Method for supporting cooling pipes and reinforcing bars in an ice rink by providing rink chair support sections having coupling means

A method for supporting cooling pipes and reinforcing bars prior to installation of a cast concrete layer thereupon in an ice rink, wherein the ice rink also comprises a horizontal ground surface, the method comprising the following steps given in no particular order:

• providing a plurality of rink chair support sections, each one of the rink chair support sections having:
• a base structure forming a plate for resting on the ground surface, the base structure spanning longitudinally between first and second ends and having first and second sides spanning between the first and second ends;
• a support arrangement including at least one pipe support standing upwardly from the base structure and forming a receptacle at a position spaced above the base structure which is arranged to receive the respective cooling pipe transversely of the base structure;
• the support arrangement including a support member extending longitudinally of the base structure at a position spaced above the base structure but below the receptacle of the respective pipe support, the support member thus being arranged to support the reinforcing bars extending transversely of the base structure adjacent the respective pipe support;
• a terminal end of the support arrangement closest to the first end being spaced longitudinally inwardly from the first end leaving a portion of the base structure proximal the first end over which no support arrangement is located;
• arranging the plurality of support sections in a plurality of rows;
• setting the reinforcing bars upon the rink chair support sections so as to be received therein by the support arrangements thereof;
• setting the cooling pipes upon the rink chair support sections so as to be received therein by the support arrangements thereof;
• wherein the respective one of the rink chair support sections further includes a coupling arrangement comprising:
• a protruding element upstanding from the base structure with a top spaced below the support member;
• the protruding element being arranged at that portion of the base structure proximal the first end over which there is no support arrangement at a location spaced longitudinally in a direction towards the first end of the base structure by a prescribed distance from one of the pipe supports closest to the first end;
• a hole formed in the base structure at a location closer to the second end than to the first end of the base structure;
• the hole being spaced from the second end by a distance substantially equal to said prescribed distance;
• the hole being arranged beneath one of the pipe supports closest to the second end;
• the hole of a first one of the support sections being arranged for receiving therethrough the protruding element of a second one of the support sections such that the base structures of the first one of the support sections and the second one of the support sections are held overlapped, with the base structure of the first one of the support sections over top the base structure of the second one of the support sections, so that the support sections are coupled end-to-end so as to be longitudinally inline in rectilinear alignment;
• and, in each one of the rows, overlapping the base structures of each rink chair support section and the next in a manner passing the protruding element of one of the rink chair support sections through the hole of the adjacent one of the rink chair support sections so as to couple each rink chair support section and the next forming the respective row in fixed relation to one another.

A method for supporting cooling pipes and reinforcing bars prior to installation of a cast concrete layer thereupon in an ice rink, wherein the ice rink also comprises a horizontal ground surface, the method comprising the following steps given in no particular order:

• providing a plurality of rink chair support sections, each one of the rink chair support sections having:
• a base structure forming a plate for resting on the ground surface, the base structure spanning longitudinally between first and second ends and having first and second sides spanning between the first and second ends;
• a support arrangement including at least one pipe support standing upwardly from the base structure and forming a receptacle at a position spaced above the base structure which is arranged to receive the respective cooling pipe transversely of the base structure;
• the support arrangement including a support member extending longitudinally of the base structure at a position spaced above the base structure but below the receptacle of the respective pipe support, the support member thus being arranged to support the reinforcing bars extending transversely of the base structure adjacent the respective pipe support;
• a terminal end of the support arrangement closest to the first end being spaced longitudinally inwardly from the first end leaving a portion of the base structure proximal the first end over which no support arrangement is located;
• arranging the plurality of support sections in a plurality of rows;
• setting the reinforcing bars upon the rink chair support sections so as to be received therein by the support arrangements thereof;
• setting the cooling pipes upon the rink chair support sections so as to be received therein by the support arrangements thereof;
• wherein the respective one of the rink chair support sections further includes a coupling arrangement comprising:
• a protruding element upstanding from the base structure with a top spaced below the support member;
• the protruding element being arranged at that portion of the base structure proximal the first end over which there is no support arrangement at a location spaced longitudinally in a direction towards the first end of the base structure by a prescribed distance from one of the pipe supports closest to the first end;
• a hole formed in the base structure at a location closer to the second end than to the first end of the base structure;
• the hole being spaced from the second end by a distance substantially equal to said prescribed distance;
• the hole of a first one of the support sections being arranged for receiving therethrough the protruding element of a second one of the support sections such that the base structures of the first one of the support sections and the second one of the support sections are held overlapped, with the base structure of the first one of the support sections over top the base structure of the second one of the support sections, so that the support sections are coupled end-to-end so as to be longitudinally inline in rectilinear alignment;
• a tab on the protruding element that resists removal of the protruding element of the second one of the support sections through the hole of the first one of the support sections when the support sections are coupled end-to-end;
• the tab being coupled at one end thereof to the protruding element and projecting away therefrom to a free end of the tab held spaced from the protruding element in a neutral position, the tab being pivotally movable out of the neutral position about said one end coupled to the protruding element;
• and, in each one of the rows, overlapping the base structures of each rink chair support section and the next in a manner passing the protruding element of one of the rink chair support sections through the hole of the adjacent one of the rink chair support sections so as to couple each rink chair support section and the next forming the respective row in fixed relation to one another.