Trampoline with Multi-Tone Radial Array

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a trampoline. In an embodiment, the trampoline includes a frame, a jumping sheet, and a plurality of suspension members. The suspension members extend between the frame and the jumping sheet. The suspension members suspend the jumping sheet from the frame. The suspension members have an attribute and the suspension members are spaced apart around the frame. The plurality of suspension members form a multi-tone radial array that embodies at least two features for the attribute of the suspension members.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is directed to a trampoline.

Customized goods are an appealing option for customers that have particular product requirements or customers that desire unique products. Many different attributes of an item may be customized such as shape, color, texture, style, or flavor. The particular attributes which are customizable may vary depending on the product. Indeed, customized goods appeal in particular to younger customers who have grown up with personalized products (ring tones, avatars and the like). It is now almost a base expectation that a product should be tailored to one's personality.

Customization of trampolines is currently limited to only a few options. A need therefore exists for a trampoline with more options that can be customized and/or specifically tailored to a customer's preference. A need further exists to make trampolines more attractive to customers.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a trampoline. In an embodiment, the trampoline includes a frame, a jumping sheet, and a plurality of suspension members. The suspension members extend between the frame and the jumping sheet. The suspension members suspend the jumping sheet from the frame. The suspension members have an attribute and the suspension members are spaced apart around the frame. The plurality of suspension members form a multi-tone radial array that embodies at least two features for the attribute of the suspension members.

The present disclosure provides another trampoline. In an embodiment, the trampoline includes a frame, a jumping sheet and a plurality of suspension members. The jumping sheet includes a jumping mat, a ribbon, and a skirt. The plurality of suspension members extend between the frame and the jumping sheet. The suspension members suspend the jumping sheet from the frame. The suspension members are spaced apart around the frame. The skirt is a different color than the color of the jumping mat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying Figures together with the following description serve to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the disclosure and its embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trampoline with a multi-tone radial array of suspension members in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the trampoline shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the trampoline shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is perspective view of a suspension member suspending a jumping mat from a frame with the connector of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of suspension members suspending a jumping mat from a frame with the connector of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a trampoline with a multi-tone radial array of suspension members in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a trampoline with a multi-tone radial array of suspension members in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a trampoline with a multi-tone radial array of suspension members in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a trampoline with a multi-tone radial array of suspension members in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a trampoline with a multi-tone radial array of suspension members in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged and partial plan view showing another embodiment of a trampoline with a multi-tone radial array of suspension members in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a trampoline in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11A is a plan view of a trampoline in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DEFINITIONS

The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and their derivatives, are not intended to exclude the presence of any additional element, component, step or procedure, whether or not the same is specifically disclosed. In contrast, the term, “consisting essentially of” excludes from the scope of any succeeding recitation any other element, component, step or procedure, excepting those that are not essential to operability. The term “consisting of” excludes any element, component, step, or procedure not specifically delineated or listed.

The numerical ranges disclosed herein include all values from, and including, the lower value and the upper value. For ranges containing explicit values (e.g., 1 or 2, or 3to 5, or 6, or 7) any subrange between any two explicit values is included (e.g., 1 to 2; 2 to 6; 5 to 7; 3 to 7; 5 to 6; etc.).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a trampoline. In an embodiment, the trampoline includes a frame and a jumping sheet. A plurality of suspension members extend between the frame and the jumping sheet. The plurality of suspension members suspends the jumping sheet from the frame. The suspension members have an attribute and the suspension members are spaced apart around the frame. The plurality of suspension members form a multi-tone radial array that embodies at least two features for the attribute of the suspension members.

A trampoline 10 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The trampoline 10 includes a frame 12, and a jumping sheet 14. A plurality of suspension members (SM) extends between the frame 12 and the jumping sheet 14. The suspension members suspend the jumping 14 sheet from the frame 12.

The frame 12 defines a central opening in which the jumping sheet 14 is disposed and suspended. In an embodiment, the frame 12 is closed and defines a shape. Nonlimiting examples of suitable shapes for the frame 12 include ovoid (elliptical, circular, substantially circular) and polygonal (triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, diamond). Nonlimiting examples of suitable materials for the frame 12 include metal such as steel, aluminum, or other metal alloy, wood, fiberglass, a polymeric material, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the shape of the frame 12 is circular, or substantially circular as shown in FIGS. 1-3. In a further embodiment, the shape of the frame 12 is circular and the frame 12 has a diameter from 75 centimeters (cm), or 80 cm, or 90 cm, or 99 cm, or 100, cm, or 112 cm, or 120 cm, or 125 cm, or 140 cm, or 150 cm, or 175 cm, or 200 cm, or 250 cm, or 300 cm to 350 cm, or 400 cm, or 450 cm, or 500 cm, or 550 cm, or 600 cm.

A plurality of legs 18 support the frame 12 at a distance above a support surface. The support surface can be a floor or the ground (hereafter collectively referred to as “support surface”). The height of the jumping sheet 14 above the support surface is from two centimeters (cm), or 3 cm, or 4 cm, or 5 cm, or 10 cm, or 20 cm, or 30 cm to 40 cm, or 45 cm, or 50 cm, or 60 cm, or 70 cm, or 80 cm, or 90 cm, or 100 cm. The legs 18 can be straight legs or arched legs. The legs can be foldable legs, whereby the legs include a hinge and locking mechanism enabling the legs to be folded into or toward the jumping sheet for compact and convenient transport of the trampoline. Alternatively, the legs can be removable.

In an embodiment, the frame 12 includes 4, or 5, or 6 to 7, or 8, or 9, or 10 legs.

The jumping sheet 14 is made from a flexible and resilient material. Nonlimiting examples of suitable materials for the jumping mat 14 include polypropylene mesh, polyester mesh (with polyvinyl chloride covering), other natural or synthetic material mesh, fabric, canvas, and any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the jumping sheet 14 has an area from 2000 cm², or 5000 cm², or 10,000 cm², or 50,000 cm², or 100,000 cm², or 150,000 cm², to 200,000 cm², or 250,000 cm², or 300,000 cm².

A plurality of suspension members, SM, extends between the frame 12 and the jumping sheet 14. A “suspension member” (or “SM”) is a member that extends when stretched and contracts when extension is reversed. Nonlimiting examples of a suspension member include a spring (such as a coil spring, typically made from metal), a cord made from an elastomeric material, a strand made from an elastomeric material, and a strap made from an elastomeric material. An “elastomeric material,” as used herein is a material that can be stretched with the application of stress to at least twice its length and after release of the stress, returns to its approximate original dimensions and shape. The elastomeric material may, or may not, be a vulcanized material. Although a suspension member may be composed of an elastomeric material, it is understood that the suspension member may or may not stretch to at least twice its length.

Nonlimiting examples of suitable elastomeric material include natural rubber (i.e., natural polyisoprene), synthetic polyisoprene, polybutaidiene, chloropene, polychloroprene, neoprene, halogenated or non-halogenated butyl rubber (copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene), styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene (EPM), ethylene propylene diene monomer terpolymer (EPDM), epichlorohydrin, polyacrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluoroelastomers, polyether block amides, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, and any combination of the foregoing.

In an embodiment, the suspension members are a plurality of bungees 16. A “bungee,” as used herein, is a cord-like member composed of a composite of continuous strands or tubes of elastomeric material, the composite covered, or otherwise integrated with, a sheath of woven fabric. The cross-sectional shape of the bungee can be elliptical, circular, oval, or polygonal (square, rectangle, triangle, etc.). The bungees can be (i) closed loop bungees, (ii) open bungees, and (iii) a combination of closed loop bungees and open loop bungees. A “closed loop bungee,” is a bungee in the form of a closed, ovoid-shaped ring, such as an O-ring type structure, for example. The closed loop bungee may be formed by molding elastic material into a continuous, integral ring shape (i.e., an O-ring), or formed from cut lengths of linear, elastic cord (and/or formed from cut lengths of linear multiple thin wires (such as cables)) in which the opposing ends are joined to form a ring (such as by way of a knot, a clamp, a weld or any other fastener that holds together the two end portions of the bungee cord. An “open bungee” is a bungee cord with a first end and an opposing second end, and not forming a closed loop bungee. The first end and the second end each may have an end structure, such as a knot, for example.

In an embodiment, the suspension members are bungees 16 and the bungees 16 suspend the jumping sheet 14 from, or otherwise within, the frame 12. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the bungees 16 are spaced apart around the frame 12. The bungees extend or stretch when a user jumps or stands on the jumping sheet 14. The bungees 16 contract when the user leaves the jumping sheet, or when extension is otherwise reversed.

Although FIGS. 1-3 show 36 bungees spaced around the frame 12, the number of bungees 16 may vary based on the size and shape of the frame 12 and the size/shape of the jumping sheet 14. In an embodiment, the number of suspension members (or bungees) spaced apart around the frame is from 8, or 10, or 12, or 14, or 16, or 18, or 20, or 22, or 24, or 26, or 28, or 30, or 34 to 36, or 38, or 40, or 42 to 44, or 46, or 48, or 50, or 52, or 54, or 56, or 58, or 60.

In an embodiment, a plurality of connectors 20 is attached to the jumping sheet 14 as shown in FIG. 3. The attachment may be by way of permanent attachment or by way of releasable attachment. Attachment between the connectors 20 and the jumping sheet 14 is achieved by (i) mechanical attachment (stitching, rivets, fastener), (ii) chemical attachment (adhesive bond), and (iii) a combination of mechanical attachment and chemical attachment. (i) and (ii). The connectors can be attached to the jumping side of the jumping sheet, to the underside of the jumping sheet, or to a peripheral edge of the jumping sheet 14.

In an embodiment, the connectors 20 are permanently attached to the underside of the jumping sheet 14 as shown in FIG. 3. A “ribbon” 24 is present which is a strip of resilient and durable material that extends around a perimeter of the jumping sheet 14. The ribbon 24 can be a continuous strip of material or a discontinuous strip of material. Stitching secures the connectors 20 to the jumping sheet along the ribbon 24. The ribbon 24 reinforces the jumping sheet 14 at the attachment point for the connectors 20. The ribbon 24 can also cover and protect the stitching for attaching the connectors. The material of the ribbon 24 can be the same or different than the material for the jumping mat 14. Nonlimiting examples of suitable material for the ribbon 24 include woven fabric, leather, a polymeric material, and combinations thereof. A skirt 32 extends outside the outermost edge of the ribbon 24.

The connectors 20 are positioned in a spaced-apart manner around a perimeter of the jumping sheet 14. The number of the connectors may vary based on the size (and concomitant circumference) of the jumping sheet 14. The number of connectors 20 may be the same as the number of suspension members (or bungees), or may be different than the number of suspension members (or bungees). In an embodiment, the number of connectors attached to the jumping sheet is from 8, or 10, or 12, or 14, or 16, or 18, or 20, or 22, or 24, or 26, or 28, or 30, or 34 to 36, or 38, or 40, or 42 to 44, or 46, or 48, or 50, or 52, or 54, or 56, or 58, or 60.

The perimeter can be an outermost perimeter or an inner perimeter. In an embodiment, the connectors 20 are spaced apart along an inner perimeter (i.e., along an inner circumference co-extensive with the ribbon 24) on the underside of the jumping sheet 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

Each connector 20 is adapted to receive one or more suspension members. In an embodiment, a connector 20a includes one or more arcuate receiving sections 22 for receiving a cord portion of a closed loop bungee as shown in FIG. 4.

