Field of the invention
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The present invention relates to a new type of modular platform for the installation of a paddle tennis court, which consists of a temporary location solution and which has the advantage of eliminating the need to carry out civil works on the natural terrain and provides a court with the same characteristics of bounce, playability and technical performance as a fixed court.
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This invention falls within the industrial sector related to the construction of sports facilities, and in particular in the field of paddle tennis courts and other surfaces that require a flat, stable and resistant base for the operation thereof.
State of the art
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For the construction of a paddle tennis court, it is currently compulsory to fix the metal structure and the enclosure walls on a strong base. This condition implies the need to execute a previous foundation, thus constituting a civil works intervention that entails various technical, logistical and economic complications, which are detailed below:
Requirements for access and use of specialised machinery: Foundation implementation requires the access of heavy machinery to the site of the installation, both for excavation work and for the pouring of structural concrete. This considerably limits the viable locations for installing the court, especially in urban environments, areas of difficult access or spaces with load restrictions.
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High implementation cost: The foundation process involves a significant cost, both in terms of the use of specific materials and the need for skilled labour. This factor can seriously compromise the economic viability of the project, especially in temporary, recreational or private facilities.
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Restrictions for temporary installations: The need for permanent civil works drastically reduces the possibility of using the paddle tennis courts for temporary or seasonal purposes. Once the foundation has been laid, the space is affected indefinitely for that specific use, eliminating its versatility and reuse.
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Increased implementation times: Structural intervention requires additional time associated with concrete setting and curing, which has a direct impact on the overall duration of the project and negatively affects the overall planning of the installation.
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Faced with these problems and limitations, alternative technical solutions have been developed, such as elevated metal platforms, which are designed to avoid prolonged interventions on the terrain. Two main types of flooring have been used on said platforms:
Double-layer phenolic board: This material is highly resistant to adverse weather conditions and has a remarkable durability. In addition, it allows a reduction in costs compared to other constructive solutions. However, its main drawback lies in the loss of quality in playability: the behaviour of the ball bounce on this type of surface differs notably from that obtained on conventional rigid surfaces (concrete, asphalt or glass), which has prevented its consolidation in the professional and competitive market.
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Ceramic tiles: This type of flooring, which is more rigid than phenolic board, also performs well in the face of the weather. Nevertheless, their use entails additional logistical complications, due to their smaller format and greater thickness, which makes assembly work more difficult and lengthy. While playability is improved compared to the previous solution, it does not reach the level of responsiveness required to faithfully replicate conventional court conditions.
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These problems and limitations highlight the need for solutions that allow the installation of paddle courts with the same characteristics of bounce, playability and technical performance as a traditional fixed court, eliminating the need for intervention on the ground, significantly reducing implementation times and associated costs, and providing the system with greater operational flexibility.
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The present invention solves these problems and limitations by developing a modular platform the base or flooring of which is formed by a heat-strengthened glass flooring.
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This material offers exceptional mechanical behaviour, providing a response to the bounce of the ball similar for playing purposes to that obtained on conventional rigid surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. This ensures a professional and consistent playing experience without sacrificing the portability and versatility of the system.
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In addition, the transparency and strength of the heat-strengthened glass allows a lower lighting system to be integrated, capable of projecting light from the base onto the playing surface. This feature not only improves the visibility and aesthetics of the terrain, but also allows for use under low light conditions or nighttime environments without the need for conventional lighting structures. The light passes through both the glass and the artificial grass covering the same, achieving a uniform, functional and visually attractive lighting.
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In addition, the modular, demountable and transportable nature of the system allows same to be installed quickly and without permanent impact on the terrain, making it an ideal solution for touring events, temporary locations, sheltered spaces or unprepared terrains.
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The applicant is not aware of any type of paddle tennis court platform that is similar to or as advantageous as the one described and claimed below. This platform not only solves the logistical and constructive challenges associated with the installation of paddle tennis courts on unconditioned terrain, but also introduces key technical advances in terms of the quality of the playing surface and the integration of innovative lighting systems, significantly improving the standard of this type of sports facility.
