U.S. patent number 3,893,275 [Application Number 05/339,496] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-08 for rebound wall and method.
Invention is credited to Ray E. Omholt.
United States Patent |
3,893,275 |
Omholt |
July 8, 1975 |
Rebound wall and method
Abstract
A low profile rebound wall for use in sports activity is
provided. The wall presents a substantially planar plumbed outer
surface having almost totally uniform ball impact response
characteristics and being free of vibration when struck. The wall
includes spacer shims secured to a receiving surface. The spacer
shims may have varying thicknesses to accommodate variations in the
planarity and verticality of the receiving surface. The wall panels
are in contact with the spacer shims, and a pourable material which
will become adhesive and cohesive is poured between the panels and
the receiving surface.
Inventors: |
Omholt; Ray E. (Thorofare,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
23329263 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/339,496 |
Filed: |
March 8, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/309.5; 52/508;
52/404.1; 52/746.1; 52/742.13; 52/415 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F
13/0885 (20130101); A63B 69/0097 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04F
13/08 (20060101); A63B 69/00 (20060101); E04b
002/40 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/508,404,309,743,385,386,393,403,391,480,415,746,741,389,390,393,506 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
646,878 |
|
Nov 1950 |
|
GB |
|
1,142,217 |
|
Feb 1969 |
|
GB |
|
Other References
American Builder, March, 1962, p. 125..
|
Primary Examiner: Murtagh; John E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Seidel, Gonda & Goldhammer
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of constructing an upright rebound wall on a
substantially continuous receiving surface including the steps of
providing a plurality of abutting vertically disposed panels the
outer surfaces of which can comprise the playing surface of the
rebound wall, selecting relatively large panels to minimize seams
in the rebound wall, securing a plurality of relatively thin and
substantially incompressible spacer shims directly between the
panels and the receiving surface so that the panels are spaced from
the receiving surface by only the shims and so that a gap exists
between the panels and the receiving surface, directly contacting
the receiving surface with one face of the shims, directly
contacting the rear face of the panels with the opposite face of
the shims, providing securing means sufficient to hold the panels
in fixed spaced relationship with respect to the receiving surface,
attaching the shims directly to the receiving surface, selecting
the thickness of the shims so that the outer surfaces of the shims
lie in a substantially vertical plane directly against the rear
face of the panels, locating the shims at spaced isolated locations
on the receiving surface with the shims being discrete in all
directions, introducing a pourable material which will become
adhesive and cohesive into the gap between the panels and the
receiving surface, causing the pourable material to completely flow
into and fill the gap and to flow around the isolated and discrete
spacer shims, permitting the pourable material to set and bond the
panels to the receiving surface solidly to thereby provide a solid
base support for the panels, whereby a quiet and solid rebound wall
having uniformity of rebound is attained.
2. A method of constructing a rebound wall as set forth in claim 1
comprising the steps of providing adhesive on both the vertical
joints between adjacent panels and horizontal joints between
adjacent rows of panels, and providing shims of various thicknesses
to accommodate irregularities in the receiving surface.
3. A method of constructing an upright rebound wall as set forth in
claim 1 comprising the steps of spacing the panels from the
receiving surface a distance of approximately one-eighth to
one-half inch, and providing a curable elastomeric material as the
pourable adhesive and cohesive material.
4. A method of constructing an upright rebound wall as set forth in
claim 1 including the step of removing the securing means after the
pourable material has been permitted to set.
5. A rebound wall comprising an upright rebound surface comprised
of a plurality of abutting vertically disposed panels supported on
a substantially continuous receiving surface, a plurality of
relatively thin and substantially incompressible spacer shims
secured directly between said surfaces, one face of said shims
being in contact with said receiving surface, the thickness of the
shims being selected so that the other face of said shims lie in a
substantially vertical plane, said shims being attached to said
receiving surface at isolated spaced locations, said shims being
discrete in all directions, said rebound surface being defined
relationship with respect to the receiving surface, attaching the
shims directly to the receiving surface, selecting the thickness of
the shims so that the outer surfaces of the shims lie in a
substantially vertical plane directly against the rear face of the
panels, locating the shims at spaced isolated locations on the
receiving surface with the shims being discrete in all directions,
introducing a pourable material which will become adhesive and
cohesive into the gap between the panels and the receiving surface,
causing the pourable material to completely flow into and fill the
gap and to flow around the isolated and discrete spacer shims,
permitting the pourable material to set and bond the panels to the
receiving surface solidly to thereby provide a solid base support
for the panels, whereby a quiet and solid rebound wall having
uniformity of rebound is attained.
