Sport floor system with variable force reduction zones

Abstract

A sport flooring system designed and installed to reduce fatigue on a user. The sport flooring system includes a floor surface layer that is supported above a substrate layer and is designed for use in playing or practicing an athletic event or game. The floor surface layer is supported by a plurality of a first type of shock absorbing pads and a plurality of a second type of shock absorbing pads where the second type of shock absorbing are less hard and provide greater cushioning compared to the first type of shock absorbing pads. The first and second shock absorbing pads are organized to define at least one first zone and at least one second zone. The second zone provides greater cushioning to the user compared to the first zone to reduce fatigue to the user when playing or practicing on the sport flooring system.

1 . A sport flooring system supported on a substrate layer for use by a user, comprising:
 a sport floor comprising a floor surface layer;   a plurality of a first type of shock absorbing pads to support the subfloor layer on the substrate layer, the first type of shock absorbing pads having a first hardness; and   a plurality of a second type of shock absorbing pads to support the subfloor layer on the substrate layer, the second type of shock absorbing pads having a second hardness that is less than the first hardness,   wherein the plurality of the first and second types of shock absorbing pads are positioned to defined at least one first zone and at least one second zone, wherein the second zone includes the second type of shock absorbing pad to provide greater cushioning to the user compared to the first zone which includes the first type of shock absorbing pad.   
     
     
         2 . The sport flooring system of  claim 1  wherein the floor surface layer is formed from wood. 
     
     
         3 . The sport flooring system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one first zone and the at least one second zone are located based on the sporting game. 
     
     
         4 . The sport flooring system of  claim 1  wherein the sport flooring system includes a plurality of first zones and a plurality of second zones. 
     
     
         5 . The sport flooring system of  claim 3  wherein the floor surface layer is lined for basketball and includes a three-point line, wherein at least one of the plurality of second zones defines a shooting zone that includes the three point line. 
     
     
         6 . The sport flooring system of  claim 4  wherein floor surface layer includes a restricted area, wherein at least one of the plurality of second zones defines an impact zone that includes the restricted area. 
     
     
         7 . The sport flooring system of  claim 5  wherein floor surface layer includes a restricted area, wherein at least one of the plurality of second zones defines an impact zone that includes the restricted area. 
     
     
         8 . The sport flooring system of  claim 1  wherein the first type of shock absorbing pads and the second type of shock absorbing pads are formed from the same type of resilient material and have the same shape. 
     
     
         9 . The sport flooring system of  claim 8  wherein the first type of shock absorbing pads have a durometer rating that is greater than the durometer rating of the second type of shock absorbing pads. 
     
     
         10 . A sport flooring system supported on a substrate layer for use by a user when playing or training for a game, comprising:
 a wood sport floor comprising a wood floor surface layer and a subfloor layer;   a plurality of a first type of shock absorbing pads attached to the subfloor layer to support the subfloor layer on the substrate layer, the first type of shock absorbing pads having a first hardness; and   a plurality of a second type of shock absorbing pads attached to the subfloor layer to support the subfloor layer on the substrate layer, the second type of shock absorbing pads having a second hardness that is less than the first hardness,   wherein the plurality of the first and second types of shock absorbing pads are positioned to defined at least one first zone and at least one second zone, wherein the second zone includes only the second type of shock absorbing pad to provide greater cushioning to the user compared to the first zone which includes only the first type of shock absorbing pad.   
     
     
         11 . The sport flooring system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one first zone and the at least one second zone are located based on the sporting game. 
     
     
         12 . The sport flooring system of  claim 10  wherein the sport flooring system includes a plurality of first zones and a plurality of second zones. 
     
     
         13 . The sport flooring system of  claim 10  wherein the first type of shock absorbing pads and the second type of shock absorbing pads are formed from the same type of resilient material and have the same shape. 
     
     
         14 . The sport flooring system of  claim 13  wherein the first type of shock absorbing pads have a durometer rating that is greater than the durometer rating of the second type of shock absorbing pads. 
     
     
         15 . The sport flooring system of  claim 13  wherein each of the first and second types of shock absorbing pads include a semi-dome outer surface that contacts the substrate layer. 
     
     
         16 . A sport flooring system supported on a substrate layer for use by a user during training or practice, comprising:
 a sport floor comprising a floor surface;   a first zone located within a first predefined area of the floor surface, wherein the first zone has a first level of shock absorption; and   a second zone located within a second predefined area of the floor surface, wherein the second zone has a second level of shock absorption that is greater than the first level of shock absorption.   
     
     
         17 . The sport flooring system of  claim 16  wherein the sport flooring system includes a plurality of first zones and a plurality of second zones. 
     
     
         18 . The sport flooring system of  claim 16  wherein the first zone and the second zone are located based on the sporting game. 
     
     
         19 . The sport flooring system of  claim 16  wherein the sport floor is lined for a sport or for training and the first and second zones are located based on the lining. 
     
     
         20 . The sport flooring system of  claim 16  wherein the sport floor includes a floor surface layer and the first and second zones are created by properties of the floor surface layer.