Rebound Exerciser

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to rebound exercisers, trampolines and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Rebound exercisers have become increasingly popular, largely due to their therapeutic value in promoting better health, and as an aid to strengthening heart and other body muscles, in addition to the exhilerating experience derived from bouncing on a thin diaphragm which is stretched taut within a supporting frame.

Modern rebound exercisers are generally made in circular form with a relatively small overall diameter of from three to four feet, permitting the exerciser to be used within a small space and to enable the exerciser to be easily carried about and stored in one's home. Therefore, it is highly desirable that as much as possible of the surface of the diaphragm be usable for bouncing.

Heretofore, radially extending springs have generally been mounted between the diaphragm and the supporting frame to impart a desired resiliency or bounce to the diaphragm. Although such springs are generally satisfactory, they require considerable space between the peripheral edge of the diaphragm and the frame in order to be effective and thus reduce the usable bouncing area. This construction also leaves spaces between the peripheral edge of the diaphragm and the frame through which the jumper could possibly step, resulting in possible injury. Further, if any of the springs should break while under the relatively high stresses incurred during bouncing, the broken parts tend to be impelled into the air at high velocities with possible injurious results. Obviously, injury could also occur if the jumper, while bouncing on the exerciser, should strike or fall against the rigid frame. Further, certain exercises call for the jumper to bounce while in a sitting position on the edge of the frame or while lying across the same, resulting in discomfort if not injury.

Attempts have been made heretofore to overcome the above problems by wrapping padding material around the frame, but in order to be effective, the padding had to be so thick that the jumper tended to stumble or trip over the same when he or she mounted or dismounted from the exerciser or performed certain exercises while bouncing near the edge of the diaphragm. Also, such padding material tended to become dislodged or disarranged due to the violent action often imparted to the diaphragm and its supporting springs during the process of bouncing thereon.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a rebound exerciser of the above type in which a maximum area of the diaphragm may be safely utilized for bouncing.

Another object is to provide a rebound exerciser in which the usual radially extending tension springs for resiliently supporting the diaphragm are eliminated.

Another object is to provide a rebound exerciser of the above type having protective padding over the supporting frame which is of a minimum height above the level of the diaphragm and which will not become disloged or disarranged during violent bouncing.

Another object is to prevent the possibility of a jumper stepping between the peripheral edge of the diaphragm and the supporting frame during any bouncing activity.

According to the invention, the diaphragm of a rebound exerciser is supported from a supporting frame by a resilient lacing which is laced in a spiral fashion through spaced holes in the diaphragm and around the frame. Resilient padding material is mounted over the frame and extends inwardly over the peripheral edge of the diaphragm and is provided with slots which embrace the lacing to reduce the height of the padding material and to lock the padding material in place. Overlapping, radially extending fabric retainer strips are stretched taut over the padding material to hold the latter in place and to hold it against the frame and over the outer edge portion of the diaphragm.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rebound exerciser embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the arcuate lower padding members.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the rebound exerciser.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view taken in the direction of the arrow 5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, similar to that of FIG. 4, but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail one specific embodiment and one modified embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 to 4, the rebound exerciser is generally indicated at 11 and comprises a rigid tubular frame 12 which is circular in form and circular in cross section, and is supported by a plurality of spaced vertical legs 13 integrally connected thereto, as by welding. The legs 13 are provided with resilient tips 14 for mounting the exerciser on a floor surface.

A circular diaphragm, generally indicated at 15, is provided having a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the frame 12. Such diaphragm is formed of two superimposed sheets 16 and 17, each preferably formed of nylon mesh fabric coated on opposite sides with a vinyl plastic. As seen in FIG. 3, the mesh 18 of the upper diaphragm sheet 16 is oriented at an angle of approximately 45.degree. to the mesh 20 of the lower sheet 17 to impart equal strength to the diaphragm in all directions in its plane and to resist stretching. The sheets 16 and 17 are secured together at spaced intervals adjacent their outer edges and to radially extending retainer strips 21 by annular metal grommets 22 and by a suitable adhesive applied intermediate adjacent surfaces of the sheets and the strips 21.