6. A rebound wall as set forth in claim 5 wherein said adhesive and
cohesive material is a two component filled urethane elastomer,
said panels have tongue and groove interlocking means for increased
strength at all joints between panels, and adhesive between said
panels at all joints for insuring intimate contact between said
panels at said joints.
7. A rebound wall as set forth in claim 5 wherein said shims are
substantially vertically aligned in rows, said rows are spaced on
approximately 2 foot centers, said shims being substantially
vertically spaced on approximately 2 foot centers, said panels
being of approximately one-half inch in thickness, and having a
front face of approximately 4 .times. 8 feet.
8. A rebound wall as set forth in claim 5 wherein the thickness of
said poured material is approximately one-eighth to one-half inch,
and said connecting means are removed from said panels after said
material has been introduced into the gap between said panels and
said receiving surface.
Description
The present invention relates to a rebound wall and a method of
making the same and, more particularly, to a rebound wall
construction and method which is of simple and inexpensive
construction.
Rebound walls for use in sports activity have met with rapidly
increasing popularity. The walls are used in the play of squash,
handball, paddleball, variations of tennis, and the like.
The rebound wall should ideally provide uniformity of ball bounce,
surface friction, and sound dampening to a ball striking the wall
at any location on the wall. The rebound wall should be stable in
the presence of changing atmospheric conditions, planar and
accurately plumbed, and relatively quiet during play. Further, the
wall should be resistant to cuts and dents which may be caused by
racquet hits and should be resistant to localized spalling which
may be caused by ball hits, a phenomena frequently observed with
plaster walls. The wall should be resistant to condensation,
especially at the 40.degree. F. temperature at which championship
squash is officially recommended to be played. The wall should have
the lowest possible profile, especially when used to renovate an
existing defective playing surface. This is important in order to
maintain the integrity of the original dimensions of the playing
court. Many design and playing factors which will be discussed
hereinafter must be concurrently considered if a superior rebound
wall construction is to be provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,493 discloses a wall construction which is
adapted particularly for playing courts. The wall construction
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,493 is excellent. It provides a wall
construction having superior characteristics including uniformity
of rebound, an intermediate profile, quietness of play, dimensional
stability in the presence of changing atmospheric conditions, and
the like. However, the components which comprise the wall
construction in U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,493 are quite expensive.
Further, a great deal of skilled labor is required to properly
install the wall construction which very substantially adds to the
expense thereof. In view of the rapidly increasing popularity of
indoor athletic events requiring a rebound wall, it has become
essential to develop a rebound wall which is inexpensive and easy
to install and yet provides all the characteristics required for an
excellent rebound wall.
The present invention is directed to a rebound wall construction
and a method of making the same which provides a rebound wall
having excellent player and design properties and yet which is
inexpensive from both a material and labor standpoint. A plurality
of spacer shims are secured to a receiving surface or to the rear
faces of the rebound panels in any conventional manner. The
receiving surface may be a cinderblock wall, plaster wall, concrete
wall, wood wall or the like. The surface may be the inside face of
an exterior wall, an interior partition wall or other substantially
vertical continuous support wall and must have adequate strength
and rigidity to provide support for the rebound wall.
The front face of the variable thickness spacer shims are
positioned so that they lie in a substantially vertical and flat
plane. The spacer shims may have a thickness varying from
approximately one-eighth inch to a maximum thickness being
determined by the lack of verticality and planarity of the
receiving surface. When the rebound wall is secured to a relatively
planar receiving surface each of the spacer shims utilized may be
approximately one-eighth inch thick. Also, in this instance, the
spacer shims can be secured to the rear faces of the panels rather
than to the receiving surface. However, should the receiving
surface be relatively nonplanar, spacer shims of varying thickness
can be used to insure that the outer surfaces of the spacer shims
will lie in a substantially vertical and flat plane.
Panels are preferably initially secured to the receiving surface by
mechanical fastening means. The fastening means can include masonry
anchors, nails, screws, staples, or similar fastening means. The
fastening means preferably extend through both the panels and the
spacer shims into the receiving surface. Alternatively, glue may be
used to secure the panels to the spacer shims when the spacer shims
have been previously secured to the receiving surface by either
glue or mechanical fastening means.
