CUSTOMIZABLE INCLINE TRACK SYSTEM

Description

BACKGROUND

Currently there are structures that are used for many purposes, like running tracks, stadium seating, and the like. These structures have many components and changing parameters of the system can be an arduous if not impossible process.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a track system that allows for the track to be easily changed and customizable. For example, the incline angle of portions of the track can be changed and programmed for each individual user.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a system for building an indoor track system. The system includes a series of flooring support beams and a series of lift systems. Each lift system corresponds to respective ones of the series of flooring support beams. Additionally, a computerized system is configured to activate the lift systems to raise or lower the flooring support beams in a pivoting manner so that at least a portion of the track system is raised or lowered.

Embodiments of the present invention may have various features and provide various advantages. Any of the features and advantages of the present invention may be desired, but, are not necessarily required to practice the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a running track application, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A illustrates a running track with inclined portions, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2B illustrates a running track with portions having different inclined angles, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an inclined track, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a portion of the running track with the running surface removed, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a picture of a hydraulic support of an elevated indoor running track according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates the picture of under the running track from a distal view, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a picture of an underneath view of a portion of an elevated indoor running track according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method of operating an inclined running track system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a designing to give the best feel possible under the foot for the runner on the track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present application is directed to a system having support structures that has a surface where the angle of the surface is adjustable. These support structures may include: indoor running tracks, bleacher seating, other tracks, and any other system where multiple portions are attached in an array. As will be discussed herein, the system can be used with an indoor running track. Thus, while the system is described herein using the exemplary indoor running track, it should be understood that the system of the present application can be employed for other applications and the present invention should not be limited to indoor running tracks.

The present system will now be described using the indoor running track application embodiment. To start, FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a running track 100, according to an embodiment. As illustrated, the indoor running track 100 is composed of a series or an array of frames that are each joined together or placed side-by-side. Once the frames are all installed using a plurality of the clamping or other fastening systems, items (flat horizontal surface items) may then be installed on top of the frames. For the indoor running track application, plywood (or some other flat horizontal surface items) may be placed on and secured to respective frames. In this regard, the frames are used as support for the track placed on top of the frames.

The indoor track system may have portions that are inclined, such as the turns 102 of the track. All of the track or only one or more portions of the track may be inclined and adjusted to increase and decrease the angle of the track relative to the horizon. The configuration of adjusting the angle of the track will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2-8.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrates a top view of a running track with inclined portions, according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2A, there is a standard competition gradient at the start of the turn where the angle of the track gradually increases from 0 degrees relative to the horizon to 12 degrees relative to the horizon. This takes 26 sections of the track to go from 0 to 12 degrees. The turn then stays at the 12 degree angle around the bend and then there is a constant decline from 12 to 0 degrees (for another 26 sections of the track) until the track straightens out, as shown in FIG. 2A. The other sections of the running track which are straight shown in FIG. 2A are flat relative to the horizon.

In some embodiments, the track in FIG. 2A can be adjusted to be the track shown in FIG. 2A so that the turns of the track have different angles. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the angles are as follows: (1) at the start of the turn, a training angle of the track increases from 0 degrees relative to the horizon to 12 degrees relative to the horizon for 18 sections of the track (instead of 26 sections of FIG. 2A); (2) the 12 degree angle then continues around the track as shown in FIG. 2B (in a symmetric fashion relative to when the 12 degrees started); and (3) the training angle of the track decreases from 12 to 0 degrees over 18 sections of the track. Thus, in FIG. 2B, the angle of the track is increased and then decreased at a greater rate relative to that in FIG. 2A so that the angle in FIG. 2B is more steep in FIG. 2B relative to FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 3-9 illustrate how the incline of the track can be adjusted.

Starting first with FIGS. 3-4, a side view and a top view of an inclined track portion 102 is illustrated, according to embodiments, respectively, without the top flooring/paneling of the track installed. As shown, the track portion 102 includes a flooring support beam 104, a lift system 106, a middle pier, a front pier 110, a bottom support beam 114, an end pier, and a guide system 118.

The front, middle and end piers 110, 108, 116 are all connected to the bottom support beam 114 and are arranged to support the flooring support beam 104 when the flooring support beam 104 is at 0 degrees, but when the flooring support beam 104 is raised higher than 0 degrees, the flooring support beam 104 is not supported by the middle or end piers 108, 116 but instead is supported by a combination of the lift system 106 and the front pier 110 (as shown in FIG. 3).

