DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention generally applies to the technical field of the multi-purpose platforms, and it particularly relates to a multi-purpose field as well as to a method and kit for the manufacturing thereof.

State of the Art

Known is the need to provide multi-purpose fields for sports or leisure activities. Such fields generally comprise a base platform defining an area having a floor or substantially flat and substantially continuous surface that can be trod on.

Known modular platforms are obtained by approaching a plurality of modules each one of which comprises an upper planar portion designed to be trod on by a user and a plurality of longitudinal legs or feet designed to be rested on the ground.

The feet are adjustable so that the planar portions can be substantially horizontal even where the ground has irregularities or slopes.

Generally, each module has four feet, each of which must be adjusted independently of the others.

The drawback of such platforms lies in the fact that they are particularly complicated to assemble and they also require time and specialised personnel.

Furthermore, such platforms can be positioned only on solid grounds, for example a concrete cast, asphalt cast and they cannot be positioned on soft grounds such as grass, sand or the like, since the feet subjected to the load tend to sink into the ground. In this case, there is also a risk of damaging the ground itself.

A further drawback of these platforms lies in the fact that it cannot support a fence.

As a matter of fact, should there arise the need to fence such area defined by the platform by means of a fence, the latter should withstand accidental impacts, possible lateral thrusts of the wind and impacts when performing particular sports activities such as tennis, squash, padel, football, volleyball or the like. In this case, the fence must be capable of sustaining the impact with a user when performing the activity and/or allow the bouncing of the ball.

On the other hand, should there arise the need to provide - on a solid ground - a multi-purpose field of the temporary type, an indoor multi-purpose field, for example in a shed, or generally when it is not possible to provide a concrete cast, base platforms provided with fences are known.

In particular, such fences comprise a plurality of support uprights each of which is fixed to the ground. Each upright must be positioned precisely and subsequently fixed with a plurality of screws to the ground, even 12 of them.

The drawback of such multi-purpose fields lies in the fact that the assembly operation is particularly complicated, it requires a high degree of expertise and a high number of specialised operators.

Furthermore, when the field is disassembled, the ground has a large number of holes with obvious problems such as for example the accumulation of dirt or the risk of injury, same case applying to the awful aesthetic appearance.

Should the multi-purpose field be particularly suitable for some ball sports such as squash, padel, or the like, there arises the need to provide a field provided with a platform with a floor that can be trod on, and with fence, which - being an integral part of the sports field - must guarantee the bouncing of the ball.

To this end, the known fields have continuous side walls, generally made of glass.

The drawback of such fields lies in the fact that they are not very safe given that the glass can break after impacts and the ensuing shattering can cause injury to the user.

Furthermore, when such fields are installed outdoors, the side walls subject the whole field to high stresses, risking both to break the field and move it.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, by providing a multi-purpose field that is highly functional, easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose field that can be disassembled. Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose field on soft grounds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose field that is particularly easy to transport when disassembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular multi-purpose field.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose field that is easy to assemble and transport.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safe multi-purpose field.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose field with a fence capable of allowing the bouncing of the ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kit for manufacturing a multi-purpose field having characteristics of high functionality and cost-effectiveness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a multi purpose field having characteristics of high functionality and cost-effectiveness.

These and other objects that will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a multi-purpose field and a kit and method for manufacturing the same according to what is described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of a field 1, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of an embodiment of the field 1;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away schematic view of the field 1 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are enlarged views of some details of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is an axonometric view of another embodiment of the field 1, with FIG. 4B showing some enlarged details of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is an axonometric view of another embodiment of the field 1, with FIG. 5B and 5C showing some enlarged details;

FIGS. 6A, 7 and 8 are axonometric views of some details of different embodiments of the field 1, with FIG. 6B showing an enlarged detail of FIG. 6A;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are axonometric views of different embodiments of a module 20; FIG. 11 is a top view of the module 20, with FIG. 12 showing a sectional view of FIG.

11.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

With reference to the mentioned figures, herein described is a multi-purpose field 1, which may therefore comprise an area 5, optionally delimited by a fence 7, intended to be trod on by one or more users, for example to perform recreational or recreational-sports activities.

The field 1 may be a court for playing padel, squash, tennis, badminton, volleyball, a multi-sport platform, or the like. Such examples are not exclusive.

Preferably, the field 1 may be a padel field.

Although a multi-purpose field particularly suitable for use in such sports activities is described herein, it is clear that the field 1 may be used for recreational activities such as dance floor, refreshment area, smoking area, or the like.

