Rebounder

Abstract

A rebounder comprising an encompassing frame supported by plural legs has a substantially rigid platform suspended on the frame. The platform has a substantially rigid base and a pad of resilient material is secured on the base. A vertical handhold frame may have a directly attached handhold or a rotating handhold, which may be attached by elastic connections.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 846,526, filed Sep. 22, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY [0002] This invention relates trampoline-type devices for physical exercise. Such devices commonly referred to as “rebounders,” typically are circular and have a relatively small diameter of about forty inches with a surface area available for jumping of about thirty inches or less. An example of one such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,181. [0003] Like larger trampolines, such devices have a bed that is made of flexible fabric attached to an encompassing frame by springs. Although the bed of such a rebounder is quite resilient, it subjects the jumper's feet to severe pronation because the bed does not descend uniformly upon impact. Instead, the periphery of the bed remains near its original elevation upon impact from a jumper's foot while the center region of the bed descend...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003] Like larger trampolines, such devices have a bed that is made of flexible fabric attached to an encompassing frame by springs. Although the bed of such a rebounder is quite resilient, it subjects the jumper's feet to severe pronation because the bed does not descend uniformly upon impact. Instead, the periphery of the bed remains near its original elevation upon impact from a jumper's foot while the center region of the bed descends a relatively much greater distance. The effect is similar to running on a severely banked roadway where a runner's foot is subject to unnatural stresses because it never lands on flat ground.

[0004] Jumping on full-sized trampolines is far less stressful because, due to its larger diameter, the bed of a full-sized trampoline typically is never at as steep an angle and because full-sized trampolines are used differently. With rebounders, the user is typically exercising in a way that produces numerous rapid footfalls, whereas use of a full-sized trampoline typically involves fewer and less frequent impacts.

Problems solved by technology

Although the bed of such a rebounder is quite resilient, it subjects the jumper's feet to severe pronation because the bed does not descend uniformly upon impact.

Currently available rebounder-type devices do not fully allow the user to develop their spatial awareness, balance and coordination because of their restrictiveness.

Rebounders with fixed handholds attached to the rebounder frame are known, but do not allow the user freedom of rotation while performing rebounding exercise.

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