U.S. patent application number 11/809837 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-04 for practice hockey puck.
Invention is credited to Shawn Harpell.
Application Number | 20080300074 11/809837 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40088950 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080300074 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harpell; Shawn |
December 4, 2008 |
Practice hockey puck
Abstract
A practice hockey puck to be used by a young player to learn how
to pick up a hockey puck off the ice with the blade of his hockey
stick. The puck is like an ordinary puck but with a lower, outer,
annular portion removed, thereby moving the outer perimeter of the
bottom surface of the puck inwardly from the outer perimeter of the
top portion of the puck. The outer perimeter of the bottom surface
acts as a pivot edge. A portion of the puck lies outside this pivot
edge. Pressing on this portion with the blade of the stick allows
the player to easily pivot the puck about the pivot edge onto its
side starting the process of picking the puck up with the
stick.
Inventors: |
Harpell; Shawn; (Kingston,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACK PAAVILA
BOX 1151
ALEXANDRIA
KOC IA0
CA
|
Family ID: |
40088950 |
Appl. No.: |
11/809837 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/588 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 67/14 20130101;
A63B 69/0026 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/588 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00 |
Claims
1. A practice hockey puck comprising; a cylindrical top portion
having a top, circular surface and a top, cylindrical, side surface
extending down from the outer perimeter of the top surface, the top
portion being between three-eighths and five-eighths the thickness
of the puck; a bottom portion having a bottom surface parallel to
the top surface with the outer perimeter of the bottom surface
spaced inwardly of the outer perimeter of the top surface, and a
bottom, side surface joining the outer perimeter of the bottom
surface with the bottom edge of the top cylindrical side surface;
the connection between the bottom, side surface and the top,
cylindrical, side surface forming a top pivot edge, the connection
between the bottom, side surface and the bottom surface forming a
bottom pivot edge located below and inwardly of the top pivot
edge.
2. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom
portion is an inverted, right truncated, conical portion, the
bottom of the conical portion forming the bottom surface, and the
bottom side surface is an angled surface extending upwardly and
outwardly from the bottom surface.
3. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 2 wherein the top of
the inverted conical portion has a diameter equal to the diameter
of the top portion, the angled surface joining the top and bottom
of the conical portion extending at an angle to the bottom surface
ranging between thirty and sixty degrees.
4. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom
portion is a cylindrical portion having a smaller diameter than the
top portion and concentric within the top portion when viewed from
the bottom; the bottom, side surface having a bottom cylindrical
surface portion extending up from the bottom surface to the top
portion, and an annular surface portion extending outwardly from
the top of the bottom cylindrical surface portion to the bottom of
the top, cylindrical surface, the annular surface being parallel to
the top surface and forming part of the top portion.
5. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 4 wherein the
difference in diameter between the top and bottom portions is about
equal to twice the height of the bottom portion.
6. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bottom
portion is a cylindrical ring portion having a smaller diameter
than the top portion and concentric within the top portion when
viewed from the bottom.
7. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 6 wherein the
difference in diameter between the top and bottom portions is about
equal to twice the height of the bottom portion.
8. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bottom
portion is a discontinuous, cylindrical ring portion having a
smaller diameter than the top portion and concentric within the top
portion when viewed from the bottom.
9. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 8 wherein the
difference in diameter between the top and bottom portions is about
equal to twice the height of the bottom portion.
10. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom
portion is formed by a ring of spaced-apart posts, the outer
portion of the posts touching a circle within and concentric to the
top portion, the outer portion of the posts defining the outer edge
of the bottom portion.
11. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 9 wherein the height
of the posts is about half the difference in diameter between the
top and bottom portions.
12. A practice hockey puck having a top cylindrical portion with a
circular top surface, a circular bottom surface and a cylindrical
side surface joining the top and bottom surfaces, a bottom portion
integral with the top portion, the bottom portion comprising a set
of posts arranged in a circle, the posts extending down from the
bottom surface, the posts spaced inwardly from the periphery of the
bottom surface, the connection of the bottom surface to the side
surface forming a top pivot edge, the outer, bottom edge of the
posts forming a discontinuous, bottom, pivot edge.
13. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 12 wherein the top
portion is three-eighths to five-eighths the thickness of the
puck.
14. A practice hockey puck as claimed in claim 13 wherein the
height of the posts is about half the difference in diameter
between the top and bottom portions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] This invention is directed toward a hockey puck. The
invention is more particularly directed toward a practice hockey
puck to be used to practice picking up the puck on the blade of a
hockey stick.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Young boys playing hockey like to emulate the professional
hockey players. They see the players picking up the puck on the
blade of their stick, to hand it to the referee for example, and
try to do the same but the pick-up is difficult to learn.
