US20140038752A1

US20140038752A1 - Concrete sport court with embedded heating

Info

Publication number: US20140038752A1
Application number: US13/563,090
Authority: US
Inventors: Jean A. Kempner, JR.
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-31
Filing date: 2012-07-31
Publication date: 2014-02-06

Abstract

A sport court that is configured for platform tennis includes a concrete slab. A heating element may be disposed within the slab that is configured to heat the slab in order to melt snow and evaporate water on a top surface of the slab. Melted snow and other water, such as from rain, may drain from the top surface. The slab may be made of a permeable material that includes pores. The water on the top surface may drain from the top surface, through pores in the permeable slab, to a bottom surface of the slab, where the water exits to a drainage area below the slab.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to sport courts, and more particularly to sport courts configurable for platform tennis that are made of an aggregate material having an embedded heating system.

BACKGROUND

Platform tennis is a racquet sport that is typically played outdoors. Players may play platform tennis in various weather conditions, including those that are considered generally harsh or unfavorable for racquet sports, such as cold, rainy, and/or snowy weather conditions. Platform tennis courts are surrounded by walls made of a fencing material that allows players to play shots off the walls. To play platform tennis, players use a paddle typically having aerodynamic holes disposed in the head of the paddle. Because platform tennis players use a paddle, platform tennis is sometimes referred to as paddle tennis.
The playing surface of conventional platform tennis courts is typically elevated above ground level. Additionally, that surface is made of aluminum planks that are positioned slightly apart from each other. The separations between the aluminum planks provide areas for water to drain below the court. A heating system, which may include high British thermal unit (“btu”) gas construction heaters, is positioned underneath the elevated playing surface and is configured to heat the aluminum planks. By heating the planks, snow accumulating thereon may melt, and the melted snow (i.e., water) may then pass through the separations and fall below the playing surface. In this way, the heating system may allow platform tennis to be played in snowy conditions.
Though conventional platform tennis courts have operated reasonably well, they are subject to various drawbacks and deficiencies. For example, the heating systems used in conventional courts tend to be relatively costly and operationally inefficient. Additionally, the conventional heating systems often fail to evenly dry the courts. To reduce the effects of uneven drying, the aluminum planks in conventional courts typically include aluminum oxide grit particles, which also serve as an anti-skid component to the surface. Although the grit particles reduce skidding, they also make the surface sharp and abrasive. The sharp and abrasive nature of the surface may increase the likelihood of injury due to the unnatural and detrimental stresses that are placed on the player's body, as well as cuts to hands and knees in the event a player should fall.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an improved sport court configurable for platform tennis which addresses these deficiencies. In particular, the improved sport court preferably includes a concrete aggregate slab and a heating element that is disposed within the slab. The heating element is configured to provide heat to the slab to melt snow on a top surface of the slab.
Additionally, the present disclosure describes a sport court that includes a slab having a top surface that is exposed to an outdoor environment and configured for platform tennis. The slab is made of a permeable material having a plurality of pores that is configured to channel water on the top surface through the slab and to a bottom surface of the slab where the water exits the slab and moves to a drainage area located directly below the slab.
Further, the present disclosure describes a system that melts snow on top of a sport court that is configured for platform tennis. The system includes a slab made of a concrete aggregate. The system also includes a radiant heating system that includes a heating element disposed within the slab. The heating element is configured to transfer heat to the slab to melt snow on a top surface of the slab. The radiant heating system also includes a heating supply coupled to the heating element. The heating supply is configured to supply energy to the heating element to heat the slab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The improved sport court summarized above is shown in the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary sport court that includes a slab;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the sport court shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of an alternative sport court to the sport court shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an exemplary sport court, illustrating heating elements disposed within a slab of the sport court.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of an exemplary sport court that is configured and/or configurable for multiple platform tennis courts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes a sport court having a concrete aggregate slab that is configured or configurable for at least one sport, game, activity, or event. The slab may be configured in an unelevated or unseparated position from the ground or another structure disposed in between the ground and the slab. A heating element may be disposed within the slab. When water, such as rain water or melted snow, comes into contact with a surface of the permeable slab, the heating element may heat the slab, including the surface, which may melt the snow and/or evaporate at least some of the water.
The slab may drain, dry and/or remove the water from its surface more evenly and/or more comprehensively than conventional sport courts and/or platform tennis courts that use aluminum planks. In some embodiments, the slab may be made of a permeable material, and water on the top surface may move through pores in the permeable slab and exit from the slab to the ground below. In other embodiments, the slab may be made of an impermeable material. In these other embodiments, the slab may be pitched, and the water may drain to a side of the impermeable or impervious slab.
Additionally, the slab may be made of a coarse material and therefore may not need an additional anti-skid component, such as aluminum oxide grit particles. Without the additional anti-skid component, the surface of the slab may be less sharp and/or abrasive, which may be safer and/or more desirable for the player.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown exemplary sport court 100 that includes a slab 102 that may configured and/or configurable for at least one sport, game, activity, or event. One of the sports may be platform tennis. The sport court 100 and/or the slab 102 may also be configured and/or configurable for other sports, game, activities, or events. These may include basketball, tennis (e.g., tennis for regulation-sized courts or tennis for junior tennis players playing on reduced-sized tennis courts), dodge ball, barbeques, and/or cocktail parties. Other sports, games, activities, and/or events may be included.
The slab 102 may be a planar or substantially planar structure. The slab 102 may include a top surface 104, which may be a planar surface on which the sports, games, activities, and/or events may be played, performed, or undertaken. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the slab 102 may include a bottom surface that opposes the top surface 104 and that faces the ground. Herein, the terms “top” and “bottom” are used to describe the relative position of the planar surfaces of the slab 102. The top surface 104 may be referred to as the planar surface that faces the sky, faces away from the ground, and/or is the surface on which the sport, game, activity, and/or event may be played, performed, or undertaken. The bottom surface may be referred to as the surface that faces and/or contacts the ground. However, the terms “top” and “bottom” should not be construed as limiting the relative positioning of the slab and/or the planar surfaces of the slab since the slab, particularly before being finally positioned in the ground, may be in other orientations such that the opposing planar surfaces may not be “top” and “bottom” surfaces.
When the sport court 100 is configured for platform tennis, the slab 102 may be about sixty feet in length and about 30 feet in width, although other dimensions may be used. In addition, the top surface 104 may include lines or markings in accordance with the rules of platform tennis. Lines or markings for other sports, games, or activities may also be included on the top surface 104. The lines or markings may be made by applying a multi-color tint or die, such as an acrylic, to the top surface 104. The tint may be applied in various ways known to those skilled in the art, such as by using a power sprayer. Additionally, the tint may attach and/or adhere to the slab 102 without affecting or substantially affecting drainage characteristics, such as permeable and/or pervious characteristics of the slab 102.
In addition, a pair of net posts 105 a, 105 b may be mounted to and extend upwardly from the top surface 104 into the slab 102. A net 107 may have opposing ends that are each attached to and/or configured to hang from the net posts 105 a, 105 b. The net 107 may extend from one net post 105 a to the other net post 105 b. In some exemplary configurations, the net posts 105 a, 105 b may be removably mountable to the slab 102 in a manner, and by means, well known in the art. Where the net posts 105 a, 105 b are removably mountable, after the net posts 105 a, 105 b are inserted into and/or mounted to the slab 102, the net posts may 105 a, 105 b be removed and/or detached from the slab 102. When the net posts 105 a, 105 b are secured and/or mounted to the slab, the sport court 100 and/or the slab 102 may be configured for platform tennis. Alternatively, when the net posts 105 a, 105 b are removed from the slab 102, the sport court 100 and/or the slab 102 may be configured and/or configurable for another sport, game, activity, or event. As an example, after the net posts 105 a, 105 b are removed, the sport court 100 and/or the slab 102 may be configured for basketball.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the slab 102 of the sport court 100 may be made of concrete or a concrete aggregate material. The thickness of the slab 102 may preferably be in a range of about two inches to eight inches, although other thicknesses may be used. The sport court 100 may include at least one heating element 216 disposed and/or embedded within the slab 102. For example, the heating element 216 may be disposed in the slab 102 between a top surface 204 and a bottom surface 206. The heating element 216 may be configured to supply, transfer, and/or provide the slab 102 with a sufficient amount of energy, such as heat, to melt snow 211 and/or evaporate water that has accumulated on the top surface 204 of the slab 102.
