Patent Application
20230100794
The present invention is directed to a dasher board assembly for an ice hockey rink.
A dasher board assembly, for example bordering a hockey rink, can be a significant source of injuries, including head injuries, when a user impacts the assembly.
A feature and benefit of embodiments is an impact-reducing dasher board assembly, comprising an envelope height and an envelope depth; a pair of vertical end frames positioned at first and second lateral ends of the assembly; a top frame element extending between the pair of vertical end frame elements at a top end of the dasher board assembly; a bottom frame element extending between the pair of vertical end frame elements at a bottom end of the dasher board assembly; a vertical mid frame element positioned between the pair of vertical end frame elements, the vertical mid frame element extending from the top end to the bottom end of the dasher board assembly; a horizontal element intersecting the vertical mid frame element between the top end and the bottom end, the vertical mid frame element and the horizontal element together defining a depth that is less than a depth of the vertical end frame elements; a foam strip formed of high resilience polyurethane mounted in front of the horizontal element; a dasher board positioned in front of the foam strip, the dasher board formed of polycarbonate and defining a thickness of about ⅜ inch, the dasher board further comprising a dasher board front face; a spline extending laterally from the dasher board and configured to attach the dasher board to a dasher board of an adjacent dasher board assembly, wherein the dasher board is only rigidly connected to the top frame element and the bottom frame element and only connects to the spline in between the top and bottom ends of the dasher board assembly; a kickboard rigidly mounted to the bottom frame element; and a hinge assembly configured to mount the assembly to a ground surface and configured to permit pivoting of the dasher board assembly about a horizontal axis.
In embodiments, the foam strip in front of the horizontal element is the only foam material in the dasher board assembly.
In embodiments, the foam strip comprises a thickness of about 3-4 inches.
In embodiments, the foam strip is configured to dampen vibrations of the dasher board after an impact and increase duration of the impact.
In embodiments, the horizontal element being is mounted recessed within the vertical mid frame element providing a flush face at the intersection of the horizontal element and the vertical mid frame element.
In embodiments, the flush face is spaced from the dasher board to define a gap of about 2.5-3.5 inches, wherein the dasher board assembly is configured to permit flexure of the dasher board into the gap to reduce negative acceleration of impacts with the dasher board assembly.
In embodiments, the gap being defined in all areas of the dasher board except along the bottom frame element and the top frame element.
In embodiments, the horizontal element comprises a cross-section defining an open side oriented toward the dasher board, the open side configured to receive the foam strip.
In embodiments, the pair of vertical end frame elements define a depth of 5 inches.
In embodiments, the assembly defines the overall envelope dimensions in conformance with standard hockey boards.
In embodiments, the spline is positioned at the second lateral end of the dasher board assembly and comprises the same material as the dasher board.
In embodiments, the dasher board assembly further comprises a receiver at the first lateral end, the receiver configured to receive a spline from an adjacent dasher board to form a joint.
In embodiments, a bolt assembly is configured to rigidly attach each vertical end frame element to a vertical end frame element of an adjacent dasher board assembly.
In embodiments, the kickboard provides a front face flush with the dasher board.
In embodiments, the hinge assembly comprises a spring biasing the dasher board assembly toward an upright position.
In embodiments, the hinge assembly comprises a hinge mounted below the bottom frame element and located at the front of the dasher board assembly proximate the kickboard, the spring mounted about a bolt located at a rear of the dasher board assembly.
In embodiments, a transparent panel supported by a cap assembly is rigidly mounted to a top frame element, the cap assembly comprising ribs or channels to absorb impacts.
In embodiments, a transparent panel extends upward and a shield mounted at each lateral end of the transparent panel, the shield configured to provide a seamless assembly with adjacent transparent panels.
