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 sports devices. More particularly, it relates to
sports player replicas of an animated, decorative and aesthetically
appealing nature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIQN
The gwne of ice hockey is noted for its speed and the intricate dexterities
of its players. It has a substantially following of fans and spectators,
many of whom identify with a particular professional team, and possess
and display paraphernalia characteristic of that team, as a show of their
afFinity and support. Many fans of the game go further, and identify
specifically with a star player of their chosen team, sporting replica
uniforms, jerseys, numbers and names of the star player.
Dolls and nlodels of ice hockey players, dressed in team un.iforms, have
an appeal to many fans, and are sold in significant numbers. However,
their appeal is limited to a large extent by their static nature on display,
which does not properly convey the impression of speed and dexterous
movement from which ice hockey derives much of its appeal.
BRIEF REFERENCE TO THE PRIOR ART
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Games of table hockey are available, in which two opposing competitors
operate model players on a board representing an ice hockey rink. The
model players are movable in slots along the board. The opponents
control the movement and turning of the model players by means of rods
connected to the players and extending to the ends of the board. The
shape of the model player on such games is somewhat characteristic,
comprising a hunched body holding an imitation hockey stick portion
protruding laterally from the bottom of the body. While such games are
less popular than previously, with the advent of electronic video sports
games, there is a nostalgia factor among adult ice hockey fans for such
old-style manual table ice hockey games, and the dexterity which is
required to play them successfully. The image of the typical table hockey
game model player is often strongly nostalgic.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel ice hockey
player representational device which is reminiscent of table hockey
figures.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel ice hockey
representational device which is animated to give impression of speed
and dexterity associated with the game of ice hockey.
SUMMARY OF'THE INVENTION.
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From one aspect the present invention provides an ice hockey player
replica which has the overall, general shape of a table hockey player. It is
rotatable about a vertical axis in response to wind, so that it can be
mounted outdoors for viewing. It is further equipped with a hockey puck-
imitating carousel containing rotatable puck imitations which pass
through an aperture in a portion of the figure, also responding to wind.
The aperture is disposed in a puck contacting representative portion, such
as the stick blade portion of the player in the case of a skater (forward,
defenseman) or the glove portion of a goaltender representing figure.
When mounted outdoors, in response to wind the entire figure rotates and
the puck carousel rotates relative to the body, to give the impression of
player movement and puck handling on the part of the player.
Thus according to the present invention, from one aspect, there is
provided an ice hockey player representational device comprising;
- a body having an upper, head-representing portion and a lower,
lateral extension representing a puck playing portion;
- a swivel mounting attached to the lower part of said body portion and
having surface engaging means at the lower end thereof;
- at least one wind-collecting means mounted on said body portion;
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- a rotatable vane structure rotatably disposed on said lower lateral
extension and comprising a spindle, a plurality of laterally extending
arms mounted on the spindle, and wind collecting means on each said
laterally extending arm;
whereby the device, when mounted outdoors, is caused to rotate about a
substantially vertical axis on said swivel mounting in response to wind
engagement with said body-mounted wind-collecting means, and said
rotatable vane structure is caused to rotate relative to the body on wind
engagement with said arm-mounted wind collecting means.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of
parts for assembling an ice hockey player representational device, and
comprising:
- a body having an upper, head-representing portion and a lower,
lateral extension representing a puck playing portion;
- a swivel mounting for attachment to the lower part of said body
portion and having surface engaging means at the lower end thereof;
- at least one wind-collecting means for mounting on said body
portion;
- a vane structure for rotatable disposition on said lower lateral
extension and comprising a spindle, a plurality of laterally extending
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arms mounted on the spindle, and wind collecting means on each said
laterally extending arm;
- means for attaching the swivel mounting to the lower edge of the
body;
- means for attaching the wind collecting means to the intermediate
portion of the body;
- and means for rotatably attaching the vane structure to the lower
lateral extension of the body.
BRIEF REFERENCE TO THE DRAWING
Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a front perspective view of an
ice hockey player representing figure, forward or defenseman (skater)
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a similar view of an ice hockey goaltender representing
figure according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
DESCRLPTI4N OF THE PREFERRED EMBUDIMENTS.
