US5320447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Base structure, particularly suitable for tennis courts, a tennis court and a method of building a tennis court
Assignee: CLAYTHER INTERNATIONAL - TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS Ltd A CORP OF CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
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Filing: 1992-02-07
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Granted: 1994-06-14
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Expires: 2012-02-07
Abstract
Abstract The invention refers to a base structure, particularly for tennis courts, comprising a top layer consisting of a solid microporous plate comprising a mixture from 50% to 98% fine clay and 2% to 50% cement, the thickness of the top layer being of at least 2 cm in the non-compacted state, wherein the solid microporous plate results from chemical reaction by means of water added to said mixture. The invention also provides a tennis court, the surface of which is inclined at least 0.25% as to permit excess water to flow towards the center or one side of the court. A method of building such a court is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Vicente G. Ubero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:26
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C11/00; E01C11/22; E01C11/224; E01C11/225; E01C11/226; E01C13/00; E01C13/02; E01C13/06; E01C7/00; E01C7/08; E01C7/10; E01C7/12; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A base structure, particularly suitable for tennis courts, including a top layer which is a solid monolithic microporous plate comprising a compacted and cured mixture of from 50% to 98% fine clay particles which can pass through a mesh 22, and from 2% to 50% cement, the thickness of said top layer being at least 2 cm before compaction and curing, said solid microporous plate resulting from chemical curing on the addition of water to said mixture after in situ compaction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A base structure, particularly suitable for tennis courts, including a top layer which is a solid monolithic microporous plate comprising a compacted and cured mixture of from 50% to 98% fine clay particles which can pass through a mesh 22, and from 2% to 50% cement, the thickness of said top layer being at least 2 cm before compaction and curing, said solid microporous plate resulting from chemical curing on the addition of water to said mixture after in situ compaction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A base structure according to claim 1, in which said top layer comprises from 6% to 8% cement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A base structure according to claim 2, in which said top layer comprises from 7.1% cement and about 92.9% fine clay.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A base structure according to claim 1, in which said thickness of said top layer is greater than 4 cm before compaction and curing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A base structure according to claim 1, in which a base layer of hydrophilic material having a thickness of at least 4 cm in a non-compacted state is applied directly over the ground, below said top layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A base structure according to claim 5, in which at least one of said top layer and said base layer is compacted in the range of 20% to 40%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A base structure according to claim 5, in which said base layer has a thickness of more than 8 cm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A base structure according to claim 5, in which said hydrophilic material includes residues of crushed stones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A base structure according to claim 1, in which at least one of said top layer and said base layer is compacted in the range of 20% to 40%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A base structure according to claim 1, in which stone dust having a particle size in the range of 0.8 to 0.9 mm is applied to the surface of said top layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A base structure according to claim 10, in which said top layer and said stone dust are artificially painted or colored, said dust being of a porous stone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A base structure according to claim 1, in which rubber powder is incorporated in the material of said top layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tennis court comprising a base structure according to claim 1, said top layer having an upper surface with an inclination of at least 0.25%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A tennis court according to claim 13, in which said inclination is about 0.33%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tennis court according to claim 13, in which said inclination is towards one side of the court.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for building a base structure suitable for tennis courts including a top layer which is a solid microporous plate, said method including the following steps: flattening and compacting the ground on which the base structure will be made; preparing a dry mixture of 50% to 98% fine clay particles which can pass through a mesh 22, and 2% to 50% cement; covering the ground with an at least 2 cm thick layer of the said dry mixture to provide a top layer; subjecting said mixture to compacting of from 20% to 40%; and watering the surface of the court so that the whole top layer is impregnated with water as to cause the dry mixture to form a solid microporous block or plate by chemical curing.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for building a base structure suitable for tennis courts including a top layer which is a solid microporous plate, said method including the following steps: flattening and compacting the ground on which the base structure will be made; preparing a dry mixture of 50% to 98% fine clay particles which can pass through a mesh 22, and 2% to 50% cement; covering the ground with an at least 2 cm thick layer of the said dry mixture to provide a top layer; subjecting said mixture to compacting of from 20% to 40%; and watering the surface of the court so that the whole top layer is impregnated with water as to cause the dry mixture to form a solid microporous block or plate by chemical curing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 16 including the step of covering the ground with a layer comprising residues of crushed stone, and compacting said layer in the range 20%-40% to provide a base layer, prior to said step of covering the ground to provide said top layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 17, including the step of flattening said base layer and said top layer after they have been compacted.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 16, including the step spreading stone dust on said top layer after said top layer has been compacted.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 16, including the steps of providing said base structure with an inclination of at least 0.25% towards one side thereof; preparing a channel along said one side of said court, said channel having an inclined bottom; and installing within the channel a tube having a plurality of accesses to the surface of said base structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-06-13 | 1997-12-13 | 1998-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-13 | 2001-12-13 | 2002-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-13 | 2005-12-13 | 2006-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |