MODULAR COURT SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to sport courts, and more specifically, to a modular court system.

BACKGROUND

Many sports and/or related activities include the use of a court. Participation in said sports and activities may be limited based on at least a presence of a court, an availability thereof, and/or an adequate surface condition to facilitate participation in the sport.

The subject matter claimed in the present disclosure is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described in the present disclosure may be practiced.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.

Disclosed is a walled boundary comprising a frame, the frame comprising a base element extending horizontally; a transparent wall element mounted on the frame; and a wall support extending from the frame to the wall element.

Also disclosed is a modular court system comprising a modular court; and a walled boundary adjacent to the modular court, the walled boundary comprising a first wall portion; a second wall portion adjacent to the first wall portion; and a first frame supporting the first wall portion in a vertical orientation.

Also disclosed is a method of assembling a modular court system, the method comprising assembling a modular court by placing a plurality of components on a playing surface; assembling a walled boundary adjacent to the modular court, wherein assembling the walled boundary comprises placing a first wall portion on a first frame; attaching a second wall portion to the first wall portion.

Various implementations described in the present disclosure may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular court system, in accordance with various aspects of the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a modular court of the modular court system of FIG. 1, in accordance with another aspect of the current disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front exploded view and a side view of a walled boundary of the modular court system of FIG. 1, in accordance with another aspect of the current disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a base element of the walled boundary of FIG. 3, in accordance with another aspect of the current disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a top view of the base element of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a side view of the base element of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D is a rear view of the base element of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wall support of the walled boundary of FIG. 3, in accordance with another aspect of the current disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the walled boundary of FIG. 3, in accordance with another aspect of the current disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a modular court system.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another portion of a modular court system.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modular court system, in accordance with another aspect of the current disclosure.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a base element of the walled boundary of FIG. 3, in accordance with another aspect of the current disclosure.

FIG. 10B is a top view of the base element of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10C is a side view of the base element of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10D is a rear view of the base element of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a wall element mounted on the base element of FIG. 10A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many sports are played on a court or court-like surface that may be substantially flat and/or a hard surface. For example, basketball, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, and other sports may be played on a court having a hard surface (e.g., on which a ball associated with the sport may bounce) and that may be substantially flat. In many instances, the surface of the court (e.g., the court surface) may include various dilapidations, damage, uneven and/or inconsistent surfaces, and the like. For example, outdoor courts may include cracks, divots, bumps, gouges, and/or other damages and imperfections that may impede playing on the court and/or may increase injury risks to the participants playing on the court. Alternatively, or additionally, repairs and maintenance of the courts may be costly and may commonly occur due to the weather conditions (e.g., sun exposure, precipitation, wind damage, etc.), heavy use, vandalism, and the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the courts may be substantially permanent fixtures that may be difficult and/or unfeasible to relocate when desired.

Aspects of the present disclosure address at least the shortcomings of the prior approaches described above by including a modular court system that may be assembled and disassembled as desired, such as to avoid weather related incidents, incidental damage and/or other depreciation to the modular court system, or to allow easy movement from one location to another. Further, in instances in which a portion of the modular court system may become damaged, repair and/or replacement of the damaged portion may be performed to a component of the modular court system (e.g., as opposed to replacement and/or repair of the entire court) while maintaining a uniform look and surface consistency of the modular court. Alternatively, or additionally, the modular court system may include a walled boundary that may be used in conjunction with the modular court to contain the sport and/or players engaged in sport using the modular court system and protect spectators outside the boundary.

