Method and system for supporting sports-related components about a modular flooring system

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating skateboard and other types of play about a synthetic flooring system, wherein one or more skate components is provided and configured for such use. The skate components may be modular in form, or stand-alone components. In addition, the skate components are intended to interact with the synthetic flooring system, which is configured to enable skateboards, in-line skates, bikes, scooters, and others to traverse across the provided contact surface in a similar manner as with traditional surfaces, such as concrete. As such, the synthetic flooring system is configured with a hard, flat contact surface that is preferably non-abrasive. A pliable layer is provided on the various skate components, and is configured to provide a non-slip interface between the contact surface of the synthetic flooring system and the skate component.

1 . An activity court enabling participation in an activity, said activity court comprising: 
 a support surface;    a synthetic flooring system supported about said support surface, said synthetic flooring system comprising an upper contact surface; and    at least one recreational component supported about said upper contact surface of said synthetic flooring system, said recreational component facilitating participation in said activity about said upper contact surface.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The activity court of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of recreational components removably coupled to at least a portion of said flooring system, each of said recreational components being interchangeable with one another to convert said activity court into different types, and to facilitate participation in a variety of activities.  
   
   
       7 . The activity court of  claim 1 , wherein said recreational component is removably coupled to said flooring system.  
   
   
       8 . The activity court of  claim 1 , wherein said recreational component further comprises: 
 a structural support configuration; and    means for supporting said structural support configuration about at least a portion of said synthetic flooring system.    
   
   
       9 . The activity court of  claim 1 , wherein said recreational component further comprises means for locking said recreational component to said synthetic flooring system.  
   
   
       10 . The activity court of  claim 8 , wherein said means for supporting comprises a floor tile interface formed with said structural support configuration, said floor tile interface interfaces with and engages at least a portion of said synthetic flooring system to support said recreational component about said synthetic flooring system.  
   
   
       11 . The activity court of  claim 10 , wherein said means for supporting comprises an adapter that interfaces with and supports at least a portion of said recreational component, said adapter comprising a floor tile interface that interfaces with and engages at least a portion of said flooring system to support said recreational component about said flooring system.  
   
   
       12 . The activity court of  claim 11 , wherein said floor tile interface comprises a peg extension configured to be inserted into an aperture formed in said upper contact surface of said flooring system.  
   
   
       13 . The activity court of  claim 12 , wherein said peg extension comprises a similar size and geometry as that of said aperture in said upper contact surface.  
   
   
       14 . The activity court of  claim 1 , wherein said recreational component is selected from the group consisting of sports equipment, sports-related equipment, skateboarding equipment, exercise equipment, skills equipment, leisure equipment, game play equipment, lights, lighting systems, and any combination of these.  
   
   
       15 . The activity court of  claim 1 , wherein said recreational component comprises a skate component configured to convert said activity court to a skate court.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . The activity court of  claim 1 , wherein said flooring system further comprises reinforcement means configured to reinforce the interface between said recreational component and said flooring system.  
   
   
       19 . The activity court of  claim 18 , wherein said reinforcement means comprises a metal insert configured for placement between said flooring system and said recreational component, and any means for supporting said recreational component.  
   
   
       20 . The activity court of  claim 1 , wherein said recreational component is supported, at least in part, by said support surface.  
   
   
       21 . An activity court enabling participation in a variety of activities, said activity court comprising: 
 a first modular floor tile having a perimeter wall defining a boundary, an upper contact surface extending within said perimeter wall, and a support structure configured to support said first floor tile about a support surface;    a second modular floor tile also having a perimeter wall defining a boundary, an upper contact surface extending within said perimeter wall, and a support structure configured to support said second floor tile about a support surface, said first and second modular floor tiles each being configured to interconnect with one another to form a modular synthetic flooring system; and    at least one interchangeable recreational component supported about said upper contact surface of said modular synthetic flooring system, said recreational component facilitating participation in an activity about said upper contact surface.    
   
   
       22 . A skate court enabling participation in an activity, said activity court comprising: 
 a support surface;    a modular synthetic flooring system supported about said support surface, said synthetic flooring system comprising an upper contact surface having a plurality of openings formed therein, said openings being defined by a plurality of structural members having a flat, planar top surface and a transition surface extending between said top surface and a face; and    a modular skate component supported about said upper contact surface of said synthetic flooring system, said modular skate component functioning to create said skate court.    
   
   
       23 . The skate court of  claim 22 , wherein said modular skate component comprises: 
 a base component;    at least one interchangeable ramp component; and    means for coupling said ramp component to said base component.    
   
