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Title:
MOBILE WATER SPORTS COURT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2024/023540
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a mobile water sports field, which is formed from a net module that can be arranged above the water surface, a line module that can be arranged on the water surface, a fixing module that can be fixed in the bed, and a support module that connects the line module and the net module to the fixing module. The net module net body (31), the lower and upper net tension cords (32) connected to the net body (31) and the sliding hanging ring (34), as well as the elastic rope (21) forming the space half-line (20) of the line module, the line body (22) covering this and carabiner (23), also the support module anchor rope (13), lower support post (14), anchor bolt (16), center line (15) fixed between two lower support posts (14), upper support post fixed to the lower support post (14) with a clamping screw (17) (18) and hanging hook (19), while the fixing module contains ground anchor (11) and ground screw (12). An anchor rope (13) is connected to the ground anchor (11) and the anchor coil (16), both ends of the elastic rope (21) are connected to the center line, while the carabiner (23) is connected to the anchor rope connected to the anchor coil (16), and also connected to the net body (31) lower net tension line (32) is connected to a sliding hook ring (34) slidably fitted to the upper support post (18), the upper net tension line (32) is connected to a hook (19) fixed to the upper support post (18), and fixed to the upper support post (18) an anchor rope (13) is attached to another hanging hook (19) and to the ground anchor (11).

Inventors:
TATÁR PÉTER (HU)
Application Number:
PCT/HU2023/050046
Publication Date:
February 01, 2024
Filing Date:
July 28, 2023
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
TATAR PETER (HU)
International Classes:
A63C19/06; A63C19/02; A63C19/08; B29B9/00
Foreign References:
FR2740048A11997-04-25
DE2707366A11978-08-24
US5615891A1997-04-01
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
DANUBIA PATENT AND LAW OFFICE LLC. (HU)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. Mobile water sports court, which contains a net module that can be arranged above the water surface, a line module that can be arranged on the water surface, a fixing module that can be fixed in the bed of a body of water, and a support module connecting the line module and the net module to the fixing module, characterized in that the net module comprises a net body (31), lower and upper net tension cords (32) and sliding hanging ring (34) connected to the net body (31), the line module comprises an elastic rope (21) forming the half-court line (20), the rope (21) covered by a line body (22) and a carabiner (23), the support module comprises an anchor rope (13), a lower support column (14), an anchor buoy (16), a center line (15) fixed between two lower support columns (14), an upper support post (18) fixed to the lower support column (14) with a clamping screw (17), a hook (19), the fixing module contains a ground anchor (11) and a ground screw (12), where an anchor rope (13) is connected to the ground anchor (11) and the anchor buoy (16), both ends of the elastic rope (21) are connected to the center line, and the rope (21) itself is clamped to the anchor rope (13) connected to the anchor buoy (16) by means of the carabiner (23), and the lower net tension cord (32) of the net body (31) is connected to the sliding hanging ring (34) slidably fitted to the upper support post (18), and the upper net tension cord (32) is connected to the hook (19) fixed to the upper support post (18), and an anchor rope (13) is connected to an additional hanging hook (19) attached to the upper support post (18) and to the ground anchor (11).

2. The mobile water sports court according to claim 1, characterized in that the sports court is rectangular in shape and the elastic rope (21) of the line module forming the half-court line (20) is arranged along the sides of the rectangle and connected to a respective anchor rope (13) attached to a respective anchor buoy (16) by means of a respective carabiner (23).

3. The mobile water sports court according to claim 1, characterized in that a part of a section of the elastic rope (21) extending between two carabiners (23), and a part of a section between the carabiner (23) and the center line (15) is clamped by a corner clip (24).

4. The mobile water sports court according to claim 3, characterized in that the comer clip (24) is formed from a base plate (24a) and fastening elements protruding from the base plate (24a), and the fastening elements are arranged mirrorsymmetrically on the center line (24k) of the base plate (24a).

5. The mobile water sports field according to claim 4, characterized in that at least four fastening elements are formed on the base plate (24a), and a part of the section of the elastic rope (21) is clamped to at least two fastening elements.

6. The mobile water sports field according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastening element is formed from a central body (24t) protruding from the base plate (24a) and a surrounding surface (24f) that runs at least partially around the central body (24t).

7. The mobile water sports court according to claim 6, characterized in that the part of the central body (24t) facing the surrounding surface (24f) and/or the surrounding surface (24f) is/are roughened surface(s), and lacing grooves (24h) are formed on the base plate (24).

Description:
MOBILE WATER SPORTS COURT

The present invention relates to a mobile water sports court, which contains a net module that can be arranged above the water surface, a line module that can be arranged on the water surface, a fixing module that can be fixed in the bed of a body of water, and a support module connecting the line module and the net module to the fixing module.