[0005] To normally pick up the puck, a player places the front of
the blade of his stick flat on the top of the puck on the ice. He
then applies pressure to one side of the puck with the edge of the
blade on that side to tip the puck up on its side. From its on-side
position, with the blade now positioned flat against a flat side of
the puck, the blade is moved against the puck while rotating the
blade up to a horizontal position. This movement lands the puck
flat on top of the blade. It is difficult for a young player to get
a feel for the amount of pressure to be applied, and where and how
the pressure should be applied, on the puck with the stick to tilt
the puck onto its side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The practice puck of the present invention is designed to
make it easier for the player to get a feel for the correct
pressure point and the amount of pressure needed to tilt the puck
onto its side. The puck is designed to have an overhang past the
pivot edge of the puck making it much easier to tilt the puck about
the pivot edge onto its side. The overhang is achieved providing
the puck with a cylindrical top portion and a bottom portion that
lies within the perimeter of the top portion. The bottom portion
can be cylindrical and concentric within the top portion. The
bottom outer edge of the lower portion forms a bottom pivot edge
and the bottom outer edge of the top portion forms a top pivot
edge. It will be seen that the outer part of the top portion
overhangs the bottom portion. Pressing down on the outer part of
the top portion of the puck with the blade of a stick readily tilts
it about the bottom pivot edge on the lower portion of the puck.
The puck tilts till it abuts on the top pivot edge formed by the
top portion of the puck. Continued pressure on the outer part of
the top portion with the blade will further tilt the puck on its
top pivot edge until the puck is on its side. Once a young player
has practiced with the practice puck to build a feel for the amount
of, and the location of, the pressure to be applied, he can more
easily and quickly learn to pick up a regular puck.
[0007] The invention is particularly directed toward a practice
hockey puck having a cylindrical top portion and a bottom portion.
The top portion has a top, circular surface and a top, cylindrical,
side surface extending down from the outer perimeter of the top
surface. The top portion is between three-eighths and five-eighths
the thickness of the puck. The bottom portion has a bottom surface
parallel to the top surface with the outer perimeter of the bottom
surface spaced inwardly of the outer perimeter of the top surface.
The bottom portion also has a bottom, side surface joining the
outer perimeter of the bottom surface with the bottom edge of the
top cylindrical side surface. The connection between the bottom,
side surface and the top, cylindrical, side surface forms a top
pivot edge for the puck while the connection between the bottom,
side surface and the bottom surface forms a bottom pivot edge for
the puck located below and inwardly of the top pivot edge.
DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing where pressure is applied
to a regular puck to tip it onto its side;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the puck moving onto its
side;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the on-side puck being
rotated by the blade;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows the puck flat on the blade of the stick;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a practice puck;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing where pressure is
initially applied to the practice puck;
[0014] FIG. 7 shows the puck at a further pressure applying
stage;
[0015] FIG. 8 shows the practice puck on its side;
[0016] FIG. 9 shows a modification of the practice puck;
[0017] FIG. 10 shows the puck of FIG. 9 tilted;
[0018] FIG. 11 shows another modification of the practice puck;
[0019] FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the puck shown in FIG.
11;
[0020] FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of another modified practice
puck; and
[0021] FIG. 14 shows a bottom view of yet another modified practice
puck.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] In the prior art, an ordinary hockey puck 1, as shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4, is a cylindrical disk three inches in diameter and
one inch thick having a top circular surface 3 and a parallel
bottom circular surface 5. A cylindrical side surface 7 joins the
top and bottom surfaces 3, 5. To pick up the puck lying on the ice
`I` with his hockey stick, a player first places the front of the
blade 9 of his stick flat on the top surface 3 of the of the puck.
Through the handle of the stick, the player then applies pressure,
as shown by the arrow `A`, through one side 11 of the blade 9 to
the top of the puck adjacent its top edge 13 as shown in FIG. 1.
The pressure is applied mainly downwardly but also slightly
outwardly in a manner tending to rotate the puck about its bottom
edge 15, as shown in FIG. 2, to sit on its side surface 7 with the
blade 9 now vertical and still adjacent the top surface 3 of the
puck as shown in FIG. 3. The blade 9 of the stick is then used to
sweep the upstanding puck up while rotating the blade to a
horizontal position. The puck is swept up as shown by the arrow B
in FIG. 3. with pressure applied against the bottom of the puck by
the edge 11. The blade 9 carries the puck to a horizontal position
resting flat on the blade 9, the blade now upside down from its
initial position. The sequence shown through FIGS. 1-4 occurs in
one fluid motion.
