Springfree Myths

They say if you ‘throw enough mud, some of it sticks’ – and it seems we have a few trampoline competitors out there who must be feeling a little threatened, because they’re saying some interesting stuff about Springfree Trampoline.

We’re not interested in playing the’ tit for tat’ game, or insulting the intelligence of parents trying to make an informed decision, so we want to set the record straight.

After 5 years of working hard to introduce our unique product to the international marketplace we are finally making strong headway.  We have really only launched formally in the USA in the last 6 months.  As a result, for the first time, vendors of traditional design trampolines (TDT’s) are starting to feel some competitive pressure.  The result is that several are attempting to do the only thing they can – try and spread misinformation.

1. The Springfree design does remove virtually all of the equipment derived hazards for this type of recreational device.  Faced with this risk to their businesses TDT vendors are resorting to a tried and true marketing approach – if you throw enough mud, some of it sticks.
2. Our goal is to continue to try and educate both users and regulators to our designs benefits.

We hope it's helpful if we address the below points:

1. Can the rods overlap and 'pinch' or trap someone?
2. Can a jumper hit the ground even though there's a net?
3. Does the Springfree Trampoline twist?
4. I've heard the weight limit is low, is it?
5. Does it provide a good bounce?

Q: Can the rods overlap and 'pinch' or trap someone?
A: The Springfree design complies with all of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines on avoiding “pinch point” risk. To the best of our knowledge, after 5 years in the marketplace, we have not been notified by any users that a pinch point has occurred, nor has one been reported. In the same way that it is not natural for a child to insert their head or neck through the springs in a TDT, so it is not natural to put your arm through the rods when someone is jumping with full force directly on top of the Springfree™ Trampoline soft edge.

In addition, to cause the rods to have any contact at all would require a very heavy jumper, (who after some practice) could jump with extreme force on the extreme edge of the mat (where there is very little rebound and no ‘joy’ in the jump). This is no more “normal use” than suggesting that a user of a TDT would jump with full force from a height onto the springs and frame of a TDT.

Basically, to create a pinch point, a mature jumper would have to do so intentionally. With over 25,000 trampolines sold in Australia, this has yet to occur.

Q: Can a jumper hit the ground even though there's a net?
A: Our enclosure is not designed to be a rigid resistant surface which can cause injury upon impact. If the surface is misused by intentionally jumping into the top of enclosure at high velocity then its key design characteristics will maintain jumper safety. It is designed to be flexible, fully deforming and, in the case of severe misuse, still allow the jumpers body weight to be absorbed and lowered to the ground. 

If a jumper is close to or in excess of 100kg, running at a speed of 25km per hour, and throws themselves directly into the FlexiNet at a height, there is a potential for a controlled ground impact. In this extreme situation the flexible net system is designed to lower the jumper to the ground in safety.


It is important to understand that any ensuing ground impact is actually gentle because the net system absorbs the energy and slowly lowers the jumper. Any such impact is equivalent to a fall height of about 10 to 15cm depending on the aggressiveness of the initial jump.

 

Q: Does the Springfree Trampoline twist?
A: At first glance it looks as if the Springfree™ Trampoline would twist during a bounce. In fact the effect is undetectable in normal use.

During a normal bounce the twist is about 0.3 of a degree. This equates to ~5mm movement in a lateral direction, i.e. sideways/rotationally at the edge of the mat surface. All other movement is “axial”, or inwards, towards the center of the mat.  Heavier jumpers (upwards of 85kg) will generate more axial movement, but little to no more lateral/rotational movement at the mat edge. Lighter jumpers generate less of both types.

To qualify the size of this lateral/rotational movement, it is equivalent to 4 seconds movement on the minute hand on an old style analog clock. In other words the movement is very hard to see or feel, even if you're looking hard.