Patent Application
20250067011
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
While a variety of ice edgers and brushes are known in the prior art, these devices and apparatuses are typically seen as components, or elements, of a larger ice-resurfacing vehicle that may be self-propelled or a smaller ice edging machine that is typically push-propelled. The most well known ice resurfacing machine, in the eyes of the public and especially fans of the National Hockey League, is the Zamboni named after the inventor thereof. Although ice resurfacing vehicles and ice edging machines in the field of endeavor are generally quite similar to one another, respectively, various differences exist within the prior art that allow for differentiation between patented inventions.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,205 by Zamboni includes an ice-resurfacing unit, comprised of a single blade, disposed transversely across the rear of a larger vehicle, and connected via a towing linkage, having runners at its ends that sit upon the ice. The runners cap each end of the single sharp-edged blade, which lightly shaves the surface of the ice and uplifts any shavings present, to keep the blade positioned parallel to the ice surface at a specific distance therefrom thereby correcting any tendency of the blade to chatter, slip, or otherwise make uneven cuts. When not in use, the entire unit can be raised (or lowered for use) via hydraulic lift cylinders and two laterally spaced lift arms attached to both the vehicle's frame and the unit's pivot points, such that flexible joint members allow for the vertical swinging movement. In order to exert equal downward pressure upon the unit, and the blade thereof, spring bearing pressure is utilized with torque exerting the downward force while some of the vehicle's weight may also be transferred to the unit holding the blade against the ice. This combination of pressure sources helps keep the blade pressed firmly and equivalently across the ice while mitigating any changes in pressure that might be otherwise caused by the vehicle's motion, movement, turning, bouncing, or jostling. As the blade carves into the ice, the work screw conveyor collects the shavings, which are then transferred, into a tank, or bin, within the vehicle.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,236 issued to Jones describes a self-propelled ice-resurfacing vehicle that includes an ice-removing unit mounted transversely to the rear of the vehicle. As with Zamboni's device, the singular cutting blade may be angled downward and shave the ice, as the brush sweeps the ice shavings into a conveyor, which in turn delivers the shavings to an elevator that conveys them to a tank mounted on the vehicle. While this device relies predominantly upon a hydraulic drive system (as well, in part, on the weight of the vehicle) to enable a gradual application of torque to thereby retain frictional engagement between the wheels and the ice, an equivalent method of applying hydraulic pressure to the blade component is utilized. Regardless of the method used to apply pressure, the single bladed component is mounted transversely on the bottom of the sled and measures approximately the width of the vehicle itself. Like in Zamboni, the bladed component is attached to the vehicle by pivotal connecting arms and a hydraulic drive unit that is used to raise and lower the element, as well as alter the blade height and angle of attack, both of which vary the depth of the cut being made.
Different than the previous patented apparatuses is U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,434 issued to Thomsen, which conveys an ice edger and line cutter intended to be pushed by a person, wearing skates or shoes, while removing the build-up of ice within an area of ten inches from the faces of the boards and leveling any high, or uneven, spots present on the ice surface. Like the previous ice resurfacing machine, this ice edger has adjustable blade control for angled positioning of the blade and depth of cuts being made thereby, but such control may be utilized prior to beginning the edging process. However, unlike the aforementioned devices, this ice edger relies upon various support arms, feet, and other components to control the position of the rotary cutting assembly, which includes a circular mounting disk having downwardly facing open grooves into which carbide tipped cutting members are secured prior to the start of edging.
Unlike ice resurfacing vehicles, which are well known to accomplish the task of quickly clearing the majority of the ice surface and laying down a fresh film of water to freeze into a unblemished layer of ice, push or pull ice edgers and cutters take far longer to finish their task as the majority of such devices require individual persons to operate by pushing/pulling them across the entire ice surface. The task of re-edging an ice surface can take up to several hours of work depending on how bad the ice surface is, including how many gouges and indents are present as well as how deep they are, and based on the quality of the machine, it's blades, and its power source. These devices are also differentiated from ice resurfacing machines in that they may approach the boards along an ice rink and remove built up ice while leveling out the perimeter of the ice surface, although potentially causing damage to the boards, while larger ice resurfacing machines can not get nearly as close to the boards for fear of causing damage (to the vehicle, components thereof, as well as the boards) and therefore can't efficiently nor effectively resurface the ice rink's edges, where most of the ice accumulation occurs and which is therefore the least level portion of the rink.
