Hockey Net Anchoring Method and Apparatus

Abstract

An anchor apparatus anchors a hockey net relative to an ice surface by attachment to a bottom crossbar of the net to supplement conventional mounts at the front posts of the hockey net. The apparatus includes a base member with spikes protruding below the base member for penetration into the ice and a mounting arrangement protruding upwardly from the base member for securement to the bottom crossbar. By providing spikes for gripping the ice along the bottom crossbar at the rear boundary of the hockey net, impacts to the front of the net continue to allow the front posts of the net to lift upwardly and deflect rearwardly to minimize player injury; however, the upwardly lifting places more weight on the spikes at the rear bottom crossbar so the net is more likely to return to the desired alignment with the goal line after the impact.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an anchoring apparatus for anchoring a hockey net relative to an ice surface.

BACKGROUND

It is known that hockey net must be anchored relative to an ice surface to prevent the hockey net from being too easily misaligned with the goal line by contact of players and equipment with the net during play of the game of hockey. In some instances, sticks are inserted into the open bottom ends of the front posts and into holes bored in the ice, but the sticks must be sufficiently flexible to allow some movement of the net upon impact by a player to minimize injury to the players. More commonly, pegs are inserted into the bottom ends of the front posts with spikes for being partially penetrated into the ice to grip the ice. Impacts to the net are most commonly directed rearwardly into the net, which tends to lift the front posts and minimize the effectiveness of the equipment used to anchor the net relative to the ice surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an anchor apparatus for anchoring a hockey net relative to an ice surface in which the hockey net includes two front posts and a bottom crossbar connected between bottom ends of the front posts across a rear boundary of the hockey net, the apparatus comprising:

• • (i) a base member having a top surface and a bottom surface;
  • (ii) a plurality of spikes protruding from the bottom surface in which the spikes are arranged to be at least partially penetrated into the ice surface; and
  • (iii) a mounting arrangement protruding upwardly from the top surface of the base member, the mounting arrangement being configured to secure the base member in fixed relation to the bottom crossbar of the hockey net.

By providing spikes for gripping the ice along the bottom crossbar at the rear boundary of the hockey net, impacts to the front of the net continue to allow the front posts of the net to lift upwardly and deflect rearwardly to minimize player injury; however, the upwardly lifting of the front posts places even more weight on the spikes at the rear bottom crossbar of the net to increase the gripping force relative to the ice surface so that the net is more likely to return to the desired alignment with the goal line after the impact.

Preferably at least some of the spikes are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the base member. More particularly, when the apparatus is elongated in the longitudinal direction, preferably at least some of the spikes are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction that is transverse to said longitudinal direction.

Preferably at least some of the spikes are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. In this instance, the spikes may be spaced farther apart from one another in the longitudinal direction than in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The mounting arrangement may include a magnet arranged to mount the base member to the bottom crossbar of the hockey net using magnetic attraction.

The mounting arrangement may further include a first protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member and a second protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member, in which the first and second protrusions are spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction so as to be arranged to receive a portion of the bottom crossbar of the hockey net inserted between the first and second protrusions. In this instance, the magnet is preferably oriented to retain the bottom crossbar of the hockey net inserted between the first and second protrusions.

The mounting arrangement may include at least one protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member and an adjustable holding member arranged to retain the bottom crossbar of the hockey net against said at least one protrusion.

The holding member may comprise an adjustable strap.

The at least one protrusion may comprise a first protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member and a second protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member, in which the first and second protrusions are spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction so as to be arranged to receive a portion of the bottom crossbar of the hockey net inserted downwardly between the first and second protrusions. In this instance, the holding member is preferably arranged to retain the bottom crossbar of the hockey net inserted between the first and second protrusions.

For example, the holding member may comprise a rigid clamp member operable to releasably clamp the bottom crossbar of the hockey net between the clamp member and said at least one protrusion using a threaded member. The threaded member may be oriented vertically in some embodiments, or oriented horizontally in other embodiments.

Alternatively, the holding member may comprise a clamp member arranged to be retained relative to said at least one protrusion using at least one resilient catch.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for anchoring a hockey net relative to an ice surface in which the hockey net includes two front posts and a bottom crossbar connected between bottom ends of the front posts across a rear boundary of the hockey net, the method comprising:

• • (i) providing at least one spike arranged to be at least partially penetrated into the ice surface; and
  • (ii) mounting the at least one spike in fixed relation to the bottom crossbar of the hockey net such that the at least one spike protrudes downwardly from the bottom crossbar.

The method preferably includes spacing at least some of the spikes apart from one another in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal direction of the bottom crossbar of the hockey net, and/or spacing at least some of the spikes apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the bottom crossbar of the hockey net.

The spikes may be supported so as to be adjustable in height relative to the bottom crossbar of the hockey net, and/or so as to be readily removable from the bottom crossbar of the hockey net.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a hockey net for use on an ice surface, the hockey net comprising:

• • (i) two front posts and a front crossbar connected between top ends of the two front posts such that the front posts and the front crossbar define boundaries bout a goal opening of the hockey net;
  • (ii) a bottom crossbar connected between bottom ends of the front posts across a rear boundary of the hockey net; and
  • (iii) at least one spike supported on the bottom crossbar to protrude downwardly from the bottom crossbar such that the at least one spike is arranged to be at least partially penetrated into the ice surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hockey net upon which the anchor apparatus of the present invention has been mounted according to a first embodiment of the anchor apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the anchor apparatus according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, shown removed from the hockey net;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the anchor apparatus according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, shown mounted on the bottom crossbar of the hockey net;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the anchor apparatus according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, shown removed from the hockey net;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the anchor apparatus according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the anchor apparatus according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the anchor apparatus according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the anchor apparatus according to a second embodiment.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a hockey net anchor apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is suited for anchoring a hockey net 12 relative to an ice surface.

The apparatus is typically used with a hockey net 12 of the type having two front posts 14 extending vertically along opposing sides of a goal mouth at the front boundary of a hockey net. A front crossbar 16 is connected between the top ends of the front posts 14 at the front boundary of the hockey net such that the front crossbar and the two front posts 14 define the top and side boundaries of a mouth of the goal defined by the hockey net. A rear bottom crossbar 18 is connected between the bottom ends of the front posts 14 along opposing side boundaries and along the rear boundary of the hockey net. A rear top crossbar 20 is commonly also connected between the top ends of the front posts across the rear boundary of the net. A rear centre post 22 is typically connected between a centre of the rear top crossbar 20 and a centre of the rear bottom crossbar 18. Suitable netting 24 covers the top, side and rear boundaries of the hockey net by being anchored to the corresponding posts and crossbars of the net.

The anchor apparatus 10 according to the present invention may be used as the sole means of anchoring the hockey net relative to the ice surface, but more preferably, the apparatus 10 is used in combination with conventional front pegs 25 inserted into the open bottom ends of the front posts 14 and having spikes on the bottom end thereof for gripping the ice.

Although various embodiments of the apparatus 10 are shown in the accompanying figures, the features in common with the various embodiments will first be described. In each instance the apparatus 10 generally includes a base member 26 having a top surface 28 and a bottom surface 30, in which a plurality of spikes 32 protrude downwardly from the bottom surface for partial penetration into the ice surface for gripping the ice surface. A mounting arrangement 34 protrudes upwardly from the top surface for securement in fixed relation relative to the rear bottom crossbar 18 of the hockey net.

The base member 26 typically comprises a flat plate which is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the rear crossbar in a mounted position corresponding to a length of the base member 26.

The spikes 32 comprise rigid metal spikes which are fixed immovably relative to the flat metal plate forming the base member 26. The spikes 32 are typically spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the base member 26 as well as being spaced apart in a lateral direction oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and corresponding to a width of the base plate. The spikes 32 may be welded non-removably on the base plate or may be threaded into respective sockets on the base plate such that the spikes are adjustable in height and/or removable and replaceable upon the base member 26. In the illustrated embodiments, a set of six spikes 32 are mounted on the bottom surface 30 of the base member 26 so as to locate spikes in proximity to the four corners of the rectangular plate of the base member as well as locating spikes at a central location along each of the opposing front and rear long edges of the base plate.

The mounting arrangement 34 typically includes one or more rigid protrusions 36 formed of metal, which are elongated in the longitudinal direction, and which are mounted fixed and immovably relative to the base member 26 to protrude upwardly from the top surface 28 of the base member. The mounting arrangement 34 also includes a holding member which is adjustable to selectively holds the rear bottom crossbar 18 of the hockey net fixed against the rigid protrusions 36 while remaining removable to permit the apparatus 10 to be removed from the hockey net when desired.

Turning now more particularly to the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5, the rigid protrusion of the mounting arrangement in this instance includes a front protrusion 36A and a rear protrusion 36B which extend in the longitudinal direction of the base member while being spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction of the base member by a prescribed distance corresponding approximately to the diameter of the rear bottom crossbar. This enables the rear bottom crossbar to be inserted downwardly through an open top end between the front and rear protrusions. More particularly, the front and rear protrusions are each curved to form part of a surface of a cylinder such that the front and rear protrusions collectively define a semi-cylindrical shaped cradle having a radius of curvature at the inner surface thereof which is approximately equal to or slightly greater than the radius of the rear bottom crossbar to enable the crossbar to be snugly fit therein.

The holding member according to the first embodiment includes both a magnet 40 and a pair of straps 42 as described in the following. The magnet 40 is recessed into the inner surface of the front and rear protrusions so as to be substantially flush-mounted with the inner surface. The magnet 40 holds the rear bottom crossbar 18 of the net recessed between the front and rear protrusions 36A and 36B such that the rigid front and rear protrusions absorb impacts from pucks and the like during the game of hockey while the magnet has sufficient strength to retain the rear bottom crossbar of the hockey net by magnetic attraction recessed between the front and rear protrusions. The magnet 40 alone may be sufficient to adequately retain the anchor apparatus secured to the hockey net; however, the straps 42 in this instance provide redundant securement in the event of failure of the magnet.

In the preferred arrangement, a pair of straps 42 are provided which are mounted at longitudinally spaced locations offset from the locations of the spikes so as to fully encircle the base member 26 and the rear bottom crossbar 18 held by the straps nestled into the cradle formed by the front and rear protrusions 36A and 36B. A suitable buckle 44 is operatively connected to each strap 42 such that the strap is adjustable in circumference and is readily releasable. The straps 42 can be easily thread through the netting 24 of the hockey net and are inexpensive so as to be easily replaced in the event of damage to the straps from sharp hockey skates and/or impacts from pucks for example.

The apparatus 10 according to the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5 is preferably located at a central location along the rear bottom crossbar; however, the apparatus can be provided at any location along the rear bottom crossbar and/or more than one apparatus 10 can be provided at longitudinally spaced positions along the rear bottom crossbar as may be desired. The one or more apparatuses 10 ensure that the rear of the net is able to adequately grip the ice to prevent accidental dislodging of the net from the desired location at the goal line while still enabling the front side of the net to be pivoted upwardly and rearwardly when impacted.

Turning now to the second embodiment of FIG. 6, the mounting arrangement in this instance again comprises front and rear protrusions 36A and 36B forming a semi-cylindrical cradle arranged to receive the rear bottom crossbar 18 of the hockey net inserted therein. The holding member in this instance differs in that the holding member comprises a rigid clamping jaw 46 which may also be semi-cylindrical in shape such that the rear bottom crossbar can be clamped between the cradle formed by the front and rear protrusions 36A and 36B at the bottom and the rigid clamping jaw 46 at the top. Fastener flanges 48 protrude forwardly from the front edges of both the front protrusion 36A and the rigid clamping jaw 46 so that a threaded fastener 50 such as a nut and bolt can be operatively connected in a vertical orientation between the fastener flanges 48. The fastener 50 in this instance applies clamping pressure to clamp the rigid clamping jaw 46 downwardly towards the base member 26 for clamping the rear bottom crossbar 18 between the rigid clamping jaw 46 above and the protrusions on the base member below.

Turning now to the embodiment of FIG. 7, the mounting arrangement in this instance may comprise a single rigid protrusion 36 extending upwardly at the rear side of the base member in which the protrusion is semi-cylindrical in shape and extends longitudinally substantially the full length of the base member 26. The holding member in this instance comprises a clamp member 52 supported on the inner end of a threaded member 54 that is adjustably mounted on a front flange 56 extending upwardly from a front side of the base member 26. The threaded member 54 in this instance is horizontally oriented and acts to displace the clamp member 52 rearwardly relative to the front flange 56 that is fixed immovably on the base member 26. Actuating the threaded member 54 thus provides a rearward clamping force to the clamp member 52 for clamping the rear bottom crossbar 18 of the hockey net between the rear protrusion 36 at the rear side and the clamp member 52 at the front side of the rear bottom crossbar.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 8, the mounting arrangement again includes front and rear protrusions 36A and 36B forming a semi-cylindrical cradle to receive the rear bottom crossbar 18 of the hockey net inserted downwardly therein through the open top side of the cradle. The holding member in this instance comprises a clamp member 58 which is semi-cylindrical in shape to extend overtop of the rear bottom crossbar inserted into the cradle. Catches 60 on opposing front and rear edges of the clamp member are arranged for alignment and engagement with corresponding mating catches 62 formed on the front and rear edges of the front and rear protrusions 36A and 36B respectively. One or both of the clamp member 58 and the catches formed on the clamp member are somewhat resilient such that the clamp member can be flexed to widen the distance between the catches on the front and rear edges to release the catches of the clamp member from the catches 62 on the protrusions. This allows removal of the clamp member 58 from the base member 26 to release the rear bottom crossbar 18. When it is desired to mount the rear bottom crossbar 18 into the cradle formed by the front and rear protrusions 36A and 36B, the resilient nature of the clamp member 58 enables the catches 60 on the clamp member to be urged outwardly as the clamp member 58 is pushed downwardly over top of the front and rear protrusions until the catches align with one another and the resilient nature of the clamp member causes the catches 60 on the clamp member to be retained on the catches 62 on the protrusions 36A and 36B.

In each of the embodiments described above, the mounting arrangement is used to secure the apparatus onto the rear bottom crossbar 18 of a hockey net such that the spikes protrude downwardly from the rear bottom crossbar at longitudinally and laterally spaced positions from one another to provide a high degree of grip between the apparatus and the ice surface at the rear boundary of the hockey net.

Since various modifications can be made in the invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. An anchor apparatus for anchoring a hockey net relative to an ice surface in which the hockey net includes two front posts and a bottom crossbar connected between bottom ends of the front posts across a rear boundary of the hockey net, the apparatus comprising: a base member extending in a longitudinal direction between opposed ends and having a top surface and a bottom surface;a plurality of spikes protruding from the bottom surface in which the spikes are arranged to be at least partially penetrated into the ice surface; anda mounting arrangement protruding upwardly from the top surface of the base member, the mounting arrangement being configured to secure the base member in fixed relation to the bottom crossbar of the hockey net such that the longitudinal direction of the base member extends in a direction of the bottom crossbar.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the spikes are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the base member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus is elongated in the longitudinal direction and wherein at least some of the spikes are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction that is transverse to said longitudinal direction.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the spikes are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the spikes are spaced farther apart from one another in the longitudinal direction than in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a magnet arranged to mount the base member to the bottom crossbar of the hockey net using magnetic attraction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a first protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member and a second protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member, the first and second protrusions being spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction so as to be arranged to receive a portion of the bottom crossbar of the hockey net inserted between the first and second protrusions, the magnet being oriented to retain the bottom crossbar of the hockey net inserted between the first and second protrusions.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mounting arrangement includes at least one protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member and an adjustable holding member arranged to retain the bottom crossbar of the hockey net against said at least one protrusion.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the holding member comprises an adjustable strap.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a first protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member and a second protrusion extending upwardly from the base member in fixed relation to the base member, the first and second protrusions being spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction so as to be arranged to receive a portion of the bottom crossbar of the hockey net inserted downwardly between the first and second protrusions, the holding member being arranged to retain the bottom crossbar of the hockey net inserted between the first and second protrusions.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the holding member comprises a rigid clamp member operable to releasably clamp the bottom crossbar of the hockey net between the clamp member and said at least one protrusion using a threaded member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the threaded member is oriented vertically.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the threaded member is oriented horizontally.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the holding member comprises a clamp member arranged to be retained relative to said at least one protrusion using at least one resilient catch.

15. A method for anchoring a hockey net relative to an ice surface in which the hockey net includes two front posts and a bottom crossbar connected between bottom ends of the front posts across a rear boundary of the hockey net, the method comprising: providing at least one spike arranged to be at least partially penetrated into the ice surface; andmounting the at least one spike in fixed relation to the bottom crossbar of the hockey net such that the at least one spike protrudes downwardly from the bottom crossbar.

16. The method according to claim 15 including spacing at least some of the spikes apart from one another in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal direction of the bottom crossbar of the hockey net.

17. The method according to claim 15 including spacing at least some of the spikes apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the bottom crossbar of the hockey net.

18. The method according to claim 15 including supporting the spikes to be adjustable in height relative to the bottom crossbar of the hockey net.

19. The method according to claim 15 including supporting the spikes to be readily removable from the bottom crossbar of the hockey net.

20. A hockey net for use on an ice surface, the hockey net comprising: two front posts and a front crossbar connected between top ends of the two front posts such that the front posts and the front crossbar define boundaries bout a goal opening of the hockey net;a bottom crossbar connected between bottom ends of the front posts across a rear boundary of the hockey net; andat least one spike supported on the bottom crossbar to protrude downwardly from the bottom crossbar such that the at least one spike is arranged to be at least partially penetrated into the ice surface.