Ice Rink Safety System and Methods of Use

Abstract

The present invention discloses an Ice rink dasher board assembly configured to absorb an Impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize a possibility of injury. The system includes an anchor with a first vertical support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, with the first end coupled to the anchor. The system also Includes a horizontal support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, with the first end of the horizontal support coupled to the second end of the first vertical support. The system also includes a second vertical support having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second vertical support is coupled to the second end of the horizontal support, and wherein the second end of the second vertical support is coupled to the dasher board assembly.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an anchor fixed to a surface;   a first vertical support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the first vertical support is coupled to the anchor;   a horizontal support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the horizontal support is coupled to the second end of the first vertical support; and   a second vertical support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the second vertical support is coupled to the second end of the horizontal support, wherein the second end of the second vertical support is configured to be coupled to a dasher board assembly, and wherein the dasher board assembly is configured to move with respect to the first vertical support to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize a possibility of injury to the human.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more biasing and impact force absorbing devices positioned between the dasher board assembly and the first vertical support.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more biasing and impact force absorbing devices are coupled to one or more of the first vertical support and the dasher board assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the bias and impact force absorbing devices are selected from the group consisting of telescoping tubes, foam, gel, and compression springs. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dasher board assembly includes a bottom surface coated with or operatively connected to a low friction material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface is selected from the group consisting 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 a sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene or acetal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface has a μs of about 0.1 or less with respect to ice that is dry. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface has a μs of 0.05 or less with respect to ice that is dry. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface engages ice and the dasher board assembly slides substantially only horizontally with respect to the ice when impacted by the human. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface engages and slides on a surface selected from the group consisting of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertical support is rigid, and wherein the second vertical support is not rigid. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second vertical support comprises a cable. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second vertical support comprises a torsion spring. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second vertical support comprises a combination cable and torsion spring. 
     
     
         15 . A method of protecting human participant safety in a rink or arena by providing around an exterior of a playing or use surface of a rink or arena the system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a vertical support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the vertical support is configured to be coupled to a ceiling structure of an ice arena, and wherein the second end of the vertical support is configured to be coupled to a dasher board assembly, and wherein the dasher board assembly is configured to move with respect to the first end of the vertical support to absorb an impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize a possibility of injury to the human.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the dasher board assembly includes a bottom surface coated with or operatively connected to a low friction material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom surface is selected from the group consisting 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 a sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene or acetal. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom surface has a μs of about 0.1 or less with respect to ice that is dry. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom surface has a μs of 0.05 or less with respect to ice that is dry. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom surface engages ice and the dasher board assembly slides substantially only horizontally with respect to the ice when impacted by the human. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom surface engages and slides on a surface selected from the group consisting of steel, acetal, and polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the vertical support comprises a cable. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the vertical support comprises a torsion spring. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the vertical support comprises a combination cable and torsion spring. 
     
     
         26 . A method of protecting human participant safety in a rink or arena by providing around an exterior of a playing or use surface of a rink or arena the system of  claim 16 .