Other patented means of resurfacing and edging ice surfaces include, U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,355 issued to Donaldson, U.S. Pat. No. 7,698,837 issued to Seely, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,617 issued to Zamboni. The '355 patent describes a manually propelled ice rink resurfacing device mainly comprising a mounted water tank, a wheelable chassis, and a heat chamber, wherein ice shavings and snow are collected by the apparatus and melted to then be reapplied as a fresh layer of water upon the ice rink. Similarly, the '837 patent covers an ice resurfacing machine attachable to a light towing vehicle that is capable of eliminating ruts, gouges, and cuts in ice by scraping a thin layer of ice off the surface via a single transverse blade element and filling the hole with this “snow” then adding water. Lastly, designed as an attachment for larger ice resurfacing vehicles discussed above, the '617 patent covers an edging apparatus comprising an attachment to one side of the resurfacing machine capable of contacting upright surfaces (such as boards) wherein a single ice shaving blade connected to a ski-like element may extend to contact and shave the ice adjacent to the walls of an ice rink prior to retracting into the vehicle, or underneath one of its sides.
While additional prior art documents and devices exist within this field, the majority of the apparatuses and components thereof disclosed vary minimally from the prior art discussed above. There are multiple devices that are powered electrically, via combustible engines, hydraulics, or some combination of these methods. The overwhelming majority of the self-propelled apparatuses utilize single bladed components spanning the distance of the vehicle, machine, or device and are accompanied by conveyors (usually of a screw design), storage tanks or bins for ice shavings, and water spray nozzles with squeegees or polymeric spreaders for laying down new uniform layers of water that will become the fresh ice layers. Other apparatuses, mainly push/pull edgers and manual resurfacers, rely on additional workers and devices that operate to level the ice, remove the ice shavings, and then lay down a fresh ice layer, however, these tasks take multiple hours to complete and therefore are typically accomplished only once a day, especially not during an event, game, or other occasion.
What is needed in the art is an ice edger brush apparatus that may be attached to a typical self-propelling ice resurfacing vehicle, which combines the two processes of edging and sweeping into a single device that may edge an entire ice surface, with a capacity to then resurface the rink immediately given its attachment to such a device, in the same time is takes to normally resurface the ice rink (or at least in substantially less time than it would take to edge the ice rink manually). Additionally, this device would need to have the capability of edging the ice surface at a position close to, if not directly along, the boards without causing damage to either the device (or vehicle) itself or to the boards, with a means of board protection incorporated therein. To have commercial utility, this device should be installable as a component of a larger ice resurfacing vehicle (ideally hydraulic-based), and designed to be compatible therewith. In lieu of the traditional and typical single-bladed system installed permanently at the vehicle's rear underneath the operator's seat, this device would need to extend from (and retract into) the vehicle's underside and incorporate blades and brushes to simultaneously edge the ice rink's perimeter while removing the produced ice shavings, thereby giving the operator a clear line of sight. This device must also include some means of controlling the bladed element's angle of attack (relative to both the ice surface and the boards), height, distance from the boards, and depth of cut throughout its use.
The present invention relates to an ice edger brush apparatus, and more particularly, to an ice edger brush apparatus that relates to an attachment for an ice resurfacing machine, and with controlled extension therefrom, which is capable of edging at a position immediately adjacent to the boards of an ice rink, while simultaneously brushing away shavings and snow, then laying down a fresh surface of ice via the resurfacing vehicle's capability as seen in the prior art, and accomplishing the edging process in a substantially shorter period of time than any prior devices.
The general purpose of the ice edger brush apparatus, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an ice edger brush apparatus which has many novel features that result in an ice edger brush apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. What follows is a brief summary of the present invention as depicted in exemplary embodiment drawings, however, it should be understood that while the components, features, elements, and capabilities of the example embodiment of this invention are summarized and described in detail below, additional embodiments that capture the essence of the device are contemplated and considered within the scope of the ice edger brush apparatus.
