GB2046325A

GB2046325A - Foldable squash court

Info

Publication number: GB2046325A
Application number: GB8000783A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LESUREC Ltd
Current assignee: LESUREC Ltd
Priority date: 1979-01-10
Filing date: 1980-01-10
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: GB2046325B

Abstract

A foldable squash court has one side wall 40 and a back wall 50 made of a number of hinged panels which may be folded substantially flat against the fixed front wall 10 and fixed other side wall 11. The building also incorporates corner posts 31, 32, 61; removable stays 60 and, if desired, ball guards 80. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foldable squash court This invention relates to apparatus for constructing a foldable squash court.

Conventional squash courts are specifically designed and constructed and are generally of a permanent nature. In view of the dimensions and requirements of a squash court, viz. the front, side and back wails, the space taken up by the squash courts can normally only be used for playing squash alone. This may prohibit a sports hall from being used to its full potential.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost foldable squash court system, designed for each installation into existing sports halls without the necessity of any major structural alternations.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for constructing a foldable squash court, comprising a front wall post fixable at one end of a front wall of the squash court on which there is fixed one end of a movable side wall of the squash court; a side wall post fixable to one end of a fixed side wall of the squash court, diagonally opposite said one end of the front wall, and on which there is fixed one end of a back wall of the squash court; and a corner post for attachment to the other ends of said movable side wall and to said back wall; wherein said movable side wall and said back wall are formed of a plurality of suitably shaped panels.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a squash court constructed with apparatus according to this invention and in the in-use position; and Figure 2 is a top plan view of the squash court of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, apparatus for constructing a squash court is illustrated assembled against existing walls 10, 11 of, for example, a general purpose sports hall. Part of the wall 10 forms a fixed front wall 20 of the squash court, and part of the wall 11 forms a fixed side wall 21 of the squash court.

A front wall post 31 is fixed on the wall 10 spaced from the corner 100 of walls 10 and 11 by a distance which is equal to the desired width of the squash court. To the front wall post 31 there is hinged a movable side wall 40, made up of a plurality of panels 41 fixed together bolting or similar. The width of the panels is such as to allow easy handling and replacement in the event of damage and, conveniently, adjacent pairs may be connected by hinges 42 to allow folding of the side wall. To permit folding of the movable side wall, in the non-playing position, the movable side wall is foldable at a point along its length from the front wall post 31 which is equal to the width of the front wall 20. In this way the movable side wall 40 may be folded against the front wall 20 and along part of the fixed side wall 21 as illustrated in Figure 2.

In a similar manner, a side wall post 32 is fixed on the wall 11 spaced from the corner 100 by a distance which is equal to the desired length of the squash court. To the side wall post 32 there is hinged a movable back-wall 50, made up of a plurality of panels 51 fixed together by bolting or similar. The width of the panels 51 is such to allow easy handling and replacement in the event of damage, and conveniently some of the panels may be connected by hinges 52. One of the panels 51 is provided with a door 53 to allow access to the court when in the in-use position. Thus, the movable backwall 50 may be folded against the fixed side wall 21 as illustrated in Figure 2.

The other ends of the movable walls 40 and 50 are attached to a corner post 61 thus to form a rigid structure.

The panels 41 and 51 may represent the actual court dimensions and additional guards 80 provided to retain the ball within the playing space. Alternatively, the panels may all be of the same size and the out of court lines marked thereon.

Each of the panels is retained either in the out-of-use position or in the playing position by means of drop bolts which locate in appropriate sockets at suitable points along the base of the fixed front and side walls and at suitable points on the floor area. A number of removable stays 60 support the movable walls in the playing position. The stays 60 are fixed to the walls 40 and 50 and to the floor by wing headed bolts.

The squash court is prepared for use in the following manner: In the out-of-use condition, the movable walls occupy the position shown in dashes in Figure 2. The drop bolts retaining the movable side wall 40 in this position are lifted and the panels are rolled out until the movable side wall 40 is positioned for playing as each portion is in the playing position the drop bolt is lowered and appropriate stay 60 is fitted. A similar procedure is carried out for the back wall and thereafter the corner post 61 is located and the wing head bolts are tightened securing the movable back wall 50 to the movable side wall 40.

Finally all the bolts for the stays 60 are tightened and the court is ready for use.

Improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a mirror image ofthe apparatus described would be necessary for left hand corners. The apparatus of the invention provides a low cost squash court designed for easy installation into existing sports halls without the necessity of any major structural alternations. Constructed in panels, the court can be easily maintained where damaged and if necessary dismantled and removed without the necessity of any specialist equipment.

