Nissen News SPECIAL: Do You Rebound Tumble?

 

     Just do a little research on the topic of TRAMPOLINE and you’re bound to bump into the term REBOUND TUMBLING. As in, “…the trampoline, also known as rebound tumbling.” Well, nobody I know calls their trampoline a rebound tumbler, so what gives?

     Back in 1959, a legal battle took place between the Nissen Trampoline Company and the American Trampoline Company over the use of the name trampoline. The argument being that the word “Trampoline” was the registered trademark of Nissen’s and therefore could not be used as a general term by companies like American who Nissen believed were cashing in on the popularity of the new sport. In addition, trampoline could not be used as the name of the sport.  

     A two-year period followed during which, anyone writing about the sport, establishing a name for their competition or even posting results used the suggested replacement term:  rebound tumbling.  

     It was an awkward two years to say the least, with more than a few coaches and athletes voicing their opinions!

     By the time the bitter lawsuit concluded, with the judge declaring the term “trampoline” generic and in the public domain…the term “rebound tumbling” had left its telltale fingerprint everywhere.  Even to this day, it is easy to identify books, competitions and articles written between 1959 and 1961 as authors did their best to tiptoe around the nasty battle.

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