Reconstructible playing court

Abstract

A reconstructible playing court, comprising planar flooring (1), plurality of vertical supports (4) flooring at a distance from each other, and at least part of these vertical supports is supported to adjacent vertical supports with at least one diagonal support (7), which diagonal supports are fastened between the upper end of one vertical support and the lower end of the adjacent vertical support.

Description

[0001] RECONSTRUCTIBLE PLAYING COURT

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to reconstructible playing courts .

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Current playing courts are accomplished with fixed construction methods , which often require a building permit . These methods often require piling, concrete and / or tillage . I f such a structure must be dismantled later, maj or remediation measures will be required to bring the area to its initial condition . Likewise , rebuilding is usually impossible because at least some of the parts break during dismantling . Dismantling generates a lot of waste .

[0006] In cities and other agglomerations , there are often vacant areas where playing courts or terraces would be desired for a limited period, for example 1 -4 years , until the area is taken into final construction use . It is then not possible to make fixed structures that require a building permit . Thus , the area is often left without reasonable use until the planned construction is completed . Construction in protected areas is also difficult with traditional methods .

[0007] Many sports suffer from a lack of venues . For example , the padel game , which has become particularly popular recently, would need more fields . However, current construction methods for fields almost invariably require a building permit , which cannot be obtained if the area is zoned for other uses , even if the actual construction does not begin until years later . And even if the area allows construction, obtaining permits will be time consuming . The playing courts need to have a certain stability . Stability has been addressed through use of heavier materials , more legs and supports , larger foundational elements , or by securing the construction to a permanent base or anchoring . These methods are costly, time-consuming, and not always feasible . Especially if the construction i s intended to be temporary or portable .

[0008] OBJECTIVE

[0009] The obj ective of the device is to alleviate the disadvantages mentioned above .

[0010] In particular, it is an obj ective of the present device to provide a safe and steady playing court that is reconstructible .

[0011] SUMMARY

[0012] According to a first aspect , the present invention provides a reconstructible playing court , comprising planar flooring having

[0013] - a top surface and a bottom surface , and

[0014] - at least four side edges , plurality of vertical supports arranged underneath the planar f looring at a di stance from each other , wherein each vertical support comprises an upper end and a lower end, and the vertical supports are fastened to the flooring by the upper ends , part of the vertical supports is arranged at proximity of two opposite s ide edges , and at least part of these vertical supports is supported to adj acent vertical supports with at least one diagonal support , which diagonal supports are fas- tened between the upper end of one vertical support and the lower end of the adj acent vertical support .

[0015] The advantage of the device is that the playing court is steady even in worst weather conditions while being easily disassembled and reconstructed .

[0016] In an embodiment of the device , the part of the vertical supports , arranged at proximity of two oppos ite side edges , is fastened to adj acent vertical supports with two diagonal supports so that one diagonal support extends from the upper end of the vertical support to the lower end of the adj acent vertical support , and another diagonal support extends from the lower end of the vertical support to the upper end of the adj acent vertical support .

[0017] In an embodiment of the device , at least part of the vertical supports is arranged at proximity of each side edges , and said vertical supports are supported to adj acent vertical supports with diagonal supports .

[0018] In an embodiment of the device , the diagonal supports are at least partially made of wire .

[0019] In an embodiment of the device , each diagonal support comprises a loop so that each diagonal support is fas tened to the upper end of the vertical support by the loop .

[0020] In an embodiment of the device , ring clamps are fastened to at least part of the vertical supports so that each ring clamp is fastened at proximity of the lower end of the vertical support . In an embodiment of the device , each clamp ring is provided with a dampening ring arranged between the clamp ring and the vertical support .

[0021] In an embodiment of the device , each diagonal support is fastened to one ring clamp at the lower end of the vertical support .

[0022] In an embodiment of the device , each diagonal support is fastened to the upper end of one vertical support by the loop , and to the ring clamp at the lower end of the adj acent vertical support .

[0023] In an embodiment of the device , two diagonal supports are fastened to one vertical support so that both diagonal supports are fastened to the upper end of the vertical support or to the lower end of the vertical support .

[0024] In an embodiment of the device , each diagonal support comprises tensioning device for tensioning the diagonal support between adj acent vertical supports .

[0025] In an embodiment of the device , the vertical supports are adj ustable in vertical direction for positioning the playing court on uneven surfaces .

[0026] In an embodiment of the device , playing court is made of modular components fastened to each other so that si ze of the playing court may be varied .

[0027] In an embodiment of the device , each modular component comprises a planar surface , vertical supports , and diagonal supports .

[0028] In an embodiment of the device , the planar flooring comprises hori zontal supports fastened to the bottom surface , and the vertical supports are fastened to the hori zontal supports .

[0029] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the invention described above may be used in any combination with each other . Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the invention .

