Abstract:
A cooling system for a trampoline includes an enclosure assembly and a sprinkling system. The enclosure assembly includes a frame and a net. The enclosure assembly is configured to couple to the trampoline and extend upwardly therefrom. The frame includes a plurality of supports spaced about an outer periphery of the trampoline. The net is configured to couple to the plurality of supports such that the net substantially circumscribes the trampoline. The sprinkling system is coupled to at least one of the frame sub-assembly or the net. The cooling system includes a plurality of discharge openings positioned a height above the trampoline for spraying cooling fluid radially inward above the trampoline. The plurality of discharge openings are configured to be coupled in flow communication with a source of cooling fluid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to trampolines, and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for supplying cooling fluid to trampolines.  
         [0002]     Trampolines are well known in the art for providing both recreation and/or physical fitness exercise to users of the trampolines. Because of their overall size, and because of height restrictions, generally trampolines are used in gymnasiums or outdoors. Those trampolines used outdoors are generally used in locations that are not climate controlled and that may be exposed to sunlight. As a result, the combination of the environmental conditions present at the location of the trampoline and the physical exertion of the user(s) may increase the temperature of the trampoline and that of any user(s), and thus diminish the enjoyment and potential health benefits of the users on the trampoline.  
         [0003]     To facilitate reducing an operating temperature of the trampoline at least some known trampolines include water spray devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,990 describes a trampoline water spray device that is coupled circumferentially around the trampoline to the frame supporting the trampoline mat at an elevated location above the ground. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,495 describes a trampoline sprinkler system that is coupled circumferentially about the trampoline to the frame supporting the trampoline mat at an elevated location above the ground. In both of the afore-mentioned systems water is discharged upwardly and radially inward when the systems are activated. However, because of the discharge location of the water, the effectiveness of each system would be diminished if coupled to a trampoline including a safety net as the cooling water would have to pass through the net assembly before reaching its intended cooling location.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In one aspect, a trampoline is provided. The trampoline includes a trampoline mat, a frame, an enclosure assembly, and a cooling system. The trampoline frame includes an upper support and a plurality of stanchions. Each of the plurality of stanchions extends between the upper support and the ground. The upper support is coupled to an outer periphery of the trampoline mat. The enclosure assembly includes a frame sub-assembly and a net. The enclosure assembly is coupled to the trampoline frame and extends upwardly therefrom. The frame sub-assembly includes a plurality of supports spaced at intervals circumscribing the trampoline mat. Each of the plurality of supports includes a first end and a second end. Each support first end is coupled to the frame upper support such that the support extends upwardly from the frame upper support. The net is coupled to the plurality of supports such that the net substantially circumscribes the trampoline mat. The cooling system is coupled to at least one of the plurality of supports or the net. The cooling system includes an inlet and a plurality of discharge openings positioned a height above the trampoline mat for spraying cooling fluid radially inward above the trampoline mat. The plurality of discharge openings are in flow communication with the inlet.  
         [0005]     In another aspect, an enclosure assembly for a trampoline including a mat supported by a frame is provided, wherein the frame includes an upper support that is coupled to and supports the mat a height above the ground. The enclosure assembly includes a frame sub-assembly, a net, and a cooling system. The frame sub-assembly includes a plurality of supports spaced at intervals circumscribing the trampoline mat. Each of the plurality of supports is coupled to the trampoline frame and extends upwardly therefrom. The net is coupled to the plurality of supports such that the net substantially circumscribes the trampoline mat. The cooling system is coupled to at least one of the frame sub-assembly or the net. The cooling system includes a plurality of discharge openings positioned a height above the trampoline mat for spraying cooling fluid radially inward above the trampoline mat. The plurality of discharge openings are coupled in flow communication with a source of cooling fluid.  
         [0006]     In yet another aspect, a cooling system for a trampoline is provided. The cooling system includes an enclosure assembly and a sprinkling system. The enclosure assembly includes a frame and a net. The enclosure assembly is configured to couple to the trampoline and extend upwardly therefrom. The frame includes a plurality of supports spaced about an outer periphery of the trampoline. The net is configured to couple to the plurality of supports such that the net substantially circumscribes the trampoline. The sprinkling system is coupled to at least one of the frame sub-assembly or the net. The cooling system includes a plurality of discharge openings positioned a height above the trampoline for spraying cooling fluid radially inward above the trampoline. The plurality of discharge openings are configured to be coupled in flow communication with a source of cooling fluid. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary trampoline including a cooling fluid delivery system;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the cooling fluid delivery system shown in  FIG. 1  and taken along area  2 ; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of the cooling fluid delivery system shown in  FIG. 1  and taken along area  3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary trampoline  10  including a cooling fluid delivery system  12 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of cooling fluid delivery system  12  taken along area  2 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of cooling fluid delivery system  12  taken along area  3 . Trampoline  10  is known in the art and includes a trampoline mat  14 , a frame assembly  16 , and a net assembly  18 . In the exemplary embodiment, mat  14  is octangal-shaped and is sized to support a plurality of users thereon. The overall size and shape of mat  14  are variably selected depending upon the desired use of trampoline  10 .  
