CROSS-REFERN EC E TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority' to U.S. Provisional Application

No. 63/303,062 entitled “Ice Rink Safety System and Methods of Use,” filed on January 26,

2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an ice rink safety system and methods tor use, particularly in hockey applications.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not admitted to be prior art to tire claims in this application.

[0004] Player and user safety is becoming much more important in hockey, as well as in related sports and activities in ice rinks. The present disclosure provides a concept that will provide maximum protection to the players and users who might impact the side walls/dasher boards of the rink.

SUMMARY

[0005] In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure provides an ice rink safety system and methods for use.

[0006] A significant feature of the present disclosure is that it decouples tire facing or moving portions of the walls/dasher boards from the heavy support structures. For example, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the dasher boards can actually move over the ice surface when impacted. In particular, the present disclosure provides support of the dasher board assembly, and hence reduction in the amount force required to overcome inertia, is provided by a structure above the dasher board assembly. Such an arrangement would potentially allow customers to forego purchasing an entire new dasher board assembly, and instead could retrofit existing dasher board assemblies with the system disclosed herein. The present disclosure allows the dasher board assembly, and hence the head of a human, to deflect in any direction based on the angle of the impact force. This deflection prevents axial compression of the crown of the head and spine. The alignment as well as the force, is the cause of most catastrophic injuries.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a system including an anchor fixed to a surface. The system also includes a first vertical support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, w here the first end of the first vertical support is coupled to the anchor. The system also includes a horizontal support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, where the first end of the horizontal support is coupled to the second end of the first vertical support. The system also includes a second vertical support having a first end and a second end opposi te the first end, where the first end of the second vertical support is coupled to the second end of the horizontal support, and where the second end of the second vertical support is configured to be coupled to a dasher board assembly. The dasher board assembly is configured to move with respect to the first vertical support to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize a possibility of injury to the human.

[0008] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a system including a vertical support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, where the first end of the vertical support is configured to be coupled to a ceiling structure of an ice arena, and where the second end of the vertical support is configured to be coupled to a dasher board assembly. 'The dasher board assembly is configured to move with respect to the first end of the vertical support to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize a possibility of injury to the human

[0009] These as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives, will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIGURE 1A illustrates a side view- of a first ice rink safety system, according to an exemplary' embodiment.

[0011] FIGURE IB illustrates a top view of the first ice rink safety system of Figure 1A, according to an exemplary’ embodiment.

[0012] FIGURE. 2A illustrates a side view of a second vertical support of the first ice rink safety system of Figure 1A before and after impact with the dasher board assembly, according to an exemplary' embodiment.

[0013] FIGURE 2B illustrates a side view' of another second vertical support of the first ice rink safety system of Figure 1 A before and after impact with the dasher board assembly, according to an exemplary' embodiment.

[0014] FIGURE 2C illustrates a side view of another second vertical support of the first ice rink safety system of Figure 1A before and after impact with the dasher board assembly, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0015] FIGURE 3 illustrates a second ice rink safety' system, according to an exemplary' embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Example methods and systems are described herein. It should be understood that the words “example,” “exemplary,” and “illustrative” are used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or feature described herein as being an “example,” being “exemplary,” or being “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or features. The exemplary embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

[0017] Furthermore, the particular arrangements shown in the Figures should not be viewed as limiting. It should be understood that other embodiments may include more or less of each element shown in a given Figure. Further, some of the illustrated elements may be combined or omitted. Yet further, an exemplary' embodiment may include elements that are not illustrated in the Figures.

[0018] As used herein, “coupled” means associated directly as well as indirectly. For example, a member A may be directly associated with a member B, or may be indirectly- associated therewith, e.g. , via another member C. It will be understood that not. all relationships among the various disclosed elements are necessarily represented.

[0019] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item. [0020] Reference herein to “one embodiment’’ or “one example” means that one or more feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one implementation. The phrases “one embodiment” or “one example” in various places in the specification may or may not be referring to the same example.

