Court for ball games

Abstract

 Court (1) for ball games, comprising a main playing surface (2) substantially rectangular defined by perimeter lines, and limited by a front wall (3), a side wall (4) joined to said front wall (3), and a rear rebounding wall (5). It is characterized in that the rear rebounding wall (5) is separated from said side wall (4) determining a passage opening (6). It further include a first external playing area (7) disposed adjacent to said passage opening (6), and a second external playing area (8) disposed adjacent to the side (9) without a wall, opposite said side wall (4) and said passage opening (6). It manages to improve the playing possibilities with a structurally simple court configuration, also provided the court with good visibility from the outside.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a court for ball games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Courts for ball games are known that comprise from one to four walls that delimit the playing space. A greater number of walls gives greater possibilities for playing and ball contact, i.e. frequency of hitting the ball.

[0003] The simplest courts comprise a single front wall against which a ball is thrown, with dividing lines that delimit the playing space.

[0004] Courts formed by two walls include a front wall and a side wall joined to said front wall, such as that used in the Basque pelota. The side wall closes one side of the playing space longitudinally and improves playing creativity. However, the height and length of both walls considerably limit the angle of vision from the outside.

[0005] Courts formed by three walls can be of two types. A first type of court includes a front wall, a left side wall and a rear rebounding wall, keeping the other side open. They may also be covered by a roof. These types of courts are used, for example, for the sport fronton. In the case of courts with a long length playing creativity is improved. However, as in the case of two walls, vision from the outside is very limited.

[0006] The second type of court includes a front wall, and two side walls. The right wall may serve as a left wall for another adjacent playing court. However, the right wall limits the orientation of the court since it considerably reduces luminosity, making it necessary to position the front wall oriented towards the north. Furthermore, said right wall improves playing creativity very little. Likewise, vision from the outside is very limited.

[0007] Courts including four walls are usually inside buildings, and include a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, which may be covered by a roof. These types of courts are used for sports such as trinquete, squash or racketball. However, they have the problem of where to place the spectators and the vision from outside is also very limited.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The objective of the court for ball games of the present invention is to resolve the drawbacks of courts known in the state of the art, providing a court which makes it possible to improve the playing possibilities with a structurally simple court configuration, also providing the court with good visibility from the outside.

[0009] The court for ball games of the present invention is of the type comprising a main playing surface, substantially rectangular, defined by perimeter lines, and limited by a front wall, a side wall joined to said front wall, and a rear rebounding wall, and characterized in that the rear rebounding wall is separated from said side wall determining a passage opening.

[0010] In this way, said passage opening allows access to the main playing surface, provides good visibility from the outside, and also allows the expansion of the playing area as will be explained below.

[0011] Advantageously, the court includes a first external playing area disposed adjacent to said passage opening.

[0012] Also preferably, the court includes a second external playing area disposed adjacent to the side without a wall, opposite said side wall and said passage opening.

[0013] Thanks to said external playing areas, a larger total playing surface is achieved in comparison with a conventional fronton court or such like, thus increasing the possibilities of play.

[0014] In this way, if the ball goes out into any of said external areas the player can go out to look for it, whether through the passage opening or by crossing the side without a wall, to return it to the main surface without stopping play.

[0015] Said external areas in addition to allowing access to the court, also provide good visibility from the outside, which makes the court of the invention an open-plan space, decreasing the possible problems of vandalism or delinquency and, therefore, improving the safety of the players and maintenance of the playing space.

[0016] Advantageously, both external playing areas respectively comprise a demarcation wall provided with a height to enable the visibility of the court from the outside.

[0017] The fact that said demarcation walls have little height guarantees visibility from the outside with the consequent advantages as mentioned above, whilst preventing the ball from going outside the assigned playing space.

[0018] Optionally, the court includes an area designed for playing basketball disposed transversally to the main playing surface and equipped with baskets disposed respectively in said first and second external playing areas.

[0019] In this way, it manages to increase and improve the possibilities of play on the same playing court.

[0020] Advantageously, the basketball playing area is delimited on two of its sides by the rear rebounding wall and a transversal line drawn on the floor, and on its two other sides, where the baskets are positioned, by the respective demarcation walls of the first and second external playing areas.

[0021] Additionally, the playing court can be used as football court, the front wall and the rear rebounding wall including goals defined on said walls.

[0022] Advantageously, the rear rebounding wall is slightly inclined towards the exterior of the court according to an angle greater than ninety degrees with respect to the paving.

[0023] In this way, the inclination of the rear wall makes it possible to change the action of the ball, since the ball will respond with a higher trajectory parabola, increasing its time in the air before touching the floor. It also manages to decrease the horizontal trajectory of the ball, modifying the integration of the rebound in the game in a more practical way, varying the possibilities of response and interaction between the players.