1. Apparatus for constructing a foldable squash court, comprising a front wall post fixable at one end of a front wall of the squash court on which there is fixed one end of a movable side wall of the squash court; a side wall post fixable to one end of a fixed side wall of the squash court, diagonally opposite said one end of the front wall, and on which there is

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Foldable squash court This invention relates to apparatus for constructing a foldable squash court. Conventional squash courts are specifically designed and constructed and are generally of a permanent nature. In view of the dimensions and requirements of a squash court, viz. the front, side and back wails, the space taken up by the squash courts can normally only be used for playing squash alone. This may prohibit a sports hall from being used to its full potential. It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost foldable squash court system, designed for each installation into existing sports halls without the necessity of any major structural alternations. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for constructing a foldable squash court, comprising a front wall post fixable at one end of a front wall of the squash court on which there is fixed one end of a movable side wall of the squash court; a side wall post fixable to one end of a fixed side wall of the squash court, diagonally opposite said one end of the front wall, and on which there is fixed one end of a back wall of the squash court; and a corner post for attachment to the other ends of said movable side wall and to said back wall; wherein said movable side wall and said back wall are formed of a plurality of suitably shaped panels. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a squash court constructed with apparatus according to this invention and in the in-use position; and Figure 2 is a top plan view of the squash court of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, apparatus for constructing a squash court is illustrated assembled against existing walls 10, 11 of, for example, a general purpose sports hall. Part of the wall 10 forms a fixed front wall 20 of the squash court, and part of the wall 11 forms a fixed side wall 21 of the squash court. A front wall post 31 is fixed on the wall 10 spaced from the corner 100 of walls 10 and 11 by a distance which is equal to the desired width of the squash court. To the front wall post 31 there is hinged a movable side wall 40, made up of a plurality of panels 41 fixed together bolting or similar. The width of the panels is such as to allow easy handling and replacement in the event of damage and, conveniently, adjacent pairs may be connected by hinges 42 to allow folding of the side wall. To permit folding of the movable side wall, in the non-playing position, the movable side wall is foldable at a point along its length from the front wall post 31 which is equal to the width of the front wall 20. In this way the movable side wall 40 may be folded against the front wall 20 and along part of the fixed side wall 21 as illustrated in Figure 2. In a similar manner, a side wall post 32 is fixed on the wall 11 spaced from the corner 100 by a distance which is equal to the desired length of the squash court. To the side wall post 32 there is hinged a movable back-wall 50, made up of a plurality of panels 51 fixed together by bolting or similar. The width of the panels 51 is such to allow easy handling and replacement in the event of damage, and conveniently some of the panels may be connected by hinges 52. One of the panels 51 is provided with a door 53 to allow access to the court when in the in-use position. Thus, the movable backwall 50 may be folded against the fixed side wall 21 as illustrated in Figure 2. The other ends of the movable walls 40 and 50 are attached to a corner post 61 thus to form a rigid structure. The panels 41 and 51 may represent the actual court dimensions and additional guards 80 provided to retain the ball within the playing space. Alternatively, the panels may all be of the same size and the out of court lines marked thereon. Each of the panels is retained either in the out-of-use position or in the playing position by means of drop bolts which locate in appropriate sockets at suitable points along the base of the fixed front and side walls and at suitable points on the floor area. A number of removable stays 60 support the movable walls in the playing position. The stays 60 are fixed to the walls 40 and 50 and to the floor by wing headed bolts. The squash court is prepared for use in the following manner: In the out-of-use condition, the movable walls occupy the position shown in dashes in Figure 2. The drop bolts retaining the movable side wall 40 in this position are lifted and the panels are rolled out until the movable side wall 40 is positioned for playing as each portion is in the playing position the drop bolt is lowered and appropriate stay 60 is fitted. A similar procedure is carried out for the back wall and thereafter the corner post 61 is located and the wing head bolts are tightened securing the movable back wall 50 to the movable side wall 40. Finally all the bolts for the stays 60 are tightened and the court is ready for use. Improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a mirror image ofthe apparatus described would be necessary for left hand corners. The apparatus of the invention provides a low cost squash court designed for easy installation into existing sports halls without the necessity of any major structural alternations. Constructed in panels, the court can be easily maintained where damaged and if necessary dismantled and removed without the necessity of any specialist equipment. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for constructing a foldable squash court, comprising a front wall post fixable at one end of a front wall of the squash court on which there is fixed one end of a movable side wall of the squash court; a side wall post fixable to one end of a fixed side wall of the squash court, diagonally opposite said one end of the front wall, and on which there is fixed one end of a back wall of the squash court; and a corner post for attachment to the other ends of said movable side wall and to said back wall; wherein said movable side wall and said back are formed of a plurality of suitably shaped panels.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the panels are hinged together.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the movable side and back walls are hinged to the front wall post and end wall post respectively.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said movable side wall is foldable at a point along its length from the front wall post which is equal to the width of the front wall of the squash court.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the panels are located in either the in-use position or out-of-use position by drop bolts.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims and including removable stays for supporting the panels.

7. Apparatus for constructing a foldable squash court substantially as hereinbefore described with theference to the accompanying drawings.