METHOD AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING AN ABOVE ICE SURFACE CURLING HACK

METHODE ET DISPOSITIF POUR METTRE EN PLACE UN BLOC DE DEPART POUR JEU DE CURLING

English Abstract

A method of installing an above ice surface curling hack
is described. Firstly, embed a base member into a sheet of
ice. The base member must be totally covered by ice thereby
leaving an ice surface that is devoid of any hack depressions.
The base member has at least two vertically oriented female
receptacles. Secondly, drill the ice out of the female
receptacles. Thirdly, mate the female receptacles of the base
member with depending male members of a detachable foot pad.

Claims

7
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of installing an above ice surface curling hack,
comprising the steps of:
a. firstly, embedding a base member into a sheet of ice, the
base member being totally covered by ice thereby leaving a
planar ice surface, the base member having at least two
vertically oriented female receptacles;
b. secondly, drilling the ice out of the female receptacles;
and
c. thirdly, providing a detachable foot pad having depending
male members and mating the female receptacles of the base
member with the depending male members of the detachable
foot pad.

8
2. ~An above ice surface curling hack, comprising in
combination:
a. a base member having at least two vertically oriented
female receptacles; and
b. a foot pad having at least two depending male
members, the male members of the foot pad temporarily mating
with the female receptacles of the base member to detachably
secure the foot pad to the base.
3. ~The above ice surface curling hack as defined in Claim 2,
wherein three female receptacles and three depending male
members are provided.
4. ~The above ice surface curling hack as defined in Claim 2,
wherein at least two laterally positioned sets of female
receptacles are provided representing a first position for a
left footed curler and a second position for a right footed
curler.
5. ~The above ice surface curling hack as defined in Claim 2,
wherein three laterally positioned sets of female receptacles
are provided representing a first position for a left footed
curler, a second position for a right footed curler, and a
central position.

9
6. An above ice surface curling hack, comprising in
combination:
a. a base member having three sets of laterally spaced
female receptacles, each set including three vertically
oriented receptacles; and
b. a foot pad having three depending male members, the
male members of the foot pad temporarily mating with the
female receptacles of the base member to detachably secure the
foot pad to the base, to one of the sets of female receptacles
representing a first position for a left footed curler, a
second position for a right footed curler, and a central
position.

Description

2~ ~~g95
The present invention relates to a method and associated
apparatus for installing an above ice surface curling hack.
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Historically, a curling hack consisted of a notch or
depression carved in a sheet of ice. A curler would stand
with one foot in the hack while throwing a curling rock. The
hack provided the curler with stable footing when throwing the
curling rock.
In modern curling the curler no longer stands when
throwing the curling rock. Instead the curler slides part way
down the sheet of ice with the curling rock. The curling hack
is still important as it provides a point against which the
curler can push to commence the slide.
Despite its importance to the game of curling, the
conventional curling hack consisting of a notch or depression
in the ice surface presents a number of problems. The persons
who care for and maintain the ice surface must continually
remove accumulations of broom straw and debris from the hacks .
When "pebbling" the ice, they must take care not to allow ice
to accumulate within the hack for fear that a curler may slip
and fall while attempting to push out of the hack to commence
his or her slide. During the playing of the game, the curlers
must prevent curling rocks from falling into and potentially
damaging the hacks. It is not unusual for a curler, while
absorbed in watching the curling action, to inadvertently step
down into the notch or depression forming the hack and fall or
otherwise injure himself or herself.
In order to make caring for the ice easier above ice
surface curling hacks have been developed that rest on top of
the ice surface. These curling hacks consist of an arm having
a first end pivotally mounted at an end of a sheet of curling
ice and a second end having a foot pad. When the curlers wish

