Abstract:
A protective cover for a trampoline assembly that includes an attached safety enclosure has a plurality of edge cuts out coinciding with the connections of the bottom of the safety enclosure netting to the portions of the trampoline disposed with the diameter of the supporting frame. Elastic connecting members are provided at the intersection of each cutout with the periphery of the circular cover so that it is fastened to protect the trampoline frame and rebounding mat. The protective cover can be installed and removed with removing the safety enclosure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to the provisional application having Ser. No. 60/610,326 “Weather and Protective Cover for a Trampoline”, Filed on Sep. 15, 2004 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a protective weather cover for a trampoline, in particular for a trampoline having a safety enclosure integrated therewith.  
         [0003]     Safety enclosures have become commonplace for recreational trampolines. Such trampoline are frequently set up outside, for backyard use. Although the components of a trampoline can be made resistant to rain and inclement weather, the lateral surface of a trampoline can still catch and collect wind blown debris, such as leaves, dirt and dust particles, snow and the like.  
         [0004]     As it is time consuming to clean the rebounding mat of debris, the use trampoline can be inherently discouraged during seasons of extended inclement weather.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there is a need for a protective cover for a trampoline that has an integral safety enclosure.  
         [0006]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a protective cover for a trampoline with a safety enclosure that is easy to securely install and remove, yet stays in place under most weather conditions to protect the rebounding surface from accumulating dirt and debris.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0007]     In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a substantially circular trampoline cover adopted to be inserted below the safety enclosure or netting that extends within the enclosed area that may include at least a portion of the padding used to cover the trampoline springs. The cover includes a plurality of cutouts to accommodate the portion of the netting that connect to the rebounding surface or any portion of the trampoline within the supporting frame.  
         [0008]     Yet a further aspect of the invention is characterized in that cover is secured by elastic connecting members disposed at the intersection of each cutout with the periphery of the circular cover.  
         [0009]     In a further aspect of the invention the elastic connecting member stretch the cover in the radial direction so that it is fully extended to cover protect the trampoline frame and the rebounding mat.  
         [0010]     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  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the weather protective cover as installed on a trampoline having a safety enclosure.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is plan view of the weather protective cover of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3A and 3B  are plan views of selected portions of the weather protective cover of  FIG. 1 , as described in  FIG.2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4A and 4B  are perspective views showing the method of attaching the different portion of the trampoline cover shown in  FIG. 3  to the trampoline frame.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5A and 5B  are perspective views showing the method of attaching the portion of the trampoline cover shown in  FIG. 3  to the trampoline frame.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing details of the construction of the straps shown in  FIG. 3-5 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional elevation through the cover bisecting a T-shaped cutout to illustrate the method of closing the cutout after the cover has been installed over the trampoline rebounding mat.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved trampoline cover, generally denominated  100  herein.  
         [0019]     In accordance with the present invention, trampoline cover  100  is installed on trampoline that includes a safety enclosure  30 . The trampoline structure  10  comprises a rebounding surface or mat  15  (but largely obscured in this view by the cover  100 ) stretched to a circular frame or ring  20  by a plurality of springs  25 . The rows of springs  25  are covered with a protective mat  16 , (largely obscured by protective cover  100  in this view). The safety enclosure  30  comprises a plurality of upright posts  35  that support and tension a length of netting  45  extending there around. The netting  45  is attached at its lower edge  46  to the springs  25 , the rebounding mat  15  or the frame  20 . Generally, the section of the netting  45  is connected to the edge of the rebounding mat  15  at two locations, denoted  48 , between each pair of posts. However, other portion of the netting extend to the outside of the upright poles, at  47 . The circular frame  20  is suspended above the ground by U-shaped legs  50 . U-shaped legs  55  have a horizontal portion  51  and two upright vertical portions  55  extending from the ends thereof. Posts  35  preferably extend upward by attachment to or being a vertical extension of leg  55 , as shown in the Figure.  FIG. 1B  indicates further details of the protective cover  16  and frame or ring  20  before they are covered by cover  100 , as illustrated in the corresponding region of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , further details of the structures that permit installation of the cover without the need to remove the safety enclosure  30  are illustrated in this plan view. These include a plurality of T-shaped cutouts  120 , disposed around the periphery  101  of cover  100 . The horizontal  121  and vertical  122  edges of the T-shaped  120  are lined with hook and loop fasteners (commonly referred to by the trade name “VELCRO”) on opposing sides, as will be further described below with reference to  FIG. 7 . The T-shaped cutouts  120  are provided such that the margin of the cover can be slid to the supporting frame  20  of the trampoline with the cutouts passing through the connection points  48  wherein the rebound mat  15  is coupled to springs  25 . Where the edge  122  of T-shaped cutout meets the periphery  101  of the cover  100  there are disposed, on opposing sides, an elastic hook  135  and ring  130  to secure the cover  100  to the trampoline assembly  10 .  
         [0021]     Disposed between each pair of T-shaped cutouts is a plurality of U-shaped cutouts  110 , where the open top of the U portion corresponds with the periphery  101  of cover  100 . Each of the U-shaped cutouts is provided to accommodate the upright posts  35  that support the safety enclosures  10  and netting  45 . Each of the two corners wherein the U meets the periphery  101  of cover  100  has a pair of elastic linear member  140  with a hook  145  disposed at the end thereof Each of the hooks associated with the U-shaped cutouts is provided to secure that region of the cover  100  to the trampoline assembly  10 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B . The trampoline cover  100  also includes a series of drain holes  150   a, b, c, d  and  e  disposed in the center thereof. A brass grommet preferably lines each drain hole. The drain holes prevent water from accumulating on top of the cover, allowing it to drain below and through the porous fabric, which forms the rebounding surface  15 .  