The body portion of the device of the present invention is preferably a
flat sheet, of weather durable material, such as treated wood, light sheet
metal such as aluminum, or, most preferably, synthetic resin such as
polyethylene, impact polystyrene, ABS resin or polyester. Tt should be
receptive to decoration, since it is anticipated that it will be decorated in
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imitation of a specific team uniform and/or player characteristics. As an
outdoor item also, suitable protection of its moving parts, namely the
rotation joints, is preferably provided.
The device can be provided in a variety of different sizes, depending
upon the chosen location for mounting. Larger versions can be mounted
on the ground, with the surface engaging means comprising spikes to
embed in a lawn or a garden bed. Smaller versions can be mounted on
deck railings, fences, fence posts, walls and the like with the surface
engaging means comprising brackets, clips etc for bolting or screwing
to the supporting surface.
The entire device is simple and economical to manufacture, and requires
no power other than natural wind power for its operation. Indeed, it can
if desired be provided with an appropriate small dynamo generator, so
that it acts as a power source. The generated power could be used to
power lamps, e.g. to illuminate the device itself as it turns in the wind,
thus fitrther enhancing its decorative effects. It can be readily supplied as
a kit of parts as aforesaid, with the means for attachment constituted by
standard nuts and bolts, with pre-drilled locating holes, for example, so
that the purchaser-assembler can properly locate and mount items such
as the wind collecting means. The device can also be disassembled for
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storage and transportation. The kit may also include indoor floor
mounting, shelf mounting or wall mounting brackets and fasteners, so
that it can be mounted and displayed indoors during winter periods.
In addition to its decorative and hockey player imitating appeal, the
device, with its two different types of rotational movement in response
to wind, has utility as a bird scarer.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT.
In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals indicate like
parts.
With reference to the accompanying Figure 1, an ice hockey skating
player representational device according to the preferred embodiment of
the invention is comprised of a body 10 of sheet-like fornt, in the overall
shape of a table ice-hockey playing figure. Thus the body 10 has an
upper, head-representing portion 12, an intermediate, player body
representing portion 14 and a lower edge 16. One laterally extending
portion 18 of the lower edge 16 of the body, integral with the body, is of
generally rectangular shape, representative of puck contacting portion of
the figure, namely the blade of an ice hockey stick held by the player on
the ice surface. A rectangular aperture or recess 20 is provided in the
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laterally extending portion 18, extending upwardly from the lower edge
thereof
Outwardly from the recess 20 and extending vertically through the
laterally extending portion 18 is a spindle 22, to the lower end 24 of
which, below lower edge 16, are rotatably mounted four laterally
extending arms 26, 28, 30 and 32, each carrying at its lateral extremity a
respective wind collecting means in the form of open, part-cylindrical,
vertically mounted cups 34, 36, 38, 40, the open faces of which are
presented in procession around the spindle 22. As part-cylindrical items,
the cups 34 etc. resemble hockey pucks in overall general appearance.
These cups 34 etc may be rigidly mounted on their respective atms 26
etc. as shown, or freely rotatably mounted for rotation about their
respective vertical axis.
Near the centre of the lower edge 16 of the body 10, there is provided
a swivel mounting 42, comprising an elongated horizontal bracket 44
attached to the lower edge 16, a downwardly projecting pivot pin 46
rigidly attached to or integral with the bracket 44, and a pipe 50 in which
the pivot pin 46 is rotatably received, in an appropriate ball bearing or
roller bearing assembly (not shown). The pipe 50 has four orthogonal
radially outwardly extending arms 52, 54, 56, 58 rigidly attached thereto,
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each with a downwardly extending spike for ground engaging purposes.
The pipe 50 also has a downwardly extending spiked end 60, terminating
substantially at the same level as the spikes on the arms 52, etc.
The intermediate portion 14 of the body 10 is provided on its opposed
faces with respective wind vanes 62, 64. These are rigidly mounted, in
vertical orientation, near opposed lateral edges of the intermediate
portion 14, with wind collecting faces presented in opposed directions so
as to cause or facilitate rotation of the body 10 about the pivot
connection of pivot pin 46 and pipe 50. In the embodiment illustrated,
the wind vanes 62, 64 are shallow dishes ("saucers") in shape, with
concave, wind collecting faces presented so that the body 10 will rotate
to the right (counter-clockwise) on wind incidence.
