Tapered trampoline enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10166457-B2
Application number	US-201715438460-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2017
Priority date	Feb 21, 2017
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A trampoline has a frame and the frame includes legs for supporting the frame above a ground surface. A bed is suspended on the frame by springs. The springs attach between the frame and the bed. The enclosure has enclosure poles. The enclosure poles are upwardly extending from the frame so that the enclosure poles terminate at pole tips. The enclosure further includes an enclosure net suspended from the pole tips. Each tapered pole connector panel connects to a respective pole tip on a respective enclosure pole. The tapered pole connector panels are connected to the enclosure net to support the net and hang the net from the pole tips. The plurality of tapered pole connector panels are formed from sheet material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A trampoline comprising:
a frame, wherein the frame includes legs for supporting the frame above a ground surface;
a bed suspended on the frame by springs, wherein the springs attach between the frame and the bed;
an enclosure including enclosure poles, wherein the enclosure poles are upwardly extending from the frame so that the enclosure poles terminate at pole tips, wherein the enclosure further includes an enclosure net suspended from the pole tips; and
a plurality of tapered pole connector panels, wherein each one of the plurality of tapered pole connector panels connect to a respective one of the pole tips, wherein the plurality of tapered pole connector panels are connected to the enclosure net to support the enclosure net and hang the enclosure net from the pole tips, wherein the plurality of tapered pole connector panels are formed from sheet material, wherein the enclosure net is suspended from an enclosure net strapping, wherein the enclosure net strapping is connected to the plurality of tapered pole connector panels that pull a strapping line inside of the enclosure net strapping and the enclosure net toward the pole tips, wherein the enclosure net forms a strapping line angle, wherein the strapping line angle is pulled toward the pole tips.

2. The trampoline of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tapered pole connector panels are tapered so that a height profile begins at a panel inside edge and diminishes as the height profile reaches the pole tips.

3. The trampoline of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of tapered pole connector panel has an arc shaped taper or a linear taper.

4. The trampoline of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of tapered pole connector panels further include an enclosure net reinforcement strip that is vertically oriented, wherein each of the plurality of tapered pole connector panels are attached to the enclosure net reinforcement strip at a panel upper corner, wherein the enclosure net reinforcement strip is also connected to each of the plurality of tapered pole connector panels at a panel lower tip, wherein the panel inside edge of the tapered pole connector panel is defined between the panel upper corner and the panel lower tip and wherein the panel inside edge is stitched with an elongated stitch to the enclosure net reinforcement strip.

5. The trampoline of claim 2 , wherein the panel inside edge is perpendicular to a panel upper edge, wherein the panel upper edge extends between a respective pole tip of the pole tips and a panel upper corner of each of the plurality of tapered pole connector panels, wherein the panel upper edge is formed for receiving the strapping line, wherein the enclosure net strapping is formed for receiving the strapping line.

6. The trampoline of claim 1 , wherein the strapping line is enclosed by the enclosure net strapping, wherein the enclosure net strapping is formed as a sleeve for receiving the strapping line, wherein the strapping line is a cable.

7. The trampoline of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure poles include six vertically oriented enclosure poles and six enclosure covers covering the six vertically oriented enclosure poles, wherein the six enclosure covers are made of plastic foam.

8. A trampoline comprising:
a frame, wherein the frame includes legs for supporting the frame above a ground surface;
a bed suspended on the frame by springs, wherein the springs attach between the frame and the bed;
an enclosure including enclosure poles, wherein the enclosure poles are upwardly extending from the frame so that the enclosure poles terminate at pole tips, wherein the enclosure further includes an enclosure net suspended from the pole tips; and
a plurality of tapered pole connector panels, wherein each one of the plurality of tapered pole connector panels connect to a respective one of the pole tips, wherein the plurality of tapered pole connector panels are connected to the enclosure net to support the enclosure net and hang the enclosure net from the pole tips, wherein the plurality of tapered pole connector panels are formed from sheet material, wherein the plurality of tapered pole connector panels are tapered so that a height profile begins at a panel inside edge and diminishes as the height profile reaches the pole tips, wherein each of the plurality of tapered pole connector panels have a panel tapered edge that extends between a respective one of the pole tips and a respective panel lower tip, where each of the panel tapered edges have a curved shape, wherein the enclosure net extends downwardly to a lower net connection, wherein the lower net connection is formed between the springs and the bed, wherein each of the plurality of tapered pole connector panels further includes a panel outer tip, wherein the panel outer tips each have a connection cable to connect to a respective one of the pole tips.

9. The trampoline of claim 8 , further comprising:
a top line formed as a net strapping line, wherein the net strapping line is enclosed by a net strapping, wherein the net strapping is formed as a sleeve for receiving the net strapping line, wherein the net strapping line is a cable.

10. The trampoline of claim 8 , wherein the enclosure poles include six vertically oriented enclosure poles and six enclosure covers covering the six vertically oriented enclosure poles, wherein the six enclosure covers are made of plastic foam.

11. The trampoline of claim 8 , wherein the enclosure net is suspended from an enclosure net strapping, wherein the enclosure net strapping is connected to the plurality of tapered pole connector panels that pull a strapping line inside of the enclosure net strapping and the enclosure net toward the pole tips, wherein the enclosure net forms a strapping line angle, wherein the strapping line angle is pulled toward the pole tips.

Assignees

• Chen Samuel

Inventors

• Chen Samuel

Classifications

• A63B71/0054 Primary

  Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers (mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00) · CPC title

• A63B71/022

  Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls · CPC title

• A63B5/11

  Trampolines · CPC title

• A63B2071/009

  Protective housings covering the working parts of the apparatus · CPC title

• A63B2071/0063

  Shock absorbers · CPC title