[0024] Preferably, the court comprises a rest area for the players, preferably equipped with a roof, disposed adjacent to said demarcation wall of the second external playing area. Said roof acts as a rest area and also as a place for the players to leave their personal effects.

[0025] Advantageously, the court comprises lighting means.

[0026] Preferably, the lighting means are of indirect type for their night-time use and to avoid dazzle while playing.

[0027] Also preferably, the lighting means include a reflective screen. Said reflective screen makes it possible to reflect the light from the lighting means increasing the field of night-time vision and, on the other hand, it can act as a mirror reflecting the image of the court and players towards the outside, which helps to make it an open-plan space with the consequent advantages as previously mentioned.

[0028] Advantageously, the court comprises support means for the positioning of the lighting means and the reflective screen.

[0029] Additionally, the court comprises protection panels, preferably wire netting, to avoid balls from going outside the playing court.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the court of the invention comprises two interconnected courts, sharing a same side wall. This layout makes it possible to position both courts in a minimum space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In order to aid towards the description of all the above mentioned, drawings have been included wherein, schematically and only by way of non-limitative example, two cases of practical embodiments have been represented of the court for ball games of the invention, wherein:

figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the court of the invention, according to a first embodiment;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the court according to the first embodiment;

figure 3 is a perspective view of the court according to the first embodiment, showing the protective netting;

figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the court according to a second embodiment, showing the basketball playing area;

figure 5 is a perspective view of the court according to the second embodiment;

figure 6 is a front elevation view of the court according to the second embodiment, showing a football goal;

figure 7 is a side view of the court of the invention, showing the inclination of the rear rebounding wall; and

figure 8 is a schematic plan view of a double court of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] A first embodiment of the court for ball games of the invention is shown in figures 1 to 3. The court 1 comprises a main playing surface 2, substantially rectangular, defined by perimeter lines, and limited by a front wall 3, a side wall 4 joined to said front wall 3, and a rear rebounding wall 5.

[0033] The rear rebounding wall 5 is separated from said side wall 4, determining a passage opening 6 (see figure 1). Said passage opening 6 allows access to the main playing surface 2, provides good visibility from the outside, and further allows expansion of the playing area as will be explained below.

[0034] The court 1 includes a first external playing area 7 disposed adjacent to said passage opening 6, and a second external playing area 8, disposed adjacent to the side 9 without a wall, opposite said side wall 4 and said passage opening 6. Thanks to said external playing areas 7,8 a larger total playing surface is achieved in comparison with a conventional fronton or tennis court, or such like, thus increasing the possibilities of play.

[0035] In this way, if the ball goes out into any of said external areas 7,8, the player can go out to look for it, whether through the passage opening 6 or by crossing the side 9 without a wall, to return it to the main surface 2 without stopping play.

[0036] Said external areas 7,8, in addition to allowing access to the court 1, also provide good visibility from the outside, which makes the court 1 of the invention an open-plan space, decreasing the possible problems of vandalism or delinquency and, therefore, improving the safety of the players and maintenance of the playing space.

[0037] Additionally, the court 1 comprises a demarcation wall 10 of the first external playing area 7, and a demarcation wall 11 of the second external playing area 8. Furthermore, both demarcation walls 10,11 have little height, which guarantees visibility from the outside with the consequent advantages as mentioned above, whilst preventing the ball from going outside the assigned playing space.

[0038] The court 1 further comprises a rest area for the players which, in this example, includes a roof 12 disposed adjacent to said demarcation wall 11 of the second external playing area 8. Said roof 12 acts as a rest area and also as a place for the players to leave their personal effects.

[0039] The court 1 further comprises lighting means (not represented), which are preferably of indirect type for their night-time use and to avoid dazzle while playing. Likewise, said lighting means include a reflective screen 13 that makes it possible to reflect the light from the lighting means increasing the field of night-time vision and, on the other hand, acts as a mirror reflecting the image of the court and players towards the outside, which helps to make it an open-plan space with the consequent advantages as previously mentioned.

[0040] The court 1 further comprises support means 14,15 for the positioning of the lighting means and the reflective screen 13.

[0041] As can be observed in figure 2, said support means include a cross-bar 14, substantially horizontal, resting on substantially vertical posts 15. In this way, a light and robust support is achieved. In this case, the substantially vertical posts 15 are fixed respectively to the partial wall 4 and to the demarcation wall 11 of the second external playing area 8.

[0042] As shown in figure 3, the court 1 may also comprise protection panels 16, preferably wire netting, to avoid balls from going outside the playing court 1.

[0043] Usually, the wire netting 16 is disposed on the front wall 3, partial side wall 4 and rear rebounding wall 5, and entre said walls 3,4,5 and the respective demarcation walls 10,11, and covering the main playing surface 2 at least partially.