The field 1 can thus be positioned on a ground T which can be substantially solid, that is to say bearing as a concrete plate, or soft ground for example a lawn or a beach.

According to a first embodiment, the field 1 can be made on solid grounds T, such as for example a concrete plate such as the floor of a shed. It will be clear that the concrete plate may be already existing or specially made.

In this case, a perimeter beam 40, which can be fixed to the ground T can be provided for, while the playing area 5 can be defined by the portion of the ground T delimited by the perimeter beam 40, i.e. inside the perimeter beam 40.

As better described hereinafter, the perimeter beam 40 can define a rigid bearing base structure and it can have a lower surface designed to come into contact with the ground T.

Suitably, the perimeter beam 40 may comprise or consist of a plurality of beams 41 which may be positioned sequentially so as to form the perimeter beam 40.

In this manner, the perimeter beam 40 can be modular so as to allow to define a playing area 5 of variable dimensions depending on the needs.

Preferably, but not exclusively, the playing area 5 may be substantially rectangular shaped. Preferably, the playing area 5 may have lengths equal to 10, 12.5 and 16.5 metres and corresponding widths 4, 6 and 8 metres. It is clear that such dimensions are provided by way of non-exclusive example. As a matter of fact, the perimeter beam 40 and therefore the playing area 5 may come in various dimensions.

The beams 41 may have a length comprised between 2 and 6 metres, preferably of about 4m.

Optionally, the beams 41 can be mutually coupled to each other. In particular, the beams 41 can be rigidly coupled sequentially. In other words, each end thereof may be coupled with the end of a different beam 41.

The coupling can be obtained by means of screws and bolts in a per se known manner. For example, each beam 41 may comprise suitable holes arranged in proximity of the end to allow coupling with an adjacent beam by means of a through screw and a bolt.

It is clear that the beams can be rigidly coupled, i.e. so as to form a rigid structure, even in a different manner. For example, by means of plates.

Suitably, regardless of the possible mutual coupling of the beams 41, each beam 41 can be fixed to the ground T. In particular, each beam 41 may have a pair of areas 42, 43 for fixing them to the ground T. Preferably, said areas 42, 43 may be in proximity of the ends of the beam 41.

Each area 42, 43 may comprise one or more through holes, preferably each area 42, 43 may comprise a pair of through holes to allow the fixing of the perimeter beam 40 by means of screws of known type. The screws can thus penetrate into the ground T. The ground T may optionally comprise suitable holes for housing the screws, in a per se known manner.

In this manner, the perimeter beam 40 can be fixed to the ground T so as to form a rigid bearing structure.

Thanks to such characteristic, the total number of screws, and therefore the number of holes in the ground T, can be particularly few.

Thanks to such characteristic, the assembly operations can be particularly simple and fast. Furthermore, still thanks to such characteristic, it is possible to avoid ruining the ground

T. As a matter of fact, the perimeter beam 40 can be removably fixed into the ground T so as to allow the assembly and disassembly of the field 1.

More in detail, the beams 41 may be substantially rectangular-shaped so as to have a lower resting surface 45, an inner lateral surface 46, an outer lateral surface 47 and an upper operative surface 48.

The lower resting surfaces 45 can therefore define the resting surface 11 of the perimeter beam 40.

For example, the beams 41 may have a width greater than 450 mm, preferably of about 480 mm, and a height greater than 100mm, preferably of about 120 mm.

It is clear that each beam 41 can be obtained by means of a frame with a pair of longitudinal elements and a plurality of crosspieces for connecting them. In any case, the beam 41 can be made in any way without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The resting surface 45 can then come into contact with the ground T.

The field 1 can therefore comprise a continuous floor 50 having an outer surface 50' intended to be trod on by the user. Suitably, such floor 50 may be substantially flat.

The continuous floor 50 may be defined by the playing area 5 or, preferably, it may comprise a covering element 52 resting on or fixed to the plate T designed to be trod on by the user.

For example, the covering element 52 may be an artificial grass mat, a synthetic material mat generally used for tennis courts, a parquet floor, a rubber mat or the like.

It is clear that such examples are not exclusive. As a matter of fact, the floor 50 can be obtained in a different manner depending on the requirements.

According to a different embodiment, the field 1 may comprise a substantially planar base platform, as better described hereinafter, which may define a bearing base structure 10.

This base structure 10 may comprise a resting surface 11 facing the ground T and designed to come into contact with it and an opposite surface 13 designed to support the continuous floor 50.

