Trampoline enclosure attachment to trampoline mat

Abstract

A way to attach a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline frame is described. This process involving constructing the enclosure with a buttonhole at or near its bottom edge. This buttonhole is designed to receive a spring attachment feature located on the rebounding mat of the trampoline structure. Generally, this spring attachment feature will be the D-ring (or V-ring) that is used to attach the rebounding mat to the springs. The D-ring will pass through the buttonhole and, when connected to a corresponding spring, will securely attach the trampoline enclosure to the trampoline.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCED RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/684,107, filed May 24, 2005. This provisional application is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to trampoline enclosures. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for attaching a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline.

Trampoline enclosures are structures surrounding a trampoline used to protect jumpers from some types of accidents. Currently available trampoline enclosures may include a flexible wall or net positioned and supported by support rods spaced about the perimeter of a trampoline. A typical example of a known trampoline enclosure structure is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,845 (which patent is expressly incorporated herein by reference and will be referred to herein as the “'845 patent”). As is known in the art, the support rods extend above the trampoline to support and position the net about the perimeter of the rebounding surface of the trampoline. Currently available flexible walls are attached to the rebounding surface or trampoline mat by a rope loosely woven about the perimeter of the trampoline or trampoline mat, which is also referred to herein as a “rebounding surface”.

This currently available method of attachment has several disadvantages. For example, manually weaving the flexible wall and the rebound surface together with a cord or rope is tedious and time consuming. Moreover, gaps may exist between the rebounding surface and the bottom of the flexible wall. These gaps can result in injuries as limbs slide into the gaps or between the springs throwing a jumper off balance. For smaller jumpers, they may actually slip through the gap or between the springs and fall off the trampoline. Additionally, the springs are typically made of metal and can cause injuries should a jumper fall against them.

Therefore, a need exists for an attachment method and apparatus that quickly and securely attaches the bottom of the flexible wall to the trampoline and minimizes the gaps that may be located between the flexible wall and the rebounding surface. Additionally, a need exists for an attachment apparatus that may be inexpensively manufactured and requires few parts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of the present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available trampoline enclosure attachment methods and apparatus. The present invention is drawn to an apparatus and method of attaching a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline mat. In accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein in the preferred embodiment, a trampoline enclosure includes a plurality of “buttonholes” spaced around the bottom edge of the flexible wall of the trampoline enclosure. The trampoline mat includes a plurality of spring attachment features, such as D-rings (which are also called “V-rings”) and the buttonholes are sized to allow passage of the spring attachment features.

The trampoline enclosure includes a plurality of support rods and a flexible wall connectable to the vertical support rods. The flexible wall may be a net or fabric made of woven fibers or plastic sheets designed to prevent jumpers from falling off of a trampoline. The fibers or sheets may be made of cotton, hemp, or other naturally occurring fibers or may be made of synthetic polymers, such as nylon or HDPE.

The flexible wall includes a plurality of buttonholes that are positioned proximate the bottom of the flexible wall. The buttonholes 120 may be shaped to allow passage of the spring attachment features 112 through the buttonholes. The buttonholes 120 are shown disposed proximate the bottom edge 122 of the flexible wall 36 and may be formed in a reinforcement strip 124 of the flexible wall 36. The buttonholes 120 provide a means for attaching the flexible wall 36 about the outer edge 114 of the rebounding mat 14. This close attachment of the flexible wall 36 to the rebounding mat 14 helps to protect a jumper from impacting against the springs 20 or slipping between the flexible wall 36 and the rebounding mat 14 and becoming entangled or falling off of the trampoline 10.

The reinforcement strip 124 helps to support the forces experienced by the buttonholes 120 during trampoline use and helps to prevent the material defining the buttonholes 120 from fraying or tearing. As shown, the reinforcement strip 124 is made of a separate piece of material that is attached proximate to the bottom edge 122 of the flexible wall 106.

As illustrated, FIG. 3 show the enclosure 12 in which only a portion of the spring attachment features 112 have been threaded through the buttonholes 120. This illustration is made for purposes of illustrating the engagement between the attachment features 112 and the buttonholes 120. When the trampoline 10/enclosure 12 are actually used, it is preferable to have all (or substantially all) of the attachment features 112 threaded through the buttonholes 120 in order to provide the greatest amount of engagement between the enclosure 12 and the trampoline 10. In fact, once the attachment feature 112 has been threaded through the buttonholes 120, the springs 20 may be added and attached to the attachment features 112 so that the rebounding mat 14 is pulled taut. In this configuration, the flexible wall 36 will be secured to the outer edge 114 of the rebounding mat 14.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a front elevation view of another embodiment of the buttonhole 200 is illustrated. This buttonhole 200 disposed proximate the bottom edge 122 of the flexible wall 36 according to the present embodiments. The buttonhole 200 includes solid plastic 202 disposed on an edge 204 of the buttonhole 200. The solid plastic 202 may be formed by disposing melted plastic, such as nylon, on and around the edge of the button 200. Alternatively, if the flexible wall 36 is made of a plastic (such as thermoplastic, thermosetting plastics, etc.), a hot knife may be used to simultaneously cut the buttonhole 200 and melt the plastic at the edge 204 forming a solid plastic edge 202.

As shown, the buttonhole 200 may be positioned in a reinforcement strip 210. The reinforcement strip 210 may be formed by a plurality of folded layers of material of the flexible wall 36.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of an alternative buttonhole 300 according to the present embodiments. The buttonhole 300 may be reinforced by a metal or plastic eyelet 302 that is attached to the flexible wall 36 by crimping similar to a rivet or may be sewn to the flexible wall 106.