The lift system 106 includes a support portion 112 which connects to the flooring support beam 104 so that the lift system 106 can lift the flooring support beam 104 when the lift system 106 is activated. The support portion 112 is a component to electronically control the “feel under foot” of the track and it will be used to control the dampening and a spring return of the track surface. This is done because the support portion 112 has a material, liquid, or gas which has dampening qualities so that a force applied to the support portion 112 causes the support portion 112 to contract and/or expand between the track and the hydraulic lift below the support portion 112 so that the track 104 above the support portion 112 can move up and down depending on the force applied to the track (and therefore transferred to the support portion 112). This support portion 112 may be programmable so that the dampening/spring effect so that the dampening and spring return between the top of the lift 106 and the support beam 104 can be programmably-adjusted. This may be by increasing a density or an amount of material, liquid, or gas or any other method to increase the dampening effect within support portion 112.

In one embodiment, the lift system 106 can be a hydraulic pump lift which then can move based on the force applied to the track above the support portion 112. The lift system 106 is connected to a programmable controller that can be connected to a computing system, such as a server/computer. A user may be able to control the lift system 106 to lift an array of the flooring support beams 104 a certain amount so that the angle of the flooring support beams 104 has an angle relative to the horizon. As shown in FIG. 3, the angle of the flooring support beam relative to the horizon is 12 degrees. The angle is measured between the flooring support beam 104 and the bottom support beam 114.

A hinge is located where the flooring support beam meets the front pier 110 so that the flooring support beam 104 can pivot at the hinge.

The guide system 118 is configured to include a panel that guides into a recess of a support structure 122.

As shown in FIG. 5-7, the lift system 106 is connected to the flooring support beam 104 which is also connected to a cross beam 120. In this regard, when the lift system lifts the flooring support beam 104, the flooring support beam 104 then lifts the cross support beam 120. As such, the cross support beam 120 is configured to lift adjacent flooring support beams 104′ which do not have a lift system associated therewith. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a lift system 106 is directly supporting every other flooring support beam 104 but no lift system 106 directly under the flooring support beams 104′ adjacent to every other flooring support beam 104. However, the lift systems 106 directly or indirectly lift the cross beam 120 which lifts both the flooring support beams 104 and the adjacent flooring support beams 104′.

FIG. 9 illustrates a designing to give the best feel possible under the foot for the runner on the track. In the image of FIG. 9. In one embodiment, the runner's lane width on the track is 42″ which corresponds to the dimensions between two flooring support beams 104, 104′. The member in the middle 104′ is designed to be small as possible to allow the surface to “bounce”. In one embodiment, some tracks are designed for a 36″ runners lane width. In some embodiments, the flooring support beams 104, 104′ dimensions are 2.5″×1.5″×14″ as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method of operating an inclined running track system, according to an embodiment. In 802, the system described above is provided. For example, a series of lift systems 106 are provided under a series of flooring support beams 104 so that the flooring support beams 104 will pivot relative to the horizon when the lift systems 106 are active.

In 804, an input to raise/lower the lift systems 106 are received by the track system 102. This input may be received from a computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). For example, a user may indicate a training mode associated or pre-programmed specifically for the user. In this regard, the system will retrieve the previously stored settings stored for the user (step 806). In some embodiments, the user can hit a preset setting to adjust the incline of the track a certain amount for all users. In this regard, the preset settings may be a “training mode” where the track angle is increased and/or decreased for a certain amount of flooring support beams 104.

In 808, based on the settings applied, the track system 102 has associated with each lift system 106 how much to raised or lower such respective lift system 106. In this regard, the amount to raise/lower such lift system 106 is determined by the track system 102. The amounts may be such that each subsequent lift system 106 may be increased more than the previous lift system 106 so that the incline is increased or each subsequent lift system 106 may be decreased less than the previous lift system 106 so that the incline is decreased. Regardless, the amount each lift system 106 will be pre-programmed based on the desired setting selected by the user.

In 810, the lift systems 106 are then activated to the determined amounts (i.e., the amounts determined in step 808), where each lift system 106 raises/lowers the flooring support beams 104 in a pivoting manner so that a floor above the flooring support beams 104 is raised/lowered an angled amount relative to the horizon.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.