Athletic floor panel system

The present invention relates to an improved athletic floor panel system. The floor is spring-biased so as to be particularly useful for gymnastic and cheerleading competitions.

Various types of athletic floors are known in the prior art that utilize interlocking panels. The panels are connected by various means, such as tongue and groove fit, pins, cams, overlapping tabs, keys, hooks, and straps. Such panel floor systems are commonly made of plastic, and are used for such games as basketball, tennis, and other court sports which do not require any spring-bias. Such floor systems are sold commercially under the trademarks Sport Court, Spider Court, and Mate Flex.

Spring supported floors are also known for use in gymnastic and cheerleading competitions. Such floors normally are made of wood, covered with one or more layers of padding. The wood panels are abutted side by side and retained by various hardware. Such floors absorb substantial forces from gymnasts and cheerleaders tumbling and jumping on the panels. The joints of adjacent panels are typically the weakest points in the floor, due to such forces. Therefore, some floors utilize dual board layers having offset joints. These prior art spring biased floors also utilize many pieces, which require substantial time for set up and disassembly, which is labor intensive, time consuming and costly, particularly for weekend competitions wherein the floors are temporarily installed at a venue. Also, the weight of the wood and size of the wood panels often requires at least two people for moving the panels, and results in a substantial overall weight of the floor system for transportation. Spring supported plastic floors are unknown in the prior art.

Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved athletic floor panel system.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved spring biased athletic floor system.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor made of lightweight and durable plastic.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor system comprised of a plurality of panels having overlapped edges defining strong and stable joints between adjacent panels.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor panel system comprised of a plurality of lightweight plastic panels which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor system having a plurality of primary panels and finishing panels which overlap and interlock with one another.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor system comprised of molded plastic panels having integrally formed heads on the bottom surface for snap-fit mounting of springs to the panels.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor system having a minimum number of different plastic molded pieces.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor system having panels with integral ledges to strengthen the floor joints.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor panel system having springs mounted beneath the floor panel joints.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor panel system having a plurality of male and female connectors for connecting the panels together.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring-biased athletic floor system having a plurality of panels which are releasably secured together.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved spring-biased athletic floor system which is economical to manufacture, lightweight, and durable in use.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

The spring-biased athletic floor system of present invention includes a plurality of interlocked panels with adjacent panels having overlapping edges. The primary panels have an L-shaped ledge extending along two adjacent sides, while finishing panels have a ledge only along one side. The L-shaped ledges of each primary panel interlock the panel to three adjacent panels. Adjacent panels have mating beveled surfaces to simplify and facilitate assembly of the panels. The panels are plastic, so as to be lightweight. A plurality of springs are mounted on heads molded onto the bottom of the panels, with some springs being located beneath the overlapped edges of the panels. The spring-mount heads have a 360° lip to retain the springs on the head. Male and female couplings with locking pins interlock the panels.