# US 2014/0196492 A1 · System and method for a portable ice skating rink > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196492 A1 - Document ID: US20140196492A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/743,538 - Filed: 2013-01-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-17 - Inventors: Brian Ruffino; Joseph Pinelli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196492A1 ## CPC - F25C 3/02: for ice rinks - Y10T 29/49623: Static structure, e.g., a building component - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A portable ice skating rink comprising, a flexible rubber sheet having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the second end thereby forming a sidewall, wherein the sidewall is positioned on a horizontal surface to form the border of a closed geometric shape thereby defining a skating surface area, and a flexible, water-proof slip draped over and connected to the sidewalls, thereby forming a liner of a structure capable of containing a liquid inward of the sidewalls to create a skating surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable ice skating rink comprising: a flexible rubber sheet having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the second end thereby forming a sidewall, wherein the sidewall is positioned on a horizontal surface to form the border of a closed geometric shape thereby defining a skating surface area, and a flexible, water-proof slip draped over and connected to the sidewalls, thereby forming a liner of a structure capable of containing a liquid inward of the sidewalls to create a skating surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable ice skating rink of claim 1, wherein a sidewall anchor block is attached to the sidewall and secured to the horizontal surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The portable ice skating rink of claim 2, wherein the sidewall anchor block is attached to the sidewall by sidewall anchor bolts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable ice skating rink of claim 1, wherein an interlocking mechanism having at least one connector, the connector being selected from the group consisting of a male connector and a female connector, the male connector being a projection from the flexible rubber sheet located at either the first end or the second end of the flexible rubber sheet, the female connector being a hole located at the opposite end of which the male connector is located on the flexible rubber sheet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The portable ice skating rink of claim 4, wherein the projection of the male connector has a narrow neck connecting the projection to the flexible rubber sheet and the hole of the female connector has a narrow throat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The portable ice skating rink of claim 1, further comprising placement holes capable of receiving the sidewall anchor bolt, wherein the placement holes are located proximate the bottom of the sidewall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable ice skating rink of claim 1, wherein the sidewall anchor block has a small hole capable of receiving the sidewall anchor bolt located proximate to the bottom of the sidewall anchor block. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The portable ice skating rink of claim 7, wherein, the sidewall anchor block is L-Shaped having a first front face, a first side face, a second side fact, a rear face, a bottom face, a first top surface and a second top surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The portable ice skating rink of claim 8, wherein a hole for receiving a sidewall anchor pin is located on the first top surface of the sidewall anchor block. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The portable ice skating rink of claim 1, wherein a sidewall anchor pin has a first end and a second end, the first end is operatively arranged to penetrate the horizontal surface and attached to the second end of the sidewall anchor pin is a circular flat head. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The portable ice skating rink of claim 1, wherein the post has a first end and a second end, the first end having a shape of a pin capable of penetrating the horizontal surface, the second end having a shape of a hook. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The portable ice skating rink of claim 11, wherein the hook of the second end of the post is capable of attaching to the sidewall and liner. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The portable ice skating rink of claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism of the sidewall comprises holes capable of receiving a bolt. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The portable ice skating rink of claim 1, wherein the liner is connected to the sidewall with a liner clip. ### Claim 15 A method of assembling a portable ice skating rink, the method comprising the steps of: placing posts at locations on a horizontal surface to establish a border of a closed geometric shape; wrapping a flexible rubber sheet having a first end and a second end around the posts thereby defining a skating surface area; connecting the first end of the flexible rubber sheet to the second end of the flexible rubber sheet thereby forming a sidewall; placing sidewall anchor blocks against the outside of the sidewall; securing the sidewall anchor blocks to the sidewall; securing the sidewall anchor blocks to the horizontal surface; removing the posts from the skating surface area; placing a flexible, water-proof slip on said horizontal surface over the closed geometric shape and extending beyond the sidewalls, thereby forming a liner of a structure capable of containing a liquid; securing the liner to the sidewall; placing the posts against the outside of said sidewall; placing a liquid within the structure; and freezing the liquid to create a skating surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of using an interlocking mechanism to connect the first end of the flexible rubber sheet to the second end of the flexible rubber sheet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of using bolts and nuts to connect the first end of the flexible rubber sheet to the second end of the flexible rubber sheet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of using sidewall anchor bolts placed through a placement hole located proximate the bottom of the sidewall and through a small hole located approximately to the bottom of a front surface and rear surface of the sidewall anchor block, thereby securing the sidewall anchor block to the sidewall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of placing a sidewall anchor pin through a hole located on a first top surface of the sidewall anchor block, thereby securing the sidewall anchor block to the horizontal surface.