Rink safety system and procedure

Abstract

A movable dasher board system optimizes user safety in a hockey rink or similar arena. A bottom structure, provided by a sliding bottom surface or roller assembly, has low friction characteristics, typically a μ s of 0.05 or less with respect to ice if a sliding surface, or if roller bearings an effective coefficient of rolling friction 0.04 or less. A dasher board assembly is operatively connected to and extends upwardly from the bottom structure. Biasing and impact force absorbing devices (such as pneumatic or hydraulic or spring-encasing telescoping tubes, or foam, gel, or compression springs) bias the bottom structure and dasher board assembly to a desired position and absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human. The system may be installed in a pre-existing rink or other arena.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A movable dasher board system comprising: a bottom structure having low friction characteristics; a dasher board assembly operatively connected to and extending upwardly from the bottom structure; and biasing and impact force absorbing devices which bias the bottom structure and dasher board assembly to a desired position and upon movement of the bottom structure absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human. 
     
     
         2 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the bottom structure comprises a bottom surface that is of any suitable material that itself has low friction characteristics, or the bottom surface is coated with or operatively connected to a low friction material. 
     
     
         3 . A system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the bottom surface is selected from the group consisting essentially of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene, or a metal coated on the bottom thereof with polytetrafluoroethylene or acetal, or operatively attached to a plate, block, or sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene or acetal. 
     
     
         4 . A system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the bottom surface has a μ s  of about 0.1 or less with respect to ice that is dry. 
     
     
         5 . A system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the bottom surface has a μ s  of 0.05 or less with respect to ice that is dry. 
     
     
         6 . A system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the bottom surface engages ice and the dasher board assembly slides substantially only horizontally with respect to the ice when impacted by a human, and under the bias of the bias and impact force absorbing devices. 
     
     
         7 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said bottom structure low friction characteristics are provided by a plurality of rollers 
     
     
         8 . A system as recited in  claim 7  wherein said rollers provide an effective coefficient of rolling friction 0.04 or less. 
     
     
         9 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the bias and impact force absorbing devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of telescoping tubes, foam, gel, and compression springs. 
     
     
         10 . A system as recited in  claim 3  wherein the bias and impact force absorbing devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of telescoping tubes, foam, gel, and compression springs. 
     
     
         11 . A system as recited in  claim 7  wherein the bias and impact force absorbing devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of telescoping tubes, foam, gel, and compression springs. 
     
     
         12 . A system as recited in  claim 1  installed in a pre-existing hockey rink and taking up a volume around the interior periphery of the pre-existing hockey rink. 
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claims 1  wherein the bottom structure engages and slides or rolls on a surface selected from the group consisting essentially of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         14 . A movable dasher board system comprising: a mounting frame having upper and bottom structures having low friction characteristics; a dasher board assembly operatively connected to said mounting frame; and biasing and impact force absorbing devices which bias the mounting frame and dasher board assembly to a desired position and upon movement of the frame absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human. 
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said upper and bottom structures comprise sets of rollers which provide an effective coefficient of rolling friction 0.04 or less. 
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said upper and bottom structures comprise sliding elements having a μ s  of about 0.1 or less on the surfaces on which they slide. 
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 15  wherein said rollers roll in channels of metal or plastic. 
     
     
         18 . A system as recited in  claim 16  wherein said sliding elements slide in channels of metal or plastic. 
     
     
         19 . A system as recited in  claim 14  wherein the bias and impact force absorbing devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of telescoping tubes, foam, gel, and compression springs. 
     
     
         20 . A method of protecting human participant safety in a rink or arena by providing around the exterior of the playing or use surface of the rink or arena a movable dasher board system including a bottom structure having low friction characteristics, a dasher board assembly operatively connected to the bottom structure, and biasing and impact force absorbing devices which bias the bottom structure and dasher board assembly to a desired position and upon movement of the bottom structure absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human.