The buttonhole 300 may be disposed proximate the bottom 122 of the flexible wall 106 in a reinforcement strip 310. As shown, the reinforcement strip 310 may be made from a different material than and made separately from the flexible wall 36. The reinforcement strip 310 may be attached by sewing and/or threaded through holes 312 in the flexible wall 36.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a different buttonhole 400 according to the present embodiments. The buttonhole 400 is formed directly in the flexible wall 36 and is reinforced by sewn edges 402. The sewn edges 402 may be formed by a buttonhole stitch 404.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a buttonhole 500 formed by a tab 502 according to the invention. The tab 502 may be attached near the bottom 122 of the flexible wall 36.

It will be appreciated that other means and/or mechanisms for forming a buttonhole structure may be used in accordance with the present invention.

In summary, a trampoline enclosure is provided that may be rapidly and securely attached to the rebounding surface of a trampoline to better protect a jumper from impacting the springs of the trampoline or slipping an arm or leg between the rebounding surface of the trampoline and the flexible wall of the trampoline enclosure.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A trampoline comprising:

a frame;

a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs;

a plurality of vertical support rods connected to the frame; and

a trampoline enclosure comprising:

a flexible wall that connects to the plurality of vertical support rods, said flexible wall being sized to encircle a perimeter of the rebounding surface and having a bottom edge that connects to the rebounding surface; and

a plurality of buttonholes that are sized and configured to fit over the spring attachment features and are positioned proximate the bottom edge of the flexible wall and aligned with the spring attachment features to allow the spring attachment features of the rebounding surface to pass through the plurality of buttonholes, and thereby connect the rebounding surface to the bottom edge of the flexible wall.

2. The trampoline of claim 1, wherein the flexible wall comprises a reinforcement strip.

3. The trampoline of claim 1, wherein one or more buttonholes comprises a reinforcement to prevent the buttonholes from tearing.

4. The trampoline of claim 1, wherein one or more of the buttonholes comprises a sewn edge.

5. The trampoline of claim 4, wherein one or more of the buttonholes comprises a buttonhole stitch.

6. The trampoline of claim 1, wherein one or more of the buttonholes comprises a solid plastic disposed about edges of the buttonhole.

7. The trampoline of claim 1, wherein one or more of the buttonholes comprises a tab secured to the flexible wall.

8. A method of attaching a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline comprising:

obtaining a trampoline comprising:

a frame;

a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs; and

a plurality of vertical support rods;

obtaining a trampoline enclosure comprising:

a flexible wall that connects to the plurality of vertical support rods, said flexible wall being sized to encircle a perimeter of the rebounding surface and having a bottom edge that connects to the rebounding surface; and

a plurality of buttonholes that are sized and configured to fit over the spring attachment features and are positioned proximate the bottom edge of the flexible wall and aligned with the spring attachment features;

connecting the vertical support rods to the trampoline frame;

connecting the vertical flexible wall to the support rods; and

threading the spring attachment features of the rebounding surface through the buttonholes to connect the rebounding surface to the bottom edge of the flexible wall.

9. A method as in claim 8 further comprising the step of disposing the springs between the spring attachment features and the frame.

10. A method as in claim 8 wherein one spring attachment feature is threaded through each buttonhole and one spring connects each spring attachment feature to the frame.

11. A trampoline comprising:

a frame;

a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs;

a plurality of vertical support rods connected to the frame; and

a trampoline enclosure comprising:

a flexible wall that connects to the plurality of vertical support rods, said flexible wall being sized to encircle a perimeter of the rebounding surface and having a bottom edge; and

a plurality of buttonholes positioned as a portion of the flexible wall proximate the bottom edge of the flexible wall and disposed between the rebounding surface and the frame.

12. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein the number of buttonholes is equal to the number of spring attachment features.

13. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein the buttonholes are disposed between the rebounding surface and the plurality of springs.

14. The trampoline as in claim 13, wherein coupling of the plurality of springs to the spring attachment features secures the bottom edge between the rebounding surface and the plurality of springs.

15. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein the buttonholes are shaped to be positioned over the plurality of spring attachment features.

16. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein the flexible wall comprises a reinforcement strip.

17. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein one or more buttonholes comprises a reinforcement to prevent the buttonholes from tearing.

18. A method of attaching a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline comprising:

obtaining a trampoline comprising:

a frame:

a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs; and

a plurality of vertical support rods;

obtaining a trampoline enclosure comprising:

a flexible wall that connects to the plurality of vertical support rods, said flexible wall being sized to encircle a perimeter of the rebounding surface and having a bottom edge; and

a plurality of buttonholes positioned as a portion of the flexible wall proximate the bottom edge of the flexible wall and disposed between the rebounding surface and the frame;

connecting the vertical flexible wall to the support rods;

positioning the buttonholes over the spring attachment features; and

attaching the springs to the spring attachment features.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein one buttonhole is positioned over one spring attachment feature and one spring connects each spring attachment feature to the frame.

20. A process of making a trampoline enclosure for use with a trampoline comprising a frame, a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs, the method comprising:

obtaining a flexible wall of material being sized to encircle a perimeter of the trampoline rebounding surface, wherein the flexible wall has a top edge and a bottom edge;

providing a reinforcement strip at the bottom edge; and

incorporating a plurality of buttonholes positioned proximate the bottom edge, wherein the quantity and spacing of the buttonholes around the bottom edge are selected to correspond to a quantity and spacing of the springs used to attach the rebounding surface to the frame.