The Mobile Water Sports Court (abbreviated as MVS or court) can be installed in natural or man-made, freshwater or saltwater swimming areas, in which, under standard conditions, sports activities requiring the presence of a playing area on the water divided by a net and marked by half-court lines can be carried out; and which connects the components to the river bed chosen as the location of the court, the so-called "fixing elements" (11, 12), the net separating the two halves of the court (31, 32, 33, 34), and the so-called "net support elements" (14, 17, 18, 19), as well as the so-called " half-court lines" (20), and the so-called "line support elements" (15, 16) holding them on the surface of the water; with the addition of so-called " anchor ropes" (13) of adjustable length, connecting parts of fixing elements (11) and supporting elements (16,19).

KNOWN TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

The so-called water sports courts, which are currently available on the Internet, the "inflatable, monolithic courts" can be considered as water sports courts divided by a net and marked with half-court lines having the common feature of that the entire court is made of a special plastic fabric that can be inflated to a giant size, which is then anchored to the corresponding depth of the open water with the help of special fastening elements. For example, the product sold at the following link: http s//www. ali expres s . com/item/ 32855770490. html

In Hungary, another solution is widespread to meet the above requirement, where two columns equipped with huge weights are placed in the corresponding deep parts of the open water and the space dividing net is placed on them: https://plastobo.hu/termek/vizi- roplabda-oszloppar/. Since this product only solves the placement of the net, but neither its adequate reinforcement nor the visibility of the exact boundaries of each half-court is ensured, so it cannot be considered a real solution, but at the same time, due to its prevalence, it is perhaps suitable for illustrating the problem to be solved and the current state of the art.

THE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED WITH THE INVENTION

The creation of a sports device that is suitable for natural or man-made, freshwater or saltwater swimming areas with the appropriate depth a) dividing the area occupied by it into two halves with the help of a net placed above the water; and b) enabling visible to everyone the exact boundaries of the halves of court created in this way on the top of the water by means of "half-court lines”.

What is described in point b) is necessary so that at the end of each ‘rally 1 it can be clearly seen whether the sports equipment used for the given activity (volleyball, badminton, water tennis ball, etc.) has hit water inside or outside the valid area after the last touch. The clear decisionability of this makes it possible to predict the immediate result of the given sports activity.

SOLVING THE PROBLEM

The MVS disclosed in this application solves the objects as presented in the previous chapter by creating a mobile water sports court, which contains a net module that can be arranged above the water surface, a line module that can be arranged on the water surface, a fixing module that can be fixed in the bed of a body of water, and a support module connecting the line module and the net module to the fixing module, the net module comprises a net body, lower and upper net tension cords and sliding hanging ring connected to the net body, the line module comprises an elastic rope forming the half-court line, the rope covered by a line body and a carabiner, the support module comprises an anchor rope, a lower support column, an anchor buoy, a center line fixed between two lower support columns, an upper support post fixed to the lower support column with a clamping screw, a hook, while the fixing module contains a ground anchor and a ground screw, where an anchor rope is connected to the ground anchor and the anchor buoy, both ends of the elastic rope are connected to the center line, and the rope itself is clamped to the anchor rope connected to the anchor buoy by means of the carabiner, and the lower net tension cord of the net body is connected to the sliding hanging ring slidably fitted to the upper support post, and the upper net tension cord is connected to the hook fixed to the upper support post, and an anchor rope is connected to an additional hanging hook attached to the upper support post and to the ground anchor.

Advantageously, the sports court is rectangular in shape and the elastic rope of the line module forming the half-court line is arranged along the sides of the rectangle and connected to a respective anchor rope attached to a respective anchor buoy by means of a respective carabiner.

A part of a section of the elastic rope extending between two carabiners, and a part of a section between the carabiner and the center line is clamped by a comer clip.

The corner clip is formed from a base plate and fastening elements protruding from the base plate, and the fastening elements are arranged mirrorsymmetrically on the center line of the base plate.

At least four fastening elements are formed on the base plate, and a part of the section of the elastic rope is clamped to at least two fastening elements.

The fastening element contains a central body protruding from the base plate and a surrounding surface that runs at least partially around the central body.

The part of the central body facing the surrounding surface and/or the surrounding surface is/are roughened surface(s), and lacing grooves are formed on the base plate. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Designing a strong net support and bracing system fixed to the bed bottom with special "soil screws" and "ground anchors"; furthermore, application of half-court lines and spaceseparating nets of variable size, which are connected to the elements of the support system at several points and float on the water surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Mobile water sports court (Fig. 1), the components of which are fixed to the existing water bed with the help of 8 pieces of ground anchors 11 and two ground screws 12; two lower support columns (14) are fitted into two soil screws (12) with a releasable connection using clamping screws, which are also connected to two upper support columns (18) with a releasable connection by means of clamping screws (17), on which a sliding hook (34) and hanging hook (19) releasably fixed with clamping screws are arranged to receive the ends of the upper tension cord and the lower tension cord (33) of the net (3), and a half-court line (20) must be connected between the anchor buoys (16) placed in the corners of the court and the two lower support posts (14) by means of a releasable carabiner connection to the center line (15) being on the surface of the water.

