Ice hockey puck

• US 4,968,036 A
• Filed: 04/27/1988
• Issued: 11/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eberhard Von Der Mark
• Original Assignee: Eberhard Von Der Mark
• Inventors: Von Der Mark, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US07/171,876
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 273/128 R, 273/126 R, 273/128 CS, 273/128 A, 273/58 F, 273/DIG. 24, 273/58 G, 446/47, 446/219, 446/236, 446/242, 446/245, 446/247, 446/248, 446/156
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/14 Curling stone; Shuffleboard; Similar sliding games

Abstract

The puck is provided in its center with a recess (2) to receive at least one light source (3), and light channels (7) are arranged leading from this light source (3) to its circumscribing surface (4) and/or to the edges of its two lateral surface (5, 6), said channels being filled with a highly transparent material.

Claims

1. An ice hockey puck having a flat cylindrical body of rubber-elastic material in the middle of which a recess is provided for receiving an energizing source which cooperates with at least a light source, the light of which exits at the periphery of said ice hockey puck, said recess also houses said light source and light-guiding channels of highly transparent material are provided between said light source and said periphery of said ice hockey puck, and that the elasticity or hardness of the highly transparent material is substantially similar to the elasticity or hardness of the remainder of said body.

2. An ice hockey puck according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

3. An ice hockey puck according to claim 1, characterized in that the energizing source is a pulsing source.

4. An ice hockey puck according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source together with an energizing source and electrical or electronic switching or control means are disposed within a transparent housing occupying the recess.

5. An ice hockey puck according to claim 1, characterized in that the material occupying the light channels provides a transparent body having a cavity for receiving a light source.

6. An ice hockey puck according to claim 1, characterized in that the light emitting surface of the material in the light channels comprises lens-shaped or pyramid-shaped projections.

7. An ice hockey puck according to claim 1, characterized in that a magnetically operated on/off switch is provided between energy source and light source.

8. An ice hockey puck according to claim 4, characterized in that the transparent body is surrounded at the outside of its light emitting surface and the cavity region with a reflecting or fluorescent layer.