In an embodiment, a connector 20b includes one or more apertures 26 to retain an end structure (such as a knot) of an open bungee, for example, as shown in FIG. 5.

In an embodiment, a portion of each bungee 16 wraps around the frame 12, with another portion of the bungee retained by a connector 20 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Each connector 20 holds or otherwise maintains the bungee 16 in an extended (or tensioned) position between the frame and the jumping sheet. In this way, the bungees 16 suspend the jumping sheet 14 from the frame 12.

The suspension force (i) holds the bungee within the connector, and (ii) holds or maintains the position of the bungee along the perimeter of the frame 12. The connector can hold a body portion of the bungee (closed loop), an end portion (or an end structure) of the bungee (open bungee). In this way, a portion of the bungee loops, or otherwise wraps, around the frame, and another portion of the bungee is received by the connector and is secured to the connector.

1. Multi-Tone Radial Array

The suspension members have one, two, three, four, five, or more attributes. An “attribute,” (or “a suspension member attribute”), as used herein, is a characteristic of a suspension member. In an embodiment, the suspension members are bungees. Nonlimiting examples of bungee attributes include bungee color, bungee tension, bungee-to-connector ratio, bungee length, bungee surface pattern, bungee surface texture, bungee material, and combinations thereof.

The plurality of suspension members forms a multi-tone radial array. A “radial array,” as used herein, is the spatial arrangement of the suspension members, taken in the aggregate, located around the jumping sheet and extending to the frame. Each individual suspension member extends radially outward from the jumping sheet to the frame, when viewing the trampoline from a plan view. In the aggregate, the suspension members form an array of radial elements (extended suspension members) located between the frame and the jumping sheet. A “multi-tone radial array” is the aforementioned “radial array” that embodies two or more features for a particular suspension member attribute. A “feature,” as used herein, is a property, or a trait, of the suspension member attribute. The “multi-tone” is achieved by the aforementioned radial array that embodies, or otherwise manifests, at least two (or three, or four, or five, or more) features for a particular suspension member attribute. Hence, the plurality of suspension members (or plurality of bungees) forms a multi-tone radial array that embodies at least two features for an attribute of the suspension members (or an attribute of the bungees).

In an embodiment, the suspension members are bungees and the multi-tone radial array embodies two or more features for a bungee attribute selected from (i) bungee color, (ii) bungee tension, (iii) bungee-to-connector ratio, and (iv) any combination of bungee color, bungee tension, and bungee-to-connector ratio.

In an embodiment, the frame 12 is circular, the jumping sheet 14 is circular, and the radial array includes from 10 to 60 bungees, encompassing a 360° arc around the jumping sheet 14. The bungees form a multi-tone radial array that embodies at least two features for the one or more of the attributes of (i) bungee color, (ii) bungee tension, and (iii) bungee-to-connector ratio.

In an embodiment, the attribute for the bungees is color. The radial array achieves multi-tone by embodying two or more features for the particular attribute of color. Thus, at least two bungees in the radial array have a different color. In other words, at least one bungee in the radial array has a first feature, that is a first color, and at least one other bungee in the radial array has a second feature, a second color, the second color being a color different than the first color.

The first color can be red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, black and white; any hue, saturation, lightness, and brightness thereof; and any combination thereof. The second color can be red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, black and white; any hue, saturation, lightness, and brightness thereof; and any combination thereof, with the proviso that the second color is a color different than the first color.

In an embodiment, the first color and the second color are selected from black (Pantone Black), orange (Pantone 165), pink (Pantone 219), grey (Pantone 422), lime green (Pantone 360), blue (Pantone 299), red (Pantone 186, purple (Pantone 268), beige (Pantone 4675), and yellow (Pantone Yellow), with the proviso that the second color is a color different than the first color.

In an embodiment, the attribute for the bungees is color and the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of bungees with at least two bungee colors.

In an embodiment, the attribute for the bungees is color and the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least two bungee colors with the Formula (1) below.

[A_xB_y]_z wherein  Formula (1)

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • x denotes the number of first color neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • y denotes the number of second color neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30, and
  • z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

The first color A can be any color as previously described herein. The second color B is a color different than the first color A and can be any color as described herein. The values for “x” and “y” can be the same or different. A “neighbor,” as used herein, is a suspension member (or a bungee) with the same attribute feature as a directly adjacent suspension member (or a bungee) when moving along the radial array in a single direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise). A “neighbor” can be a single suspension member (or bungee) or “neighbors” can be two or more suspension members (or two or more bungees).

For illustrative purposes, consider a trampoline with 28 bungees and a multi-tone radial array with the attribute being bungee color and the feature being two bungee colors, namely green (G) and blue (B). The green bungees are arranged in groups of 3, or GGG. The green bungees have the same first feature (green color) and are directly adjacent to one another, thereby denoting three neighbors. The blue bungees are arranged in groups of 4, or BBBB. The blue bungees have the same second feature (blue color), and are directly adjacent to one another, thereby denoting four neighbors. The green groups and the blue groups are present in the radial array to form a repeating sequence of green and blue. In terms of Formula 1, green is the first color for the bungee “A” and blue is the second color for the bungee “B.” Formula 1 depicts this illustrative multi-tone radial array as:

[A₃B₄]₄

wherein A=green and B=blue.

Annotated long-hand, the illustrative multi-tone radial array is denoted as GGGBBBBGGGBBBBGGGBBBBGGGBBBB.

FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of the trampoline 10 having a multi-tone radial array embodying Formula 1. The attribute is bungee color and the multi-tone radial array embodies a two bungee color (i.e., two feature) repeating sequence with the Formula (1a) below.

[A₁B₁]_z wherein  Formula (1a)

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • 1 denotes single neighbors for each of A and B; and
  • z is an integer from 5 to 30.

