Trampoline Anchor Fluid Chamber Wind Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Trampolines and outdoor inflatable devices pose safety risks due to their lightweight nature and susceptibility to wind-induced lifting, necessitating effective anchoring solutions to prevent shifting or lifting off the ground, especially when used by children.
Innovation Solution
A trampoline anchor system featuring a fluid chamber connected to the trampoline frame, which can be filled with water or sand, and a toroidal enclosure skirt to block airflow and create a weighted, wind-resistant configuration, combined with a ground-penetrating anchor for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If trampolines are made lightweight for ease of installation and portability, then ease of operation is improved, but stability deteriorates due to wind-induced lifting
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring system is divided into separate components: a trampoline frame with attachment points, removable fluid chambers that can be filled and positioned independently, and ground-penetrating anchors. This segmentation allows the trampoline itself to remain lightweight and easy to install, while the anchoring components are added separately to provide stability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid chambers can be dynamically filled or emptied to adjust the anchoring force based on wind conditions. The system transitions from a static lightweight structure to a dynamically adjustable anchoring system that can adapt to varying environmental conditions, providing just enough weight to prevent lifting without permanently compromising portability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fluid chambers are filled with heavy materials like water or sand to increase weight, then stability is improved, but portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid chambers are designed to be dynamically fillable and emptyable, allowing the system to transition between lightweight (portable) and heavy (stable) states as needed. Users can fill the chambers with water or sand when installing the trampoline in locations prone to wind, and empty them when portability is required, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and mass parameters of the anchoring components by filling or emptying the fluid chambers. This parameter change allows the same structure to serve dual purposes: being lightweight and portable when empty, and heavy and stable when filled, thereby resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If ground-penetrating anchors are used to secure the trampoline frame, then stability is improved, but ease of installation deteriorates due to additional installation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring system is segmented into modular components that can be installed independently. The ground-penetrating anchors are separate from the trampoline frame itself, allowing users to install only the necessary components based on their specific needs and ground conditions, rather than requiring complex integrated anchoring structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid chambers act as intermediaries between the trampoline frame and the ground-penetrating anchors. They provide a flexible connection point that can accommodate different anchor types and ground conditions, simplifying the overall installation process by decoupling the frame from the anchoring mechanism.
4Productivity
If the trampoline surface area is increased for more users, then productivity is improved, but susceptibility to wind-induced lifting worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring system is divided into multiple independent fluid chambers and anchor points distributed around the perimeter of the trampoline frame. This segmentation allows the anchoring force to be distributed across multiple locations, effectively counteracting the increased wind surface area of larger trampolines without requiring a single overly complex anchoring mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid chambers filled with water or sand provide counterweight forces that directly oppose the wind-induced lifting forces on the trampoline surface. By strategically positioning these weight additions at the frame perimeter, the system creates counterbalancing moments that resist the tipping and lifting effects of wind on large-area trampolines.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively secures trampolines by distributing weight evenly and blocking wind forces, ensuring stability and safety during outdoor use, even in windy conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid chamber is configured as a windscreen for blocking air that would otherwise travel under the trampoline to create lift and drag forces
Implementation Method 2
The system effectively secures trampolines by distributing weight evenly and blocking wind forces
Data Source
AI summary
A trampoline anchor comprising a trampoline frame, a trampoline bed attached to the trampoline frame, trampoline springs connecting the trampoline frame to the trampoline bed, a fluid chamber formed as a toroidial enclosure, and an outside skirt attached to the fluid chamber, wherein the outside skirt connects between the fluid chamber and the trampoline frame at a fluid chamber skirt connection. The trampoline anchor can also have fluid chamber pods attached to the legs of the trampoline.