TRAMPOLINE FRAME WITH INWARD-POINTING SUPPORT FEET AND TRAMPOLINE EMPLOYING SUCH FRAME

Abstract

A trampoline frame includes a horizontally disposed side frame and multiple support legs joined to the side frame. Each support leg includes a vertical main section and a bent section which bends and extends from a lower end of the vertical main section. The bent section includes a support section configured to contact a ground, and is located on a side of a projection of the side frame on the ground that is closer to a center of the trampoline frame. By providing such bent section for each support leg, the trampoline frame structure can prevent the support legs from shifting toward the outside after long term use, thereby significantly improving the support strength of the trampoline frame and prolonging its service life.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to sports equipment. In particular, it relates to a frame structure of a trampoline.

Trampolining is a sport in which the athletes bounce on trampolines and perform acrobatics. It is a type of gymnastic and has been referred to as “air ballet”. Modern trampolining started in France, and gradually became a popular sport.

A trampoline typically includes a side frame, a bouncing mat (trampoline bed), support legs and connecting components. The outer periphery of the bouncing mat is connected to the side frame by the connecting components. The side frame and the support legs are collectively referred to as the trampoline frame, which provides support for the overall trampoline. The bouncing mat provides the rebounding force.

Chinese patent application CN 201920545024.3 describes a trampoline frame structure, which includes: a side frame and a plurality 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 frame member. Each pair of adjacent frame members are connected together by fasteners that connect adjacent support legs of the two frame members. Each support leg includes a support section configured to contact the ground, and the support sections are oriented in a direction that align with the projection of the side frame on the ground.

In other known trampoline frames, the support sections of the legs are oriented in a direction that fall outside of the projection of the side frame on the ground. i.e. the support sections are located on the outer side (the side opposite the center of the trampoline frame) of the projection of the side frame on the ground. One example of such a trampoline frame is described in Chinese patent application CN 201621369885.3.

The above known trampoline frames have the following shortcomings: After long term use of bouncing on the mat, the force of the up-down bouncing may cause the lower parts of the support legs to shift toward the outside (i.e. the lower parts of support legs bend outwardly), reducing the support strength and service life of the entire trampoline.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a trampoline frame that solves the above discussed technical problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a trampoline frame that has high structural strength and long service live, which substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a trampoline frame, which includes: a horizontally disposed side frame; and a plurality of support legs joined to the side frame, wherein each support leg includes a vertical main section and a bent section which bends and extends from a lower end of the vertical main section, the bent section including a support section configured to contact a ground, wherein the support section is located on a side of a projection of the side frame on the ground that is closer to a center of the trampoline frame.

In some embodiments, the vertical main section and the support section are perpendicular to each other, and the support section points to the center of the trampoline frame.

In some embodiments, the side frame includes a plurality of side frame tube sections, wherein each two adjacent side frame tube sections and one support leg are connected together by a two-ended corrector or a three-ended connector.

In some embodiments, the side frame includes a plurality of side frame tube sections, wherein each two adjacent side frame tube sections are connected together by a connecting member, and the trampoline frame further comprising a plurality of downwardly pointing connecting tubes each being welded onto one of the side frame tube sections.

In some embodiments, either: each of the plurality of side frame tube sections is arc shaped and the plurality of side frame tube sections are arranged to collectively form a round side frame; or: each of the plurality of side frame tube sections is straight and the plurality of side frame tube sections are arranged to collectively form a polygonal side frame.

In some embodiments, each connecting tube is connected to one of the plurality of support legs by interference fitting.

In some embodiments, the side frame includes a plurality of side frame tube sections, each side frame tube section including a horizontally disposed main section and two downwardly bent sections that respectively extend from two ends of the main section, wherein two bent sections of two adjacent side frame tube sections are compressed into half-circles in cross-sectional shape with a support leg disposed between them, and wherein the two compressed bent sections and the support leg are affixed to each other by fasteners.

In some embodiments, the plurality of side frame tube sections and the plurality of support legs are each formed of a round tube or a D shaped tube or a square tube.

Compared to known trampoline frames, trampoline frames according to embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages. By providing a bent section at the lower end of each the support leg, with the bent section oriented such that the ground-contacting support section of the bent section is located on a side of the projection of the side frame on the ground that is closer to the center of the trampoline, the structure can prevent the support legs from shifting toward the outside after long term use, thereby significantly improving the support strength of the trampoline frame and prolonging its service life.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a trampoline frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a trampoline frame according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a trampoline frame according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the trampoline frame of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a trampoline frame in an alternative of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the trampoline frame of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a trampoline frame in an alternative of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the trampoline frame of the third embodiment.

