Trampoline Cord Hook Geometry for Uniform Tension and Lower Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trampoline securing systems using steel springs cause excessive tension, leading to reduced damping and increased joint and spinal load, while rubber cord systems with sausage-shaped brackets suffer from uneven tension distribution and premature wear.
Innovation Solution
A cord hook design featuring a single receiving portion with a flexible band element, where the main tension vector divides the receiving space into equal partial spaces, minimizing transverse forces and preventing cord portion contact, thereby ensuring uniform tension and extended wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel springs are used for securing the jump mat, then the jump mat is tensioned to be very taut, but the damping travel is reduced to only 20-60mm and joint/spinal loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the suspension system by replacing steel springs with rubber cords, fundamentally altering the force-displacement characteristics. Rubber cords provide progressive elasticity with longer damping travel (100-250mm), reducing peak forces transmitted to the user's joints and spine while maintaining adequate mat tensioning.
2Reliability
If sausage-shaped brackets are used to fix cord loops, then the cord loop is secured, but the active tension section is shortened to approximately 20mm and tension distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic sausage-shaped brackets from the system and replaces them with simple cord hooks that attach directly to the frame. This elimination of intermediate components restores the full active tension section of the rubber cords, ensuring uniform tension distribution across all cord portions and preventing premature wear.
3Strength
If four cord portions extend from the hook element with one having sausage-shaped brackets, then the mat is braced to the frame, but the fourth cord portion is subjected to much greater load and reaches maximum stretching length earlier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves homogeneity in the suspension system by ensuring all cord portions have equal effective tensioning lengths. By replacing the asymmetric bracket assembly with symmetric cord hooks, all four cord portions experience identical loading conditions, preventing any single cord from reaching its elastic limit prematurely and extending the overall service life of the trampoline.
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 design provides improved oscillation quality, increased wear resistance, and reduced joint and spinal load by ensuring uniform tension distribution and preventing cord portion contact, leading to a more harmonious and durable trampoline experience.
Implementation Method 1
The rubber cord method offers much greater elasticity, that is to say longer damping travels and therefore softer damping characteristics
Implementation Method 2
a cord hook (10) for securing a jump mat (6) to a trampoline frame (9) by means of a cord loop (7)
Data Source
AI summary
A cord hook for fastening a jump mat to a trampoline frame includes a holding section for holding a first and a second loop end section of the cord loop and a fastening section for fastening the flexible band element, wherein a main tension vector (V) is defined by tension at the band element. The hook has a transition section connecting the holding section and the fastening section and is designed in such a way that a straight line (g) through the main tension vector (V) divides the holding space into a first partial space and a second partial space in such a way that, when the cord hook is used as intended, the first loop end section lies in the first partial space and the second loop end section lies in the second partial space. Also disclosed are a trampoline and a method for fastening the jump mat.