Energy absorbing sports board assembly
First Claim
1. An energy absorbing sports board assembly, comprising:
- a catch plate having front surface facing a playing surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface of the catch plate;
a ramp adjacent to the back surface of the catch plate and having an upward angle with respect to the playing surface, the ramp having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface;
a frame with a generally rectangular shape, the frame having a front facing the playing surface, a back opposite to the front, a bottom portion with a slope positioned on the top surface of the ramp, a top portion opposite to the bottom portion, and first and second side portions between the top and bottom portions, wherein the bottom portion of the frame with the slope on the top surface of the ramp can laterally deflect away from the playing surface during impact on the front of the frame and return back after the impact;
a first extension hinge extending out from the first side portion of the frame;
a second extension hinge extending out from the second side portion of the frame;
a first elongated slot in the first extension hinge;
a second elongated slot in the second extension hinge; and
a dasher board on the front of the frame.
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Accused Products
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.
46 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An energy absorbing sports board assembly, comprising:
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a catch plate having front surface facing a playing surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface of the catch plate; a ramp adjacent to the back surface of the catch plate and having an upward angle with respect to the playing surface, the ramp having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface; a frame with a generally rectangular shape, the frame having a front facing the playing surface, a back opposite to the front, a bottom portion with a slope positioned on the top surface of the ramp, a top portion opposite to the bottom portion, and first and second side portions between the top and bottom portions, wherein the bottom portion of the frame with the slope on the top surface of the ramp can laterally deflect away from the playing surface during impact on the front of the frame and return back after the impact; a first extension hinge extending out from the first side portion of the frame; a second extension hinge extending out from the second side portion of the frame; a first elongated slot in the first extension hinge; a second elongated slot in the second extension hinge; and a dasher board on the front of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An energy absorbing sports board assembly, comprising:
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a catch plate having front surface facing a playing surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface of the catch plate; a ramp adjacent to the back surface of the catch plate and having an upward angle with respect to the playing surface, the ramp having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface; a frame with a generally rectangular shape, the frame having a front facing the playing surface, a back opposite to the front, a bottom portion with a slope positioned on the top surface of the ramp, a top portion opposite to the bottom portion, and first and second side portions between the top and bottom portions, wherein the bottom portion of the frame with the slope on the top surface of the ramp can laterally deflect away from the playing surface during impact on the front of the frame and return back after the impact; a rope slot through the bottom portion of the frame; a first rope connected to the frame, passing through the rope slot of the bottom portion of the frame and attached under the ramp, wherein the first rope is for providing a vertical tension on the frame; a second rope positioned across the first and second sides of the frame to provide a horizontal compressive force on the frame to resist lateral movement of the frame away from the playing surface during an impact on the front of the frame; and a dasher board on the front of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An energy absorbing sports board assembly, comprising:
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a catch plate having front surface facing a playing surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface of the catch plate; a ramp adjacent to the back surface of the catch plate and having an upward angle with respect to the playing surface, the ramp having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface; a plurality of panels position on the ramp, each of the plurality of panel includes; a frame with a generally rectangular shape, the frame having a front facing the playing surface, a back opposite to the front, a bottom portion with a slope positioned on the top surface of the ramp, a top portion opposite to the bottom portion, and first and second side portions between the top and bottom portions, wherein the bottom portion of the frame with the slope on the top surface of the ramp can laterally deflect away from the playing surface during impact on the front of the frame and return back after the impact; a first rope connected to the frame for providing a vertical tension on the frame; a first extension hinge having a first elongated slot and extending from the first side portion of the frame; a second extension hinge having a second elongated slot and extending from the second side portion of the frame; and a dasher board on the front of the frame; and a second rope positioned across the first and second sides of the plurality of frames to provide a horizontal compressive force on the plurality of panels to resist lateral movement of the plurality of panels away from the playing surface during an impact on the fronts of the frames, wherein the first elongated slot of a first extension hinge of one panel of the plurality of panels overlaps the second elongated slot of a second extension hinge of an other panel of the plurality of panels that is adjacent to the one panel. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification