Patent Application
20090023523
This invention relates to sporting equipment, and more particularly to a collector for projectile game pieces.
Many sports such as hockey and golf, for example, involve propulsion of a game piece across a playing surface towards a goal, hole, or other target. During individual or team practice sessions, numerous game pieces may be repeatedly propelled towards the target. Collection of these numerous game pieces after a practice session typically requires repeated bending or stooping to retrieve game pieces from the ground and to deposit them in a repository such as a bucket.
Various mechanical collectors have been proposed to simplify collection of sports game pieces from a playing surface. Such collectors commonly include, for example, some form of ball conveyor powered, for example, by propulsion of the collector by a user across the playing surface.
There exists a need for a sports game pieces collector that docs not require propulsion of the collector across the playing surface. Similarly, a need exists for a collector that may be used as part of or during a practice session.
Generally, the invention contemplates various mechanisms and methods for collecting projectile game pieces. An exemplary sports game piece collector provides for receipt of projectile game pieces with an entrance momentum through an inlet aperture formed in a housing. The received game piece is carried by its momentum up an inclined conduit into a game piece repository.
In various embodiments, the kinetic energy of the game piece is dissipated by impact with a compliant impact surface prior to the game piece coming to rest in the game piece repository. In other embodiments, the game piece kinetic energy may be partially dissipated by provision of a conduit shaped to redirect the game piece as it travels between the inlet aperture and the repository. For example, the conduit may form a reverse curved path between an inlet aperture located on the front of the housing and a repository located forward of the conduit end.
While the game piece may be any object suitable for propulsion across a playing surface, (e.g., a golf ball, street hockey ball, ice hockey puck, and the like) the invention is described herein in the exemplary context of a puck as typically used to play ice hockey in the exemplary context of a hockey practice session, pucks are propelled towards a hockey goal with the game piece collector positioned within or behind the goal. Pucks entering a central portion of the goal may be received directly into the collector. Alternatively, pucks may initially impact the exterior or housing of the collector and come to rest near the collector and may then be repeatedly propelled towards the collector until received within the collector. Thus, in contrast to the prior art devices requiring delay of collection of game pieces until the end of a practice session, the present invention provides the advantage of extending practice sessions as stray game pieces are corralled towards and ultimately propelled into the collector.
Additional advantages are provided by various aspects of alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the collector includes a housing having a compliant front surface or front portion designed to minimize rebound of pucks from the front of the housing. In another embodiment, the inlet aperture in the housing is positioned proximate the playing surface such that pucks may readily transition between the playing surface and the inlet aperture. An adjustment mechanism may be used to vary the height of the inlet aperture from the playing surface. An inlet ramp may be used to span any gap between the inlet aperture and the playing surface.
In some embodiments, the conduit is inclined upwardly towards a repository positioned rearward of the conduit within the collector housing. In other embodiments, the conduit is inclined upwardly in a continuous curve, or reverse curved path, such that the puck is redirected towards a repository located forward of the end of the conduit. A baffle or discrete inline sections within the conduit may also be used to further redirect the momentum of the puck.
In other embodiments, a skid stop such as an ice cleat or rubber foot is provided for contacting the playing surface to resist movement of the housing on the playing surface during receipt of the puck. Wheels and an extendable handle allow various embodiments to be more readily transported. A game piece basket may be received in the repository and accessible or removable, for example through an access door or zippered flap in the housing. Additional sporting equipment or water bottles and the like may be retained, stored, and transported on accessory racks on the collector.
In one aspect, the invention features a method of collecting a projectile game piece propelled across a playing surface. The method includes positioning a portable game piece collector on a playing surface, the collector comprising a housing defining an inlet aperture in a front surface of the housing for receiving projectile game pieces, a repository for retaining received projectile game pieces and a conduit for redirecting the momentum of received game pieces into the repository. The projectile game piece is received at the inlet aperture and the momentum of the received game piece is redirected towards the repository. The momentum of the projectile game piece may be redirected towards the front of the housing by the shape of the conduit or by a baffle. The momentum of the received game piece may also be redirected by an energy impact surface positioned above the repository at the end of the conduit.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
Projectile game piece collectors and methods of using the same are described herein. Generally, projectile game pieces are propelled towards and received into an opening in a collector housing. An inclined conduit redirects the game piece towards a repository within the housing. An impact surface dissipates the kinetic energy of the game piece and the: game piece comes to rest in a repository.
