U.S. patent application number 10/999015 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-07 for portable shock-absorbing dance floor panel system.
Invention is credited to Clarke, Heather Bradford.
Application Number | 20050144867 10/999015 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34713765 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050144867 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Clarke, Heather Bradford |
July 7, 2005 |
Portable shock-absorbing dance floor panel system
Abstract
A portable shock-absorbing dance floor system of identical
assemblable square panels that may easily be interconnected to form
an integrated dance floor surface. The floor system includes a
plurality of floor panels, each having a top horizontal surface of
rigid PVC and a bottom shock-absorbing surface of open-cell sponge
rubber. The perimeter of each floor panel is lined with hook and
loop fastener for attaching multiple panels securely together. The
completed assembly provides a floor surface for home or studio use
where a portable shock-absorbing floor is needed for dancing,
specifically the percussive dance forms.
Inventors: |
Clarke, Heather Bradford;
(Rockbridge Baths, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Heather Bradford Clarke
2979 Turkey Hill Rd
Rockbridge Baths
VA
24473
US
|
Family ID: |
34713765 |
Appl. No.: |
10/999015 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60528898 |
Dec 12, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/389 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B 2266/06 20130101;
B32B 5/18 20130101; B32B 27/065 20130101; B32B 2553/02 20130101;
E04F 15/10 20130101; B32B 27/304 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/389 |
International
Class: |
E04C 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A portable dance floor panel system comprising; a horizontal
bottom surface of open cell sponge rubber with shock-absorbing
properties and having a top side and bottom side and thickness not
less than substantially {fraction (1/4)} inch and perimeter edges
connecting said top side and bottom side; a horizontal top surface
of rigid PVC and having a top side and bottom side and thickness
not less than substantially {fraction (1/4)} inch and perimeter
edges connecting said top side and bottom side; wherein the panel
has an edge of four vertical side surfaces of sponge rubber and
rigid PVC forming the perimeter of the said floor panel
section.
2. A floor panel assembly as in claim 1, wherein the assembly is
made of like portable sections removably secured contiguously
together.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority over provisional
application number 60/528,898 filed on Dec. 12, 2004.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,462 issued to Kanter in 2000 there is
illustrated a shock-absorbing carpet mat system having hook and
loop tape fastener on the outer perimeter for secure assembly.
[0003] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,952 issued to Kanter in 2003 there is
illustrated a shock-absorbing carpet mat system having hook and
loop tape fastener on the outer perimeter for secure assembly.
[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,434 issued to Niese in 1990 there is
illustrated a free-floating hardwood flooring system designed to
reduce stress injuries partially through the use underlayer
resilient pads.
[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,516 issued to Koller in 1989
illustrates a portable cushioned floor system that utilizes a
resilient layer sandwiched between top and bottom floor supporting
plates.
[0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,309 issued to Polen in 1997 there is
illustrated a portable dance floor system of assemblable identical
square sections held together along their perimeter edges.
[0007] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,881 issued to Bue in 2000 there is
illustrated a portable floor system showing a plurality of
rectangular floor panels adapted for connection along their edges
to form an extended floor surface.
[0008] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,141,392 issued to Schneider in 1964 there
is illustrated individual panels which form an integrated floor
when connected along their perimeter edges.
[0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,283 issued to Bentley in 2001 there
is illustrated a portable floor system including individual floor
sections joined by interlocking elements on four sides.
[0010] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,592 issued to Martin in 2004 there is
illustrated a portable wooden floor system comprised of individual
rectangular sections interconnected by tongue and groove
mechanisms.
[0011] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,427 issued to Randjelovic in 2000
illustrates a portable floor system formed by a plurality of
components able to be interconnected with a drive mechanism to
create a larger sports floor.
[0012] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,546 issued to Buse in 1995
illustrates a wooden portable dance floor able to be joined through
the means of connector plates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Percussive dancing (e.g. tap dancing, Irish dancing,
clogging) is not possible on carpet, not allowed by many owners of
hardwood floorings, dangerously slippery on tiles and laminated
wood composites, and detrimental to a dancer's health on any
surface with concrete slab foundations. There has for a long time
then been a need for a lightweight shock-absorbing portable dance
floor system that can be easily assembled over unsuitable and
inadequate existing floors.
