Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
RINK CHAIR SUPPORT SECTION WITH COUPLING MEANS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rink chair support section for supporting
cooling pipes and reinforcing bars prior to installation of a cast concrete
layer thereupon
in an ice rink of the type having coupling means for longitudinally coupling a
plurality of
support sections end-to-end, and more particularly the present invention
relates to a
rink chair support section in which the coupling means includes a hole in a
first
overlapping portion and a protruding element coupled to a second overlapping
portion,
the hole being arranged for receiving the protruding element therein so as to
longitudinally couple first and second ones of the support sections end-to-
end.
BACKGROUND
The disclosed invention is a rink chair support section for supporting
cooling pipes and reinforcing bars prior to installation of a cast concrete
layer thereupon
in an ice rink with coupling means, which affords longitudinal coupling of a
plurality of
support sections end-to-end.
During installation process of the cooling pipes and reinforcing bars in an
ice rink, prior to receiving the cast concrete layer thereon, rink chair
support sections
similar to the ones described by U.S. Patent Nos. 5,467,948 (Gillespie) or
5,876,001
(Wiebe) are lined up in rows to span a full width of the ice rink on the
horizontal ground
surface thereof because a single rink chair support section is insufficiently
long to span
the full width of the ice rink. Each row of the support sections is formed by
overlapping
support sections laterally. This arrangement results in wasted material as
each rink
chair support section contributes one fewer individual rink chair to a
longitudinal length
of the row due to the need to align the support sections by overlapping each
adjacent
longitudinal end portion of adjacent support sections. Even after forming the
rows, the
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support sections remain free to move relative to one another as the support
sections
are not coupled to each other. Only after the cooling pipes and reinforcing
bars are
placed upon the support sections is each support section restricted in
longitudinal
movement; however, the support sections still remain free to move
transversely.
An example of a prior patent that describes floor elements that can be
coupled so as to form an ice rink is U.S. Patent No. 6,021,646 to Burley. The
patent
given to Burley shows ice rink floor elements which comprise fastening
elements that
afford coupling of adjacent floor elements by sliding lateral insertion of the
male
fastening element of a first floor element into the female fastening element
of a second
floor element. However, these floor elements comprise channels through which
coolant
may be pumped, and as such do not support cooling pipes as in traditional
construction
of ice rinks like the apparatuses of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,467,948 and 5,876,001.
Another example of a prior patent is U.S. Patent No. 2,517,411 to
Patterson for a fastener for refrigerator evaporator. The patent to Patterson
includes a
stem and a clip with an opening having tangs for fastening the clip to the
stem. The
tangs of the clip function as the retaining mechanism to fasten the clip to
the stem.
While the fastener is simple, it has not been applied to the field of
apparatuses for
supporting cooling pipes in ice rinks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a rink chair
support section for supporting cooling pipes and reinforcing bars prior to
installation of
a cast concrete layer thereupon in an ice rink, wherein the ice rink also
comprises a
horizontal ground surface, the support section comprising:
a base structure for resting on the ground surface having:
a first overlapping portion at one longitudinal end, the first
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overlapping portion having a first end edge of at a free longitudinal end
thereof;
a second overlapping portion at an opposite longitudinal end, the
second overlapping portion having a second end edge at a free longitudinal end
thereof;
a middle portion intermediate between the first and second
overlapping portions;
opposing lateral edges joining the first and second end edges;
a junction line which defines a junction between the second
overlapping portion and the middle portion, the junction line spanning between
the
lateral edges;
a support arrangement arranged to support the cooling pipes and
reinforcing bars, the support arrangement being attached to the first
overlapping portion
and the middle portion so as to stand upwardly therefrom;
wherein the base structure of each one of the rink chair support sections
further includes:
a hole in the first overlapping portion;
a protruding element coupled to the second overlapping portion,
the protruding element having a first edge which meets a portion of the second
overlapping portion;
wherein the hole is arranged to receive the protruding element
therein so that a first one of the support sections and a second one of the
support
sections can be longitudinally coupled end-to-end in a working position.
The embodiment as described in more detail hereinafter overcomes the
shortcomings of the prior art by providing a rink chair support section of a
particular type
that can be coupled end-to-end to support sections of the same type so that
each one
of a plurality of rink chair supports of the support arrangement of each
respective
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support section supports a different cooling pipe when a plurality of support
sections
are arranged and coupled in a row. Furthermore, the present invention also
provides a
rink chair support section in which movement of a first support section
relative to a
respective second support section is reduced in the working position of the
support
sections.