[0023] The manner of applying pressure with the blade of the stick
to a puck lying on the ice to rotate it upright is difficult to
learn. To help a young player learn, a practice puck is provided
having a construction making it easier to rotate the puck from a
flat position on the ice onto its side using a hockey stick blade.
The practice puck is provided with a first bottom pivot edge
located inwardly of the side of the puck. The puck has an overhang
outwardly of the bottom pivot edge. The overhang makes it easier to
initially tilt the puck about the bottom pivot edge with the blade
of the stick applying pressure to the top surface of the puck
adjacent its side. This pressure is applied outwardly of the bottom
pivot edge making it easy to tilt the puck. The puck is first
tilted about the bottom pivot edge until a top pivot edge, provide
by the overhang and located above and outwardly of the bottom pivot
edge, touches the ice. The application of pressure is continued
with the blade to now continue tilting the puck about the top pivot
edge until the puck is upright on its side. The pressure applied is
still outwardly of the top pivot edge making it easy to continue
tilting the puck to an upright position.
[0024] In more detail, the practice hockey puck 101 of the present
invention, as shown in FIG. 5 is in the shape of a modified
cylindrical disk and has a top portion 103 and a bottom portion
105. The top portion 103 has a thickness ranging from about
three-eighths to five-eighths the thickness of the puck.
Preferably, the top portion is about half the thickness of the
puck. The top portion 103 is cylindrical in shape and has a
circular top surface 107 and a circular bottom 109. A cylindrical
top side surface 111 joins the top surface 107 and the bottom 109.
The bottom portion 105 has the shape of an inverted,
right-truncated, cone and has a circular bottom surface 113,
parallel to the top surface 107, a larger circular top 115, and an
angled bottom side surface 117 joining the bottom surface 113 and
the top 115 of the bottom portion 105. The top 115 of the bottom
portion 105 is the same size as the bottom 109 of the top portion
103 and is integral with it. The bottom surface 113 obviously has a
smaller perimeter than the perimeter of the top surface 107 and is
centrally located with respect to the top surface. The bottom side
surface 117 extends at an angle to the bottom surface 113 at around
forty five degrees but the angle can range between thirty and sixty
degrees, the lower range normally being used when the top portion
is around five-eighths the thickness of the puck and the upper
range normally being used when the top portion is around
three-eighths the thickness of the puck.
[0025] The joint between the bottom surface 113 of the bottom
portion 105 and the angled bottom side surface 117 forms a bottom
pivot edge 121. The joint between the angled bottom side surface
117 and the cylindrical top side surface 111 of the top portion
forms a top pivot edge 123. The angled side surface 117 forms an
undercut 125 in the lower outer portion of the puck leaving an
overhanging portion 127 over the undercut 125 formed by a upper,
outer portion of the puck. The bottom pivot edge 121 is spaced
inwardly, and downwardly, of the top pivot edge 123.
[0026] In using the practice puck 101, with the puck flat on the
ice `I` on the bottom surface 113 of its bottom portion 105, the
player places the blade 131 of his hockey stick flat on the top
surface 107 of the puck, as shown in FIG. 6 and with an edge 133 of
the blade 131 presses down on the puck adjacent its side surface
111 as shown by the arrow `C`. The pressure is applied by the edge
133 of the blade on the overhanging portion 127 of the puck which
lies outside of the bottom pivot edge 121 causing the puck to
easily tilt about the bottom pivot edge 121 onto the angled surface
117 as shown in FIG. 7. In this position the puck is already half
upright. Continued pressure by the edge 133 of the blade 131 on the
puck adjacent its side surface 111 causes the puck to easily
continue pivoting upright about the top pivot edge 123 until it
rests on its side surface 111 as shown in FIG. 8. The downward
pressure applied by the edge 133 of the hockey stick, as shown by
the arrow `D`, is at or just outside the top pivot edge 123 making
the puck pivot easily upright.
[0027] Once on its side surface 111, the player can then sweep the
puck sideways and up with the blade of the stick as shown by the
arrow `E`, in FIG. 8, to complete the pick-up in the same manner
the regular puck is picked up as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. After a
player practices with the practice puck 101 he gets a feel for the
manner in which, and where, the pressure must be applied to tilt
the puck upright and he can transfer this feel to tilting a regular
pick upright.
[0028] The practice puck can have different shapes to provide the
undercut and overhanging portion. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the
practice puck 201 can have a modified cylindrical shape with a
cylindrical top portion 203 and a smaller cylindrical bottom
portion 205. Again, the top portion 203 has a thickness ranging
between three-eighths and five-eighths the thickness of the puck
but preferably around one half the thickness of the puck. The
bottom portion 205 is concentric within the top portion 203. The
top portion 203 has a top circular surface 207 and a bottom,
annular surface 209 joined by a top, cylindrical side surface 211.
