Trampoline System Having Arcuated Jumping Surfaces

Abstract

A trampoline system is described. The trampoline includes a frame, a jumping mat and elastic means for connecting the jumping mat to the frame. The jumping mat includes a substantially horizontal jumping region between two arcuated shaped jumping regions at opposing ends of the horizontal jumping region when connected to the frame. The frame may include two opposing ends formed from a pair of substantially parallel arcuated tubes each having a substantially vertical end, a substantially horizontal end, and a mid-point along its curved length, a support bar connecting the arcuated tubes at their substantially vertical ends, a pair of end footings, wherein each end footing is connect to the support bar and to the mid-point of one of the arcuated tubes, and a pair of side footings, wherein each side footing is connected to a leg of one of the end footings and to one of the arcuated tubes at its substantially horizontal end.

1 . A trampoline, comprising:
 a frame, a jumping mat and elastic means for connecting the jumping mat to the frame;   wherein the jumping mat includes a substantially horizontal jumping region between two arcuated shaped jumping regions at opposing ends of the horizontal jumping region when connected to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes four side footings and two end footings. 
     
     
         3 . The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes at least two cross-bar supports running substantially perpendicular to the length of the jumping mat. 
     
     
         4 . The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes at least four cross-bar supports running substantially perpendicular to the length of the jumping mat. 
     
     
         5 . The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes at least five cross-bar supports running substantially perpendicular to the length of the jumping mat. 
     
     
         6 . The trampoline of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the cross bar supports runs substantially perpendicular to the length of the jumping mat and underneath about the middle of the substantially horizontal jumping region. 
     
     
         7 . The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially horizontal jumping region is between 1 and 10 feet in length. 
     
     
         8 . The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially horizontal jumping region is between 2 and 20 feet in length. 
     
     
         9 . The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially horizontal jumping region is about 5 feet in length. 
     
     
         10 . The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially horizontal jumping region is about 10 feet in length. 
     
     
         11 . A curved trampoline frame end, comprising:
 a pair of substantially parallel arcuated tubes each having a substantially vertical end, a substantially horizontal end, and a mid-point along its curved length;   a support bar connecting the arcuated tubes at their substantially vertical ends;   a pair of end footings, wherein each end footing is connect to the support bar and to the mid-point of one of the arcuated tubes; and   a pair of side footings, wherein each side footing is connected to a leg of one of the end footings and to one of the arcuated tubes at its substantially horizontal end.   
     
     
         12 . The trampoline frame end of  claim 11 , further comprising a cross-bar connecting the pair of side footings. 
     
     
         13 . The trampoline frame end of  claim 11 , further comprising a cross-bar connecting the pair of end footings. 
     
     
         14 . The trampoline frame end of  claim 11 , wherein the leg of the end footing to which the side footing is connected to forms the connection to the mid-point of one of the arcuated tubes. 
     
     
         15 . A curved trampoline frame end, comprising:
 a pair of substantially parallel arcuated tubes each having a substantially vertical end, a substantially horizontal end, and a mid-point along its curved length;   a support bar connecting the arcuated tubes at their substantially vertical ends;   a pair of end footings, wherein each end footing is connect to the mid-point and to the substantially vertical end of one of the arcuated tubes; and   a pair of side footings, wherein each side footing is connected to a leg of one of the end footings and to one of the arcuated tubes at its substantially horizontal end.   
     
     
         16 . The trampoline frame end of  claim 15 , further comprising a cross-bar connecting the pair of side footings. 
     
     
         17 . The trampoline frame end of  claim 15 , further comprising a cross-bar connecting the pair of end footings. 
     
     
         18 . The trampoline frame end of  claim 15 , wherein the leg of the end footing to which the side footing is connected to forms the connection to the mid-point of one of the arcuated tubes.