Trampoline Spring Cover Structure for Preventing Spring Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trampoline safety solutions do not adequately protect users from potential injuries caused by spring couplings, particularly by preventing accidental contact with the coiled springs.
Innovation Solution
A trampoline design featuring a frame with upper and lower spring covers that encapsulate the springs, using a lower spring cover with a sheath connection to the bed and a proximal hook mechanism to secure the springs, providing a barrier against direct contact with the springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If spring couplings are exposed for structural simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but user safety deteriorates due to risk of contact with coiled springs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spring covers as an intermediary component between the coiled springs and users. The upper spring cover and lower spring cover wrap around the springs, creating a protective barrier that prevents direct contact while allowing the springs to function normally. This mediator component resolves the contradiction by adding safety without fundamentally changing the spring coupling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring covers are implemented as flexible protective shells that wrap around the coiled springs. These covers conform to the spring shape and provide continuous protection while allowing for movement and deformation during trampoline operation. The flexible shell structure maintains safety effectiveness while accommodating the dynamic nature of the spring system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If spring covers are added to protect users, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover system is segmented into multiple independent components: an upper spring cover and a lower spring cover. This segmentation allows each cover to be optimized for its specific location and function, simplifies installation and maintenance, and reduces the complexity of any single component while providing comprehensive protection when assembled together.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring covers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide safety protection by preventing contact with springs, they can serve as attachment points for the trampoline bed and enclosure, and they help define the structural boundaries of the trampoline system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing overall device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If spring covers encapsulate the springs completely, then safety is maximized, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The spring covers are designed to be pre-formed and pre-positioned on the spring couplings before final assembly. The upper and lower covers can be attached to the springs in advance, creating pre-assembled units that simplify the overall manufacturing process. This preliminary action reduces the complexity of final assembly while maintaining complete encapsulation for safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A trampoline has a frame, legs, a bed, springs, an upper spring cover, and a lower spring cover. The frame is horizontally oriented. The legs attach to the frame and support the frame. The bed is suspended across the frame. The springs are in tension and stretch the bed across the frame. The upper spring cover covers the springs from the frame to the bed and a lower spring cover. The lower spring cover attaches to the upper spring cover at a pad to sheath connection. The pad to sheath connection is on the lower distal end of the upper spring cover. The lower spring cover wraps around a horizontal frame portion of the frame around an outside portion of the horizontal frame portion of the frame.