Flexible track for dasher board system
AssigneePepsi Center, Inc.
InventorsNick Frazier, Gene Marquez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for providing a track that is operative to hold a shielding panel. A front support and a rear support are positioned on respective sides of the track. A pivot member is disposed beneath the front support and the rear support. The pivot member includes a portion that extends upwardly, between respective sides of the front support and rear support, so as to be secured to the track. An elastic member is positioned between the track and the rear support. The elastic member is operative to bias the track and the shielding panel in an upright position. The elastic member is also compressible by the track when the shielding panel is subjected to a lateral force.
Claims31
A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:
- a track having a channel, the channel being operative to hold a shielding panel;
- a front wall;
- a front support positioned adjacent said front wall;
- a rear support;
- a pivot member coupled to said track, said pivot member having portions which occupy respective areas aligned beneath said front support and said rear support;
- and
- an elastic member positioned between said track and said rear support, said elastic member being operative to bias said track and the shielding panel in an upright position, and said elastic member being compressible by said track when the shielding panel is subjected to a lateral force.
A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:
- a track having a channel for holding a shielding panel;
- a rear support;
- means for pivoting said track such that motion of the pivoting means is limited by a downwardly facing side of said rear support;
- and
- biasing means positioned between an outer wall of said track and an inner wall of said rear support, said biasing means for biasing said track and the shielding panel in an upright position when the shielding panel is not subjected to the lateral force, said biasing means being compressible by said track when the shielding panel is subjected to the lateral force.
A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:
- a track having a channel, the channel being operative to hold a shielding panel;
- a front wall which is to face an ice area;
- a rear support;
- an extension arm which is secured to said track, said extension arm having an end portion that is extended downwardly past said rear support;
- a first elastic member connected to said track and said rear support;
- and
- a second elastic member connected to said end portion and said front wall,
- wherein said first and said second elastic members allow for said extension arm to move laterally toward and away from said front wall.
A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:
- a track having a channel, the channel being operative to hold a shielding panel;
- a front wall;
- a rear support;
- a rear beam that extends substantially parallel to the front wall in a vertical direction;
- a support plate connecting said front wall and said rear beam;
- a pivot arm which is secured to said track, said pivot arm having an end portion that is extended downwardly past said rear support;
- and
- an elastic member connected to said track and said rear support,
- wherein said end portion of said pivot arm is in contact with said support plate, such that the support plate provides a pivot point for said pivot arm.
A flexible dasher board assembly comprising:
- a track having a channel, the channel being operative to hold a shielding panel;
- a front wall;
- a rear support;
- a bracket for securing said dasher board assembly to an ice dam;
- a pivot arm which is secured to said track, said pivot arm having an end portion that is extended downwardly past said rear support;
- and
- an elastic member connected to said track and said rear support,
- wherein said end portion of said pivot arm is positioned on said bracket so as to provide a pivot point for said pivot arm.
A method of modifying an existing dasher board system to include a movable track for holding a shielding panel, the movable track being positioned between a front support member and a rear support member, said method comprising:
- releasing the track from its initial position;
- attaching an extension member to the track;
- and
- disposing an elastic member in contact with the track so as to bias the track in an upright position and allow the track to move when a force is applied to the shielding panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.