The modular court system may include at least a modular court, a walled boundary, and/or spectator seating. The modular court may include components that may be assembled to form a playing surface associated with the modular court system. In some instances, the components of the modular court may be interlocking. For example, the modular court may include multiple interlocking components that may be assembled together forming the playing surface. The components may be sized and shaped to be carried by a user and/or installer of the modular court. Alternatively, or additionally, the components may be sized and shaped to be fitted together, such as substantially square or rectangular components. For example, the components may be square or rectangular shaped and may be approximately 1′×1′ blocks, 2′×2′ blocks, 3′×3′ blocks, 1′×2′ blocks, and so forth. FIG. 1 illustrates a modular court system 1000 comprising an example modular court 100 assembled around an existing basketball hoop 110 and on top of an existing playing surface 120 (e.g., a basketball court and/or other surface, such as a tennis court, or a field, such as a soccer field). While the current disclosure shows the modular court system 1000 in use as a basketball court, the modular court system 1000 can be used for any other type of court, field, or arena as desired, athletic or otherwise, such as a tennis or pickleball court, an indoor soccer field, a mixed martial arts (“MMA”) or boxing arena, a hockey or ice hockey rink (in which the modular court 100 can comprise equipment to form and maintain an artificial sheet of ice), a concert or speaking venue, or any other desired use.

The modular court 100 can comprise a plurality of components 130. In the current embodiment, the components 130 of the modular court 100 are tiles that are substantially square in shape. In some embodiments, the components 130 can be formed from plastic, rubber, wood, or any other material or combination of materials appropriate for the desired use of the modular court 100. In some embodiments, the components 130 can comprise artificial turf or may define a floor over which artificial turf or other mats of material can be rolled out or otherwise installed on the modular court 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the components 130 can be assembled around existing structures such as the basketball hoop 110, soccer goals, tennis nets, or other structures.

In some instances, the components 130 of the modular court 100 may comprise one or more colors and/or one or more line segments included thereon. FIG. 1 above illustrates different colors, shown by different shading, that may be included in the modular court 100. In some instances, the different colors may be associated with the sport the modular court 100 is to support. For example, the gray portion 140 included in FIG. 1 may be associated with the key of a basketball court and/or out of bounds beyond the end line of the basketball court. Alternatively, or additionally, the colors of the modular court 100 may correspond to an entity associated with the modular court system 1000, such as an associated logo, a trademark, trade dress, and the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the colors of the modular court system 1000 may be ornamental.

FIG. 2 illustrates another view of an example modular court 100 (e.g., similar to the modular court illustrated in FIG. 1) that may include lines 210 on the modular court 100, and/or a boundary portion 220 to the modular court 100. The lines 210 on the modular court 100 may correspond to a sport that may be played on the modular court 100. For example, as illustrated, the lines 210 on the modular court 100 of FIG. 2 may correspond to a basketball court. The lines 210 may be a part of the components 130 (which are not shown individually in FIG. 2) such that at least some of the components 130 of the modular court 100 may have a specific location relative to other components 130 of the modular court 100. For example, a particular component 130 of a modular court 100 (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 2) may have lines 210 corresponding to the free throw line and/or the semicircle extending therefrom, such that the particular component 130 may be restricted to a location on the modular court 100 relative to other components 130 forming the modular court 100. In such instances, the components 130 of the modular court 100 that may have a specific location may include an indication on a non-surface portion thereof to indicate the specific location relative to other components 130. For example, the components 130 having a specific location may be numbered, and/or otherwise provide a mapping relative to other components 130 of the modular court 100, such that a user/installer may be able to determine the corresponding location prior to placing the components 130.

Alternatively, or additionally, the components 130 of the modular court 100 may have the lines 210 applied after the modular court 100 is installed. For example, the lines 210 may be painted onto the components 130 (with temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent paint), a tape-like adhesive may be applied to the components 130, thin plastic lines may be attached to the components 130 (e.g., snapped into place on the components), and/or other options to display the lines 210 on the modular court 100.

