Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a novel portable fencing floor system with resilient and compliant elements to absorb impact protecting fencers from floor related injuries and improving their performance over time that can be assembled and disassembled easily at different venues.
Description of Related Art
Developments associated with electromechanical and electronic scoring are regularly being incorporated into the sport of fencing. Such developments include U.S. Pat. No. 8,348,770 to Hart, which discloses a machine for facilitating the scoring of a fencing match that includes first and second fencing cord inputs, an optional third input for connection of a fencing piste, and a data link to a computing device connected to a display, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,968 to Alvaro and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0211541 to Abbondanzio et al., both of which relate to touch detecting arrangements including detectors or sensors disposed at ends of weapon blades. Recently, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0028721 to Johnson et al., moreover, generally concerns existing electronic fencing scoring systems, including wires that are kept taut by spring-wound reels at ends of fencing pistes and floor cables that may connect fencers to control boxes, and particularly relates to a tactile signaling apparatus intended to complement such existing electronic fencing scoring systems. U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,051 to Aldridge and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0100022 to Linsay relate to wireless scoring systems for fencing.
Specialized surfaces and flooring have also been developed as playing surfaces suitable for use in various sports including fencing. U.S. Pat. No. 8,136,312 to Hallsten, for example, relates to a conductive fencing strip laid on a fixed hard floor, for example, laid on top of concrete, or recessed into an existing floor where the flooring is removed. The fencing strip is composed of interconnected conductive aluminum sections having a top surface of traction enhancing grooves, and an undersurface with secure rubber strips. The rubber strips are described as acting to reduce or eliminate the clanging of the aluminum on the supporting floor, as providing positive friction with the floor upon which the aluminum fencing strip is laid, and as providing a better feeling to the floor surface. U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,409 to Zivkovic, for example, also discloses a segmented conductive fencing strip, however, it incorporates light assemblies embedded beneath the fencing strip, in communication via a connecting cable system with a scoring controller and console. The segments of this fencing strip are mounted on stringers to which buckets or wells containing the lighting elements are attached. The stringers also distribute the load of the strip. U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,280 to Abendroth and U.S. Pat. No. 8,898,982 to Tucker, Jr. both concern sports floor systems adapted to be laid on a rigid supporting slab incorporating damping mechanisms, such as resilient rubber pads or air bladders that are spaced apart, coupled or integrated with the flooring structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,010 to Stephenson et al. relates to a sport floor system using compressible floor supports with pneumatic resiliency.
A portable fencing track that is readily assembled and disassembled at different venues includes a series of interconnected modular panels disposed in relation to one another to deliver a stable resilient floating floor with an electrically conductive fencing strip centrally positioned and flush with the surrounding surfaces of this fencing track. A perimeter floor is arranged surrounding the conductive strip so as to border the underlying central floor upon which this strip is positioned. A threshold, preferably adjoining each of the modular panels, is located adjacent to the perimeter flooring and the electrically conductive fencing strip to receive and channel wiring. Support elements are mounted to each of the floor panels and the perimeter floor to resiliently support the floor panels and the perimeter floor on a base surface and minimize the force returning to the fencer from impact when the fencer lunges, jumps, fleches or otherwise moves. Over time this resilient and compliant supporting fencing track helps lessen physical injury to the fencer, including to her hips, knees, shins, or ankles. A process of assembling the track is also discussed.
In a preferred arrangement, the perimeter floor includes stringers disposed on an underside thereof, with the support elements of the perimeter floor being mounted to the stringers. The threshold can be connected and/or integrated with the modular panel for greatest assembly and disassembly efficiency, with laterally extending threshold flanges having undersides resting on the adjacent portions of the strip and the perimeter floor. The track could be one of a plurality of tracks surrounded by perimeter flooring. The perimeter floor may be provided with a receptacle for a spring-wound reel, and/or mounting for scoring and lighting fixtures.
The perimeter floor may include a pair of lateral perimeter floor sections and a pair of end perimeter floor sections, with each of the lateral and end sections of the perimeter floor including the stringers mentioned. In one preferred embodiment, the channel forming threshold is disposed between the perimeter floor and the central floor. In this preferred embodiment, the threshold itself can include a pair of sides and a bottom that collectively form a concavity, as well as a top that closes off the concavity to form a wiring channel. The threshold top defines laterally extending flanges having undersides resting on the adjacent portions of the strip and the perimeter floor. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the threshold may also be readily formed by creating adequate space and using the lateral side wall of the perimeter flooring and placing an upper cover or shield over this space.
The invention is intended to be readily assembled and disassembled at different locations, and should serve to help reduce floor related injuries and over time positively affect fencer overall performance. The track forming the subject matter of the invention is shock absorbing and resilient, can be placed temporarily or semi-permanently, if not permanently, on numerous different existing surfaces, and enhances the fencing playing field. The present inventive fencing floor system applies and integrates some features and aspects of college and professional indoor basketball, volleyball, and handball playing surfaces into a specially designed flooring system that integrates a conductive fencing strip, absorbs shock from the fencer's movements by reducing the force the floor returns to the fencer, namely, is resilient, acts to reduce harsh impacts caused by traditional flooring, even concrete, and reduces the problematic impact of raised edges of metal strips that can be an issue.