FIGS. 9A-9B show a trampoline frame according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A-10B show a trampoline frame according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A-11B show a trampoline frame according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The trampoline frames according to embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1 (perspective view) and FIG. 4 (top plan view), the trampoline frame according to the first embodiment includes a side frame 1 and multiple support legs 2 joined to the side frame. The side frame 1 includes multiple horizontally disposed side frame tube sections 10. In the illustrated embodiment, there are six support legs 2 and six side frame tube sections 10. The side frame tube sections 10 are arc shaped, and the six side frame tube sections 10 are arranged to collectively form a round side frame 1. Both the side frame tube sections 10 and the support legs 2 are formed of round tubes (i.e. tubes having round cross-sections). In alternative embodiments, the number of the support legs 2 and side frame tube sections 10 may be other than six, depending on practical need. The side frame tube sections 10 may alternatively be straight rather than arc shaped, and the side frame 1 may be an oval shape or a polygon shape. In alternative embodiments, the side frame tube sections 10 and support legs 2 may be formed of D shaped tubes or square tubes in cross-sections.

In the illustrated embodiment, two adjacent side frame tube sections 10 and one support leg 2 are connected together by a two-ended connector 3. The two-ended connector 3 is welded to the support leg 2, and has a first connecting end 30 and a second connecting end 31 that respectively cooperate with the two side frame tube sections 10. The first and connecting ends 30, 31 are open tubes, and the ends of the two side frame tube sections 10 are respectively inserted into the open ends of the two-ended connector 3 and securely connected the connector 3 by interference fitting. In alternative embodiments, the two adjacent side frame tube sections 10 and the support leg 2 may be connected together by a three-ended (T-shaped) connector, which has first and second connecting ends respectively connected to the two side frame tube sections 10 by interference fitting, and a third connecting end connected to the support leg 2 by interference fitting.

Each support leg 2 includes a vertical main section 20 and a bent section 21 which bends and extends from the lower end of the vertical main section 20 toward the center of the trampoline frame. A part of the bent section 21 is a support section 210 (feet) configured to contact the ground to support the trampoline frame. The vertical main section 20 and the support section 210 are perpendicular to each other. The support section 210 is located on the side of the projection of the side frame 1 on the ground that is closer to the center of the trampoline frame (i.e. on the inside side of the ground projection of the side frame).

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a trampoline frame in an alternative of the first embodiment, having eight side frame tube sections 10 and eight support legs 2.

Second Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 2 (perspective view) and FIG. 6 (top plan view), the trampoline of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, except for the structure of the side frame. As described above, the side frame 1 of the first embodiment includes multiple side frame tube sections 10, with two adjacent side frame tube sections 10 and one support leg 2 connected together by a two-ended connector 3. In the second embodiment, the side frame 1 includes multiple side frame tube sections 10, each side frame tube section 10 including a straight and horizontally disposed main section 100 and two downwardly bent sections 101 that respectively extend from the two ends of the main section 100. The two bent sections 101 of two adjacent side frame tube sections 10 are compressed into half-circles (in the cross-sections), with one of the support legs 2 disposed between them. The two compressed bent sections 101 and the support leg 2 are affixed to each other by fasteners (not shown in FIG. 2), such as bolts, stud pins, etc. Due to the straight side frame tube sections 10, the side frame 1 is a polygon (a hexagon in this example) in the top plan view. Other aspects of the trampoline frame of the second embodiment are similar to those of the trampoline frame of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a trampoline frame in an alternative of the second embodiment, having eight side frame tube sections 10 and eight support legs 2, so the side frame forms an eight-sided polygon (octagon).

Third Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 3 (perspective view) and FIG. 8 (top plan view), the trampoline of the third embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, except for the structure of the side frame. As described above, the side frame 1 of the first embodiment includes multiple side frame tube sections 10, with two adjacent side frame tube sections 10 and one support leg 2 connected together by a two-ended connector 3. In the third embodiment, the side frame 1 includes multiple arc-shaped side frame tube sections 10, where adjacent side frame tube sections 10 are connected by connecting members 102. Each side frame tube section 10 has welded on it one or more downwardly pointing connecting tubes 103, and the upper end of a support leg 2 is inserted into the open end of the connecting tubes 103 and securely connected to it by interference fitting. Other aspects of the trampoline frame of the third embodiment are similar to those of the trampoline frame of the first embodiment.