[0014] Prior to now the available portable dance floor systems have
had many flaws, principally related to the lack of shock-absorbing
qualities and the excessive weight and size of each section
limiting its use for the home or small studio. Additionally with
respect to the ability to create larger spaces from individual
panels, prior portable dance floor systems require cumbersome
methods of interconnecting.
[0015] It is an object of this invention to provide a physically
beneficial alternative portable dance floor system that is both
shock-absorbing and has improved joining means between sections so
as to easily produce larger dancing surfaces as needed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] This invention relates to a portable shock-absorbing dance
floor system comprising a plurality of identical square sections,
each said section having a top horizontal dancing surface, a bottom
shock-absorbing horizontal surface and four vertical sides lined
with a hook and loop fastening tape. The present invention is
directed to the problem of preventing stress injuries for
percussive dancers while providing a top dancing surface solid
enough to create the required "tapping" sounds. Each square section
is sized to be readily portable, preferably 2 foot by 2 foot in
size, and constructed out of lighter-weight materials than
previously used in portable flooring.
[0017] In specific and preferred embodiments of this invention, the
dance floor sections have a lightweight PVC material as a top
surface and a shock-absorbing open-cell sponge rubber bottom
surface that also provides quick impact recovery. The perimeter of
each section is lined with hook and loop fastener for attaching
multiple sections of the floor panel system securely together.
Multiple panels may be connected to create unlimited dancing space
for studio and home use where shock-absorbing properties are needed
in conjunction with a system easily assembled and disassembled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portable
shock-absorbing dance floor system formed in accordance with this
invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of a portable shock-absorbing dance
floor system showing multiple sections attached together in
accordance with this invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of a portable shock-absorbing dance
floor system showing a hook and loop tape fastening system used to
interconnect the floor panels securely in accordance with this
invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a top view of a portable shock-absorbing dance
floor system showing multiple sections with a hook and loop
fastening system in mating alignment for correct assembly of larger
floor areas in accordance with this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] This invention is best understood by reference to the
attached drawings,
[0023] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a shock-absorbing
portable floor panel 1. In the preferred embodiment, floor panel 1
is made in sections 2 foot by 2 foot. Each floor panel includes a
bottom layer 2 made of an open cell sponge rubber. In the preferred
embodiment, bottom rubber layer 2 has a thickness of {fraction
(1/4)} inch or other as necessary to provide shock-absorption.
Variations in density and hardness of the sponge rubber, however,
may allow a bottom rubber layer as thin as {fraction (1/8)} inch. I
believe that with present materials the sponge rubber layer should
be at least {fraction (1/8)} inch thick. Each floor panel has a top
layer 3 made of a rigid PVC material. In the preferred embodiment,
the top rigid PVC layer 3 has a thickness of {fraction (1/4)} inch
or other as necessary to provide adequate structural support.
Variations in density and hardness of PVC may allow a top layer as
thin as {fraction (1/8)} inch. I believe that with present
materials the PVC layer should be at least {fraction (1/8)} inch
thick. The vertical perimeter edges 4 of the floor panel 1 may have
a hook and loop fastener system 5 attached.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a top view of a shock-absorbing portable floor
panel system 6 showing multiple floor panels 1 attached
contiguously together. The sections are attached by means of a hook
and loop fastener system such as Velcro 805/3610 5 along the
perimeter edges 4 of each floor panel section 1.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a top view of a shock-absorbing floor panel 1
showing the placement of a hook and loop fastener system 5 attached
to the perimeter edge 4 of said floor panel 1. In the preferred
embodiment, the hook fastener Velcro 805 7 is utilized on two
adjacent vertical perimeter edges 4. The loop fastener Velcro 3610
8 is utilized on two adjacent vertical perimeter edges 4.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a top view of a shock-absorbing floor panel system
6 showing multiple panel sections 1 aligned for connection 9 in
mating relationship of hook fastener 7 and the loop fastener 8 for
interconnecting multiple floor panels for assemblage of larger and
custom shaped dance floor areas.
[0027] Although elements of the invention have been illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing
description, it will be understood that the invention is not
limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of
rearrangements, modifications, substitutions and reversals of parts
and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention
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