AU2015100548A4 - Board - Google Patents

Abstract

-10 Abstract A board (10) for a trampoline, the board (10) including a board body (12) having first and second foot strap attachment portions (22, 24) arranged to each locate a foot strap (13) toward opposing ends (18) of the board body (12). Each of the first and second foot strap attachment portions (22, 24) includes two spaced apart apertures (26) arranged to allow passage of the respective foot strap (13) so as to provide the foot strap (13) with a foot receiving portion (28) located on a top side (14) of the board body (12) between the two spaced apart apertures (26) and a strap retaining portion (30) located at an underside (16) of the board body (12) extending between the two spaced apart apertures (26).

Description

-1 Board Technical Field [001] The invention relates to a board for use with a trampoline, more specifically, the invention relates to a flexible board having foot straps for use with a trampoline. Background [002] Board sports such as surfing, skateboarding and snow boarding are becoming increasingly popular. With this increased popularity board sports are also becoming more complex with riders now attempting a variety of tricks and aerial manoeuvres such as spins and flips. [003] Trampolines are commonly available and are used for recreation as well as for gymnastics. Sometimes trampolines are used by people to conduct or practice aerial manoeuvres for recreation or specifically for training purposes. [004] A problem with known boards, including surfing, skate and snow boards, is that these boards are not particularly suitable for training in an environment other than that of their intended use, for example, a skate board has wheels for travelling on the ground. [005] Accordingly, there is a need for a more suitable training board that may, for example, be used with a trampoline to enable a user to practice tricks and aerial manoeuvres or simply for recreation. [006] The invention disclosed herein seeks to provide such a board or at least provide a useful alternative.

-2 Summary [007] In accordance with a first main aspect there is provided, a board for a trampoline, the board including a board body having first and second foot strap attachment portions arranged to each locate a foot strap toward opposing ends of the board body, wherein each of the first and second foot strap attachment portions includes two spaced apart apertures arranged to allow passage of the respective foot strap so as to provide the foot strap with a foot receiving portion located on a top side of the board body between the two spaced apart apertures and a strap retaining portion located at an underside of the board body extending between the two spaced apart apertures. [008] In an aspect, the first and second foot strap attachment portions each include a retainer at least partially located between the strap retaining portion of the respective foot strap and the board body. [009] In accordance with a second main aspect there is provided, a board for a trampoline, the board including a board body having first and second foot strap attachment portions arranged to each locate a foot strap toward opposing ends of the board body, wherein each of the first and second foot strap attachment portions include at least one aperture extending at least partially between a top side of the board body and an underside of the board body and a retainer located toward the underside of the board body arranged such that the respective foot strap is engagable with its associated retainer through the respective at least one aperture. [0010] In an aspect, the first and second foot strap attachment portions include two spaced apart apertures arranged to locate each foot strap so as to provide each foot strap with a foot receiving portion located on the top side of the board body between the two spaced apart apertures and a strap retaining portion located at the underside of the board body extending between the two spaced apart apertures, and wherein the retainer is at least partially located between the strap retaining portion of the respective foot strap and the board body.