A feature and benefit of embodiments is an impact-reducing dasher board assembly defining an overall envelope height, width, and depth, the assembly comprising: a dasher board of a thickness less than ½ inch, the dasher board comprising polycarbonate; a pair of vertical end frame elements positioned at first and second lateral ends of the assembly, the pair of vertical end frame elements comprising a depth; a vertical mid frame element positioned between the pair of vertical end frame elements and extending along substantially the entire height of the dasher board assembly; a horizontal element intersecting the vertical mid frame element, the vertical mid frame element and the horizontal element together defining a combined depth that is less than a depth of the vertical end frame elements; and a spline configured to attach the dasher board to a dasher board of an adjacent dasher board assembly, the spline comprising polycarbonate, wherein the dasher boards are not directly connected to the pair of vertical end frame elements, wherein the horizontal element is mounted recessed within the vertical mid frame element providing a flush face at the intersection of the horizontal element and the vertical mid frame element, the flush face spaced from the dasher board to define a gap of about 2.5 inches to about 3.5 inches, and wherein the dasher board assembly is configured to permit flexure of the dasher board into the gap.
In embodiments, the dasher board assembly does not comprise a foam material mounted between the horizontal element and the dasher board.
In embodiments, a hinge assembly is configured to mount the assembly to a ground surface and configured to permit pivoting of the dasher board assembly about a horizontal axis.
The above summary of the various representative embodiments of the invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the invention. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the invention. The Figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.
The invention can be completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been depicted by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
In certain embodiments, the dasher board assembly 20 comprises a dasher board 30 that provides a planar front face of the dasher board assembly 20 for facing the rink or field of play. In the illustrated embodiment, the dasher board 30 defines a thickness 32 of about ⅜″. In certain embodiments, the thickness 32 may be about ¾″, about ⅝″, about ½″ about ¼″, or any range between these values. For example, in some embodiments the thickness 32 may be from about ¼″ to about ½·″ In other embodiments, thickness 32 may be less than ½·″ In still further embodiments, thickness 32 may be about ⅜″ or less. In certain embodiments, dasher board 30 thickness 32 is relatively thinner than conventional boards, which are typically about ½″ and made from high density polyethylene (HDPE).
In certain embodiments, dasher board 30 is formed from polycarbonate material. The relative reduced thickness of certain embodiments of dasher board 30 compared to conventional boards, and along with the polycarbonate material, provides greater elasticity, flexibility, and/or resilience compared to conventional board materials, resulting in more board flexure under a given impact load as compared to conventional boards.
Embodiments of polycarbonate material or thermoplastic compositions that partially comprise polycarbonate that are applicable to the present disclosure are discussed in World Intellectual Property Organization Application Publication No. WO2021/076561 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0356551, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety and for all purposes. In embodiments, the polycarbonate comprises a high viscosity polycarbonate formed from an extrusion manufacturing process. In general, such polycarbonate material is more resilient, e.g., having a greater modulus of elasticity or elongation at break, as compared to conventional dasher board materials such as HDPE. Moreover, the properties of the polycarbonate material allow for a relatively thinner dasher board compared to standard thickness HDPE boards.
In certain embodiments, the polycarbonate formulation exhibits the following properties: a melt volume flow rate between 5 and 7 cm3/10 mins. according to ISO 1133; a tensile modulus of between 2350-2450 MPa according to ISO 527-1,-2; a yield stress greater than or equal to 65 MPa according to ISO 527-1,-2; and a nominal strain at break of >50% according to ISO 527-1,-2. In an embodiment, the polycarbonate material or thermoplastic composition that partially comprises polycarbonate is a thermoplastic composition comprising (A) 30.0 to 100.0 parts by wt. of at least one aromatic polycarbonate, (B) 0.0 part by wt. to 50.0 parts by wt. of rubber-modified graft polymer and/or vinyl copolymer, (C) 0.00 to 50.00 part by wt. of polyester, (D) 5.0 to 50.0 parts by wt. of at least one inorganic filler having a grain shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, cubic, tabular, discus-shaped and lamellar geometries, and (E) 0.00 to 5.00 parts by wt. of further additives, wherein the sum of the parts by weight of components A) to E) adds up to 100 parts by weight.
As further embodiments, polycarbonates in embodiments of the present invention are both homopolycarbonates and copolycarbonates; the polycarbonates can be linear or branched in a known manner.