Additional Embodiments

Additional embodiments of the trampoline frame are shown in FIGS. 9A-11B. In these embodiments, the support section 210 of each support leg 2, while still located on the inside side of the projection of the side frame 1 on the ground, do not point directly toward the center of the trampoline frame.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A (top view) and 9B (perspective view), the trampoline frame 1 is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except that the support sections 210 of the support legs 2 do not point directly toward the center of the trampoline frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the six support sections 210 form three pairs and each pair point toward each other; but this is not required. The embodiment of FIGS. 10A and 10B is similar to that of FIGS. 9A and 9B except that there are eight side frame tube sections 10 and eight support legs 2, and the eight support sections 210 form four pairs, each pair pointing to each other. The embodiment of FIGS. 11A and 11B is similar to that of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, except that the support sections 210 of the support legs 2 do not point directly toward the center of the trampoline frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the eight support sections 210 form four pairs and each pair point toward each other; but this is not required.

In all of the above embodiments, a bent section 21 is provided at the lower end of the support leg 2, with the bent section 21 oriented such that the ground-contacting support section 210 of the bent section 21 is located on a side of the projection of the side frame 1 on the ground that is closer to the center of the trampoline. This structure can prevent the support legs from shifting toward the outside after long term use, thereby significantly improving the support strength of the trampoline frame and prolonging its service life.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modification and variations can be made in the trampoline frame 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, comprising:

a horizontally disposed side frame; and

a plurality of support legs joined to the side frame,

wherein each support leg includes a vertical main section and a bent section which bends and extends from a lower end of the vertical main section, the bent section including a support section configured to contact a ground, wherein the support section is located on a side of a projection of the side frame on the ground that is closer to a center of the trampoline frame.

2. The trampoline frame of claim 1, wherein the vertical main section and the support section are perpendicular to each other, and the support section points to the center of the trampoline frame.

3. The trampoline frame of claim 1, wherein the side frame includes a plurality of side frame tube sections, wherein each two adjacent side frame tube sections and one support leg are connected together by a two-ended corrector or a three-ended connector.

4. The trampoline frame of claim 3, wherein

either: each of the plurality of side frame tube sections is arc shaped and the plurality of side frame tube sections are arranged to collectively form a round side frame;

or: each of the plurality of side frame tube sections is straight and the plurality of side frame tube sections are arranged to collectively form a polygonal side frame.

5. The trampoline frame of claim 3, wherein the plurality of side frame tube sections and the plurality of support legs are each formed of a round tube or a D shaped tube or a square tube.

6. The trampoline frame of claim 1, wherein the side frame includes a plurality of side frame tube sections, wherein each two adjacent side frame tube sections are connected together by a connecting member, and the trampoline frame further comprising a plurality of downwardly pointing connecting tubes each being welded onto one of the side frame tube sections.

7. The trampoline frame of claim 6, wherein

either: each of the plurality of side frame tube sections is arc shaped and the plurality of side frame tube sections are arranged to collectively form a round side frame;

or: each of the plurality of side frame tube sections is straight and the plurality of side frame tube sections are arranged to collectively form a polygonal side frame.

8. The trampoline frame of claim 6, wherein the plurality of side frame tube sections and the plurality of support legs are each formed of a round tube or a D shaped tube or a square tube.

9. The trampoline frame of claim 6, wherein each connecting tube is connected to one of the plurality of support legs by interference fitting.

10. The trampoline frame of claim 1, wherein the side frame includes a plurality of side frame tube sections, each side frame tube section including a horizontally disposed main section and two downwardly bent sections that respectively extend from two ends of the main section, wherein two bent sections of two adjacent side frame tube sections are compressed into half-circles in cross-sectional shape with a support leg disposed between them, and wherein the two compressed bent sections and the support leg are affixed to each other by fasteners.

11. The trampoline frame of claim 10, wherein

either: each of the plurality of side frame tube sections is arc shaped and the plurality of side frame tube sections are arranged to collectively form a round side frame;

or: each of the plurality of side frame tube sections is straight and the plurality of side frame tube sections are arranged to collectively form a polygonal side frame.

12. The trampoline frame of claim 10, wherein the plurality of side frame tube sections and the plurality of support legs are each formed of a round tube or a D shaped tube or a square tube.