Impact safety pad for trampoline

Abstract

A trampoline has a safety bag that prevents a user from damaging a pole to which the safety bag is attached, or to a safety system comprising an enclosure wall or net for the trampoline; and a safety device where the weight may be distributed. The safety bag is multi-adjustable for density, firmness, and weight at different contact locations on the safety bag through internal adaptations, and the safety bag is additionally able to absorb contact and impact force in a manner that disperses and distributes impact energy in a manner protecting the user from unwanted contact or injury with the trampoline, and to reduce unwanted movement of the trampoline to weakened ground contact.

1 . A trampoline system comprising:
 a rebounding surface;   a frame having a rail that is closed loop, that defines a central opening and that is connected to the perimeter of the rebounding surface such that the rebounding surface is suspended above the ground;   a support member that is attached to the frame and that extends to an elevation above the rebounding surface; and   a safety pad that is attached to the support member, the safety pad being at a location along the perimeter of the rebounding surface and positioned such that at least 50% of the volume of the safety pad is located inwardly of the rail as viewed from the top.   
     
     
         2 . A trampoline system according to  claim 1 , wherein the safety pad is positioned such that 100% of the volume of the safety pad is located inwardly of the support member. 
     
     
         3 . A trampoline system comprising:
 a trampoline including a rebounding surface supported by a frame;   a support member that is attached to the trampoline and that extends to an elevation above the rebounding surface; and   a safety pad suspended alongside the support member, the safety pad being positioned such that, when a user of the trampoline is projected toward the support member, the user impacts the safety pad, whereupon the safety pad rotates and/or moves laterally relative to the support member in a manner that helps to deflect the user of the trampoline away from the support member.   
     
     
         4 . A trampoline system according to  claim 3 , wherein the system further comprises
 plural support members that are attached to the trampoline and that extend above the rebounding surface; and   an expanse of flexible material that is supported by the plural support members, that defines a chamber above the rebounding mat, and that is positioned to serve as a barrier to prevent a user of the trampoline from falling off the rebounding mat   
     
     
         5 . A trampoline system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the safety pad is at least 2 feet in height;   at least a portion of the safety pad is at least 3 times wider than the support member measured horizontally; and   the safety pad is positioned such that at least 50% of the volume of the safety pad is located in the area between the support member and the center of the chamber and such that, upon impact by a user, the safety pad partially revolves around the support member and laterally redirects the user toward a portion of the, expanse of flexible material that extends between two of the plural support members.   
     
     
         6 . A trampoline system according to  claim 5 , wherein the safety pad is positioned such, that 100% of the volume of the safety pad is located in the area between the support member and the center of the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A trampoline system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a suspension system connected between an upper portion of the safety pad and the support member, the suspension system being configured to suspend the safety pad in such a position that an impact to a lower portion of the safety pad causes the safety pad to swing like a pendulum. 
     
     
         8 . A trampoline system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a tether system connected between a lower portion of the safety pad and the support member or the trampoline, the tether system being configured to limit the degree to which the safety pad can swing. 
     
     
         9 . A trampoline system of  claim 3 , wherein;
 the safety pad has a generally cylindrical outer surface portion; and   the safety pad is suspended to rotate about the axis of the generally cylindrical outer surface portion.   
     
     
         10 . A trampoline system according to clam  9 , further comprising a supplemental pad located between the safety pad and the support member to further protect a user from impact with the support member. 
     
     
         11 . A trampoline system according to claim further comprising a supplemental pad located between the safety pad and the support member, the supplement pad having a curved surface facing the safety pad, the curved surface being configured to urge the safety pad to rotate when a user impacts the safety pad. 
     
     
         12 . A trampoline system according to claim wherein the safety pad is a bag, that contains a resilient material or one or more resilient members. 
     
     
         13 . A trampoline system according to  claim 12 , wherein the safety pad is a bag that contains one or more gas-tight bladders containing gas, one or more liquid-tight bladders containing a liquid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A trampoline system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a suspension system comprising plural straps connected between an upper portion of the safety pad and the support member. 
     
     
         15 . A trampoline system according to  claim 14  further comprising a tether system connected between a lower portion of the safety pad and the support member or the trampoline. 
     
     
         16 . A trampoline system of  claim 3 , wherein the safety pad has a generally cylindrical outer surface portion. 
     
     
         17 . A trampoline system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a supplemental pad located between the safety pad and the support member. 
     
     
         18 . A trampoline system according to  claim 7 , wherein the safety pad is a bag that contains a resilient material or one or more resilient members. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A trampoline system comprising:
 a rebounding surface;   a frame having a rail that is closed loop, that defines a central opening and that is connected to the rebounding surface such that the rebounding surface is suspended above the ground;   plural vertical support members that extend to an elevation above the rebounding surface including a first vertical support member having a connection point located at an elevation above the rebounding surface and a second vertical support member having a connection point located at an elevation above the rebounding surface;   a horizontal support member that extends between the first and second vertical support members and that is connected to the first and second vertical support members at the connection points; and   a safety pad that is attached to the horizontal support member, the safety pad being positioned such that at least 50% of the volume of the safety pad is located inwardly of the frame rail as viewed from the top.   
     
     
         26 . The trampoline system of  claim 25  wherein:
 the trampoline system further comprises a safety enclosure wall that comprises an expanse of flexible material that is coupled to the vertical support members and arranged to define a jumping chamber; and 
 the safety pad is entirely contained within the jumping chamber defined by the enclosure wall.