Paddle tennis court

Abstract

The present invention relates to a paddle tennis court with walls or panels at the two ends of the court and side walls or panels adjacent to the walls at the ends. The paddle tennis court also has a structure or surface made up of mesh panels or fences that join together the side walls adjacent to the walls at both ends, said mesh panels or fences being attached together by means of pillars anchored to the ground. Thus, the invention includes a dampening system associated with at least one of the pillars incorporated through the external portion of said structure, which acts by absorbing the impacts that can be exerted through the inside of said structure. Advantageously, said dampening system acts by absorbing the impacts that can be exerted through the inside of the structure coming from the court.

Description

[0001]

[0002] Padel court

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention relates to a padel court comprising, associated with the perimeter walls that delimit it, a shock-absorbing system arranged to absorb the impact produced by players when they collide or hit each other resulting from the game's moves, usually to hit a ball. As is known, padel courts have walls or panels, usually made of glass or methacrylate, arranged both at the ends of the court and on the sides adjacent to the end walls, leaving a space between said side walls that is covered by mesh-type panels or fences. The shock-absorbing system is preferably arranged on the mesh-type panels or fences arranged on the sides of the court, and more specifically on the pillars or columns that support said panels or fences.

[0005] The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the construction of sports facilities, focusing particularly on the field of padel courts or other disciplines that are practiced on perimeter courts, and more specifically on the installation of walls that surround and delimit this type of courts.

[0006] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Currently, padel courts, as well as other similar sports practiced on courts with high perimeter walls, more than one meter high, whether mesh fence, acrylic, or other materials, such as squash, fronton, or racquetball courts, have high walls like those used in padel.

[0008] It is well known that padel courts consist of a rectangular court with two ends and two sides that are longer than the ends. On each end, there is a back wall or panels connected to adjacent side walls or panels, forming a 90° angle between the back walls and the side walls. These side walls extend only partially along each side of the court, leaving the side walls on the same side separated from each other. These walls or panels are made of a material that allows the ball to bounce when it hits them during play. The side walls on the same side are preferably connected by a mesh structure, usually consisting of mesh panels or fences connected to each other and pillars anchored to the ground. The ball should not bounce off this mesh structure, or should do so as little as possible.

[0009] Sometimes, depending on the game, the ball may or may not bounce off these walls. For example, in padel, the ball may bounce off the back walls of the court, as well as the side walls adjacent to the back walls, to obtain a favorable point in the game. However, if the ball hits the panels or mesh-like fences arranged between the side walls of the court, the point is not favorable. Often, to prevent the ball from hitting the mesh and attempt to return it to the opponent, the player collides with the mesh when hitting the ball or after doing so.

[0010] These impacts on the net can affect both the player and the court structure. As mentioned, the court has walls that act as surfaces on which the ball can bounce, and other surfaces, such as mesh-like panels or fences, on which the ball must not bounce. The first walls, or surfaces, are usually made of concrete, brick, glass, or methacrylate, and are firmly anchored to the ground, so impacts on them are transmitted to the ground and do not pose a structural risk to the court, although they could pose a risk to the player. On the other hand, the panels, or fences, that make up the mesh structure are usually fixed between pillars that reinforce the structure. These pillars have angles between the ground and the pillar for support. These mesh-like panel surfaces, or fences, usually have openings for doors.Repetitive impacts by players against these mesh surfaces, since ball impacts are almost irrelevant, can affect the entire structure of panels, or fences, that make up the mesh surface, due to the transmission of these impacts to all the components of the structure, that is, to the mesh-type panels, or fences; to the connections with the side walls; to the connections of the panels, or fences, with each other; or to these with the pillars or columns; for example.

[0011] Thus, the objective of the present invention is to provide a new type of paddle tennis court, designed to minimize the effects of repetitive shocks or impacts against its surfaces, preferably those that are mesh type, in order to:

[0012] - Cushion the blows or shocks or impacts of the players, reducing the chances of injuries,

[0013] - Cushion the impact of balls so that they do not bounce, or bounce less, on surfaces where they should not,

[0014] Reduce vibrations on the back walls and side walls that are firmly fixed to the floor,

[0015] Contribute to the protection of the integrity of the surface structure and reduce the risk of possible damage to its components caused by the aforementioned impacts and shocks,

[0016] - Increase the life of materials and joints between the components of the structure, and

[0017] Reduce the noise caused by the net vibrating as a result of impacts or collisions, which can be annoying for both players and spectators.

[0018] In summary, the present invention proposes a padel court with a damping system, preferably hydraulic, designed to absorb impacts on the structure during indoor play. The damping system helps effectively block vibrations in the mesh structure and the court walls when a player impacts them, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the court components and reducing the risk of injury to players.