         [0011]     In the exemplary embodiment, frame assembly  16  includes a plurality of mat or upper support members  20  and a plurality of stanchions  24 . Mat support members  20  are interconnected together substantially symmetrically about an outer periphery  26  of mat  14 . Adjacent members  20  are connected together at a corner  28  such that members  20  form an annular structure. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, when members  20  are fully assembled, members  20  define an octagon. In an alternative embodiment, frame assembly  16  may include an annular mat support member that is sized and shaped to circumscribe mat  14 .  
         [0012]     In the exemplary embodiment, mat  14  is coupled to frame assembly  16  by a plurality of spring members  30  that extend between mat  14  and a respective mat support member  20 . As such, when fully assembled, spring members  30  circumscribe mat  14  at spaced intervals about mat outer periphery  26 . Moreover, when fully assembled, mat  14  is coupled to members  20  via spring members  30  such that mat  14  is suspended radially within frame assembly  16 , and such that members  30  are generally co-planar with mat  14 .  
         [0013]     Stanchions  24  extend generally perpendicularly downward from frame members  20  at spaced intervals about mat  14 , such that mat  14  is elevated above the ground. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, each of eight stanchions  24  is coupled to a pair of adjacent members  20  at each respective corner  28 . Alternatively, more or less stanchions  24  may be used, and/or stanchions  24  may be coupled to only a single member  20 . In the exemplary embodiment, stanchions  24  extend between frame members  20  and the ground or surface that supports trampoline  10 .  
         [0014]     Each stanchion  24  includes a base  40  that is adjustably coupled to a lower end  42  of each stanchion  24  to support trampoline  10  against the ground or surface supporting trampoline  10 . In the exemplary embodiment, each base  40  is threadably coupled to each stanchion  24  and stanchions  24  are adjustable to facilitate leveling trampoline mat  14  within a generally horizontal plane. More specifically, as is known in the art, adjustments of stanchions  24  facilitate raising or lowering portions of trampoline mat  14  and frame members  20  with respect to the supporting ground. In addition, stanchions  24  facilitate limited control of the height of elevation of mat  14  with respect to the ground.  
         [0015]     In the exemplary embodiment, net assembly  18  includes a net  50 , a plurality of net upright supports  52 , and a plurality of lateral supports  54 . Upright supports  52  each include a lower end  56  and an upper end  58 . In the exemplary embodiment, each support lower end  56  is securely coupled via a band clamp  60  to a respective stanchion lower end  42 . An upper support band clamp  62  is coupled to, and extends, between each stanchion  24  and each upright support  52 . More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, each upper support band clamp is positioned between each band clamp  60  and each corner  28 . In the exemplary embodiment, supports  52  are each hollow.  
         [0016]     When each upright support  52  has been coupled to each respective stanchion  24  each support  52  extends generally vertically from each respective stanchion base  40 . More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, each support  52  is obliquely oriented with respect to the ground such that each support upper end  58  is positioned a larger radial distance D outward from each frame support  20  than each respective support lower end  56 . Moreover, when each upright support  52  has been coupled to each respective stanchion  24 , supports  52  circumscribe mat  14  at spaced intervals about an outer periphery  70  of frame assembly  16  as defined by support members  20 . In an alternative embodiment, stanchions  24  may extend vertically upward from frame members  20  to form upright supports for use with net assembly  18 .  
         [0017]     In the exemplary embodiment, lateral supports  54  are hollow and are interconnected together substantially symmetrically such that adjacent supports  54  are connected together at corners  72  and such that supports  54  define an annular structure. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, when supports  54  are fully assembled, supports  54  define an octagon shape. In an alternative embodiment, net assembly  18  may include an annular lateral support member that is sized and shaped to interconnect supports  54 . In another alternative embodiment, all of supports  54  are not interconnected together, but rather only pairs of adjacent supports  54  are connected together.  
