Monolithic Dasher-board For Skating Rinks

Abstract

A dasher-board for skating rinks made entirely of fiberglass and having a smooth front portion with an integrally formed boarder and a plurality of bolsters to provide rigidity. One of the vertical portions of the boarder has a tongue and the other a groove for mating with adjacent boards. The lower section of the front portion is reinforced with extra fiberglass to enable it to withstand the force of hockey pucks, skates and the like.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of my Application Ser. No. 276,948 filed Aug. 1, 1972, now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heretofore the boarder or dasher-boards as they are more commonly called surrounding skating rinks have been constructed of wood and usually comprise a plurality of parallel spaced apart wooden strips, generally 2 inches by 4 inches in thickness and width and maintained in this spatial relationship by wooden strips of similar dimensions secured to the ends of the parallel strips. A plywood sheet is then secured to both the parallel and end strips to form a panel or dasher-board which is then supported in its vertical upright position by means of wooden braces extending from the upper portion of the panel to the floor a distance from the bottom portion of the panel. A plurality of these panels, each generally 8 to 10 feet in length, would be secured together end on end around the skating rink.

The problems encountered with the aforementioned wooden dasher-boards include the expense of construction and installation as well as the expense of maintaining them. The maintenance expense is extremely high due to the fact they are constructed of wood and nailed together. As a result of the generally wet conditions which prevail around skating rinks, the wood becomes soggy and damp resulting in easy splintering and general deterioration when struck by hockey pucks, sharp edges of ice skates, etc. The conventional wooden dasher-boards require replacement or repair within 4 and 5 years depending upon the quality of the wood used and the painting maintenance, if any, they receive.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned deficiencies and other drawbacks by providing a dasher-board having a more attractive appearance and made entirely of a polyester resinous material reinforced with fiberglass which is almost proof against weathering deterioration and which can be mass produced, installed, and maintained at a much lower cost than wooden dasher-boards. In addition, should one of the sections become damaged, it can be replaced or repaired easily and at nominal expense.

Further, the dasher-board of the present invention is made entirely of fiberglass and polyester resinous material in a manner to be at least equal in strength to the conventional wooden dasher-boards but which has a degree of resiliency which greatly reduces damage caused by blows from hockey pucks, skates, and skaters falling against it. The dasher-board of the present invention also permits color variety by including pigmentation in the integral board rather than by surface coating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The dasher-board of the present invention is constructed entirely of fiberglass and polyester resinous material and consists of a substantially rectangular, flat, rigid panel having an upper and lower marginal edge portion extending outwardly from the top and bottom edges of the panel when viewed in its vertical upright position. A marginal edge portion also extends outwardly from each side edge adjacent the upper and lower marginal edges to form a continuous and homogeneous reinforcing flange around the panel. One of the marginal edge portions extending from the sides of the panel has a groove formed therein and the opposite marginal edge portion has a tongue formed thereon to enable a plurality of the panels to be locked together to form a wall around the skating rink.

For added rigidity and strength, spaced apart bolsters are provided which are formed on the back of the panel and which extend between the upper and lower marginal edge portions. Gussets may also be integrally formed with the bolsters and the lower marginal edge portion for increased rigidity. An additional thickness of fiberglass and polyester resinous material is provided along the lower portion of the panel to absorb the impact of hockey pucks, skates and the like which strike the panel at that level. A groove is also integrally formed along the outside surface of the upper marginal edge portion to retain a plexi-glass spectator shield.

A door panel is also disclosed having a rugged hinge and locking arrangement. This door panel is the same in size and general construction as the plain panel previously mentioned which enables its installation at any location where a plain panel would have been used. The plain and door panels of the present invention can be made to any height or length or of any radius to meet the size and shape requirements of the skating rink.

Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a dasher-board section of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the dasher-board taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dasher-board taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective of a fragmentary portion showing the spectator shield and bracket.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the end portions of adjacent dasher-boards.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a dasher-board having a door section.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the dasher-board door section taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the dasher-board door section taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view of another embodiment of the dasher-board of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the dasher-board of FIG. 9 in joined relationship.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 5, numeral 10 indicates generally the dasher-board of the present invention. The dasher-board 10 is made entirely of a polyester resinous material reinforced with fiberglass and comprises a smooth planar front portion 12. A continuous and homogeneous reinforcing flange extends around the periphery of the front portion 12 and is formed integrally with it to provide rigidity and prevent flexing of the front panel 12. The reinforcing flange comprises an upper edge portion 14 and a lower edge portion 16 and first and second marginal edge portions 18 and 20, respectively.