Referring to
Front portion 8 of housing 6 may be configured to be compliant, for example it may be thin so as to be pliable across a larger area or it may be resilient locally due to compressibility of a selected material. One exemplary compliant material is closed cell foam such as is commonly used with flexible camping coolers. Front portion 8 may be supported by more rigid sidewalls or a rigid frame. Use of a compliant material for front portion 8 reduces the degree of rebound of game pieces 4 from front portion 8 of collector 2. Reduced rebound results in a closer proximity for subsequent attempts to propel game piece 4 into inlet aperture 12.
Lower end 10 of housing 6 may rest directly on the playing surface such that inlet aperture 12 is adjacent the playing surface. In alternative embodiments, housing 6 may be positioned at a height above the playing surface and an inlet ramp 34 may bridge any distance between inlet aperture 12 and the playing surface. The height of housing 6 above the playing surface may be adjustable, for example, by adjustment of supporting legs or other adjustment features. Preferably, inlet aperture 12 is positioned to be within 3 mm of a playing surface when lower end 10 of housing 6 is resting on the playing surface. Inlet ramp 34 may be hinged along the lower edge of inlet aperture 12 so as to be automatically adjustable to span a selected height of housing 6 from the playing surface. Inlet ramp 34 may be pivoted up into a stowed position covering inlet aperture 12 and secured for storage by any suitable means.
Housing 6, conduit 16, inlet ramp 34, and other components may be formed of plastic, metal, or any other material suitable to withstand the impact of game piece 4. In various alternative embodiments, additional inlet aperture side extenders 32 may be used to separate from or in connection with inlet ramp 34 to extend the range of acceptable approach angles of game piece 4.
With continued reference to
A handle 28 and wheels 26 are provided on housing 6 for ease of transport of collector 2. Handle 28 may telescope or otherwise be adjustable to different heights for increased convenience in transporting or storing collector 2. Any number of accessory racks, such as, for example, water bottle and golf club or hockey stick racks, may be connected to housing 6 or handle 28 for convenience in transporting or storing any additional desired associated equipment.
A marking area 30 may be provided on front portion 8 of housing 6, or on any other suitable portion of housing 6. Marking area 30 may serve, for example, for displaying team or sponsor logos, advertisements, equipment numbering, and the like.
With reference now to
Conduit 16 is preferably formed of or coated with a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction such that the entrance momentum of game pieces 4 is not unduly diminished prior to reaching repository 14. Friction between game piece 4 and conduit 16 is obviously of greater concern for sliding game pieces 4, such as hockey pucks, than for rolling game pieces 4, such as golf balls. Many plastics, resins, polished metals, and the like may be suitable materials for use in forming or coating conduit 16.
In the embodiments depicted in
Repository 14 may be of any shape or size suitable to receive a desired quantity of game pieces 4. For example, repository 14 may be substantially box-like as shown in
An impact surface 20 may be provided along the path of game piece 4 for dissipating a portion of the kinetic energy of game piece 4 prior to receipt of game piece 4 into repository 14. For example, impact surface 20 is shown in
With reference now to
Collector 2 may further include a skid stop 36, shown here as a pointed cleat for use on an icy playing surface. Skid stop 36 serves to resist movement of collector 2 during receipt of game piece 4. In other embodiments, skid stop 36 may include a rubber pad or other anti-skid feature.
Inlet aperture 12, handle 28 and wheels 26 are depicted in
According to an exemplary method of collecting a projectile game piece, a puck is propelled into an inlet aperture of a collector and directed up an inclined conduit towards a repository. The kinetic energy of the puck is dissipated through movement or deformation of a compliant impact surface positioned above the repository. The puck is thus allowed to fall into or otherwise come to rest in the repository. Alternatively, the puck may ascend the incline into the repository without the need to contact the compliant impact surface.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the inlet aperture may be formed on any side of the housing and the conduit may define any suitable path for conveying the game piece to the repository. Similarly, the repository may extend to or be positioned on the outside of the housing. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
