US2961235A - Trampoline type bouncer toy - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l R. M. BLANCHARD TRAMPOLINE TYPE BOUNCER TOY Nov. 22, 1960 Filed March 4, 1960 INVENTOR. ROGER M. BLANCH/1RD BY W m E,

Nov. 22, 1960 R. M. BLANCHARD 2,961,235

TRAMPOLINE TYPE. BOUNCER TOY Filed March 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. ROGER M..BLANCHARD ATT ENEY 2,961,235 Patented Nov. 22, 1930 TRAMPOLINE TYPE BOUNCER TOY Roger M. Blanchard, 4819 E. Waverly, Tucson, Ariz.

Filed Mar. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 12,747

9 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) My invention relates to an improved trampoline type bouncer toy and has for its object the provision of a toy of the type identified incorporating safety aspects as well as increased interest and improved manner of use.

While the invention may be modified in many respects within the scope of the claims, depending upon the production means employed, the weight to be withstood is determined by the size and the weight of the user and other practical utility and commercial aspects. 1 show in the drawings a simple form of device which can be produced relatively inexpensively and embodies the principal features of my invention.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings;

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the toy in completely assembled condition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a separable ring member forming a part of the frame structure, and particularly that portion thereof concerned with positioning a vertical center post;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing a preferred manner of construction of the two posts;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a base member which comprises a part of the frame structure and also supports the center post;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the construction of the principal supporting frame members;

Fig. 6 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a modified construction.

In accordance with the general features of my invention, I provide a membrane or platform of suitable material and suspend it by resilient means such as ordinary tension springs to a frame, so that it will impart spring or bounce to a user in the same general manner as a trampoline. Associated with the spring supported and vertically reciprocable platform, and preferably centrally thereof, I provide a vertical post, preferably tubular, which forms a hand hold for the user of the toy, furnishes balance for safety reasons, and, to the more initiate, provides an auxiliary game function in that the post can he climbed and the body dropped onto the vertically reciprocable platform, or the post engaged by the hands at the top of a bounce or jump, or combinations of the functions identified utilized to impart markedly more interesting body movements particularly to children, for whom the toy is primarily intended.

The principal parts of the toy, as shown in the drawings, are a frame generally indicated by the reference character 10, a vertical post 11 and a horizontal platform generally indicated by the reference character 12, secured to the frame by springs 13.

Looking now first to the construction of the frame I provide a plurality of frame members 15, advantageously formed by stamping, the frame comprising a base mem ber 16, diagonal members 17, a vertical part 18 and a horizontal member 19, generally parallel to the base member 16. The base member 16 has a bottom flange 21 to provide greater contacting surface with a floor or other surface on which the toy is mounted, and this base is preferably treated with a suitable coating material such as one of various types of available rubberlike compositions, to prevent marring of the surface, to form greater support, to allow for minor irregularities in a supporting surface, etc. A second flange 22 is pro vided, spaced from flange 21, and holes 23 and 24, for attaching purposes which will be described.

The frame members 15 are assembled together to form a substantially unitary frame by means of base indicated generally by the reference character 27. The base member 26 has a flanged base 28 and a cup shaped upper projection 29 for receipt of the pole 11, as will be described. The base has peripherally spaced and recessed apertures 31 for the receipt of bolts 32 (Fig. 1) which in turn extend through holes in flanges 22 of the frame members 15. The ring member 27 has a relatively heavy ring 33 with an inside diameter somewhat larger than the outside diameter of the center post 11 and integral pairs of spaced vertical projections 34 apertured to receive fastening bolts 36, as also shown in Fig. 1. If desired, diagonal positioning tie rods can be provided between the frame members 15 to positively hold them in the quadrant to which they are mounted, but in general I have found that such additional reinforcement means is not required in ordinary use. While the platform 12 may be formed in various ways and of different materials I suitably utilize a membrane 41 of leather, fibre, plastic or the like of generally hexagonal shape with framing metal reinforcements 42 clamped on the straight side edges and overlapped in the manner shown in Fig. 6. An opening in the center of the membrane 41 is similarly reinforced with a clamping strip 43. In general the platform should move as a unit but by means of the construction at the center, as particularly shown in Fig. 8, the membrane will not bind against the center post 11 if it becomes slightly canted by uneven application of jumping pressure. The platform 12 is secured in position by the springs 13, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 6, one looped end of each spring being secured in a hole 44 in the obtuse corners of the platform and extending in each instance through to the reinforcing strips 42 where they overlap and through an edge portion of the membrane 41.

While the center post 11 may be formed in various ways I prefer that it comprise at least two pieces of tubing internally threaded at their ends and screwed to a threaded elongated attaching member 46 (Fig. 3) so that a smooth outer surface is obtained along with maximum strength.