The panels are normally one-half inch thick and are preferably made
of relatively inexpensive paneling which may consist of a
combination of dense surface composition material with a plywood
core. Numerous panels meeting this description are commercially
available. When mechanical fastening means are used to secure the
panels against the spacer shims and to the receiving surface, the
mechanical means may be intentionally overdriven below the face of
the panel and the surface of the panel filled so as to provide an
unblemished playing surface.
After the panels have been secured against the spacer shims, a
pourable material which will become both adhesive and cohesive is
introduced between the panels and the receiving surface. In the
preferred form of the invention, a liquid urethane material is
introduced which, after it cures to a rubber-like form, provides
complete support for the panels and acts additionally as an
adhesive to further prevent movement of the panels either with
respect to the receiving surface or to each other. As the urethane
cures and passes from a liquid to a solid form, there is
substantially no change in volume which might otherwise tend to
create voids behind the panels. An acceptable material is Versaturf
360, a trademarked two component cellular or non-cellular filled
urethane elastomer marketed by Powerlock Systems, Inc.
The cured urethane exerts a substantial permanent fixed adhesive
force between the inner faces of the panels and the receiving
surface. Other suitable materials can be used without departing
from the present invention.
Adjacent panels may be provided with conventional tongue and groove
interlocking means which provide additional strength at their edges
and aid in preventing leakage of the poured material prior to
solidification. Also, the tongue and groove edges can have glue
applied thereto to insure the desired contact. Further, joints
between adjacent panels can be staggered with respect to adjacent
rows of panels. The urethane may be poured in stages as the panels
are installed, or the whole wall may be poured or pumped full of
urethane at one time.
The uppermost row of panels may be provided with holes or ports
near their uppermost edges to permit the introduction by pouring or
pumping of the pourable urethane behind the uppermost row in the
event that a ceiling would interfere with normal pouring
techniques. Generally, it is not essential that the very top of the
wall have the urethane material therebehind since this portion of
the wall receives little use. However, as stated, the material can
be introduced under pressure to fill the void behind the entire
wall including the uppermost row of panels. The ports in the
uppermost row of panels may then be plugged in any suitable
conventional manner.
Prior to painting, the seams between adjoining panels can be sanded
to insure removal of any projecting lips.
There are numerous design and player considerations which must be
simultaneously solved if a wall is to be considered of tournament
quality. The following factors are those which are most important
to the construction and design of tournament quality rebound
walls.
1. Availability of Materials: The panels utilized for this rebound
wall are readily commercially available. Additionally, any one of a
wide variety of panels would be acceptable although the preferred
type is a panel consisting of a center core of plywood laminated
with glue and with a durable dense resinous composition secured to
both faces. The spacer shims utilized can be of any commercially
available material. The anchors used to secure the shims and panels
to the receiving surface can be of any of a wide variety of
commercially available anchors. Depending upon the type of
receiving surface, masonry anchors, nails, screws or the like may
be used. The material to be poured between the panels and the
receiving surface can be a commercially available urethane system
or the like which is poured and allowed to cure. Should glue be
used to bind the edges of the panels or to secure the shims to the
receiving surface, or to secure the panels to the shims, many
commercially available glues can be utilized. Two suitable glues
are Weldwood Contact Cement and Weldwood Plastic Resin Glue as sold
by United States Plywood Corporation.
2. Cost: It is believed that the system utilizes materials which
reduce to an absolute minimum the cost of a tournament quality
rebound wall. Further, since the method of installation is
relatively simple and rapid, labor costs are kept at a minimum.
While pourable urethane is a relatively expensive product, the
amount of urethane used is not great since the space being filled
normally varies between one-eighth inch and one-quarter inch. The
pourability of the urethane favors its use when a narrow space is
being filled, and it is advantageous to use the narrowest space
practical from a pouring viewpoint to save materials and to limit
the outward force exerted by the poured liquid on the panels prior
to setting up.
3. Profile Depth: In renovating existing playing courts it is
important that the profile depth of the new wall surface be held to
a minimum or the original court dimensions could be reduced to a
degree rendering the court unsuitable for tournament play. Even
with respect to new installations, a minimum profile depth permits
the internal dimensions of a building to be held to a minimum
thereby reducing building construction expense. In the preferred
embodiment, the total profile depth of the rebound wall is five
eights of an inch. The profile depth includes the one-eighth inch
thick shim and the preferred 1/2-inch thick panel spaced from the
receiving wall by the spacer shim. Obviously, if the receiving wall
is not substantially vertical, varying thickness shims will be
required to provide a substantially vertical rebound wall. It is
believed that the instant wall provides a minimal profile depth
without sacrificing quality or playability.