The first marginal edge portion 18 has a tongue 22 formed in it which mates with a groove 24 formed in the second marginal edge portion 20. The tongue 22 and groove 24, when mated with adjacent dasher-boards, give true and rigid alignment to the dasher-boards. The tongue 22 has tapered side portions 26 which mate with the tapered side portions 28 of groove 24 to facilitate assembling and removal of the dasher-boards. The tongue 22 and groove 24 also have a plurality of holes 30 therethrough for securing the dasher-boards together by means of bolts 32. The lower edge portion 16 also has reinforcing pads 34 made of the aforementioned resinous material formed integrally therewith. The pads 34 have holes 36 therethrough for securing the dasher-board to the floor of the skating rink (not shown) by means of bolts 38.

The front portion 12 has a plurality of spaced apart triangular-shaped tubular bolster members 40 which are integrally formed with inner surface 42 and the front portion 12 and which are made of the same resinous material. The bolster members 40 extend from the bottom of upper edge portion 14 to the top of lower edge portion 16. The bolster members 40 may be hollow or may be filled with wood or like substance to add rigidity to the front portion 12 as well as strength to withstand the impact of skaters, hockey sticks, and the like. If increased strength is desired, gussets 44 may be integrally formed of said resinous material with the bolster members 40 and the lower edge portion 16.

Additional reinforcing means 46 is provided on the inner surface 42 of the front portion 12 to absorb the impact of hockey pucks, hockey sticks, ice skates and the like. The reinforcing means 46 consists of an additional thickness or several layers of the resinous material and is also integrally formed with the front portion 12. The reinforcing means 46 extends from the outer periphery of the front portion 12 to a distance of approximately 8 to 12 inches above the periphery.

The upper edge portion 14 has integrally formed therein a recess 48 which extends substantially the length of the upper edge portion 14. The recess 48 holds a spectator shield 50 made of plexi-glass or other transparent shatterproof material. Spectator shields 50 of adjacent dasher-boards are held in the vertical upright position by means of an H-shaped support member 52 which has a depending flange 54 which is S-shaped and which extends between the mated tongue 22 and groove 24. The flange 54 is secured against removal by means of the bolt 32 extending through the uppermost holes 30 through the tongue 22 and groove 24. The spectator shield 50 is supported by the support member 52 as shown in FIG. 5.

A plurality of triangular-shaped brackets 56 are also provided which serve to both position the dasher-board vertically or at a right angle with the floor of the skating rink and to furnish added support for the dasher-board in the event it receives a severe impact from a moving or falling skater, etc. The bracket 56 comprises a vertical upstanding member 58 and an additional member 60 depending at an angle from member 58. A U-shaped member 62 is secured to the top of the upstanding member 58 by welding, for example, and has a threaded hole 64 containing a bolt 66. When installed in the dasher-board, see phantom lines in FIG. 3, the U-shaped member 62 supports the underside of upper edge portion 14 and is secured to the dasher-board by means of bolt 66 which is turned into frictional engagement with the inner surface 68 of the recess 48 and which in turn also forces the U-shaped member 62 into frictional engagement with inner surface 42. The upstanding member 58 and depending number 60 have the other end thereof secured by welding, for example, to a plate 70 which has a first hole 72 for mounting the plate 70 to the lower edge portion 16 and also to the floor of the skating rink, or the hole 72 may be mated with hole 36 and secured by means of bolt 38. The location of bracket 56 and the method of mounting it will depend upon where support of the dasher-board is felt to be needed. The plate 70 also has a threaded hole 74 containing a bolt 76, the threaded end of which engages the floor of the skating rink when the bracket 56 is in its installed position. The bolt 76 serves as a means of adjusting the dasher-board to its true or desired vertically upright position.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 9, a dasher-board door section is disclosed having a swingable door 78 constructed of the same resinous material as the aforementioned regular dasher-board and the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same elements. The door section has the same overall length and height as a regular plain dasher-board section and the same tongue 22 and groove 24 in the first and second marginal edge portions 18, 20, respectively, which enables it to be inserted wherever ingress and egress is desired to the skating rink. The upper edge portion 14 has a section 14a which forms the upper edge portion of the door 78. The door 78 also has a separate lower edge portion 80 and first and second side edge portions 82 and 84, respectively. The flange so formed by the upper edge portion 14a, the lower edge portion 80 and the first and second side edge portions 82, 84, respectively, provide the same rigidity to the door 78 as provided by the flange formed on the regular dasher-board section by corresponding elements. The lower edge portion 16 extends between the first marginal edge portion 18 and the second marginal portion 20 and below the separate lower edge portion 80 of the door 78. Bolsters 40 and gussets 44 are also integrally formed with the inner surface 42 and the respective upper and lower edge portions of the door 78 and the remainder of the dasher-board to provide additional strength.