   
       24 . A recreational component comprising: 
 a structural configuration configured to be interacted with by a user to facilitate participation in a particular activity; and    means for supporting said structural configuration from at least a portion of a synthetic flooring system.    
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . The recreational component of  claim 24 , wherein said means for supporting comprises a floor tile interface formed with said structural configuration, said floor tile interface being configured to interface with and engage at least a portion of said flooring system to support said recreational component about said flooring system.  
   
   
       28 . The recreational component of  claim 24 , wherein said means for supporting comprises: 
 an adapter configured to interface with and support at least a portion of said recreational component; and    a floor tile interface formed with said adapter and configured to interface with and engage at least a portion of said flooring system to support said recreational component about said flooring system.    
   
   
       29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . A method for facilitating an activity about a synthetic flooring system, said method comprising: 
 providing a recreational component intended for use about a synthetic flooring system; and    facilitating the support of said recreational component from at least a portion of said synthetic flooring system.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said facilitating comprises equipping said recreational component with at least one floor tile interface.  
   
   
       34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said facilitating comprises providing an adapter having at least one floor tile interface formed thereon.  
   
   
       36 . A method for participating in one of a plurality of activities about a synthetic flooring system, said method comprising: 
 locating a flooring system;    obtaining a recreational component configured to be removably supported from at least a portion of said flooring system; and    causing said recreational component to be supported from at least a portion of said flooring system to provide an activity court for participation in a particular activity.    
   
   
       37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . (canceled)  
   
   
       39 . (canceled)  
   
   
       40 . (canceled)  
   
   
       41 . A modular skate component configured for use about a synthetic flooring system having a contact surface, said modular skate component comprising: 
 a first skate module;    a second skate module;    means for coupling said first skate module to said second skate module to assemble and form said modular skate component; and    a pliable layer disposed about an underside of said first and second skate modules, and configured to provide a non-slip interface between said contact surface and said modular skate component.    
   
   
       42 . The modular skate component of  claim 41 , wherein said synthetic flooring system comprises a lattice that defines said contact surface, said lattice comprising a plurality of structural elements having a substantially flat upper surface that gradually transitions into opposing edges extending from said upper surface to provide said contact surface with a non-abrasive texture.  
   
   
       43 . The modular skate component of  claim 42 , wherein said pliable layer is configured to extend partially down from said contact surface into a gap defined by said lattice to decrease the likelihood said modular skate component will slip during use.  
   
   
       44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . The modular skate component of  claim 41 , wherein said first and second skate modules are selected from the group consisting of a deck table, a quarter pipe, a half pipe, a wedge ramp, a launch ramp, a bank ramp, a kicker, and a platform.  
   
   
       47 . The modular skate component of  claim 41 , wherein said first and second skate modules are configured to form a modular skate component selected from the group consisting of a deck table, a quarter pipe, a half pipe, a grind rail, a wedge ramp, a launch ramp, a kicker, a grind ledge, a grind bench, a grind spine, a street spine, pyramid ramp, a fun box, a platform, and a bank ramp.  
   
   
       48 . The modular skate component of  claim 41 , wherein said first and second skate modules comprise a transition plate configured to provide a smooth transition from said contact surface to a surface of said skate module.  
   
   
       49 . The skate component of  claim 48 , wherein said transition plate comprises softened corners to minimize obstruction with said contact surface.  
   
   
       50 . A skate component configured for use about a synthetic flooring system having a contact surface, said skate component comprising: 
 a structure configured to facilitate skate play thereon; and    a pliable layer disposed about an underside of said structure, and configured to provide a non-slip interface between said contact surface and said skate component.    
   
   
       51 . (canceled)  
   
   
       52 . (canceled)  
   
   
       53 . (canceled)  
   
   
       54 . (canceled)  
   
   
       55 . A skate court comprising: 
 a support surface;    a synthetic flooring system disposed about said support surface; and    at least one skate component located about and operable with said synthetic flooring system to facilitate skate play about said contact surface, said skate component comprising a pliable layer configured to provide a non-slip interface between said contact surface and said skate component.    
   
   
       56 . (canceled)  
   
   
       57 . (canceled)  
   
   
       58 . (canceled)  
   
   
       59 . A method for facilitating skate play about a synthetic flooring assembly comprising: 
 obtaining a synthetic flooring system comprising a contact surface having a substantially flat upper surface configured to provide said contact surface with a non-abrasive texture;    obtaining a first skate component configured with a pliable layer disposed about an underside of said skate component; and    locating said first skate component about said contact surface of said synthetic flooring system, said pliable layer being configured to provide a non-slip interface between said contact surface and said first skate component.    
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein said obtaining comprises obtaining a skate component in the form of a first skate module.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising obtaining a second skate module configured with a pliable layer, and coupling said second skate module to said first skate module to form a modular skate component.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising interchanging one of said first and second skate modules with a third skate module to reconfigure said modular skate component.  
   
   
       63 . (canceled)