ICE SKATING RINK FRAME STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR LEVELING AN ICE RINK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an ice skating rink frame structure and a method for leveling an ice rink. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a frame and support structure which allows a rink to be installed on an uneven surface and a kit for the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Ice skating is a popular activity but typically requires that one wishing to skate on ice go to the local city indoor arena or outdoor winter rinks and these facilities are not always available, being subject to organized hockey schedules and the like. Also such public ice skating rinks are often very populated or busy, aside from being located remotely from one's home.

[0003] Accordingly, home ice rinks have become popular. However, home ice rinks constructed directly onto lawns can be difficult to level as the water used to make the ice follows the geometric grade of the lawns surface. As a result, water will have a tendency to overspill the peripheral frame.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,546 B1 issued to Farley on Oct. 25th, 2005 discloses an ice rink comprising a plastic sheeting having its edges overlapping a peripheral barrier adapted to hold the sheet in place on the ground and to provide a barrier for the formation of ice on the plastic sheeting. The peripheral barrier is laid down directly on the ground and it is made of a number of rigid tubular members such as to define the sides of the rink. Once this peripheral frame or barrier has been assembled, the plastic sheeting is laid such as to cover the entire inner area defined thereby and also to overlap the tubular barrier. The plastic sheeting is draped over the barrier and a series of flexible resilient continuously C-shaped clips are applied over the plastic sheeting and barrier thereby attaching the sheeting to the barrier. The barrier is particularly useful in preventing to some extent water overspills if the lawn is level.

[0005] No provision is made to level the frame structure except for the use of snow which is not always available.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,857 issued to Burley on August 4. 1992 discloses an ice rink comprising a plastic sheeting having its edges overlapping a peripheral barrier adapted to hold the sheet in place on the ground and to provide a barrier for the formation of ice on the plastic sheeting. The peripheral barrier is laid down directly on the ground and it is made of a number of elongated sectional flexible closed cell rods fitted into straight tubular rigid fittings such as to define the sides of the rink. Once this peripheral frame or barrier has been assembled, the plastic sheeting is laid such as to cover the entire inner area defined thereby and also to overlap the barrier. The plastic sheeting is draped over the barrier and a series of resilient C-shaped liner retaining clips applied over the plastic sheeting and barrier in a spaced apart distributed fashion along the peripheral barrier, thereby attaching the sheeting to the barrier. C-Shape clips, however, offer no continuous protection for the sheeting from skate and shovel cuts and the like, and the sharp edges of the C-shape clips may puncture the liner. Additionally, no provision is made to level the frame structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In order to address the above and other drawbacks there is disclosed an improved ice skating rink. [0008] It is also is an objective of the present invention to provide a ice skating rink in which the frame comprises a series of rigid tubular members of different diameter connected to each other by using adjustable locking supports inserted in facing end of the tubular members.

[0009] It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide an ice skating rink in which the frame further comprises adjustable locking supports inserted in between the tubular members to raise the close loop frame above the ground and provide a thicker ice sheet.

[0010] It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide an ice skating rink in which the adjustable locking supports are adjustable in height by inserting a levelling bloc under and partially into the adjustable locking support.

[0011] It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide an ice skating rink in which the frame further comprises C-shaped member clips to protect the sheeting from accidental perforation by skates and shovels and the like, and to allow for the sheeting to be slidably displaced relative to the frame.

[0012] It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide an ice skating rink in which levelling blocks of different height are inserted under and partially into the adjustable locking supports to raise the tubular frame in order to level the frame.

[0013] It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide an ice rink in which levelling blocks of different heights are inserted directly under the tubular frame in order to level the frame.

[0014] It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a method of installation for an ice skating rink. [0015] Therefore in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an ice rink comprising sheet means, a plurality of tubular frame members, a plurality of adjustable locking supports, a plurality of C-shaped member clips, said adjustable locking supports means being adapted to connect said frame members successively in an end-to-end relationship such as to form a closed frame means for said rink, said sheet means being adapted to be laid across frame member, said C-shape members clips, means being provided substantially continuously along said frame means, whereby water deposited onto said sheet means inwardly of said frame means and then having frozen thereon forms an ice sheet, wherein said C-shape members clips means and said ice sheet completely cover said sheet means at upper and side portions of said frame means.

[0016] Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an ice rink comprising sheet means, a plurality of tubular frame members and a plurality of adjustable locking supports inserted in between the tubular frame to raise said frame members above the lawn, said sheet means being adapted to be laid across said frame means and to be connected thereto by way of said C-shaped member clips means, whereby water deposited onto said sheet means inwardly of said frame means and then having frozen thereon forms an ice sheet.

[0017] Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an ice rink comprising frame member means, sheet means, adjustable locking supports means and a series of levelling blocks of different height to be inserted under and partially into the adjustable locking supports, said sheet means being adapted to be laid across said frame members means and to be connected thereto, whereby water deposited onto said sheet means inwardly of said frame members means and then having frozen thereon forms an ice sheet, wherein said frame members are raised using said adjustable locking supports and said frame is levelled using said levelling blocks.

