Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to hockey pucks and more particular to hockey pucks that enhance the brightness
of the puck for television viewers without degrading the ability of the hockey players to see and
manipulate the puck.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the difficulties involved with watching hockey on television is following the small, fast-moving
puclc. To make the puck more visible to the television viewer, the Johnson U.S. patent 3,944,738
proposed placing a retroreflective material of exposed lens sheet material on the surface of the hockey
1 0 puck. Exposed lens materials are more fully described in U.S. patents 3,382,908 and 3,449,201.
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In the Johnson device, a light on the top of the television camera directs a beam of light on the hockey ~ -
puck. The light is reflected into the television camera from the puck, thus providing a bright easy to
-i follow image for the television viewer.
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Although U.S. patent 3,944,738 teaches the use of exposeid lens material as a prefeirred material, the
use of exposed lens rnaterial creates problems because the e~posed lens material makes it more difficult
i for the hockey player to see. That is, the exposed lens materials has a silvery reflection from arena
lights that causes the puck to be pàr~ally obscured to the hockey player since the silvery ~eflection
` 2 0 blends into reflections from the ice. Additionally, television visibility of the exposed lens material
hockey puck decreases when the surface of the hockey puck becomes wet. Unfortunately, hockey
pucks do become wet or collect moisture during use resulting in degradation of the te~evision image of
thebocheypuclL
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A fulther disadvantage of the use of exposed lens material is that the exposed lens surface has a rough
texture which is inconsistent with the texture of the other portions of the hockey puck and may effect
how the puck slides along the ice.
S The present invention provides an improvement to light-reflecting hockey pucks by using a colored
retroreflective material having a top surface which can be formed with substantially the same texture and
! smoothness as the rest of the hockey puck. In addition, the image of the hockey puck of the present
. invention does not degrade as a result of moisture accumula~ng on the hockey puclc A further
~ advantage is that the colored retroreflertive material in the present invention does not malce it more
3 1 0 difficu1t for the hockey players to follow the hockey puck on the ice. Thus the present invention
~, addresses both the visua~ image of the hockey puck ( as the hockey player sees the puck) and the
~ television image of the hockey puck (as the television viewer sees the puck) by providing an enhanced
`, television image without degrading the visual image presented to the hockey player.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E PRIOR ART -`
U. S. patent 4,183,536 (1980) and U. S. patent 4,846,475 refer to a technique of using
, chemiluminescense to enhance visibility of a puck for players during dusk or darkness. No
mention is made of the problems of viewing a hockey puck on a television screen.'~ Cherniluminescent materials produce phosphorescence glow by converting chemical energy into
2 0 light.
U. S. patent 4,968,036 (1980) shows a hockey puck with an internal energy source with a self-
'~ contained light. Line 20, column 2 mentions another ernbodiment wherein a highly ~ansparent or
clear glass-like material covers light reflec~ors located in the puck. A puck constructed in this
2 5 fasbion is itself no light source; rather, it reflects the light of the floodlights of the playing field.
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U. S. patent 3,102,727 (1963) shows an internal light source inside a puck so that the television
viewers can more easily track the puck. The patent discusses use of color filters and reflectors in
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~. con3unction with the light source. This patent also points out the long-recognized need for a highly
-i 5 visible ice hockey puck and offers a practical solution. While this technique could p~oduce a puck
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of sufficient luminance to be more visible on a television screen even under bright stadium
lighting. The disadvantage of this puck is the e~pense involved and probable limited durability of
the puck. For example frozen puck batteries may not last long. In addition, inserting lights and
batteries alters the weight and feel of the puck .
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U. S. patent 3,675,928 (1972) claims the construction of a safety puck that is designed with
dissimilar materials that could also be colored for an added benefit of higher puck visibility when
us~ on dark colored playing surfaces other than ice.
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~j 1 5 U. S. patent 3,840,699 (1974) shows a system of tracking a puck using electronics, and a unique
j spectlal image generated from the surface of ~e puck. The design includes two television cameras,
;l one of which has the capability to be sensitive to a given wavelength. This unusual wavelength can
be generated indoors by u~ie of a W electromagnetic wave generator that is directed toward the
~; fluorescent surface of the puck and then diffusely reflected (not retroreflected) off the face of the
2 0 puck. This reflected single wavelength of light is picked up by the special camera E~lectronically,
the contlast of the puck is enhanced against the ice when both camera signals are put together.
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U. S. patent 4,064,528 (1977) is related to U. S. patent 3,840,699 but does not mention special
ma~ials U2iedl to enhance the ability to scan the puck with a television came~a -
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U. S. patent 3,944,738 (l976) used exposed lens retroreflective materials. When viewed by
ambient lighting, exposed lens materials appear silver or white. There is no color. The glass
reflective lens elements have a reflective, vapor-deposited aluminum layer underneath.