Description of the invention
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The invention consists of a platform raised above the terrain for the practice of paddle tennis formed from assemblable structural modules, which form a robust and levelled platform, and which is characterised in that the flooring or playing surface is formed from the assembly of a plurality of heat-strengthened glass modules. This platform is designed to support both the dynamic loads of the game and the weight of the players, and also incorporates the necessary elements for the regulatory assembly of the court: enclosures, posts, lighting systems and other accessories.
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Going into greater detail, the invention consists of a modular elevated platform that has been specifically calculated for a wind load of up to 115 km/h and has been designed with a glass flooring that allows light to pass through the lower portion of the playing area, while allowing the bounce of the ball to be equated with other rigid elements such as concrete and asphalt. In this sense, the platform is designed to support the installation of a competition paddle tennis court, integrating a 2.00 metre wide perimeter corridor that facilitates both the assembly tasks and the access and maintenance of the installation. The dimensions of the platform can be modified to suit other sports or activities that require a flat, raised surface. In terms of configuration, the platform comprises:
A bearing structure.
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The bearing structure is made up of a framework of modular metal frames, where these frames are grids, having dimensions comprised between 500 x 500 mm and 1000 x 1000 m, which are assembled together by means of bolted joints, using zinc-plated M10 screws in each joint between frames. In a preferred embodiment, the grids are 500 x 500 mm, and the screws are arranged every 0.50 linear metres at each joint between frames.
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This structure consists of the following structural steel sections (S275 JR quality):
- UPN 100 profiles: They form the perimeter frame of each of the platform modules.
- RHS 100x40x2 mm profiles: Arranged in the form of a main framework with a separation of 1 metre between axes, generating 1x1 m grids for load distribution.
- RHS 40x40x2 mm profiles: Arranged as secondary framework, sandwiched in the main structure, to reduce the spacing between supports to 0.50 m, thus ensuring adequate load distribution and surface stiffness.
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The horizontal base comprises a plurality of supporting pillars for supporting on the ground, where these pillars are supports or pieces (generally known by the term "plots"), which are height-adjustable and made of plastic material, preferably PVC, which, being height-adjustable, make it possible to overcome the irregularities of the terrain without the need for prior excavation or foundations, and where these supports are arranged at the nodes generated in the framework of frames.
A flooring
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The playground flooring is arranged on the bearing structure. This flooring is characterised, compared to any other known flooring, in that it is formed from the assembly of 8+8 mm colourless heat-strengthened sheet glass modules.
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Specifically, each glass piece or module has a rectangular configuration, with dimensions between 500 x 1000 mm and 1250 x 2500 mm, preferably 1000 x 2000 mm, which makes them highly manageable with a considerable weight for assembly.
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The flooring additionally includes rubber buffers. The glass is placed on these buffers, preferably in the form of support tears that are made of NR-SBR rubber with adhesion on both sides, which act as shock-absorbing and anti-slip elements. These are preferably installed every 500 mm in all directions to ensure that the flooring settles on the bearing structure.
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The flooring additionally comprises inert polymer sealing joints between glass modules, such as polyurethane filler, which allows the playing surface to withstand the weather without reacting and to avoid relative movements therebetween, guaranteeing surface continuity.
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In this sense, the glass pieces or modules have been calculated with the premise of an overload of use of approximately 500 kg over the entire surface thereof and leaving the piece supported on a grid of 1,000 x 1,150 mm, obtaining minimum deformations therein (5.98 mm of maximum deflection in its most unfavourable portion). For this reason, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the parts are 1000 x 2000 mm and the metal bearing structure are grids of 500 x 500 mm, thus reducing the free span that the parts have to support and minimising the expected date. This solution thus avoids deformation, achieving a rigid flooring that does not interfere with the practice of sport.
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This glass flooring can optionally be extended to the perimeter play areas if greater aesthetic or functional uniformity is desired.