4. Speed of Installation: With regard to renovating existing
courts, minimizing down time of the court is very important to
insure against lost revenue. With respect to new courts, rapid
installation permits prompt usage of the court. Accordingly, it is
important that the rebound wall be installed as rapidly as
possible. In view of the minimum number of components comprising
the rebound wall of the present invention and the uncomplicated
method of installation the same, maximum speed of installation is
obtained.
5. Quietness During Play: In view of the restricted confines of a
playing court, it is important that ball impact sounds be as
reduced as possible. The cured urethane substantially prevents or
eliminates vibration in the face of a panel as a ball strikes the
panel thus controlling noise resulting from vibration, or from the
existence of hollow spaces behind the playing surface.
6. Waterproofing: The rebound wall is designed to be substantially
waterproof and humidity proof to prevent warpage or dimensional
changes in the rebound wall. The cured urethane will not permit
water or dampness to penetrate from the receiving surface into the
panels. Additionally, the backpour utilized in the preferred
embodiment will not permit the formation of any condensation behind
the panels, and its insulating properties substantially limit
condensation which might otherwise form on the face of the
panels.
7. Insulation: Squash is preferably played at approximately
40.degree. F. Accordingly, it is possible for condensation to form
on the rebound walls during play if they are colder than the
temperature of the air in the court. The backpour behind the panels
has an insulating value and helps to reduce the formation of
condensation on the rebound wall. This is advantageous since
moisture on a playing wall causes balls to "skid" on impact, which
negates the advantage of a skilled player who uses a controlled
spin shot.
8. Uniformity of Rebound: Since urethane or other suitable fill
material completely and solidly fills the space between the rear
face of the panels and the receiving surface, there are no voids
behind the panels. This insures that the entire rebound wall is in
bearing and not in span. Accordingly, there is an almost total
uniformity of rebound imparted to a ball no matter which portion of
the surface of the rebound wall is struck.
9. Planarity: Since the thickness of the spacer shims may be varied
so that the outer surfaces of the shims lie in a substantially
vertical plane, planarity of the playing surface is easily and
rapidly achieved. A rebound wall which is planar and vertical
contributes substantially to obtaining uniform rebound.
10. Versatility: The rebound wall constructed in accordance with
the present invention is suitable for either squash, handball,
racquet ball or paddleball without modifying the wall design, a
multi-usage benefit which results from not having to provide for
surface openings in the bottom portions of walls to provide for
ventilation behind the playing surface. The backpour eliminates any
need for behind-the-wall ventilation. The wall constructed in
accordance with the present invention is believed ideal for all
wall rebound sports commonly played on an indoor court.
11. Flatness of Playing Surface: Joints exist only where the 4
.times. 8 foot panels meet. Sanding these few joints results in a
wall which is almost totally smooth as opposed to walls made up of
numerous small boards which must all be sanded very carefully to
achieve smoothness. Also, sanding these few joints eliminates
raised seams which could deflect balls which strike them or injure
players who might run against them.
12. Maintenance: Almost no maintenance is required with respect to
the rebound wall of the present invention. Since vibration is
substantially eliminated, essentially no structural depreciation
resulting from impacts and vibration is encountered. Surface
cleaning of the rebound wall is greatly simplified in view of the
smoothness of the wall.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in
the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being
understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the
precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rebound wall
constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being
broken away to show details of construction; and
FIG. 2 is a section view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals
indicate like elements throughout the two views, there is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 a rebound wall construction generally indicated by
reference numeral 10. The rebound wall is adapted to be secured to
a continuous receiving surface 12. The receiving surface 12 may be
a cinderblock wall, plaster wall, concrete wall, wood wall, or the
like. The surface 12 may be an exterior wall, an interior partition
wall, or other substantially vertical support but must have
adequate strength and rigidity to provide support for the rebound
wall. The surface 12 need not be accurately plumbed.
A plurality of spacer shims 14 are adapted to be secured directly
to the receiving surface 12. The spacer shims 14 may be secured to
the receiving surface 12 in any desired manner. As discussed in
greater detail hereinafter, the shims 14 may alternatively be
secured to the rear faces of panels. The spacer shims 14 may be any
shape although in the preferred embodiment they are generally
square with each side being approximately 2 inches. The thickness
of each shim may vary with the minimal thickness being
approximately one-eighth inch.
