Pool or trampoline game accessory
A planar sheet or chamber is positioned adjacent to the rebounding surface of a trampoline, inflatable bounce surfaces or a pool and has distinct marks such as numbers, letters, colors, symbols, figures and the like to form visually or texturally distinct regions. The marks or regions help to direct the movement of players in skill or educational games. The games may include the alternatively jumping on selected regions in a sequence determined by the rules of play or the lessons sought to be reinforced.
The present application claims priority to provisional application having Ser. No. 60/497,371, titled “Pool or Trampoline Game Accessory, filed Aug. 21, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to accessories for trampoline play, which provide interactive, competitive or educational games.
Although trampolines are not generally designed or recommended to accommodate multiple players at once, such instructions are often ignored as waiting players become inpatient, and wish to join in the fun of bouncing up and down. It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide devices that enable various methods interactive play, including competitive and educational games between the players inside the trampoline enclosure with spectators outside the jumping surface of the trampoline.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide devices and methods of modifying the rebounding characteristics of a trampoline to enable safer play
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIn the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a game mat/surface that overlays a trampoline rebounding surface for enabling the safe capture of water there within, in which one form of play involves splashing water on spectators while playing, encouraging the spectators to play by moving to avoid being splashed.
A second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the game mat is provided with various forms of indicia that direct players to land or rebound off different zones of the game mat, producing different consequences, which in the case of water play might including splashing themselves, other players or spectators with water. Yet in other embodiment the players receive educational feedback or play competitive games also requiring physical skill, which for example might require the player to land and bounce off different zones or areas of the rebounding surface based on the indicia associated with the game mat.
A third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the device is either filled with or retains water and thus modifies the damping characteristics of the trampoline rebounding surface, thus enabling safer play.
Yet another aspect of the invention, a game mat or device intended to be used for wet play has an anti-slip surface to prevent injury from falling, sliding or contacting other players.
The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention,
In one embodiment, a device according to the instant invention takes the form of a trampoline bed accessory 150 being disposed on or over rebounding surface 110 of the trampoline system of
Accordingly, trampoline bed accessory 150 is sufficiently durable to resist damage from repeated impacts of player jumping on the trampoline rebounding surface 110.
Although the quantity of water 201 is not critical for individual wet play activities, such as splashing spectators while jumping, a controlled quantity of water provides a benefit in that it dampens the trampoline rebounding surface response. A dampened response makes the trampoline more suitable for use by players, who can enjoy jumping and splashing activities with greater safety, without need to modify or adjust the spring system. Thus, the trampoline system can be returned to normal use simply by dumping, draining or pumping out the water or removing the trampoline bed accessory/game mat. Accordingly, the mat may also includes a drain hole or plug at the edge or lower surface that can be released or removed at the end of use.
When the planar embodiment of the device 150 in
An alternative form of a sheet that forms a trampoline accessory 200 might also have surface regions with a concave areas to retain water, inflatable regions that extend from the sheet to cushion landings or to increase visibility of target areas or landing areas Further, in preferred embodiments the upper surface of trampoline bed accessory 200 is appropriately textured to have anti-slip properties enabling safer wet play such as under the configuration illustrated in
Accordingly, the trampoline bed accessory 200 is preferably fabricated from flexible sheet(s) of material, such as materials used to form trampoline rebounding surface, (but may include alternative materials,) for example fabric, non-woven fabric, PVC coated fabric and the like, wherein the open weave of the fabric is porous and a coated region or laminated film region is non-porous. Alternative coatings include plastic film or sheeting, rubber, polyurethane, silicone and the like. Further, the fabric may be elastic, being fabricated from “LYCRA” or other elastomeric fibers. In addition, 200 may be fabricated so that it is padded.
Alternatively, as shown in
Squirt nozzle 432 may include a siphon tube extension 440 attached to the inlet side of the spray nozzles to collect water at the bottom of cavity. Thus, siphon tube extension 440 is preferably flexible and extends toward the bottom of water containing cavity 415, providing access to the water regardless of the fill level of cavity 415.
In another embodiment, illustrated in
It should be appreciated that as other aspects of the invention, more fully described below, include marking distinct regions with printed indicia, such as correspond to numbers, letters, symbols and the like, such indicia may be combined with the operative characteristics of squirt or spray nozzles, sound makers, bubble makers, visual displays, or light emitters. Alternatively, the operative features are readily revealed, and thus optionally featured, by providing a transparent upper layer and/or sub-cavity covers. Further, in accordance with other aspects of the invention, any of the water retaining trampoline accessories or game mats of
Thus, in the plan view of trampoline accessory/game mat 501 in
Accordingly, circuit 531 of game device mat 501, shown in plan view in optionally includes controllers along with electronic output devices, which may include a game control device for spectator or automatic control of the visual display or loudspeaker, illustrated in
In yet another embodiment, the visual indicia of
Game mat can also have multiple patterns for playing jumping games. The patterns can also be used as place locators for marking indicia or applying detachable indicia used to play games that utilize numbers, words, cards and symbols, etc. For example, in one embodiment the pattern may consist of an array of hook and loop fabric fasteners intended to receive a variety of discrete separate marks having a corresponding fastening component disposed on their underside. The patterned array thus permits the removal and secure replacement of separate marks either as part of, or to correspond with the play activity.