Additionally, the heating element 216 may be part of a heating system, such as a radiant heating system. In one exemplary configuration, the heating element 216 may include multiple interconnected sub-elements in which each sub-element is positioned adjacent to at least one of the other sub-elements. Additionally, each sub-element may include at least a portion that is spaced apart from an adjacent sub-element by a predetermined distance, which may be the same or different for the different sub-elements. The spacing or spacings between adjacent sub-elements may be determined and/or based on a pattern in which the heating element 216 and/or the sub-elements of the heating element 216 are disposed within the slab 102, the size of the slab 102, and/or a desired heating pattern or heating dispersion throughout the slab, all of which is within the ordinary skill of an artisan working in the art.
In one exemplary configuration, the heating element 216 may include an elongate hollow or tubular element, such as tubing or piping, including hydronic piping, that is configured to receive, move, and/or circulate a heated fluid, such as a liquid mixture of water and glycol. In some examples, the fluid may be heated to a temperature of about 160 degrees Fahrenheit, although other temperatures may be used. The piping may be made of a conductive material, such as copper. Alternatively, the piping may be crosslinked polyethylene, or PEX, piping. Other types of piping may be used. The piping is of a predetermined thickness, preferably between five-eighths and three-quarters of an inch.
In an alternative configuration, the heating element 216 may be an electric cable that is configured to conduct electricity to heat the slab 102. The electric cable may include an electrically conductive wire, such as a copper wire, that is encased with a protective and/or insulated coating. As is well known in the art, the protective material coating may protect and/or insulate the cable from moisture or other environmental conditions without preventing heat being transferred to heat the slab 102 to a sufficient temperature. Heat may be generated by the electricity or electric current flowing through the cable, which may transfer through the protective coating to heat the slab 102. The amount of electric current flowing through the cable may be determined and/or selected so that an amount of heat in a range of about 150 to 250 British thermal units (Btus) is generated. In one example, the amount of current may be about 834 amps, and a voltage of 240 volts may be used to generate the 834 amps.
As shown in FIG. 2, the slab 102 may be configured in an unelevated position from a drainage area 212, which may include an excavate 214 and/or ground 216. For example, the slab 102 may be disposed or positioned on the drainage area 212, such that the bottom surface 206 is in direct contact or substantially in direct contact with the drainage area 212. By being unelevated from and/or in direct contact with the drainage area 212, there may not be a gap or spacing between the bottom surface 206 and the drainage area 212. In the configuration of the sport court 100, the gap or spacing may not be needed because the heating element 216 is disposed within the slab 102. This configuration may differ from prior sport court configurations, which elevate the court above the drainage area in order to create an area in which a heating system may be placed underneath the court.
In some embodiments, the slab 102 may be made of a permeable material. The permeable slab 102 may be a honeycomb structure or a porous structure that includes a plurality of pores. The heating element 216 and the permeable slab 202 may cooperatively operate to remove water from the top surface 204 of the slab 102. When snow 211 falls on the top surface 204 of the slab 102, the heating element 216 may provide heat to melt the snow and convert the snow to water. When the snow is converted to water, the water may channel through the pores of the permeable slab 102 and exit through the bottom surface 206 of the slab 102.
The permeable material may be permeable concrete or asphalt, or a permeable concrete or asphalt aggregate that includes a plurality of stones. In one exemplary configuration, the stones are made of limestone, although other types of stones may be used. The stones may form the pores of the honeycomb or porous structure. Larger stones may yield a permeable slab 102 that is more pervious and coarser. Although coarser, a more pervious slab 102 may yield better drainage or removal of water on a top surface 204 of the permeable slab 102. Alternatively, smaller stones may yield a slab 102 having a smoother top surface 204, but one that is less pervious. Although smoother, a less pervious slab 102 may yield poorer drainage or removal of water on the top surface 204. The stones may have a size or be within a range of sizes that yields an optimal or sufficient balance between the smoothness of the top surface 204 and the perviousness of the slab 102. In some exemplary embodiments, the sizes of the stones may be in a range of about three-eighths of an inch to one inch, although other sizes may be used.
