AU2007100271A4

AU2007100271A4 - Trampoline having Smaller Volume

Info

Publication number: AU2007100271A4
Application number: AU2007100271A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hao-Yung Chiang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-03
Filing date: 2007-04-03
Publication date: 2007-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-03

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION SPECIFICATION FOR AN INVENTION ENTITLED Invention title: Trampoline having Smaller Volume Name of Applicant: Hao-Yung Chiang Address for Service A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys PO Box 222 Mitcham, S.A. 5062 The invention is described in the following statement: s 2 0 TRAMPOLINE HAVING SMALLER VOLUME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION f\3 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a trampoline and, more particularly, to a trampoline having an exercising effect.

Description of the Prior Art A conventional trampoline in accordance with the prior art shown in Figs. 14-17 comprises a support unit 1, a bed 17 supported by the support unit 1, and a plurality of elastic cords 12 mounted between the support unit 1 and the bed 17 to stretch the bed 17.

The support unit I includes a plurality of inverted U-shaped bent tubes 14 connected with each other by a plurality of connecting plates 16, a plurality of upright support bars combined with the bent tubes 14 by the connecting plates 16, a plurality of connecting blocks 11 mounted on the bent tubes 14 and connected with the elastic cords 12, and a plurality of hooks 13 each mounted between the bed 17 and a respective elastic cord 12. Each of the bent tubes 14 has two support legs 140 and 141.

However, the inverted U-shaped bent tubes 14 have a larger volume, so that all of the S3 sparts of the trampoline occupy a larger space after the trampoline is detached, thereby causing inconvenience to the user in packaging, storage and transportation of all of the parts of the trampoline. In addition, the connecting blocks 11 and the inverted U-shaped

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cit bent tubes 14 easily slips during the jumping process to draw the elastic cords 12, so that the elastic cords 12 are easily broken due to a stress concentration, thereby

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O decreasing the lifetime of the trampoline. Further, the trampoline cannot be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly, thereby causing inconvenience to the user in assembling and disassembling the trampoline, For the purposes of this specification the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. Also a reference within this specification to a document is not to be taken as an admission that the disclosure therein constitutes common general knowledge in Australia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a trampoline, comprising a plurality of bent pipes combined with each other to form a loop, a bed supported by the bent pipes, a plurality of upright legs each mounted on a bottom of a respective bent pipe so that the bent pipes are suspended in the air by support of the legs, a plurality of 0 4 upright support handles each secured on a respective leg to support the respective leg so that the bent pipes are supported by the legs and the support handles, and a plurality of elastic cords reeved through and located between the support handles, the bent pipes and -i a periphery of the bed so that the bed is secured to the support handles and the bent pipes by connection of the elastic cords, tO- The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a trampoline having a smaller volume.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a trampoline, wherein the trampoline consists of the bent pipes, the bed, the legs, the support handles, and the elastic cords so that the trampoline has a simplified construction, thereby greatly decreasing the costs of fabrication.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a trampoline, wherein the trampoline is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly, thereby facilitating a user assembling and disassembling the trampoline.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a trampoline, wherein the bent pipes and the legs have a smaller volume, so that all of the parts of the trampoline occupy a smaller space after the trampoline is detached, thereby greatly facilitating packaging, storage and transportation of all of the parts of the trampoline.

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0 A further objective of the present invention is to provide a trampoline, wherein the o elastic cords are reeved between the support handles, the bent pipes and the periphery of the bed so that the trampoline has a compact and strengthened structure to prevent the trampoline from being broken during a long-term utilization, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the trampoline.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. I is a perspective view of a trampoline in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline taken along a loop as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig, 5 is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig, 6 is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of the trampoline as shown in Fig, 1.

Fig. 10 is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 1I is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a locally enlarged view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a schematic operational view of the trampoline as shown in Fig. 1 in use.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a conventional trampoline in accordance with the prior art.

Fig, 15 is a locally enlarged view of the conventional trampoline as shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a partially perspective view of the conventional trampoline as shown in Fig, 14.

Fig. 17 is a locally enlarged exploded view of the conventional trampoline as shown in Fig. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1-12, a trampoline 3 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of bent pipes 32 combined with each other to form a loop, a bed 31 supported by the bent pipes 32, a plurality of upright legs 26 each mounted on a bottom of a respective bent pipe 32 so that the bent pipes 32 are suspended in the air by support of the legs 26, a plurality of upright support handles 2 each secured on a respective leg 26 to support the respective leg 26 so that the bent pipes 32 are supported by the legs 26 and the support handles 2, and a plurality of elastic cords 33 reeved through and located between the support handles 2, the bent pipes 32 and a periphery of the bed 31 so that the bed 31 is secured to the support handles 2 and the bent pipes 32 by connection of the elastic cords 33.

The bent pipes 32 are enclosed around the periphery of the bed 31. The bent pipes 32 are combined by a fastening screw 35 (see Fig. 5) and a fastening nut 351 (see Fig. 6).

Each of the bent pipes 32 is formed with an outwardly protruding mounting tube 32 1.

