Trampoline enclosure attachment to trampoline mat

Abstract

A way to attach a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline frame is described. This process involving constructing the enclosure with a buttonhole at or near its bottom edge. This buttonhole is designed to receive a spring attachment feature located on the rebounding mat of the trampoline structure. Generally, this spring attachment feature will be the D-ring (or V-ring) that is used to attach the rebounding mat to the springs. The D-ring will pass through the buttonhole and, when connected to a corresponding spring, will securely attach the trampoline enclosure to the trampoline.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A trampoline comprising:
 a frame; 
 a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs; 
 a plurality of vertical support rods connected to the frame; and 
 a trampoline enclosure comprising:
 a flexible wall that connects to the plurality of vertical support rods, said flexible wall being sized to encircle a perimeter of the rebounding surface and having a bottom edge that connects to the rebounding surface; and 
 a plurality of buttonholes that are sized and configured to fit over the spring attachment features and are positioned proximate the bottom edge of the flexible wall and aligned with the spring attachment features to allow the spring attachment features of the rebounding surface to pass through the plurality of buttonholes, and thereby connect the rebounding surface to the bottom edge of the flexible wall. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible wall comprises a reinforcement strip. 
     
     
       3. The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein one or more buttonholes comprises a reinforcement to prevent the buttonholes from tearing. 
     
     
       4. The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the buttonholes comprises a sewn edge. 
     
     
       5. The trampoline of  claim 4 , wherein one or more of the buttonholes comprises a buttonhole stitch. 
     
     
       6. The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the buttonholes comprises a solid plastic disposed about edges of the buttonhole. 
     
     
       7. The trampoline of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the buttonholes comprises a tab secured to the flexible wall. 
     
     
       8. A method of attaching a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline comprising:
 obtaining a trampoline comprising:
 a frame; 
 a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs; and 
 a plurality of vertical support rods; 
 
 obtaining a trampoline enclosure comprising:
 a flexible wall that connects to the plurality of vertical support rods, said flexible wall being sized to encircle a perimeter of the rebounding surface and having a bottom edge that connects to the rebounding surface; and 
 a plurality of buttonholes that are sized and configured to fit over the spring attachment features and are positioned proximate the bottom edge of the flexible wall and aligned with the spring attachment features; 
 
 connecting the vertical support rods to the trampoline frame; 
 connecting the vertical flexible wall to the support rods; and 
 threading the spring attachment features of the rebounding surface through the buttonholes to connect the rebounding surface to the bottom edge of the flexible wall. 
 
     
     
       9. A method as in  claim 8  further comprising the step of disposing the springs between the spring attachment features and the frame. 
     
     
       10. A method as in  claim 8  wherein one spring attachment feature is threaded through each buttonhole and one spring connects each spring attachment feature to the frame. 
     
     
       11. A trampoline comprising:
 a frame;   a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs;   a plurality of vertical support rods connected to the frame; and   a trampoline enclosure comprising:   a flexible wall that connects to the plurality of vertical support rods, said flexible wall being sized to encircle a perimeter of the rebounding surface and having a bottom edge; and   a plurality of buttonholes positioned as a portion of the flexible wall proximate the bottom edge of the flexible wall and disposed between the rebounding surface and the frame.   
     
     
       12. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein the number of buttonholes is equal to the number of spring attachment features. 
     
     
       13. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein the buttonholes are disposed between the rebounding surface and the plurality of springs. 
     
     
       14. The trampoline as in claim 13, wherein coupling of the plurality of springs to the spring attachment features secures the bottom edge between the rebounding surface and the plurality of springs. 
     
     
       15. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein the buttonholes are shaped to be positioned over the plurality of spring attachment features. 
     
     
       16. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein the flexible wall comprises a reinforcement strip. 
     
     
       17. The trampoline as in claim 11, wherein one or more buttonholes comprises a reinforcement to prevent the buttonholes from tearing. 
     
     
       18. A method of attaching a trampoline enclosure to a trampoline comprising:
 obtaining a trampoline comprising:
 a frame: 
 a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs; and 
 a plurality of vertical support rods; 
   obtaining a trampoline enclosure comprising:
 a flexible wall that connects to the plurality of vertical support rods, said flexible wall being sized to encircle a perimeter of the rebounding surface and having a bottom edge; and 
 a plurality of buttonholes positioned as a portion of the flexible wall proximate the bottom edge of the flexible wall and disposed between the rebounding surface and the frame; 
   connecting the vertical flexible wall to the support rods;   positioning the buttonholes over the spring attachment features; and   attaching the springs to the spring attachment features.   
     
     
       19. A method as in claim 18 wherein one buttonhole is positioned over one spring attachment feature and one spring connects each spring attachment feature to the frame. 
     
     
       20. A process of making a trampoline enclosure for use with a trampoline comprising a frame, a rebounding surface comprising a plurality of spring attachment features that attach the rebounding surface to the frame via a plurality of springs, the method comprising:
 obtaining a flexible wall of material being sized to encircle a perimeter of the trampoline rebounding surface, wherein the flexible wall has a top edge and a bottom edge;   providing a reinforcement strip at the bottom edge; and   incorporating a plurality of buttonholes positioned proximate the bottom edge, wherein the quantity and spacing of the buttonholes around the bottom edge are selected to correspond to a quantity and spacing of the springs used to attach the rebounding surface to the frame.