A resilient lacing 23 of elastomeric material, preferably virgin rubber, having a circular cross section, is threaded in a spiral fashion through the grommets 22 and around the frame 12. The lacing is stretched to hold the diaphragm taut within the frame 12 and to enable a certain amount of deflection of the diaphragm when a jumper is bouncing thereon.

In order to adequately protect a jumper from injury in the event he should fall or lay against the edge of the exerciser, as well as to protect the outer periphery of the diaphragm and to present a pleasing and aesthetic appearance, padding is provided to cover the frame and outer periphery of the diaphragm. Such padding comprises a series of six arcuate lower padding members 24, one of which is shown in detail in FIG. 2, of uniform thickness throughout. The members 24 are laid end to end over the frame 12 and over the outer periphery of the diaphragm 15. The members 24 are formed of a multi-cellular, elastomeric plastic material, preferably that known in the trade as Ethafoam which is available from the Wilshire Foam Products, Inc. of Carson, Calif.

Each padding member 24 is formed with a plurality of spaced slots 25 extending partly thereacross and each arranged at an angle to the center of radius of the member to fit over the upper strands of the lacing 23 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The right hand end 26 of each member 24 is formed at the same angle to the center of radius as are the slots 25 and has a notched portion 27 to fit against the mating strand of the lacing 23. Likewise, the left hand end 29 of the member 26 is formed at the same angle to the center of the radius as is the right hand end to fit against a mating strand of the lacing and also against the right hand end of an adjacent member.

In addition, each member 24 is arcuately slit at 28 to a depth of approximately two-thirds of the thickness of the member, permitting the resulting outer section 30 to be bent downwardly at right angles to the remaining inner section of the member, whereby to abut against the side of the frame 12, as indicated at 29 in FIG. 4.

Three acruate upper pads 26 of uniform thickness throughout are laid end to end over the six padding members 24 and overlap the ends of the padding members to provide additional padding and to cover the slots 25 in such lower padding members. Pads 26 are also preferably formed of Ethafoam.

The aforementioned radially extending retainer strips 21 overlap each other laterally, as indicated at 32 in FIGS. 3 and 5. Such strips are preferably formed of nylon mesh fabric coated with vinyl and is suitable adhesive (not shown) is preferably interposed between the overlapped portion 32 to prevent relative laterial shifting of the strips 21.

For the purpose of securing the outer edges of the retainer strips 21 in taut condition, annular metal grommets 132, FIGS. 4 and 5, are secured thereto and a lacing 33 of cord is passed in an undulating manner through the grommets and under the strands of the resilient lacing 23, as seen in FIG. 5. The ends of the lacing 33 are suitably tied together to hold the lacing taut.

Since the slots 25 in the lower padding members 24 embrace the sides of the strands of lacing 23, the overall height of the padding is reduced to a minimum while still providing protection against injury. Also, the various strands of lacing 23 prevent disarrangement or shifting of the padding members 24 which tends to occur due to violent action of the diaphragm. Further, when the retaining strips 21 are held taut against the padding members 24 and 26, they deflect the latter downwardly toward the diaphragm 15 to present a minimum height lip 34 so as to minimize any tendency for the jumper to trip or stumble thereagainst, either when jumping or when dismounting from the exerciser.

It will be noted that the aforementioned construction enables a maximum area of the diaphragm 15 to be used and even permits the jumper to bounce on the portion of the padding extending inwardly over the periphery of the diaphragm. Obviously, also, the construction eliminates any possibility of the jumper stepping between the outer periphery of the diaphragm and the frame 12.

Additionally, since the padding members 24 and 26 extend over the outer periphery of the diaphragm as well as over the side of the frame 12, a relatively large padded area is provided which is effective to cushion any downward fall toward the frame 12.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which the upper padded members 26 of FIG. 4 are omitted and the retainer strips 21 are stretched taut over the lower padding members 24. Although such construction may not provide the amount of protection against injury provided by that shown in FIG. 4 and may result in portions of the strips 21 indenting somewhat into the slots 25, it may give sufficient protection against injury in most cases.

Although the material of the aforementioned padding members 24 and pads 26 may be of any suitable hardness, it has been found that having a compressive strength of approximately 5 p.s.i. at 10% deflection is satisfactory.