The boundary portion 220 of the modular court 100 may attached to an outer edge 230 of the modular court 100, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, where the boundary portion 220 includes numbered rectangular components 232, trapezoidal corner components 234, and/or extended portion components 236 (e.g., to extend the boundary portion 220 as needed based on the size of the modular court 100). In some instances, an outer edge 240 of the boundary portion 220 (e.g., opposite an inner edge 250 that may interface with the components 130 of the modular court 100 at the outer edge 230 of the modular court 100) may include a straight and/or smooth edge relative to edges of the components 130 of the modular court 100. For example, the components 130 of the modular court 100 may include one or more projections and/or recessions that may be used to interlock the components 130 together, and the boundary portion 220 may include the inner edge 250 operable to interlock with the components 130 and the outer edge 240 that may be relatively straight and/or smooth relative to the inner edge 250.

The boundary portion 220 may provide a surface 260 on which a walled boundary 900 (shown fully in FIG. 9) may be disposed and/or attached, as described herein. Alternatively, or additionally, the boundary portion 220 may provide a surface 260 on which spectator seating may be located and/or affixed thereto. For example, chairs, portable bleachers, and/or other seating options may be placed on the boundary portion 220 and/or in some instances, may be attached to the boundary portion 220.

The walled boundary 900 of the modular court 100 may surround and/or partially surround the modular court 100. The walled boundary 900 may provide a boundary operable to contain equipment and/or players using the modular court system 1000 and/or protect spectators outside the walled boundary 900. The walled boundary 900 may include a wall portion 300 (shown in FIG. 3) and a frame 310 (shown in FIG. 3) to support the wall portion 300. The wall portion 300 may be transparent such that observers outside the modular court 100 (e.g., in the spectator seating) may observe events on the modular court 100. The wall portion 300 may be plastic, glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, and/or other transparent, durable materials.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example wall portion 300 that include multiple wall elements 320 and an extension 330 attached thereto. As illustrated, some embodiments of the wall portion 300 may include multiple wall elements 320 that may be arranged in a stacked orientation. For example, a first wall element 320a may be adjacent to the ground and a second wall element 320b may be vertically disposed on the first wall element 320a. The wall elements 320 can be rectangular plates, such as square plates, or can be plates defining other shapes in other embodiments, and can comprise a transparent material such as plastic, glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, and/or other transparent, durable materials.

The first wall element 320a may be substantially the same size as the second wall element 320b. For example, the first wall element 320a may be approximately 4′×4′ and the second wall element 320b may be approximately 4′×4′. Alternatively, or additionally, the wall elements 320 may have different sizes relative to one another (e.g., different heights, as the widths may be substantially the same to simplify installation of the wall elements 320), such as based on an intended location within the walled boundary 900. For example, the first wall element 320a intended to be adjacent to the ground may be approximately 6′×4′ (height×width) and may weigh approximately 105 pounds, and the second wall element 320b intended to be vertically disposed on the first wall element 320a may be approximately 2′×4′ and may weigh approximately 35 pounds, such that the heavier and larger wall element 320 (e.g., the first wall element 320a) may be adjacent to the ground and the lighter and smaller wall element 320 (e.g., the second wall element 320b) may be elevated above the ground. Other sizes and/or weights of the wall elements 320 are contemplated and the above sizes and weights with respect to the wall elements 320 are provided as example only. In some embodiments, only one wall element 320 may be present on a wall portion 300, such as a single 4′×4′ wall element 320 such as first wall element 320a shown in FIG. 3 or a wall element 320 defining a size equal to the combination of the first wall element 320a and second wall element 320b shown in FIG. 3.

In some instances, the extension 330 may be coupled to a top-most wall element 320 of the wall portion 300 to provide an additional contribution to keeping playing objects within the modular court 100. For example, a net extension 330 may be coupled to a superior edge 340 of a top-most wall element 320, such as second wall element 320b, to increase the elevation of the walled boundary 900 while not adding significantly more weight, relative to the wall elements 320. In other embodiments, the extension 330 could be a rail.

FIG. 3 further illustrates two wall supports 350 (indicted here as two angled braces between the frame 310 adjacent to the ground and attached to two various portions of the wall elements 320), which may be more fully described in other portions of the present disclosure. The wall supports 350 may vary in quantity and/or attachment location, which may be based on the sizes of the wall elements 320, and/or the wall supports 350 may vary based the number of wall elements 320 included in the wall portion 300.