In Figure 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a goaltender
representing figure according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention. This is generally similar in structure and operation to the
skater figure shown in Fig, 1, but differs in that the head representing
portion 12a is in a more upright position and a hockey stick representing
portion 66 is disposed diagonally across lower part of the body 10, in
more accurate representation of the action position commonly adopted
by a goaltender. More significantly, however, the puck contacting
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representative portion 18a of the device of Fig. 2 is disposed at a higher
level on the body, but still in the lower part and extending laterally, to
represent the goaltender's glove. Portion 18a is similarly provided with a
recess 20a through which rotate wind collecting means 34a, 36a, 38a and
40a, disposed and mounted as in Fig. I, on the extremities of respective
radially extending arms 26a, 28a, 30a and 32a of a spindle 22a secured
to the body 10. These wind-collecting means are part-cylindrical
vertically-mounted cups with open faces presented in procession, to
catch the wind. As part cylindrical items, they give the general
appearance of hockey pucks. As in the case of the device illustrated in
Fig. 1, these cups may be freely rotatable about a vertical axis, or rigidly
affixed to their respective arms.
In operation, the device is secured into the ground, outdoors, by firmly
implanting spiked end 60 of the pipe 50 and the downwardly extending
spiked ends of the arms 52, 54, 56, 58 into the ground at a chosen
location, with the body 10 in a substantially upright position. Wind
catches the wind vanes 62, 64 and causes the body to rotate about pivot
pin 46 and pipe 50, to give the visual impression of an ice hockey player
in action. At the same time, the wind catches the cups 34, 36, 38, 40 and
rotates them through the recess 20 in the ice hockey stick representing
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lateral extension 18, to give the visual impression of puck hatidling
being conducted by a moving ice hockey player, in the device of Fig. 2,
or catching a fast-moving puck, in the case of the goaltender device of
Fig. 2. The combined rotational motions of the body as a whole and the
puck-imitating "carousel" relative to the body, gives an attractive,
decorative representation of an ice hockey player in playing action.
The device according to the invention may be provided in a variety of
different sizes and for a variety of different mounting locations. The
illustrated embodiment can be life sized or smaller (for example 30 - 36
inches tall), and is intended for mounting on a soft outdoor surface such
as a lawn or a garden bed. In one alternative, the swivel mounting
includes a clamp instead of the ground engaging arrangement of arms
and spiked ends, so that it can be mounted on top of a post, fence,
railing, etc., in an outdoor environment. For mounting on wooden
fences, decks, railings etc., plates for bolting to the surface structure
below the rotatable connection can be provided. Any suitable mounting
means can be adopted as long as it is sufficiently rigid to allow the
relative rotation. Such fence-mounted devices would normally be of
smaller size, for exainple 6-12 inches tall body 10 with appropriate
reductions in sizes of component parts. Indoor mounting equipment may
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also be supplied, so that the device(s) can be floor mounted, wall
mounted or shelf mounted indoors, for indoor display during winter
periods.
Suitable materials for construction of the body 10 of the device
include wood, sheet metal and plastic such as polyethylene and the like.
Weather resistance is required for a long-lasting outdoor device, along
with coverage for the moving parts, namely the pivot points, to reduce
weather deterioration. The material for the body 10 should also be
chosen with a view to its ease of decoration e.g. by painting, and its
durability to maintain its shape and appearance after painting, in outdoor
conditions. Manufacture of the body is a simple cutting or pressing
operation.
The device according to the invention is amenable to decoration, e.g.
by painting, so that it can be made more closely to imitate a player of a
certain team, by application of team logos, colours and uniform
characteristics of the team, to the body portion. The head portion 12 may
carry the likeness of a particular player's face, further to personalize the
device to the star player of a particular team.
Commonly, the device according to the invention is manufactured and
supplied to the consumer as a kit of parts. The body part 10 is factory
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manufactured, and is preferably drilled at the factory to provide for
mounting of the spindle 22 through the lateral extension. Wind vanes 62,
64, swivel mounting 42, bracket 44, spindle 22 and arm and cup parts
26, 32 etc. may be supplied separately, but as components of a kit of
parts, for home assembly by the purchaser with simple tools and
according to instructions provided.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described in detail herein, it is to be understood that these are exemplary
only, and the invention is not to be construed as limited thereto. The
scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims, reasonably
interpreted.