In general, the size of the stones may be configured so that the size of the pores are larger than a size of the water molecules of water that may accumulate on the top surface 204 of the slab 102. The pores may be configured to channel or drain the water from the top surface 204 to a bottom surface 206 of the slab 102, where the water may exit the slab 102. For example, when water comes into contact with the top surface 204, the water may move from the top surface 204, through the pores, and to the bottom surface 206. Gravity may cause the water to move from the top surface 204 to the bottom surface 206.
When the water reaches the bottom surface 206, the water may exit the permeable slab 102 and move to the drainage area 212 that is configured to provide an area for the water to drain. The drainage area 212 may face and/or be located directly below the permeable slab 102. In some configurations, the bottom surface 206 may be in direct contact or substantially in direct contact with the drainage area 212. In one example configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the drainage area 212 may include an excavate that is filled, or at least partially filled, such as at least half filled, with gravel 214. The gravel excavate 214 may provide or serve as a base or foundation for the slab 102. In addition, the gravel may provide for perimeter drainage (e.g., a French drainage). The drainage area 212 may also include the ground or earth 215, which is underneath the gravel excavate 214. The gravel excavate 214 may be disposed between the bottom surface 206 of the slab 102 and ground or earth 215. In one example, the gravel excavate 214 may have a depth of about four inches, although other depths may be used. In other exemplary configurations, the drainage area 212 may not include the gravel excavate 214, and the slab 102 may be directly positioned on and/or the bottom surface 206 may be in direct contact with the ground 215. In still other exemplary configurations, the drainage area 212 may include materials, drainage structures, apparatuses, or devices other than, or in addition to, the gravel excavate 214 and/or the ground 215.
In alternative embodiments of the slab 102, the slab 102 may be made of an impermeable or an impervious material. For example, the slab 102 may be made of impermeable concrete or an impermeable concrete aggregate. Where the slab 102 is made of an impermeable material, the impermeable slab 102 may be disposed on or over the gravel excavate 214 or ground 215 in a pitched or skewed configuration. Where the slab 102 has a pitch, the top surface 204 at one end of the slab 102 may be elevated higher and/or be disposed further away from ground 215 than the top surface 204 at an opposing end of the slab 102. By having a pitch, the impermeable slab 102 may channel or drain water (e.g., rain water or melted snow) off of its top surface 204 at the end of the top surface 204 that is lower to the ground 215. In some exemplary configurations, the pitch (i.e., the difference in distance between the opposing ends of the top surface 204) may be around three inches, although other pitch distances may be used.
Sport courts 100 having permeable slabs may be desirable in climates or environments with relatively high amounts of precipitation, such as rainy or snowy environments. On the other hand, sport courts 100 having impermeable slabs may be desirable in dryer climates or environments were rainfall or snowfall is relatively low.
In some exemplary configurations, the slab 102 may be made of only concrete aggregate, whether the aggregate is permeable or impermeable. For example, the slab 102 may be made exclusively of limestone. In other exemplary configurations, the slab 102 may be made of the concrete aggregate in combination with one or more other or secondary materials. For example, the slab 102 may be made of the concrete aggregate in combination with rubber, rubber aggregate, or an acrylic, such as acrylic liquid or acrylic latex. The secondary material may be added to the concrete to increase or enhance a softness or cushion-like feeling of the slab 102. This, in turn, may enhance the playability and/or the safety of the sport court 100.
The secondary material may be added to or blended with the concrete aggregate to form a hybrid of concrete and the secondary material. For example, liquid acrylic may be added with permeable concrete to form a hybrid liquid acrylic/permeable concrete aggregate. Where the concrete is permeable, the secondary material may be added to the permeable concrete while still maintaining a desirable permeability of the slab 102. For example, when rubber is added, the rubber may attach to the stones comprising the aggregate without clogging or substantially clogging the pores formed by the stones.
The hybrid aggregate may have a predetermined proportionality or range of proportions between the permeable concrete and the secondary material. The proportionality or range of proportions may be determined and/or selected in order to obtain a balance between a desired softness and a desired permeability of the slab 202. As examples, the hybrid aggregate may comprise a mixture of about 80% concrete and 20% secondary material, or a range of about 70% to 90% concrete and a range of about 10% to 30% secondary material. Other predetermined proportionalities or ranges of proportionalities may be used.
