumping space. Moreover, the extended springs have gaps between the spring rings and could also hurt people when hit incidentally.

2. The jumping pad is fastened to the frame by means of extension springs forcefully. Hence the jumping pad is difficult to detach or remove from the frame. The frame cannot be folded and occupies a relatively large space. It takes too much storage space and cannot be carried outdoors for recreational use. All this severely limits its usefulness and value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to resolve the foregoing disadvantages. The invention aims to provide an improved trampoline that is safer and easier to carry and use. The trampoline of the invention consists of an air mattress equipped with an inflation valve and a jumping pad fastened to the inner periphery of the air mattress. The inner peripheral rim of the air mattress and outer peripheral rim of the jumping pad have respectively fastening sections coupled by a fastening element. On the air mattress, a plurality of guarding struts are mounted thereon to form a jumping space with the jumping pad. The air mattress is filled with air pressure to allow the jumping pad generating resilient force. Thus people can jump in the jumping space up and down for exercise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of anchor elements on the air mattress for hanging balance weights so that the trampoline can be floated on water surface in a balanced manner thereby to make the trampoline usable on land and water.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional trampoline disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/547,851. [0008]
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the invention. [0009]
FIG. 2B is a fragmentary enlarged view of the invention according FIG. 2A. [0010]
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of the invention, showing the air mattress coupling with the jumping pad. [0011]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and [0013] 3, the trampoline 1 of the invention includes an air mattress 11 equipped with a first inflation valve 114 and a jumping pad 12 mounted to the inner periphery of the air mattress 11. The inner peripheral rim of the air mattress 11 and the outer peripheral rim of the jumping pad 12 have respectively a first fastening section 111 and a second fastening section 121 matching each other. The fastening sections 111 and 121 may be coupled together alternately in a staggered fashion through a fastening element 3 which may be a rope. On the air mattress 11, there are a plurality of guarding struts 13 mounted thereon to surround the jumping pad 12 to form a jumping space 10, and there is further an annular upper air pad 16 mounted to the top ends of the guarding struts 13. The air mattress 11 is filled with air pressure to allow the jumping pad 12 generating resilient force, thus people can jump in the jumping space 10 up and down for exercise.
Each [0014] guarding strut 13 has a second inflation valve 131. A transverse air pad beam 14 is bridged two neighboring guarding struts 13 to provide supplementary protection. Furthermore, there is a guarding mesh 15 attached to the inner side of the guarding struts 13 to provide additional protection for people. The guarding mesh 15 has a pad 17 to form an opening 173 to allow people to enter or exit the jumping space 10. The pad 17 and guarding mesh 15 have respectively fasten elements 151, 171, 152 and 172 matching and engageable with each other. The fasten elements 151, 171, 152 and 172 may be Velcro strips and a snap latch and buckle set.
When in use, inflate the [0015] air mattress 11, guarding struts 13, air pad beams 14, and upper air pad 16 through the first inflation valve 114 and second inflation valves 131. The air mattress 11, guarding struts 13, air pad beams 14 and annular upper air pad 16 are welded together by a hypersonic means. Air pressure keeps the air mattress 11, guarding struts 13, air pad beams 14 and annular upper air pad 16 together. The air mattress 11 further has handles 112 to facilitate carrying of the trampoline 1 by people with hands. People may enter into the jumping space 10 through the opening 173 and jump on the jumping pad 12 for exercise. The jumping pad 12 has resilient force resulting from the air pressure filled inside the air mattress 11. The fastening section 112 and 121 are closely coupled without gaps formed therebetween, and the guarding struts 13, air pad beams 14 and guarding mesh 15 offer additional protection, hence people jumping in the jumping space 10 will be guarded from falling out of the trampoline 1 and have full protection. Furthermore, the air mattress 11, guarding struts 13, air pad beams 14 and upper air pad 16 are made of non-metallic materials, injury resulting from hitting can be minimized. Moreover, air in the air mattress 11, guarding struts 13, pad beams 14 and upper air pad 16 may be discharged through the inflation valves 114 and 131 to greatly reduce the size of the trampoline 1 when not in use. As the trampoline 1 may be made of soft and foldable materials, it can be folded to become a compact size to facilitate carrying and storing, and may be conveniently used in various outdoor activities.
Referring to FIG. 4, the [0016] air mattress 11 may further has anchor rings 113 mounted thereon to hang balance weights (such as anchors) through ropes 2, thereby the trampoline 1 may be floated on water surface in a balanced manner. Thus the trampoline 1 can be used on land and water, and further increase its usefulness and value.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An improved trampoline, comprising:

an air mattress equipped with a first inflation valve having a first fastening section attached to an inner peripheral rim thereof;

a jumping pad mounted to an inner periphery of the air mattress having a second fastening section attached to an outer peripheral rim thereof to couple with the first fastening section through a fastening element; and

a plurality of guarding struts mounting to the air mattress and surrounding the jumping pad to form a jumping space;

wherein the air mattress is filled with air pressure to allow the jumping pad generating resilient force for people to jump in the jumping space up and down for exercise.

2. The improved trampoline of claim 1, wherein the guarding struts have respectively a second inflation valve.

3. The improved trampoline of claim 1 further having a transverse air pad beam bridged every two neighboring guarding struts.

4. The improved trampoline of claim 1 further having a guarding mesh attached to an inner side of the guarding struts.

5. The improved trampoline of claim 4, wherein the guarding mesh has a pad to form an opening for people to enter the jumping space, the pad having first fastening elements matching and engageable with second fastening elements located on the guarding mesh.

6. The improved trampoline of claim 1, wherein the air mattress has handles mounted thereon for people to carry the trampoline with hands.

7. The improved trampoline of claim 1, wherein the air mattress has anchor rings mounted thereon to hang balance weights for the trampoline floating on water surface in a balanced manner.

8. The improved trampoline of claim 1 further having an annular upper air pad mounted to the top ends of the guarding struts.