Trampoline accessories

Trampoline accessories are described herein that may be affixed to a trampoline system to facilitate the playing of a game. These trampoline accessories may include a soccer net, a rebounding surface that will bounce a ball back to the thrower, and a catch panel that will gather the ball when the ball is thrown against the panel. These accessories may be added to either the trampoline frame of the trampoline enclosure. Deflective netting may be provided adjacent the accessories to prevent the ball and users from entering the space below the trampoline rebounding mat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trampolines are widely known and used for a variety of recreational and athletic purposes. Recreational and “backyard” use of trampolines is very popular. Parents often buy a trampoline so that their children can enjoy hours of diversion playing and “jumping” on the trampoline.

As a result of careless use of trampolines and poorly designed/manufactured systems, personal injury has occurred. Such injuries have resulted from a person jumping too close to the edge of the trampoline surface such that the person would either (1) fall off of the trampoline or would (2) strike the frame, a tree, or another hard surface positioned proximate the trampoline's boundary. Of course, such injuries are a grave concern for many trampoline manufacturers and trampoline enthusiasts.

In order to prevent these types of injuries, trampolines have recently been sold and produced having a flexible fence or enclosure that surrounds the perimeter of the trampoline's rebounding surface. One example of this type of trampoline is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,845 (which will be referred to herein as the “'845 patent” and is expressly incorporated herein by reference). In these types of trampolines, any person that jumps on the trampoline will be maintained on the interior of the trampoline. Thus, when the child approaches the edge of the trampoline's rebounding mat, the enclosure will prevent the child from falling off the trampoline. Likewise, because the enclosure is made of a flexible material (such as netting, mesh, etc.), the enclosure will also prevent the child from harmfully impacting the trampoline's frame or other hard surfaces. In this manner, the enclosure will greatly increase the safety of the trampoline.

Furthermore, the trampoline with the enclosure allows children to play a variety of different games using the enclosure and other equipment (such as balls, etc.). In fact, the '845 patent teaches a variety of games that may be played by children using the trampoline and the enclosure. Unfortunately, many of the games listed in the '845 patent are difficult to play and are not interesting to older children/teenagers. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for various trampoline games that interest older children and will include, for example, sports and sporting events.

Moreover, one disadvantage of trampolines is that they can take up large areas of space. Some sports and recreational activities, on the other hand, often require large, open spaces (such as fields, etc.) in order to played properly. People often cannot play or practice sports in the same area as the trampoline for fear that the trampoline will interfere with the game.

In addition, trampoline manufacturers recommend that only one person jump at a time on the rebounding mat. Often while one person jumps, others must wait their turn. It would be a significant advancement in the art to provide a new type of trampoline which permits a variety of other sports and recreational activities to be practiced in the same area while the trampoline is in use. Such a device is disclosed herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A trampoline having a safety enclosure that surrounds the rebounding surface is disclosed. However, the trampoline also has an independent game playing accessory that is positioned between two of the poles. In some embodiments, the game playing accessory may be a soccer net that is positioned on the ground between two of the trampoline legs. The soccer net is designed such that it will function as a soccer goal.

In other embodiments, the game playing accessory may be a rebound panel that is made of flexible material. The rebounding panel may be, depending upon the embodiment, positioned between the trampoline legs such that it is below the rebounding surface or may be positioned between the support poles of the enclosure such that it is above the rebounding surface.

The rebounding panel is designed so that if a ball impacts the rebounding panel, the ball will bounce off the rebounding panel and return to the user (such as a child, teenager, or adult). Thus, the child could practice throwing a ball, kicking a ball, hitting a ball, etc. without being required to spend unnecessary time chasing the ball.