Each of the legs 26 has an upper end formed with a redueuced plug 261 inserted into and detachably locked in the mounting tube 321 of the respective bent pipe 32 to attach each of the legs 26 to the respective bent pipe 32. The upper end of each of the legs 26 is formed with a stepped shoulder 262 rested on the mounting tube 321 of the respective bent pipe 32, The support handles 2 are located at the periphery of the bed 31 and are disposed on the ground in an upright manner. Each of the support handles 2 is secured on a side of the respective leg 26 by a plurality of locking screws 34 (see Fig. 7) and a plurality of locking nuts 341 (see Fig, Each of the support handles 2 has a multi-stage detachable structure and includes a lower post 25, a middle post 24 having a lower end mounted on an upper end of the lower post 25, and an upper post 22 having a lower end mounted on an upper end of the middle post 24. The lower post 25, the middle post 24 and the upper post 22 of each of the support handles 2 are combined by a protruding boss 231 (see Fig.

2) of a substantially V-shaped elastic plate 23 (see Fig. 10) respectively. The upper post 22 of each of the support handles 2 has an upper end provided with an upper pad 21 (see Fig. 11). The lower post 25 of each of the support handles 2 has a lower end provided with a lower pad 27 (see Fig. 12).

The bed 31 is made of an elastic body. The periphery of the bed 31 is provided with a plurality of outwardly protruding snapping hooks 310 hooked on the elastic cords 33 to bind the periphery of the bed 31 to the bent pipes 32 and to expand the bed 31 by an elastic tension of the elastic cords 33, In assembly, referring to Figs, 1-13, the bent pipes 32 are combined by the fastening screw 35 and the fastening nut 351. Then, the plug 261 of each of the legs 26 is inserted into the mounting tube 321 of the respective bent pipe 32 to attach each of the legs 26 to the respective bent pipe 32. Then, each of the support handles 2 is combined with the respective leg 26 by the locking screws 34 and the locking nuts 341, Finally, the elastic cords 33 are reeved through and located between the support handles 2, the bent pipes 32 and the periphery of the bed 31 so that the bed 31 is secured to the support handles 2 and the bent pipes 32 by connection of the elastic cords 33, thereby forming the trampoline 3 as shown in Figs. I and 13.

Accordingly, the trampoline 3 consists of the bent pipes 32, the bed 31, the legs 26, the support handles 2, and the elastic cords 33 so that the trampoline 3 has a simplified construction, thereby greatly decreasing the costs of fabrication,. In addition, the trampoline 3 is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly, thereby facilitating a user assembling and disassembling the trampoline 3. Further, the bent pipes 32 and the legs 26 have a smaller volume, so that all of the parts of the trampoline 3 occupy a smaller space after the trampoline 3 is detached, thereby greatly facilitating packaging, 0 storage and transportation of all of the parts of the trampoline 3. Further, the elastic cords 33 are reeved between the support handles 2, the bent pipes 32 and the periphery of the bed 31 so that the trampoline 3 has a compact and strengthened structure to prevent the trampoline 3 from being broken during a long-term utilization, thereby 5 enhancing the lifetime of the trampoline 3.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims wili cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A trampoline, comprising: a plurality of bent pipes combined with each other to form a loop; dp a bed supported by the bent pipes; 0 5 a plurality of upright legs each mounted on a bottom of a respective bent pipe so f"- o that the bent pipes are suspended in the air by support of the legs; a plurality of upright support handles each secured on a respective leg to support the respective leg so that the bent pipes are supported by the legs and the support handles: a plurality of elastic cords reeved through and located between the support handles, the bent pipes and a periphery of the bed so that the bed is secured to the support handles and the bent pipes by connection of the elastic cords.

2. The trampoline in accordarce with claim 1, wherein the bent pipes are combined by a fastening screw and a fastening nut.

3. The trampoline in accordance with claim I, wherein each of the support handles is secured on a side of the respective leg by a plurality of locking screws and a plurality of locking nuts s 12 0

4. The trampoline in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the bent pipes is 0 formed with an outwardly protruding mounting tube, and each of the legs has an upper CI end formed with a reduced plug inserted into and detachably locked in the mounting tube of the respective bent pipe to attach each of the legs to the respective bent pipe.

The trampoline in accordance with claim 4, wherein the upper end of each of the legs is formed with a stepped shoulder rested on the mounting tube of the respective bent pipe.

6. The trampoline in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bent pipes are enclosed around the periphery of the bed.

7. The trampoline in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support handles are located at the periphery of the bed and are disposed on the ground in an upright manner,

8. The trampoline in accordance with claim 1, wherein the each of the support handles has a multi-stage detachable structure and includes a lower post, a middle post having a lower end mounted on an upper end of the lower post, and an upper post 013 Shaving a lower end mounted on an upper end of the middle post. en

9. The trampoline in accordance with claim 8, wherein the lower post, the middle -I Cl post and the upper post of each of the support handles are combined by a protruding 0 boss of a substantially V-shaped elastic plate respectively.

C, The trampoline in accordance with claim 8, wherein the upper post of each of the support handles has an upper end provided with an upper pad.

11. The trampoline in accordance with claim 8, wherein the lower post of each of the support handles has a lower end provided with a lower pad,

12. The trampoline in accordance with claim I, wherein the periphery of the bed is provided with a plurality of outwardly protruding snapping hooks hooked on the elastic cords to bind the periphery of the bed to the bent pipes and to expand the bed by an elastic tension of the elastic cords.