U.S. patent application number 10/643057 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for children's trampoline with supporting character.
Invention is credited to Rieber, Frederick M..
Application Number | 20050043142 10/643057 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34193784 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050043142 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rieber, Frederick M. |
February 24, 2005 |
Children's trampoline with supporting character
Abstract
A children's trampoline comprises a rebounding surface, a frame
connected to the periphery of the rebounding surface and supporting
the rebounding surface in an elevated position and a child
supporting device. That devices includes an armature having a lower
end connected to the frame and an upper end which extends above and
over the rebounding surface as well as a padded covering on the
armature which includes a plurality of gripping portions which may
be grasped by a child standing on the rebounding surface.
Inventors: |
Rieber, Frederick M.; (Alum
Bank, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CESARI AND MCKENNA, LLP
88 BLACK FALCON AVENUE
BOSTON
MA
02210
US
|
Family ID: |
34193784 |
Appl. No.: |
10/643057 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 5/11 20130101; A63B
2208/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/027 |
International
Class: |
A63B 005/11 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A children's trampoline comprising a rebounding surface having a
periphery; a frame connected to said periphery to support the
rebounding surface in an elevated position, and a child supporting
device, said device including an armature having a lower end
connected to the frame and an upper end which extends above and
over the rebounding surface, and a covering on said armature, said
covering including a plurality of gripping portions which may be
grasped by a child standing on the rebounding surface.
2. The trampoline defined in claim 1 wherein said armature is
rigid.
3. The trampoline defined in claim 1 wherein said armature is
resilient.
4. The trampoline defined in claim 1 wherein said armature has
segments extending into said gripping portions.
5. The trampoline defined in claim 1 wherein said covering is
padded and in the form of an animal or human character.
6. The trampoline defined in claim 5 wherein said gripping portions
comprise extremities of said character.
7. The trampoline defined in claim 6 wherein said character has
additional extremities which are flexible.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention concerns trampolines. It relates especially
to a child's trampoline which promotes the safety and enjoyment of
the child using the trampoline.
[0002] As is well known, trampolines invariably include a flexible
resilient rebounding surface which is supported at its periphery by
a frame so that the rebounding surface is elevated above the
ground. A child can step on the rebounding surface and bounce up
and down and perform various acrobatics, aided by the resiliency of
the rebound surface. Thus the trampoline exercises the child and
helps to improve his/her coordination.
[0003] When using a trampoline, safety is always of some concern.
Therefore, it is desirable to take steps to prevent a child from
falling from the trampoline. Sometimes this is accomplished by
providing a fence around the rebound surface. However, in the case
of a child's trampoline of the type of which we are concerned here,
this would be impractical if not unnecessary because the rebound
surface is located close to the ground or other support surface and
it has a relatively small area. Therefore, enclosing that area with
a fence would result in a relatively claustrophobic play space on
the trampoline.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a
trampoline for use by small children which is open, yet reduces the
chances of a child falling from the trampoline.
[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide such a
trampoline which also increases a child's enjoyment when using the
trampoline.
[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a trampoline
of this type which provides a companion for the child using the
trampoline.
[0007] Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part,
appear hereinafter.
[0008] The invention accordingly comprises the features of
construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts
which will be exemplified in the following detailed description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope
of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
[0009] Briefly, my trampoline comprises the usual frame which
supports a resilient rebounding surface above the ground or other
support surface. Since the trampoline is for use especially by
small children, the rebound surface has a relatively small area and
elevation.
[0010] In order to assist a small child in using the trampoline and
remaining on the rebounding surface thereof, the trampoline
includes an upstanding child supporting device at the periphery of
the rebounding surface. The character has arms or projection which
the child can grasp while bouncing on the trampoline thereby
decreasing the likelihood of the child inadvertently falling down
or bouncing off the trampoline.
[0011] Preferably, the child supporting device is in form of an
animal or human character to which the child can relate and which
has floppy or flexible extremities or appendages which can move
about as the child bounces up and down on the trampoline. Thus the
device functions as an animated companion for the child.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from below of a trampoline
incorporating the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the trampoline
comprises a frame shown generally at 10 which supports a resilient
rebound surface 12 above the ground or other surface. The frame
comprises a plurality, herein four, inverted U-shaped frame members
10a whose legs are connected together end to end in a square by
suitable fasteners 14, e.g. bolts, clamps or the like. The rebound
surface 12 is tied to the bridging portions of frame members 10a by
suitable means such as cords 16 which are threaded through eyelets
18 of (FIG. 2) adjacent to the edge of the rebounding surface and
laced around the frames members. Preferably, a mat or cushion 22
extends around the edge margin of the rebound surface and over the
bridging portions of the frame members 10a to cushion the frame
member.
[0016] Typically the rebounding surface 12 is relatively small,
e.g. 3 to 4 feet on a side and is elevated only a relatively small
distance, e.g. 10 to 18 inches.
[0017] Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, trampoline 10 also
includes an upstanding child supporting device shown generally at
26. A child C while bouncing on the rebounding surface 12 can hold
onto the device 26 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the device helps to
support the child in an upright position while bouncing up and down
and minimizes the likelihood of the child falling off the
trampoline. The device also provides an animated companion for the
child using the trampoline.
[0018] As seen from the drawing figures, the device 26 comprises an
internal armature consisting of a pair of more or less mirror image
stanchions posts 32, 32 whose lower end segments 32a,32a are
secured to the adjacent legs of frame members 10a by fasteners 34
(FIG. 1) which may be conventional bolts, clamps or the like. As
best seen in FIG. 2, the posts 32 have upper end segments 32b which
splay out away from one another.
[0019] The child supporting device 26 also includes a padded
covering 36 which covers posts 32,32 above the rebounding mat 12.
Preferably, the covering 36 is in the form of an animal or human
character whose appearance would be pleasing to a child. Also, the
covering 36 desirably includes extension portions 36a which cover
post segments 32a to provide a relatively firm structure which the
child C can hold onto while bouncing up and down on the rebounding
surface 12. Desirably also, the covering 36 includes extremities or
other extensions such as legs 36b which are relatively flexible and
free to move relative to the child holding onto the device 26,
thereby animating the character and adding to the child's
enjoyment.
[0020] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among
those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently
attained. Also, certain changes may be made in the above
construction without departing from the scope of the invention. For
example, the trampoline rebounding surface may have any one of a
variety of shapes such as round, rectangular, etc. and the child
supporting device 26 may have a variety of human and animal forms
with arms or other extremities or protrusions which the child C may
hold onto while playing on the trampoline. Also, while the
armature, i.e. post 32,32 in the illustrated child support device
26 is relatively stiff, it could also be constructed by one or more
leaf springs so that the device 26 can flex and thereby move to
some extent with the child C bouncing on the trampoline. Therefore
it is intended that all matter contained in the above description
or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0021] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the
invention described herein.
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