Preferably, the first edge of the protruding element has a protruding
element orientation relative to said junction line and the hole has a hole
orientation
relative to the first end edge, the hole orientation being arranged to match
the protruding
element orientation so as to align the first one of the support sections and
the second
one of the support sections in rectilinear alignment in the working position.
Preferably, the protruding element has first and second longitudinal
surface portions facing in respective opposing longitudinal directions that
are arranged
to engage longitudinal edge portions of the hole at longitudinally opposing
ends thereof
so as to reduce movement between support sections in the longitudinal
directions in
the working position.
Preferably, the protruding element has first and second transverse
surface portions facing in respective opposing transverse directions that are
arranged
to engage transverse edge portions of the hole at opposing transverse ends
thereof so
as to reduce movement between support sections in the transverse directions in
the
working position.
Preferably, the support arrangement has a first free end at one
longitudinal end of the support arrangement above the first overlapping
portion, the first
free end being spaced inward from the first end edge at a first distance, and
a second
free end at an opposing longitudinal end of the support arrangement above the
middle
portion and closer to the second overlapping portion than to the first
overlapping portion,
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the second free end being spaced inward from the junction line at a second
distance
which is proximate the first distance so as to maintain proper spacing in the
longitudinal
direction between the cooling pipes and reinforcing bars supported by the
support
arrangements in the working position.
Preferably, the protruding element is arranged for insertion into the hole
in the upward direction.
Preferably, the rink chair support section further includes a retaining
mechanism that prevents the protruding element from being removed from the
hole in
the working position. Preferably, the retaining mechanism is a projecting
element
coupled to the protruding element so as to project away therefrom. Preferably,
the
projecting element has a free end which is arranged to engage the second
overlapping
portion when the protruding element is being removed from the hole in the
working
position. Preferably, the projecting element is a tab.
Preferably, the base structure is a horizontal base plate.
Preferably, the hole is a slot.
Preferably, the protruding element is a flange.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a rink chair
support section for supporting cooling pipes and reinforcing bars prior to
installation of
a cast concrete layer thereupon in an ice rink, wherein the ice rink also
comprises a
horizontal ground surface, the support section comprising:
a base structure forming a plate for resting on the ground surface, the
base structure spanning longitudinally between first and second ends and
having first
and second sides spanning between the first and second ends;
a support arrangement including at least one pipe support standing
upwardly from the base structure and forming a receptacle at a position spaced
above
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the base structure which is arranged to receive the respective cooling pipe
transversely
of the base structure;
the support arrangement including a support member extending
longitudinally of the base structure at a position spaced above the base
structure but
below the receptacle of the respective pipe support, the support member thus
being
arranged to support the reinforcing bars extending transversely of the base
structure
adjacent the respective pipe support;
a terminal end of the support arrangement closest to the first end being
spaced longitudinally inwardly from the first end leaving a portion of the
base structure
proximal the first end over which no support arrangement is located;
a coupling arrangement comprising:
a protruding element upstanding from the base structure with a top
spaced below the support member;
the protruding element being arranged at that portion of the base
structure proximal the first end over which there is no support arrangement at
a location
spaced longitudinally in a direction towards the first end of the base
structure by a
prescribed distance from one of the pipe supports closest to the first end;
a hole formed in the base structure at a location closer to the
second end than to the first end of the base structure;
the hole being spaced from the second end by a distance
substantially equal to said prescribed distance;
the hole of a first one of the support sections being arranged for
receiving therethrough the protruding element of a second one of the support
sections
such that the base structures of the first one of the support sections and the
second
one of the support sections are held overlapped, with the base structure of
the first one
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of the support sections over top the base structure of the second one of the
support
sections, so that the support sections are coupled end-to-end so as to be
longitudinally
inline in rectilinear alignment.
Preferably, the hole and protruding element are elongated in a common
direction so as to be shaped to resist movement of said support sections out
of the
rectilinear alignment.
Preferably, the hole and protruding element are elongated in the common
direction from the first side to the second side of the base structure.
Preferably, the hole and protruding element each are rectilinearly shaped
in plan view.
Preferably, the hole is arranged beneath one of the pipe supports closest
to the second end.
Preferably, the support section further comprises a retaining mechanism
on the protruding element that resists removal of the protruding element of
the second
one of the support sections through the hole of the first one of the support
sections
when the support sections are coupled end-to-end.
Preferably, the retaining mechanism is a tab coupled at one end thereof
to the protruding element and projecting away therefrom to a free end of the
tab held
spaced from the protruding element in a neutral position, the tab being
pivotally
movable out of the neutral position about said one end coupled to the
protruding
element.