-3 [0011] In yet another aspect, the retainer is provided in the form of a plate arranged between each strap retaining portion and the underside of the board body such that the strap retaining portion extends at least partially around the plate. [0012] In yet another aspect, the plate has rounded ends. [0013] In yet another aspect, the plate is formed from a plastic material. [0014] In yet another aspect, the plate is secured to the underside of the board body. [0015] In yet another aspect, the two spaced apart apertures are provided in the form of transverse slots, and wherein the plate extends between the transverse slots toward opposing sides of the board body. [0016] In yet another aspect, the board body is formed from a flexible foam material. [0017] In yet another aspect, the top side and the bottom sides of the board body are substantially flat, and the opposing ends of the board body are rounded. [0018] In yet another aspect, the board includes a first foot strap coupled to the first foot strap attachment portion and a second foot strap coupled to the second foot strap attachment portion. [0019] In yet another aspect, each of the first and second foot straps is unitary in structure arranged to be fed through the two spaced apart apertures as to form the foot receiving portion and the retaining portion. Brief Description of the Figures [0020] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying figures, in which; [0021] Figure 1 is a topside perspective view illustrating a board; -4 [0022] Figure 2 is an underside perspective view illustrating the board; [0023] Figure 3 is a top view illustrating the board; [0024] Figure 4 is a side view illustrating the board; [0025] Figure 5 is an underside view illustrating the board; and [0026] Figure 6 is an end view illustrating the board. Detailed Description [0027] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a board 10 for a trampoline. The board 10 includes a board body 12 and foot straps 13 attached to the board body 12. The board body 12 includes a topside 14, an underside 16, opposing ends 18 and opposing sides 20. [0028] The board body 12 including a first strap attachment portion 22 located toward one of the opposing ends 18 and a second strap attachment portion 24 located toward the other of the opposing ends 18. The first and second foot strap attachment portions 22, 24 are arranged to couple with the foot straps 13 so as to retain the foot straps 13 to the board body 12. [0029] The distance between the first strap and second strap attachment portions 22, 24 are arranged to provide spacing between the foot straps 13 suitable to accommodate the feet of a user which are typically spaced at about shoulder width or more apart when standing on the board 10. [0030] Each of the first and second foot strap attachment portions 22, 24 include two spaced apart apertures 26 arranged to locate the foot straps 13 so as to provide the foot strap 13 with a foot receiving portion 28 and a strap retaining portion 30. The foot receiving portion 28 of the strap 13 is located on the top side 14 of the board body 12 between the two spaced apart apertures 26, and the strap retaining portion 30 of the strap 13 is located on the underside 16 of the board body 12 between the two spaced -5 apart apertures 26. [0031] The first and second foot strap attachment portions 22, 24 each include a retainer 32 located between the strap retaining portion 30 and the underside of the board body 12. [0032] Referring now to Figures 3 to 6, each of the two spaced apart apertures 26 are provided in the form of transverse slots 34 which extend between the opposing sides 20 of the board body 12 and are dimensioned to receive the foot straps 13. The transverse slots 34 extend through the board body 12 between the topside 14 and the underside 16. The distance between the transverse slots 34 is about or slightly wider than that required for the foot receiving portion 28 to accommodate a foot of a user. The transverse slots 34 define a retaining section 35 of the board body 12 to which the retainer 32 is secured to increase the strength of the retaining section 35 and transverse slots 34 and thereby inhibit the pullout of the foot straps 13. [0033] The retainer 32 is provided in the form of a base plate structure 36 arranged between the transverse slots 34 and along the retaining part 35 of each of the first and second strap attachment portions 22, 24. Opposing sides 38 of the plate 36 extend between the transverse slots 34 and opposing ends 40 of the plate 36 extend toward the opposing sides 20 of the board body 12. The length of the plate 36 between the opposing ends 40 is greater than the length of the transverse slots 34 such that each of the opposing ends 40 of the plate 36 extends beyond the transverse slots 34 and toward the opposing sides 20 of the board body 12. The opposing ends 40 of the plate 36 may be rounded and the plate 36 may be formed from a plastic material such as a hardened plastic so as to provide support and strength to the underside 16 of the board body 12 to retain the foot straps 13. The plate 36 may be secured to the underside 16 of the board body 12 by glue or similar fastening mean. The foot strap 13, in particular the retaining portion 30 of the foot strap 13, may be in turn secured to the plate 36 by glue or similar fastening means. [0034] The foot straps 13, as best shown in Figure 4, may each be unitary in structure and be fed through the two spaced slots 34 of the first and second foot strap attachment portions 22, 24 so as to form the foot receiving portion 28 and the -6 retaining portion 30. The foot straps 13 may each include an adjustment mechanism 42 which in this example includes a buckle 46 and a hook and loop fastener 44 provided in the form of Velcro T m arranged at an adjustable end 48 of the strap 13. [0035] Accordingly, the foot strap 13 encircles the retaining part 35 and the plate 36 which provide strength to retain the foot straps 13 during use. The length, width and shape of the plate 36 assisting to support the board body 12, in particular retaining part 35 and the transverse slots 36. [0036] The board body 12 is formed from a flexible and light foam material, which may be relatively soft safety foam. A skirting side wall 50 of the board body 12 may include a concave surface 52 (shown best in Figures 4 and 6) to aid with the compression of the board body 12 during use and inhibit bulging and stress markings or lines in the board body 12. The top side 14 and the bottom side 16 of the board body 12 are substantially flat, and the opposing ends 18 of the board body 12 are rounded. [0037] The board 10 may find a variety of uses. In one preferred use the board 10 may be used with a trampoline whereby a user attaches the board 10 to their feet via the foot straps 13 and then bounces on the trampoline with the board 10. The uses may safely conduct tricks and aerial manoeuvres as the board is secured to their feet as well as being relatively light weight and formed from a soft material. [0038] Advantageously, there has been described a board having a board body and foot straps attached to the board which may be safely and effectively used with a trampoline. In particular, the board body includes foot strap attachment portions having a base plate fitted to the underside of the board and apertures which extend through the board to which front and rear foot straps of the board may be securely attached. The board advantageously being formed of a lightweight flexible and soft foam material, having rounded ends and a substantially flat top and bottom surface suitable for safely and effectively bouncing on a trampoline. [0039] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and -7 "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. [0040] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates. [0041] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein. [0042] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

Claims (5)

1. A board for a trampoline, the board including a board body having first and second foot strap attachment portions arranged to each locate a foot strap toward opposing ends of the board body, wherein each of the first and second foot strap attachment portions includes two spaced apart apertures arranged to allow passage of the respective foot strap so as to provide the foot strap with a foot receiving portion located on a top side of the board body between the two spaced apart apertures and a strap retaining portion located at an underside of the board body extending between the two spaced apart apertures.

2. The board according to claim 1, wherein the first and second foot strap attachment portions each include a retainer at least partially located between the strap retaining portion of the respective foot strap and the board body.

3. A board for a trampoline, the board including a board body having first and second foot strap attachment portions arranged to each locate a foot strap toward opposing ends of the board body, wherein each of the first and second foot strap attachment portions include at least one aperture extending at least partially between a top side of the board body and an underside of the board body and a retainer located toward the underside of the board body arranged such that the respective foot strap is engagable with its associated retainer through the respective at least one aperture.

4. The board according to claim 3, wherein the first and second foot strap attachment portions include two spaced apart apertures arranged to locate each foot strap so as to provide each foot strap with a foot receiving portion located on the top side of the board body between the two spaced apart apertures and a strap retaining portion located at the underside of the board body extending between the two spaced apart apertures, and wherein the retainer is at least partially located between the strap retaining portion of the respective foot strap and the board body.

5. The board according to claim 2 or claim 4, wherein the retainer is provided in the form of a plate arranged between each strap retaining portion and the underside of -9 the board body such that the strap retaining portion extends at least partially around the plate.