The frame 310 may be made of any durable material to support the wall portion 300, resist damage during use, and/or elements that may be encountered during use. For example, the frame 310 may be made of steel, other metals, hardened plastic, and/or other durable materials. In instances in which multiple elements are joined together, the joining thereof made be made by welding, adhesives, fasteners, and/or other coupling mechanisms. The frame 310 may include any number of apertures disposed throughout, some explicitly described, and any of which may be used to couple the frame 310 to another object (or to couple another object to the frame 310).

In some embodiments, the frame 310 may be sized and shaped to support the wall portion 300 in a vertical configuration, thus providing the walled boundary 900 about the modular court 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D (which includes multiple views of the frame 310), the frame 310 may include one or more base elements 410 that may be operable contact a surface. The base elements 410 may be substantially flat corresponding to the surface on which the base elements 410 contact, such as the modular court 100 (shown in FIG. 1), the boundary portion 220 (shown in FIG. 2), and/or other surfaces. The frame 310 may include one or more of the base elements 410, which may extend laterally away from the wall portion 300 (shown in FIG. 3) when installed. In instances in which there are more than one base element 410, the multiple base elements 410 may include one or more lateral supports 420 disposed therebetween. The lateral supports 420 may extend perpendicularly relative to the base elements 410 and/or may be parallel to the wall portion 300.

In some embodiments, the frame 310 may include a channel 430 that may be sized and shaped to retain the wall portion 300. In some embodiments, the channel 430 can define a U-shaped cross-section. The channel 430 may be a part of or one of the lateral supports 420 and/or may be in addition to the lateral supports 420. As shown in the current embodiment, the channel 430 can be placed on and attached to, such as with welding, a top of one of the lateral supports 420. In some embodiments, the channel 430 may be adjacent to the base element(s) 410 and/or to one or more vertical elements 440. In some embodiments, a lower end of the wall portion 300, such as a lower edge of the first wall element 320a (shown in FIG. 3), can comprise a trim or liner that engages the channel 430 to prevent damage to the material of the wall portion 300. In some embodiments, the trim or liner can comprise aluminum, rubber, plastic, or any other desired material to protect the wall portion 300.

The vertical elements 440 may be operable to support a lower portion (e.g., proximate to the base elements 410) of the wall portion 300. Alternatively, or additionally, the vertical elements 440 may include one or more vertical element apertures 442 which may be used to couple the frame 310 to the wall portion 300. For example, one or more fasteners 610 (shown in FIG. 6) may pass through the vertical element apertures 442 to couple the wall portion 300 to the frame 310. One or more angled supports 450 may extend between the vertical elements 440 and the base elements 410 to provide support to the vertical elements 440 maintaining the wall portion 300 in a vertical orientation. In some embodiments, the frame 310 can comprise a rubber pad or a pad of any other desired protective material between the vertical element 440 and the wall portion 300, such as proximate to an upper end of the vertical element 440, to prevent damage to the wall portion 300.

In some embodiments, one or more risers 460 may extend vertically from the base elements 410. For example, the risers 460 may have a one-to-one ratio relative to the base elements 410. For example, a first riser 460a may extend vertically from a first base element 410a, and so forth. The risers 460 may extend from a distal portion of the base elements 410, which may be distal relative to the wall portion 300 (e.g., the risers 460 may be near an end of the base elements 410 that are opposite the wall portion 300) and the risers 460 can be formed at lateral outer edges of the base elements 410, along adjacent risers 460 of adjacent frames 310 to be attached to each other. The risers 460 may be used in other supporting functions to the wall portion 300, as described herein. In some embodiments, the base elements 410, the vertical elements 440, the angled supports 450, the risers 460, and the lateral supports 420 can be elongated metal or plastic plates and/or tubes, such as tubes with square cross-sections, as shown.