Aromatic polycarbonates and/or aromatic polyester carbonates according to component A which are suitable according to the invention are known from the literature or can be prepared by processes known from the literature (for the preparation of aromatic polycarbonates see, for example, Schnell, “Chemistry and Physics of Polycarbonates”, Interscience Publishers, 1964 and DE-AS 1 495 626, DE-A 2 232 877, DE-A 2 703 376, DE-A 2 714 544, DE-A 3 000 610, DE-A 3 832 396; for the preparation of aromatic polyester carbonates e.g. DE-A 3 007 934).
Aromatic polycarbonates are prepared e.g. by reaction of diphenols with carbonic acid halides, preferably phosgene, and/or with aromatic dicarboxylic acid dihalides, preferably benzenedicarboxylic acid dihalides, by the interfacial process, optionally using chain terminators, for example monophenols, and optionally using branching agents which are trifunctional or more than trifunctional, for example triphenols or tetraphenols. A preparation via a melt polymerization process by reaction of diphenols with, for example, diphenyl carbonate is likewise possible. Diphenols for the preparation of the aromatic polycarbonates and/or aromatic polyester carbonates are preferably those of the formula (I)
wherein
Preferred diphenols are hydroquinone, resorcinol, dihydroxydiphenols, bis-(hydroxyphenyl)-C1-C5-alkanes, bis-(hydroxyphenyl)-C5-C6-cycloalkanes, bis-(hydroxyphenyl)ethers, bis-(hydroxyphenyl) sulfoxides, bis-(hydroxyphenyl) ketones, bis-(hydroxyphenyl) sulfones and α,α-bis-(hydroxyphenyl)-diisopropylbenzenes and derivatives thereof brominated on the nucleus and/or chlorinated on the nucleus.
Particularly preferred diphenols are 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl, bisphenol A, 2,4-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylbutane, 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-cyclohexane, 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfide, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone and di- and tetrabrominated or chlorinated derivatives thereof, such as, for example, 2,2-bis-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane, 2,2-bis-(3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane or 2,2-bis-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane. 2,2-Bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane (bisphenol A) is particularly preferred.
The diphenols can be employed individually or as any desired mixtures. The diphenols are known from the literature or obtainable by processes known from the literature.
Chain terminators which are suitable for the preparation of the thermoplastic, aromatic polycarbonates are, for example, phenol, p-chlorophenol, p-tert-butylphenol or 2,4,6-tribromophenol, but also long-chain alkylphenols, such as 4-[2-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)]-phenol, 4-(1,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenol according to DE-A 2 842 005 or monoalkylphenols or dialkylphenols having a total of 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituents, such as 3,5-di-tert-butylphenol, p-iso-octylphenol, p-tert-octylphenol, p-dodecylphenol and 2-(3,5-dimethylheptyl)-phenol and 4-(3,5-dimethylheptyl)-phenol. The amount of chain terminators to be employed is in general between 0.5 mol % and 10 mol %, based on the sum of the moles of the particular diphenols employed.
The thermoplastic aromatic polycarbonates have average molecular weights (weight-average Mw, measured by GPC (gel permeation chromatography) with a polycarbonate standard) of from 10,000 to 200,000 g/mol, preferably 15,000 to 80,000 g/mol, particularly preferably 24,000 to 32,000 g/mol.
The thermoplastic, aromatic polycarbonates can be branched in a known manner, and in particular preferably by incorporation of from 0.05 to 2.0 mol %, based on the sum of the diphenols employed, of compounds which are trifunctional or more than trifunctional, for example those having three and more phenolic groups. Preferably, linear polycarbonates, further preferably based on bisphenol A, are employed.
Both homopolycarbonates and copolycarbonates are suitable. 1 to 25 wt. %, preferably 2.5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total amount of diphenols to be employed, of polydiorganosiloxanes having hydroxyaryloxy end groups can also be employed for the preparation of the copolycarbonates according to the invention according to component A. These are known (U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,634) and can be prepared by processes known from the literature. Copolycarbonates containing polydiorganosiloxane are likewise suitable; the preparation of copolycarbonates containing polydiorganosiloxane is described, for example, in DE-A 3 334 782.
Preferred polycarbonates are, in addition to the bisphenol A homopolycarbonates, the copolycarbonates of bisphenol A with up to 15 mol %, based on the sum of the moles of diphenols, of other diphenols mentioned as preferred or particularly preferred, in particular 2,2-bis-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane.
