U.S. patent application number 09/968784 was filed with the patent office on 2003-04-03 for trampoline.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sportspower Limited. Invention is credited to Chen, Jimmy Ching.
Application Number | 20030064861 09/968784 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25514773 |
Filed Date | 2003-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030064861 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Jimmy Ching |
April 3, 2003 |
Trampoline
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.
Inventors: |
Chen, Jimmy Ching; (Arcadia,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Assignee: |
Sportspower Limited
Kowloon
HK
|
Family ID: |
25514773 |
Appl. No.: |
09/968784 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 5/11 20130101; A63B
2225/62 20130101; A63B 2225/605 20130101; A63B 2208/12 20130101;
A63B 71/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/27 |
International
Class: |
A63B 005/11 |
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.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 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
[0002] 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:
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional trampoline
disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/547,851.
[0009] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2B is a fragmentary enlarged view of the invention
according FIG. 2A.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of the invention,
showing the air mattress coupling with the jumping pad.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 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.
[0014] Each 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.
[0015] When in use, inflate the 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.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 4, the 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.
* * * * *