In addition, the material or aggregate making up the slab 102 may be homogeneous. That is, the material used to make the slab 102 may be the same throughout the slab 102. As examples, the entire slab 102 may be made of concrete aggregate or the hybrid aggregate of the concrete and the secondary material.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional side view of an alternative cross-section of the sport court 100. The alternative cross-section of sport court 100 shown in FIG. 3 is similar to the cross-section of the sport court 100 shown in FIG. 2, except that the composition of a slab 302 is nonhomogeneous. For example, the slab 302 may be made of at least two portions having different materials or compositions or mixtures of materials. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 3, the slab 302 may have a first portion 318 that is made of a first material or composition of materials, and a second portion 320 that is made of a second material or composition of materials. The second material or composition of materials is preferably different than the first material or composition of materials.
In one example of the alternative cross-section of the sport court 100, the first portion 318 may be a top layer of the slab 302 that includes a top surface 304. The second portion 320 may be a bottom layer of the slab 302 that includes a bottom surface 306. The top layer of the first portion 318 may have a thickness that is less than or substantially less than a thickness of the bottom layer of the second portion 320. For example, of the slab 302 has a thickness of twelve inches, the top layer of the first portion 318 may have a thickness in a range of about one-half inch to two inches, and the thickness of the bottom layer of the second portion 320 may have a thickness in the range of eleven and a half inches to ten inches. Other thicknesses of the top and bottom layers of the first and second portions 318, 320 may be chosen.
In one exemplary embodiment, the top layer of the first portion 318 may include and/or be made of acrylic and the bottom layer of the second portion 320 may include and/or be made of concrete, either permeable or impermeable. The acrylic may be applied and/or adhered to the concrete in the form of acrylic liquid. The acrylic liquid may be applied to a planar surface of the concrete using a squeezing process and/or one or more other processes as known to those or ordinary skill in the art. After the acrylic liquid is applied to the concrete, the acrylic liquid may dry to form an acrylic top layer. The acrylic top layer of the first portion 318 may include multiple, such as five, sub-layers, with one sub-layer being applied over another sub-layer. In addition or alternatively, the acrylic top layer may have a maximum thickness, such as about one-half inch. The acrylic surface may provide an increase or an enhancement in the softness or cushion-like feeling of the slab 102. This, in turn, may enhance the playability and/or the safety of the sport court 100. In other exemplary embodiments, other materials, such as rubber, that may add softness or a cushion-like feeling to the top surface may be used instead of and/or in addition to the acrylic.
In still another exemplary embodiment, the top layer of the first portion 318 may be made of the concrete aggregate, permeable or impermeable, in combination with one or more other materials that increase or enhance the softness of the concrete aggregate, and the bottom layer of the second portion 320 may be made of only the concrete aggregate. For example, the top layer may be made of the concrete/secondary material hybrid aggregate and the bottom layer may be made of only the concrete aggregate. In an alternative configuration, the top layer and the bottom layer may both be made of the concrete/secondary material hybrid aggregate, but each may have different proportionalities or ratios of the concrete and secondary material. In such a configuration, the top layer may be made of about 80% concrete and 20% secondary material, and the bottom layer may be made of about 90% concrete and 10% secondary material. In still another configuration, the slab 302 may include more than two layers, each having different materials or compositions or mixtures of materials than the other layers. For example, the slab 302 may have a top layer made of 80% concrete and 20% secondary material, a middle layer made of 90% permeable concrete and 10% rubber, and a bottom layer made of 100% permeable concrete. Various configurations or combinations of configurations are also possible.
FIG. 4 shows a top view of an exemplary sport court 400, which may be representative of a top view of the sport courts shown in FIGS. 1-3. The sport court 400 may include a slab 402 and at least one heating element 416 (denoted using dotted lines) disposed within the slab 402. The heating element 416 may be disposed and/or configured within the slab 402 in a predetermined pattern. The pattern used may enable and/or allow for even drying over a top surface 404 of the slab 402. In one exemplary configuration, a serpentine pattern is utilized. When configured in a serpentine pattern, the heating element 416 may include multiple sub-elements 422 connected to each other. As shown in FIG. 4, each sub-element 422 may be adjacent to at least one other sub-element 422. Additionally, each sub-element 422 may include at least a portion that extends parallel or substantially parallel to its adjacent sub-elements 422. The sub-elements 422 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. This distance may not necessarily be the same for each pair of adjacent sub-elements. In other configurations, the heating element 416 may be configured and/or disposed in the slab 402 in a pattern or in multiple patterns other than a serpentine pattern or in a pattern in combination with a serpentine pattern.