The bottom portion 205 has a circular top 213 and a bottom circular
surface 215 joined by a bottom side surface 216. The bottom side
surface 216 comprises a cylindrical, side surface portion 217
joining the top 213 and bottom surface 215 and the annular bottom
surface 209 of the top portion 203. The top 213 of the bottom
portion 205 is integral with the top portion 203.
[0029] The practice puck 201 has an undercut 219 about its lower,
outer portion and an overhang 221 about its upper portion over the
undercut 219. The joint between the cylindrical side surface
portion 217 of the bottom side surface 216, and the bottom surface
213 in the bottom portion 205 forms a bottom pivot edge 223 while
the joint between the top side surface 211 and the annular surface
209 of the top portion 203, forming part of the bottom side surface
216, forms a top pivot edge 225. As with the puck 101, a blade 231
of a hockey stick is laid flat on the top 203 of the puck and
pressure is applied along one edge 233 of the blade as shown by the
arrow `F` to tilt the puck first about the bottom pivot edge 223
until the top pivot edge 225 hits the ice I, and then about the top
pivot edge 225, as shown in FIG. 10, until the puck rests on its
top side surface 211. The pressure is applied on the overhang 221
outside of the bottom and top pivot edges 223, 225 to make it easy
to move the puck to an upright position.
[0030] The bottom cylindrical portion 205 of the practice puck 201
could be replaced with a bottom cylindrical ring portion, as shown
in FIGS. 11 and 12, to provide a practice puck 301. The puck 301
has a top cylindrical portion 303 and a bottom ring portion 305.
The ring portion 305 is smaller in diameter than the top
cylindrical portion 303 but concentric within it. The top
cylindrical portion 303 has a top circular surface 309, a bottom
circular surface 311 and a top, cylindrical side surface 313
joining the top and bottom surfaces 309, 311. The ring portion 305
has a top ring surface 325 and a bottom ring surface 327. The top
ring surface 325 is integral with the bottom surface 311 of the
cylindrical top portion 303. A bottom side surface 328 comprising a
bottom, outer, cylindrical surface portion 329 joining top and
bottom ring surfaces 325, 327, and an annular outer portion 330 of
bottom surface 311, connects the outer edge of the bottom ring
surface 327 with the bottom edge of the top side surface 313. A
bottom, inner cylindrical surface 331 connects the inner edges of
the top and bottom ring surfaces 325, 327 together. A bottom pivot
edge 335, where the bottom side surface 328 joins the outer edge of
the bottom ring surface 327, is provided about which the puck 301
can be initially pivoted by an edge of the blade. A top pivot edge
337, spaced above and outwardly of the bottom pivot edge 335, is
provided where the top side surface 313 joins the bottom side
surface 328. The puck 301 has a cylindrical undercut 341 in its
lower outer portion with a cylindrical overhang 343 in its upper
outer portion overhanging the undercut 341.
[0031] If desired, the ring portion 305' could be discontinuous
composed of ring segments 345 as shown in FIG. 13. A discontinuous
ring portion 305'' could instead be provided with a ring of small
protuberances such as small cylindrical posts 347 as shown in FIG.
14. The posts 347 project from the bottom surface 311' of the top
cylindrical portion 303'. The outer peripheral portion 349 of the
posts 347 form a bottom, discontinuous, cylindrical side surface
portion 329''. The bottom of the side surface portion 329'' forms
the bottom pivot edge 335'' on the ring portion 305''.
[0032] It will be obvious that other shapes or forms could be
provided for the bottom portion of the puck. The bottom portion
could, for example, be octagonal or hexagonal in shape. The only
criteria for the bottom portion is that it must be smaller than the
top portion, generally centered with respect to the top portion and
provide a bottom pivot edge located within the outer diameter of
the cylindrical top portion of the puck. The bottom side surface
(117, 216) joining the bottom surface of the bottom portion of the
puck to the top cylindrical side surface of the top portion of the
puck can have other shapes as well. The bottom side surface could
have a curved cross-section for example, curving gradually up and
out from the outer edge of the bottom surface of the bottom portion
to the bottom edge of the top, cylindrical, side surface. It could
also angle up and out from the outer edge of the bottom surface to
the bottom surface of the top portion, and then continue outwardly
to the bottom edge of the top, side surface.
[0033] If desired, the top surface of the top portion of the puck
could be roughened to make it easier for the edge of the blade to
grip the top surface to apply pressure to the puck to tilt it with
less chance of slipping.
* * * * *