[0030] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The accompanying drawings , which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention . In the drawings :

[0032] Fig . 1 shows a side view of a reconstructible playing court ,

[0033] Fig . 2 shows the reconstructible playing court from above ,

[0034] Fig . 3 shows the reconstructible playing court from below,

[0035] Fig . 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of a reconstructible playing court having two diagonal supports between two adj acent vertical supports ,

[0036] Fig . 5 shows an embodiment of fastening means for the diagonal supports ,

[0037] Fig . 6 is detail s of the fastening means for the diagonal supports and diagonal supports , and

[0038] Fig . 7 shows an embodiment of a vertical support . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Figure 1 shows a side view of a reconstructible playing court, e.g. for padel. The playing court comprises a planar flooring 1 having a top surface 2, a bottom surface 3 and four side edges Ila, 11b,... The side edges Ila, 11b,... may have same length, i.e. the court is square, or two opposite side edges may be longer than other two opposite side edges, i.e. the court is rectangular. The court may have other shapes, i.e. the planar flooring may have more than four side edges.

[0040] The playing court comprises plurality of vertical supports 4, which are arranged underneath the planar flooring 1 at a distance from each other. Each vertical support comprises an upper end 5 and a lower end 6 so that the vertical supports are fastened to the flooring by the upper ends, i.e. they extend downwards from the planar flooring when assembled. Part of the vertical supports 4 is arranged at proximity of two opposite side edges. For example, in rectangular playing court, part of the vertical supports may be arranged at proximity of the two long side edges. At least part of said vertical supports at proximity of the side edges is supported to adjacent vertical supports with at least one diagonal support 7. The diagonal supports 7 are fastened between the upper end 5 of one vertical support and the lower end 6 of the adjacent vertical support.

[0041] Figure 1 shows only the vertical supports that are arranged at proximity of one side edge. However, it should be understood that such playing court must be balanced and, thus, more vertical supports are needed. Optionally, vertical supports are arranged at proximity of two opposite side edges of the planar flooring. Optionally, vertical supports are arranged at proximity of each side edges . Optionally or additionally, the whole area of the planar flooring is covered by the vertical supports , i . e . in addition to the vertical supports at proximity of the side edges , additional vertical supports are arranged at the middle section of the planar flooring .

[0042] Figure 2 shows the reconstructible playing court from above so that the upper surface 2 and side edges I la, 11b, ... are visible .

[0043] Figure 3 shows the reconstructible playing court from below so that the bottom surface 3 , side edges I la, 11b, ... and the vertical supports 4 and the diagonal supports 7 are shown . In figure 3 , only the vertical supports at proximity of the long side edges I la are supported to adj acent vertical supports with the diagonal supports 7 . Optionally, the vertical supports at proximity of the short side edges 11b, may also be supported to adj acent vertical supports with similar diagonal supports .

[0044] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the reconstructible playing court , wherein the vertical supports 4 , or at least part of the vertical supports , are supported to each adj acent vertical supports by two diagonal supports 7 . The diagonal supports 7 are arranged so that they are fastened between the upper end 5 of one vertical support and the lower end 6 of the adj acent vertical support . In other words , two adj acent vertical supports are supported to each other with two diagonal supports that cross each other . Such diagonal support arrangement may be implemented to any playing court embodiments disclosed herein . Figure 5 shows an example of a diagonal support 7 . The diagonal support is made of a wire , and it has a loop at the end that is fastened to the upper end of one vertical support 3 . The diagonal support may be fastened to the upper end of the vertical support 3 by a bolt or screw that has been inserted through the loop .

[0045] The diagonal support may be some other bendable obj ect or cordage ( cable , rope , cord etc . ) . Optionally, the diagonal support is a rigid support , such as a rod, beam etc .

[0046] Figure 6 shows details of one embodiment of the playing court . Especially, figure 6 shows details of the diagonal support 7 and the fastening means of the diagonal support . The diagonal supports may be fastened to the vertical supports by clamp rings 8 . Clamp rings are fastening means that may be fastened to some structure by clamping it around the structure . Typically, a clamp ring comprises two half circle -like parts that are fastened to each other so that the structure , in which the clamp ring is fastened, is between the half circle -like parts . Then the two half circle -like parts are tightened against each other and the structure between the parts . The clamp ring may comprise flange-like sections that extend from the end or ends of each half circle -like parts , and the flange-like sections of the two parts are put against each other for tightening and fastening the parts together . For fastening the parts to each other, for example bolts , screws and / or nuts may be used .

[0047] Figure 6 shows one example of a clamp ring 8 and how it may be used for fastening the diagonal supports 7 to the vertical supports . The clamp ring 8 comprises two half circle -like parts that are fastened around the vertical support . The parts comprise flange-like extending sections , which are put against each other in parallel position, when the clamp ring 8 is fastened to the vertical support , i . e . around the vertical support . The two parts of the clamp ring 8 are fastened to each other by using bolts and nuts . The diagonal supports 7 are also fastened to the flangelike extending sections of the clamp rings 8 . The diagonal supports may be fastened to the clamp rings by bolts and nuts , or screws , or other suitable fastening means .