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In this sense, these glass pieces have been calculated with the premise of an overload of use of approximately 500 kg over their entire surface and leaving the piece supported on a grid of 1,000 x 1,150 mm, obtaining minimum deformations therein (5.98 mm of maximum deflection in its most unfavourable part). For this reason, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the parts are 1000 x 2000 mm and the metal bearing structure are grids of 500 x 500 mm, thus reducing the free span that the parts have to support and minimising the expected date.
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This flooring is designed to withstand an overload of use of 5 kN/m2 (approximately 500 kg/m2), guaranteeing its structural safety for sports use.
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This system thus avoids deformation, achieving a rigid flooring that does not interfere with the practice of sport.
A playing surface
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The platform comprises a lamellar playing surface, preferably an artificial turf, which is laid on the flooring with the plurality of glass modules. This lamellar surface is not a special feature, as the surface of all paddle tennis courts consists of artificial turf. However, the invention is characterised, compared to any other known invention, in that the glass surface is covered with the regulatory artificial turf for playing paddle tennis.
Lighting systems
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The platform object of the present invention, allows the incorporation of LED light fixtures in the lower portion of the glass, generating zenithal lighting from the existing ground through this glass to the playing field giving a unique aspect of lighting in the market, allowing in turn the perfect playability and bounce of the ball.
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This illumination, which is not possible with any type of platform known in the state of the art, also enables the projection of logos, drawings or personalised graphic elements on the playing surface, improving the aesthetic and functional value thereof.
Enclosures of the court
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In the perimeter area of the flooring, there are the different conventional elements for the enclosure of the court, i.e. screens and vertical fences comprising posts, poles, lighting and other accessories. For the fixing of this enclosure, the invention comprises a plurality of anchor plates arranged on the glass modules and integrated in the perimeter of the flooring, which allow the direct assembly of the pillars and structural elements that make up the enclosure of the court.
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In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the overall dimensions of the playing area flooring are 14.00 x 24.00 metres, allowing a free perimeter of 2.00 metres around a standard paddle tennis court playing surface (10 x 20 m), in order to facilitate access, maintenance and safety. However, the design is modular and scalable, allowing the dimensions to be adapted for multi-court facilities or for other sporting uses requiring flat, stable and elevated terrain.
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As for the assembly and mounting of the platform, the first step is the onsite assembly of the bearing structure, i.e. the assembly of the framework of modular metal frames with bolted joints, allowing a quick assembly without the need for specialised machinery, just as the height of the different supporting pillars for supporting on the ground can be adjusted so that it is levelled.
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Once the bearing structure has been mounted and levelled, the playing area flooring is mounted on top, i.e. the NR-SBR rubber buffers are installed and then the heat-strengthened glass panels are placed and sealed, ensuring a continuous, strong surface with the required mechanical properties for sports use.
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Once the playing surface has been installed, both the playing surface and the bearing structure can be treated against corrosion according to the environmental conditions at the installation site. In case of aggressive or high humidity environments, e.g. coastal areas, a specific treatment for category C5 environments may be applied, in accordance with corrosion protection regulations.
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Once the playing surface has been mounted, the regulatory artificial turf playing surface is arranged on top of the same.
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In addition, all the conventional paddle tennis court enclosure elements are mounted on the playing area flooring by attaching the same to anchor plates integrated into the perimeter of the flooring. This integration facilitates a clean, fast and precise installation, without the need for additional attachments on the terrain.
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Taking into account the previous aspects, the modular platform of the present invention is an advanced technical solution that provides substantial advantages from the constructive, economic, operational and sporting points of view with respect to traditional systems and methods of installation, offering a highly efficient, sustainable and adaptable alternative to different environments.
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As previously indicated, it has the advantage of completely eliminating the civil works that are traditionally required for the structural attachment of sports courts. Furthermore, the modular and reversible nature of the invention provides an operational versatility not possible with any other known solution, since it allows adaptation for temporary uses, which is ideal for locations such as car parks, public squares, fairgrounds or ephemeral sports facilities, where the use of the space is not permanent or is shared with other activities; and it provides reversibility without affecting the land, i.e. once the intended use is finished, the platform can be completely dismantled without leaving traces, waste or the need for rehabilitation of the original terrain. Additionally, from an industrial and operational perspective, the solution presents a highly optimised structural design, given that it allows manufacturing in a controlled and standardised workshop environment, under controlled conditions that guarantee precision, uniformity and compliance with the highest quality standards; it improves logistics and assembly; and, above all, it allows playing conditions to be equivalent to those of a fixed-flooring court.