The first side edge portion 82 of the door 78 is substantially Z-shaped and mates with a corresponding substantially Z-shaped side edge portion 86 extending between the upper edge portion 14 and the lower edge portion 16 when the door 78 is in its closed position. The second side edge portion 84 of the door 78 is flat as is the correspondingly opposite side edge portion 88 extending between the upper edge portion 14 and lower edge portion 16.

A hinge for enabling the door 78 to swing relative to the remainder of the dasher-board comprises first and second spaced apart axially aligned tubular members 90 and 92, respectively, and a third tubular member 94 located between, and axially aligned with, the first tubular member 90 and second tubular 92. The first and second tubular members 90, 92 each have a radially extending arm 96 secured thereto, which arm 96 is secured to the inner surface 42 of the door 78 by the aforementioned resinous material. The third tubular member 94 has two spaced apart radially extending arms 98 secured thereto, which arms 98 are secured to the inner surface 42 also by means of the aforementioned resinous material. The tubular members 90, 92 and 94 are maintained in axial alignment by means of a hinge pin 100 extending therethrough.

A spring loaded latch 102 having a normally extended bolt 104 is secured to the inner surface 42 of the door 78 by the aforementioned resinous material. The bolt 104 extends through the first side edge portion 82 and into engagement with a recess 106 formed in mating side edge portion 86 to maintain the door 78 in its closed position. A chain 108 is provided to facilitate withdrawal of the bolt 104 to open the door 78. The door 78 also has additional reinforcing means 46 extending in the vertical direction from the outer periphery of the front portion 12, a distance of approximately 8 to 12 inches above the periphery.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the dasher-board of the present invention wherein like numerals indicate elements similar to those shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 8. The overall construction of the dasher-board of FIGS. 9 and 10 is also essentially the same as that of FIGS. 1 through 8 there being a front portion 12 having a continuous and homogeneous reinforcing flange extending around the periphery of the front portion 12. The reinforcing flange comprises an upper edge portion 14 and a lower edge portion 16 and a first and second marginal edge portions 110 and 112, respectively.

First and second marginal edge portions 110, 112 each have an identical, substantially U-shaped groove 114 extending the length thereof. The grooves 114 are so located on the first and second marginal edge portions 110, 112 that when the marginal edge portion 110 of one dasher-board is adjacent the second marginal edge portion of a second dasher-board, the U-shaped grooves 114 are opposite each other and form a substantially rectangular-shaped recess 116 between the two adjacent dasher-boards.

A metal tubular member 118 having a hollow, rectangular-shaped interior is provided which fits in the U-shaped grooves 114 as best seen in FIG. 10. The tubular member 118 serves to align the dasher-boards such that the front portions 12 of adjacent dasher-boards are co-planar. The tubular member 118 also has a mounting plate 120 which has a hole 122 for mounting the plate 120 to the skating rink floor (not shown). The plate 120 also has a threaded hole 124 containing a bolt 126, the threaded end of which engages the rink floor when the tubular member 118 is in its installed position. The bolt 126 serves as a means of adjusting adjacent dasher-boards to their true or desired vertically upright position.

An H-shaped channel member 128 is provided which is positioned in the hollow interior of the tubular member 118 and extends a distance above the tubular member 118. Spectator shields 50 of adjacent dasher-boards are held in a vertical upright position by the channel members 128 and rest on the upper edge portion 14. Bolts 32 positioned in holes 30 serve to hold adjacent dasher-boards together. Additional reinforcing means 46 and triangular-shaped tubular bolsters 40 with or without gussets 44 are the same in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 8.

