Hockey training apparatus

Abstract

A hockey training arrangement comprises a hockey practice puck, having a configuration and density substantially equivalent to a conventional puck, with an array of relatively small glide shoes on the lower face of the puck, such as steel bearings partly recessed into the lower face of the puck, in association with a low-friction practice pad. The glide shoes elevate the puck above a play surface, to substantially reduce the coefficient of friction of the puck on the surface, permitting emulation of a puck gliding on an ice surface. The arrangement permits a player to hone his hockey skills in his home or any other location where a hockey rink is not available. Alternatively, a ringette ring incorporating similar glides shoes may be used in association with the pad.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hockey puck for use on a smooth non-ice surface, said puck having a generally cylindrical configuration with substantially flat upper and lower faces with an array of apertures extending between said faces and an array of glide shoes protruding from at least said lower face for supporting said puck on said non-ice surface, each of said glide shoes comprising an elongate pin extending through said aperture.  
     
     
         2 . A hockey puck as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said pins comprise a self-lubricating plastic.  
     
     
         3 . A puck as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said pins protrude from said upper and lower faces by between {fraction (1/32)} and ¼ inch.  
     
     
         4 . A system comprising hockey puck as defined in  claim 1 , in combination with a portable, stowable pad for practicing of hockey stick handling, said pad comprising a smooth and slippery material wherein the coefficient of friction between said puck and said pad is less than or approximately equal to the coefficient of friction between a conventional hockey puck and a smooth ice surface at a temperature range of between about 10° C. and −5° C.  
     
     
         5 . A system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said pad comprises HDPE.  
     
     
         6 . A system comprising a hockey puck having substantially flat upper and lower faces, with an array of glide shoes on at least one of said upper and lower faces for elevating said face above a play surface and substantially reducing the coefficient of friction of said puck on a surface; a portable, stowable pad having a smooth and low friction upper surface, and user instructions in the form of written or graphic instructions, a video or computer-readable information, said instructions describing a procedure in which said pad is positioned on a flat surface, said puck is positioned on said pad with said glide shoes resting on said pad, and said puck is manipulated by a player in a rapid side-to-side movement with a hockey stick in a manner emulating the side-to-side stick handling procedures generally employed in a game of ice hockey.  
     
     
         7 . A system as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising at least one upstanding pylon, said instructions further describing a hockey practice method comprising placing said at least one pylon on said pad and manipulating said puck around said pylon.  
     
     
         8 . A system as defined in  claim 6 , further describing a multi-player game, in which two or more players either pass a puck between themselves on a cooperative basis emulating a situation in which all of said players are on the same team, or a game in which a first player attempts to steal the puck from a second player emulating a situation in which players are on opposing teams.  
     
     
         9 . A system comprising in combination a hockey puck having a generally cylindrical configuration with a substantially flat upper and lower faces, having on said lower face an array of glide shoes for supporting said puck on a surface, said glide shoes together having a ground contact area which is minimal compared with that of said lower face to substantially reduce the coefficient of friction of said puck when said puck is supported on said glide shoes on a smooth and flat play surface, and a pad having a flat, smooth upper surface, said pad being portable and stowable, at least one of said glide shoes or said pad comprising a self-lubricating plastic for reducing the coefficient of friction between said glide shoes and said pad to less than or generally equal to the coefficient of friction of a conventional hockey puck on a smooth ice surface at a temperature range of between 10° C. and −5° C.  
     
     
         10 . A system as defined in  claim 9  wherein both of said pad and said glide shoes comprise self-lubricating plastic.  
     
     
         11 . A system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said pad comprises HDPE.  
     
     
         12 . A system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said glide shoes comprise Nylon(™).  
     
     
         13 . A system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said glide shoes comprise an array of pins extending through said puck between said upper and lower faces and protruding from said upper and lower surfaces.  
     
     
         14 . A portable and stowable hockey practice surface comprising at least two pads each having a flat and smooth upper surface, said pads each having apertures adjacent the peripheral sides thereof, and at least one fastening clip for joining said two or more pads together in a tight side-by-side array, said at least one clip comprising a plate-like base having at least two pegs protruding therefrom, said pegs for friction fitting within said apertures.  
     
     
         15 . A surface as defined in  claim 14 , comprising at least one clip having only two pegs for fastening together two pads in side-by-side relation.  
     
     
         16 . A surface as defined in  claim 14 , comprising at least one four peg clip having four pegs in a rectangular array for fastening together four pads in a side-by-side planar relation, said pads each having an aperture adjacent a corner thereof and said four peg clip being for friction fitting within four of said corner apertures.  
     
     
         17 . A surface as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said pegs are generally flush with said surface when installed.  
     
     
         18 . A surface defined in  claim 14 , further comprising at least one removable pylon having a peg protruding from the base thereof, said surface further including at least one aperture for friction fitting of said pylon peg, for engaging said pylon to said surface.  
     
     
         19 . A portable and stowable hockey practice surface comprising a pad having a smooth and slippery upper surface, and a bumper along one side of said pad for reflecting a hockey puck, said bumper comprising a resilient, elastomeric material.  
     
     
         20 . A surface as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said bumper is releasably joined to said surface.  
     
     
         21 . A surface as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said bumper is substantially straight.  
     
     
         22 . A surface as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said bumper is curved.  
     
     
         23 . A surface as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the curvature of said bumper is essentially semi-circular.  
     
     
         24 . A surface as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the curvature of said bumper is generally a hyperbola.  
     
     
         25 . A surface as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the curvature of said bumper is generally a parabola.  
     
     
         26 . A surface as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising a visible marker on said pad for indicating a position of said puck on said pad wherein shooting of said puck from said position against said bumper will return said puck to generally its starting position.