TRAMPOLINE FRAME WITH INTEGRATED SIDE FRAME MEMBERS AND TRAMPOLINE EMPLOYING SUCH FRAME
A trampoline frame structure includes a side frame and a number of support legs. The side frame includes a number of side frame tube sections, where each side frame tube section and two support legs are formed integrally into an upside-down U shaped side frame member. Each pair of adjacent side frame members are connected together by fasteners that connect adjacent support legs of the two side frame members, and the multiple side frame member collectively form a closed shape in the top view. The entire trampoline frame can be formed without welding, which simplifies the manufacturing process and accomplishes a trampoline frame having high strength and low manufacturing cost.
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This invention relates to sports equipment. In particular, it relates to a frame structure of a trampoline.
Description of Related ArtConventional trampoline frames typically includes a side frame member and a number of support legs. For example, Chinese patent application CN 201620440766.6 describes a trampoline frame structure where the side frame is directly welded to the support legs. Chinese patent application CN 201710926507.3 describes another trampoline frame structure where the side frame and the support legs are joined together by T-shaped connecters. Each T-shaped connecter includes a horizontal tube and a vertical tube joined to each other perpendicularly. T-shaped connecters made of plastic tubes typically have relatively low strength and short life. T-shaped connecters made of metal tubes require welding between the horizontal and vertical tubes. Because trampolines are typically used outdoors, to prevent rusting and corrosion at the welding sites, the welding sites typically needs to be galvanized, which increases the manufacturing process complexity and cost.
SUMMARYAccordingly, the present invention is directed to a trampoline frame structure and related manufacturing method that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a trampoline frame structure that has high strength and low manufacturing cost.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a trampoline frame structure, which includes: a side frame; a plurality of support legs; wherein the side frame includes a plurality of side frame tube sections, wherein each side frame tube section and two corresponding support legs are formed integrally into an upside-down U shaped side frame member, and wherein the plurality of upside-down U shaped side frame members are spatially arranged relative to each other in a closed shape in a top view; and a plurality of fasteners, configured to connect adjacent support legs of each pair of adjacent upside-down U shaped side frame members.
Preferably, the trampoline frame structure further includes a plurality of connecting tubes, each connecting tube being disposed to connect two free ends of the two support legs of one of the upside-down U shaped side frame members.
Preferably, each connecting tube is formed integrally with the corresponding upside-down U shaped side frame member.
Preferably, the side frame tube sections, the support legs, and the connecting tubes are square tubes.
Preferably, the side frame tube sections, the support legs, and the connecting tubes are round tubes.
Preferably, the side frame tube sections, the support legs, and the connecting tubes are D-shaped tubes.
Preferably, the plurality of fasteners including a plurality of bolts and a corresponding plurality of nuts.
Preferably, each side frame tube section has an arc shape in the top view, and wherein the side frame formed by the plurality of side frame tube sections has a circular shape.
Preferably, each side frame tube section has a curved shape in the top view, and wherein the side frame formed by the plurality of side frame tube sections has an oval shape.
Preferably, each side frame tube section has a straight shape in the top view, and wherein the side frame formed by the plurality of side frame tube sections has a polygonal shape.
Compared to conventional technologies, the trampoline frame structures according to embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages: By forming each side frame tube section and two support legs integrally into an upside-down U shaped side frame member, any connecting each pair of adjacent upside-down U shaped side frame members by using nuts and bolts to connect their adjacent support legs, the entire trampoline frame may be formed without welding. This simplifies the manufacturing process, and accomplishes a trampoline frame having high strength and low manufacturing cost.
Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.
First embodimentReferring to
The side frame tube sections 10 and the support legs 2 are preferably made of steel, but may also be made of aluminum, copper, plastic, or other suitable materials. In this disclosure, “formed integrally” means that the entire structure is one integrated piece instead of different parts welded together or connected together by other means. For example, when an integrally formed piece is formed of metal, it is formed from one piece of metal by bending, etc.; when an integrally formed piece is formed of plastic, it is formed by one molding process.