The walled boundary 900 may include one or more of the wall supports 350, as illustrated in FIG. 5, which may be operable to support an upper portion of the wall portion 300. For example, a lower portion of the wall portion 300 may be substantially supported by the frame 310 and channel 430 (as described herein), and the upper portion of the wall portion 300 may be substantially supported by the wall supports 350. Referring to FIG. 5, the wall supports 350 may include a plate 500 operable to couple to the wall portion 300 (shown fully in FIG. 3). As shown, in some embodiments, the plate 500 can comprise a transparent material such as plastic, glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, and/or other transparent, durable materials. In some embodiments, the wall supports 350 may include an upper hinge element 510 and an adjustable pole 520 affixed thereto. The upper hinge element 510 may attach to the plate 500 and/or to the wall portion 300 directly. A first end of the adjustable pole 520 may attach to the upper hinge element 510, such as with a threaded shaft 522, and a second end of the adjustable pole 520 may attach to a base element 410, such as to a riser 460 via one or more apertures included on the riser 460. For example, see FIG. 6 and the associated description. As part of installation of the walled boundary 900 (shown fully in FIG. 9), the wall supports 350 may be attached to the wall portion 300, the adjustable pole 520 may be attached to the riser 460, and the adjustable pole 520 may be adjusted to apply a desirable amount of tension between the base element 410 and the wall portion 300. In other embodiments, the pole 520 may not be adjustable and may comprise a solid, non-adjustable rod. The wall supports 350 may be attached to various portions of the wall elements 320, such as seams 530 between laterally adjacent wall elements 320, which may contribute to the wall elements 320 retaining a substantially planar surface (e.g., the surface planes of the wall elements 320 may be aligned and/or kept in alignment via the wall supports 350 attached thereto).

In some embodiments, the wall supports 350 may include multiple apertures 550 that may be operable to receive one or more fastening mechanisms 540, such that the wall supports 350 may be coupled to the wall elements 320. The wall elements 320 may include complementary wall element apertures, such that the fastening mechanism 540 may extend through the wall support apertures 550 and the wall element apertures, to couple the wall supports 350 to the wall elements 320. In some embodiments, a portion 542 of the fastening mechanisms 540 may be substantially flat to reduce and/or limit interferences that may occur between objects and/or persons contacting the walled boundary 900 on an interior surface facing the modular court 100 (shown in FIG. 7) during use. For example, the fastening mechanism 540 may include a substantially flat head-portion 542 operable to contact an interior surface of the wall elements 320 (e.g., a surface that may be proximal to the modular court 100 and/or distal from the spectator seating), such that contacting the fastening mechanisms 540 may reduce and/or limit damage to equipment, injuries, and the like.

In some instances, the wall elements 320 may include more apertures than apertures 550 included in the wall supports 350 (e.g., where the wall element apertures may be spread out more than may be covered by a single wall support 350). In such instances, the wall supports 350 may be relocated to different portions of the wall elements 320 (e.g., higher or lower), in order to provide varying degrees of support based on angles between the adjustable pole 520 associated with the wall supports 350 and the wall elements 320.

FIG. 6 illustrates multiple adjustable poles 520 coupled to the riser 460 of a frame 310, where the adjustable poles 520 extend at different angles relative to the ground to support different elevations of the wall elements 320 (shown in FIG. 3). The adjustable poles 520 may be hingedly connected to the riser 460 with a lower hinge element 620 to facilitate various angles between the adjustable poles 520 and ground/wall elements 320. Alternatively, or additionally, the adjustable poles 520 may include a rotatable portion 622 (e.g., near the lower hinge element 620) that may be operable to adjust the length of the adjustable pole 520, which may be used to vary the tension/support of the wall elements 320 via the adjustable poles 520.

