George Nissen: The trampoline
The trampoline.
Watching circus aerialists drop into safety nets, a 16-year-old Cedar Rapids gymnast wanted a device for continuous bouncing rather than a single catch. He built a first rig from angle iron and inner-tube rubber in his parents' garage in 1930; a working prototype followed with his university coach in 1934, and a company in 1942. Trampolining became an Olympic sport at Sydney 2000. Nissen, aged 86, was there.
IP note
US 2,370,990 'Tumbling device' (filed 1941, granted 1945); 'Trampoline' trademark cancelled as generic in 1961.
Recognition
Olympic sport since Sydney 2000.
What this means for a student inventor in India
[Editor: 120–200 words connecting this story to the Indian route — Section 6 (any true inventor may apply), provisional vs complete specification, disclosure at fairs (Section 31), renewals, and who owns what when a school is involved. Link to the relevant MYCrave guide.]
Related young innovators
- Chester Greenwood — Earmuffs with a spring-steel headband
- Remya Jose — Pedal-powered washing machine
- Blaise Pascal — The Pascaline mechanical calculator
Sources
[Editor: list the 2–4 primary sources from the research notes for this entry, with the date checked.]
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