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In terms of playability, the invention has the advantage that the heat-strengthened glass flooring allows for high performance. This surface provides a ball bounce comparable to that of traditional concrete or asphalt courts, with a uniform and predictable response throughout, promoting sporting performance, safety and player comfort. In this sense, the playing surface has been tested with a playground playing surface with 8+8 mm glass modules, with 12 mm thick double-layer phenolic boards, and a plurality of 12 mm thick ceramic tiles. The report is number 14732/3701 by Sport Labs Ltd dated 13/11/2025, the results can be seen in Table 1. It has been tested in accordance with UNE147301:2018 for the analysis of artificial turf surfaces on paddle tennis courts and, specifically, in accordance with EN12235:2013 for paddle tennis ball bounce analysis.
Table 1 | EN12235:2013 | Glass | Board | Tiles | Required |
| dry test | 92% | 82% | 84 | >80 % |
| wet test | 87% | 76% | 80 |
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As can be seen, the glass surface obtained complies both dry and wet with the requirements of EN12235:2013, with a dry bounce above 90 % which is similar to those obtained on fixed-surface courts, and both wet and dry improves the results with respect to phenolic boards and ceramic tiles.
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In addition, the possibility of integrating lighting under the glass flooring, i.e. upward lighting, is an innovation of great added value is the incorporation of an LED lighting system installed under the glass surface. This system projects light upwards through the structural glass and artificial turf, generating uniform illumination over the playing area.
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Throughout the description and claims, the term "comprises" and its variants are not intended to exclude other technical features or additional elements.
Brief description of the figures
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In order to complete the description and to help make the features of the invention more readily understandable, a set of figures and drawings is presented wherein the following is represented by way of illustration and not limitation:
- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the modular paddle tennis court platform with all the court elements assembled.
- Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the modular platform showing the playground flooring mounted on the bearing structure.
- Figure 3 shows a detail view of the above figure.
- Figure 4 shows an image of the playground flooring mounted on the upright structure.
- Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the main elements of the platform which is the subject of the present invention.
Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention
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In view of the aforementioned drawings, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention can be observed therein, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.
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One embodiment of the modular paddle tennis court platform of the present invention comprises:
- a bearing structure consisting of a framework of modular metal frames (1) formed by profiles that are assembled together, preferably by means of bolted joints, and a plurality of supporting pillars (2) for supporting on the ground, preferably arranged in the nodes formed in the framework, where these pillars are height-adjustable supports, commonly known as plots;
- a flooring, which is arranged on the bearing structure; where the flooring is characterised in that it comprises
- rubber buffers (3), preferably of the NR-SBR rubber type with adhesion on both sides, buffers which are placed on the profiles of the metal frames (1);
- a plurality of heat-strengthened sheet glass modules (4) arranged contiguously, wherein the heat-strengthened sheet glass is preferably of the 8+8 mm colourless type; wherein the modules are seated on the rubber buffers (3);
- inert polymer sealing joints (5) which are arranged between the glass modules (4); and
- may comprise LED light fixtures (6) arranged in the lower portion of the glass modules (4) for upward illumination;
- a playing surface (7), which is a lamellar surface preferably made of artificial turf, which is arranged over the glass modules (4); and
- court enclosure elements, such as screens (8) or lighting poles (9), which are mounted on the glass modules (4) by means of a plurality of anchor plates (10) on the perimeter of the flooring.
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In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the glass modules (4) are 1000 x 2000 mm sized; the metal frames (1) are 500 x 500 mm grids; and the rubber buffers (3) are arranged on the profiles of the metal frames (1) every 500 mm in all directions, so as to create a playing area flooring having dimensions of 14.00 x 24.00 metres, allowing a free perimeter of 2.00 metres around a playing surface (7) of artificial turf having dimensions of 10.00 x 20.00 metres.