The adjustable poles 520 may include threaded shafts 522 disposed on the ends thereof, where a first end of a particular adjustable pole 520 may include a first threaded shaft 522 (as shown in FIG. 5) and a second end of the particular adjustable pole 520 may include a second threaded shaft 522. In some embodiments, the threaded shaft 522 may be welded to the end portions of the adjustable poles 520. The first threaded shaft 522 and the second threaded shaft 522 may include different threading configurations. For example, the first threaded 522 may be a right-hand threading (e.g., a clockwise turn results in tightening the pole 520) and the second threaded shaft 522 may be a left-hand threading (e.g., a counterclockwise turn results in tightening the pole 520).

The threaded shafts 522 (and in instances in which the threading configurations differ, as described herein) may individually be operable to thread into a complementary threaded receiver, where a first threaded receiver can be defined in the upper hinge element 510 hingedly connected to the plate 500 (500,510 shown in FIG. 5) and a second threaded receiver can be defined in the lower hinge element 620 hingedly connected to the riser 460 of the frame 310. In such a configuration, the adjustable pole 520 and the threaded shafts 522 disposed on the ends thereof may be operable to perform a turnbuckle function, where rotation of the adjustable pole 520 may increase or decrease tension between the frame 310 (e.g., the riser 460) and the wall elements 320 (e.g., via the plate 500 attached to the wall elements 320), which can be used, for example and without limitation, to align the wall elements 320 with each other to ensure the walled boundary 900 defines a flat, continuous surface on the side facing the modular court 100 (shown in FIG. 7).

FIG. 6 further illustrates at least some boundary elements 632 of the boundary portion 220 that may be sized and shaped in view of the angled supports 450 of the frame 310. For example, one boundary element 632 (e.g., a tread or other flat, deck-like material) of the boundary portion 220 may include one or more cut outs 624 sized and shaped relative to the angled supports 450 of the frame 310, such that the boundary element 632 (e.g., including the cut out 624) may interface with the angled supports 450 to substantially surround the angled supports 450 (e.g., on three sides of the angled supports 450).

FIG. 7 illustrates an example portion of the modular court system 1000 that includes a modular court 100, a boundary portion 220, and a walled boundary 900 including a frame 310, as described herein. As illustrated, the walled boundary 900 may be disposed on top of the modular court 100, such as the frame 310 in contact with the surface of the modular court 100. FIG. 7 may not illustrate all of the wall supports 350 and/or the spectator seating. It will be appreciated that spectator seating may be added on to the boundary portion 220 (on an opposite side of the walled boundary 900 relative to the modular court 100) or next to the boundary portion 220. Alternatively, or additionally, the wall supports 350 may attach to any location on the wall portion 300 to support the verticality of the wall portion 300, as described herein.

FIG. 7 also shows a corner wall portion 700 of the walled boundary 900. In some embodiments, the modular court system 1000 can define angled corner wall portions 700 to connect sides of the walled boundary 900 to each other, such that, for example and without limitation, one or a series of wall portions 300 extending in one direction can be attached to one or a series of wall portions 300 extending in a perpendicular direction. The corner wall portion 700 can define be similar to other wall portions 300 except that the frame 310 can define base elements 410 (not shown) that extend outward from the wall elements 320 at a desired angle. In the current embodiment, the base elements 410 can extend outward from the wall elements 320 at approximately 45 degrees. In some embodiments, as shown, the corner wall portion 700 may not comprise risers 460 or angled supports 450 (450,460 shown in FIG. 4A). In some embodiments, as shown, the corner wall portion 700 can comprise angled plates 710 that can attach adjacent wall elements 320 on the corner wall portion 700 and adjacent wall portions 300. Wall supports 350, shown on only one wall portion 300 adjacent to the corner wall portion 700, can attach to the angled plates 710 to hold the wall portions 300 and the angled wall portion 700 in place. In various embodiments, two wall supports 350 can be present on each side of the corner wall portion 700 to attach to two respective angled plates 710 on each side of the corner wall portion 700.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example modular court system 1000, similar to FIG. 7. The modular court system 1000 depicted in FIG. 8 includes the wall supports 350 coupled to different portions of the wall elements 320, and the adjustable poles 520 coupled to the plates 500 and the risers 460 of the frame 310. Similar to FIG. 7, the modular court system 1000 of FIG. 8 includes the modular court 100, the boundary portion 220, and the walled boundary 900 including the frame 310, as described herein. Also as shown in FIG. 8, the risers 460 of adjacent frames 310 can be attached to each other with the wall supports 350, such that a single wall support 350 attaches to aligned apertures on each adjacent riser 460.

