CA1038129A - Playing surface - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Multiple plastic molded squares with means to interlock strips of the same so the entire surface expands and contracts during changes in temperature without creating distortion. The top surfaces are rough and under the top surface there a plurality of projections for supporting the playing surface raised from an underlying base surface.

Description

~038~'~'9 BACKGROUND OF THE I~VENTION
There has been a problem in recent years of providing improved floor surfaces for playing sports such as tennis J basket-ball~ street hockey, track, etc. The well-known ~ynthetic turf has been one solution but the present invention presents an advance in that interchangeable raised surfaces are provided, this surface being non-skid and in any size desired. It can be placed on any aub-surface desired and can also be used for floor mats, shower stalls, ~round pools and patios~ etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a playing surface formed in multiple three inch squares having a roughened upper surface which are generously apertured, and the surface areaa are provided with small raised projections 80 that the entire surface is non-skid.
Each block or strip of three inch squares is provided with means for interlocking with other similar blocks or strips and a complete playing floor can be put down (and taken up) rapidly covering any ;
size of surface desired. Along an edge of each block or strip there are provided loop interlocking devicea, and pins inter-locking at opposite sides thereof for interlocking with anotherblock or strip. An end square is provided with similar inter-locking means to interlock with another strip in extension thereof.
The playing surface is raised a fraction of an inch from the sub-surface and i8 formed with adequate downwardly projecting hollow and solid members to adequately support the playing surface in raised condition from the sub-surface.

~ -. ' ' ~0;~81,~.~9 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGUR~S
Figure 1 i~ a plan view showing two strip~ interlocking;
Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of one of the strips with parts broken away;
Figure~ 3 and 4 are ~ectional views on the respective lines on Figure 2 on enlarged scale;
Figure 5 i~ an end view looking along arrow 5 in Figure l;
Figure 6 is a detached view illustrating the pin and loop interlocking means; and Figure 7 is a view in edge elevation looking in the direction of arrow 7 in Figure 1.
PREFERRED EMBODLMENT OF THE INVENTION
In Figure 1 there are shown two strips of the new surface material which are interlocked, Each comprises four three inch squares 10 and 10'. Each square is molded in a perforated form as æhown with non-skid marks at the top surface thereof. In this illustration the apertures shown are square but may be of any shape al~o, of course~ the four squares in each strip may be oblong if desired, and of any numberO
Each square is provided with an interlocking loop indicated at 12, 12, and each loop is securely fastened by means of braces 14 integral with the re~pective square. The loops 12 are each provided with a slanted inwardly extended tooth 16 for cooperation with a cooperating snap interlocking pin to be describedO
At the end of each strip there is a similar loop and support-ing bracket 18-18 for the attachment of other strips in elongation, the loops 12 being adapted for attachment between the upper strip in Figure 1 and another strip and 80 on. The strip comprised of ~quarss 10' are also provided with snap loops such as those at 12

- 2 -lW~lZ9 for snap interlock with pins also to be described in square~ 10-10 but these have been omitted from Figure 1 for clarity of illustration 7 Each of the squares is substantially rigid but i9 attached by means of a flexible dependent U-shaped trip 20 so that the individual courses of strips can be slightly flexed relative to each other if this should become necessary during installation.
Referring now to Figure 2 the underlying construction will be seen, including loop 12, bracket 14 and interlocking snap over tooth 16. The loop 12 extends outwardly of the major confines of its respective square and at the oppoQite edge thereof there is a depending pin 22 which has an interlocking snap over tooth 24 as seen in Figure 3, and this is adapted to snap into the loop 12 of the next adjacent row of squares.
A series of open cylinders 26 are arranged on various cro~s bars such as 28 and here and there are placed solid pillars or columns 30-30. These act to support the plastic flooring in elevated position from the sub-surface in the areas not provided with loops 12 or pins 22 80 that a firm solid foundation is presented.
Referring now to Figure 4, this i8 a cross-section on line 4-4 of Figure 2 and shows a pin 32 having a snap over interlock 34 which is just the same as before described as to pin 22 and is for the purpose of accepting loop 18 of another stripO
Figure 6 illustrates how the squares or strips of squares are snapped together therebeing the snap over tooth 36 located in loop 18, and cooperating snap over tooth 38 on pin 40, which i~
the same as pins 22 and 32~ It is merely necessary to snap the parts together, tooth 38 passing tooth 36 to rigidly hold the parts in a similar relation.

Claims (4)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A supplementary surface construction comprising a series of rectangular plastic molded one piece strips, a plurality of apertures in each strip, outstanding interlocking loops integral with each strip arranged along the long side edge thereof, each loop containing a straight edge snap over tooth, outstanding free-ended projections at the two opposite edges from said loops, each projection including a straight side snap over tooth complementary to and for cooperation with the teeth in the loops of the next succeeding strip, and an interlocking snap over loop integral with said strip at one end thereof for interlocking engagement with a projection on an extending strip, a plurality of supporting pins depending from the lower portion of said surface construction to support the same in elevated condition on a supporting floor or ground surface, said loops extending upwardly from the supporting floor only partially to the top surface of the construction and the pro-jections extending substantially the full height of the construc-tion, the loops extending outwardly laterally of the construction, the projections lying wholly within the area of the construction, each of said plastic one-piece molded strips comprising a plurality of generally rigid pieces serially connected in said strip, and flexible means for interconnecting adjacent of said generally rigid pieces in said strip and providing flexibility to said strip.

2. The supplementary surface construction of claim 1 wherein certain of the supporting pins are free-ended cylinders.

3. The supplementary surface construction of claim 2 wherein the cylinders are hollow.

4. The supplementary surface construction of claim 1 wherein certain of the supporting pins are solid free-ended pillars.