[0019] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention relates to a paddle tennis court according to claim 1. Specifically, it relates to a paddle tennis court comprising walls or panels on both ends of the court, together with side walls or panels adjacent to the end walls, with a structure or surface formed by mesh panels or fences, i.e. a mesh structure, which join together the side walls adjacent to the walls of both ends, said mesh structure being fixed to each other and to the ground by means of pillars which are anchored to the ground. The court which is the object of the invention has a shock-absorbing system, associated with at least one of the pillars, on the outside of the structure and the court, which acts by absorbing the impacts which may be exerted by the interior of said structure from the court.

[0021] Preferably, the object of the invention is a paddle tennis court, although this does not entail a strict limitation, since it could be applicable to other types of sports courts in which the court is delimited by high perimeter walls, with a height greater than one meter, preferably mesh type.

[0022] The shock-absorbing system for the court walls comprises at least one shock-absorbing device, or damper, on the underside of at least one of the pillars, fixed at right angles to the pillar at one end and to the ground at the other. As mentioned, these are arranged on the outside of the court, thus allowing unobstructed play inside the court. Such that the impact of the interior of the court on the structure during play, which may cause the wall to shift outward, is absorbed and reduced by said shock-absorbing devices. Preferably, a damper is provided on each of the pillars of the court's mesh structure. Additionally, depending on the requirements, dampers associated with the back and side walls of the court that allow the ball to bounce could be considered.

[0023] Likewise, these dampers can help absorb vibrations caused by impacts that may occur outside the mesh structure, specifically on the end walls of the court as well as on the side walls that are perpendicular and adjacent to these end walls. These walls are made of a material, preferably concrete, brick, glass, or methacrylate, which allows the balls to bounce upon impact, unlike the mesh structure, which, on the contrary, does not allow the balls to bounce. These mesh structures are preferably made of panels, or fences, that are attached to each other and also to the pillars. As mentioned, the mesh structure is preferably also attached to the side walls of the court.

[0024] The shock-absorbing device or runway shock absorber preferably comprises an upper anchor to the bottom of the pillar and, at the opposite end, a lower anchor to the ground, which allows said shock absorber to be fixed squarely between the pillar and the ground. Thus, said shock absorbers rest between the pillar and the ground in an inclined position, such that they are fixed at a certain distance from the junction point between said pillar and the ground, defining what would be the hypotenuse of a right triangle where the legs are the distance between the anchor point of the shock absorber to the pillar and the distance between the anchor point of the shock absorber to the ground. In this way, the shock absorber absorbs and reduces the movement of the upper part of the pillar caused by the impact received on the mesh structure adjacent to said pillar, on the inside of the runway.

[0025] The connection between the damper and the pillar is preferably made through a base profile, a II profile, when the pillar profile is square or rectangular in section. This profile connects to the pillar, extending between the lower end of the pillar and the ground. Alternatively, if the pillar has a round section, the base profile will have a semicircular profile.

[0026] Preferably, the shock absorber comprises a helical spring inside which is a pneumatic or hydraulic piston, comprising upper and lower end stops. Said piston preferably has an external compressed air reservoir to supply the piston. Other types of shock absorbers could be used, for example, gas-filled shock absorbers, twin-tube shock absorbers, single-tube shock absorbers, telescopic shock absorbers, adjustable shock absorbers, frequency-selective shock absorbers, etc.

[0027] Furthermore, these shock absorbers can have different resistances depending on the track's usage needs.

[0028] Preferably, the upper anchor of the shock absorber is securely fixed to the upper stop thereof, and the lower anchor is securely fixed to the lower stop. Furthermore, the upper anchor preferably comprises an articulated connection to a plate, preferably in a second shape, for upper attachment to the pillar, which preferably has a square or rectangular section. Also preferably, the lower anchor comprises an articulated connection to a lower base for attachment to the ground.

[0029] In order to protect and aesthetically enhance the appearance of the damping system, the shock absorber may include an external protective housing, consisting of a sheet metal covering the shock absorber. This housing covers the spring and piston assembly to also prevent the entry of foreign objects and protect it from any impacts the shock absorber may receive, for example, due to pedestrians passing by the track. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] To complete the description of the invention and to facilitate its understanding, a set of figures of an illustrative and non-limiting nature is included as an integral part thereof.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a paddle tennis court object of the invention, showing the arrangement of the shock-absorbing devices that define the shock-absorbing system of the court's mesh structure.

[0032] Figure 2 shows a view similar to the previous one, in this case with a closer perspective of the dampers, showing in greater detail their arrangement on the pillars of the mesh structure.