In FIGS. 1-3, bungees 16 with first color A are shown with stippled shading. The first color A can be any color as previously disclosed. Bungees 16 with the second color B are shown with line shading in FIGS. 1-3. The second color B is a color different than the color A and the second color B can be any color as previously disclosed. In a further embodiment, trampoline 10 has 36 bungees and z of Formula 1a is 18.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a two bungee color (i.e., two feature) repeating sequence with the Formula (1b) below.

[A₁B₅]_z wherein  Formula (1b)

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • 1 denotes the number of A neighbors,
  • 5 denotes the number of B neighbors; and
  • z is an integer from 2 to from 8.

FIG. 6 shows trampoline 10 with the multi-tone radial array of Formula (1b), [A₁B₅]_x wherein z is 18 (36 bungees). In FIG. 6, bungees 16 with first color A are shown with stippled shading. Bungees with second color B (different than first color A) are shown with line shading.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a two bungee color (i.e., two feature) repeating sequence with the Formula (1c) below.

[A₆B₆]_z wherein  Formula (1c)

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • 6 denotes A neighbors and B neighbors; and
  • z is an integer from 2 to from 5.

FIG. 7 shows trampoline 10 with the multi-tone radial array of Formula (1c), [A₆B₆]_z wherein z is 3 (36 bungees). In FIG. 7, bungees with first color A are shown with stippled shading. Bungees with second color B (different than first color A) are shown with line shading.

In an embodiment, the attribute for the bungees is color with three features, namely three different bungee colors. The multi-tone radial array embodies at least three bungee colors.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least three bungee colors with the Formula (2).

[A_xB_yC_w]_z wherein  Formula 2

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • C denotes a bungee with a third color,
  • x denotes the number of first color neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • y denotes the number of second color neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • w denotes the number of third color neighbors, and w is an integer from 1 to 30, and
  • z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

The first color A can be any color as previously described herein. The second color B is a color different than the first color A and can be any color as described herein. The third color C is a color different than first color A and different than second color B. Third color C can be any color previously described herein. In other words, each of first color A, second color B, and third color C is different from one another. The values for “w,” “x,” and “y” can be the same or different.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a three color (i.e., three feature) repeating sequence with the Formula (2a) below.

[A₁B₁C₁]_z and  Formula (2a)

• • z is an integer from 4 to from 20.

FIG. 8 shows trampoline 10 with the multi-tone radial array of Formula (2a), [A₁B₁C₁]_z wherein z is 12 (36 bungees). In FIG. 8, bungees with first color A are shown with stippled shading. Bungees with second color B (different than first color A) are shown with line shading. Bungees with third color C (different than first color A and different than second color B) are shown with alternating narrow line-bold line shading.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a three bungee color (i.e., three feature) repeating sequence with the Formula (2b) below.

[A₃B₃C₃]_z and  Formula (2b)

• • z is an integer from 2 to from 6.

FIG. 9 shows trampoline 10 with the multi-tone radial array of Formula (2b), [A₃B₃C₃]_z wherein z is 4 (36 bungees). In FIG. 9, bungees with first color A are shown with stippled shading. Bungees with second color B (different than first color A) are shown with line shading. Bungees with third color C (different than first color A and different than second color B) are shown with alternating narrow line-bold line shading.

In an embodiment, the attribute for the bungees is color with four features, namely four different bungee colors. The multi-tone radial array embodies four bungee colors.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of four colors with the Formula (3).

[A_xB_yC_wD_v]_z wherein  Formula (3)

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • C denotes a bungee with a third color,
  • D denotes a bungee with a fourth color,
  • x denotes the number of first color neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • y denotes the number of second color neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • w denotes the number of third color neighbors, and w is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • v denotes the number of fourth color neighbors, and v is an integer from 1 to 30 and
  • z denotes the number of repeating units, and X is an integer from 1 to 30.

The first color A can be any color as previously described herein. The second color B is a color different than the first color A and can be any color as described herein. The third color C is a color different than first color A and different than second color B. Third color C can be any color previously described herein. The fourth color D is a color that is different than first color A, different than first color B, and different than third color C. In other words, each of first color A, second color B, third color C, and fourth color D is different from one another. The values for “v,” “w,” “x,” and “y” can be the same or different.

In an embodiment, the attribute for the bungees is color with five features, namely five different bungee colors. The multi-tone radial array embodies five bungee colors.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of five bungee colors with the Formula (4).

[A_xB_yC_wD_vE_u]_z wherein  Formula (4)

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • C denotes a bungee with a third color,
  • D denotes a bungee with a fourth color,
  • E denotes a bungee with a fifth color,
  • x denotes the number of first color neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • y denotes the number of second color neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • w denotes the number of third color neighbors, and w is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • v denotes the number of fourth color neighbors, and v is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • u denotes the number of fifth color neighbors, and u is an integer from 1 to 30 and
  • z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

The first color A can be any color as previously described herein. The second color B is a color different than the first color A and can be any color as described herein. The third color C is a color different than first color A and different than second color B. Third color C can be any color previously described herein. The fourth color D is a color that is different than first color A, different than first color B, and different than third color C. The fifth color E is different than the first color A, the second color B, the third color C, and the fourth color D. In other words, each of first color A, second color B, third color C, fourth color D, and the fifth color E is different from one another. The values for “u,” “v,” “w,” “x,” and “y” can be the same or different.

In an embodiment, the attribute for the bungees is color with the feature being two, or three, or four, or five, or six, or more bungee colors. The spatial arrangement of the bungees with multiple colors is random. That is, the spatial color arrangement for the bungees with multiple colors follows no pattern. Hence, the multi-tone radial array embodies a random display of two, or three, or four, or five, or six, or more bungee colors.

