Portable rebounding device with adjustable and collapsible features

Abstract

A rebounding device includes a front member, a rear member, and at least two hinge assemblies. The front member has at least two spring arms affixed to it. Each hing assembly includes a housing which couples to an end of the rear member and a position lock mechanism contained at least in part within the housing so that in response o an input to the position lock mechanism, the front member and the rear member are moveable between a collapsed position and at least one operable position, wherein the front member is movable relative to the rear member during a rocking motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rebounding device comprising:
 a front member having at least two spring arms, each spring arm coupled to the front member;   a rear member; and   at least two hinge assemblies, each hinge assembly including:
 a housing, which couples to an end the rear member; and 
 a position lock mechanism contained at least in part within the housing so that, in response to an input to the position lock mechanism, the front member and the rear member are moveable between a collapsed position and at least one operable position, wherein the front member is movable relative to the rear member in the at least one operable position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein the position lock mechanism includes a first internal gear, a second internal gear, and an external gear positioned within the housing, wherein the external gear is configured to lock with teeth of the first internal gear and the second internal gear so that the position lock mechanism provides resistance to movement of the front member and the rear member. 
     
     
         3 . The rebounding device of  claim 2 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a button, wherein depression of the button relative to the housing is the input to the position lock mechanism configured to unlock the external gear from the internal gear in response to an input so that the front member and rear member are freely moveable relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The rebounding device of  claim 3 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a coil spring disposed between the first internal gear and the external gear, and
 wherein the coil spring biases the external gear into engagement with the second internal gear.   
     
     
         5 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a switch, wherein actuation of the switch is the input to the position lock mechanism configured to unlock the external gear from the internal gear in response to an input so that the front member and rear member are freely moveable relative to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operable position includes a first operable position and a second operable position. 
     
     
         7 . The rebounding device of  claim 6 , wherein the front member and the rear member in the first operable position define a first angle in the first operable position and a second angle in the second operable position, wherein the first angle is less than than the second angle. 
     
     
         8 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein each spring arm includes a curved end terminating in a lip. 
     
     
         9 . The rebounding device of  claim 8 , where the position lock mechanism includes a channel configured to receive the curved end of a spring arm and a ridge configured to lock with the lip of the received spring arm. 
     
     
         10 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing couples to a curved end of the spring arm so that the spring arm provides a biasing force against the front member in response to a rocking motion at the front member. 
     
     
         11 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein each hinge assembly includes a support pad coupled to the housing, configured to stabilize the device during a rocking motion. 
     
     
         12 . The rebounding device of  claim 11 , wherein the support pad includes a grip portion spaced from the hinge assembly so that the hinge mechanism can move during a rocking motion and the grip portion remains stationary. 
     
     
         13 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear stability pad coupled to the rear member configured to stabilize the device during a rocking motion 
     
     
         14 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein front member further comprises openings. 
     
     
         15 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein front member further comprises a front support pad affixed to the front member. 
     
     
         16 . The rebounding device of  claim 15 , wherein the front support pad includes a plurality of raised members. 
     
     
         17 . The rebounding device of  claim 1 , wherein each spring arm is coupled to the front member by a top fastener and a bottom fastener, and
 wherein each top fastener and each bottom fastener is configured to slidably engage the spring arm such that the spring arm is able to move along a plane substantially parallel to the front member.   
     
     
         18 . The rebounding device of  claim 17 , wherein each spring arm comprises a front member lip configured to interact with at least one rib of the front member to provide a stoppage point. 
     
     
         19 . The rebounding device of  claim 17 , wherein each bottom fastener is configured to act as a fulcrum for the spring arm during a rocking motion at the front member. 
     
     
         20 . The rebounding device of  claim 19 , wherein each bottom fastener is configured to be placed at a plurality of locations on the front member, and
 wherein adjusting the location of each bottom fastener on the front member adjusts an amount of spring force applied by the spring arm during the rocking motion at the front member.