It is, of course, understood that either the regular dasher-board section or the dasher-board section having a door can be made having a curved configuration without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. In a dasher-board for skating rinks comprising:

a. a unitary panel member of polyester resinous material having fiberglass incorporated therein and forming a substantially flat front portion, said front portion having an upper and lower marginal edge portion extending outwardly therefrom and a first and second marginal edge portion extending outwardly from said front portion adjacent said upper and lower edge portions to form a continuous and homogeneous reinforcing flange around said front portion,

b. additional means adjacent said lower marginal edge portion to absorb the impact of hockey pucks and the like, said additional means being integrally formed with said front portion and made of said aforementioned material, and

c. channel means carried on said panel member for supporting a spectator shield.

2. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a. spaced rigid tubular bolsters of the same material as aforesaid formed in said front portion and extending between said upper and lower marginal edge portions, and

b. a tongue portion formed in said first marginal edge portion and a groove portion formed in said second marginal edge portion.

3. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 2 further comprising gussets of said aforementioned material integrally formed with said bolsters and said marginal edge portion.

4. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 2 wherein the groove in said first marginal edge portion and the tongue in said second marginal edge portion are tapered for easy assemblage with and removal from adjacent dasher-boards.

5. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 1 wherein said panel member has door means of said aforementioned material, said door means having hinge means supporting said door means for movement relative to said panel member and latch means for preventing said relative movement.

6. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 1 further comprising bracket means secured to said upper and lower marginal edge portions for maintaining said dasher-board in a vertical upright position.

7. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 6 wherein said bracket means is secured to said upper marginal edge portion by means of a U-shaped member secured to said bracket means, said U-shaped member having adjustable means for holding said bracket means in frictional engagement with said panel member and said upper marginal edge portion forming said recess.

8. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 5 wherein both said hinge means is secured to said door means and said panel member and said latch means is secured to said door means by said aforementioned material.

9. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 8 wherein said hinge means comprises first and second spaced apart axially aligned tubular members secured to said door means, a third tubular member located between and axially aligned with said first and second tubular members and secured to said panel member, and pin means through said first, second and third tubular members.

10. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 1 wherein a groove portion is formed on said first and second marginal edge portions.

11. In a dasher-board for skating rinks comprising:

a. a unitary panel member of polyester resinous material having fiberglass incorporated therein and forming a substantially flat front portion, said front portion having an upper and lower marginal edge portion extending outwardly therefrom and a first and second marginal edge portion extending outwardly from said front portion adjacent said upper and lower edge portions to form a continuous and homogeneous reinforcing flange around said front portion, and

b. means formed on said first and second marginal edge portions for joining said first and second marginal edge portions to a marginal edge portion of another dasher-board,

c. additional means adjacent said lower marginal edge portion to absorb the impact of hockey pucks and the like, said additional means being integrally formed with said front portion and made of said aforementioned material, and

d. spaced apart rigid bolsters of the same material as aforesaid extending between said upper and lower marginal edge portions, said bolsters being integrally formed with said front portion and said additional means.

12. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 10 further comprising:

a. tubular support means insertable in said groove portions for supporting said panel member in a vertical upright position,

b. spectator shield means located in an upright position adjacent said upper marginal edge portion, and

c. channel means positionable in said tubular support means for maintaining said spectator shield means in said upright position.

13. The dasher-board as set forth in claim 12 wherein said channel means is H-shaped in cross section.

14. A dasher board for skating rinks comprising:

a. a plurality of interconnected panel members, each of said panel members being made of polyester resinous material with fiberglass incorporated therein and having a substantially flat front portion, said front portion having an upper and lower marginal edge portion extending outwardly therefrom and a first and second marginal edge portion extending outwardly from said front portion adjacent said upper and lower edge portions to form a reinforcing flange around said front portion, groove means formed on at least one of said first and second marginal edge portions and additional means adjacent said lower marginal edge portion to absorb the impact of hockey pucks and the like, said additional means being integrally formed with said front portion and made of said aforementioned material,

b. means carried by said groove means for supporting a spectator shield adjacent said upper marginal edge portion, and

c. means for securing said first and second marginal edge portions of adjacent panel members together to form said dasher board.

15. A dasher board as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said panel members has a groove formed on said first and second marginal edge portions and said support means for said spectator shield comprises tubular means positioned in said groove means of adjacent panel members. said tubular means further having channel means therein for maintaining said spectator shield in a vertical upright position adjacent said upper marginal edge portion.

16. A dasher board as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said panel members has a groove formed on said first marginal edge portion and a tongue formed on said second marginal edge portion, and said support means comprises a flange positioned in said groove, said flange having a channel means connected thereto for maintaining said spectator shield in a vertical position adjacent said upper marginal edge portion.