In an embodiment, the skirt 32 is one of any of the previously described colors with the proviso that the skirt color is not black.

In an embodiment, the ribbon 24 includes two or more colors. The two or more colors may, or may not, be the same as the two bungee colors in the multi-tone radial array wherein the attribute is bungee color.

2. Bungee Tension

In an embodiment, the attribute for the bungees is tension and the two or more features for the attribute are two or more bungee strengths. The multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence (or a pattern) of two or more bungee strengths.

In an embodiment, the bungee tension is selected from one of the following five bungee strengths in the bungee strength continuum: (i) soft (5 kg up to 60 kg), medium (greater than 60 kg and up to 90 kg), strong (greater than 90 and up to 120 kg), extra strong (greater than 120 kg and up to 150 kg) and ultra strong (greater than 150 kg to 200 kg). Bungee strength is determined by placing three times the maximum weight of the target bungee capacity in the middle of the jumping mat suspended with the target bungees. The jumping mat should not touch the ground. For example, the test method for “medium” strength bungees entails placing 270 kg in the middle of the jumping mat. The jumping mat is evaluated to determine whether it touches the ground. If the jumping mat does not touch the ground, the bungees pass the test for “medium” strength bungees. A user bouncing on the present trampoline can generate from 0.1 g, or 0.5 g, or 1.0 g, or 1.5 g, or 2.0 g, or 2.5 g, or 3.0 g of gravitational force (or force “g”). In a further embodiment, the bungees are closed loop bungees with the foregoing bungee strengths.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of two bungee strengths with Formula (5) below.

[a_xb_y]_z wherein  Formula (5)

• • a denotes a bungee with a first strength,
  • b denotes a bungee with a second strength,
  • x denotes the number of first strength neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • y denotes the number of second strength neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30, and
  • z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

The first strength “a” can be any bungee strength from the bungee strength continuum (soft, medium, strong, extra strong, ultra strong) as previously described herein. The second strength “b” is a bungee strength different than the first strength “a” and can be any strength in the bungee strength continuum. The values for “x” and “y” can be the same or different.

In an embodiment, the tension for “b” is a strength next to the strength “a” in the bungee strength continuum and hereafter referred to as a “bungee strength match.” For example, if strength “a” is “soft,” then strength “b” will be medium. As another example, if strength “a” is strong, then strength “b” is either medium, or extra strong. Applicant discovered that a multi-tone radial array with multiple bungee strengths that does not fulfill the bungee strength match degrades the bungees and leads to rapid wear of the bungees. Bungee degradation and rapid wear are undesirable.

FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of the trampoline 10 having a multi-tone radial array wherein the attribute is bungee tension and the multi-tone radial array embodies a two bungee strength (i.e., two feature) repeating sequence with the Formula (5a) below.

[a₁b₁]_z wherein  Formula (5a)

• • a denotes a bungee with a first strength,
  • b denotes a bungee with a second strength,
  • 1 denotes single neighbors for each of “a” and “b”; and
  • z is an integer from 5 to 30.

In FIGS. 1-3, bungees 16 with first strength “a” are shown with stippled shading. The first strength “a” can be any bungee strength in the bungee strength continuum as previously disclosed. Bungees 16 with the second strength “b” are shown with line shading in FIGS. 1-3. The second strength “b” is a strength different than the strength “a” and the second strength “b” can be any strength in the bungee strength continuum. In an embodiment, the bungee strength “a” and bungee strength “b” fulfill a bungee strength match. In a further embodiment, trampoline 10 has 36 bungees and z of Formula 5a is 18.

3. Two Attributes

The multi-tone radial array for the trampoline can include two attributes (or more) for the suspension members, with two features for each attribute. In an embodiment, the first attribute is bungee color and the second attribute is bungee tension. The multi-tone radial array embodies at least two bungee colors and at least two bungee strengths. The first color may or may not be mated with the first bungee strength. In other words, a bungee may or may not embody the first color while simultaneously having the first bungee strength. Similarly, the second color may or may not be mated with the second bungee strength.

In an embodiment, the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least two bungee colors and a repeating sequence of at least two bungee strengths with the formula (6) below.

[Aa_xBb_y]_z wherein  Formula (6)

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • a denotes a bungee with a first strength,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • b denotes a bungee with a second strength,
  • x denotes the number of first color/strength neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • y denotes the number of second color/strength neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30, and
  • z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

The first color A can be any color as previously described herein. The second color B is a color different than the first color A and can be any color as described herein. The first strength “a” can be any strength from the bungee strength continuum (soft, medium, strong, extra strong, ultra) as previously described herein. The tension “b” is a bungee strength different than the first strength “a” and can be any strength in the bungee strength continuum. In an embodiment, first strength “a” and second strength “b” fulfill the bungee strength match. The values for “x” and “y” can be the same or different.

FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of the trampoline 10 having a multi-tone radial array wherein the suspension member attributes are bungee color and bungee tension. The multi-tone radial array embodies a two bungee color and a two bungee strength (i.e., two feature) repeating sequence with the Formula (6a) below.

[Aa₁Bb₁]_z wherein  Formula (6a)

• • A denotes a bungee with a first color,
  • a denotes a bungee with a first strength,
  • B denotes a bungee with a second color,
  • b denotes a bungee with a second strength,
  • 1 denotes single neighbors for each of “a” and “b”; and
  • z is an integer from 5 to 30.

In FIGS. 1-3, bungees 16 with the first color A are mated with the first bungee strength “a”, and shown with stippled shading. First color A is different than second color B. The first strength “a” can be any bungee strength in the bungee strength continuum as previously disclosed. Bungees 16 with the second color B are mated with the second strength “b”, and are shown with line shading in FIGS. 1-3. The second strength “b” is a strength different than the strength “a” and the second strength “b” can be any strength in the bungee strength continuum. In an embodiment, the bungee strength “a” and bungee strength “b” fulfill a bungee strength match. In a further embodiment, trampoline 10 has 36 bungees and z of Formula (6a) is 18.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 show additional embodiments for multi-tone radial arrays with two attributes (bungee color and bungee strength) and two features for each respective attribute.

