Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of trampoline basketball courts especially trampoline basketball courts. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Trampolines generally a trampoline bed stretched across the trampoline frame and biased by trampoline springs connecting between the trampoline bed and the trampoline frame. The tension of the springs allows rebounding. The trampoline frame may further include a trampoline enclosure that encircles the trampoline bed. A trampoline pad can cover the springs for increased safety. 
     Trampolines can be combined with basketball or other goals to make a game. Trampolines have been a popular method for children to stay active since they were first introduced into the market. Trampolines are typically used to enhance the ability to jump. Some varieties of trampolines have been invented to complement this enhanced ability. The enhanced ability to jump is a skill that can be perfectly applied to basketball and the popular desire to score a slam dunk. A variety of different trampoline basketball courts have been discussed in patents and printed publications. 
     An invention that involves the use of a trampoline to enhance the ability to reach a goal is U.S. Pat. No. 3,201,126 to George P. Nissen, entitled Game Apparatus with Target and Trampoline, having an issue date of Aug. 17, 1965, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The construction of this invention involves a trampoline that can be modified for different games. One modification involves the trampoline with a center partition that includes an elongated tube and two goals or targets on opposite ends of the trampoline for a which a player must be suspended in mid-air to throw an object, such as a ball, thru the partition and into the goal or target on the opposite side of the trampoline. 
     The partnering of the sport of basketball and trampolines can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,557 to inventor Edward W. Cole entitled Trampoline Basketball Game, having an issue date of Nov. 10, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Trampoline Basketball Game is a trampoline device with two basketball hoops or goals found at opposite ends of the device. The trampoline provides a flexible rebound surface from edge to edge. A central partition divides the trampoline into two areas. With one player in each area, the goal is to get the ball into the other player&#39;s basket or goal. 
     Another similar trampoline game is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,967 to Danny Brian Allison entitled Team Trampoline Game and Method of Playing the Same, issued Jan. 24, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This invention presents a trampoline to be used for a team trampoline game. The device involves an elongated, rectangular trampoline with two goals that permit a game projectile, such as a ball, to pass through. The game is to be played while bouncing on the trampoline. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A trampoline court has a trampoline frame providing a frame for multiple trampolines arranged in a regular pattern including a first player section, and a second player section. The first player section includes a first player middle trampoline bounded by a pair of first player side trampolines. A first player right trampoline extends to the right of the first player middle trampoline and a first player trampoline extends to the left of the first player middle trampoline. The first player middle trampoline is generally horizontal. The first player side trampolines are angled toward each other relative to the first player middle trampoline. 
     The first player right trampoline and the first player left trampoline have an angle between 20° and 50° relative to the first player middle trampoline. The second player section includes a second player middle trampoline bounded by a pair of second player side trampolines. A second player right trampoline extends to the right of the second player middle trampoline and a second player trampoline extends to the left of the second player middle trampoline. The second player middle trampoline is generally horizontal and the second player side trampolines are angled toward each other relative to the second player middle trampoline. 
     The second player right trampoline and the second player left trampoline have an angle between 20° and 50° relative to the second player middle trampoline. A partition panel is mounted between the first player section and the second player section. A first player terminal enclosure panel encloses a terminal portion of the first player section. A first player goal is mounted to the trampoline frame in the second player section. A second player terminal enclosure panel encloses a terminal portion of the second player section. A second player goal is mounted to the trampoline frame in the first player section. A first player right side goal is mounted to the right of the first player goal and a first player left side goal is mounted to the left of the first player goal. A second player right side goal is mounted to the right of the second player goal and a second player left side goal is mounted to the left of the second player goal. 
     The trampoline frame preferably has a plurality of trampoline legs supporting the trampoline frame. The trampoline frame has a first player terminal frame member extending across a terminal edge of the first player section. The first player terminal frame member has a pair of first player terminal frame member upper portions connected by a first player terminal frame member top tension connector. A partition frame member extends between the first player section and the second player section. The partition frame member has a pair of upper portions connected by a first player terminal frame member top tension connector. A second player terminal frame member extends across a terminal edge of the second player section. The second player terminal frame member has a pair of second player terminal frame member upper portions connected by a second player terminal frame member top tension connector. 
