REBOUNDING APPARATUS WITH TENSIONED ELASTIC CORDS

• US 20130316876A1
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark W. Publicover
• Original Assignee: Mark W. Publicover
• Inventors: Publicover, Mark W., Hylbert, Jon P., Strasser, Donald, Charles, Kevin B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,289,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/27
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0414 with both ends stationary during the actual exercise, i.e. moving only at intermediate locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0555 Details of the rope or band, e.g. shape or colour coding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/11 Trampolines
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0692 joining flexible sheets to other sheets or plates or to strips or bars tent fastenings E04H15/64; coping elements for swimming pools with fixing means for sealing foil E04H4/142; greenhouses of flexible synthetic material A01G9/1407; end or aperture-closing arrangements or devices for sacks or bags B65D33/16

Abstract

A trampoline with a frame has a rebounding mat that is tensioned to the frame with a plurality of flexible and cordlike linear elastic members. Preferably each cordlike elastic member is connected to the frame and the rebounding mat at one of two alternative positions to alter the tension. The alternative positions permit a tensioning process that extends the lifetime of elastic cords having a fabric sheath. This independent tension of each elastic member is via connector member that grips the rebounding mat but also grasps opposing the ends of the elastic members as well as central portion thereof so that two segment of the cord between each end and the central portion are preferably wrapped around the trampoline frame.

Claims

1. A rebounding apparatus comprising:

a frame that defines a central opening;

a rebounding mat that is elastically suspended within the central opening;

at least one cordlike elastic member that couples the rebounding mat to the frame so that the mat is in elastic suspension, the member having an elongated body extending between a first end and a second end; and

a plurality of connectors attached to the rebounding mat, each connector coupling one or more elastic members to the rebounding mat,

wherein at least one of the connectors is adapted to receive and secure at least two portions of an elongated body at two separate spaced apart locations on the connector.

2. The rebounding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one cordlike elastic member has a tensioned portion, the tensioned portion extending between two spaced-apart positions along the body of the elastic member, the elastic member being attached to a connector at each of the positions; and

at least one of the connectors couples the at least one cordlike elastic member in a manner that the tension of the tensioned portion of the elastic member can be adjusted by moving a portion of the body of the elastic member relative to the connector.

3. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the connectors engages a cordlike elastic member at three or more separate locations on the connector.

4. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein

the at least one of the connectors has an indentation located to receive and engage the cord.

5. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 4 wherein,

the indentation comprises a curvilinear surface.

6. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:

the at least one of the connectors has an indentation located to receive and engage the cord and the at least one of the connectors engages a cordlike elastic member at three or more separate locations on the connector including

a first location,

a second location, and

a third location where a portion of the cord is received in the indentation.

7. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the indentation is defined by a curvilinear surface.

8. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one connector is engaged with only one member.

9. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the mat has a central portion defined by a perimeter; and

the plurality of connectors comprises a plurality of first connectors and a plurality of second connectors,

wherein each of the first and second connectors is attached to the mat at the perimeter of the central portion, and each of the first connectors is located between two second connectors that are adjacent, and

wherein a plurality of cord-like elastic members extend between the connectors with a central portion of each cord wrapped around a first connector, each of two outer portions of the cord wrapping around an adjacent portion of the frame, and each of two outer portions of the cord connecting to one of the pair of second connectors that are adjacent to the first connector.

10. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of the first and second ends of each cord-like elastic member connects to the same connector that engages the central portion of the cord-like elastic member.

11. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:

each connector has at least one aperture through which a cord-like elastic member extends; and

each cord-like elastic member has a bulbous protrusion at or near at least one of the first and second ends, the dimensions of the bulbous protrusion being greater than those of the aperture such that the bulbous protrusion act as stop that limits movement of the cord-like elastic member through the aperture.

12. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 11 wherein:

the cord-like elastic member has a plurality of spaced-apart bulbous protrusion at or near at least one of the first and second ends; and

the connector is configure to allow the cord-like elastic member to be repositioned so that any one of the bulbous protrusions can be selected to serve as the stop whereby the cord-like elastic member can be moved to select the level of tension on the cord-like elastic member.

13. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the bulbous protrusions are knots in the cord-like elastic members.

14. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the bulbous protrusions are molded material connected to the cord-like elastic members.

15. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the connector defines two apertures; and

the cord-like elastic member has a central portion that wraps around the frame and has two outer portions, one of the outer portions being connected to each of the apertures.

16. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:

the connector has a surface that provides a curved path for engaging a central portion of the cord-like elastic member and at least two apertures for receiving outer portions of the cord-like elastic member; and

a cord-like elastic member has a central portion, an outer portion on either side of the central portion, and a bulbous protrusion at or near at least one of the first and second ends, the dimensions of the bulbous protrusion being greater than those of the aperture such that the bulbous protrusion act as stop that limits movement of the cord-like elastic member through the aperture.

17. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the two apertures of the connector are located on opposite sides of the curved path.

18. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the two aperture of the connector are located on opposite sides and under the first central portion that received the center of the looped cord-like elastic member.

19. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the connector has a single aperture that is disposed below the central portion thereof and the first and opposing ends of each cord-like elastic member engage the single apertures of the connectors that are immediately adjacent and on opposing side of the connector that engages the central looped portion thereof.

20. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the connector has a downward extending post for wrapping the elastic cord one or more times for varying the tension

21. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 8 wherein at least one connector further comprising a nesting spacer for insertion between the end portion of the elastic cords and the two aperture, the nested connector having substantially the same shape as the apertures on the side that engages the cord-like elastic members and the complimentary shape on the opposite side that engage the aperture when the nested spacer is inserted to increase the tension on the cord-like elastic members.

22. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connectors have two apertures and the connectors are disposed on a body that is capable of being radially displaced with respect to the center of the rebounding mat on the portion of the connector that engages the center of the folded cord-like elastic member.

23. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one connector has a flat open channel formed by a least two arms on the opposite side of the portion for receiving the elastic cord and a looped strap that removable disengage the channel connecting it to the periphery of the rebounding mat.

24. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one connector has a shaped indentation for engaging a metal ring that is attached to the periphery of the rebounding mat.

25. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 1 with a connector for coupling a elastic cord-like member in tension between a trampoline mat and a trampoline frame, the connector comprising:

a first coupling position having a curved path for seating and retaining a cord-like elastic member,

a second coupling position having means to grasp opposing ends of a cord-like elastic member,

a third coupling position having means to grasp opposing ends of a cord-like elastic member.

26. A rebounding apparatus according to claim 25 in which the second portion of the connector has at least two apertures to matingly engage a cord-like member having a protrusion extending beyond dominant transverse profile of the cord-like member.

32. A portable exercise system of claim 1 further comprising at least one elastic member length and tension adjustment device, the device being attached to at least one of the elastic members and comprising an adjustable slotted clover elastic member connector and a rigid elastic member holder adapted to adjustably engage the slotted clover elastic member connector such that the elastic member length and tension can be modified.

27. A method of extending the life of elastic cords used in a trampoline, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a frame that defines a central opening;

providing a rebounding mat having at least a central portion that is suspended in the opening, the central portion being defined by a series of connectors that are tangentially spaced apart with respect to the geometric center of the central portion;

providing a plurality of elastic member connecting the connectors to the frame so as to suspend the central portion of the rebounding mat in tension within the common plane of the frame when each elastic member is extended beyond the unstressed length thereof;

extending at least some of the elastic members in the plurality to suspend the rebounding mat in tension substantially in the plane of the horizontally extending frame, wherein the elastic members are extended to a first length to provide a first level of tension;

impacting the rebounding mat repeatedly until the tension decreases appreciably below the first level thereof; and

extending at least some of the elastic members in the plurality to suspend the rebounding mat in tension substantially in the plane of the horizontally extending frame, wherein the elastic members are extended to a second length greater than the first length to provide a second level of tension level substantially equal to the first level of tension.

28. A method of extending the life of elastic cords used in a trampoline according to claim 41 in which the step of extending at least some of the elastic members occurs before the initial level of tension drop by about 16%.

29. A method of extending the life of elastic cords used in a trampoline according to claim 41 in which the step of extending at least some of the elastic members occurs after about 1 million cycles.

30. A method of extending the life of elastic cords used in a trampoline according to claim 41 in which the step of extending at least some of the elastic members occurs multiple times after at least about 1 million cycles each.

31. A method of extending the life of elastic cords used in a trampoline according to claim 41 in which the step of extending at least some of the elastic members occurs multiple times until the level of tension in the elastic cords when the rebounding mat is extend downward reaches more than about 150% of the initial stress level at the same condition.

33. The portable exercise system of claim 46 wherein at least one elastic member length and tension adjustment device, the device being attached to at least one of the elastic members and comprising adjustable a cone clover bungee connector.

34. The portable exercise system of claim 46 wherein at least one elastic member length and tension adjustment device, the device being attached to at least one of the elastic members and comprising an adjustable screw clover bungee connector.

35. The portable exercise system of claim 46 wherein at least one elastic member length and tension adjustment device, the device being attached to at least one of the elastic members and comprising an elastic member extender which attaches to a rebounder connector with a hook at the end where the elastic member may be connected.

36. A rebounding apparatus comprising:

a frame that defines a central opening,

a rebounding mat having at least a central portion thereof elastically suspended within the central opening, the mat having a top surface and a bottom surface,

at least one cordlike elastic member that couples the rebounding mat to the frame so that the mat is in elastic suspension, each member having an elongated body extending between a first end and an opposing second end;

a plurality of connectors that are attached to the rebounding mat and that couple an elastic member to the rebounding mat, wherein at least one of the connectors comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions defining an opening located to receive a portion of the mat.

37. The rebounding apparatus of claim 36 wherein:

the mat comprises a tab configured to receive and hold a through pin;

the rebounding apparatus comprises a through pin; and

the connector defines a hole to receive the through pin, wherein the through pin extends through the tab and the hole and thereby secures the tab to the connector.