Preferably, the tab is inclined downwardly such that the free end of the
tab is opposite of and lower than said one end where the tab is coupled to the
protruding
element.
Preferably, the base structure is a horizontal plate.
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Preferably, the protruding element is a flange arranged at the first end
spaced by the prescribed distance from the one of the pipe supports closest
thereto.
Preferably, the protruding element forms an upstanding plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a right perspective view of a rink chair support section from its
rear.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rink chair support section in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a left elevation view of the rink chair support section in Figure
1.
Figure 4 is a right perspective view of two rink chair support sections from
rears thereof, aligned with one another prior to coupling together in a
working position.
Figure 5 is a right perspective view of the two rink chair support sections
in Figure 4 coupled together in the working position.
Figure 6 is a left elevation view of the two rink chair support sections in
Figure 5 coupled in the working position and supporting cooling pipes and
reinforcing
bars thereon.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a rink chair
support section generally indicated by reference numeral 100 in FIG. 1. The
rink chair
support section is used to support cooling pipes 1 and reinforcing bars 2 of
an ice rink
upon a horizontal ground surface 4 thereof prior to receiving a cast concrete
layer
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thereon.
The present embodiment of the rink chair support section 100 as shown
in FIGS. 1-3 has a horizontal base plate 102 as a base structure for resting
on the
ground surface of the ice rink. The base plate is elongate and has a first
overlapping
portion 104 at one longitudinal end, a second overlapping portion 106 at an
opposing
longitudinal end, and a middle portion 108 intermediate between the
overlapping
portions. The first overlapping portion has a first end edge 110 of at a free
longitudinal
end thereof, and the second overlapping portion has a second end edge 111
thereof
which is at a free longitudinal end of the second overlapping portion.
Furthermore, the
base plate has opposing lateral edges which span between the first and second
end
edges. The first overlapping portion and the middle portion considered
together are
rectangular in shape, and the second overlapping portion is trapezoidal in
shape. The
junction between the second overlapping portion and the middle portion is
defined by a
junction line 112 that spans between the opposing lateral edges of the base
plate. The
junction line meets each one of the lateral edges at a right angle at the
middle portion,
and the length of the junction line is a measure of a width of the horizontal
base plate
in a lateral direction. The lateral edges of the base plate at the second
overlapping
portion start at the junction line and taper inward towards an axis at a
longitudinal center
of the base plate. The lateral edges at the second overlapping portion
terminate at the
second end edge. A length of the second end edge 111 is shorter than the width
of the
base plate 102, and the second end edge is centered relative to the axis at
the
longitudinal center of the base plate.
The base plate 102 also has a slot 114 which is a hole in the first
overlapping portion as better shown in FIG. 2. The slot is spaced inward from
the first
end edge 110 toward the junction line 112. The slot is elongate and has a
start thereof
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at a first slot end edge proximate a first one of the lateral edges of the
base plate. The
slot extends from the start of the slot to an end of the slot at a second slot
end edge
thereof proximate a second one of the lateral edges of the base plate.
Opposing slot
side edges, which are parallel, span in the lateral direction of the base
plate 102 and
join the first and second slot end edges. The slot side edges are parallel to
the first end
edge 114, and the slot is centered relative to the axis at the longitudinal
center of the
base plate. Furthermore, a length of the slot 114 is less than the width of
the base plate
102, where the length of the slot is defined by a distance between a portion
of each one
of the first and second slot end edges closest to respective lateral edges of
the base
plate.
Additionally, the base plate 102 has a flange 116 which is a protruding
element coupled to the second overlapping portion 106, projecting upwards
therefrom
as better shown in FIG. 3. The flange is configured for upwards insertion into
the slot
118 such that the first one of the support sections and the second one of the
support
sections can be longitudinally coupled in rectilinear alignment in a working
position
when the first overlapping portion 104 of the second one of the support
sections
overlaps the second overlapping portion of the first one of the support
sections. The
flange has a bottom edge 118 which is a first edge of the protruding element
that meets
the second overlapping portion. To achieve the rectilinear alignment of the
first and
second ones of the support sections, the bottom edge is parallel to the
junction line 112
so as to match the orientation of the slot 114 relative to the first end edge
110 of the
first overlapping portion. The bottom edge of the flange is also centered
relative to the
axis at the longitudinal center of the base plate 102. Additionally, the
bottom edge 118
of the flange 116 is arranged at a distance outward from the junction line,
towards the
second end edge of the second overlapping portion, so as to be equal to the
spacing
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of the slot from the first end edge 110. Consequently, the first end edge is
substantially
aligned with the junction line 112 in the working position, and the lateral
edges of the
base plate at the first overlapping portion extend laterally outward beyond
the lateral
edges at the second overlapping portion in the working position.