[0044] According to a second embodiment of the invention shown in figures 4 to 6, the playing court 1 further includes an area designed for playing basketball 17 disposed transversally to the main playing surface 2, and equipped with baskets 18 disposed respectively in said first 7 and second 8 external playing areas.

[0045] In this embodiment, wire netting 16' is also disposed in the areas where the baskets 18 are located to avoid the balls from going outside.

[0046] The basketball playing area 17 is delimited on two of its sides by the rear rebounding wall 5 and a transversal line 19 drawn on the floor, and on its two other sides, where the baskets 18 are positioned, by the respective demarcation walls 10,11 of the first 7 and second 8 external playing areas.

[0047] As can be observed in figure 5, the support means include a single post 15, substantially vertical, for the fastening of the lighting means and the reflective screen. Furthermore, in this case, the demarcation walls 10, 11 are wire netting.

[0048] Likewise, the playing court 1 may be used as football court, the front wall 3 and rear rebounding wall 5 including goals 20 defined on said walls 3,5. Each goal 20 is defined by two vertical lines and an upper horizontal line. These goals 20 drawn on the wall 3,5 measure approximately 2 metres wide by 1 metre high.

[0049] According to the example shown in figure 6, the goal 20 represented on the front wall 3 is defined making use of a horizontal frame of metal plate 21 designed for ball games, such as fronton, and two vertical lines 22,23, one line 22 being drawn on the front wall 3 whilst the other line 23 is defined by the joining edge between said front wall 3 and the adjacent protection panel 16, and the other goal 20 (see figure 5) being drawn on the rear rebounding wall 5.

[0050] According to another example, both goals 20 may be respectively drawn on the front wall 3 and rear rebounding wall 5.

[0051] The playing court 1 of the invention therefore allows different types of ball games with a simple structural configuration.

[0052] According to another aspect of the invention, the rear rebounding wall 5 may be slightly inclined towards the exterior of the court 1 according to an angle greater than ninety degrees with respect to the paving 2, as shown in figure 7.

[0053] The inclination of the rear wall 5 makes it possible to change the action of the ball, since the ball will respond with a higher trajectory parabola, increasing its time in the air before touching the floor. It also manages to decrease the horizontal trajectory of the ball, modifying the integration of the rebound in the game in a more practical way, varying the possibilities of response and interaction between the players.

[0054] On the other hand, figure 8 shows a double court 1' which is formed by two courts 1 sharing the same side wall 4. This layout of the two courts 1 allows their positioning in minimum space.

[0055] It should also be noted that the configuration of lines represented on the paving on the main surface 2 may vary depending on the different uses of the court 1.

Claims

1. Court (1) for ball games, comprising a main playing surface (2), substantially rectangular, defined by perimeter lines, and limited by a front wall (3), a side wall (4) joined to said front wall (3), and a rear rebounding wall (5), characterized in that the rear rebounding wall (5) is separated from said side wall (4) determining a passage opening (6).

2. Court (1), according to claim 1, including a first external playing area (7) disposed adjacent to said passage opening (6).

3. Court (1), according to claim 2, including a second external playing area (8) disposed adjacent to the side (9) without a wall, opposite said side wall (4) and said passage opening (6).

4. Court (1), according to claim 3, wherein both external playing areas (7,8) respectively comprise a demarcation wall (10,11) provided with a height to enable the visibility of the court (1) from the outside.

5. Court (1), according to claim 3 or 4, including an area designed for playing basketball (17) disposed transversally to the main playing surface (2), and equipped with baskets (18) disposed respectively in said first (7) and second (8) external playing areas.

6. Court (1), according to claim 5, wherein the basketball playing area is delimited on two of its sides by the rear rebounding wall (5) and a transversal line (19) drawn on the floor, and on its two other sides, where the baskets (18) are positioned, by the respective demarcation walls (10,11) of the first (7) and second (8) external playing areas.

7. Court (1), according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the playing court (1) can be used as a football court, the front wall (3) and the rear rebounding wall (5) including goals (20) defined on said walls (3,5).

8. Court (1), according to claim 1, wherein the rear rebounding wall (5) is slightly inclined towards the exterior of the court (1) according to an angle greater than ninety degrees with respect to the paving.

9. Court (1), according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a rest area for the players, preferably equipped with a roof (12), disposed adjacent to said demarcation wall (11) of the second external playing area (8).

10. Court (1), according to any one of the previous claims, comprising lighting means.

11. Court (1), according to claim 10, wherein the lighting means are of indirect type.

12. Court (1), according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the lighting means include a reflective screen (13).

13. Court (1), according to claim 12, comprising support means (14,15) for the positioning of the lighting means and the reflective screen (13).

14. Court (1), according to any one of the previous claims, comprising protection panels (16), preferably wire netting, to avoid balls from going outside the playing court (1).

15. Court (1'), according to any one of the previous claims, comprising two interconnected courts (1), sharing a same side wall (4).

Drawing