Patent Publication Number: US-6659914-B2

Title: Springless bounce apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to maintaining a mat on a bounce apparatus. 
     Trampolines are available in various constructions. Some trampolines include metal frames for support of the trampoline on land. Other trampolines are capable of floating on water and typically include a continuous floatable tube for supporting the trampoline. Regardless of the support configuration, the trampoline usually includes a trampoline mat attached to a metal frame through metal springs. The metal springs hold the trampoline mat taught and provide additional bounce to the user of the trampoline. 
     Trampolines are also constructed without springs for holding the trampoline mat. Such trampolines are referred to as “springless trampolines.” One springless trampoline construction includes an inflated tube, an apron attached to the tube, individual loops of woven webbing stitched to the apron and a trampoline mat that includes individual loops of woven webbing stitched to the trampoline mat. The trampoline mat is secured to the tube by placing the trampoline mat loops and the apron loops in an alternating relationship with one another, feeding a cord through the alternating apron loops and mat loops, and tightening the cord to fix the trampoline mat in place. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the invention features a bounce apparatus that includes a continuous inflatable support, an apron attached to the support, the apron including a sheet having a plurality of apertures, the sheet being folded over upon itself to form a plurality of loops, a mat that includes loops, and a cord passing through the apron loops and the mat loops to secure the mat to the support. In one embodiment, the cord alternately passes through an apron loop and a mat loop. In another embodiment, the apron loops interdigitate with the mat loops. 
     In other embodiments, the continuous inflatable support includes a tube. In one embodiment, the tube includes segments. In another embodiment, a mat loop is present at the union between two segments of the tube. In some embodiments, the apron includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the segments including a plurality of the loops. In other embodiments, the apron segments are substantially straight. 
     In one embodiment, adjacent apron segments are attached together to form a union. In some embodiments, a union of the apron segments extends across a union of tube segments. In other embodiments, each segment of the apron is attached to a segment of the tube. 
     In some embodiments, the apertures of the sheet form arcuate valleys between adjacent apron loops. In one embodiment, the arcuate valleys include elliptical arcs. In other embodiments, the apertures of the sheet are at least partially defined by substantially straight sidewalls. 
     In other embodiments, the continuous support defines a shape selected from the group consisting of circle, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, octagon and decagon. 
     In some embodiments the mat defines a shape selected from the group consisting of circle, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, octagon and decagon. 
     In one embodiment, the mat loops are attached near the peripheral edge of the mat. 
     In another embodiment, the apron includes a first material and the inflatable support includes a second material, the first material being the same as the second material. In other embodiments, the apron and the loops include a polymer impregnated woven material. In some embodiments, the apron and the loops include polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride and polyurethane. 
     In another embodiment, the invention features a bounce apparatus that includes a) a continuous support defining an opening, the support including a segmented inflatable tube, b) an apron attached to the support, the apron including segments formed of a sheet having apertures, the sheet being folded over upon itself to form a plurality of loops, c) a mat extending across the opening defined by the continuous support and including loops and d) a cord passing through the apron loops and the mat loops. 
     In another aspect, the invention features a bounce apparatus that includes a support, an apron attached to the support and including a sheet that has apertures and that has been folded over upon itself to form a plurality of loops, a mat that includes loops, and a cord passing through the apron loops and the mat loops to secure the mat to the support. In one embodiment, the support includes a metal frame. In other embodiments the support is floatable. 
     The invention features a bounce apparatus that can float on water and that includes a mat on which adults and children can play, bounce, jump and rest. The bounce apparatus can be constructed to be free of rigid elements such as the metal frame and springs that are often used to hold mats in bounce apparatuses such as trampolines. 
     The unitary nature of the transition apron and the apron loops of the bounce apparatus provide a unique mechanism for attaching the mat to the support. The apron enables the mat to experience a uniform force along its perimeter that allows the mat to lie flat without wrinkles or bulges. 
