Energy Absorbing Sports Board Assembly

• US 20150013239A1
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cody S. Stolle, Dean L. Sicking
• Original Assignee: Cody S. Stolle, Dean L. Sicking
• Inventors: Sicking, Dean L., Stolle, Cody S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,091,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/71
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/00 Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor golf courses A63B69/3691; water roundabouts A63G3/00; construction of surfaces of foundations E01C; roofs E04B7/00; buildings or groups of buildings for sports E04H3/10; swimming or splash baths or pools E04H4/00; coverings for baths E04H4/06
• 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: E04H 3/00 Buildings or groups of buildings for public or similar purposes; Institutions, e.g. infirmaries or prisons
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/10 for meetings, entertainments, or sports

Abstract

An energy absorbing sports board assembly that is not fixed to the floor of the arena but is allowed to move relative to the arena floor. The system utilizes vertical and horizontal tension to return the structure to its original position after deflection from impact from within the playing surface of the sports arena. The bottom portion, which is covered with a dasher board, rotates relative to the see-through material making up the top portion (glass). Because the sports board system is not attached to the floor of the arena, hockey players sliding along the ice during a hockey game are protected from concussion and paralyzing injuries to a greater extent than current systems which are fixed to the arena floor. The flexible connection between panels allows one or more panels to slide outward from the playing surface on impact.

Claims

1. I claim an energy absorbing sports board assembly comprising:

a frame;

a first means of connecting the frame to another similar frame attached to the side of the frame;

a second means of connecting the frame to another similar frame attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first such means;

a means for horizontally applying tension attached to the frame;

a see through material mounted to the top of the frame; and

a means to mount the see through material above the frame that permits the frame to rotate relative to the see through material.

2. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the first means of connecting the frame to another similar frame attached to the side of the frame be a first extendable hinge attached to the side of the frame;

the second means of connecting the frame to another similar frame attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first such means be a second extendable hinge attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first extendable hinge.

3. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a means for vertically applying tension attached to the frame.

4. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the frame adapted with the bottom portion having a sloped ramp.

5. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the frame adapted with a slot in the bottom.

6. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape and composed of tubular material.

7. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape and composed of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a slope;

a ramp attached under frame;

a front catch plate attached to the ramp.

8. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape and composed of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a sloped ramp at the bottom of the frame and further adapted with a vertical front catch plate portion facing the playing surface.

9. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape and composed of tubular material;

foam material filling the tubular material of the frame.

10. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the means of applying horizontal tension being a plurality of cable brackets attached to the frame;

a cable running through the cable brackets.

11. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a spring mounting bracket attached to the frame;

a spring vertically attached to the spring mounting bracket;

a turnbuckle attached to the spring;

a wire rope attached turnbuckle and attached the frame in generally vertical alignment.

12. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a slope;

a ramp attached under the frame;

a front catch plate attached to the ramp;

the means of applying horizontal tension being a plurality of cable brackets attached to the frame;

a cable running through the cable brackets;

the first means of connecting the frame to a similar frame being a first extendable hinge adapted with a short slot attached to the side of the frame;

a pin to fit into the slot of the first extendable hinge;

the second means of connecting the frame to a similar frame being a second extendable hinge adapted with a short slot attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first extendable hinge;

a pin to fit into the slot of the second extendable hinge;

foam material filling the tubular material of the frame;

a spring mounting bracket attached to the frame inside the general rectangle of the frame;

a spring vertically attached to the spring mounting bracket;

a turnbuckle attached to the spring;

a wire rope attached turnbuckle and attached the frame in generally vertical alignment.

27. I claim an energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the means to mount the see through material above the frame that permits the frame to rotate relative to the see through material being comprised of a bracket holding the see through material;

a ball joint mounted to the frame and to the bracket.

28. I claim an energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the means to mount the see through material above the frame that permits the frame to rotate relative to the see through material being comprised of a hinge attached to the see through material and the frame.

29. I claim an energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the means to mount the see through material above the frame that permits the frame to rotate relative to the see through material being comprised of a vertical glass support;

elastomeric foam is in the space between the wall of the frame and the vertical glass support;

a bolt going through the frame disposed such that the elastomeric foam and the vertical glass support rest on the bolt.

30. I claim an energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the means to mount the see through material above the frame that permits the frame to rotate relative to the see through material being comprised of a bracket holding the see through material;

a pin mounted to the frame and to the bracket.

31. I claim an energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the means to mount the see through material above the frame that permits the frame to rotate relative to the see through material being comprised of a bracket holding the see through material; and

a slidable connection mounted between the frame and the bottom of the bracket.

13. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

a frame;

a first means of connecting the frame of one panel to the frame of another panel attached to the side of the frame;

a second means of connecting the frame of one panel to the frame of another panel attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first such means;

a means for horizontally applying tension attached to the frame;

a see through material mounted to the top of the frame; and

a means to mount the see through material above the frame that permits the frame to rotate relative to the see through material.

14. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the first means of connecting the frame of one panel to the frame of another panel attached to the side of the frame be a first extendable hinge adapted with a short slot in the hinge attached to the side of the frame;

a pin to fit into the slot of the first extendable hinge;

the second means of connecting the frame of one panel to the frame of another panel attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first such means be a second extendable hinge adapted with a short slot attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first extendable hinge;

a pin to fit into the slot of the second extendable hinge.

15. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

a means for vertically applying tension attached to the frame of each panel.

16. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the frame adapted with the bottom portion having a sloped ramp.

17. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the frame adapted with a slot in the bottom.

18. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape and composed of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a slope;

a ramp attached under frame;

a front catch plate attached to the ramp.

19. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape and composed of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a slope;

a ramp attached under frame;

a front catch plate attached to the ramp;

20. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape and composed of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a sloped ramp at the bottom of the frame and further adapted with a vertical front catch plate portion facing the playing surface.

21. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape and composed of tubular material;

foam material filling the tubular material of the frame.

22. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the means of applying horizontal tension being a plurality of cable brackets attached to the frame;

a cable running through the cable brackets.

23. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

a spring mounting bracket attached to the frame;

a spring vertically attached to the spring mounting bracket;

a turnbuckle attached to the spring;

a wire rope attached turnbuckle and attached the frame in generally vertical alignment.

24. I claim energy absorbing sports board assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

the frame be made in a generally rectangular shape of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a slope;

a ramp attached under the frame;

a front catch plate attached to the ramp;

the means of applying horizontal tension being a plurality of cable brackets attached to the frame;

a cable running through the cable brackets;

the first means of connecting the frame to a similar frame being a first extendable hinge adapted with a short slot attached to the side of the frame;

a pin to fit into the slot of the first extendable hinge;

the second means of connecting the frame to a similar frame being a second extendable hinge adapted with a short slot attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first extendable hinge;

a pin to fit into the slot of the second extendable hinge;

foam material filling the tubular material of the frame;

a spring mounting bracket attached to the frame inside the general rectangle of the frame;

a spring vertically attached to the spring mounting bracket;

a turnbuckle attached to the spring;

a wire rope attached turnbuckle and attached the frame in generally vertical alignment.

25. I claim an energy absorbing sports board assembly comprising:

a frame of generally rectangular shape composed of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a slope;

a ramp attached under frame;

a front catch plate attached to the ramp;

a dasher attached to the frame on the playing surface side;

a plurality of cable brackets attached to the frame;

a plurality of cables running through the cable brackets of each panel in the plurality of panels;

a plurality of first extendable hinges adapted with a short slot in each hinge attached to the side of the frame;

a plurality of pins mounted in the hinge slots of the first plurality of extendable hinges;

a second plurality of extendable hinges adapted with a short slot attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first plurality of extendable hinge;

a plurality of pins mounted in the hinge slots of the second plurality of extendable hinges;

foam material filling the tubular material of the frame;

a spring mounting bracket attached to the frame inside the general rectangle of the frame;

a spring vertically attached to the spring mounting bracket;

a turnbuckle attached to the spring;

wire rope attached turnbuckle, extending through the slot and under the ramp to connect to the front catch plate;

a see through material support;

elastomeric foam is in the space between the wall of the frame and the see through material support;

a bolt going through the frame disposed such that the elastomeric foam and the see through material support rest on the bolt; and

a see through material mounted to the see through material support above the frame.

26. I claim an energy absorbing sports board assembly comprising:

a plurality of panels each panel comprising;

a frame of generally rectangular shape composed of tubular material adapted with a slot in the bottom and further adapted with the bottom portion having a slope;

a ramp attached under frame;

a front catch plate attached to the ramp;

a dasher attached to the frame on the playing surface side;

a plurality of cable brackets attached to the frame;

a plurality of cables running through the cable brackets of each panel in the plurality of panels;

a plurality of first extendable hinges adapted with a short slot in each hinge attached to the side of the frame;

a second plurality of extendable hinges adapted with a short slot attached to the opposite side of the frame from the first plurality of extendable hinges;

a plurality of pins mounted in the hinge slots of two adjacent panels connecting the panels;

foam material filling the tubular material of the frame;

a spring mounting bracket attached to the frame inside the general rectangle of the frame;

a spring vertically attached to the spring mounting bracket;

a turnbuckle attached to the spring;

wire rope attached turnbuckle, extending through the slot and under the ramp to connect to the front catch plate;

a see through material support mounted to the top of the frame and adapted to allow the frame to rotate under it without substantial deflection such that it acts as a pivot;

a see through material support;

elastomeric foam is in the space between the wall of the frame and the see through material support;

a bolt going through the frame disposed such that the elastomeric foam and the see through material support rest on the bolt; and

a see through material mounted to the see through material support above the frame.