     The trampoline frame also has a first player right enclosure panel extending from a right side of the first player right trampoline. The first player right enclosure extends above the first player right trampoline. A first player left enclosure panel extends from a left side of the first player left trampoline. The first player left enclosure extends above the first player left trampoline. A second player right enclosure panel extending from a right side of the second player right trampoline. The second player right enclosure extends above the first player second trampoline. 
     A second player left enclosure panel extends from the left side of the second player left trampoline. The second player left enclosure extends above the second player left trampoline. 
     Preferably, the trampoline court first player right trampoline and the first player left trampoline have an angle between 25° and 35° relative to the first player middle trampoline. Preferably the second player right trampoline and the second player left trampoline have an angle between 25° and 35° relative to the second player middle trampoline. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view diagram of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view diagram of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view diagram of the present invention showing placement of trampoline leg footing beneath the trampoline bed. 
     
    
    
     The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings.
       20  First Player Section     21  First Player Middle Trampoline     22  First Player Right Trampoline     23  First Player Left Trampoline     24  First Player Right Enclosure Panel     25  First Player Left Enclosure Panel     30  Enclosure Frame     31  First Player Terminal Enclosure Panel Right Support     32  First Player Terminal Enclosure Panel Left Support     33  First Player Terminal Enclosure Panel     34  Partition Panel     35  Second Player Terminal Enclosure Panel     36  Second Player Terminal Enclosure Panel Right Support     37  Second Player Terminal Enclosure Panel Left Support     40  Second Player Section     41  Second Player Middle Trampoline     42  Second Player Left Trampoline     43  Second Player Right Trampoline     44  Second Player Left Enclosure Panel     45  Second Player Right Enclosure Panel     51  Middle Goal     52  Right Side Goal     53  Left Side Goal     54  Top Tension Connector     55  Enclosure Support     56  Side Trampoline Support     57  Right Side Goal Hoop     58  Middle Goal Hoop     59  Left Side Goal Hoop     60  Trampoline Frame     61  First Distal Trampoline Leg     64  Second Distal Trampoline Leg     62  First Terminal Trampoline Leg     63  Second Terminal Trampoline Leg     65  Middle Trampoline Support Leg     71  First Player Terminal Frame Member     72  Partition Frame Member     73  Second Player Terminal Frame Member     74  Middle Trampoline Frame Member     75  Side Trampoline Frame Member     76  Enclosure Frame Member   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is a trampoline basketball court made for two players. A first player section  20  opposes a second player section  40 . A partition panel  34  separates the first player section  20  from the second player section  40 . The first player has a first player middle trampoline  21  bounded by a first player right trampoline  22  to the right of the first player middle trampoline  21 . The first player also has a first player middle trampoline  21  bounded by a first player left trampoline  23 . The new first player right enclosure panel  24  extends from the first player right trampoline  22 . The first player left enclosure panel  25  extends from the first player left trampoline  23 . The first player right trampoline  22  can be parallel to the first player right enclosure panel  24 . The first player left enclosure panel  25  can be parallel to the first player left trampoline  23 . The first player middle trampoline  21  is horizontal and receives the first player right trampoline  22  and the first player left trampoline  23  at an angle of approximately 20° to 50°, and is preferably at about a 30° or 45° angle. 
     A second player section  40  has a second player middle trampoline  41 . The second player middle trampoline  41  is bounded between a second player left trampoline  42  and a second player right trampoline  43 . The second player left trampoline  42  extends to a second player left enclosure panel  44 . The second player right trampoline  43  extends to a second player right enclosure panel  45 . The second player left enclosure panel  44  and the second player right enclosure panel  45  can be parallel to the second player left trampoline  42  and the second player right trampoline  43 . The second player middle trampoline  41  is horizontal and receives the second player right trampoline  43  and the second player left trampoline  42  at an angle of approximately 20° to 50°, and is preferably at about a 30° or 45° angle. 
     A user can jump on the middle trampoline, the left trampoline or the right trampoline. The user can jump from the left to the right trampoline over the middle trampoline. Preferably, the middle trampoline is approximately 8′ wide and the left and right trampoline is preferably 5′ wide. 