In the illustrated embodiment, each side frame tube section 10 has an arc shape in the top view, and the multiple side frame tube sections 10 collectively form a side frame 1 having a circular shape in the top view. In alternative embodiments, the side frame tube sections 10 may be straight, or have other shapes in the top view, and the side frame 1 may correspondingly have a polygonal, oval, or other shape, depending on practical needs. Preferably, when the side frame 1 is a circular shape in the top view, each pair of connected support legs 2 are arranged so that in the top view, an imaginary line connecting their centers is in the tangential direction of the circle, and each bolt 4 extends in the tangential direction, preferably along the above-mentioned imaginary line. Similarly, for other top-view shapes of the side frame 1, the imaginary line connecting the centers of two connected support legs is in the tangential direction, or in the case of a polygon, in a direction perpendicular to the bisector of the angle between the two sides of the polygon. The bolts extend in the tangential direction, preferably along the above-mentioned imaginary line.
Second EmbodimentReferring to
The side frame tube sections 10, the support legs 12 and the connecting tubes 5 are preferably made of steel, but may also be made of aluminum, copper, plastic, or other suitable materials.
In a preferred embodiment, the side frame tube sections 10, the support legs 12 and the connecting tubes 5 are round tubes, and washers are used with the nuts and bolts 4. In alternative embodiments, the side frame tube sections 10, the support legs 12 and the connecting tubes 5 may be square tubes, D-shaped tubes, etc., which may provide more stable connections when two tubes are connected by nuts and bolts 4.
Other aspects of the second embodiment are similar to the first embodiment.
Third EmbodimentA trampoline according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in
A trampoline according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in
In embodiments of the present invention, by integrally forming the side frame tube sections and the support legs into the upside-down U shaped side frame member 3 or the closed-loop shaped side frame member 6 (or its upper part) or the side frame members 15 and 17, the entire trampoline frame may be formed without welding. This simplifies the manufacturing process, and accomplishes a trampoline frame having high strength and low manufacturing cost.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modification and variations can be made in the trampoline frame structure of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A trampoline frame structure, comprising:
- a side frame;
- a plurality of support legs;
- wherein the side frame includes a plurality of side frame tube sections, wherein each side frame tube section and two corresponding support legs are formed integrally into an upside-down U shaped side frame member, and wherein the plurality of upside-down U shaped side frame members are spatially arranged relative to each other in a closed shape in a top view; and
- a plurality of fasteners, configured to connect adjacent support legs of each pair of adjacent upside-down U shaped side frame members.
2. The trampoline frame structure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of connecting tubes, each connecting tube being disposed to connect two free ends of the two support legs of one of the upside-down U shaped side frame members.
3. The trampoline frame structure of claim 2, wherein each connecting tube is formed integrally with the corresponding upside-down U shaped side frame member.
4. The trampoline frame structure of claim 2, wherein the side frame tube sections, the support legs, and the connecting tubes are square tubes.
5. The trampoline frame structure of claim 2, wherein the side frame tube sections, the support legs, and the connecting tubes are round tubes.
6. The trampoline frame structure of claim 2, wherein the side frame tube sections, the support legs, and the connecting tubes are D-shaped tubes.
7. The trampoline frame structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners including a plurality of bolts and a corresponding plurality of nuts.
8. The trampoline frame structure of claim 1, wherein each side frame tube section has an arc shape in the top view, and wherein the side frame formed by the plurality of side frame tube sections has a circular shape.
9. The trampoline frame structure of claim 1, wherein each side frame tube section has a curved shape in the top view, and wherein the side frame formed by the plurality of side frame tube sections has an oval shape.
10. The trampoline frame structure of claim 1, wherein each side frame tube section has a straight shape in the top view, and wherein the side frame formed by the plurality of side frame tube sections has a polygonal shape.
11. The trampoline frame structure of claim 1, wherein each support leg is bent outwardly at its lower end.
12. The trampoline frame structure of claim 1, wherein the two support leg of each side frame member are bent in a circumferential direction toward each other at their lower ends.
13. A trampoline, comprising:
- the trampoline frame structure of claim 1;
- a plurality of safety net support posts affixed to the side frame structure; and
- a safety net fastened to the plurality of safety net support posts.
14. The trampoline of claim 13, wherein each safety net support post is affixed to two adjacent support legs that are joined together.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 30, 2019
Publication Date: Oct 22, 2020
Applicant: Suzhou High-Ten Sports Equipment Co., Ltd. (Zhangjiagang City)
Inventor: Jie Zhou (Zhangjiagang)
Application Number: 16/668,370