         [0018]     In the exemplary embodiment, net  50  is fabricated from a plurality of panels  78  that are connected together and are coupled to supports  54  to facilitate constraining each user utilizing trampoline  10 . More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, an upper edge  80  of net  50  is coupled to lateral supports  54 , and a lower edge  82  of net  50  is coupled to mat outer periphery  26 . As such, in the exemplary embodiment, net assembly  18  defines an inverted frusto-conical shape, such that each net panel is oriented obliquely with respect to the ground. In the exemplary embodiment, at least one net panel  78  includes a flap door  84  that enables a user to access and egress from trampoline mat  14 .  
         [0019]     Cooling fluid delivery system  12  includes at least one piece of tubing  100  that is coupled to, or formed integrally with net assembly  918  at a height H above trampoline mat  14  for discharging cooling fluid generally radially inwardly towards a center  102  of trampoline mat  14 . More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, tubing  100  is coupled to net  50  and to at least one upright support  52 . Alternatively, at least a portion of cooling fluid delivery system  12  may be formed integrally with a portion of trampoline  10 , such as, but not limited to, frame assembly  16 , and/or net assembly  18 .  
         [0020]     Tubing  100  is hollow and includes an inlet end  102 , a capped end  104 , and a tubing body  106  extending therebetween. Inlet end  104  enables tubing  100  to be coupled to a pressurized source of cooling fluid. In the exemplary embodiment, inlet end  104  is a female threaded connector that enables tubing  100  to be coupled to a male connector extending from a known garden hose. Alternatively, inlet end  104  may be, but is not limited to being, a male connector, a quick disconnect, an interconnect, a sleeve coupler, or any other coupling mechanism that enables tubing  100  to be coupled to pressurized source of cooling fluid.  
         [0021]     Tubing capped end  104  is capped to prevent fluid flow from exiting tubing body  106  therethrough. End  104  may be capped in any known manner that prevents fluid from exiting from tubing body  106  such as, but not limited to, through fusing, molding, clamping, or gluing a cap to end  104 .  
         [0022]     In the exemplary embodiment, tubing body  106  is perforated with a plurality of openings  110  that extend into a flow passage  112  defined within hollow tubing  100 . Accordingly, openings  110  are in flow communication with the inlet end  102  and the pressurized source of cooling fluid for discharging cooling fluid generally radially inward towards trampoline mat center  102 . A distance of separation between adjacent openings  110 , the diameter of openings  110 , the cross-sectional shape of openings  110 , the number of openings  110 , and the relative location of openings  110  are each variably selected to facilitate a desired spray pattern across trampoline mat  14  and to achieve a desired cooling of trampoline users. In one embodiment, tubing  100  includes a first plurality of openings that are sized with a first diameter, and a second plurality of openings that are each sized with a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. Because the first openings are positioned between the second openings and the inlet, the variance in opening diameter facilitates a more uniform spray of cooling fluid across trampoline mat  14 .  
         [0023]     In the exemplary embodiment, openings  110  are sized, shaped, spaced, and located such that cooling fluid discharged from openings  110  is discharged in a mist-like fashion across trampoline mat  14 . In other embodiments, tubing openings  110  are formed in a plurality of nozzles that facilitate enhanced control of the spray pattern of cooling fluid discharged from cooling system  12 .  
         [0024]     In another embodiment, inlet end  102  is coupled to a known pressure regulator that facilitates controlling a discharge pressure of cooling fluid from tubing  100  and facilitates controlling a spray depth of cooling fluid across mat  14 , and a height of discharged cooling fluid relative to mat  14 . In another embodiment, inlet end  102  is coupled to a control valve, such as an on/off valve or a time-controlled valve, that controls the flow of fluid entering cooling fluid delivery system  12 . In a further embodiment, tubing  100  is at least partially routed through at least one upright support  52  and/or lateral support  54 , such that the respective support  52  and/or  54  facilitates shielding at least a portion of tubing  100 . In yet another embodiment, at least one upright support  52  and/or lateral support  54  is coupled in flow communication with tubing  100  such that at least a portion of cooling fluid is routed through each support  52  and/or  54 . Moreover, in at least some embodiments, at least one support  52  and/or  54  includes at least one discharge opening formed therein at a height above mat  14 , such that at least some cooling fluid routed through supports  52  and/or  54  is discharged radially inward towards mat center  102 .  
         [0025]     The above-described trampoline cooling system is cost-effective and provides an effective means for cooling trampoline users over other known systems. The cooling system includes tubing that is coupled to a net assembly at a height above the trampoline mat such that the cooling effectiveness of the cooling system is enhanced. As a result, the cooling system facilitates increased cooling of trampoline users in a cost-effective and reliable manner  
         [0026]     Exemplary embodiments of trampoline cooling systems are described above in detail. The assemblies are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of each assembly may be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. For example, each cooling system component and/or trampoline component can also be used in combination with other trampolines.  
         [0027]     While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.