Rink safety system and procedure

• US 10,279,244 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marc Kapsalis
• Original Assignee: Marc Kapsalis
• Inventors: Kapsalis, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T
• Application Number:
  US15/731,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20180043238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 472 88- 89, 472 92, 472 94, 256 1, 256 25, 256 26
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/08 Mechanical means for marking-out
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/10 Ice-skating or roller-skating rinks; Slopes or trails for skiing, ski-jumping or tobogganing chutes A63G21/00; ski-lifts B61B11/00; making or maintaining surfaces of snow or ice suitable for traffic or sporting purposes E01H4/00; removing snow or ice E01H5/00; production of ice or snow F25C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2019/085 Fences; Nets; Barriers
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/20 Shock or vibration absorbing

Abstract

A movable dasher board system optimizes user safety in a hockey rink or similar arena. A bottom structure, provided by a sliding bottom surface or roller assembly, has low friction characteristics, typically a μ_s of 0.05 or less with respect to ice if a sliding surface, or if roller bearings an effective coefficient of rolling friction 0.04 or less. A dasher board assembly is operatively connected to and extends upwardly from the bottom structure. Biasing and impact force absorbing devices (such as pneumatic or hydraulic or spring-encasing telescoping tubes, or foam, gel, or compression springs) bias the bottom structure and dasher board assembly to a desired position and absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human. The system may be installed in a pre-existing rink or other arena.

Claims

1. A movable dasher board system, comprising:

a bottom structure having low friction characteristics, wherein the bottom structure low friction characteristics are provided by a plurality of rollers;

a dasher board assembly operatively connected to and extending upwardly from the bottom structure; and

biasing and impact force absorbing devices which bias the bottom structure and dasher board assembly to a desired position and upon movement of the bottom structure absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human.

2. The movable dasher board system of claim 1, wherein said rollers provide an effective coefficient of rolling friction 0.04 or less.

3. The movable dasher board system of claim 1, wherein the bias and impact force absorbing devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of telescoping tubes, foam, gel, and compression springs.

4. The movable dasher board system of claim 1, wherein the dasher board system is installed in a pre-existing hockey rink and taking up a volume around an interior periphery of the pre-existing hockey rink.

5. The movable dasher board system of claim 1, wherein the bottom structure engages and rolls on a surface selected from the group consisting essentially of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. A movable dasher board system, comprising:

a mounting frame having upper and bottom structures having low friction characteristics, wherein said upper and bottom structures comprise sets of rollers which provide an effective coefficient of rolling friction 0.04 or less;

a dasher board assembly operatively connected to said mounting frame; and

biasing and impact force absorbing devices which bias the mounting frame and dasher board assembly to a desired position and upon movement of the frame absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human.

7. The movable dasher board system of claim 6, wherein said rollers roll in channels of metal or plastic.

8. The movable dasher board system of claim 6, wherein the bias and impact force absorbing devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of telescoping tubes, foam, gel, and compression springs.

9. A method of protecting human participant safety in a rink or arena by providing around an exterior of the playing surface of the rink or arena a movable dasher board system including a bottom structure including a plurality of rollers, a dasher board assembly operatively connected to the bottom structure, and biasing and impact force absorbing devices which bias the bottom structure and dasher board assembly to a desired position and upon movement of the bottom structure absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human.