[0018] Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of levelling an ice rink on a surface, comprising the steps of:

a) laying frame means on a lawn or any surface

b) inserting a number of adjustable locking supports along said frame means;

c) laying sheet means across and onto said frame means;

d) securing the sheet with C-shape members clips means said sheet means to said frame means and continuously along said frame means and

e) depositing water on said sheet means and within said frame means, levelling said frame means using a number of levelling blocs mean of different height to level the frame means and allowing the water to freeze thereby forming an ice sheet;

wherein said C-shaped member clips means and said ice sheet cooperate to conceal said sheet means at least inwardly from an upper portion of said frame means such as to protect said sheet means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a fragmented perspective view of an ice skating rink in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] Figures 2A and 2B provide perspective views of respectively an adjustable locking support and a partially cut-away adjustable locking support mounted on a leveling block and showing the internal structure in dotted lines;

[0022] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the assembly of a plastic sheeting of the rink to a frame comprising adjustable locking supports and tubular members thereof;

[0023] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing the assembly of the plastic sheeting of the rink to the frame and also showing, the position of the plastic sheeting adjacent to an elevated frame portion comprising adjustable locking support and inserted leveling blocks;

[0024] Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of the locking support of Figure 2A and further showing the assembly of the tubular frame member to the adjustable locking support.

[0025] Figure 6 provides perspective views of leveling blocks of different heights and shapes; and

[0026] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a C-shape member clip and curved edge. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Referring now to Figure 1 , an ice skating rink, generally referred to using the reference numeral 10, will now be described. The rink 10 comprises a frame assembly 12 and a plastic sheeting 14 extending across the frame assembly 12 and connected {hereto, as detailed hereinafter. The frame assembly 12 comprises a series of tubular members 16, e.g. pipes of circular/annular cross-section, which are disposed end-to-end in longitudinal alignment with each other for each side of the frame assembly 12 and more particularly, for the four sides thereof in the case of rectangular or square rinks. The tubular members 16 are connected to each other with the adjustable locking support 18 inserted in facing ends of each pair of successive tubular members 16.

[0028] At the corners of the frame assembly 12, longer flexible closed cell foam connectors 20 may be used with ends thereof being inserted in free ends of the adjustable locking support 18 of the frame assembly 12, as best seen in Figure 1. Indeed, the corner connectors 20 are flexible enough to be bent into shape and connect together end of the adjustable locking support 18 while defining the corners of the frame assembly 12.

[0029] The sheeting 14, which is made of a water impermeable flexible plastic sheet material, is adapted to receive water thereon which, once frozen, will form an ice sheet 22.

[0030] Still referring to Figure 1 the plastic sheeting 14 is dimensioned such that, when laid across a flat surface such as a lawn or the like, it extends over the frame assembly 12 and outwardly past the frame assembly 12 thereby forming a peripheral take-up strip 24 of a use which will be described in more detail below.

[0031] Still referring to Figure 1 , once the tubular members 16 have been connected in a closed loop by way of the adjustable locking supports 18 and the end foam connectors 20 to form the frame assembly 12, the plastic sheeting 14 is placed thereon. Elongate C-shaped member clips 26 are subsequently used to secure the plastic sheeting 14 to the tubular members 16. In this regard, and with reference to Figure 7, the C-shaped member clips 26 are basically sections of tubing each comprising a slit 28 or cut along their entire length, in parallel to their central axes, and which can be placed over the sheeting 14. The C-shaped member clips 26 can be forcibly opened such that they can be resiliently slipped, with their edge facing down and gradually from one end to another, over the plastic sheeting 14, and their respective tubular members 16, thereby securing these components together.

[0032] Still referring to Figure 1 , the C-shaped member clips 26 are installed continuously along the entire frame assembly 12 such that, once the ice sheet 22 has been formed on the plastic sheeting 14 and within the frame assembly 12, the ice sheet 22 in combination with the C-shaped member clips 26 completely cover and thus conceal the plastic sheeting 14 at the frame assembly 10 and inwardly thereof, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. In this manner, the plastic sheeting 14 is protected from cuts which can be caused by skates during skating close to the frame assembly 12 or embarking on or disembarking from the ice 22 or which can be caused by shovels during snow clearing operations of the ice 22 or hockey pucks and sticks or the like. The C-shaped member clips 26 also ensure a secure assembly of the plastic sheeting 14 to the frame assembly 12.

[0033] As discussed above, Figure 7 illustrates a C-shaped member clip 26. The clip 26 is provided with curved edges as in 30 at the end of the slit 28 which serves to prevent the C-shaped member clip 26 from digging into and perforating the plastic sheeting 14 which could allow, at least on the inner side of the frame assembly 12, for water leakage prior to formation of the ice 22 or after the latter has melted due to mild weather.

[0034] Once the C-shaped member clips 26 have been installed continuously along the frame assembly 12, the rink 10 is ready to receive water, whereby water is supplied onto the plastic sheeting 14, i.e. on the area thereof defined within the frame assembly 12.