In other embodiments, the game playing accessory may be catch panel. Again, this catch panel may be positioned above the rebounding surface or below the rebounding surface. The catch panel may include a receptive surface. In some embodiments, this receptive surface will include a temporary adhesive (such as Velcro®, hook and loop fasteners, and the like) such that when the ball contacts the catch panel, the receptive surface will engage the ball and/or cause the ball to stick to the receptive surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described in greater detail above, trampolines and trampoline systems may be designed with safety enclosures that surround the trampoline's rebounding surface. A typical example of such a trampoline and a safety enclosure is found in the '845 patent. Accordingly, the reader should review the '845 patent for a description of these types of features.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that the system shown in the '845 patent is simply one example of a trampoline and enclosure system that may be used. The accessories within the scope of the present invention may be used with other types of trampoline and enclosure systems. In fact, another type of system, in which the poles that support the enclosure are attached to the trampoline frame via brackets and/or swaging is described U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/684,105 entitled “Trampoline Enclosure Attachment Receptor” (which provisional application is-incorporated herein by reference).

Referring now toFIG. 1, a trampoline10and a trampoline enclosure12is illustrated. The trampoline will generally include a rebounding mat14and a frame16that supports the mat14. The frame will be elevated off the ground by a plurality of the legs18that attach to and support the frame16. As is known in the art, the rebounding mat14will be attached to the frame via a plurality of springs20. Generally, the springs20are attached to the frame16and the mat14in such a way that a user may “jump” on the mat14. A frame pad22may be positioned over the springs20to prevent the user from accidentally being injured by jumping on the springs20or coming in contact with the frame16.

As shown inFIG. 1, a pair of the legs18may be attached to a support19that is positioned on the ground to support the trampoline10. In some embodiments, one or more of the supports19are curved upward such that a middle portion of the support19is off of the ground. As desired, one or more wheels21may be added to one or more of the supports19to facilitate movement of the trampoline10.

The trampoline enclosure12may be, for example, similar to conventional enclosures, including the enclosure taught in the '845 patent. The enclosure12may comprise a plurality of poles30that are attached to the legs18. The poles will extend upwards from the legs18such that they are positioned above the rebounding mat14. As is shown inFIG. 1, trampoline enclosure systems may be constructed in which each of the legs18is connected to a separate pole30. Of course, other embodiments may also be constructed in which the number of legs18does not correspond to the number of poles30. Thus, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, eight poles30are illustrated. Of course, other configurations of the trampoline10, the poles30, and/or the enclosure12may also be used.

As shown inFIG. 1, the poles30include an attachment piece32that is designed to connect two adjacent poles30together. In general, the attachment piece32will include openings that will receive the top of the pole30, thereby forming an inverted U-shaped structure. Covering34may then be added over the top of the poles30and the attachment piece32to provide additional padding to the user.

The enclosure12also comprises a flexible material36that is coupled to the poles30. In many embodiments, this flexible material36comprises netting made of polyethylene, nylon and/or other similar fabrics. The flexible material36will surround the periphery of the rebounding mat14and will be attached to the rebounding mat14. As is known in the art, this flexible material36is designed to absorb the impact of forces, persons, etc. that collide against the enclosure12and prevent these individuals, etc. from falling off the rebounding mat14. In general, the rebounding mat14will be coupled to the flexible material36through a variety of different methods, including those known methods disclosed in the '845 patent. However, other embodiments may be constructed in which the mat14is coupled to the flexible material36/enclosure12via the methods taught in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/684,107 (which provisional application is expressly incorporated herein by reference).

The flexible material36is also connected to the poles30. This may occur by tying, adhesives, fasteners, threading the poles30through openings in the flexible material36, and/or other methods of attachment known in the art. Other embodiments may have a portion of the flexible material36attached to the attachment pieces32via ties, loops, etc. A closable opening40may also be added to the enclosure12to allow a user to access the interior of the enclosure12so that he or she may “jump” on the rebounding mat14. The opening40may be “closed” via the use of adhesive, ties, hook and loop fasteners, and/or other mechanisms. One or more pockets38may also be added to hold the user's shoes, wallet, possessions, etc.