In some embodiments, the spectator seating (not illustrated) may be modular in that it may be disassembled and reassembled along with the other components in the modular court system 1000. The spectator seating may be chairs, bleachers, and/or other seating arrangements that may be located on or near the modular court system 1000. For example, the spectator seating may be located on the boundary portion 220 and/or near the wall portion 300. Alternatively, or additionally, the spectator seating may be freestanding adjacent to the boundary portion 220. For example, the spectator seating may be adjacent to the boundary portion 220 without being located on the boundary portion 220.

In instances in which the spectator seating is located on the modular court system 1000 (e.g., the boundary portion 220), the spectator seating can be attached to the boundary portion 220. For example, a base on the spectator seating may include one or more apertures operable to receive a fastening element and the fastening element may attach to a receiving element in the boundary portion 220. Alternatively, or additionally, the spectator seating may be operable to attach to a portion of the frame 310. For example, the spectator seating may include a mechanism (e.g., an aperture) that may be utilized to fasten the spectator seating to the frame 310, such as via an aperture on the frame 310. For example, a bolt, screw, clasp, clip, and/or other fastener may pass through the aperture on the frame 310 and an aperture on the spectator seating to connect the spectator seating to the frame 310. Alternatively, or additionally, the spectator seating may be freestanding and/or disconnected from either the frame 310 and/or the boundary portion 220. A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a modular court system 1000 comprising the modular court 100, the walled boundary 900, the boundary portion 220, and a basketball hoop 110. As shown, the walled boundary 900 can enclose the modular court system 1000 on three sides of the modular court 100, though in other embodiments the walled boundary 900 can completely surround the modular court 100 or may only be present on one or two sides of the modular court 100, as desired.

FIGS. 10A-10D show another embodiment of the frame 310. In the current embodiment, the frame 410 can comprise shorter vertical elements 440 and no angled supports 450. As shown in FIG. 10D, the vertical elements 440 can define a height similar to the risers 460. In some embodiments, the vertical elements 440 may not contact the wall portion 300 (shown in FIG. 11) at all. As shown in FIG. 11, the wall portion 300 can fit within the channel 430, which is U-shaped in the current embodiment. In some embodiments, as shown, the wall supports 350 are sufficient to support the wall portion 300 without requiring taller vertical elements 440 as shown in FIGS. 4A-4D, such that the vertical elements 440 shown in FIGS. 10A-10D are tall enough. FIG. 11 also shows that, in various aspects, the lateral supports 420 can be placed at different positions along the base elements 410.

In accordance with common practice, the various features illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. The illustrations presented in the present disclosure are not meant to be actual views of any particular apparatus (e.g., device, system, etc.) or method, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe various embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given apparatus (e.g., device) or all operations of a particular method.

Terms used herein and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).

Additionally, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, it is understood that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” or “one or more of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended to include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, etc. For example, the use of the term “and/or” is intended to be construed in this manner.

Further, any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” should be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

Additionally, the use of the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are not necessarily used herein to connote a specific order or number of elements. Generally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used to distinguish between different elements as generic identifiers. Absence a showing that the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., connote a specific order, these terms should not be understood to connote a specific order. Furthermore, absence a showing that the terms first,” “second,” “third,” etc., connote a specific number of elements, these terms should not be understood to connote a specific number of elements. For example, a first widget may be described as having a first side and a second widget may be described as having a second side. The use of the term “second side” with respect to the second widget may be to distinguish such side of the second widget from the “first side” of the first widget and not to connote that the second widget has two sides.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

MODULAR COURT SYSTEM

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REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (1)