The heating element 416 is preferably part of a heating system, such as a radiant heating system, that may include a heating supply or a heating source 424 coupled to the heating element 416. The heating system may also include one or more connectors 426 that connect or couple the heating supply 424 with the heating element 416. In some example configurations, the connectors 426 may be of the same type and/or of the same material, such as piping or electrical cabling, as the heating element 416. Also, the connectors 426 may be configured underground or above ground. Additionally, the connectors 426 may be configured to connect the heating element 416 with the heating supply 424 so that the heating system is a closed-loop system in which the heating element 416 receives heated fluid or electricity from the heating supply 424, circulates the heated fluid or electricity therethrough, and returns the heated fluid or electricity back to the heating supply 424.
The heating supply 424 is preferably configured to supply energy, such as in the form of heated fluid or electricity, to the heating element 416 in order to heat the slab 402. Where the heating system comprises hydronic piping, as previously described, the heating supply 424 may include heating equipment, such as a boiler, to heat the fluid to a predetermined temperature. In some exemplary configurations, the fluid may be heated to a temperature in a range of about 35 degrees to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The heating supply 424 may also include circulation equipment, such as a pump and/or other control equipment, that may be configured to pump the heated fluid to, receive the heated fluid from, and/or circulate the heated fluid through, the heating element 416. The heating supply 424 may also include a building or housing to enclose the heating equipment and/or the circulation equipment.
The heating supply 424 may include an output 428 that is configured to output or pump the heated fluid to an inlet 430 of the heating element 416. A connector 426 a may be configured and/or adaptable to connect the output 428 of the heating supply 424 to the inlet 430 of the heating element 416 to transfer the heated fluid from the heating supply 424 to the heating element 416. The connector 426 a may include a pipe or piping similar to the piping of the heating element 416. Additionally, the heating supply 424 may include an input 432 to receive the heated fluid that was circulated through the piping of the heating element 416 from output 434 of the heating element 416. A connector 426 b may be configured and/or adaptable to connect the input 432 of the heating supply 424 to the output 434 of the heating element 416 to transfer the fluid from the heating element 416 to the heating supply 424. Like the connector 426 a, the connector 426 b may include a pipe or piping similar to the piping of the heating element 416.
In an alternative configuration, where the heating element includes an electric cable or electric cabling, the heating supply 424 may include an electric source, such as an electric generator, to generate and/or supply electricity to the electric cabling. Connectors 426 a, 426 b may include electric cables that are part of and/or configured to connect to the electric cabling of the heating element 416.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a top view of a sport court 500 that is configured and/or configurable for multiple platform tennis courts 501, such as three platform tennis courts 501 a, 501 b, 501 c, as an example. The sport court 500 may include a slab 502 made of a permeable or an impermeable material and a heating element 516 that is disposed and/or embedded within the slab 502 to evenly dry the multiple platform tennis courts 501. In alternative configurations, multiple heating elements, such as heating elements having sub-elements that are separated and/or unconnected with each other, may be used to dry the multiple platform tennis courts 501 a-c. In addition, although a single slab 502 configured and/or configurable for multiple platform tennis courts 501 a-c is shown in FIG. 5, in alternative embodiments, multiple slabs may be configured and/or configurable for the multiple platform tennis courts 501 a-c. The multiple slabs may be connected to each other, unconnected with each other, or be configured in some combination thereof. In addition or alternatively, in some exemplary embodiments, a single heating element may extend through all the multiple slabs. In other embodiments, multiple heating elements may be used to heat the multiple slabs. Various configurations or combinations of configurations are also possible.
In addition, similar to the sport court 100, the sport court 500 may have removable net posts for the multiple platform tennis courts 501 a-c. When the net posts are removed, the sport court 500 may be configured for one or more sports, games, activities, and/or events other than platform tennis.
In view of the foregoing, many of the benefits and advantages of the sport court of the invention should now be apparent. For example, as snow begins to accumulate on the surface of the sport court, the embedded heating element may begin melting the snow, and the melted snow may begin draining through the permeable slab almost immediately. All of this occurs on a court that does not include aluminum planks that do not evenly dry the surface. As another example, the sport court of the invention does not include a surface having grit particles, which can be hard on a player's body and cause injury.
While various configurations and embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many others may be envisioned that do not deport from the true scope of the invention. Accordingly, all such configurations and embodiments are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A sport court comprising:

a slab comprising a concrete aggregate, the slab configured for platform tennis; and

a heating element disposed within the slab, the heating element configured to provide heat to the slab to melt snow on a top surface of the slab.

2. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the slab comprises a permeable concrete aggregate.

3. The sport court of claim 2, wherein the permeable concrete slab has a bottom surface that is in direct contact with a drainage area.

4. The sport court of claim 3, wherein the drainage area comprises an excavate at least partially filled with gravel, the bottom surface of the slab being substantially in direct contact with the gravel.

5. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the slab comprises a top layer that includes acrylic.

6. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the slab further comprises rubber blended with the permeable concrete aggregate.

7. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the slab comprises:

a first layer comprising acrylic; and

a second layer comprising only the permeable concrete aggregate.

8. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises hydronic piping that is configured to circulate heated fluid within the slab to heat the slab.

9. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises an electric cable that is configured to conduct electricity to heat the permeable slab.

10. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the heating element is configured in a serpentine pattern within the permeable slab.

11. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the concrete aggregate comprises a permeable concrete aggregate that includes limestone.

12. The sport court of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of removable net posts that are configured to hang a net for platform tennis, each of the net posts being removably mountable to the slab,

wherein when the pair of removable net posts are mounted to the slab, the sport court is configured for platform tennis, and

wherein when the pair of removable net posts are removed from the slab, the sport court is configured for at least one sport, game, activity, or event other than platform tennis.

13. The sport court of claim 1, wherein the slab comprises an impermeable concrete aggregate, and wherein the slab is configured to have a pitch in order to drain water on the top surface to a side of the slab.

14. A sport court comprising:

a slab having a top surface that is exposed to an outdoor environment and configured for platform tennis,

wherein the slab is made of a permeable material, the permeable material having a plurality of pores that is configured to channel water on the top surface through the slab and to a bottom surface of the slab where the water exits the slab and moves to a drainage area located directly below the slab.

15. The sport court of claim 15, further comprising:

a heating element disposed within the slab, the heating element configured to provide heat to the slab to melt snow on the top surface of the slab,

wherein the permeable slab is configured to channel the melted snow from the top surface to the drainage area below the slab.

16. The sport of claim 15, wherein the heating element is configured in a serpentine pattern.

17. The sport court of claim 14, wherein a portion of the concrete aggregate is mixed with rubber.

18. A system that melts snow on top of a sport court that is configured for platform tennis, the system comprising:

a slab comprising a concrete aggregate, the slab configured for platform tennis;

a radiant heating system comprising:

a heating element disposed within the slab, the heating element configured to transfer heat to the slab to melt snow on a top surface of the slab;

a heating supply coupled to the heating element, the heating supply configured to supply energy to the heating element to heat the slab.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the heating element comprises hydronic piping that is configured to circulate heated fluid within the slab to heat the slab, and wherein the heating supply comprises:

heating equipment that is configured to heat the heated fluid; and

circulation equipment that is configured to send the heated fluid to the heating element.

20. The sport court of claim 18, wherein the heating element comprises electric cabling that is configured to conduct electricity to heat the permeable slab, and

wherein the heating supply is configured to supply electricity to the electric cabling.