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Flexible enclosure for a recreational structure

Flexible enclosure for a recreational structure description/claims

The present patent application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/970,412, filed Jan. 7, 2008, entitled “Panel-type Frame Structure For A Recreational Structure, invented by Jeffry L. VanElverdinghe, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/969,586, filed on Aug. 31, 2007, entitled “Patent-type Trampoline And Trampoline Embodiments,” invented by Jeffry L. VanElverdinghe, the disclosures of both being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The present patent application is also related to U.S. Design Patent Application Serial No. (Attorney Docket No. 135.0026), entitled “Flexible Safety Enclosure For A Recreational Structure,” and U.S. Design Patent Application Serial No. (Attorney Docket No. 135.0027), entitled “Connector For Flexible Enclosure For A Recreational Structure,” both of which being filed concurrently herewith and both disclosures being incorporated by reference herein.

The subject matter disclosed herein is illustrated by way of example and not by limitation in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a safety enclosure according to the subject matter disclosed herein;

FIGS. 2A-2C depict exemplary embodiments of ferrules that can be used with a flexible rod that forms the safety enclosure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a safety enclosure according to the subject matter disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a safety enclosure according to the subject matter disclosed herein;

FIGS. 5A and 5B respectively depict top and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of recreational structure frame according to the subject matter disclosed herein;

FIG. 5C depicts an alternative configuration for coupling a spring member to recreational structure frame according to the subject matter disclosed herein; and

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a recreational frame T-coupler that is suitable for use with the safety enclosure and recreational structure frame depicted in FIG. 1

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not to be construed as necessarily preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a safety enclosure 100 according to the subject matter disclosed herein. Safety enclosure 100 is designed to safely stop a user from falling from the rebounding surface of the recreational structure and operates as a fence around the rebounding surface, but does not act as a rebounder. Safety enclosure 100 comprises a plurality of flexible rods 101 that supports and suspends safety netting 102. One suitable flexible rod that could be used for a flexible rod 101 is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,187 A1 to Lin et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Safety netting 102 comprises a net or fabric mesh and a plurality of sleeves 303 (see FIG. 3) formed along a top edge of the netting in which a rod 101 can be inserted. When a rod 101 is inserted into a sleeve 303, the two ends of the rod extend out from sleeve 303. In another embodiment, the top of safety netting 102 is fastened to rods 101 in a well-known manner. The ends of each flexible rod 101 are then coupled to a frame 150, such as a standard trampoline frame, by inserting each end into an aperture or a side-sleeve member, such as any of the apertures and/or side-sleeves described in connection with T-coupler devices disclosed herein, so that the rod 101 forms an arch that spans between two apertures (and/or side-sleeve members) that are spaced apart. For example, referring to FIG. 1, a rod 101 forms an arch that spans between two T-coupler devices 151 located at point A and point C. Points A and C are spaced apart, in this case, by two times the length of the span of frame 150 between two T-coupler devices 151 plus the length of one T-coupler device 151 that is located at B. Other exemplary distances are possible for forming an arch by a rod 101.

A sleeve 303 (FIG. 3) formed in flexible netting 102 is coupled to an arched flexible rod 101 at least at a top portion of the arch formed by a flexible rod. The arrangement is repeated around the frame 150 so that adjacent flexible rods 101 overlap and provide lateral support to each other. In one exemplary embodiment, the number of flexible rods 101 equals the number of T-coupler devices in frame 150 of the recreational structure. In another exemplary embodiment, the number of flexible rods 101 is a sub-multiple of the number of number of T-coupler devices in frame 150 of the recreational structure. While flexible rods 101 are depicted in FIG. 1 has extending substantially vertically from frame 150, the apertures and/or side-sleeve members that receive flexible rods 101 could be oriented and the size of the top of the safety netting at the sleeves is such that flexible rods 101 bow outward from frame 150 before bowing back in at the top of the safety netting. Additionally, safety netting 102 comprises a door arrangement (not shown) for allowing entry into the area enclosed by safety enclosure 100. Frame 150 is coupled to a trampoline bed (not shown), or a rebounding surface (not shown), in a well-known manner, such as by springs.

In one exemplary embodiment, a flexible rod 101 comprises a ferrule 201 disposed at each end of the rod, such as shown in FIG. 2A. The size of ferrule 201 is selected so that it can be inserted into an aperture or a sleeve-sleeve member of a T-coupler device, such as that depicted in FIG. 6. One exemplary embodiment of a ferrule 201 comprises an integrated stop flange 202 for preventing the flexible rod from being inserted too far into an aperture or a side-sleeve member of a T-coupler device. Further, in one exemplary embodiment, flexible rod 101 can be formed from one piece. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a flexible rod 101 can be formed from a plurality of shorter flexible members 101a (FIGS. 2B and 2C). When flexible rod 101 is formed from a plurality of flexible members 101a, the flexible members 101a can be fastened together using rigid connector ferrules 203 and 204, such as are shown respectively in FIGS. 2B and 2C. FIG. 2B shows one exemplary embodiment of a rigid connector ferrule 202, and FIG. 2C shows an alternative exemplary embodiment of a rigid connector ferrule 204. When flexible rod 101 comprises a coated fiberglass rod, the jacket material of the fiberglass rod forming the coated portion should be removed if ferrule will be crimpled or glued.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a safety enclosure 300 according to the subject matter disclosed herein. Safety enclosure 300 is depicted as being coupled to a panel-type trampoline frame 350, such as that disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/969,586, filed on Aug. 31, 2007, entitled “Patent-type Trampoline And Trampoline Embodiments,” and U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/970,412, filed Jan. 7, 2008, entitled “Panel-type Frame Structure For A Recreational Structure, the disclosures of both being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Frame 350 is coupled to a trampoline bed, or a rebounding surface, 310 in a well-known manner, such as by springs.

Safety enclosure 300 comprises a plurality of flexible rods 301 that supports and suspends a safety netting (partially shown). One suitable flexible rod that could be used for a flexible rod 301 is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,187 A1 to Lin et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The safety netting comprises a net or fabric mesh (partially shown for clarity) and a plurality of sleeves 303 formed in a well-known manner along a top edge of the netting in which a rod 301 can be inserted. When a rod 301 is inserted into a sleeve 303, the two ends of the rod extend out from sleeve 303. The ends of each flexible rod 301 are then coupled to frame 350 by inserting each end into an aperture or a side-sleeve member, such as any of the apertures and/or side-sleeves described in connection with T-coupler devices disclosed herein, so that the rod 301 forms an arch that spans between two apertures (and/or side-sleeve members) that are spaced apart. Safety enclosure 300 further comprises a plurality of ferrules 304, of which only a few are indicated, that rods 301 pass through in a well-known manner. Ferrules 304 provide additional support between the different rods 301. Rods 301 form arches in a configuration that is similar to the arches formed by rods 101 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts another exemplary embodiment of a safety enclosure 400 according to the subject matter disclosed herein. Safety enclosure 400 is depicted as being coupled to a panel-type trampoline frame 350, such as that disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/969,586, filed on Aug. 31, 2007, entitled “Patent-type Trampoline And Trampoline Embodiments,” and U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/970,412, filed Jan. 7, 2008, entitled “Panel-type Frame Structure For A Recreational Structure, the disclosures of both being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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