         [0022]     The method of installing and securing the trampoline cover at the U-shaped cutouts  110  at  FIG. 3B  is illustrated in detail in  FIG. 4A and 4B .  FIG. 4A  is from above the trampoline, whereas  FIG. 4B  is from below.  
         [0023]     The method of installing and securing the trampoline cover at T-shaped cutouts at  FIG. 3A  is illustrated in detail in  FIG. 5A and 5B .  FIG. 5A and 5B  are both from above the trampoline, and along with  FIG. 7 , illustrate the method of joining the edges of the T-shaped cutouts, as well as attaching the elastic hook and ring together  
         [0024]     Thus, during installation with the safety enclosure in place one first lays out the weather cover on the trampoline rebounding mat. One then aligns the leg U-shaped cutouts  110  of the cover with the poles or post  35  of the safety enclosure (and legs of the trampoline). Next, the hook and loop, or “VELCRO”™ type connections, shown in detail in  FIG. 7 , at the 16 locations corresponding to each of the T-shaped cutouts  120  on the weather cover are unfastened. Each section is then slide by pushing or pulling it under the trampoline safety enclosure net. This can be accomplished from any combination of movements from inside or outside of the trampoline.  
         [0025]     As the net  45  should remain connected to the bed of the trampoline in 15 to 16 points and connections  48  that do not align with the T-shaped cutouts that open via the “Velcro” fasteners should be relocated to that they do align. Next, as shown in  FIG. 7 , from the outside of the trampoline the “VELCRO”, connections are fastened. As shown in  FIG. 5A and 5B  at the edge of each Velcro connection, an elastic cord with a hook  135  or bungee is inserted with hook through the adjacent loop  130 , and then wrapped under the frame, by stretching the elastic strap  135  to attach the terminal hook portion  136  to the V-ring  410  on the bed of the trampoline. Thus, by extending the bungee to a V-ring so that the bungee is taut, and the skirt of the weather cover is drawn under the trampoline frame.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 4A , The V-rings  410  used to secure the periphery of the rebounding mat  15  to the plurality of springs  25  is secured to the rebounding mat by fabric loops that a extend through the V-ring, having opposing sides stitched to the rebounding mat. To the extent that the trampoline is a double bed or rebounding mat configuration, one can follows the same methods by wrapping the elastic hooked fasteners under the lower rail and connect to the springs near the frame.  
         [0027]     In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 5A and 5B , at each pole  35  the elastic members  145  disposed on each side of the U-shaped cut outs  110  are extended to that so that they cross each other, making an “X” on the outside of the trampoline leg, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the hook portions  145  at the end are then pulled under the trampoline frame, and inserted within the V-rings  410  on the trampoline bed. In the case of a double bed trampoline, the hooks are preferably extended to connect to each other below lower trampoline rail or frame.  
         [0028]     One embodiment of the construction of the elastic straps discussed with respect to  FIG. 4  and  5  are illustrated in further detail in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment a flat strap portion  131  of elastic member  135  is sewn at one end to the periphery  101  of cover  100  adjacent the edge of T-shaped cutout  120 . A loop  130  formed of flat straping is sewn to the adjacent peripheral potion  101  of cover  100 , on the opposite side of the slit that define the vertical portion of T-shaped cutouot  120 .  
         [0029]     Member  135  is rendered elastic by stitching a short section of elastic strap material  132  to bridge between a partial loop or curled section  131   a  of flat strap  131 . A hook  135  is attached to the opposite side of flat strap  131 . Thus when the hook is pulled in the direction of arrow  133 , to be inserted through loop  130  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the elastic strap portion  132  is extended, provide a retractile force that maintain the cover  100  when the hook  135  is secured into V-ring  410 .  
         [0030]     It should be appreciated that either of elastic members  135  and  140  associated with the T-shaped and U-shaped cutouts can be replaced by bungee type elastic cords and the like.  
         [0031]     Further details of the T-shaped cutouts are provided in  FIG. 7 , showing an elevational cross-section through cover  100  at a T-shaped cutout. Opposing sides of the cover disposed across the T-shaped cutout  120  are designated  100  and  100 ′. A strip of fabric  710  is sown on top of the right edge of the T-shaped cutout  120  with either the hook or loop portion of the hook and loop/“VELCRO” fastener  711  sewn to the portion of underside of fabric  710  that extends to the right edge of cover portion  100 , for mating to portion  100 ′. Another strip of fabric  720  is sown below the left edge of the T-shaped cutout  120  with the mating hook or loop portion of the hook and loop/“VELCRO” fastener  721  sewn to the upper side of fabric  7320  that extends to the left of the edge of cover portion  100 ′, for attachment to portion  100 . Thus, after T-shaped slit is inserted around the junctions  48  between the protective netting  45  and the rebounding mat, the mating “VELCRO” fasteners are joined together to complete the assembly of the protective cover  100 . It should be appreciated that it is preferable to provide the mating “VELCRO” fabric attachments on both the vertical  122  and horizontal  121  portion of each of the T-shaped cutouts  120 .  
         [0032]     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.  
         [0033]     For example, it should be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited to using a circular piece of flexible material as the cover  100 , as the shape can be varied to accommodate alternative shapes trampolines, as well as differences in the safety enclosure configuration. Specifically the T-shaped cutouts are optionally replaced with slits or even omitted when the safety enclosure is free standing or attaches to the ring or frame of the trampoline. In such instances, the U-shapes cutouts can be replaced by any configuration that accommodates the poles, regardless of their placement with respect to the remainder of the trampoline structure.