[0002] 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.

[0003] Description of Related Art

[0004] Developments associated with electromechanical and electronic scoring are regularly being incorporated into the sport of fencing. Such developments include U.S. Patent 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. Patent 6,612,968 to Alvaro and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/021 1541 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. Patent 6,700,051 to Aldridge and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0100022 to Linsay relate to wireless scoring systems for fencing. [0005] Specialized surfaces and flooring have also been developed as playing surfaces suitable for use in various sports including fencing. U.S. Patent 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. Patent 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. Patent 4,930,280 to Abendroth and U.S. Patent 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. Patent 5,277,010 to Stephenson et al. relates to a sport floor system using compressible floor supports with pneumatic resiliency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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,

[0008] The perimeter floor may include a pair of lateral perimeter floor sections and a pair of end perimeter floor sections, with each of the laterai 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,

[0009] 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure I is a plan view from above a track formed by an assembled floating sport/exercise floor, piste, and perimeter floor combination according to the invention.

[001 1] Figure 2 is a sectional view of a threshold positioned between the central floor and an adjacent lateral perimeter floor section of the combination illustrated in Figure 1.

[0012] Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but slightly enlarged and seen from the opposite end of a threshold. [0013] Figure 4 is a view illustrating undersides of the floating central floor and an adjacent lateral perimeter floor section.

[0014] Figure 5 is a perspective view of one end of the track shown in Figure 1.

[0015] Figure 6 is a perspective schematic view of a single track in an assembled condition, with the conductive strip, the perimeter floor, and the threshold visible.

[0016] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a single track similar to the track shown in Figure 6 but in which the outside of the perimeter floor also includes a protective and ornamental flange or covering.

[0017] Figure 8 illustrates an arrangement in which multiple pistes or strips are disposed in series within a unitary perimeter floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An assembled floating sport/exercise floor, piste, and perimeter floor combination forms a track 10 illustrated in Figure 1, which is a plan view from above that track. A conductive piste or strip 12, mounted on a stable, resilient, floating central floor 14 that is visible in Figures 2, 3, and 4, is shown in Figure 1 as surrounded by a perimeter floor 16. By way of example only, in the fencing application envisioned here, the strip 12 will have overall dimensions of 17 meters by 1.5 meters. The perimeter floor 16 shown includes a first pair of sections 18 and 20, which are disposed laterally relative to the overall track 10 and roughly parallel to each other, and a second pair of sections 22 and 24, which are disposed at ends of the track 10 and roughly parallel to each other as well. [0019] Also illustrated in Figure 1 is the upper surface of a threshold 26, which serves several purposes, to be described . The threshold 26 includes a first lateral section 28 at a junction between the lateral perimeter floor section 18 and the strip 12, a second lateral section 30 at a junction between the lateral perimeter floor section 20 and the strip 12, a first end section 32 at a junction between the end perimeter floor section 22 and the strip 2, and a second end section 34 between the end perimeter floor section 24 and the strip 12. Each of the end perimeter floor sections 22 and 24 includes a pocket, cutout, or other receptacle dimensioned to receive the case 36 of a spring-wound reel. In a conventional manner, the reel mentioned is used to pay out and rewind wire 38 (Figure 5) connected, via a body cord in the apparel of a competing fencer, to the weapon of the fencer as he or she moves up and down the strip 12 during a match. The reel is in turn interconnected, by appropriate plugs and cables, to an electronic scoring system, such as that formed by the central scoring console of the Zivkovic ('409) patent, the scoring machine, computing device, and display of the Hart ('770) patent, the scoring machine of the Abbondanzio et al. (' 541) publication, or the control box of the Johnson et al. ('721) publication identified above.

[0020] The cross sectional configuration of at least on section or part of the threshold 26 is shown in Figures 2 and 3, with Figure 2 being a view in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1, and Figure 3 being a view in the direction of arrow III in Figure 1. This section or part of the threshold 26 includes, in cross section, a pair of parallel sides 40 and 42, a bottom 44, and a top 46, defining the upper surface visible in Figure 1. The threshold 26 serves to both cover spaces between the strip 12 and the sections of the perimeter floor 16 and to provide channels that can receive wiring electrically communicating connections to the strip 12 and/or the reels in the cases 36 with the electronic scoring system. The threshold sides 40 and 42 and the threshold bottom 44 collectively form an approximately "U" shaped concavity that is closed off by the top 46 to form a channel 48 extending throughout the length of the particular part or section of the threshold 26. The threshold top 46 extends laterally beyond the sides 40 and 42 to define flanges 50 and 52, having undersides respectively arranged to rest on the perimeter floor 16 and the conductive strip 12. The undersides of the threshold flanges 50 are preferably permanently secured, by an appropriate adhesive or appropriate fasteners, to the upper surfaces of respective perimeter floor sections 18, 20, 22, and 24 in order to facilitate quick assembly and disassembly of the track 10. Appropriate wiring is preferably passed through the threshold channels 48 and electrical connections (not shown) are preferably put in place before connecting the threshold 26 to the perimeter floor 16. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that a threshold can be alternatively positioned along the outer edge of the perimeter flooring.