[0048] As shown in figure 6 , the diagonal supports may comprise tensioning means 10 for tensioning the diagonal support between two adj acent vertical supports . Tensioning means may comprise for example a turnbuckle , stretching screw, rigging screw or bottle screw . The tensioning means may be arranged at the end of the di agonal support that is fastened to the lower end of the vertical support . Optionally, the tensioning means are arranged at the end of the diagonal support that is fastened to the upper end of the vertical support . In the embodiment of figure 6 , the diagonal support 7 comprises a turnbuckle as tensioning means 10 , which is fastened to the clamp ring 8 by the one end . The other end is fastened to a wire which extends towards the adj acent vertical support .

[0049] The clamp ring 8 may comprise dampening ring 9 , which is arranged inside the clamp ring so that it will be pushed against the vertical support when the clamp ring is tightened and fastened to the vertical support , i . e . the dampening ring is between the clamp ring and the vertical support when the clamp ring is fastened . The dampening ring may be made of any elastic material . Figure 7 shows an embodiment, wherein the vertical supports 4 are adjustable. Adjustable vertical supports may be used for building the playing court on uneven surfaces so that the playing flooring may be adjusted to horizontal position. Adjustable vertical supports 4 comprises at least partly hollow upper part 14, and a lower part 15, that is arranged to move vertically partly inside the upper part 15 for adjusting the length of the vertical support. The lower end of the lower part 15 may comprise wider leg part 16 for providing more support area below the vertical support. In figure 7, the diagonal supports 7 are fastened to the vertical support 4 by a clamp ring 8 as in figure 6. The clamp ring is fastened to the vertical support 4 by bolts 13 and the diagonal supports 7 are fastened to clamp ring 8 by separate bolts.

[0050] The playing court may be made of modular components and by using the modular components the size and the shape of the court may be easily varied by fastening modules to each other. Each modular component comprises planar playing flooring, vertical supports, and diagonal supports between adjacent vertical supports. By using modules, the assembly of the court is much faster and easier, as the court may be pre-assembled before being brought to the assembly site. Also, the modules are easier to bring to the assembly site, as the size of the modules may be configured to match the transportation means, e.g. trucks, cars, etc. Although the invention has been the described in conj unction with a certain type of device , it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any certain type of device . While the present inventions have been described in connection with a number of exemplary embodiments , and implementations , the present inventions are not so limited, but rather cover various modifications , and equivalent arrangements , which fall within the purview of prospective claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A reconstructible playing court, comprising planar flooring (1) having- a top surface (2) and a bottom surface (3) , and- at least four side edges (Ila, 11b,...) , plurality of vertical supports (4) arranged underneath the planar flooring at a distance from each other, wherein each vertical support comprises an upper end (5) and a lower end (6) , and the vertical supports are fastened to the flooring by the upper ends, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that part of the vertical supports is arranged at proximity of two opposite side edges, and at least part of these vertical supports is supported to adjacent vertical supports with at least one diagonal support (7) , which diagonal support are fastened between the upper end of one vertical support and the lower end of the adjacent vertical support.

2. The reconstructible playing court according to claim 1, wherein the part of the vertical supports (4) , arranged at proximity of two opposite side edges, is fastened to adjacent vertical supports with two diagonal supports (7) so that one diagonal support extends from the upper end of the vertical support to the lower end of the adjacent vertical support, and another diagonal support extends from the lower end of the vertical support to the upper end of the adjacent vertical support.

3. The reconstructible playing court according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least part of the vertical supports (4) is arranged at proximity of each side edges (Ila, 11b,...) , and said vertical supports are supported to adjacent vertical supports with diagonal supports ( 7 ) .

4. The reconstructible playing court according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the diagonal supports (7) are at least partially made of wire.

5. The reconstructible playing court according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each diagonal support (7) comprises a loop so that each diagonal support is fastened to the upper end of the vertical support by the loop.

6. The reconstructible playing court according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein ring clamps (8) are fastened to at least part of the vertical supports (4) so that each ring clamp is fastened at proximity of the lower end of the vertical support.

7. The reconstructible playing court according to claim 6, wherein each clamp ring (8) is provided with a dampening ring (9) arranged between the clamp ring and the vertical support.

8. The reconstructible playing court according to claim 6, wherein each diagonal support (7) is fastened to one ring clamp (8) at the lower end of the vertical support .

9. The reconstructible playing court according any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein each diagonal support (7) is fastened to the upper end (5) of one vertical support by the loop, and to the ring clamp (8) at the lower end (6) of the adjacent vertical support.

10. The reconstructible playing court according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein two diagonal supports (7) are fastened to one vertical support (4) so that both diagonal supports are fastened to the upper endof the vertical support or to the lower end of the vertical support.

11. The reconstructible playing court according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each diagonal support (7) comprises tensioning device (10) for tensioning the diagonal support between adjacent vertical supports .

12. The reconstructible playing court according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the vertical supports (4) are adjustable in vertical direction for positioning the playing court on uneven surfaces.

13. The reconstructible playing court according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein playing court is made of modular components fastened to each other so that size of the playing court may be varied.

14. The reconstructible playing court according to claim 13, wherein each modular component comprises a planar surface, vertical supports, and diagonal supports .

15. The reconstructible playing court according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the planar flooring comprises horizontal supports fastened to the bottom surface, and the vertical supports are fastened to the horizontal supports.

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