In this manner the field 1 can be made on soft grounds T, such as for example a lawn or a beach.

Preferably, the bearing structure 10 can be substantially modular.

Suitably, provided for may be a plurality of modular elements 20 which can be mutually coupled to each other so as to form the substantially rigid bearing structure 10.

The modular elements 20 may be substantially planar-shaped and they may be mutually arranged side by side so as to form a substantially planar bearing structure 10.

Preferably, the modular elements 20 can be removably coupled to each other so that the bearing structure 10 is also of the removable type.

Each module 20 may comprise a perimeter area 21 and an inner area 25. In particular, the first may comprise a longitudinal element 22, while the second may comprise a plurality of rafters 26.

For example, the inner area 25 may comprise a rafter 26 every 500 mm.

Preferably, each module 20 may be substantially rectangular or square-shaped. In this case, the perimeter area 21 may be shaped in this manner and the longitudinal element 22 can have the perimeter of a rectangle or square.

For example, the module 20 may have a width of 2 metres and a length of 2 or 4 metres. It is clear that the modules 20 may have any dimension.

In other words, the bearing structure 10 may be a reticular structure.

Suitably, means 29' can be provided for mutually coupling the modules 20. For example, each of the latter may comprise one or more coupling areas 29, each of which may comprise one or more through holes 29'. In this manner, two adjacent modules 20 can be coupled by means of screws passing through said holes 29' in a per se known manner.

Preferably, the longitudinal elements 22 may comprise such holes 29'. In particular, the perimeter area 21 may be formed by four longitudinal elements 22, each of which may comprise a pair of holes 29'.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the longitudinal elements 22 and the rafters 26 may have a lower operative surface 23 and 27 and an upper operative surface

24 and 28.

Once the modules 20 have been coupled to define the base structure 10, the lower operative surfaces 23, 27 of the different modules 20 can cooperate to define the bearing surface 11 of the rigid base structure 10.

In other words, the modules 20 can be coupled to each other so that the lower operative surfaces 23, 27 are all coplanar.

Furthermore, thanks to such characteristic, the support surface 11 can be particularly wide so as to allow the positioning of the base structure 10 on soft grounds.

The floor 50 may comprise one or more plates 51 designed to be rested on or coupled with the operative surface 13 of the bearing plate 10.

In particular, the plates 51 can be rested on the upper operative surface 28 of the rafters 26. More in detail, the rafters 26 and the longitudinal elements 22 may have different heights so that the respective lower surfaces 23, 27 are substantially coplanar, while the respective upper surfaces 24, 28 lie in different planes.

In other words, each module 20 can have the perimeter area 21 having a height greater than the inner area 25 so as to define a seat for the plates 51.

Suitably, the plates 51 may have a height substantially equal to the height difference of the longitudinal elements 22 and of the rafters 26 so that once the plates 51 have been positioned in the inner area 25 of the module 20, i.e. once the plates 51 have been coupled with the bearing structure 10, the plates 51 and the upper surfaces 24 of the longitudinal elements 22 can be substantially flushed.

In other words, the plates 51 and the upper surfaces 24 can define the surface 50'. Preferably, the floor 50 may comprise the covering element 52 positioned above the plates 51 and the upper surfaces 24 so that the surface of the latter defines the surface 50' that can be trod on.

The floor 50 and the rigid base structure 10 can be mutually configured so that the former has a capacity of at least 250 kg/square metre, preferably a capacity comprised between 300 and 500 kg/square metre.

The base bearing structure 10, can therefore have different configurations. For example, the base bearing structure 10 may be the platform made with the modules 20, the perimeter beam 40 may be made with the beams 41 or it may comprise both the platform and the perimeter beam.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, and independently of the configuration of the bearing structure 10, the field 1 may comprise the side wall 31 removably coupled to the bearing structure 10 to define a fence 7.

Suitably, a plurality of uprights 32 and a plurality of planar elements 36 mutually coupled to form a side wall 31 can be provided for. The latter can be removably coupled with the bearing structure 10.

More in detail, the uprights 32 may be coupled to the bearing structure 10, while the planar elements 36 can be coupled with the uprights 32.

Preferably, the uprights 32 may be substantially square-shaped.

The uprights 32 may have a height greater than 2 metres, preferably greater than 3 metres. Preferably but not exclusively, the uprights 32 may have a mutual distance comprised between 1 and 3 m, preferably of about 2 m.

As better explained hereinafter, the planar elements 36 may comprise or consist of substantially continuous, possibly transparent elements, for example non-transparent or substantially non-continuous sheets made of glass or PMMA, for example a metal mesh.