     The enclosure frame  30  surrounds the trampoline area. The trampoline area can have a total of six trampolines. The enclosure frame  30  has a trapezoidal terminal enclosure panel on each side of the enclosure frame  30 . The trapezoidal terminal enclosure panel can be reinforced by supports made of cable for example. A first player terminal enclosure panel right support  31  can support an upper right end of the first player terminal enclosure panel  33  and a first player terminal enclosure panel left support  32  can support an upper left end of the first player terminal enclosure panel  33 . Similarly, second player terminal enclosure panel right support  36  can support an upper right end of a second player terminal enclosure panel  35  and a second player terminal enclosure panel left support  37  can support an upper left end of a second player terminal enclosure panel  35 . 
     The pair of terminal enclosure panels includes the first player terminal enclosure panel  33  and the second player terminal enclosure panel  35 . The pair of terminal enclosure panels can be made of netting or trampoline material. The pair of terminal enclosure panels are preferably trapezoidal shaped and partitioned by a partition panel  34  mounted between the pair of terminal enclosure panels. Goals can be mounted above the pair of terminal enclosure panels. The goals can be configured to receive a ball such as a basketball or football of various size. The middle goal  51  can be made larger than the right side goal  52  or the left side goal  53 . The goals can be mounted on a top tension connector  54  that defines a top edge of the respective terminal enclosure panel. Each goal can have a net for momentarily retaining a ball. The middle goal  51  has a middle goal hoop  58 . The right side goal  52  has a right side goal hoop  57 . The left side goal hoop  59  has a left side goal  53 . The enclosure frame  30  has an enclosure support  55  at the enclosure area, and has a side trampoline support  56  at a side trampoline area. 
     The trampoline frame  60  has a trampoline area that is supported by a first distal trampoline leg  61  and a second distal trampoline leg  64 . On each left and right side of the trampoline, a pair of distal trampoline legs supports the horizontal trampoline area. Additionally, a first terminal trampoline leg  62 , second terminal trampoline leg  63  support the trampoline frame  60  at a terminal portion below the first player terminal enclosure panel  33  and the second player terminal enclosure panel  35 . The panels are preferably made of a sheet material such as metal mesh, woven polyethylene netting, or trampoline bed material. 
     The trampoline frame  60  can be built of hollow steel tubular zinc metallized members. The trampoline frame  60  can have a jointed assembly using assembly joints commonly used for trampoline frames. A first player terminal frame member  71  and a partition frame member  72  bounds the first player section  20 . Similarly, the second player terminal frame member  73  and the partition frame member  72  the second player section  40 . The first player terminal frame member  71 , the second terminal frame member  73  and the partition frame member  72  all have a horizontal portion that is angled to continue at an angled portion. The first player terminal frame member  71 , the second terminal frame member  73  and the partition frame member  72  all have a pair of upper ends connected together by a top tension connector. 
     The middle trampoline frame member  74  is generally horizontally disposed and defines a left and right edge of the middle trampoline. The side trampoline frame member  75  defines an upper edge of the side trampolines. The enclosure frame member  76  defines an upper edge of the enclosure frame  30 . The trampoline frame  60  is constructed as a grid with multiple trampoline sections. 
     Preferably, there are several first distal trampoline legs  61  and several second distal trampoline legs  64 . The first distal trampoline legs  61  and the second distal trampoline legs  64  can be connected to the side trampoline frame members  75 . A middle trampoline support leg  65  can be connected to and support the partition frame member  72 . 
     Appropriate safety equipment such as pads, spring cover pads can be implemented as needed. 
     Game play allows a user to jump from the middle trampoline to the left trampoline or the right trampoline and alternate between the three trampolines while attempting to score a basket against his opponent. The basket goals can be made of different sizes and can be oriented in a variety of different directions depending upon the game desired. The gameplay can also involve tag which may require a user to tag the other player with a game ball similar to a game of dodgeball. The gameplay can also add a beam emitter system for hitting targets connected to the trampoline frame in opposing player territory. 
     The following claims define the scope of the claimed invention.

Technology Category: 1