     The unitary apron and apron loop construction also enables the formation of a number of loops in a single welding operation, which reduces the number of manufacturing steps required to produce each loop relative to a process that requires each loop to be individually stitched to the apron. The use of substantially straight apron segments provides a smooth array of apron loops that lie flat and do not exhibit bunching or pleating. 
     Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, and from the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bounce apparatus according to one embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the bounce apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of a segment of the transition apron and mat of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the transition apron of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is the back view of the transition apron of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of a sheet for forming the transition apron of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of an apron. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of an unfolded sheet used to form the apron of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of a bounce apparatus having an apron according to a third embodiment. 
     FIG. 10 is perspective view of a second embodiment of a bounce apparatus. 
     FIG. 11 is a view of the apron taken in cross section along line  1 — 1  of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a cutaway top view of a portion of the frame of the bounce apparatus of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a bounce apparatus  10  that includes a support  12 , an apron  16  attached to a support  12 , a mat  18  extending across the opening defined by the support  12 , and a cord  20  that alternately passes through loops  24  extending from the mat  18  and loops  22  on the apron  16  to secure the mat to the support  12 . 
     The support  12  is a continuous tube that includes a number of adjacent tube segments  12   a - 12   h  joined together. The continuous tube  12  includes walls extending down through the tube  12  at the union  40  of two adjacent tube segments  12   a - 12   h  to define the tube segments  12   a - 12   h  and to isolate the tube segments  12   a - 12   h  from one another. Alternatively, at least one passage can exist between at least two adjacent tube segments, e.g., to permit the flow of air there between or the continuous tube  12  can be a single continuous segment. 
     The apron  16  includes a number of segments  16   a - 16   h  bonded together to form a continuous apron  16 . The union  46  between two apron segments is formed by overlapping a portion of two adjacent apron segments and thermally welding the segments together. 
     The apron segments  16   a-h  are constructed from a sheet  28  folded over upon itself at the fold line  33  and welded to itself (see weld  46 ) to form the loops  22  through which the cord  20  passes. The sheet  28  includes a number of elliptical apertures  30  spaced a distance apart from each other. The apertures can be of a variety of shapes but are preferably arcuate. When the sheet is folded over upon itself, the portions  32  of the sheet  28  that extend between two aperture  30  form the apron loops  22  and the apertures  30  form valleys  34  between the apron loops  22 . The valleys  34  provide a space for receiving the loops  24  of the mat  18 . The valleys  34  are preferably hemi-elliptical to facilitate even distribution of stress on the apron  16  and the apron loops  22 . The leading edge  36  of the sheet  28  is welded to the interior surface  44  of the base portion  38  of the sheet  28  to fix the loops  22  in place on the apron  16 . 
     Each apron segment  16   a - 16   h  is bonded to a corresponding tube segment  12   a - 12   h  through a weld  48 . The apron segments  16   a - 16   h  are positioned on the tube segments  12   a - 12   h  such that the union  46  of two adjacent apron segments  16   a  and  16   b  corresponds to the union  40  of two adjacent tube segments  12   a  and  12   b.  The apron segments  16   a - 16   h  are dimensioned to substantially conform to the general shape defined by the tube  12 , the mat  18  or a combination thereof. For example, the tube contacting edge of the apron segment preferably follows the general path, e.g., curvature, of the tube segment in the area of contact between the apron segment and the tube, and the loop containing edge preferably follows the general path of the side edge of the mat with which it is associated. For an apparatus having tube segments that are substantially straight and a mat with substantially straight sides, for example, the apron segments are preferably substantially straight. By conforming to the general path defined by the tube and the mat, the apron segments pull with a more uniform force on the mat and thereby enable the mat to be maintained generally flat, e.g., free of bulges, buckles and wrinkles. 