It is clear that the planar elements 36 may comprise a support frame 37 which may face outwards so that the inner face 33 of the side wall 31 is free of projections.

More in detail, the planar elements 36 may be planar elements 236, 336 configured to allow the bouncing of the ball or planar elements 136 configured to not allow it. Suitably, should the field 1 comprise the side wall 31 having the planar elements 236, 336 bouncing, the field 1 may be particularly suitable for padel or squash.

These planar elements 236, 336 can be positioned in the field in a per se known manner. For example, they may be at the bottom walls of the padel court.

Furthermore, the planar elements 36 may be substantially continuous planar elements 236 or non-continuous, i.e. discontinuous planar elements 136, 336. The side wall 31 may possibly comprise more than one type of planar elements 36.

Advantageously, the planar elements 36 can be coupled to the uprights 32 so as to remain substantially flushed therewith, and in particular with the face 32' of the uprights 32 facing toward the playing area 5.

In this manner, the face 33 of the side wall 31 facing toward the playing area 5, i.e. the inner face, can be substantially continuous, while the uprights 32 and the perimeter beam 40 can remain substantially outside the playing area 5.

Thanks to such characteristic, it is possible to protect the user against injury during use, hence making the field 1 particularly safe. Furthermore, still thanks to such characteristic, one or more parts of the inner face 33 can allow the ball to bounce as better explained hereinafter.

The planar elements 36 may have a height substantially equal to the uprights, or even greater, for example they may have a height greater than 3 metres, and may have a width substantially equal to the distance between a pair of consecutive uprights 32.

Generally, the side wall 31 may have a constant height H or it may have portions 3 with lower heights and portions 31" with higher heights.

Optionally, as shown in the figures, the side wall 31 may not be continuous along the entire perimeter. For example, one or more discontinuities 31"', which can thus define the entrance/exit into/from the playing area 5, may be provided for.

The side wall 31 may have a distance D from the ground T. In this case, the floor 50 may have a thickness substantially equal to or greater than such distance D so that the surface 50' that can be trod on by the user and the inner face 33 have substantial continuity and form a mutual angle of about 90°.

For example, if the perimeter beam 40 is present, the side wall 31 can be coupled with the perimeter beam 40.

Preferably, the uprights 32 can be removably coupled at the inner 46 or outer 47 lateral surface of the perimeter beam 40. Such coupling can be obtained by means of corner plates and screws in a per se known manner.

The beams 41 and/or the uprights 32 can be made of metal, preferably steel.

Operatively, a plurality of holes can thus be made in the ground T and the beams 41 can be positioned at the same so as to form the perimeter beam 40. The perimeter beam 40 can be fixed to the ground T by means of screws 44 of known type.

The beams 41 may comprise a plurality of holes so as to allow the coupling of the perimeter beam 40 with the uprights 32. The latter may thus be coupled by means of a screw-bolt system of known type, possibly by means of plates or corner elements.

Subsequently, the planar element 36 can be coupled to a pair of sequential uprights 32 so as to obtain the side wall 31.

In the perimeter beam 40 there can be arranged the floor 50 which can be configured so that the treadable surface 50' is suitable for the needs, for example a grass or rubber turf.

On the other hand, should the base structure be a platform, the side wall 31 can be configured as described above, and it can be coupled in a similar manner with the modules 20 instead of with the beams 41.

In particular, the uprights 32 can be coupled to the bearing structure 10 so that the inner face 32'of the former is at the outer face 22' of the longitudinal elements 22.

According to a particular embodiment, the bearing structure 10 can comprise both the platform made with the modules 20 and the perimeter beam 40 made with the beams

41.

In this case, the uprights 32 can be coupled at the outer face 47 of the perimeter beam 40 in the same way as described above regarding the longitudinal elements 22.

The perimeter beam 40 and the longitudinal elements 22 may be coupled to each other in a removable manner so as to form a single rigid bearing structure 10.

Irrespectively of the base structure 10, the inner face 33 of the side wall 31 may be substantially flushed with the treadable surface 50' so that the latter have substantial continuity and form a mutual angle of about 90°.

Furthermore, despite this embodiment having been described in particular for soft grounds, it is clear that the base bearing structure 10 can be positioned on flat solid grounds, since the resting surface 11 can be substantially flat.

Operatively, a plurality of modules 20 and possibly a plurality of beams 41 can be provided for, the number and dimensions thereof depending on the need, so as to form the rigid bearing structure 10.