[0021] Undersides of the floating central floor 14 and an adjacent lateral perimeter floor section 20 are visible in Figure 4. Figure 4 also shows the bottom 44 of the threshold 26 disposed between the central floor 14 and the adjacent perimeter floor section 20. Each of the lateral perimeter floor sections 18 and 20 is provided on its underside with reinforcing ribs or stringers 54 that extend in the widthwise direction of those sections 18 and 20, as is evident from Figure 4. The stringers 54 are preferably regularly distributed throughout the length of each section 18 and 20, although other distribution patterns are also envisioned. As is visible in the end view of the track 10 shown in Figure 5, the end perimeter floor section 22 at an end of the track is also provided on its underside with reinforcing ribs or stringers 60, which are essentially the same as the reinforcing ribs or stringers 54 already discussed. The end perimeter floor section 24 is additionally provided with such reinforcing ribs or stringers on its underside, although these particular stringers are not visible in Figure 5. [0022] Figure 4 further illustrates a plurality of resilient bumpers or support elements 56 distributed laterally across the underside of the central floor 14, causing the floor 14 to "float" above a surface upon which the floor is placed. Each stringer 54 is also shown as having a pair of resilient bumpers or support elements 58 located at its opposite ends. The resilient support elements 56 and 58 are intended to support the assembled track 10 upon the floor or the base surface on which the track 10 is placed, serve to prevent the assembled track 10 from sliding relative to that floor or other surface, and cushion the track relative to the floor or the base surface in order to minimize injur)' and impact over time to the hips, knees, shins or ankles of fencers. The support elements 56 and 58 may be secured in place to the central floor 14 and the stringers 54 by an adhesive, by screws or nails, or in other suitable attachment ways.

[0023] 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. Figure 4 shows a series of five such elements 56 adjacent to the edges of three of the panels 14a, 14b, and 14c, although this is only one example of a variety of appropriate resilient support element arrangements. Each of the perimeter floor sections 18, 20, 22, and 24 could similarly be composed of multiple panels, with the stringers and resilient support elements pre-assembled to those perimeter floor panels. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that floating resilient athletic wood floor systems can be constructed of multiple modular panels where each panel combines both a central and perimeter floor, and that those floors that are rated and/or meet the compliance standards set by the ASTM and/or are EN compliant will provide excellent shock absorption and will be satisfactory to meet the performance needs of a competitive or practice fencing surface.

[0024] 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 and tongue joint that either slide or snap in place, or having beveled cut ends of one panel cooperating with the beveled cut ends of the adjacent panel, or by way of fasteners disposed along opposite edges such as threaded fasteners, bayonet type fasteners, snap type fasteners, magnetic type fasteners or any other type fasteners suitable for mating modular floor panels together. Once the panels have been placed on the base surface to create the 17 meter by 1.5 meter platform mentioned, forming the floating floor 14, the conductive piste or strip 12 could be placed to the floor 14. It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that the piste or strip 12 is typically a stand-alone conductive mesh runner, perforated sheet metal, dimpled sheet metal, or laminated metal panel . The piste or strip 12, which can be recessed into the overall track, if desired, may be secured to the floating floor by varying means recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art subject to the choice of piste or strip material.

[0025] 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.

[0026] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a single track 10 in an assembled condition, with the conductive piste or strip 12, the perimeter floor 16, and the threshold 26 all visible. In contrast to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1-5, where the threshold end sections 32 and 34 extend over the entire longitudinal extent of the end perimeter floor sections 22, 24, in Figure 6, the threshold end sections 32 and 34 extend only between, and terminate at, the threshold lateral sections 28 and 30, with all channels 48 of the threshold 26 in communication so that just a single cable outlet may be used. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a single track 10a, with a conductive piste or strip 12a, a perimeter floor 16a, and a threshold 26a all visible. The track 10a shown in Figure 7 differs from the track 10 shown in Figure 6 in that each of the sections of the perimeter floor 16a of Figure 7 includes a protective and ornamental flange or covering 62 projecting downward to the vicinity of the sub-floor base surface. Finally, Figure 8 illustrates an arrangement in which multiple pistes or strips 12 are disposed in series within a unitary

perimeter floor 16b.

[0027] 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.