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to throw curling rocks, the arm is laid down parallel to the
ice surface with the foot pad resting on the ice surface where
a conventional hack would normally be. When the ice is being
serviced, or when not required during a curling game, the arm
is pivoted into a position raised from the ice surface. To
accommodate both curlers who push off on their right foot and
curlers who push off on their left foot, the arm is laterally
slidable.
The concept of an above ice surface curling hack provided
tremendous advantages and convenience for the persons
servicing the ice. Numerous complaints, however, were
received from the curlers. The mechanism that allowed the arm
to move laterally, unavoidably developed some unwanted
movement after prolonged use that adversely effected the
curlers push off. In the raised position, the arm itself
became a hazard which was often inadvertently bumped by
curlers. For these and other reasons, the above ice surface
curling hacks did not become popular with curlers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is better method of installing an above
ice surface curling hack.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of installing an above ice surface curling
hack. The method includes the steps that will hereinafter be
further described. Firstly, embed a base member into a sheet
of ice. The base member must be totally covered by ice
thereby leaving an ice surface that is devoid of any hack
depressions. The base member has at least two vertically
oriented female receptacles. Secondly, drill the ice out of
the female receptacles. Thirdly, mate the female receptacles
of the base member with depending male members of a detachable
foot pad.

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With the method, as described above, the drilled out
holes are only slightly larger in diameter than a pencil.
When the foot pad is removed there is absolutely no portion of
the base upon which a curler can trip. There is, similarly,
nothing upon which a curling rock can catch. When the hack is
needed, the foot pad is quickly and simply placed in position
by mating the depending male members of the foot pad with the
female receptacles in the base. The foot pad provides the
curler with an extremely stable foothold. Apart from having
to periodically drill ice out of the females, the curling hack
requires relatively little maintenance while gaining all the
many benefits that an above ice surface curling hack provides
to persons maintaining the curling ice.
According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided an above ice surface curling hack which includes a
base member having at least two vertically oriented female
receptacles. A foot pad is provided which has at least two
depending male members. The male members of the foot pad
temporarily mate with the female receptacles of the base
member to detachably secure the foot pad to the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become
more apparent from the following description in which
reference is made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a curling hack
constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present
invention.
FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of a foot pad
component of the curling hack illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view in longitudinal section
of the curling hack illustrated in FIGURE l, installed on a
sheet of ice.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The method and associated apparatus for installing an
5 above ice surface curling hack will now be described with
reference to FIGURES 1 through 3. The apparatus is critically
important to the method and will, therefore, be described
first.
The preferred embodiment, generally identified by
reference numeral 10, is an above ice surface curling hack
which will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1
through 3. Referring to FIGURE 1, curling hack 10 has two
primary components a base member 12 and a detachable foot pad
14. Base member 12 has three sets 16a, 16b, 16c of vertically
oriented female receptacles 16. Referring to FIGURE 2, foot
pad 14 has three depending male members 18.
The method will now be described with reference to
FIGURES 1 through 3. Firstly, embed base member 12 into a
sheet of ice 20, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. It is to be
noted that base member 12 is be totally covered by ice thereby
leaving ice surface 20 devoid of any hack depressions.
Secondly, drill ice out of female receptacles 16 to provide
access for mating with depending male members 18 of base
member 12. Thirdly, mate female receptacles 16 of base member
12 with depending male members 18 of detachable foot pad 14.
Referring to FIGURE l, the appropriate set of female
receptacles is chosen depending upon the desired foot
positioning. Set 16a represents a first position for a left
footed curler. Set 16b represents a second position for a
right footed curler. Set 16c represents a central position.
The left and right positions have historically been used by
curlers and, therefore, curlers have become accustomed to
starting their slide from either the right or left side.
However, with modern curling a long slide down the centre of
the ice surface is viewed as desirable. Central position 16c

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is an optional position. It provides a better starting point
for a central slide. It also avoids the necessity of moving
foot pad 14 back and forth between set 16a and 16b to
accommodate left footed and right footed curlers. When
curling hack 10 is not in use during play or when cleaning the
ice, footpad 14 is removed, as illustrated in FIGURE 2.
It will be apparent to one skilled in that art that
curling hack 10, as described, overcomes the disadvantages of
previous above ice surface curling hacks whiles maintaining
all the many advantages of an above ice surface curling hack
in terms of relative ease of ice maintenance. It will also
be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may
be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
Claims. For example, the number of male and female members is
not critical, as long as foot pad 14 is secured to base member
12 in a stable manner.

Representative Drawing