The trampoline10and enclosure12may include one or more independent game playing accessories60. As used herein, the term “independent game playing accessory” or “game playing accessories” refer to features that are added to the trampoline10and/or the enclosure12that will allow one or more users to play additional games using the trampoline10and/or the enclosure12. These game playing accessories will generally be positioned between two of the poles30and/or two of the legs18. In some embodiments, the game playing accessory60will be positioned above the trampoline's rebound mat14such that the accessory is positioned between two or more of the poles30that support the enclosure12. Other embodiments may also be constructed in which the accessory is below the rebounding surface such that the accessory is positioned between two or more of the trampoline legs18and/or other portions of the frame16.

In general, the game playing accessories60will be designed such that children, teenagers, or adults, may practice or play sports on the exterior of the trampoline even while another user may be using the trampoline10with the enclosure12. Thus, the game playing accessory60will be designed such that a ball66(such as a soccer ball, a golf ball, a baseball, a football, etc.) may impact and/or contact the accessory60. Such exterior use of the game playing accessory60will not affect another user jumping on the trampoline.

In one embodiment, the game playing accessory will generally comprise a soccer net70. This soccer net70will be positioned proximate the ground such that it is positioned between two or more of the legs18of the trampoline. The soccer net70is designed similar to the standard-type soccer goals that are used in conjunction with playing soccer. Thus, the soccer net is designed such that a ball may be kicked into the soccer net70as a means of scoring a goal in soccer.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of the soccer net70illustrates one of the features of the present embodiments. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 2, embodiments of the soccer net70may further be designed such that a person on the ground may be safely kicking the ball into the soccer net70while other persons are jumping on the trampoline10. In these embodiments, the rear surface of the soccer net will be positioned below the springs20so that those persons jumping on the trampoline will not contact the person that is attempting to retrieve the soccer ball from the net70. In these embodiments, the net may be attached to the legs18and/or the rebounding mat14through a variety of methods including clips, Velcro® strips, fasteners, etc. If Velcro® strips and/or other removable fasteners are used, the owner can quickly remove the soccer net70when the use of the net70is no longer desired. Moreover, further embodiments may be constructed (such as the embodiments shown inFIG. 4) in which deflective netting is used. This deflective netting will prevent the ball from going under the rebounding mat14, in the event that the kicked/thrown ball misses the soccer net70. Rather, this deflective netting will deflect the ball away and prevent the ball from going under the rebounding mat14. The deflective netting also prevents users from entering the space below the rebounding mat14.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 2, embodiments may be constructed in which the net is angled from top to bottom—i.e., from the rebounding mat14to the ground—as is common in some types of soccer nets. Additionally, removable ground anchors76(such as stakes, poles, etc.) may also be added to the bottom of the net to secure the net to the ground. Of course, other embodiments may further be constructed in which the soccer net70is positioned above the ground such that the net70is attached to two of the poles30of the enclosure12.

Referring again toFIG. 1, an additional embodiment of a game playing accessory60is illustrated. Specifically, embodiments may be constructed in which the game playing accessory60may comprise a rebound panel80that may be positioned either above the rebounding mat14or below the rebounding mat14. The rebound panel80is made of a flexible or elastic material (such as netting, nylon mesh, etc.). The panel80may be a separate layer of material from the flexible material36. Specifically, the panel is designed such that if a ball66is thrown/kicked/hit against the rebound panel80, the rebound panel will “return” a ball to the user. In other words, when the ball66is thrown/hit/kicked against the panel80, the panel80will cause the ball66to rebound away from the rebound panel80in a substantially opposite direction, thereby returning the ball66to the person that hit/kicked/threw the ball. In essence, this rebound panel80will enhance the user's ability to practice kicking/hitting/throwing the ball66, because the user will not have to waste time retrieving the ball66.

