HOCKEY PUCK COLLECTION APPARATUS

APPAREIL DE COLLECTE DE RONDELLES DE HOCKEY

English Abstract

Apparatus of use in the collection and storage of hockey pucks from an ice surface, the apparatus comprising storage means having a puck entry aperture; aperture closure means adjacent the entry aperture wherein the aperture closure means is (i) in a static position as to prevent stored pucks in the storage means from exiting through the entry aperture, and (ii) operably displaceable by a moving puck to allow entry of the puck into the storage means through the entry aperture and wherein the closure means is returnable to the static position after passage of the puck into the storage means; and handle means connected to the storage means by which the apparatus may be moved along on or lifted from the ice surface. The apparatus provides improved convenience to a person in picking up hockey pucks from the ice surface.

French Abstract

Un appareil servant à la collecte et au rangement de rondelles de hockey provenant d'une surface glacée, l'appareil comprenant un dispositif de stockage pourvu d'une ouverture pour l'entrée des rondelles; un dispositif de fermeture d'ouverture adjacent à l'ouverture d'entrée où le dispositif de fermeture d'ouverture est i) dans une position statique pour empêcher les rondelles stockées dans le dispositif de stockage de sortir par l'ouverture d'entrée et ii) est déplaçable de manière fonctionnelle par une rondelle en mouvement pour permettre l'entrée de la rondelle dans le dispositif de stockage par l'ouverture d'entrée et où le dispositif de fermeture peut retourner en position statique après le passage de la rondelle dans le dispositif de stockage; et un dispositif à poignée relié au dispositif de stockage au moyen duquel l'appareil peut être déplacé sur la glace ou soulevé. L'appareil permet à une personne de ramasser plus facilement des rondelles sur une surface glacée.

Claims

I Claim:
1. Apparatus of use in the collection and storage of hockey pucks from an ice
surface, said apparatus comprising
(a) storage means having a puck entry aperture which at a lower part is
adjacent a bottom member, extending the width of said aperture, said member
having
a height which defines said aperture to be less in height than said aperture
closure
means;
(b) aperture closure means adjacent said entry aperture wherein said aperture
closure means is (i) in a static position as to prevent stored pucks in said
storage
means from exiting through said entry aperture, and (ii) operably displaceable
by a
moving puck to allow entry of said puck into said storage means through said
entry
aperture and wherein said closure means is returnable to said static position
after
passage of said puck into said storage means; and
(c) handle means connected to said storage means by which said apparatus
may be moved along on or lifted from said ice surface.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means comprises an
elongate member.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said elongate member comprises
telescopic tube means.
4. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said closure means
comprises a displaceable, rigid, planar member.
5. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said closure means
comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a plastics
material, rubber
and wood.
6. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said closure means
comprises flexible sheet means.
7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said flexible sheet means comprises
a
single sheet.
8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said flexible sheet means comprises
a
plurality of vertical strips.
9. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said closure means
comprises a plastics or rubber material.
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10. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said storage
means
comprises a sealed bag formed of canvas, cloth or a flexible plastics
material.
11. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said storage
means
comprises a net, mesh or the like.
12. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said bottom
member extends outwardly from said aperture along the ice and is tapered as to
define
an incline from said ice to said aperture.
13. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said bottom
member prevents said closure means from being displaced from the vertical
plane
away from said aperture and said storage means.
14. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 13 comprising a rectangular
frame connected to said storage means and defining said puck entry aperture.
15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said frame has an elongate bottom
member extending the width of said frame.
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Description

CA 02488919 2004-12-O1
1624
HOCKEY PUCK COLLECTION APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for use in collecting and storing hockey
pucks from ice surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Significant number of hockey pucks are used during practise sessions on ice
surfaces, particularly in ice rinks. It is not a particular hardship for a
single or several
pucks to be used and, subsequently, picked up by a player after a practise
session.
However, when a significant number of pucks are to be retrieved during and
after a
1 S session, particularly when a plurality of players are involved, such a
physical action in
bending down to retrieve the pucks) and transfer them to an "oil ice" storage
site
usually represents an inconvenience that the players would like to avoid.
Apparatus of use in retrieving pucks and removing them from the ice is known
which comprises a puck holding net affixed to a rotable rigid ramp. The ramp
assists
the puck into the net when the puck is hit by a stick. However, such apparatus
suffers
from the aforesaid disadvantage of inconvenience.
There is, therefor, a need for an improved apparatus for retrieving and
transferring hockey pucks from the ice surface, which does not suffer from the
aforesaid disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus of use
in
the retrieval, transfer and, optional, storage of hockey pucks from ice
surfaces which
apparatus is more convenient to be operated by players, and more aesthetically
appealing.
Accordingly, the invention provides an apparatus of use in the collection and
storage of hockey pucks from an ice surface, said apparatus comprising
(a) storage means having a puck entry aperture;

CA 02488919 2005-06-15
(b) aperture closure means adjacent said entry aperture wherein said aperture
closure means is (i) in a static position as to prevent stored pucks in said
storage
means from exiting through said entry aperture, and (ii) operably displaceable
by a
moving puck to allow entry of said puck into said storage means through said
entry
aperture and wherein said closure means is returnable to said static position
after
passage of said puck into said storage means; and
(c) handle means connected to said storage means by which said apparatus
may be moved along on or lifted from said ice surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be better understood, preferred embodiments
will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying
drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a hockey puck collection
apparatus, according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side sectional view, in part, of the front end of
collection apparatus of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a further embodiment of a collection apparatus according to the
invention having alternative closure means; and
and wherein the same numerals denotes like parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Fig. 1, this shows generally as 10, apparatus of use in the
collection and storage of hockey pucks 12 from an ice surface 14. Apparatus 10
comprises a canvas storage bag 16 having a puck entry aperture 18, at front
end 20,
defined by a rectangular plastic frame 22 to which is affixed a telescopic
handle 24,
by a swivel 26. Frame 22 has a bottom rectangular member 28 extending the
width of
aperture 18. With reference also to Fig. 2, member 28 is defined as a tapered,
hemi-
circular disc having a central length "I" extending outwardly from aperture
18.
Member 28 has an upper surface 29 defined as an upwardly inclined plane from
the
ice surface at its distal edge to the aperture at its proximal end. Such an
inclined plan
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CA 02488919 2004-12-O1
facilitates entry of a moving puck 12 from ice surface 14 through aperture 18
into bag
16.
Vertically disposed adjacent and blocking aperture 18 is a rigid, planar
plastics
flap or sheet 30, hinged to top 32 of frame 22 as to permit displacement from
the
vertical plane through its hinged attachment 34 into bag 16 under the
influence of
moving puck 12 when struck. Once puck 12 enters bag 16, plastics sheet 30
returns to
its vertical position under gravity through hinged attachment 34. The lower
portion
36 of sheet 30 abuts bottom member 28 on the inside of bag 16 as to prevent
sheet 30
being displaced from its vertical plane away from bag 16. This prevents pucks
12
from falling out of bag 16.
With reference to Fig. 3, this shows closure means comprising a plurality of
displaceable flexible plastics strips 38 hanging from the top 32 ofthe frame
22.
Bag 16 has a zipper 40 by which retrieved pucks 12 may be removed, and a
pair of side handles 42 and shoulder strap 44, by which bag 16 may
alternatively be
carried.
Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred
embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not
restricted
to those particular embodiments. Rather, the invention includes all
embodiments
which are functional or mechanical equivalence of the specific embodiments and
features that have been described and illustrated.
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Representative Drawing