FIG. 6 depicts a multi-tone radial array formula with [Aa₁Bb₅]_z.

FIG. 7 depicts a multi-tone radial array formula with [Aa₁Bb₆]_z.

FIG. 8 depicts a multi-tone radial array formula with [Aa₁Bb₁Cc₁]_z.

FIG. 9 depicts a multi-tone radial array with formula [Aa₃Bb₃Cc₃]_z.

4. Bungee-to-Connector Ratio

In an embodiment, the suspension members are bungees. The attribute is a bungee-to-connector ratio. The feature is at least two bungee-to connector ratios embodied by the multi-tone radial array. The “bungee-to-connector ratio,” or “BtC ratio,” as used herein, is the number of bungees received by, or otherwise attached to, a connector. When a connector receives one bungee, the BtC ratio is 1. When a connector receives two bungees, the BtC ratio is 2. When a connector receives three bungees, the BtC ratio is 3, and so on. The multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least two different BtC ratios.

In an embodiment, the attribute is BtC ratio and the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least two different BtC ratios, with the Formula (7) below.

[J_xK_y]_z wherein  Formula (7)

• • J denotes a first BtC ratio,
  • K denotes a second BtC ratio,
  • x denotes the number of first BtC ratio neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,
  • y denotes the number of second BtC ratio neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30, and
  • z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

The first BtC ratio can be 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. The second BtC ratio can be 1,2,3,4, or 5, with the proviso that the second BtC ratio is a value different than the first BtC ratio. The values for “x” and “y” can be the same or different.

FIGS. 10 and 10A show an embodiment of the trampoline 10 having a multi-tone radial array wherein the attribute is BtC ratio. The multi-tone radial array embodies a two BtC ratio (i.e., two feature) repeating sequence with the Formula (7a) below.

[J₁K₁]_z wherein  Formula (7a)

• • J denotes a first BtC ratio,
  • K denotes a second BtC ratio,
  • 1 denotes single neighbors for each of J and K; and
  • z is an integer from 5 to 30.

In FIGS. 10 and 10A, the first BtC ratio (J) is 2, with two bungees received by one connector. The second BtC ratio (K) is 1, with one bungee received by one connector.

The color and/or the tension of the bungees in the first BtC ratio (J) can be the same or different. In an embodiment, each bungee in the first BtC ratio (J) has a different color. In FIG. 10A, J denotes the first BtC ratio and the stippled shading denotes a first color and the line shading denotes a second color that is different than the first color. The first color and second color can be any color as previously disclosed herein.

In an embodiment, each bungee in the first BtC ratio (J) has a different strength. In this embodiment, the stippled shading in FIG. 10A denotes a first bungee strength. The line shading denotes a second bungee strength. In a further embodiment, the bungees in the first BtC ratio (J) fulfill a bungee strength match.

The color and/or the tension of the bungees in the first BtC ratio (J) can be the same or different than the color and/or tension of the bungee in the second BtC ratio (K). FIG. 10A shows an embodiment, wherein a bungee (with stippled shading) in the first BtC (J) has the same color (or the same strength) as the bungee (with stippled shading) in the second BtC (K).

In an embodiment, the bungees in the first BtC ratio (J) and the bungee in the second BtC ratio (K) each has a different color (and/or a different strength). FIG. 10 shows an embodiment wherein the stippled shading denotes a bungee with a first color (and/or a first bungee strength), and the line shading denotes a bungee with a second color (and/or a second bungee strength), and the narrow line-bold line shading denotes a bungee with a third color (and/or a third bungee strength). The first color (first strength), the second color (second strength), and the third color (third strength) can be any color (or strength) disclosed herein.

The present trampoline may comprise two or more embodiments disclosed herein.

5. Skirt

The present disclosure provides another trampoline. In an embodiment, a trampoline is provided and includes a frame and a jumping sheet. The jumping sheet includes a jumping mat, a ribbon, and a skirt. The trampoline includes a plurality of suspension members extending between the frame and the jumping sheet. The suspension members are spaced apart around the frame. The suspension members suspend the jumping sheet from the frame. The skirt is a different color than the color of the jumping mat.

FIGS. 11 and 11A show a trampoline 110. The trampoline 110 includes the same components as trampoline 10 including a frame 112, a jumping sheet 114, suspension members (SM) (or bungees 116), legs (not shown), and connectors (not shown). The jumping sheet 114 includes a jumping mat 130, a ribbon 124, and a skirt 132. The “skirt” is an area of the jumping sheet extending outside the outermost edge of the ribbon 124 far enough to cover a portion of, or all of, the connectors. The skirt protects, or otherwise prevents, the user from stepping directly onto the suspension members. In an embodiment, the skirt extends from the ribbon 124 to the frame 112 to cover the suspension members.

The skirt 132 is a different color (shown by stippled shading), than the color of the jumping mat 130.

In an embodiment, the skirt 132 is a different material than the material of the jumping mat 130. Nonlimiting examples of suitable material for the skirt 132 include cotton, linen, wool, leather, polyester, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, viscose, polyurethane, carbon fiber, and any combination thereof. In this embodiment, the skirt 132 is a different color than the jumping mat 114 and the skirt 132 is made from a different material than jumping mat 114.

In an embodiment, the skirt 132 is a different color than the ribbon 124.

In an embodiment, the skirt 132 includes two or more colors. In a further embodiment, each of the skirt colors is different than the color of the jumping mat 130.