Because the bottom edge 118 of the flange 116 and the slot have
rectilinear shape, two additional structural features are necessary in order
to facilitate
interlocking of the flange and slot 114 so as to reduce movement between the
first one
of the support sections and the second one of the support sections in the
working
position. Firstly, a thickness at the bottom edge of the flange defined by the
distance
between outer surfaces of the flange at the bottom edge is proximate a width
of the slot,
which is the distance between the opposite slot side edges. The respective
outer
surfaces of the flange define first and second longitudinal surface portions
thereof
facing in respective opposing longitudinal directions, and the slot side edges
define
longitudinal edge portions of the slot at longitudinally opposing ends
thereof,
Approximately matching the thickness at the bottom edge of the flange and the
width
of the slot reduces longitudinal movement of the first one of the support
sections relative
to the second one of the support sections in the working position because the
outer
surfaces of the flange engage the respective slot side edges in the working
position.
Also, a flange length defined as a distance between opposite flange side edges
120 at
the bottom edge 118 is approximately equal to the length of the slot 114 such
that lateral
movement of the first one of the support sections relative to the second one
of the
support sections is reduced in the working position because the flange side
edges
engage the respective first and second end edges of the slot in the working
position.
The flange side edges 120 define first and second transverse surface portions
of the
flange facing in respective opposing transverse directions, and the first and
second end
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edges of the slot define respective transverse edge portions of the slot at
opposing
transverse ends thereof.
Alluding to the structure of the flange 116 further, the flange side edges
120 start at the bottom edge 118, meeting the bottom edge at right angles, and
extend
vertically upwards therefrom. The side edges terminate at a top edge 122 of
the flange
that is aligned with the bottom edge so as to lie in a common vertical plane.
Each of the
side edges are parallel to one another, so that the flange length is uniform
from bottom
to top. Furthermore, the distance between outer surfaces of the flange is
consistent
between the bottom edge and the top edge so that the thickness of the flange
is uniform
from bottom to top. As such, the first overlapping portion 104 of the second
one of the
support sections must be substantially parallel to the second overlapping
portion 106
of the first one of the support sections so that the slot receives the flange
therein.
For efficient use of material, a longitudinal length of the second
overlapping portion 106 defined as a distance from the junction line 112 to
the end edge
of the second overlapping portion is equal to the spacing of the slot 114 from
the first
end edge 110 of the first overlapping portion 104. Thus, the bottom edge 118
of the
flange 116 is aligned with the end edge of the second overlapping portion.
Furthermore,
the length of the end edge of the second overlapping portion is equal to the
flange
length. As such, the complete base structure of the support section can be
manufactured from a single piece of material, and the flange 116 is created by
bending
an end portion at the free longitudinal end of the second overlapping portion
106
upwards.
A tab 124 is coupled to the flange 116 and is a projecting element that is
rectangular in shape and orientated lengthwise in the lateral direction of the
base plate
102. An uppermost edge of the tab is attached to the flange proximate the top
edge
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thereof so that remaining three edges of the tab are free. The uppermost edge
is
attached to the flange so that a bottommost free end 126 is pivotable relative
to the
flange about the uppermost edge of the tab. Further, the bottommost free end
of the
tab is oriented downwards toward the second overlapping portion 106 and
projects
away from the flange in a neutral position thereof so as to engage the second
overlapping portion in the working position of the support sections 100 when
the flange
is being removed from the slot 114 in the downwardly direction. Opposite side
edges of
the tab join the uppermost edge to the bottommost free end and are parallel to
one
another, meeting both the uppermost edge and bottommost free end at right
angles.
The tab is centered relative to the flange such that the midpoint of the
uppermost edge
of the tab is aligned with the midpoint of the top edge 122 of the flange
along a vertical
axis. The tab serves as a retaining mechanism to prevent the flange 116 from
being
unintentionally removed from the slot 114 in the working position. The two
support
sections may be decoupled from the working position by first pressing the
bottommost
free end 126 of the tab 124 towards the flange in a compressed position of the
tab and
holding the tab therein; then, the flange is removed from the slot by lifting
the first
overlapping portion 104 of the second one of the support sections, lowering
the second
overlapping portion 106 of the first one of the support sections, or a
combination of the
two actions. The tab 124 may be released from the compressed position as soon
as
the slot 114 is generally above the bottommost free end 126 of the tab.
