Flexible track for dasher board system

• US 6,783,461 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Frazier, Nick, Marquez, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/308,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20030119591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 472/88, 472/89, 472/90, 472/92, 472/94, 256/24, 256/25, 256/26
• US Class Current: 472/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/08 Mechanical means for marking-out

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for providing a track that is operative to hold a shielding panel. A front support and a rear support are positioned on respective sides of the track. A pivot member is disposed beneath the front support and the rear support. The pivot member includes a portion that extends upwardly, between respective sides of the front support and rear support, so as to be secured to the track. An elastic member is positioned between the track and the rear support. The elastic member is operative to bias the track and the shielding panel in an upright position. The elastic member is also compressible by the track when the shielding panel is subjected to a lateral force.

Claims

1. A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:

a track having a channel, the channel being operative to hold a shielding panel;

a front wall;

a front support positioned adjacent said front wall;

a rear support;

a pivot member coupled to said track, said pivot member having portions which occupy respective areas aligned beneath said front support and said rear support; and

an elastic member positioned between said track and said rear support, said elastic member being operative to bias said track and the shielding panel in an upright position, and said elastic member being compressible by said track when the shielding panel is subjected to a lateral force.

2. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member is a spring.

3. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot member includes a portion that extends upwardly between respective inner sides of said front support and said rear support so as to be secured to said track.

4. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spacer is fixed to a bottom portion of said rear support so as to interpose between said rear support and said pivot member, said pivot member being in slidable contact with said spacer upon compression of said elastic member.

5. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, further including a semi-circular piece of metal which extends from said track and holds an end of said elastic member on said track.

6. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, further including supporting means for holding an end of said elastic member on said track.

7. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shielding panel is glass.

8. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of shielding panels, each of said shielding panels associated with a flexible dasher board assembly and held in respective tracks.

9. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion included with said pivot member which extends upwardly is a separately fixed piece.

10. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a track support plate is fixed to said front and rear supports so as to hold said track.

11. A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:

a track having a channel for holding a shielding panel;

a rear support;

means for pivoting said track such that motion of the pivoting means is limited by a downwardly facing side of said rear support; and

biasing means positioned between an outer wall of said track and an inner wall of said rear support, said biasing means for biasing said track and the shielding panel in an upright position when the shielding panel is not subjected to the lateral force, said biasing means being compressible by said track when the shielding panel is subjected to the lateral force.

12. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein a bottom portion of said rear support has a spacer positioned thereon.

13. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said pivoting means is fixed to said track and is slidably contacted with said spacer.

14. The flexible dasher board assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.

15. A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:

a track having a channel, the channel being operative to hold a shielding panel;

a front wall which is to face an ice area;

a rear support;

an extension arm which is secured to said track, said extension arm having an end portion that is extended downwardly past said rear support;

a first elastic member connected to said track and said rear support; and

a second elastic member connected to said end portion and said front wall,

wherein said first and said second elastic members allow for said extension arm to move laterally toward and away from said front wall.

16. The flexible dasher board assembly of claim 15, wherein said first elastic member is not vertically aligned with said second elastic member.

17. A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:

a track having a channel, the channel being operative to hold a shielding panel;

a front wall;

a rear support;

a rear beam that extends substantially parallel to the front wall in a vertical direction;

a support plate connecting said front wall and said rear beam;

a pivot arm which is secured to said track, said pivot arm having an end portion that is extended downwardly past said rear support; and

an elastic member connected to said track and said rear support,

wherein said end portion of said pivot arm is in contact with said support plate, such that the support plate provides a pivot point for said pivot arm.

18. The flexible dasher board assembly of claim 17, wherein said support plate has a groove in which said end portion is provided.

19. The flexible dasher board assembly of claim 17, wherein said end portion is not vertically aligned with said elastic member.

20. A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:

a track having a channel, the channel being operative to hold a shielding panel;

a front wall;

a rear support;

a bracket for securing said dasher board assembly to an ice dam;

a pivot arm which is secured to said track, said pivot arm having an end portion that is extended downwardly past said rear support; and

an elastic member connected to said track and said rear support,

wherein said end portion of said pivot arm is positioned on said bracket so as to provide a pivot point for said pivot arm.

21. The flexible dasher board assembly of claim 20, wherein said end portion is not vertically aligned with said elastic member.

22. The flexible dasher board assembly of claim 20, wherein a support plate is provided on said bracket, and said support plate has a groove in which said end portion of said pivot arm is provided.

23. A method of modifying an existing dasher board system to include a movable track for holding a shielding panel, the movable track being positioned between a front support member and a rear support member, said method comprising:

releasing the track from its initial position;

attaching an extension member to the track; and

disposing an elastic member in contact with the track so as to bias the track in an upright position and allow the track to move when a force is applied to the shielding panel.

24. The method of modifying a dasher board system of claim 23, wherein said releasing of the track is done by cutting the track into segments.

25. The method of modifying a dasher board system of claim 23, further comprising:

shortening a length of the track.

26. The method of modifying a dasher board system of claim 23, further comprising:

providing a support member for maintaining a position of the elastic member.

27. The method of modifying a dasher board system of claim 23, wherein the extension member acts as a pivot member.

28. The method of modifying a dasher board system of claim 23, further comprising:

coupling a second elastic member with an end of the extension member that is distal from an end attached to the track.

29. The method of modifying a dasher board system of claim 23, further comprising:

positioning the elastic member so as to not be vertically aligned with the extension member.

30. The method of modifying a dasher board system of claim 23, further comprising:

providing a support plate which creates a pivot point for the extension member.

31. The method of modifying a dasher board system of claim 30, further comprising:

connecting said support plate to a front wall and rear beam.