Modular athletic playing surface with tuned compliance

Details Modular athletic playing surface with tuned compliance Modular athletic playing surface with tuned compliance

1980-01-09

1982-04-20

Apley, Richard J.

Undertaking

52480, 272109, 404 35, A63C 1900

Patent

active

043255469

ABSTRACT:
A closely spaced array of modules forms an athletic playing surface characterized by a high degree of vertical compliance, an extreme resistance to lateral shear, and a high degree of uniformity of response. Each module has a laminated construction that includes a pair of stiffly resilient plates in a generally parallel, spaced relationship. One or more spacer plates and a plurality of resilient members are "sandwiched" between the plates. The lower plate is supported on a frame that allows it to flex in response to an applied force, typically the impact of a runner's foot on the upper plate. The spacer plate is configured, positioned, and secured to the upper and lower plates to mechanically couple them in a manner that, to a large degree, compensates for a non-uniformity of the deflection response of the module introduced by the frame support. The resilient members are selected and positioned to provide a substantially uniform deflection response at the upper plate. In the preferred form, the module has a set of hold-down bolts that extend between the upper and lower plates at points remote from the spacer plate or plates. The bolts limit the maximum vertical spacing between the plates and provide a convenient adjustment of both the vertical compliance of the module and the level of the upper plate. Also, the edges of adjacent upper plates preferably carry a set of control tabs, each secured to one plate and extending under the adjacent plate, to control the maximum vertical displacement between the adjacent edges.

REFERENCES:
patent: 7933 (1851-02-01), Ware
patent: Re17020 (1928-07-01), Healy
patent: 92793 (1869-07-01), Butler
patent: 357144 (1887-02-01), Buttler
patent: 738174 (1903-09-01), Erwin
patent: 750954 (1904-02-01), Ellis
patent: 1233200 (1917-07-01), Dessau
patent: 1509750 (1924-09-01), Campbell
patent: 1693655 (1928-12-01), Murphy
patent: 1747352 (1930-02-01), Devine, Jr.
patent: 2068386 (1937-01-01), Otis
patent: 2167696 (1939-08-01), Tetzman
patent: 2263895 (1941-11-01), Larsen
patent: 2369733 (1945-02-01), Greulich
patent: 3045294 (1962-07-01), Livezey
patent: 3114940 (1963-12-01), Rockabrand et al.
patent: 3271916 (1966-09-01), Omholt
patent: 3438312 (1969-04-01), Becker et al.
patent: 3575780 (1971-04-01), Trieschmann
patent: 3634895 (1972-01-01), Childers
patent: 3641601 (1972-02-01), Sieg
patent: 3779547 (1973-12-01), Pappas
patent: 3844539 (1974-10-01), Abbott
patent: 3922409 (1975-11-01), Stark
patent: 4054987 (1977-10-01), Forlenza
patent: 4198042 (1980-04-01), Olson
Hewetson-Springbok Resilient Flooring System, Jul. 1978, J. A. Hewetson & Company Limited.
Hewetson-Valtor Lockable Sprung Dance Floor, Jul. 1978, J. A. Hewetson & Company Limited.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Modular athletic playing surface with tuned compliance does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Modular athletic playing surface with tuned compliance, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular athletic playing surface with tuned compliance will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1260311