[0035] Referring now to Figure 2A, each locking support 18 comprises a base 32 configured for laying on a surface as well as a pair of spikes as in 34 each comprising a sharp point 36 and sharpened edges 38, thereby allowing the spikes as in 34 to be inserted into the ground or, as will be seen below, other piercable materials such as Styrofoam or the like. The support 18 additionally comprises, as will be discussed in more detail below, a tubular member 16 receiving aperture 40. The locking support 18 is illustratively fabricated from a light rigid material such as plastic or the like.

[0036] Referring now to Figure 2B, the base 32 of the locking support 18 is generally hollow and adapted to receive a trapezoidal leveling block as in 42 therein. The leveling block 42 is illustratively fabricated from Styrofoam and allows the spikes as in 34 to pierce the Styrofoam, thereby retaining the leveling block 42 firmly within the base 32 of the locking support 18 once the leveling block 42 has been filly installed. As will be discussed below, the leveling blocks 42 come in a variety of different heights, thereby allowing the height of the locking support 18 to be adjusted to accommodate a variety of different implementations.

[0037] Referring now to Figure 3, if the surface 44, such as a lawn or the like, onto which the ice rink 10 is to be installed is relatively flat, or at the highest points of installation on a surface 44 which is not level, the locking supports as in 18 can be installed simply by inserting the spikes 32 into the surface 44. The tubular members 16 are then inserted within the aperture 40, and the sheet 14 and C- shaped member clips 26 installed there over as discussed above.

[0038] Referring now to Figure 4, on uneven surfaces 44, where there is a greater accumulation of water at one corner of the rink 10, due to unevenness of the lawn, for example, on which the rink 10 has been assembled, this corner of the frame assembly 12 is lower than the rest of the frame structure and allowing the water to freeze under these conditions might result in the skating rink 10 having, at least at some points, a very thin sheet of ice 22. A skate, for example, could pierce the ice 22 at these points and damage the plastic sheeting 14. Therefore, it is preferable to raise such a low corner, which can be easily achieved by, as discussed above, inserting a suitably sized leveling block 42 under each of the adjustable locking supports 18 in this location thereby elevating the corner substantially to the same level as the remainder of the frame assembly 12. This adjustment is made possible by the insertion of different height of leveling blocs 42 under and partially into adjustable locking supports 18 of the frame assembly 10 which allows, for example, for one of the ice rink's 10 corners and adjacent tubular members 16 to be manually raised.

[0039] It is noted that the take-up strip 24 provides the additional material which allows for the plastic sheeting 12 to form the pocket 46.

[0040] The portions of the plastic sheeting 14 of the rink of the present invention which are not covered by ice are shielded against damage, for instance from cuts resulting from contact with the skates' blades or with shovels in snow clearing operations, by the C-shaped member clips 26 which run continuously along the frame assembly 12, such that none of the plastic sheeting 14 is exposed.

[0041] Additionally, the rigid tubular members 16 and adjustable locking support 18 which extend along substantially all of the periphery produce a sufficiently rigid frame which can be manually lifted, for instance at one or more corners thereof, to level the frame 12 and provide a substantially level peripheral barrier to the ice skating rink 10. As a result, packing snow under the frame 12 to raise and level the frame 12 is not required. Indeed, the series of leveling blocks 34 provide with the kit can be used to raise and level the frame 12 as required.

[0042] Referring now to Figure 5, the aperture 40 of locking support 18 is configured to receive and secure the ends of adjacent tubular members as in 16 together using a conical locking cylinder 48 molded therein. In this regard, the tubular members 16, or at least a suitably long end portion therefore, are of two different diameters. The large tubular member 16L is inserted first into the aperture 40 of the adjustable locking support 18 such that the locking ring 48 comes to rest inside the end of the large tubular member 16L. The smaller diameter tubular member 16S is then inserted into the opposite end of the aperture 40 formed in the adjustable locking support 18. The insertion of small diameter tubular member 16S causes the locking cylinder 48 to expand, for example by plastic deformation, such that an outer surface of the conical locking cylinder 48 comes into a friction fit with the inner surface of the large tubular member 16L. The conical locking cylinder 48 is then pressing against the inner surface of the large tubular member 16L thus locking both tubular members as in 16 together and to the adjustable locking support 18. [0043] Still referring to Figure 5, as discussed above the base 32 of the adjustable locking support 18 is a hollow conical box 50 which receives a levelling block 16. The side walls 52 of the conical box 34 are arranged at an angle to squeeze and hold in place the levelling block 16 using a friction fit. As discussed above, the two spikes 32 are used to secure the adjustable locking support 18 into the ground or, alternatively, to lock in place the levelling block 16 made of Styrofoam or the like.

[0044] Referring now to Figure 6 in addition to Figure 5, a perspective view of different models and sizes of levelling blocks as 16 for adjusting the locking support 18 to different heights. In an alternative embodiment, some or all of the levelling blocks as 16 can be provided with a with circular notch 54 such that the levelling blocks as in 16 can be inserted directly under the tubular frame member 10, for example to provide for additional support in between successive locking supports as in 18.

[0045] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.