The perimeter longitudinal elements 22 of the modules 20, as well as the beams 41, may comprise a plurality of holes in a predetermined position so as to allow the coupling of the bearing structure 10 with the uprights 32. The latter may thus be coupled by means of a screw-bolt system of known type, possibly by means of plates or corner elements.

Subsequently, the planar element 36 can be coupled to a pair of sequential uprights 32 so as to obtain the side wall 31. The plates 51 and possibly a covering element 52 can then be arranged so that the treadable surface 50' is suitable for the requirements.

As mentioned above, the side wall 31 may comprise the non-bouncing planar elements 136, for example a net, and continuous bouncing planar elements 236, for example a glass or polymethyl methacrylate plate.

For example, the fence 7 may comprise the lateral areas 8 in which the side wall 31 includes a net 136 and the bottom areas 9 in which the side wall 31 includes a glass plate 236 so as to allow the bouncing of the ball.

On the other hand, according to a particular embodiment, irrespectively of the configuration of the bearing structure 10 or of the perimeter beam 40, the fence 7 may comprise the bottom areas 9 in which the side wall 31 includes a net 336 which allows the ball to bounce.

For example, the discontinuous planar element 336 may be a metal mesh having a plurality of vertical wires 3362 and a plurality of horizontal wires 3361 coupled to form a mesh. For example, the vertical 3362 and horizontal 3361 wires may be electrowelded.

The mesh may be substantially rectangular.

Suitably, the horizontal wires 3361 may face toward the playing area, while the vertical wires 3362 may face the opposite side. This may always ensure that the direction after the bounce with respect to the vertical plane can be similar to that against a continuous surface.

The expression "bounce" is used to indicate the elastic response of the planar element 36. In particular, in the present text, considering a tennis ball, the planar element 236 and the planar element 336 can allow it to bounce in a substantially similar manner.

In particular, once the planar element 336 thus configured has been positioned horizontally, a ball left to fall vertically from a height of 1.5 meters above the planar element 336 bounces to a minimum height of 0.5 m substantially along the same vertical axis of fall.

More in detail, the horizontal wires 3361 may have a distance between centres comprised between 15 and 20 mm, preferably of about 16.6 mm, while the vertical wires 3362 may have a distance between centres comprised between 20 and 35 mm, preferably of about 32 mm. The wires 3361 and/or the wires 3362 may have a thickness comprised between 3 and 4.5 mm, preferably of about 3.8 mm. It is clear that the thickness may coincide with the diameter of the wire.

Thanks to the characteristics outlined above, the field 1 can have a side wall 31 entirely consisting of non-continuous planar elements 136, 336, while maintaining bouncing characteristics of the ball substantially similar to those of a continuous wall.

In this manner, when the field 1 is installed on the outdoors, the wind thrust on the side wall 31 and therefore the stresses on the entire structure of the field 1 can be advantageously reduced.

In any case, the configuration of the field 1 can be varied by providing it or depriving it of the fence 7. Moreover, the entire field 1 can advantageously be of the removable type.

As a matter of fact, the field 1 can be assembled whenever required and subsequently disassembled. In this manner, the field 1 may be particularly suitable for exhibition and/or seasonal activities.

Suitably, should the field 1 be a padel, tennis, badminton, volleyball court or the like, there may be provided for a net 3 which can be fixed to the bearing structure 10 in a manner similar to the uprights 32 according to the configuration of the bearing structure 10.

Advantageously, there may be provided for a kit 100 for assembling the field 1 which may comprise a plurality of uprights 32, a plurality of planar elements 31 and means for the removable mutual coupling thereof.

Suitably, according to the configuration of the field 1, a plurality of modules 20 can be provided for, all of which may be equal or have different sizes, to form the bearing structure 10 or a plurality of beams 41 to form the perimeter beam 40.

In this manner, all the pieces of the kit 100 can have reduced dimensions, and more generally reduced overall dimensions. As a matter of fact, all the pieces may have a substantially longilineal or sheet-like shape.

Furthermore, the entire kit 100 may have a weight of less than 9000 kg.

The kit 100 can be easily transported and stored thanks to such characteristics.

Furthermore, the field 1 can be easily assembled and/or disassembled by non- specialised operators. In light of the above, it is clear that the invention attains the pre-set objectives.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the inventive concept outlined in the attached claims. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Even though the invention has been described with particular reference to the attached figures, the reference numbers utilised in the description and in the claims are meant for improving the intelligibility of the invention and thus do not limit the claimed scope of protection in any manner whatsoever.