Trampoline Spring with Hybrid Constant for Deflection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trampolines struggle to maintain consistent mat deflections across a range of user weights, leading to either inadequate deflection for lighter users or excessive deflection and spring fatigue for heavier users.
Innovation Solution
The trampoline features spring members with a hybrid spring constant configuration, including multiple sections with varying spring constants, where the effective spring constant increases with user force, and deflection limiters to control and dampen overall deflections, ensuring a safer and more comfortable bouncing experience for a wider range of users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lower spring constants are used to achieve appropriate mat deflection for normal weight users, then mat deflection is improved for lighter users, but excessive mat deflection and spring fatigue occur for heavier users
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is divided into multiple sections with different spring constants. The first section has a lower spring constant for initial deflection, while the second section has a higher spring constant to limit excessive deflection and reduce fatigue for heavier users. This segmentation allows the spring to provide appropriate deflection for normal weight users while preventing excessive deflection for heavier users.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the spring member have different spring constants tailored to their specific functions. The first section provides compliance for lighter users, while the second section provides stiffness to limit deflection for heavier users. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between providing adequate deflection and preventing excessive deflection.
2Reliability
If higher spring constants are used to limit mat deflection for heavier users, then spring fatigue is reduced, but inadequate mat deflection occurs for lighter users
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is segmented into multiple sections with different spring constants. The first section has a lower spring constant that engages first during compression, providing adequate deflection for lighter users. The second section has a higher spring constant that engages after the first section, limiting excessive deflection for heavier users. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both soft initial response and firm limiting behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member dynamically transitions from a softer effective spring constant (first section) to a stiffer effective spring constant (second section) as compression increases. This dynamic behavior allows the spring to adapt to different user weights, providing adequate deflection for lighter users while limiting excessive deflection for heavier users, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform spring constant is used throughout the spring member, then manufacturing is simplified, but large variations in mat deflection occur across different user weights
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is divided into multiple sections with different spring constants to achieve consistent mat deflection across different user weights. While this increases manufacturing complexity slightly, it enables the spring to adapt to varying user weights, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the spring member have different spring constants optimized for their specific functions. This local differentiation of properties enables the spring to provide consistent mat deflection across different user weights, resolving the contradiction between uniform manufacturing and adaptive performance.
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
This design provides a consistent and controlled range of deflections, enhancing user safety and reducing spring fatigue by adapting the spring constant to user weight and force, thereby accommodating a broader range of users effectively.
Implementation Method 1
at least a third spring member section coupled between the first spring member section and the second spring member section, the third spring member section having a spring constant greater than the spring constants of the first and second spring member sections
Implementation Method 2
a first deflection delayer coupled to a first end of the first spring member section and coupled to a first end of the second spring member section, the first deflection delayer adapted to delay the deflection of the first end of the second spring member section
Data Source
AI summary
A novel trampoline at least includes: a trampoline frame; a trampoline mat operatively surrounded by the trampoline frame; and a plurality of trampoline spring members operatively coupled between the trampoline frame and the trampoline mat. Each trampoline spring member at least includes: a first spring coupler located at a first end of the spring member; a second spring coupler located at a second end of the spring member; a first spring member section coupled to the first spring coupler; a second spring member section coupled to the second spring coupler; at least a third spring member section coupled between the first spring member section and the second spring member section, the third spring member section having a spring constant greater than the spring constants of the first and second spring member sections. The effective spring constant of the spring members increases stepwise with increases in the forces transmitted by trampoline users, and overall spring member deflections are dampened with increases in the forces transmitted by trampoline users.