Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
HOCKEY PUCK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hockey
pucks, and more particularly, to a hockey puck having central and
peripheral plugs for improved weight distribution and/or
performance over prior art hockey pucks.
2. Prior Art
Hockey pucks are known in the art which have inserts or
plugs disposed in a solid body. One such hockey puck is
manufactured by PROPUCK and has eight inserts disposed around a
periphery of the hockey puck. Although the PROPUCK and other
similar pucks known in the art have their advantages, they suffer
from poor weight distribution which affects their performance
when being struck and/or sliding along a playing surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to
provide a hockey puck that overcomes the disadvantages of the
prior art hockey pucks.
Accordingly, a hockey puck is provided. The hockey
puck comprising: a disc shaped body having an upper and lower
surface, the disc shaped body having a central opening and two or
more peripheral openings surrounding the central opening, the
central and two or more peripheral openings extending from the
upper surface to the lower surface; a central plug disposed in
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
the central opening and extending above both the upper and lower
surfaces; and a peripheral plug disposed in each of the two or
more peripheral openings, at least some of the peripheral plugs
extending above both the upper and lower surfaces.
The peripheral plugs can be fabricated from a denser
material than the body. The peripheral plugs can be fabricated
from Delrin (Acetal Homopolymer) and similar materials and the
body can be fabricated from SBR elastomer and similar materials.
The peripheral plugs can be sized such that they cover
a substantial portion of the periphery of the upper and lower
surfaces.
The peripheral plugs can be offset from a circumference
of the disc shaped body towards the center plug such that no
portion of the peripheral plugs are disposed at the circumference
of the disc shaped body.
The central plug can be circular in cross-section when
viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces.
At least one of the two or more peripheral plugs can be
oval in cross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lower
surfaces.
The central plug can be circular in cross-section when
viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces and the two or
more peripheral plugs can comprise three peripheral plugs, each
of which being oval in cross-section when viewed from one of the
upper and lower surfaces.
The central and two or more peripheral plugs can
comprise a surface area greater than a surface area of the disc
-2-
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
shaped body excluding the central opening and two or more
peripheral openings.
At least one of the central and one or more of the
peripheral plugs can have an opening and can have at least a
portion of the disc shaped body disposed therein for positively
locking the at least one of the central and one or more of the
peripheral plugs to the disc shaped body.
Also provided is a blank for a hockey puck. The blank
comprising a disc shaped body having an upper and lower surface,
the disc shaped body having a central opening and two or more
peripheral openings surrounding the central openi.ng, the central
and two or more peripheral openings extending from the upper
surface to the lower surface.
The peripheral openings can be sized such that they
cover a substantial portion of the periphery of the upper and
lower surfaces.
The central opening can be circular in cross-section
when viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces.
At least one of the two or more peripheral openings can
be oval in cross-section when viewed from one of the upper and
lower surfaces.
The central opening can be circular in cross-section
when viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces and the two
or more peripheral openings can comprise three peripheral
openings, each of which being oval in cross-section when viewed
from one of the upper and lower surfaces.
The central and two or more peripheral openings can
-3-
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
comprise an area greater than a surface area of the disc shaped
body.
Further provided is a hockey puck comprising: a body
having an upper and lower surface, the body having a cent ral
opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface;
and a central plug disposed in the central opening and extending
above both the upper and lower surfaces.
Still further provided is a hockey puck comprising: a
disc shaped body having an upper and lower surface, the disc
shaped body having two or more peripheral openings; and a
peripheral plug disposed in each of the two or more peripheral
openings, at least some of the peripheral plugs extending above
both the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the two or more
peripheral plugs have a combined surface area greater than either
one of the upper or lower surfaces excluding the two or more
peripheral openings.
The hockey puck can further comprise a central plug
disposed in a central opening formed in the disc shaped body,
wherein a combined surface area of the central and two or- more
peripheral plugs have a combined surface area greater than either
one of the upper or lower surfaces excluding the central opening
and two or more peripheral openings.
Still yet further provided is a hockey puck conzprising:
a disc shaped body having an upper and lower surface, the disc
shaped body having two or more peripheral openings; and a
peripheral plug disposed in each of the two or more peripheral
openings, at least some of the peripheral plugs extending above
both the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the two or more
peripheral plugs are offset from a circumference of the disc
-4-
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
shaped body such that no portion of the two or more periph eral
plugs are disposed at the circumference.
The hockey puck can further comprise a central plug
disposed in a central opening formed in the disc shaped body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of
the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become
better understood with regard to the following description,
appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a hockey puck
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the hockey
puck of Figure 1 as taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates a body of the hockey puck of
Figure 1 without the plugs inserted therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Although this invention is applicable to numerous and
various types of hockey pucks, it has been found particula rly
useful in the environment of hockey pucks for non-frozen playing
surfaces. Therefore, without limiting the applicability of the
invention to non-frozen playing surfaces, the invention will be
described in such environment.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a
hockey puck according to an embodiment of the present invention,
the hockey puck being generally referred to by reference numeral
100.
-5-
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
The hockey puck 100 has a disc shaped body 102. The
disc shaped body 102 has an upper and lower surface 104, 106 and
extends to a circumference 108. On each of the upper and lower
surfaces 104, 106 of the disc shaped body 102 there is a first
tapered portion 110 that tapers away from both a first central
axis 112 and from the circumference 108 inward towards a second
central axis 114. The first tapered portion 110 terminates at a
first planar portion 116 that is substantially parallel with the
first central axis 112. The first planar portion 116 terminates
into a second tapered portion 118 that tapers towards both the
first central axis 112 and towards the second central axis 114.
