Glass laminate system for hockey rinks

• US 6,817,952 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clear Defense, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clear Defense Sports and Athletic Laminates, LLC
• Inventors: Jennings, Patrick Haden, Martin, Donald C., Cockman, Tonya M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/356,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 472/90, 472/92, 472/94, 428/430, 428/431, 256/24, 256/25
• 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 19/06 Apparatus for setting-out or dividing courts
• 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: B32B 17/10018 comprising only one glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10027 the glass sheet not being an outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1033 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing temporary protective coatings or layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10715 containing polyether
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10743 containing acrylate (co)polymers or salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2571/00 Protective equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/365 comprising polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties

Abstract

A transparent, shatter-resistant glass shield for mounting atop the dasher board of a hockey rink includes at least one glass panel. A glass-retaining plastic film is adhered to a surface of each glass panel. The plastic film substantially covers the surface. The plastic film has a thickness of at least about 0.014 inch.

Claims

1. A protective barrier for a hockey rink, said protective barrier comprising:

a) a dasher board having a top rim;

b) at least one transparent, shatter-resistant glass shield mounted on the top rim of the dasher board, the glass shield including;

at least one glass panel; and

a glass-retaining plastic film adhered to a surface of each glass panel, wherein the plastic film substantially covers the surface;

wherein the plastic film has a thickness of at least about 0.014 inch; and

wherein the glass panel has a thickness of no greater than about ⅜

inch.

2. The protective barrier of claim 1 further including a second transparent, shatter-resistant glass shield mounted on the dasher board and including:

a second glass panel having a thickness of at least about ½

inch; and

a second glass retaining plastic film adhered to a surface of the second glass panel and substantially covering the surface of the second glass panel;

wherein the second glass shield is mounted on an end portion of the hockey rink and the first glass shield is mounted on a side portion of the hockey rink.

3. The protective barrier of claim 1 including at least one edge retainer engaged on an edge of each glass panel, where each edge retainer extends over substantially the full length of the edge and overlaps the plastic film along the edge, wherein the plastic film and edge retainers on a panel assist in the retention of a substantial portion of broken glass after breakage of that panel.

4. The protective barrier of claim 3 wherein the at least one edge includes a free, top edge of each glass panel.

5. The protective barrier of claim 3 wherein the at least one edge retainer is transparent.

6. The protective barrier of claim 5 wherein the at least one edge retainer is formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

7. The protective barrier of claim 1 wherein the glass panel is about ⅜

inch thick.

8. The protective barrier of claim 1 wherein the plastic film has a thickness of between about 0.014 inch and 0.028 inch.

9. The protective barrier of claim 1 wherein the plastic film is comprised of at least one plastic layer and a mounting adhesive layer.

10. The protective barrier of claim 1 wherein the plastic film is polyethylene terephthalate.

11. The protective barrier of claim 1 wherein the plastic film is polycarbonate film.

12. The protective barrier of claim 1 wherein the plastic film is comprised of a plurality of plastic layers.

13. The protective barrier of claim 1 wherein the glass panel is tempered glass.

14. A protective barrier for a hockey rink, said protective barrier comprising:

a) a dasher board having a top rim;

b) at least one transparent, shatter-resistant glass shield mounted on the top rim of the dasher board, the glass shield including;

at least one tempered glass panel having a free, top edge; and

a glass-retaining plastic film adhered to a surface of each glass panel, wherein the plastic film substantially covers the surface, wherein the plastic film is comprised of at least one plastic layer and a mounting adhesive layer;

wherein the plastic film has a thickness of at least about 0.014 inch; and

wherein the glass panel has a thickness of no greater than about ⅜

inch; and

c) at least one transparent edge retainer engaged on the free, top edge of each glass panel, where each edge retainer extends over substantially the full length of the edge and overlaps the plastic film along the edge, wherein the plastic film and edge retainers on a panel assist in the retention of a substantial portion of broken glass after breakage of that panel.

15. The protective barrier of claim 14 further including a second transparent, shatter-resistant glass shield mounted on the dasher board and including:

a second glass panel having a thickness of at least about ½

inch; and

a second glass retaining plastic film adhered to a surface of the second glass panel and substantially covering the surface of the second glass panel;

wherein the second glass shield is mourned on an end portion of the hockey rink and the first glass shield is mounted on a side portion of the hockey rink.

16. The protective barrier of claim 14 wherein the at least one edge retainer is formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

17. The protective barrier of claim 14 wherein the glass panel is about ⅜

inch thick.

18. The protective barrier of claim 14 wherein the plastic film has a thickness of between about 0.014 inch and 0.028 inch.

19. The protective barrier of claim 14 wherein the plastic film is polyethylene terephthalate.

20. The protective barrier of claim 14 wherein the plastic film is polycarbonate film.

21. The protective barrier of claim 14 wherein the plastic film is comprised of a plurality of plastic layers.