Hinge or the like for folding rebounder
AssigneeJumpSport, Inc.
InventorsMark W. Publicover, Jon P. Hylbert, Kevin B. Charles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable exercise system has a foldable perimeter frame comprising at least two elongated frame members that are joined by hinges. The hinges are joined to ends of the frame members, which ends are generally tubular. Each hinge has a cap-like body having an interior surface that defines a cavity configured to nestingly receive one of the ends of the frame members. A deformable plug is located within the central cavity of the one of the ends. A tightening mechanism is operated to expand the plug radially and thereby cause the end to expand radially such the generally tubular outer surface of the end frictionally engages the interior surface of the a cap-like body.
Claims22
An exercise system comprising:
- a frame that defines a central opening and that consists of two halves that are rail segments, each half having two frame ends and each frame end having an interior surface that defines a central cavity;
- one or more legs for supporting the frame;
- a jumping surface comprising a mat attached to the frame;
- and
- two hinges connecting the two frame halves, each hinge comprising two hinge segments that are pivotally joined to one another, wherein the hinge segments each comprise
- a body having an interior surface that defines a cavity that nestingly contains one of the frame ends,
- a deformable plug located within the central cavity of the contained frame end, and
- a tightener operable to expand the plug within the central cavity of the contained frame end such that the plug frictionally engages the interior surface of the central cavity of the contained frame end.
An exercise system comprising:
- a foldable perimeter frame that defines a central opening when the frame is unfolded and that comprises at least two elongated frame members, wherein an end of each of the two elongated frame members is tubular, has an outer surface, and has an inner surface defining a central cavity and wherein the ends are located in proximity, the frame being movable between an unfolded position wherein the entire perimeter frame generally lies in a plane and a folded position wherein the at least two elongated frame members lie alongside one another;
- one or more legs attached to the perimeter frame for supporting the perimeter frame above the ground when the frame is unfolded;
- a mat supported within the central opening when the frame is unfolded;
- and
- a hinge comprising two hinge members that are pivotally joined to one another and that respectively are connected to the ends of the two elongated frame members that are located in proximity,
- wherein at least one of the hinge members comprises
- a body having an interior surface that defines a cavity that nestingly contains one of the ends of the two elongated frame members,
- a deformable plug located within the central cavity of the one of the ends of the two elongated frame members, and
- a tightener operable to maintain the plug in frictional engagement with the interior surface that defines the central cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.