Shielding panel removal and installation system for supportless dasher boards

Abstract

A semi-automatic shielding panel removal and installation system for supportless dasher board systems. A U-channel runs along the length of a dasher board for holding in place (by cam means) a shielding panel. The U-channel is divided into two portions; a fixed portion is mounted to the frame of the dasher board, and a movable portion is able to be lifted off of a stringer by an actuator device. During normal use of the dasher board system (i.e. during a hockey game), the cam means holds the shielding panel snugly within the U-channel portions. When it is desired to remove the panel, a motor-driven lifting device is pivotably attached to the movable portion of the U-channel and actuated. The movable portion of the U-channel is lifted vertically, thus lifting the panel out of and away from the fixed portion of the U-channel. When the top portion of the dasher board has been cleared, the U-channel is rotated by 90 degrees so the panel may be slid out and loaded onto a skid or other storage means. The reinstallation process of the panel is the reverse of the removal process.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.