To secure the post to the frame and properly position it, it is extended through the center hole in the platform 12 and its bottom end lodged in the cup 22 forming a part of base 26. The cap screws 47 are then tightened to secure the post approximately in the center of the cup 29 with the end of the center post resting firmly on the side surface of base 26. Cap screws 48 in the ring 43 are then tightened to hold the post in vertical position. The center post thus attached becomes, for all practical purposes, an integral part of the frame.

Depending on other features of construction, particularly if the membrane 41 is of relatively flexible material, I prefer to employ a modified structure as shown in Fig. 9, to assure unitary movement of the platform vertically along the post 11, when the membrane 141 has a center opening through which the post 111 passes. A pair of housing members 151 and 152 have flanges 153 and 154 which grip opposite sides of the membrane 141 when they are tightened with respect to each other by'suitable fastening bolts 157. A ball race 158 is carried within the housing members 151 and 152' and its balls engage the center post 111 to cause the entire structure to ride easily up and down the surface of the center post. This structure is partly schematic, it being understood that any usual practices relating to frictionless bearings and hardened bearing surfaces may be resorted to.

One of the features of my invention is that it may be vended and shipped in a knocked down condition and is easily assembled by the purchaser with ordinary tools available in the home. Once assembled it may also be readily disassembled if desired, but generally speaking it may be stored indoors by only dismantling the center post 11.

The device is intended primarily for the use of children during their more active years, but it may have other applications if suitably designed to balance the loads involved. Generally speaking all that is necessary is to change the capacity of the springs 13 if a lighter or heavier load is to be supported. I have found that if the springs 13 are suitably selected, there is a considerable range of weight which may be accommodated in a bouncing action on the platform. Children using the toy can employ the center post as a safety and guide mechanism and also, as previously pointed out, for the purpose of enhancing the action of the device by climbing with the hands during a jumping operation.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in detail so that those skilled in the art will understand the manner of practicing the same, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A bouncer toy comprising a frame, a plurality of spring members substantially uniformly spaced and supported by said frame, a vertically reciprocable member carried by said springs to impart spring action thereto in response to jumping action, said vertically reciprocable member having an opening therein, and a vertical standard carried by the frame and projecting upwardly through said opening to provide a hand hold for protection and play use by a user of the toy.

2. A bouncer toy is defined in claim 1 wherein said frame supports said springs in the general plane of said reciprocable member, and in which one end of the said spring is secured to said frame and one end to an edge portion of said reciprocable member, to place the said springs in tension.

3. A bouncer toy as defined in claim 2 including framing means for said reciprocable member at the edge thereof and at the periphery of said opening.

4. A bouncer toy as defined in claim 2 including framing means for said reciprocable member at the edge 4 thereof and at the periphery of said opening, and wherein friction reducing bearing means having housing flanges clamped around said center opening provides a substantial area of contact with the center standard.

5. A bouncer toy comprising a frame in the form of a plurality of frame members bolted together, a platform, spring means secured to outside edges of the platform and to the frame to support the platform in vertical reciprocable position, said platform having a center opening therein, and a center post secured to the frame and projecting vertically upwardly through the center opening.

6. A bouncer toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said center post is relatively high and comprises a plurality of sections secured together to form a smooth exterior surface.

7. A bouncer toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said frame includes a bottom cup shaped member and an upper ring shaped member, said center post resting in the cup shaped member and extending through the ring shaped member the said members having a plurality of screws engaging the post to fasten and position the same.

8. A bouncer toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said frame includes a plurality of relatively flat frame members positioned at circumferentially uniform positions, each frame member having a horizontal base member engaging the floor, a diagonal member, a vertical member between base and diagonal members, and a second horizontal member projecting outwardly from the diagonal member in parallel spaced relation to the base member, a center base to which said base members are attached, a cup shaped member being a part of said center base, and an upper ring member to which said second horizontal members are secured, said center post resting in said cup and projecting upwardly through said ring shaped member.

9. A bouncer toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said frame includes a plurality of relatively flat frame members positioned at circumferentially uniform positions, each frame member having a horizontal base member engaging the floor, a diagonal member in parallel spaced relation to the base member a center base to which said base members are attached, a cup shaped member being a part of said center base, and an upper ring member to which said second horizontal members are secured, said center post resting in said cup and projecting upwardly through said ring shaped member, said cup and center n'ng member each having three screws for engaging and positioning the center post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 115,837 Farini June 13, 1871 214,663 Hunt Apr. 22, 1879 1,054,452 Sayen Feb. 25, 1913 2,775,452 Libra Dec. 25, 1956

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