For decorative purposes, the rebound panel80may additionally comprise a target82at which the user may aim when kicking/hitting/throwing the ball. In general, the target82is a drawing or picture that is added to the panel80. In some embodiments (including the embodiment shown inFIG. 1), this target82may be a round target of the type that is used for archery, darts, etc. In other embodiments, the target80may be a “sports scene,” such as for example, a picture of a baseball player holding a catcher's mit, a golf hole, a receiver playing football, etc. Thus, by seeing the sports scene, the user can pretend that he or she is actually playing the game and can visualize making a “pitch” to the catcher, throwing the football to the receiver, hitting the golf ball towards the golf hole, etc.

As shown inFIG. 1, the rebound panel80is positioned proximate the ground between two of the legs18. Other embodiments may also be constructed in which the panel80is positioned above the ground and/or above the mat14. In these embodiments, the panel80will generally be attached to one or more of the poles30.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a perspective view illustrates another type of accessory60according to the present embodiments.FIG. 3is a perspective view that is similar to that which is shown inFIG. 1. Specifically,FIG. 3shows a trampoline10with an enclosure12that also includes a game playing accessory60. In this embodiment, the game playing accessory60comprises a catch panel90. Again, depending on the particular embodiment, the catch panel90may be positioned above or below the trampoline rebounding mat14. Thus, in some embodiments, the catch panel90will be attached to the legs18whereas in other embodiments, the catch panel90will be attached to one or more of the poles30.

The catch panel90will generally comprise a receptive surface94that is designed to engage and/or capture the ball66. This may be accomplished by having the receptive surface94include Velcro®, glue, grip powder (including Stickum™ brand products) and/or other adhesives designed to catch or retain a ball66. Thus, when the user throws (or kicks, hits, etc.) the ball against the catch panel, the receptive surface will retain the ball66. Again, one of the advantages of this catch panel90is that the user will not have to spend time retrieving the ball60.

In order to improve the ability of the ball66to engage the receptive surface, adhesive96may also be added to the ball66. “Hook and loop” fasteners, which include Velcro® products, may also be used. In these embodiments, the “hook” portion will preferably be on the receptive surface and the “loop” portion will be on the ball so that the ball will be softer and generally more unobtrusive.

As with the rebounding panel80discussed above, the receptive surface94and/or the catch panel90may (as desired) include a target82that will make the game more life-like.

Of course, those of skill in the art will recognize that a variety of other types of game playing accessories may likewise be used. Also, those of skill in the art will recognize how these types of game accessories may be attached (via rope, sewing, fasteners, screws, etc.) to the trampoline and/or the trampoline enclosure.

It will also be noted that the balls that are used in conjunction with the game playing accessories may be “real” balls—i.e. regulation golf balls, baseballs, etc. of the type that would be used in an organized sporting event. Of course, other embodiments may be constructed in which the balls used are softer balls, such as balls made of foam, rubber, etc. Other embodiments may have balls (including golf balls, baseballs, etc.) are perforated and/or hollow.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a perspective view illustrates the trampoline10, the enclosure12, and the soccer net70shown inFIG. 1. However, as a further embodiment, deflective netting120is also added. This deflective netting120is attached to the legs18, poles30, and/or other portions of the trampoline10or the enclosure12and will prevent the ball66(or a person, animal, etc.) from going underneath the rebounding mat14. This deflective netting120may be nylon, polyethylene, fabric, or other similar materials. Accordingly, in the event that the person that kicks or throws the ball66“misses” the soccer net70(or the intended target), the ball66will impact the deflective netting120and will not go underneath the rebounding mat14. Thus, the possibility that someone jumping on the trampoline10will contact a person that is attempting to crawl underneath the rebounding mat14(such as to retrieve a ball, etc.) is drastically reduced.

Although the deflective netting120is shown with the soccer net70, similar types of deflective netting120may be used with the rebounding panel80or the catch panel90. Other embodiments may be made in which the netting120is used with other of the accessories60.