In an embodiment, the skirt 132 includes two or more concentric circles, each concentric circle having a different color and/or composed of a different material. FIG. 11A shows skirt 132 with first concentric circle 134 and second concentric circle 136. The first concentric circle 134 can have a first color (and/or be made from a first material). Second concentric circle 136 can have a second color (and/or be made from a second material) that is different than the color (and/or material) of the first concentric circle 134.

In an embodiment, the trampoline 110 includes a plurality of suspension members that form a multi-tone radial array that embodies at least two features for an attribute of the suspension members. The suspension members can be any suspension member previously disclosed herein. The multi-tone radial array can be any multi-tone radial array as previously disclosed herein.

In an embodiment, the trampoline includes the skirt 132 with concentric circles 134 and 136. The trampoline 110 also includes bungees 116 with the attribute of bungee color, with two features being a first bungee color and a bungee second color to form a multi-tone radial array having a repeating sequence with Formula (1)—[A_xB_y]_z. The first concentric circle 134 has the same color as the first bungee color. The second concentric circle has a color that is the same as the second bungee color.

In an embodiment, the trampoline 110 includes a plurality of connectors attached to the jumping sheet, the connectors spaced around a perimeter of the jumping sheet and adapted to receive a portion of one or more suspension members. The connectors can be any connector as previously disclosed herein.

Although FIGS. 1-3, 6-9, and 11 show bungees annotated with two attributes, it is understood that the multi-tone radial array in each of the foregoing figures can include (i) the first attribute only (i.e., bungee color A, B], the second attribute only (i.e., bungee tension [a, b]), or (iii) both attributes (i) and (ii).

The present trampoline may comprise two or more embodiments disclosed therein.

6. Advantages

Applicant discovered the present trampoline with the multi-tone radial array yields many advantages. Applicant discovered that the trampoline with the skirt having a different color than the jumping mat yields advantages.

(A) Enhanced experience at point of purchase experience.

The present trampoline enhances the purchase experience because the customer can customize to a greater degree the radial array of suspension members for the trampoline than currently possible. The ability to create multi-tone radial array with two or more bungee colors (alone or in combination, with two or more bungee strengths) personalizes the trampoline to meet the customer's specific preferences. This provides the customer with a closer attachment to the product, enhancing customer loyalty.

For example, the customer can utilize a web-based computer system to select at least two features for a particular bungee attribute. With a computing device having an electronic display screen (such as a smartphone, tablet computer, a portable computing device, or a personal computer), the customer can visit an Internet web-site whereby a web-based computer system for configuring a trampoline provides:

• • a server computer comprising a processor, memory and a database, the server computer generates a graphical user interface display on a user device, the graphical user interface display comprising
  • a radial array interface displaying an image of a trampoline with a radial array of suspension members having one or more attributes, the radial array interface comprising one or more selection modules for receiving user input for two or more customizable features for the suspension members; and
  • a configuration module coupled to the one or more selection modules for spatially orienting the user inputs onto the radial array, the configuration module generating a display of a trampoline image with a multi-tone radial array based on the user input.

(B) Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

The greater degree for customization provided by the present trampoline with multi-tone radial array enhances and promotes greater customer satisfaction. The user-personalized aspect of the present trampoline yields a stronger affiliation between the user and the present trampoline—which promotes more frequent use of the present trampoline, thereby promoting more physical activity by the user, yielding improved or enhanced customer health and well-being.

The present trampoline with the multi-tone radial array enhances connection between the user and the trampoline and encourages customer creativity. The present trampoline enables the user to match the multiple bungee colors of the multi-tone radial array to user specified:

• • team colors (school team or national sports team);
  • nation colors, nation flag colors (red/white/blue for USA; black/red/gold for Germany);
  • theme patterns for holidays (green/red for Christmas);
  • landscape themes, camouflage, desert, jungle, ocean, rainbow, mud; and
  • organization colors (pink and white for breast cancer awareness organization).

A user can assemble an exercise outfit with clothing articles (shirt, shorts, leggings, shoes, shoelaces, hat, wristband, headband, belt, socks) containing colors that match the multiple bungee colors in the multi-tone radial array. Such clothing-to-multi-tone radial array matching enhances the rebounding experience for the user.

A fitness studio utilizing the present trampoline can tailor the repeating sequence and multiple bungee colors in the multi-tone radial array for its fleet of trampolines to match the color scheme and/or color sequence of the studio's brand. The present trampoline with multi-tone radial array thereby advantageously augments a business' (fitness studio's) marketing campaign.

A customer may utilize a multi-tone radial array embodying (i) a repeating sequence of two or more bungee strengths with (ii) a repeating sequence of two or more bungee colors on a single trampoline and create hybrid resistance levels that fall between the basic set of bungee strengths. Using different colored bungees to designate the different bungee strengths (i.e., utilizing multi-tone radial array with Formula (6) [Aa_xBb_y]_z) simplifies visual recognition of the repeating sequence of bungee strengths being used. It also makes it immediately clear to what degree the resistance has been altered by the proportion of one bungee color used compared to the other bungee color.

The present trampoline with multi-tone radial array is portable, allowing it to be easily moved from room to room inside a house. The wide range of color choices available for the present trampoline with the multi-tone radial array with multi-color bungees, allows the present trampoline to more easily fit a room's decor, making it unobtrusive and more likely to be left out where it will be used. The multi-tone radial array with multi-color bungees enables the present trampoline to fit the decor of more than one room, increasing its integration and adaptability throughout a home or between multiple locations.

(C) Enhanced Longevity

A trampoline with a multi-tone radial array wherein the attribute is a repeating sequence of two BtC ratios promotes recycling and/or re-use of old or worn bungees. A user can the prepare a BtC ratio of 2 with two old or two worn bungees, with a combined strength that matches, or is otherwise similar to, the strength of the bungee for the BtC ratio 1. The old or worn bungees in the BtC ratio 2 can be identified with a specific color and the bungees in BtC ratio 1 can be identified with a second and different color. The user can then readily discern the old or worn bungees (from BtC 1) from the other bungees (from BtC ratio 1).