Aromatic dicarboxylic acid dihalides for the preparation of aromatic polyester carbonates are preferably the diacid dichlorides of isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, diphenyl ether 4,4′-dicarboxylic acid and of naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid.
Mixtures of the diacid dichlorides of isophthalic acid and of terephthalic acid in a ratio of between 1:20 and 20:1 are particularly preferred.
A carbonic acid halide, preferably phosgene, is additionally co-used as a bifunctional acid derivative in the preparation of polyester carbonates.
Possible chain terminators for the preparation of the aromatic polyester carbonates are, in addition to the monophenols already mentioned, also chlorocarbonic acid esters thereof and the acid chlorides of aromatic monocarboxylic acids, which can optionally be substituted by C1 to C22-alkyl groups or by halogen atoms, and aliphatic C2 to C22-monocarboxylic acid chlorides.
The amount of chain terminators is in each case 0.1 to 10 mol %, based on the moles of diphenol in the case of the phenolic chain terminators and on the moles of dicarboxylic acid dichloride in the case of monocarboxylic acid chloride chain terminators.
One or more aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids can additionally be employed in the preparation of aromatic polyester carbonates.
The aromatic polyester carbonates can be either linear or branched in a known manner (in this context see DE-A 2 940 024 and DE-A 3 007 934), linear polyester carbonates being preferred.
Branching agents which can be used are, for example, carboxylic acid chlorides which are trifunctional or more than trifunctional, such as trimesic acid trichloride, cyanuric acid trichloride, 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid tetrachloride, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid tetrachloride or pyromellitic acid tetrachloride, in amounts of from 0.01 to 1.0 mol-% (based on the dicarboxylic acid dichlorides employed), or phenols which are trifunctional or more than trifunctional, such as phloroglucinol, 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-hept-2-ene, 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-heptane, 1,3,5-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-benzene, 1,1,1-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethane, tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-phenylmethane, 2,2-bis[4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-cyclohexyl]-propane, 2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenylisopropyl)-phenol, tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-methane, 2,6-bis(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-methylphenol, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-propane, tetra-(4-[4-hydroxyphenylisopropyl]-phenoxy)-methane, 1,4-bis[4,4′-dihydroxytriphenyl)-methyl]-benzene, in amounts of from 0.01 to 1.0 mol %, based on the diphenols employed. Phenolic branching agents can be initially introduced with the diphenols; acid chloride branching agents can be introduced together with the acid dichlorides.
The content of carbonate structural units in the thermoplastic, aromatic polyester carbonates can vary as desired. Preferably, the content of carbonate groups is up to 100 mol %, in particular up to 80 mol %, particularly preferably up to 50 mol %, based on the sum of ester groups and carbonate groups. Both the ester and the carbonate content of the aromatic polyester carbonates can be present in the polycondensate in the form of blocks or in random distribution.
The thermoplastic, aromatic polycarbonates and polyester carbonates can be employed by themselves or in any desired mixture.
As shown in
The internal frame assembly 38 rigidly supports the dasher board 30 by bolts 52, 54. As shown in
The internal frame assembly 38 of the illustrated embodiment further includes a bottom frame element 58, a vertical mid frame element 60, and a horizontal element 62. The bottom frame element 58 extends between the pair of vertical end frame elements 40, 44 and in some embodiments may be rigidly affixed to both the dasher board 30 and a kickboard 100. The vertical mid frame element 60 is positioned between the pair of vertical end frame elements 40, 44 and extends from a top end 64 to a bottom end 66 of the dasher board assembly 20. In embodiments, the internal frame assembly 38 further includes a base member 68 for anchoring with the ground. In embodiments, intersecting elements of the frame assembly 38 are rigidly connected together (e.g., bolted) or pivotally attached to each other, including the top frame element 56 with each of the vertical end frame elements 40, 44 and the vertical mid frame element 60, the bottom frame element 58 with each of the vertical end frame elements 40, 44 and the vertical mid frame element 60, and the horizontal element 62 with each of the vertical end frame elements 40, 44 and the vertical mid frame element 60. In some embodiments, the horizontal element 62 crosses the vertical mid frame element 60 without any positive connection thereto.