An assembled floating sport/exercise floor, piste, and perimeter floor combination forms a track 10 illustrated in
Also illustrated in
The cross sectional configuration of at least one section or part of the threshold 26 is shown in
Undersides of the floating central floor 14 and an adjacent lateral perimeter floor section 20 are visible in
In the particular embodiment illustrated, the floating central floor 14 is composed of multiple separate panels to create a 17 meter by 1.5 meter platform and support the fencing piste or strip 12, which has those same 17 meter by 1.5 meter dimensions, as noted. The panels may be formed of wood, plastic, or other material that is adequately stiff and strong enough to support competitors during a fencing match. A series of the resilient support elements 56 may be secured to the underside of each of the floating central floor panels 14a, 14b, 14c, . . . , 14n, adjacent edges of those panels.
Any type of relatively flat floor or base surface should be appropriate to support the track 10, including, for example, a gymnasium floor, the bottom of a track positioning channel, a concrete slab, and so on. By way of example only, one way to set up the track 10 might include initially placing the individual panels 14a, . . . 14n on the base surface and, optionally, securing those panels to the base surface. Although the resilient support elements 56 and 58 should suffice to keep the fencing track 10 in place as fencing matches occur, in some instances, it might be preferable to actually secure said track or parts thereof to the base surface with adhesive, or brackets and screws or other types of fastening means. The modular panels 14a, 14b, 14c, . . . 14n may be interconnected in a variety of different ways; for example, the panels may have notches and teeth oriented such that these notches and teeth of the adjacent panel fit with one another, or in the form of groove 102 and tongue 101 joint (
Once the conductive strip 12 is positioned on and combined with or integrated to the floating floor 14, the sections 18, 20, 22, and 24 of the perimeter floor 16 may be put in place around the strip and the floating floor. At this point, if it has not been installed previously, the case 36 of the spring-wound reel could be mounted in the pocket, cutout, or other receptacle of each end perimeter floor section 22, 24. By having the sections of the threshold 26 normally affixed to the threshold flanges 50 to the perimeter floor sections 18, 20, 22, and 24, by having wiring already in place within the wiring runways formed by the threshold channels 48, and by having electrical connections in place as well before connecting the threshold 26 to the perimeter floor 16, assembly of the perimeter floor 16 around the combined strip 12 and the floating floor 14 can occur rapidly.
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3920242 | Reith | Nov 1975 | A |
4030731 | Delcayre | Jun 1977 | A |
4316297 | Geist | Feb 1982 | A |
4930280 | Abendroth | Jun 1990 | A |
5277010 | Stephenson et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
5836853 | Marciano | Nov 1998 | A |
6612968 | Alvaro | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6669601 | Marciano | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6700051 | Aldridge | Mar 2004 | B2 |
7127857 | Randjelovic | Oct 2006 | B2 |
8075409 | Zivkovic | Dec 2011 | B1 |
8098982 | Nakayama | Jan 2012 | B2 |
8136312 | Hallsten | Mar 2012 | B2 |
8291665 | Sondermann | Oct 2012 | B2 |
8348770 | Hart | Jan 2013 | B2 |
20040231286 | Alton et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
20060100022 | Linsay | May 2006 | A1 |
20060211541 | Abbondanzio et al. | Sep 2006 | A1 |
20090020953 | Hallsten | Jan 2009 | A1 |
20120028721 | Johnson et al. | Feb 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
199 27 213 | Nov 2000 | DE |
2 126 106 | Mar 1984 | GB |
Entry |
---|
“Aluminium Fencing Pistes,” http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact =8&ved=0CCwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.pbtfencing.com%2Ffencingequipments%2F211.html&ei =QmPCVOL0LYKmggT5soPoAQ&usg=AFQjCNEekjOMHkEu7DOIm34FQw7A7x4L8w, taken from the internet on Jan. 22, 2015 (one (1) page). |
“AF FIE Certified High Raise Final Strip (20 meter X 3.5 meter)—Absolute Fencing Gear—Fencing Equipment,” AF Absolute Fencing Gear: The absolute best.™, http://www.absolutefencinggear.com/shopping/product—info.php/products—id/1225/cPath/58—61, taken from the Internet on Jan. 22, 2015 (three (3) pages). |
“Thread: Bamboo Floor??”, fencing.net, http://www.fencing.net/forums/thread37751.html, posted Aug. 20, 2008, taken from the internet Jan. 22, 2015 (four (4) pages). |
“Sports & Games::Combat Sports::Fencing::PISTE image—Visual Dictionary Online,” Merriam-Webster, http://visual.merriam-webster.com/sports-games/combat-sports/fencing/piste.php, taken from the Internet on Jan. 22, 2015 (two (2) pages). |
“Nitropanel International—Portable Floor System Specification,” Action Floor Systems LLC, http://www.actionfloors.com/sys—nitropanel—int.shtml, posted in 2014, taken from the Internet on Jan. 23, 2015 (two (2) pages). |
Brite, “Action Floor Systems NitroPanel,” Architect: The Magazine of the American Institute of Architects, May 7, 2010, http://www.architectmagazine.com/flooring/action-floor-systems-nitropanel.aspx, (three (3) pages). |
“Action Floor Supplies Playing Surface for Polish Disabled Athletes Competition,” Newsline, Oct. 2010 vol. 40, American Sports Builders Association, (seven (7) pages). |
“Action NitroPanel®: Portable Sports Floor Systems,” 1996, Action Floor Systems LLC, (two (2) pages). |
Abendroth, “Competitive Advantage,” Sports Flooring, 2011, pp. 166-170, PanStadia, (five (5) pages). |
“The Importance of En Standards,” About EN-DIN Certification Standards, Action Floor Systems LLC, (one (1) page). |
“DIN Rating—Ohio Floor—Connor Custom Sports Floors, et al.” The Ohio Floor Company, 2011, taken from the internet on Jan. 29, 2015 (five (5) pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20160230401 A1 | Aug 2016 | US |