The exact thickness of each spacer shim 14 may be varied so that
the front face of all the shims lie in a substantially vertical
plane. This will insure a plumbed planar surface for the outer
surface of the rebound wall. In practice, unless a receiving
surface is substantially out of plumb, the thickness of the shims
will rarely exceed one-quarter inch. The shims may be composed of
any suitable commercially available material and untempered
Masonite is used in one preferred embodiment. As is well known to
those of ordinary skill in the art, Masonite is a fiberboard
product which is substantially incompressible. Variable thickness
shims may be secured to the surface 12 by means of nails, screws,
masonry anchors, glue or the like, the particular type of securing
means being dependent upon the composition of the surface 12.
The shims 14 are secured to the receiving surface 12 at spaced
intervals. In the preferred embodiment, the shims 14 are provided
in substantially vertical rows spaced on 2 foot centers with the
shims within a row being spaced on 2 foot centers. A greater or
lesser distance between rows of shims and vertically aligned shims
can be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the
present invention. Further, the shims can be randomly spaced, if
desired.
For purposes of illustration, four adjacent rows of panels 18, 20,
22 and 24 are shown and will be discussed. In practice, the rebound
wall will comprise a greater number of rows of panels, although the
number of rows of panels utilized can be varied without departing
from the spirit or scope of the present invention. As illustrated
in FIG. 2, one of the panels in row 22 is provided with a tongue 26
while an adjacent panel is provided with a groove 28 to insure a
tight interlocking engagement between the panels. Tongue and groove
interlocking means can also be provided at the edges of adjacent
rows of panels. The vertical joints between panels may be staggered
with respect to adjacent rows of panels.
The rows of panels 18, 20, 22 and 24 are preferably secured to the
receiving surface 12 through spacer shims 14 by any suitable
conventional mechanical means. The fastening means may take the
form of masonry anchors such as shown at 30, or the like. Since the
shaft of the mechanical attaching means 30 will preferably be
driven through the panel 22 and spacer shim 14 into the surface 12,
the composition of the surface 12 will determine the exact type of
fastening means to be used. Each of the fastening means need not
necessarily pass through the shim.
The mechanical fastening means may be intentionally overdriven and
the holes thus created in the face of the panels filled to provide
a smooth planar surface for the rebound wall.
The panels in each row are preferably 4 .times. 8 feet and are
preferably installed with the long dimension horizontal for ease of
handling and back pouring. In the preferred embodiment, the panels
will be approximately one half inch thick although the thickness of
the panels may be varied without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
After the row of panels 18 has been secured to the surface 12, a
pourable material 32 in substantially liquid form which will
ultimately become adhesive and cohesive may be poured between the
rear face of the panels 18 and the receiving surface 12. The
material 32 is preferably a liquid urethane which, when cured,
provides support for the panels and acts as an adhesive to secure
the panels to the receiving surface 12. As the urethane cures, it
has volumetric stability which negates the creation of voids.
The flowability of the urethane is important since the space
between the rear face of the panels 18 and the receiving surface 12
is preferably maintained at a minimum. The minimum space is
approximately one-eighth of an inch with the maximum space being
generally on the order of less than one-half inch.
In the preferred embodiment, it is preferred that the urethane be
poured after each row of panels is constructed to insure that the
lateral liquid pressure is held to a minimum when first poured to
keep the number of mechanical fasteners required to a minimum.
The uppermost row of panels 24 may be provided with holes or ports
34 near their uppermost edges to permit the introduction of
pourable urethane behind the uppermost row of panels. Generally, it
is not essential that the uppermost portion of the wall have any
pourable material therebehind since it receives little use.
However, if desired, the material 32 can be introduced under
pressure to fill the void between the entire wall including the
uppermost portions of the last row of panels 24. The ports 34 may
be plugged with suitable plugs 36 in any conventional manner.
Alternatively, the anchors 30 can be of a particular type
permitting withdrawal of the anchors once the urethane material 32
has permanently cured. The adhesive and cohesive strength of the
cured urethane obviates the need for the anchors. Holes left in the
faces of panels can be filled.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer face of
each of the panels is painted. Prior to painting, the seams between
the panels can be sanded to insure planarity between each of the
panels by removing any projecting lips.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof
and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims,
rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope
of the invention.
* * * * *