In certain embodiments, the horizontal element 62 is mounted recessed within the vertical mid frame element 60 as shown in
In some embodiments, the flush face of the horizontal element 62 and the vertical mid frame element 60 is spaced from the dasher board 30 to define a gap of from about 0.5 inches to about 2 inches, and in embodiments about 0.75-1.25 inches, and in certain embodiments about 1 inch. This gap is measured without any foam installed (e.g., foam strip 90 discussed further below). This gap permits flexure of the dasher board 30 into the gap to reduce negative acceleration of impacts with the dasher board assembly. In certain embodiments, in areas where the dasher board 30 does not overlap with any portion of the frame assembly 38, the gap behind the dasher board is about 2-4 inches, and in some embodiments about 2.5-3.5 inches, and in certain embodiments about 3 inches. As shown in
As shown in
In embodiments, the internal frame assembly 38 may be formed of a rigid material; in certain embodiments the internal frame assembly is formed of metal such as steel, aluminum, and/or alloys thereof. One or more individual components of the internal frame assembly 38 may be formed of different materials. As discussed above, in embodiments the intersecting components of the internal frame assembly 38 are rigidly or pivotally affixed to each other, and in certain embodiments the bottom frame element 58 is rigidly affixed to each of the first and second vertical end frame elements 40, 44. Rigidly affixing components may include bolts, clamps, welding, or the like.
With reference to
In certain embodiments, there are no connections between dasher board 30 and the internal frame assembly 38 at the joint between adjacent dasher boards, dasher board assemblies, and at or adjacent to the spline 80. In particular, the dasher board 30 of such embodiments is not directly or rigidly connected to the vertical end frame elements 40, 44, which is in contrast to conventional dasher board assemblies. Therefore, the dasher boards 30, 30B, 30C float over the vertical end frame elements 40, 44. The dasher board 30 is still rigidly connected to the top frame element 56 (via bolts 54) and the bottom frame element 58. The spline 80 of the illustrated embodiment is not fastened to the internal frame assembly 38 and is only attached to the dasher board 30.
In further reference to
As shown in the illustrated embodiment of
In certain embodiments, the foam strip 90 of the present disclosure may provide a variety of benefits. The foam strip 90 may dampen the motion of the dasher board 30 to reduce vibrations that may cause secondary impacts with a user. This dampening by the foam strip 90 also reduces fatigue in the dasher board 30 and thereby extends the useful life of the dasher board assembly 20 and/or dasher board 30. In certain embodiments, the foam strip 90 reduces or eliminates stresses at bolt locations of the dasher board 30 and/or the internal frame assembly 38. At the same time, the foam strip 90 may be an optional feature for the dasher board assembly 20, if in certain embodiments injury reduction is accomplished by the flexing of the dasher board 30 without interaction with, or dampening by, the foam strip 90.
In embodiments, the foam strip 90 may comprise a high resilience foam, for example high resilience polyurethane foam. In other embodiments, the foam strip 90 may be a viscoelastic polyurethane foam. In certain embodiments, the foam strip 90 comprises a foam material comprising specific details of foam, formulations, manufacturing processes, alternatives, etc. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,171,759 and 6,855,742, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety and for all purposes.
In some embodiments, the foam strip 90 comprises a foam categorized under ASTM D 3453-01 as high support (HS) or high support-high resilience (HS-HR), such HS foams having a minimum support factor of 2.3 whereas HS-HR foams have a minimum support factor of 2.4 and a minimum resilience of 55%. Support factor is the ratio of 65% IFD to 25% IFD and resilience is the Ball Rebound percentage. Measurement specifications for 25% IFD, 65% IFD and Ball Rebound are set forth in ASTM D 3574-01. In certain embodiments, the foam strip 90 is formed from a high support (HS) or high support-high resilience (HS-HR) flexible polyurethane foam prepared by the catalyzed reaction of one or more di- or polyisocyanates at an isocyanate index from about 70 to about 130 with: (a) a polyoxyalkylene polyol or polyoxyalkylene polyol blend having an average hydroxyl equivalent weight of at least about 1000 and an average primary hydroxyl content of at least about 25%; and (b) an effective amount of a blowing agent comprising water, in the presence of from about 0.01 to about 0.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said polyol component (a) of a liquid hydrocarbon comprising greater than 50% of polymerized butadiene.
