User activated water sprinkler system for trampolines and playground equipment

Abstract

A spraying system having an actuator and a sprayer. The actuator may consist of a mechanical pump, a pneumatic or hydraulic valve, an electrical switch or any combination of the above and may be mounted in a trampoline or other playground equipment to be operated by the jumping or moving action of a user. With each bounce on the trampoline or movement of the playground equipment, the actuator may be activated to spray water on one or more of the users. In trampoline embodiments, the actuator may be mounted in place of one or more of the springs of a trampoline, while in other embodiments, the actuator may be mounted such that it is compressed between the jumping surface and a supporting surface, including the surface of the water in the case of a water trampoline.

1 . A trampoline comprising: 
 a jumping surface;    a mounting frame;    a resilient mounting system joining said mounting frame and said jumping surface; and    an actuator connected between said mounting frame and said jumping surface, said actuator having an inlet and an outlet and adapted to control a fluid from said inlet to said outlet when a user causes said resilient mounting system to operate.    
   
   
       2 . The trampoline of  claim 1  wherein said resilient mounting system comprises a plurality of springs.  
   
   
       3 . The trampoline of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of springs are mounted to jumping surface spring mounts and mounting frame spring mounts.  
   
   
       4 . The trampoline of  claim 3  wherein said actuator is adapted to mount to one of said jumping surface spring mounts and a corresponding one of said mounting frame spring mounts.  
   
   
       5 . The trampoline of  claim 1  wherein said actuator is a piston pump.  
   
   
       6 . The trampoline of  claim 1  wherein said actuator is a compression pump.  
   
   
       7 . The trampoline of claim I wherein said actuator is a valve.  
   
   
       8 . The trampoline of  claim 1  wherein said actuator is an electrical switch.  
   
   
       9 . The trampoline of  claim 1  wherein said mounting frame is a floatable mounting frame.  
   
   
       10 . The trampoline of  claim 1  wherein said mounting frame comprises a surface mounted stand.  
   
   
       11 . The trampoline of  claim 1  further comprising a dispensing system activated by said actuator and adapted to spray a user of said trampoline.  
   
   
       12 . An actuator comprising: 
 a first mount adapted to connect to a trampoline mounting frame;    a second mount adapted to connect to a trampoline jumping surface;    an inlet adapted to connect to a fluid source;    an outlet adapted to connect to a fluid dispensing mechanism; and    a piston activated by the extension of said second mount with respect to said first mount and adapted to pump a fluid from said inlet to said outlet.    
   
   
       13 . The actuator of  claim 12  wherein said fluid source is a water source.  
   
   
       14 . The actuator of  claim 12  wherein said fluid dispensing mechanism comprises a spray head.  
   
   
       15 . The actuator of  claim 12  wherein said trampoline mounting frame is a floatable mounting frame.  
   
   
       16 . The actuator of  claim 12  wherein said trampoline mounting frame comprises a stand for mounting on dry land.  
   
   
       17 . The actuator of  claim 12  wherein said first mount and said second mount may be trampoline spring mounting points.  
   
   
       18 . An actuator comprising: 
 a first mount adapted to engage a moving portion of a playground device;    a second mount adapted to mount said actuator such that the moving action of a user on said moving surface of said playground device causes said actuator to actuate; and    wherein said actuator is adapted to control the dispersal of at least one fluid based on said moving action.    
   
   
       19 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said first mount is a spring mount connected to said moving portion and said second mount is a spring mount connected to a frame.  
   
   
       20 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said playground device is a trampoline.  
   
   
       21 . The actuator of  claim 20  wherein said frame is a rigid metal frame.  
   
   
       22 . The actuator of  claim 20  wherein said frame is an inflatable frame.  
   
   
       23 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said first second mount is a surface beneath said moving portion, said surface being one of a group composed of land and water.  
   
   
       24 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said actuator comprises a pump.  
   
   
       25 . The actuator of  claim 24  wherein said pump is a compression pump.  
   
   
       26 . The actuator of  claim 24  wherein said pump is a piston pump.  
   
   
       27 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said actuator comprises an electrical switch.  
   
   
       28 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said actuator comprises a valve.  
   
   
       29 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said fluid comprises water.  
   
   
       30 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said fluid comprises air.  
   
   
       31 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said playground device is a see-saw.  
   
   
       32 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said playground device is a rope ladder.  
   
   
       33 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said playground device is a swing.  
   
   
       34 . The actuator of  claim 18  wherein said playground device is a merry-go-round.