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S BRIEF DESCRIPIION OF THE DRAWINGS
, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the puck of the present invention;
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! Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of figure 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A hockey puck for reflecting light to a television camera to enhance the television viewing of the
hockey puck without degrading the hockey players' visibility of the hockey puck with o~e embodiment
of the hockey puck having an annular top and bottom surface of a first texture with a central recess and
~''Z~ a layer of colored retroreflective material located in the recess,with the layer of colored retroreflective
1 5 mat~ial having a top colored t~ansparent layer substantia11y the sarne as the f~rst texture and located
continuous with the top surface of the hockey puck to permit the hockey puck to present a continuous
3, surface to a sheet of ioe and another embodiment with the colored retroreflective extending completely
across the top surface and the bottom surface of the puck with the colored ~etr~reflective material -
il selected ~om a group of non-moisture sensitive colored re~reflective materials having a minimum
2 0 light reflec~ion of about twice the reflectivity of a white diffuse surface.
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~, DESCRIPIION OF THE PREFERRED 3~MBODIMENT
Figure l reference numeral 10 generally identifies a Nbber hockey puck having a top cylindrical surface
11 with two semi~rcular colored retroreflective materials 12 and 13 located in a cen~al region of puck
2 5 10. An identical layer of colored retroQeflective material is located on the opposite face of puck 10 and
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will not be described herein. Located in a band around the periphery of puck 10 is a band 14 of colored
retroreflective material. When colored retroreflective materials are used which have a preferred axis
such as prismatic materials, as the puck rotates it provides a pulsating image on the television screen. If
two colored retroreflective materials 12 and 13 are located with the preferred axis of the colored
S retroreflective materials at right angles from each other they provide two distinct light reflecting
patterns. Consequently, as the puck rotates it provides a pulsating image that rotates twice as fast on the
television screen which further enhances the ability of a viewer to follow the puck. A further result is a
more unifo~n output of reflective light from the puck when two distinct light reflecting patterns are
used. It should be understood that the reference to coloQed herein refers to retroreflective materials that
1 0 have some color in order to produce a non silvery-white reflection which is produced by a nbient light
impinging on clear glass beads of exposed lens materials. That is, the color of the retroreflective
rnaterials is a direct result of adding sufficient colorant to the retmtreflective materials so as to produce a
visual colonzation but not so much so as to impede the reflectivity of the retroreflective material
whereas the silver-white reflection of exposed lens material is the result of adding no color to the
1 5 exposed lens ma~ial.
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,; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the hockey puck 10 taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1,
revealing the top layer of colored retroreflective rnaterial 13, having a top surface 21 which is located
substantially in the sarne plane as puck surface 11. In addition, top surface 21 has substantially the
2 0 sarne texture and roughness as puck surface 11. The type of colored retroreflective rnaterial used in ~e
present invention lncludes a transparent top layer 20 which is usually an a~ylic resin, a plulality of
sma11 glass beads 22, and a reflective layer 23 located behind beads 22. Located beneath colored
retroreflective material 20 is a layer of lead tape which is added to the hockey puck to maintain the
t weight of the puck within proper paramete~s as the rubber material is removed and replaced with the
2 5 lighter retroreflective material. Layers of adhesive 24 and 26 on o~posite sides of lead sheet 25 hold
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both the colored retroreflective material and the lead in puck 10. In the embodiment shown the
transparent layer is clear, however, if desired, color can be added to the transparent layer to provide a
puck with greater visual contrast with the ice. Ln order to maintain the retroreflectivity the arnount of
transparent color added to the transparent layer should not make the transparent layer opaque.
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It has been found that to provide good television visibility of the hockey puck without endangenng the
players because of poor puck visibility non-moisture sensitive colored retroreflective materials should
be used. lhe colored retroreflective materials of the present invention meeting the above criteria
comprise enclosed lens, encapsulated lens, prismatic and microprismatic material, either metalized or
1 0 unmetalized More specifically, the materials specified in ASTM ~495~89 for colored retroreflective
sheeting for highway signs have the desired characteristic of retroreflectivity without degrading the
i visual image of the hockey puck.
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The enclosed lens material is more fully described in U. S. patent 3,190,178; the encapsulated lens
` ~ 1 5 material is more fully described in U. S. patent 4,025,159; and the microprismatic material is more fully
described in U.S. patent, 4,588,258 which are incorporated herein by reference.
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' TEST RESULTS
j In ordea to compare the television viewing of ~e pucks with different materials, different
! 2 0 retroreflective mate~ials were applied on the sides and tops of different hockey pucks (pucks a-o
;~ Table 1). Theretroreflective materials are standard manufact~ed retroreflective materials meeting
the requirements of the ASTM specifica~on.
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The camera and light source were 130 feet from the middle of the viewed area and about 33 feet
2 5 above the ice. During testing the pucks ranged from 100 to 150 feet from the camera.
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-, The auditorium design and camera/light source geometry are such that the reflective vialues
included an Observation angle of 0.5 de~ees and light entrance angles ranging from 20 degrees to
70 degrees for the top surfaces. The vertical sides of the puck contained sheeting exposed to all
S entrance angles since the band of side reboreflective materials extends around the puck. It is
, estimated that the pucks are in the flat position on ice greater than 90 percent of the time.
ln some pucks colored transparent layers or colored background were included to provide
enhanced visual visibility of the puck for the hockey player. The type of retroreflective material as
well as the color is listed in Table one. Two different si~ circular central retroreflective regions
~ 1 0 were tested one with a diameter of 1 and 1/4 inch and the other with a 2 inch diameter. The
;, retroreflective band around the side of the puck was 1/4 inches wide. The use of both vertical and
d hori~ontal retroreflective mate~ials ensures that at least one surface will be reflecting light back into
~ the camera to p~vide the enhanced image.