The frame of both half-court lines (20) is made up of a respective elastic rope (21), to which releasable carabiners (23) are attached at their two ends and at the first and second thirds of their length, and as many line bodies (22), that is a polyfoam cylinder with a hole in the middle, are strung onto the elastic rope (21) between the carabiners (23) so that they cover the entire length of the elastic rope (21) measured at rest. At some points of the half lines (20) corner clips (24) applied by subsequent lacing is used to mark the rear corner points of each square halves. At the four corners of the court, ground anchors (11) screwed in the bed bottom under the water in their entire length and anchor buoys (16) floating on top of the water above them, as well as ground anchors (11) screwed in their full length in the bed bottom at an equal distance from each of the lower support pillars (14), and the hanging hooks (19) placed on the upper support columns with releasable ties must be connected using anchor ropes (13) of adjustable length, and all affected elements must be held rigidly in the required place by adjusting the length of the ropes, accordingly.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

The following table contains a detailed list of the components of the MVS by reference sign (Ref.S) and name, as well as their grouping by module, as well as additional information.

The following table shows the characteristics of the connection of the components of the MVS to each other and to the installation site, including the method of creating the connection and its releasability. WHAT TO WHICH CONNECTIONS

ADDITIONS OF SCOPE OF APPLICATIONS FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The MVS presented in the present invention description can be used in natural or artificial, fresh, or salt water, subject to the following additions.

CONSIDERATION OF SUBSOIL TYPE

The MVS can only be installed in the case of bed bottoms whose soil consists of sand or material with a higher density. In the illustrative figures, which are an integral part of the present invention, fastening elements (11,12) designed for sandy subsoil have been shown. In the case of subsoil with small gravel, i.e. consisting of pebbles no larger than 25 mm or smaller, the MVS can only be installed using special fastening elements (11, 12) designed for the type of soil with small gravel.

In the case of concreted or tiled subsoil, i.e. artificial pools, similar to the volleyball courts set up in gymnasiums, instead of the ground anchors (11), fixed and recessed, therefore, nonremovable anchor bolts must be used, and instead of the ground screws (12), fixed and recessed, therefore non-removable column sleeves must be used.

In the case of bed bottoms with soil type different from those listed so far, the possibility of installing the MVS must be decided individually, depending on the local conditions.

CONSIDERATION OF WATER TYPE

In the case of installation in salt water, i.e. in the sea or ocean, the components of the court must be made of acid-resistant materials, and in the case of simultaneous use of different metals, care must be taken to ensure increased protection against corrosion at the contact points.

In the case of use in salt water, i.e. sea or ocean, the anchor ropes of the anchor buoys must be made of rubber rope with a thickness and elasticity that can manage the water level fluctuations due to the tide’s characteristic of the given location.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

Full mobility

Every single element of the court, including the units of the support module, can be disassembled, installed, and relocated by anyone, even without specialized training or special equipment, with due care. Fixing the support posts, stretching, and stiffening the net, as well as moving the net and court lines is mobile.

Partial mobility

The most important modules of the court - net module, line module - can be "detached" from the support module in seconds and they can already be placed safely in the name of protection against unauthorized use, theft, or an upcoming storm.

Scalability - half-court size

The special structure of the line module allows the participants of the game to determine the exact size of each half of the court themselves, and in addition, in such a way that no elements need to be added or removed when adjusting the size of the court.

Scalability - net height Due to the unique design of the support module, another key parameter of the game on the court, the net height, can also be freely adjusted by the users, so thanks to the nesting of the net support columns and the sliding fastening of the lower tension cord, the height of the net can be changed in any step.

Thanks to the technical design of the MVS, the scalability of the half-court size and the net height does not require the dismantling of the affected modules, nor the physical removal of the components that have become redundant at the moment, so there is no need to take care of their temporary placement.

Compact modularity

The MVS modules are made up of elementary components, the assembly and movement of which do not require extreme effort, special purpose machines, tools, or difficult-to-obtain professional qualifications. After installation, the individual modules can be easily and quickly removed from the court or put back there by a single person, if necessary. Each module contains all the components necessary for the product's intended use, the components themselves are made up of smaller components, resulting in the entire product fits in three small packages.

Storm resistance

The structure of the line module according to the invention is able to provide a well- recognizable, dimensionally stable court design even in the case of significant undulations. Thanks to the design of the support and line modules according to the invention, the court can completely absorb even the force effects of medium-strength storms. In the event of a tornado or hurricane, the net and line module must be removed and secured, which can be done in seconds thanks to the mobile design; but even in this case it is not necessary to remove the elements of the support and the fixing module, because they do not form a substantial resistance to the wind due to their size and location.

List of figures