     The apron  16  and the tube  12  can be made from the same or different material. Preferably the apron and the tube are capable of being bonded to each other by welding, e.g., thermal welding, but may be attached through various other mechanisms including e.g., other bonding methods including, e.g., sonic welding, adhesive composition and combinations thereof, and mechanical methods including, e.g., stitching, stapling and mechanical fasteners including, e.g., grommets and snaps, and combinations thereof. Examples of useful apron and tube materials include thermoplastic resin impregnated woven webs including, e.g., polyvinyl or polyurethane impregnated woven webs. 
     The various components of the bounce apparatus have been described as being attached to each other through a weld. Alternatively, the components can be attached to each other using any suitable attachment method including, e.g., other bonding methods (e.g., sonic welding, adhesive composition and combinations thereof), mechanical methods (e.g., stitching, stapling and mechanical fasteners including, e.g., grommets and snaps), and combinations thereof. 
     Various materials are suitable for mat  18  including, e.g., woven webs, conventional trampoline mats and resilient webs. The mat is depicted as octagonal. Other useful mat shapes include, e.g., a circle and a polygon including, e.g., triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon and decagon. 
     The periphery of the mat  18  includes outwardly extending loops  24  that are attached to the mat  18  by stitching  26 . Alternately, the loops can be constructed as a single unit with the mat or attached using other mechanical and adhesive bonding mechanisms. The mat loops  24  are dimensioned to be positioned within the valleys  34  between two adjacent apron loops  22  such that the mat loops  24  and the apron loops  22  interdigitate. The mat loops  24  also extend into valleys  34  positioned at the union  40  between two apron segments  16   a - 16   h.  For mats  18  having multiple straight sides, the presence of a valley  34  and a mat loop  24  at the apron union  40  enables the force on the mat  18  to be more uniformly applied to the mat  18 . Useful mat loop materials include, e.g., woven webs and polymer impregnated webs. 
     The bounce apparatus can be constructed to be floatable on a body of water and to provide a deck surface for supporting human beings in a variety of activities including, e.g., sunning, resting, playing, and jumping. 
     Other embodiments are within the claims. Although the support is depicted as octagonal, it may have various shapes including, e.g., circle and polygon, e.g., triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, and decagon. The apparatus can also include an encasement, e.g., a polyvinylchloride impregnated woven fabric, surrounding the tube  12  or tube segments. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the apron  70  that is formed from a sheet  72  that includes individual strips  74  spaced apart from one another by longitudinal apertures  76 . The strips  74  are continuous with and extend from a base portion  78  of the sheet  72 . The individual strips  74  are folded over upon themselves and attached  80  to the base portion  78  of the sheet  72  to form the apron loops  82  for receiving the cord. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the bounce apparatus  90  in which the apron  96  includes apron loops  22   a  at the union  40  of the tube segments  42   a - 42   h.    
     FIGS. 10-12 illustrate an embodiment of the bounce apparatus  110  that includes a support  112  that is metal or another rigid material. The support  112  includes a frame  114  for supporting the mat  118  of the bounce apparatus  110  and legs  120  extending from the frame  114  to support the mat  118  above the surface on which the bounce apparatus  110  is positioned. An apron  122  is attached to the frame  114  through a frame-receiving passage  124 . The frame-receiving passage  124  is formed by folding the fabric of the apron  122  upon itself and securing the fabric in place. The frame-receiving passage  124  is disposed at the end of the apron  122  that is opposite the end of the apron  122  that includes the loops  126  for receiving the cord  128 . The apron  122  includes a number of segments  122   a  each joined together to form a continuous apron  122  and each including a frame-receiving passage  124 . The frame  112  includes tubular segments  130  that pass through the frame-receiving passages  124  of the apron  122  and that are joined together through connectors  132  that are positioned in the aperture between each apron segment  122   a.  The tubular segments  130  of the frame  114  are connected to each other to form a continuous frame  114 . The apron  122  is connected to the mat  118  via a cord  128  passing through loops  134  on the mat  118  and loops  126  on the apron  122  as described in previous embodiments.