A support arrangement 128 is arranged on the base plate 102 to support
the cooling pipes and reinforcing bars. The support arrangement is attached to
the first
overlapping portion 104 and the middle portion 108 so as to stand upwardly
therefrom.
The support arrangement comprises a plurality of rink chair supports 130
arranged in a
row across the base. Each one of the rink chair supports provides support for
a single
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cooling pipe. A horizontal support member 132 spans a full length of the
support
arrangement and is arranged to support reinforcing bars between adjacent rink
chair
supports on the horizontal support member. The horizontal support member is
arranged
at a height above the base plate 102, yet below the portions of the rink
chairs where
the cooling pipes are supported therein. The rink chair supports are spaced
longitudinally along the base plate so as to support the cooling pipes at
proper
longitudinal intervals, which is important for providing uniform cooling of
the cast
covering layer of the ice rink. Further, the horizontal support member has a
first free
end 134 at one longitudinal end thereof above the first overlapping portion
that is
spaced inward horizontally at a first distance from the first end edge 110
toward the
junction line 112. A second free end 136 of the horizontal support member at
an
opposite longitudinal end thereof above the middle portion 108 and closer to
the second
overlapping portion than to the first overlapping portion is spaced inward
horizontally at
a second distance from the junction line toward the first end edge 110. The
second
distance is approximately equal to the first distance so as to maintain proper
spacing in
the longitudinal direction between the cooling pipes and reinforcing bars
supported by
the support arrangements 128 in the working position.
In use, the rink chair support sections 100 are first arranged end-to-end
in a plurality of rows. Each one of the rows spans a full width or a full
length of the ice
rink, and the plurality of rows are spaced therebetween along a dimension of
the ice
rink transverse to the rows. After arranging the rows, the support sections
within each
one of the rows are coupled to one another. As illustrated in FIG. 4, coupling
is
accomplished by positioning the first overlapping portion 104 of a second
support
section above the second overlapping portion 106 of a first support section so
that the
slot 114 of the second support section is vertically aligned with the flange
116 of the
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first support section in a common vertical plane. Next, the second support
section is
lowered onto the first support section so that the corresponding overlapping
portions of
respective support sections overlap. Lowering the first overlapping portion of
the
second support section onto the second overlapping portion of the first
support section
in the manner described will cause the slot of the second support section to
engage the
tab 124 coupled to the flange of the first support section, pushing the
bottommost free
end 126 of the tab towards the flange and allowing the flange to be inserted
into the
slot. The longitudinal end-to-end coupling ensures that each one of rink chair
supports
130 in each one of the rows supports a different cooling pipe. Once the
support sections
of each one of the rows are coupled together as in FIGS. 5-6, the second free
end 136
of the support arrangement 128 of the first support section should be
proximate in
alignment with the first free end 134 of the horizontal support member of the
second
support section in height in a vertical axis, and horizontally both in a
longitudinal axis
and in a transverse axis. Note that to decouple support sections, the reverse
process
of the coupling procedure should be followed; however, the tab 124 has to be
pressed
and held in the compressed position until the slot 114 is above the bottommost
free end
126 of the tab, so that the flange 116 can be removed from the slot.
Once all of the support sections comprising each one of the rows are
coupled together, the support sections are ready to receive the cooling pipes
1 and
reinforcing bars 2 in the support arrangements 128 of the support sections.
First, a first
layer of reinforcing bars is set upon the rink chair support sections so as to
be received
in the rink chair support sections by the support arrangements thereof,
extending across
the rows and lying in a first common horizontal plane; the first layer of
reinforcing bars
are mutually perpendicular to the rows. Next, a second layer of reinforcing
bars is set
so as rest upon the first layer of reinforcing bars, extending across the
first layer and
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lying in a second common horizontal plane above the first plane; the second
layer of
reinforcing bars are mutually transverse to the first layer of reinforcing
bars at right
angles thereto and mutually parallel to the rows. Finally, the cooling pipes
are set upon
the rink chair support sections so as to be received in the rink chair support
sections by
the support arrangements thereof, extending across the second layer of
reinforcing bars
and lying in a third common horizontal plane that is above the first plane and
above the
second plane; the cooling pipes are mutually transverse to the rows at right
angles
thereto, mutually parallel to the first layer of reinforcing bars, and
mutually transverse
to the second layer of reinforcing bars at right angles thereto. After all of
the reinforcing
bars 2 and cooling pipes 1 are set in a manner similar to an arrangement just
described
that is generally illustrated in FIG. 6 without the second layer of
reinforcing bars, the
cast concrete layer may be applied so as to embed the reinforcing bars and
cooling
pipes therein.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it
is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted
as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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