In-ground trampoline and method of installation therefor

Abstract

An in-ground trampoline and method of installation therefor, wherein a homeowner, trampoline enthusiast, athlete, gymnast, or the like, is provided with a safer, more accessible, ground level trampoline jumping surface configuration in view of conventional above-ground trampolines, and is further provided with a relatively inexpensive, easily constructed and transportable in-ground trampoline jumping surface support system in view of current in-ground trampoline methods of construction.

1 . An in-ground trampoline, comprising: 
 a segmented retaining wall.    
   
   
       2 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein said segmented retaining wall is formed from a rigid, corrugated material.  
   
   
       3 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 2 , wherein said rigid, corrugated material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, plastics, fiber-reinforced plastics, cellulose fiber and cement substrates, non-cementitious substrates, cementitious substrates, ferro-cements, fiberglass, carbon-fiber substrates, and vinyl substrates.  
   
   
       4 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein said segmented retaining wall is formed from a rigid, non-corrugated material.  
   
   
       5 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 4 , wherein said rigid, non-corrugated material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, plastics, fiber-reinforced plastics, cellulose fiber and cement substrates, non-cementitious substrates, cementitious substrates, ferro-cements, fiberglass, carbon-fiber substrates, and vinyl substrates.  
   
   
       6 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support ring removably secured to, and in supportive association with, said segmented retaining wall.  
   
   
       7 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one support ring is selected from the group consisting of segmented support rings and non-segmented support rings.  
   
   
       8 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one support ring is adapted to removably and securely receive a plurality of tensional supports, said tensional supports secured to the periphery of a trampoline mat for the tensioned support of same within said at least one support ring.  
   
   
       9 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining wall is bottomless.  
   
   
       10 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein said segmented retaining wall is positioned within a recessed area selected from the group consisting of earthen pits, basins, ditches, indoor recessed areas, and outdoor recessed areas.  
   
   
       11 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 10 , wherein said segmented retaining wall is positioned adjacent to, and in contact with, inner walls of said recessed area.  
   
   
       12 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 10 , wherein said segmented retaining wall is shaped and configured to provide said in-ground trampoline with a shape selected from the group consisting of circles, squares, rectangles, ovals, diamonds, hexagons, octagons, other polygons, and other geometric shapes.  
   
   
       13 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 10 , wherein said segmented retaining wall is adapted to receive an above-ground trampoline to effectuate a ground level jumping surface.  
   
   
       14 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 1 , further comprising safety nets.  
   
   
       15 . The in-ground trampoline of  claim 1 , further comprising safety padding.  
   
   
       16 . An in-ground trampoline for use above-ground, said in-ground trampoline comprising: 
 an outer retaining wall for precluding entry of objects, people and animals therepast and under a trampoline mat tensionally-supported therewithin.    
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for providing a ground level jumping surface positioned over a recessed area, said apparatus comprising: 
 a bottomless retaining wall positionable within the recessed area.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said bottomless retaining wall is segmented.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said bottomless retaining wall is formed from a rigid, corrugated material.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said rigid, corrugated material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, plastics, fiber-reinforced plastics, cellulose fiber and cement substrates, non-cementitious substrates, cementitious substrates, ferro-cements, fiberglass, carbon-fiber substrates, and vinyl substrates.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said bottomless retaining wall is formed from a rigid, non-corrugated material.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said rigid, non-corrugated material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, plastics, fiber-reinforced plastics, cellulose fiber and cement substrates, non-cementitious substrates, cementitious substrates, ferro-cements, fiberglass, carbon-fiber substrates, and vinyl substrates.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one support ring removably secured to, and in supportive association with, said bottomless retaining wall.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one support ring is selected from the group consisting of segmented support rings and non-segmented support rings.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one support ring is adapted to removably and securely receive a plurality of tensional supports, said tensional supports secured to the periphery of a trampoline mat for the tensioned support of same within said at least one support ring.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said bottomless retaining wall is positioned adjacent to, and in contact with, inner walls of the recessed area.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said bottomless retaining wall is shaped and configured to provide said ground level jumping surface with a shape selected from the group consisting of circles, squares, rectangles, ovals, diamonds, hexagons, octagons, other polygons, and other geometric shapes.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said bottomless retaining wall is adapted to receive an above-ground trampoline to effectuate said ground level jumping surface.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising safety nets.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising safety padding.  
   
   
       31 . A method of implementing a ground level jumping surface, comprising the steps of: 
 a. obtaining a bottomless retaining wall    b. positioning said bottomless retaining wall within a recessed area.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said bottomless retaining wall is segmented.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of tensioning a trampoline mat within said bottomless retaining wall.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of tensioning a trampoline mat over said bottomless retaining wall.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of placing a tensionally supported trampoline mat within said bottomless retaining wall.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of placing a tensionally supported trampoline mat over said bottomless retaining wall.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of placing and flushly seating an above ground trampoline within said bottomless retaining wall.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of placing and flushly seating an above ground trampoline within said bottomless retaining wall.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said bottomless retaining wall tensionally supports a trampoline mat.  
   
   
       40 . An apparatus for providing a ground level jumping surface positioned over a recessed area, said apparatus comprising: 
 a retaining wall selected from the group consisting of retaining walls comprising a plurality of throughholes formed around the upper peripheral edge thereof for facilitating engagement of tensional supports thereto, multiple overlapping retaining walls, multiple overlapping segmented retaining walls, non-segmented retaining walls, non-segmented bottomless retaining walls, retaining walls formed from a plurality of piping, retaining walls formed from a plurality of corrugated piping, retaining walls formed from a plurality of non-corrugated piping, truncated conical-shaped retaining walls, bottomless truncated conical-shaped retaining walls, closed-bottom truncated conical-shaped retaining walls, parabolic-shaped retaining walls, bottomless parabolic-shaped retaining walls, closed-bottom parabolic-shaped retaining walls, bowl-shaped retaining walls, bottomless bowl-shaped retaining walls, and closed-bottom bowl-shaped retaining walls.