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US 6,230,451 B1Granted
Ice skating rink structure
AssigneeSto-Cote Products, Inc.
InventorJames E. Stoller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ice skating rink structure comprising a plurality of boards and a plurality of brackets is provided. Each of the brackets has a U-shaped support for holding one or more of the boards and has at least one downward projection for insertion into the ground. The downward projection of the bracket is inserted into the ground and boards are placed within the U-shaped support such that the boards define the shape of an ice skating rink. A liner is placed inside of the ice skating rink and water is poured onto the liner and allowed to freeze and form an ice skating rink. By using boards with different heights, the present invention allows for the quick assembly of an ice skating rink on level or unlevel ground.
Claims36
An ice skating rink structure comprising:
- a plurality of boards;
- a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets having at least one downward projection for insertion into the ground and a generally U-shaped support for holding one or more of said boards, said downward projection also extending outwardly away from said U-shaped support at an acute angle to vertical;
- said downward projection being inserted into the ground and said boards being placed within said U-shaped support such that said boards define the perimeter of an ice skating rink.
An ice skating rink structure comprising:
- a plurality of boards;
- a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets having at least one downward projection for insertion into the ground and a receptacle for holding one or more boards, said downward projection also extending outwardly away from said receptacle at an acute angle to vertical;
- said downward projection being inserted into the ground and said boards being placed within said receptacles such that said boards define the perimeter of an ice skating rink.
An ice skating rink structure comprising:
- a plurality of boards;
- a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets comprising a generally U-shaped support, a base member extending from said U-shaped support, a downward projection extending from said base member and a bracing member coupling said U-shaped support to said base member;
- said downward projection also extending outwardly away from said U-shaped support at an acute angle to vertical, and said U-shaped support being adapted for holding one or more of said boards;
- said downward projection being inserted into the ground and said boards being placed within said U-shaped support such that said boards define the perimeter of an ice skating rink;
- and,
- a water impermeable liner laid within the perimeter of said ice skating rink.
3 more elements
A bracket for use in forming an ice skating rink structure, comprising:
- a U-shaped member for receiving a board;
- a base extending from said U-shaped member, said base comprising at least one downward projection for insertion into the ground, said downward projection also extending outwardly away from said U-shaped member at an acute angle to vertical when said base is horizontal;
- and
- a bracing member coupling said U-shaped support to said base member, such that the bracket may receive a board and hold it upright and be attached to said board through the outer vertical face of said board.
1 more element
The method of constructing an ice skating rink including the steps of:
- providing a plurality of boards;
- providing a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets having at least one downward projection and a receptacle for holding boards, said downward projection also extending outwardly away from said receptacle at an acute angle to vertical;
- inserting said downward projections of said brackets in the ground and placing at least one board in each of brackets within said receptacle to form a perimeter in the shape of an ice skating rink;
- placing a water impermeable liner within said perimeter and filling said perimeter with water and allowing said water to freeze within said perimeter.
1 more element
The method of constructing an ice skating rink including the steps of:
- providing a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets having at least one downward projection and a support member;
- providing a plurality of boards;
- inserting said downward projections of said brackets in the ground, placing at least one board in each of said brackets within said support member to form a perimeter in the shape of an ice skating rink;
- releasably attaching outer vertical sides of said boards to said brackets at points spaced from the tops of the boards;
- placing a water impermeable liner within said perimeter and filling said perimeter with water and allowing said water to freeze within said perimeter.
2 more elements
An ice skating rink structure comprising:
- a plurality of boards;
- a plurality of angled brackets, each of said brackets having at least one downward projection for insertion into the ground and a fastener for attaching said bracket to one of said boards at an outer side of said boards, said downward projection also extending outwardly away from said boards at an acute angle to vertical;
- said downward projection being inserted into the ground and said boards being attached to said brackets such that said boards define the perimeter of an ice skating rink.
The method of constructing an ice skating rink including the steps of:
- providing a plurality of boards;
- providing a plurality of angled brackets, each of said brackets having at least one downward projection, said downward projection also extending outwardly away at an acute angle to vertical;
- inserting said downward projections of said brackets in the ground and attaching at least one board to each of said brackets to form a perimeter in the shape of an ice skating rink;
- placing a water impermeable liner within the perimeter, filling said perimeter with water, and allowing said water to freeze within the perimeter.
1 more element
An ice skating rink structure comprising:
- a plurality of boards;
- a plurality of generally triangularly-shaped brackets, each of said brackets having a base portion, a leg, and a bracing member positioned above said base portion and connecting said leg and said base portion;
- said base portion defining an opening for enabling a spike to be driven into the ground through the opening;
- said leg defining an opening for enabling said bracket to be fastened to one of said boards at an outer side of said boards, spaced from the board top;
- said boards being attached to said brackets such that said boards define a perimeter of an ice skating rink.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.