(D) Enhanced Product Differentiation

The present trampoline with multiple bungee colors in the multi-tone radial array can promote product differentiation. The bungees with multi-colors (and bungees with multi-color in a repeating sequence in particular) alone or in combination with frame size, frame shape, number of bungees, and connector type can distinguish the present trampoline over other trampolines in the marketplace.

(E) Enhanced Safety

When bouncing on a trampoline, a user's awareness of the jumping surface edge mostly depends on the user's peripheral vision. Combinations of bright, contrasting colors in a multi-tone radial array with a repeating sequence of two or more bungee colors improves the visibility of the jumping mat edge and therefore increase a user's overall safety and confidence during exercise.

In a similar manner, a skirt with a different color than the jumping mat improves the visibility of the jumping mat edge and therefore increases a user's overall safety and confidence during exercise.

It is specifically intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A trampoline comprising:

a frame;

a jumping sheet;

a plurality of suspension members extending between the frame and the jumping sheet and suspending the jumping sheet from the frame, the suspension members having an attribute, the suspension members spaced apart around the frame; and

the plurality of suspension members forming a multi-tone radial array that embodies at least two features for the attribute of the suspension members.

2. The trampoline of claim 1 wherein the multi-tone radial array comprises from 30 to 60 suspension members that are bungees.

3. The trampoline of claim 2 wherein the frame has an ovoid shape.

4. The trampoline of claim 3 wherein the attribute for the suspension members is color and the multi-tone radial array embodies a first feature of a bungee with a first color and a second feature of a bungee with a second color.

5. The trampoline of claim 4 wherein the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least two bungee colors with the Formula (1) below.

[AxBy]z wherein  Formula (1)

A denotes a bungee with a first color,

B denotes a bungee with a second color,

x denotes the number of first color neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,

y denotes the number of second color neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30, and

z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

6. The trampoline of claim 1 wherein the suspension members are bungees, the attribute is bungee color and the multi-tone radial array embodies a first feature of a bungee with a first color, a second feature of a bungee with a second color, and a third feature of a bungee with a third color.

7. The trampoline of claim 6 wherein the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least three bungee colors with the Formula (2) below.

[AxByCw]z wherein  Formula 2

A denotes a bungee with a first color,

B denotes a bungee with a second color,

C denotes a bungee with a third color,

x denotes the number of first color neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,

y denotes the number of second color neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30,

w denotes the number of third color neighbors, and w is an integer from 1 to 30, and

z denotes the number of repeating units, and X is an integer from 1 to 30.

8. The trampoline of claim 1 wherein the suspension members are bungees, the attribute is tension and the feature is bungee strength; and

the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least two bungee strengths with Formula (5) below. [axby]z wherein  Formula (5)

a denotes a bungee with a first strength,

b denotes a bungee with a second strength,

x denotes the number of first strength neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,

y denotes the number of second strength neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30, and

z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

9. The trampoline of claim 1 wherein the suspension members are bungees with the attributes of bungee color and tension; and

the multi-tone radial array embodies

a bungee with a first color and a bungee with a second color; and

a bungee with a first strength and a bungee with a second strength.

10. The trampoline of claim 9 wherein the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of two bungee colors and a repeating sequence of two bungee strengths with the Formula (6) below.

[AaxBby]z wherein  Formula (6)

A denotes a bungee with a first color,

a denotes a bungee with a first strength,

B denotes a bungee with a second color,

b denotes a bungee with a second strength,

x denotes the number of first color/strength neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,

y denotes the number of second color/strength neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30, and

z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

11. The trampoline of claim 10 wherein the first color A is mated with the first strength “a” and the second color B is mated with the second strength “b.”

12. The trampoline of claim 1 wherein the suspension members are bungees and the attribute is a bungee-to-connector ratio (BtC ratio), the multi-tone radial array embodies a repeating sequence of at least two different BtC ratios, with the Formula (7) below.

[JxKy]z wherein  Formula (7)

J denotes a first BtC ratio,

K denotes a second BtC ratio,

x denotes the number of first BtC ratio neighbors, and x is an integer from 1 to 30,

y denotes the number of second BtC ratio neighbors, and y is an integer from 1 to 30, and

z denotes the number of repeating units, and z is an integer from 1 to 30.

13. The trampoline of claim 12 where the first BtC ratio (J) is 2 and the second BtC ratio (K) is 1.

14. The trampoline of claim 1 comprising

a plurality of connectors attached to the jumping sheet, the connectors spaced around a perimeter of the jumping sheet and adapted to receive a portion of one or more suspension members.

15. A trampoline comprising:

a frame;

a jumping sheet comprising a jumping mat, a ribbon, and a skirt;

a plurality of suspension members extending between the frame and the jumping sheet and suspending the jumping sheet from the frame, the suspension members spaced apart around the frame; and

the skirt is a different color than the color of the jumping mat.

16. The trampoline of claim 15 wherein the skirt is a different material than the material of the jumping mat.

17. The trampoline of claim 15 wherein the skirt comprises two or more colors.

18. The trampoline of claim 15 wherein the skirt comprises two or more concentric circles, each concentric circle having a different color.

19. The trampoline of claim 15 wherein the suspension members have an attribute, and the plurality of suspension members form a multi-tone radial array that embodies at least two features for the attribute of the suspension members.

20. The trampoline of claim 15 comprising

a plurality of connectors attached to the jumping sheet, the connectors spaced around a perimeter of the jumping sheet and adapted to receive a portion of one or more suspension members.