[0033] Figures 3 and 4 show perspective views, front and back respectively, of an example of the damping device comprising the track of the invention, represented in the position of use coupled to the lower end of the pillars, showing the parts and elements it comprises and their arrangement.

[0034] Figures 5 and 6 show top and bottom plan views respectively of the shock absorber shown in figures 3 and 4.

[0035] PREFERRED REALIZATION

[0036] In view of the aforementioned figures, an example of an embodiment of the paddle tennis court object of the invention is described below.

[0037] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the paddle tennis court (1) comprises back walls and side walls adjacent to the back walls that extend only partially along the side of the court, with the walls on one side of the court being joined or connected by a mesh structure (2). This mesh structure (2) is usually made up of panels (20) fixed together by means of pillars (21) anchored to the ground (3). The court (1) of the invention comprises a shock-absorbing system (4) incorporated by the external part (2a) of said walls (2), which acts by absorbing and reducing the eventual outward displacement of the walls (2) caused by the force of the impact that the players may exert on them on the inner part of the court when they collide to hit a ball.

[0038] Preferably, when the walls (2) are formed from panels (20) fixed to each other by means of pillars (21) anchored to the ground (3), said shock-absorbing system (4) of the track (1) comprises the existence of a shock-absorbing device (40) incorporated in the lower part of one, several or all of the pillars (21) of one, of strings or of all of the mesh structures (2) of the track (1), said shock-absorbers (40) being fixed at a square between the pillar (21) and the ground (3), on the external part of the track, as can be seen in figures 1 and 2.

[0039] Preferably also, the damper (40) is fixed between the pillar (21) and the ground (3) in an inclined, square position, preferably using a base profile (22) for joining the damper (40) to the pillar (21), being arranged between the lower end of the pillar (21) and the ground (3), contributing to the anchoring of the panels (20) of the mesh structure (2) to the ground (3).

[0040] Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the shock absorber (40) comprises: a helical spring (41), a pneumatic piston (42), which is arranged inside the spring (41), being connected to it next to respective upper (43) and lower (44) end stops, an external compressed air tank (45), which feeds the piston (42), an upper anchor (46), fixed in solidarity with the upper stop (43) and by means of an articulated connection to a U-shaped upper fixing plate (47) to the pillar (21), a lower anchor (48), fixed in solidarity with the lower stop (44) and by means of an articulated connection to a lower fixing base (49) to the floor (3) which, preferably, is fixed by means of screwing, and an external protective casing (410) that covers the assembly of the spring (41) and piston (42).

[0041] Figures 3 to 6 show the shock absorber (40) in detail, although in Figure 4 it has been shown without including the protective casing (410) to facilitate the observation of the rest of the elements it comprises.

[0042] In any case, other shock absorbers could be used.

Claims

1. - Paddle tennis court, comprising walls or panels at the two ends of the court next to side walls or panels adjacent to the walls of the ends, as well as a structure or surface (2) formed by mesh panels, or fences (20) that join together the side walls adjacent to the walls of both ends, said mesh panels, or fences (20) being fixed to each other by means of pillars (21) anchored to the ground (3), characterized in that it comprises a shock-absorbing system (4) associated with at least one of the pillars (21) incorporated by the external part (2a) of said structure (2), which acts by absorbing the impacts that can be exerted by the interior of said structure (2). 2.- Track, according to claim 1, characterized in that the shock-absorbing system (4) comprises a shock-absorbing system (40) comprising an upper anchor (46) to the lower part of the pillar (21) and at the opposite end a lower anchor (48) to the ground (3), to be fixed at a square between the pillar (21) and the ground (3). 3.- Track, according to claim 2, characterized in that the shock absorber (40) of the shock absorber system (4) comprises a base profile (22) that connects to the pillar (21), extending between the lower end of the pillar (21) and the ground (3). 4.- Track, according to any of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the shock absorber (40) comprises a helical spring (41) and a pneumatic piston (42) arranged inside the spring (41), being connected to it at respective upper (43) and lower (44) end stops. 5.- Track, according to claim 4, characterized in that the shock absorber comprises an external compressed air tank (45) that feeds the piston (42). 6.- Track, according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper anchor (46) is fixed in solidarity with the upper stop (43) and the lower anchor (48) is fixed in solidarity with the lower stop (44). 7.- Track, according to any of the previous claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the upper anchor (46) comprises an articulated connection to a fixing plate (47) above the pillar (21).

8. - Track, according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the lower anchor (48) comprises an articulated connection to a base (49) for lower fixing to the ground (3). 9.- Track, according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the shock absorber (40) comprises an external protective casing (410).

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