In certain embodiments, the dasher board assembly 20 comprises a kickboard 100 at the bottom end 66 of the assembly. In embodiments as shown in
In various embodiments of the disclosure, the dasher board assembly comprises a hinge assembly 110. The hinge assembly 110 comprises a spring 112 mounted with a bolt 114 and a hinge 116. The base member 68 may also be considered part of the hinge assembly 110 in that it mounts the bolt 114 and pivots about the hinge 116. The hinge assembly 110 allows the entirety of the dasher board assembly 20 and the internal frame assembly 38 to pivot relative to a ground surface about a horizontal axis defined by the hinge 116. In particular, the hinge assembly 110 allows dasher board assembly 20 rotate away from the rink or field of play, i.e., in the same direction as a user who collides with the dasher board assembly 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring 112 is a compression spring mounted coaxially about the bolt 114 and configured to compress when the dasher board assembly 20 rotates about the hinge 116. The spring 112 provides a return force for the dasher board assembly 20 to return to its upright vertical position. Additional features of the hinge assembly 110 may be included with the dasher board assembly 20 as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,217, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
In some embodiments, the transparent panel 28 of the dasher board assembly 20 may also incorporate various impact reduction features as shown in
Functionally, the dasher board assembly 20 disclosed herein is arranged to reduce the likelihood and severity of injuries when a user impacts the assembly. Head injuries in particular are known to be a product of the type of rapid deceleration experienced, for example, by a hockey player colliding with a dasher board. Generally, the dasher board 30 of the present disclosure has greater flexibility compared to conventional products. The arrangement of the internal frame 38 allows for a greater range of motion in the dasher board 30. The foam strip 90 may serve not only to cushion impacts when the dasher board 30 presses against it, but also dampen vibrations of the dasher board 30 to prevent secondary impacts between the dasher board and a user and more generally reduces fatigue and stress on the dasher board assembly 20. The hinge assembly 110 further mitigates injury by allowing the entire dasher board assembly 20 to move upon impact, including the relatively rigid internal frame assembly 38. Together, these components serve to spread out the time and space of deceleration of an impact relative to more rigid board assemblies. In other words, the impact occurs over a longer amount of time and the dasher board 30 moves a greater distance. An embodiment of the dasher board assembly 20 with a ⅜″ polycarbonate dasher board 30 and 3″ square foam strip 90 was tested using a standard Head Injury Criterion (d) test (HIC(d)) and compared to a conventional dasher board assembly of the same dimensions. The tested embodiment of the dasher board assembly did not include all features disclosed herein, and certain structures (including mounting structure) were the same for both the tested embodiment and the conventional assembly. It has been found that the greater flexibility of the dasher board 30 provides a reduction of about 55% in HIC(d) value compared to a conventional dasher board. When combined with the hinge assembly 110 and/or other disclosed features, the dasher board assembly 20 generally provides a HIC reduction of 20-80%, and in certain embodiments a HIC reduction of about 40-80%, about 45-75%, and about 50-70%. Moreover, multiple locations on the dasher board 30 were tested, and it was found that the center of the dasher board 30 provides the best impact reduction, whereas conventional boards are stiffest at the center such that the center is considered by hockey players to be the worst place to impact a dasher board.
All of the features disclosed, claimed, and incorporated by reference herein, and all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is an example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. Inventive aspects of this disclosure are not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments, but rather extend to any novel embodiment, or any novel combination of embodiments, of the features presented in this disclosure, and to any novel embodiment, or any novel combination of embodiments, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. In embodiments, features disclosed for the entire dasher board assembly 20 may be implemented at only a portion thereof, implemented also at the kickboard, or implemented everywhere except at the top rail near the transparent panel 28. The present disclosure is also applicable to other sports or uses where impact reduction is desirable.
Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could be substituted for the specific examples disclosed. This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be defined by the attached claims and their legal equivalents, as well as the illustrative aspects. The above described embodiments are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the inventive aspects.