[0021 ] As used herein, a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware “configured to” perform a specified function is indeed capable of performing the specified function without any alteration, rather than merely having potential to perform the specified function after further modification. In other words, the system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware “configured to” perform a specified fiinction is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the specified fiinction. As used herein, “configured to” denotes existing characteristics of a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware which enable the system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware to perform the specified function without further modification. For purposes of this disclosure, a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware described as being “configured to” perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being “adapted to” and/or as being “operative to” perform that function.

[0022] The limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.

[0023] By the term “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” with reference to amounts or measurement values described herein, it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide. For example, in one embodiment, the term “'about” can refer to ± 5% of a given value.

[0024] Illustrative, non-exhaustive examples, which may or may not be claimed, of the subject matter according the present disclosure are provided below'.

[0025] With reference to the figures, Figure 1A illustrates a side view of a first ice rink safety system 100, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the system 100 includes an anchor 102 fixed to a surface 104. Tire anchor 102 may be a concrete base, as a non-limiting example. The system 100 also includes a first vertical support 106 having a first end 108 and a second end 110 opposite the first end 108. The first end 108 of the first vertical support 106 is coupled to the anchor 102. The system 100 also includes a horizontal support 112 having a first end 114 and a second end 116 opposite the first end 1 14. The first end 1 14 of the horizontal support 112 is coupled to the second end 110 of the first vertical support 106. [00261 The system 100 also includes a second vertical support 118 having a first end 120 and a second end 122 opposite the first end 120. Tire first end 120 of the second vertical support 118 is coupled to the second end 116 of the horizontal support 112, and the second end 122 of the second vertical support 1 18 is configured to be coupled to a dasher board assembly 124. The dasher board assembly 124 is configured to move -with respect to the first vertical support 106 to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly 124 to minimi ze a possibility of injury to the human. In one particular example, the dasher board assembly 124 may be configured to move betw een 1” and 48” with respect to the first vertical support 106 to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly 124 to minimize a possibility of injury' to the human.

[0027] In one example, the first vertical support 106 and the horizontal support 112 are rigid, and the second vertical support 1 18 is not rigid. For example, the first vertical support 106 and the horizontal support 1 12 may each comprise steel or another rigid material. In one example, as shown in Figure 2A, the second vertical support 1 18 comprises a cable. In another example, as shown in Figure 2B, tire second vertical support 118 comprises a torsion spring. In another example, as shown in Figure 2C, the second vertical support 118 comprises a combination cable and torsion spring. Figures 2A-2C illustrates a side view of different second vertical supports outlined above before and after impact with the dasher board assembly.

[00281 The second vertical support 1 18 may be coupled to the dasher board assembly 124 in a number of locations. In one example, the dasher board assembly 124 includes a bottom portion 126 and an upper transparent portion 128. In one such example, the second vertical support 118 may be coupled only to the bottom portion 126. In another example, the second vertical support 1 18 may be coupled only to the upper transparent portion 128. In yet another example, the second vertical support 118 may be coupled to both the bottom portion 126 and the upper transparent portion 128 of the dasher board assembly 124.

[0029] In one example, the system 100 includes one or more biasing and impact force absorbing devices 130 positioned between the dasher board assembly 124 and the first vertical support 106. In such an example, the one or more biasing and impact force absorbing devices 130 may be coupled to one or more of the first vertical support 106 and the dasher board assembly 124. Such bias and impact force absorbing devices 130 may be selected from the group consisting of telescoping tubes, foam, gel, and compression springs.

[0030] In one example, the dasher board assembly 124 includes a bottom surface 132. coated with or operatively connected to a low friction material. Such a bottom surface 132 may be selected from the group consisting of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene, or a metal coated on the bottom thereof with polytetrafluoroethylene or acetal, or operatively attached to a plate, block, or a sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene or acetal . Desirably, the bottom surface 132 of the dasher board assembly 124 has a gs of about 0.1 or less with respect to ice that is dry', most desirably 0.05 or less (e.g. about 0.02-0.03). In one example, the bottom surface 132 engages ice 134 and the dasher board assembly 124 slides substantially only horizontally with respect to the ice 134 when impacted by a human. In one example, the bottom surface 132 of the dasher board assembly 124 engages and slides on ice 134 of the ice arena. In another example, the bottom surface 132 of the dasher board assembly 124 engages and slides on a surface selected from the group consisting of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene .

[0031] It will be seen that a method according to the invention is readily practiced to retrofit existing rinks or arenas, or provided as new construction in rinks or arenas not yet in existence, by introducing the structures set forth in the above detailed description. This includes a method of protecting human participant safety in a rink or arena 101 (shown in Figure IB) by provi ding around at least a portion of the exteri or of the playing or use surface of the rink or arena 101 the system 100 described above with respect to Figures 1A-2C, which enables the dasher board assembly 124 to move with respect to the first vertical support 106 to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly 124 to minimize a possibility of injury to the human.

[0032] With further reference to the Figures, Figure 3 illustrates a second ice rink safetysystem 200, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the system 200 includes a vertical support 2.02 having a first end 204 and a second end 206 opposite the first end 204. lire first end 204 of the vertical support 202 is configured to be coupled to a ceiling 208 structure of an ice arena, and the second end 206 of the vertical support 202 is configured to be coupled to a dasher board assembly 210. The dasher board assembly 210 is configured to move with respect to the first end 204 of the vertical support 202 to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly 210 to minimize a possibility of injury to the human. [0033] In one example, the dasher board assembly 210 includes a bottom surface 212 coated with or operatively connected to a low friction material. Such a bottom surface 212 may be selected from the group consisting of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene, or a metal coated on the bottom thereof with polytetrafluoroethylene or acetal, or operatively attached to a plate, block, or a sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene or acetal. Desirably, the bottom surface 212 of the dasher board assembly 2.10 has a psof about 0.1 or less with respect to ice that is dry, most desirably 0.05 or less (e.g. about 0.02-0.03). In one example, the bottom surface 212 engages ice and the dasher board assembly 210 slides substantially only horizontally with respect to the ice when impacted by a human. In one example, the bottom surface 212 of the dasher board assembly 210 engages and slides on ice of the ice arena. In another example, the bottom surface 212 of the dasher board assembly 210 engages and slides on a surface selected from the group consisting of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0034] The vertical support 202 may be coupled to the dasher board assembly 210 in a number of locations. In one example, the dasher board assembly 210 includes a bottom portion 214 and an upper transparent portion 216. In one such example, the vertical support 202 may be coupled only to the bottom portion 2.14, In another example, the vertical support 202 may be coupled only to the upper transparent portion 2.16. In yet another example, the vertical support 202 may be coupled to both the bottom portion 214 and the upper transparent portion 216 of the dasher board assembly 2.10.

[0035] In one example, as shown in Figure 2A, the vertical support 202 comprises a cable. In another example, as shown in Figure 2B, the vertical support 202 comprises a torsion spring. In another example, as shown in Figure 2C, the vertical support 202 comprises a combination cable and torsion spring. Figures 2A-2C illustrates a side view of different vertical supports 202 outlined above before and after impact with the dasher board assembly. [0036] It will be seen that a method according to the invention is readily practiced to retrofit existing rinks or arenas, or provided as new construction in rinks or arenas not yet in existence, by introducing the structures set forth in the above detailed description. This includes a method of protecting human participant safety in a rink or arena by providing around the exterior of the playing or use surface of the rink or arena the system 200 described above with respect to Figure 3, which enables the dasher board assembly to move with respect to the first end 204 of the vertical support 202 to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize a possibility of injury to the human.

[0037] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in tire art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that tire terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0038] Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to die described example, it is intended that all matters in the preceding description and shown in the accompanying figures be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Further, it is intended to be understood that the following clauses (and any combination of the clauses) further describe aspects of the present description.