The present invention is directed to an ice edger brush apparatus capable of operating alone as a manual (push/pull) device or as an attachment for an ice resurfacing vehicle, comprising a mounting support and leading framework assemblies for attaching the device to an extendible lever arm under the side of said vehicle, as known in the prior art, wherein the ice edger brush apparatus may extend outward from underneath the vehicle and downward (with a flat or angled orientation) toward the ice surface for use with all edging, brush sweeping, and related tasks, prior to being raised and retracted back into the vehicle's undercarriage. This capability of extension and retraction may be due to either a vehicular pivot frame or at least one extending arm (with separate stabilizing arm) having a pivot joint along its length with a portion thereof connected to the vehicle's frame and another portion having a motor, or rotating mechanism, attached to the upper components of the ice edger brush apparatus, both of which are known devices in the art. The various elements of both the ice edger brush apparatus and the extending arm assembly connected thereto allow for an operator to enjoy full control over the entire range of motion for the apparatus, including the extending/retracting, raising/lowering, altering of the blades' attack potential, as well as rotational speed and maneuverability. This is in addition to the operator setting and adjusting the requisite fasteners relating to skid plate and blade angles prior to use, however, the automation of this setting is contemplated as within the scope of this invention.
The ice edger brush apparatus includes a hub member that may serve as the central connection point for a plurality of brush members and blade members attached thereto, as well as a gimbal mechanism that may be contained within the core of the hub member whose upper base component may attach to the aforementioned extending arm via a (drive shaft) motor or rotating mechanism. Positioned between the extending arm and the ice edger brush apparatus's blades and brushes may sit a brush guard assembly, which is designed to protect both the device itself as well as the ice surface and rink boards, with at least one component thereof being attached to the aforementioned stabilizing arm. Within the assembly, the brush guard may be positioned atop the support member and may include a wheel element designed to remain in contact with the boards to guarantee no blade member coming into contact therewith, although the brush members may extend beyond the wheel's locations to allow for clearing and/or cleaning of the boards during use. The support member is designed to connect to the aforementioned stabilizing arm, also attached adjacent to the proximal end of the extending arm component connected to the ice resurfacing vehicle, in addition to the possible inclusion of a skid plate element fastenable to the member and downwardly protruding therefrom to remain in constant contact with the ice surface as a position outside of the reach of any brush member, thereby offering both additional protection as well as another control on the height and angle of attack of blade members.
Additionally included components may include at least one grease port, additional blade or brush members, alternatively designed blade or brush members, as well as alternative shapes of the aforementioned elements and means of attaching, fastening, or otherwise coupling of the aforementioned elements. Likewise, additionally contemplated embodiments of the invention may see alternative shapes, forms, and designs of the aforementioned elements and structural features.
Unlike those devices and apparatuses discussed previously, the present invention ice edger brush apparatus allows for simultaneous edging via at least one rotating blade member wherein a plurality are contemplated and illustrated in the example embodiments, brushing (or sweeping) via at least one rotating brush member wherein a plurality are contemplated and illustrated in the example embodiments, followed by resurfacing operating in concert with one another, as opposed to a singular stationary long blade followed by some means of removing the ice shavings created thereby, usually via a screw conveyor. Also, unlike the previous machines, the capability of side extensions/retraction will allow for complete cleaning, edging, and resurfacing of an ice rink, thereby offering a solution to the current problem of operating near the boards and/or causing damage to the rink's surface or perimeter. And, lastly, the capability of one device to clean, edge, and resurface in substantially less time than the current individual machines, devices, and apparatuses necessary to prepare an ice rink illustrate the utility and novelty of the ice edger brush apparatus.
Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present ice edger brush apparatus so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
Objects of the present ice edger brush apparatus, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the ice edger brush apparatus, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description.
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular
Referring to
Although not illustrated, additional embodiments are contemplated wherein hub member 22 is of a non-cylindrical form, such as square, triangular, rectangular, or other polygonal shapes, while the plurality of mounting members 36 are complementarily designed to abut the alternatively shaped hub member 22. Similarly, though not illustrated herein, the plurality of blade members 26 may include alternatively shaped blade plate members 28 that are round, curved, triangular, rectangular, shaped to resemble other polygons, or such that a single blade plate member 28 shaped as a cross, circle, or other shape may be utilized, wherein the aforementioned elongated aperture 27 or some other expanded aperture that may accomplish the same function will be present and operationally engage with hub member 22 as set out herein. Likewise, each elongated brush body 38 is depicted herein as rectangular and possessing bristles of uniform dimensions stacked in parallel; however, the present invention is contemplated as including other shapes and designs of elongated brush body 38, such as those shapes aforementioned in relation to blade member shapes, as well as bodies possessing non-uniform bristles, splayed designs, and bristles of different polymeric and non-polymeric materials that are equally capable of clearing the ice and boards of shavings as depicted in the example embodiment. In short, the shape, dimensions, material, and numerosity of the aforementioned structural elements hub member 22, peg protrusions 37, mounting members 36, blade members 26, blade plate members 28, and elongated brush bodies 38 are contemplated within the present invention as differing from those illustrated in the figures herein, but should not be considered as limited exclusively to those additional embodiments detailed above.
Further, in the example embodiment of
In the example embodiment depicted within
Although only a portion of gimbaled drive shaft 30 is visible in the example embodiment depicted by
Brush guard assembly 40, disposed about the first end of hub member 22, is depicted as possessing leading portion 42 having wheel member 48, which guides ice edger brush apparatus 10 by rolling against the ice rink's wall to prevent contact with every component thereof except a distal endwise portion of each elongated brush body 38. As depicted in
Brush guard assembly 40 is also depicted as including support member 44, which possesses an aperture at the distal end of each offshoot member 45, wherein the longest such member depicts skid prevention member 46 as fastened to one such aperture with a second, relatively proximal, aperture which is operationally couplable to the stabilizing arm of the aforementioned lever arm assembly. As depicted in this example embodiment, leading portion 42 is fastenable to support member 44 via two apertures, wherein each aperture is located at each of the distal ends of two separate offshoot members 45 of support member 44, positioned 180 degrees from each other and extending outwardly. A fastener may be employed to secure the aperture of the first oppositely-positioned offshoot member 45 to an aperture of leading portion 42 located at the distal end of an inwardly protruding offshoot member 45 positioned about the first end thereof. Additionally, another fastener may be utilized to secure the aperture of the second oppositely positioned offshoot member 45 of support member 44 to elongated aperture 27 of leading portion 42.
The illustrated example embodiment of
Specifically referring to
Referring next to
As illustrated in
Still referring to
As depicted in
Support member 44 is illustrated to include three offshoot members 45 having rounded distal ends, wherein the longest such member has two apertures, one at its distal end for the fastening of skid prevention member 46 and one more proximal compared thereto for fastening to the stabilizing arm of the lever arm assembly. This skid prevention member 46 is illustrated as fastened to support member 44 such that it may be loosened, resituated, and tightened by the operator prior to use guaranteeing that it is always in contact with the ice during the invention's operation in order to stop all blade plate members 28 from contacting the ice past a certain level which allows more control over the depth of cuts. Other offshoot members 45, with similarly rounded ends, are illustrated as jutting outward from opposite sides of ring portion 47, coplanar with though ninety degrees away from the first offshoot member 45, wherein both members each possess an aperture at its distal end that may allow for operational coupling with leading portion 42.
As depicted in
Referring to
Additionally, the operational engagement of flange 32 to components of support member 44 is more visible as
Referring to the example embodiment shown in
Likewise, as shown in
As has been mentioned above, and throughout the application, there are numerable additional embodiments contemplated and relating to various alternative sizes, shapes, orientations, locations, and other customizations, such as the inclusion of automation and more full operational control, that have been set forth explicitly as well as others that may be considered as contemplated embodiments which are logically drawn from, and understood to be within, the disclosures made herein. Any description, depiction, illustration, or explanation of the figures and example embodiments contained within this application shall not be construed as limiting or otherwise restricting the consideration of further embodiments and designs logically within the subject matter contained herein.
