Donald Wallace Gordon

He has worked as a consultant for trampoline inventor George Nissen to design next generation landing pits for his company.

He transferred to California State University, Northridge where he earned his master's degree in education to become a teacher and graduated in 1958.

While working with his discus and shot put replacements, Gordon would watch high jumpers and pole vaulters landing in sawdust and thought there must be a better way.

As an accomplished sculptor, he started to build different functional animal shapes to be used as chairs, stools, toyboxes, flotation devices or anything a child could dream up.

[9][10] In 1975 George Nissen, who invented the trampoline in the 1930s, contacted Gordon to consult with his company on the development of next generation landing pits and other products.

[11] This joint venture was called Nissen/Gordon and lasted through the end of 1977 when George sold his company and the new owners were not interested in trampolines and landing pits.

A company in Tallahassee Florida had developed the first Round Trampoline, which Gordon thought would be perfect for his idea.

[18] This was originally intended to compensate for the lack of one strategy move from the single trampoline design, namely "stealing" a bounce.

[19][20] In 1989 Gordon had 2 young sons, which inspired him to use the base Junior Hi-Ball concept and create multiple layers and access paths into a product he called PlayMaze.

Over time Gordon was frustrated with the limitations of this methodology, as they required constant electricity for blowers and units were difficult to move.

The next evolution for him, was to make smaller units with closed cell systems that did not require constant electricity, that could be blown up like a life raft.

A regular truck or van can easily hold up to ten different units, providing a large variety of activities.