Observation dais for squash and the like courts

The present invention concerns an observation dais for squash and the like courts for use e.g. as a referee and marker chair for squash courts with transparent walls.

Games played in enclosed courts such as squash and the like present the problem of how to provide spectators and referees with a view of the game. One way of solving this problem was to construct courts with a gallery above the rear of the court. This solution was however unsatisfactory in various ways. The number of spectators which could be comfortably accommodated was small and referees were often hampered. In addition, use of a gallery necessitated custom building and thus made the construction of courts in new or old buildings costly. Another solution to the problem was to make at least one, usually the rear wall of the court transparent by constructing it of glass, perspex or the like, thus enabling play to be comfortably viewed by spectators. This solution however presented a problem for the referee who was not able to obtain a satisfactory view of the court and in addition blocked the view of the spectators. Use of a conventional umpires chair such as employed on tennis courts was tried but this was cumbersome,took up an undesirably large amount of space and still impeded the spectators.

Despite the existence of both types of squash courts for many years no satisfactory solution to this problem has until now been found which would provide optimum view for referees with minimum hindrance to the spectators.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an observation dais which will permit a complete view of the court and which can be constructed to minimise disturbance of spectators.

The invention accordingly-provides an observation dais for squash and the like courts, the interior of which is viewable through and/or over at least one wall thereof, which comprises a platform supported by one or more legs at a chosen height such that an observer on the platform is provided with complete view of the court,and a means for securing said dais to the wall of the court to prevent toppling.

It will be appreciated that by securing the dias to the wall a compact and unobtrusive structure is possible whilst still maintaining the necessary stability and thus safety.

Current construction of courts is such that the dias will normally be attached to the rear wall. The invention, however, is not limited to such constructions.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described.

• Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of dais looking towards a court.
• Fig. 2 is a side-elevation of a dais.
• Fig. 3 is a plan view of a dais.
• Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a front and side elevation of the arrangement at A.
• Figs.4a, 5a, 5b are respectively a front and side elevation and a plan view of an alternative arrangement at A.
• Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the arrangement at B.
• Figs. 7 and 8 show an enlarged side elevation of the arrangement at C disassembled.
• Figs. 9 and 10 are longitudinal sections through the arrangement at C disassembled.

The dais comprises vertical legs (1) and cross-struts (2) which provide stability and form the platform.. Legs and cross-struts can be constructed from e.g. wood, steel or light metal. The dais is shown with further cross-struts (3) and a safety rail (4) although these features are optional.

There are two seats (5) provided on the platform which can be swivelably mounted in conventional manner at (6). The height of the seats above the platform is also adjustable. Depending on the place available any number of seats from 1 upwards may be provided although 2 are preferred for games such as squash which require two officiators.

The structure is provided with a ladder (7) for access to the platform. This feature is again optional and may be replaced by other access means. The ladder may be mounted as shown or for example fastened between the struts (2) and (3). The bracket arrangement shown at (A) and described in more detail below, hooks over the wall of the court (8) which has a door (8a) hinged at (9). It will be appreciated that by such an arrangement access can be gained to the court without need to move the dais.

The bracket arrangement shown at (A) comprises an angled bracket (10) fastened by a bolt (12) through a slot (11) to the leg (1). The height of the bracket can be adjusted by loosening the bolt (12) and sliding along the slot (11) until the upper edge of the wall is accommodated as shown in figure 5. to secure the dais thereto.

In an alternative arrangement as shown in figures 4a, 5a and 5b, two brackets (20) and (21) are used. Bracket (20) is attached to the leg by bolt (22) through a slot (23) which again allows for height adjustment. The second bracket (21) is attached to (20) by bolt (24) in slot (25). This allows horizontal adjustment to compensate for the thickness of the wall (8). For the sake of clarity struts (2) have been omitted from figures 4, 5, 4a, 5a and 5b.

It will be appreciated that various methods of securing dais to wall are possible, such as modified hooks or adjustable clamps. Alternatively, securing can be completely external to the court using for example a device built into the hinges of the door to which the dais can be secured or possibly an arrangement of suction pads.

One or more of the legs can be provided with feet such as shown at B and in Fig. 6. The foot (30) is mounted in a cavity (31) in the leg. If hollow steel bars are used for the legs the foot can simply be inserted therein. The foot could alternatively be threaded within the leg to allow for height adjustment and/or adjustment to unevenness of the floor.

It is preferred that the dais be collapsible in order that it may be easily packed, transported or stored when not in use. The struts, legs, etc. are therefore detachably joined, eg. with bolts or with a hook arrangement such as used in scaffolding. An example of such a hook arrangement is shown in Figs. 7 to 10. In this arrangement the strut (2) is provided with two extensions (41) on opposite sides thereof and extending beyond its end. A bolt or the like (43) with broad end (42) passes through the leg (1). This bolt is longer than the width of the leg. The extensions (41) have cutaways (44) which are so constructed that they will accommodate the shank of bolt (43). To assemble the extensions (41) are hooked over the bolt (43).

It will be appreciated that other types of attachment are possible in cases for example where the legs and struts are of circular cross-section. For example the legs and struts can be made to slot into each other in the same manner as tent poles or to clip onto each other. The structure can alternatively be constructed to collapse telescopically or foldably. In the event that a permanent structure is required the parts may, of course, simply be welded together.

It will be seen that a dais as described above will provide little or no hindrance to spectators' view whilst giving optimum sighting to the referee(s). In a particular embodiment the dais is constructed such that the legs thereof coincide with the door supports on the wall of the court and thus cause no additional obstruction of view. By securing to the wall of the court the lack of stability potentially inherent in such a compact structure is avoided.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 10 four- legged dais is shown. It will, however, be appreciated that for example a two-legged arrangement could be feasible, whereby the "front" of the platform is bracketed to and supported by the court wall and the "rear" of the platform by two legs.

• Figures lla, llb and llc show an alternative clamp arrangement.
• Figures 11 is a front elevation.
• Figure llb is a side elevation and
• Figure llc is a longitudinal section along X - X of lla.

The clamp comprises a C-shaped bracket (50) with a removable hard rubber, plastic or the like pad (51) which fits over the wall (8). This bracket is attached via a screw (52) to a second bracket (53) the C-shaped portion of which fits round a leg (1) of the dais and is also. provided with a screw (54) and a hard rubber, plastic or the like pad (55).

In operation bracket (50) and pad (51) are placed over the wall (8) and bracket (53) attached thereto by screw (52) tightening of which anchors the entire arrangement to the wall. The C-shaped portion of bracket (53) is then attached to the leg (1) of the dais, which has been moved into position, and anchored thereto by tightening screw (54). Bracket (53) can alternatively be slidably attached to leg (1) by nut and bolt arrangement across Y - Y in Figure llc, before attachment to wall bracket (50).

It will also readily be appreciated that the bracket and screw arrangement (50), (51) and (52) can be replaced by a plate and bolt or the like stuck directly on the wall of the court to which bracket (53) can be attached by a ing nut or the like.

The arrangement shown in Figures lla, llb and llc can, of course, also be used in courts where the door in the transparent wall of the court is surrounded by flanges. In such cases bracket (53) is attached to a strut of the dais and bracket (50) attached to the flange surrounding the door.

Figure 12 shows an exploded view of a possible embodiment of the dais.

The dais comprises leg portions (61) and (66) which have cross-struts (63) and (62) and which slot into each other. The two leg portions are joined together by the platform (65), on which chairs can be mounted, and safety rails (64). The whole structure is anchored to the wall (8) by bracket (69). Access to the platform (65) is by ladder (67). The wall (8) also has flanges (68) surrounding the door.