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TABLR ONE
Application Application Application
around on top and on top and
Puck Yertical side- bottom 1-114- bottom 2-inch
i 114-inch inch diameter diametera Encapsulated Encapsulated
lens yellow lens yellow
b Encapsulated Encapsulated
lens yellow lens yellow
c Encapsulated
lens yellow
d Exposed lens Exposed lens
. e Exposed lens Enclosed lens
f~ f Encapsulated
,~ lens yellow
::', g Exposed lens Exposed lens
' h Micro~sma~c
White
i Exposed lens Micrcpisma~c
Micr~isma~c Encapsulated : .
-~ Fluoqescent lens Fluorescent
Red/orange Red/a¢ange . .
k Exp~sed lens
i1 I Encapsulated Encapsulated
lens yellow lens yellow
~;i m Encapsulated Encapsulated
' leals o~ange lens o~ange
n El~posed lens El~posed lens
o Enclosed lens Encapsul~
black lense o¢ange
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All of the a'oove pucks when viewed on a television screen appeared, to glow around their sides.
~ven puck S101' (Enclosed, Lens Black) which has the same photometric retroreflectivity as blue was
glowing faintly. In order to provide sufficient reflectivity to enhance the image of the puck for
television viewing the material on the puck should have a minimum reflectivity of about 2 times
S brighter than a perfect white diffuse surface. While ice conditions and color may vary for most
` applications the use of colored retroreflective materials having a minimum of about 2 times brighter
than a perfect white diffuse surface provides an image that is clearly visible and easy to follow for
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he television viewer.
, 1 0 The following table summariæs the obse~vation angles and the comparative light reflective for
, e~posed lens material and microE~ismatic fluorescent that are not included ~n ASTM D 495~89 . -
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An observation angle of 5 degrees or less (the angle bet veen the light source the and the camera
lens with the puck at the apex of t'he ang1e) provides a sufficiently small angle for obtain~,g an
enhanced image in the television screen.
TABLE IWO -
Observation Reflectivity
Angle Entrance Angle (cdlfclft2)
~ Material
7~ Exposed Lens 0.5 degrees 30 degress 170
Micr~pri~c 0.5 degrees 30degrees 50
~ Fluorescent
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The 30 degree ent~ance a,ngle was chosen a,s an aI)proximation of all pertinent an,gles.
The came~son was a,ble to maximize the retroreflectivity when focusing ~e light in an
2 0 ~pproxirn,ately 10-foot dia,meter ci,rcle on the ice.
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The 150-watt, 120-volt Sylvania GTE Halogen light source with a conical enclosed reflector was
center mounted approxirnately 8 inches ~om the center of the camera lens. The light was scattered
evenly in a cone with an angle of 40 degrees. The carnera was a commercial Sony, approximately
10 years old. While an incandescent broad spectrum white light source was used one could also
a 5 use a colored light source or light filters to obtain a colored source.
Hockey players visually see the puck because of the contrast of a black puck on a white or
translucent sheet of ice. Unfortunately, when exposed lens materials are placed on the puck the
hockey players lose subst~ntial visibility because of ambient lighting striking the puck. That is, the
1 0 part of the puck with the exposed lens material has a white oq silver color similar to the ice
background. Consequently, when the players view the puck ~eflectorized with exposed lens
materials, ~e visibility of the puck diminishes. Diminishing the visibility of the puck causes
-1 accidents and impairs the players' ability to play the game proficiently since the strong visual
contrast between the black puck and the ice is diminished whereas colored retroreflective material
~, I S does not diminish the players visibility of the puck.
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A further reason making exposed lens mat~ials unacceptable, equally important as the first, is that
exposed lens materials lose their retroreflectivity when wet. The optics of the exposed lens system are
such that water on the surface of the exposed lens material distorts the light beam preventing the light
, 2 0 from being reflected toward the light source. It is scattered landomly. To illustrate ~is effect the pucks
were immersed in water and when tolally wet with water, there was no visually disce3rnable
retr~reflective effect with the exposed lens retroreflective materiaL Ln addition when ~e water beads up
on the surface of exposed lens mate rials, the adjacent areas not wet, remained highly reflective thus
providing a surface with uneven reflective p~perties. It further appears that when the surfaces are
2 5 soibd, or hand oil is on the surface of the exposed lens material, the exposed lens surface has a higher
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tendency to wet and consequently a greater tendency to scatter rather than reflect light. Thus the
television image becomes subject to environment of the puck when exposed lens materials are used but
is not effected when the non-exposed lens materials are used.
While the embodiment shown uses a partial layer of retroreflective material on the top and
S bottom of the puck, if desired, the retroreflective material could extend across the entire top and bottom
of the puck to provide a top and bottom surface that was completely retroreflective.
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