Trampoline Frame Structure

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a trampoline frame structure having a plurality of horizontal side frame members, a plurality of horizontal end frame members, a plurality of leg members and at least one U-shaped support member. The leg members are arranged vertically below the side frame members. The support member is arranged parallel to the end frame members between the leg members, which are opposite to each other on opposite sides of the mat, so that the support member is at a diagonal angle to the side frame members when viewed from the side.

1 . A frame structure for a rectangular trampoline, the frame structure comprising sides of the trampoline and ends of the trampoline,
 wherein sides of the trampoline are longer than the ends of the trampoline,   wherein the trampoline comprises a substantially rectangular mat, and a plurality of spring elements arranged between the mat and the frame structure,   wherein the frame structure comprises a plurality of horizontal side frame members for the sides of the trampoline, a plurality of horizontal end frame members for the ends of the trampoline, and a plurality of U-shaped leg members,   wherein the side frame members and the end frame members are interconnected to form a base frame that circumferentially surrounds the mat and on which the spring elements are attached, and   wherein the leg members are arranged to raise the base frame above the ground and are arranged substantially vertically below the side frame members and plane of the leg member is parallel to longitudinal axis of the side frame member,   wherein the frame structure further comprises at least one U-shaped support member having upper corners and lower corners, and a part of the support member is parallel to the end frame members between two leg members, which are opposite to each other on opposite sides of the frame structure,   wherein the side frame member comprises a fixing slot for the upper corner of the support member,   wherein the leg member comprises at least one attachment arrangement for the lower corner of the support member, and   wherein the support member is fixed at its upper corners to the fixing slots of the side frame members and at its lower comers to the attachment arrangement of the leg members, and the attachment arrangement for the lower corner of the support member is lower and closer to the corner of the base frame of the trampoline than the fixing slot for the upper corner of the support member, so that the support member is sloping downwards towards the vertical plane of the end frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The frame structure according to the  claim 1 , wherein the base frame is stiffened in the horizontal direction by the support member, and leg members are configured to carry the vertical forces of the base frame. 
     
     
         3 . The frame structure according to the  claim 2 , wherein a distance between upper corners of the support member is greater than the distance between fixing slots of the opposing side frame members, so that fixing the support member to the base frame forces the side frame members away from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The frame structure according to the  claim 3 , wherein the tension of the spring elements is dimensioned in such a way that the shape of the base frame is kept substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         5 . The frame structure according to any  claim 1 , wherein an angle of the lower corners of the support member is greater than 90 degrees, and fixing of the support member to the attachment arrangement tightens the fixture of the leg members. 
     
     
         6 . The frame structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member further comprises a tubular inner support and a tubular outer support that are interlinked by linkage bars to form a rigid lattice structure. 
     
     
         7 . The frame structure according to the  claim 1 , wherein the support member further comprises a rigid plate that is fixed between the inner support and the outer support to stiffen the support member. 
     
     
         8 . The frame structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg member comprises two vertical pipes having upper ends and lower ends, one horizontal pipe having a first end and a second end, the horizontal pipe comprises an upwardly directed sleeve portion at its both ends, to which the lower ends of the vertical pipes are attached, and the upper ends of the vertical pipes comprise a similar sleeve portion at which the upper ends of the vertical pipes are attached to the side frame members. 
     
     
         9 . The frame structure to according to the  claim 8 , wherein:
 the leg member comprises a plurality of attachment arrangements to the lower corner of the support member, and   the upper corners of the support member are pivotally coupled to the fixing slot of the side frame members so that the height of the frame structure and the distance between the base frame and the ground can be altered by varying the length of the vertical pipes of the leg members or by removing the vertical pipes and pivoting the support member and changing the fixing point of the lower corner of the support member to the other attachment arrangement of the leg member.   
     
     
         10 . The frame structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the frame structure further comprises an elongated support bar having a first end and a second end of the support bar, and the first end of the support bar is connected to the support member and the second end of the support bar is connected to the leg member. 
     
     
         11 . The frame structure according to the  claim 10 , wherein the connecting point of the second end of the support bar is close to the lower corner of the leg member, and the lower corner of the leg member is the corner that is further away from the corner of the trampoline. 
     
     
         12 . The frame structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame structure comprises four leg members and two support members. 
     
     
         13 . The frame structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises two end elements and an intermediate element that is between the end elements. 
     
     
         14 . The frame structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the side frame member further comprises two end parts and an intermediate part that is arranged between the end parts and the end part comprises fittings for the leg member and the end frame member. 
     
     
         15 . The frame structure according to the  claim 14 , wherein the intermediate part is a telescopic pipe structure comprising an outer pipe, two inner pipes, the inner pipes having inner ends and outer ends, the inner ends are arranged to be attached to the end parts, the outer ends are fitted into the outer pipe and adapted to move relative to the outer pipe, and a fixing means configured in such a way that the size of the base frame can be extended by extending the length of the telescopic pipe structure of the intermediate part.