While the visual display is optionally deployed to provide correct answers to games, such as the aforementioned calculations, an alternative use is to tally the score of games, or alternatively provide a player with an indication of the number of bounces, elapsed time and like parameters related to athletic performance.
In additional embodiments, the planar game mat is combinable with either a shallow splash pool or more substantial pool structure independent of use with a trampoline structure. In such embodiments, the planar mat is not required to be flexible, and can be somewhat rigid, as it would be disposed at the bottom of the pool. According, the printed indicia and other features previously described with respect to recreational activities on the trampoline rebounding surface can take place in either a temporary or more permanent pool, i.e. a permanent or in ground pool as well as a temporary or splash pool and the like.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A planar device for attachment to, above, or below a trampoline rebounding surface, the device comprising:
- a) At least one sheet having an upper and lower surface that comprises; i) at least three visually and/or texturally distinct marks on the upper surface used for game activities, and ii) a connecting system for positioning said sheet adjacent to the trampoline rebounding surface.
2. A planar device for placement and/or attachment to, above, below, or within the water holding area of a pool, the device comprising:
- a) At least one sheet having an upper and lower surface that comprises; i) at least three visually and/or texturally distinct marks on at least one of the upper and lower surface for use in game activities,
- b) connecting system for positioning said sheet for use with the pool.
3. A planar device for attachment to, above, or below an inflatable bouncing surface, the device comprising:
- a) At least one sheet having an upper and lower or an inner and outer surface that comprises; i) at least three visually and/or texturally distinct marks on the surface used for game activities, ii) a connecting system for positioning said sheet for use with the bouncing surfaces.
4. A planar device that forms the rebounding surface of a trampoline or attaches to, above, or below a trampoline rebounding surface, the device comprising:
- a) indicia that are visually or texturally distinct for use in playing a game on the rebounding surface.
5. A planar device according to claim 4 wherein said indicia are selected from the group consisting of numbers and letters to direct the movement of one or more players in association with the play of the game.
6. A planar device according to claim 4 wherein said indicia are selected from the group consisting of symbols and pictures to direct the movement of one or more players in association with the play of the game.
7. A planar device according to one of claims 5 or 6 in which the indicia aid in directing a player to contact the device at certain locations.
8. A planar device that forms the bottom and/or sides of a pool or for placement and/or attachment to, above, below, or within the water holding area of a pool, the device comprising:
- a) At least two or more indicia that are visually or texturally distinct for use in playing a game.
9. A planar device according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the separate marks are formed from indicia selected from the group consisting of numbers and letters.
10. A planar device according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the distinct marks are formed from indicia selected from the group consisting symbols and pictures.
11. A planar device that forms a portion of an inflatable bouncing surface and/or for attachment to, above, or below an inflatable bouncing surface, the device comprising:
- a) At least two or more distinct marks that are visually or texturally distinct for use in playing a game.
12. A planar device according to claim 11 wherein at least one of the distinct marks are formed from indicia selected from the group consisting numbers and letters.
13. A planar device according to claim 11 wherein at least one of the distinct marks are formed from indicia selected from the group consisting symbols and pictures.
14. A planar device that attaches to, above, or below the rebounding surface of the trampoline, the device comprising at least one attachment point for affixing one or more other devices to the surface of the planar device.
15. A planar device that forms the rebounding surface of a trampoline, the device comprising at least one attachment point on its surface and at least 3 inches within its perimeter for affixing one or more other devices to the surface of the planar device.
16. A planar device that forms a portion of a pools surface material and/or for placement and/or attachment to, above, below, or within the water holding area of a pool, the device comprising at least one attachment point for affixing other devices to the surface of the planar device.
17. A planar device that forms a portion of an inflatable bouncing surface and/or for attachment to, above, or below an inflatable bouncing surface, the device comprising: at least one attachment point for affixing one or more other devices.
18. A planar device according to any of claim 14, 15 and 16 wherein said other devices is selected from the group consisting of distinct surfaces and toys.
19. A planar device according to any of claims 14, 15 and 16 wherein the attachment point comprises a component of a hook and loop fabric fastener.
- a) The planar device according to any of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein at least one of the distinct marks comprise indicia that are visually or texturally distinct for use in playing a game.
20. The planar device according to any of claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising at least one impact sensing transducer or other movement sensing/relaying device disposed in association with distinct marks for the operative connection to at least one output device, the output device being selected from the group consisting of a noise maker, an electronic counter, a light emitting device.
21. A planar device according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 further comprising at least one cavity for containing at least one of a liquid or a gas.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 17, 2004
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2005
Inventors: Mark Publicover (Saratoga, CA), Johanna Publicover (Saratoga, CA)
Application Number: 10/919,865