Hockey puck collection apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus of use in the collection and storage of hockey pucks from an ice surface, the apparatus having a storage facility, such as a bag having a puck entry aperture; aperture door adjacent the entry aperture wherein the door is (i) in a static position as to prevent stored pucks in the bag from exiting through the entry aperture, and (ii) operably displaceable by a moving puck to allow entry of the puck into the bag through the entry aperture and wherein the door is returnable to the static position after passage of the puck into the bag; and handle means connected to the bag by which the apparatus may be moved along on or lifted from the ice surface. The apparatus provides improved convenience to a person in picking up hockey pucks from the ice surface.

1 . Apparatus of use in the collection and storage of hockey pucks from an ice surface, said apparatus comprising 
 (a) storage means having a puck entry aperture;    (b) aperture closure means adjacent said entry aperture wherein said aperture closure means is (i) in a static position as to prevent stored pucks in said storage means from exiting through said entry aperture, and (ii) operably displaceable by a moving puck to allow entry of said puck into said storage means through said entry aperture and wherein said closure means is returnable to said static position after passage of said puck into said storage means; and    (c) handle means connected to said storage means by which said apparatus may be operably moved along on or lifted from said ice surface.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said handle means comprises an elongate member.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein said elongate member comprises telescopic tube means.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said handle means comprises a fitting member so shaped and adapted to operably receive an end of a hockey stick whereby manually pushing the stick moves the apparatus along the ice surface.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 4  wherein said fitting member comprises a hollow member defining a chamber adapted to receive the upper end portion of a hockey stick.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 4  wherein said fitting member comprises a hockey stick blade-receiving slot.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said handle means is swivelably mounted to said storage means.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 4  wherein said fitting member is operably rotatable in the horizontal plane on the top of said storage means parallel to the surface of the ice.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said handle means is connected at a forward portion adjacent said puck entry aperture to said storage means.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said closure means comprises a displaceable, rigid, planar member.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said closure means comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a plastics material, rubber, fabric and wood.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said closure means comprises flexible sheet means.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 12  comprising a single sheet.  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 12  comprising a plurality of vertical strips.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 12  wherein said closure means comprises a plastics or rubber material.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said storage means comprises a sealed bag formed of canvas, cloth or a flexible plastics material.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as defined in any  claim 1  wherein said storage means comprises a net, mesh or the like.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein 
 (a) said planar member has a vertical inner face;    (b) said storage means has an upper inner surface operably contactable by said inner face; and    (c) each of said inner face and said upper inner surface have portions having complementary engageable and disengageable, retaining means affixed thereto, whereby said planar member is releasably retained to said upper surface of said storage means to maintain said entry aperture open.    
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 18  wherein said retaining means comprises fiber engaging means.  
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said puck entry aperture at a lower part is adjacent a bottom member, extending the width of said aperture, said member having a height which defines said aperture to be less in height than said aperture closure means.  
   
   
       21 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 20  wherein said bottom member extends outwardly from said aperture along the ice and is tapered as to define an incline from said ice to said aperture.  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 20  wherein said bottom member prevents said closure means from being displaced from the vertical plane away from said aperture.  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said closure means comprises a rectangular frame connected to said storage means and defining said puck entry aperture.  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 23  wherein said frame has an elongate bottom member extending the width of said frame.  
   
   
       25 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 23  wherein said frame is formed of aluminum.  
   
   
       26 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 20  wherein said bottom member is formed of a rigid plastics material.