The second tapered portion 118 terminates in a second p1 anar
portion 120 that is substantially parallel with the first central
axis 112.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the disc shaped body
102 further has a central opening 122 and two or more peripheral
openings 124 surrounding the central opening 122. The central
and two or more peripheral openings 122, 124 extend from the
upper surface 104 to the lower surface 106 of the disc shaped
body 102.
A central plug 126 is disposed in the central opening
122 and extends above both the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106
of the disc-shaped body 102. The central plug 126 is preferably
larger in cross section than the diameter d(:, of the cent ral
opening 122 to positively retain the central plug 126 in the
central opening 122. The nature of the material of the central
plug 126 and/or disc shaped body 102 allow the central plug 126
and/or disc shaped body 102 to be plastically deformed while
being disposed in the central opening 122. Alternatively, the
central plug 126 can be insert molded in the disc-shaped body
-6-
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
102.
Similarly, a peripheral plug 128 is disposed in each of
the two or more peripheral openings 124 such that at least some
of the peripheral plugs 128 extend above both the upper and lower
surfaces 104, 106. The peripheral plugs 128 are preferably larger
in cross section than each diameter dp of the peripheral opening
124 to positively retain peripheral plug 128 in the peripheral
opening 124. As discussed above with regard to the central plug
126, the nature of the material of the peripheral plugs 128
and/or disc shaped body 102 allow the peripheral plugs 128 and/or
disc shaped body 102 to be plastically deformed while being
disposed in their respective peripheral opening 124.
Alternatively, the peripheral plugs 128 can be insert molded in
the disc-shaped body 102. In which case, it is preferred that
the peripheral and/or central pugs 126, 128 have an opening 126a,
128a, respectively for permitting the material of the body 102 to
enter the openings 126a, 128a. Not only does this posi-tively
lock the central and/or peripheral plugs 126, 128 in pl ace on the
body 102, but it also allows the body to be compressed over its
entire width when struck. The compression of the body 102 has
been found to increase the performance of the puck 100_
The peripheral plugs 128 can be fabricated from a
denser material than the body 102. For example, the pe ripheral
plugs 128 can be fabricated from Delrin (Acetal Homopolymer) and
the body can be fabricated from SBR elastomer. Other materials
having similar characteristics can also be used. Such materials
are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Furthermore, the peripheral plugs 128 can be sized such that they
cover a substantial portion of the periphery of the upper and
lower surfaces. The configuration shown in Figure 1 sh ows the
-7-
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
plugs being substantially larger in the direction of the
periphery than the spaces 130 between the peripheral plugs 128.
Still further, the peripheral plugs 128 can be offset from the
circumference 108 of the disc shaped body 102 towards the center
plug 126 by a distance 0,,. The offset Oc is such that no portion
of the peripheral plugs 128 are disposed at the circumference 108
of the disc shaped body 102. The two or more peripheral plugs
128 with or without the central plug 126 can have a combined
surface area that is greater than a surface area of the disc
shaped body 102 (excluding the openings) . Each of these features
individually or in combination contributes to an improved weight
distribution and other improved characteristics which improve the
performance of the hockey puck 100 when struck and/or moving over
a playing surface.
The central plug 126 can be circular in cross-section
when viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106 as
shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the central plug 126 can be formed in other
shapes without departing from the scope or spirit of the present
invention. Furthermore, at least one of the two or more
peripheral plugs 128 is oval in cross-section when viewed from
one of the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106 as shown in Figures
1 and 2. However, those skilled in the art will also appreciate
that any and/or all of the peripheral plugs 128 can be forming in
other shapes without departing from the scope or spirit of the
present invention. Still further, although the central plug 126
and peripheral plugs 128 are shown having a similar shape as
their corresponding openings 122, 124, such is given by way of
example only and not to limit the scope or spirit of the present
invention. For example, the portion of the plugs 124, 128
disposed in the openings 122, 124, can be the same shape as the
-8-
CA 02565151 2006-10-31
WO 2005/092451 PCT/US2005/009131
opening 122, 124, and the portion of the plugs 126, 128 which
extends above the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106 of the body
102 can have a shape which differs from the shape of their
corresponding opening 122, 124. Further, the shape of the
portion of the plugs 126, 128, extending above the upper surface
104 can differ from the shape of the portion of the plugs 126,
128, extending above the lower surface 106.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the central
plug 126 is circular in cross-section when viewed from one of the
upper and lower surfaces 104,106 and the two or more peripheral
plugs 128 comprises three peripheral plugs 128, each of which is
oval in cross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lower
surfaces 104, 106.
Figure 3 illustrates a hockey puck blan k(the disc
shaped body 102) before insertion of the central and peripheral
plugs 126, 128. As discussed above, the blank can be fabricated
separately from the plugs 126, 128 and the plugs inserted therein
in a secondary operation. Furthermore, the plugs 124, 128 and/or
the disc shaped body 102 can be fabricated from any techniques
known in the art, such as by molding or machining. As also
discussed above, the plugs 126, 128 can be insert molded in their
respective openings of the disc shaped body 102.
While there has been shown and described what is
considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will,
of course, be understood that various modifications and changes
in form or detail could readily be made without departing from
the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the
invention be not limited to the exact forms descr ibed and
illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications
that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.
-9-
