FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the general field of sparks generators and, more particularly, to a sparks generators particularly adapted to be used along the bottom edge of the blade of a hockey stick.
BACKGROUND
Hockey sticks having some forms of embedded light emitting devices are known, and can be particularly appreciated to play hockey in low light environments, or more simply to entertain in day light. These known hockey sticks are typically toys for young children since they are general made of relatively fragile translucent plastic to allow some light emitting diodes embedded in them to emit light in a continuous or strobed fashion. These hockey sticks are not reasonably useful to provide an entertaining light emitting hockey stick used during a more actively played hockey game between, for example, teenagers on a residential street, or during a competition game played in front of spectators, on the concrete covered rink in a local park.
Thus, there is a need on the market for an improved light emitting device for a hockey stick that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages. An object of the present invention is to provide such an improved device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a broad aspect, there is provided a hockey stick blade usable on a surface, the hockey stick blade comprising: a blade body defining a blade bottom edge; and a sparks generator mounted to the blade body, the sparks generator being operative for generating sparks when the blade is moved along and pressed against the surface to frictionally engage the latter.
Advantageously, the sparks generator may provide visual effects when the blade is moved along the surface using relatively sturdy hockey stick blades. In some embodiments, the sparks generator may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the sparks generator includes a sparks generating material operative for generating the sparks when frictionally engaged with and moved across the surface, the sparks generating material protruding from the blade bottom edge.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the sparks generator includes a mounting portion secured to the blade body and a sparks generating portion extending from the mounting portion and protruding from the blade bottom edge.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the mounting portion is removably secured to the blade body.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the mounting portion is dovetailed to the blade body.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the sparks generator includes a mounting portion shaped to conform to a shape of at least part of the blade body, the mounting portion being mounted on the blade body.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the sparks generator includes a wheel and a sparks generating material operatively coupled to the wheel for producing sparks when the wheel in rotated.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the wheel protrudes from the blade bottom edge.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade further comprising a motor and a controller operative for rotating the wheel upon being activated by an intended user.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the controller includes a motion sensor operative for sensing a direction of motion of the blade body across the surface, the controller being operative for receiving the direction of motion from the motion sensor and rotating the wheel in a direction such that the sparks are projected in a direction opposite the direction of motion when the motor is activated.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the sparks generator includes two different sparks generating materials producing sparks of different colours.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the sparks generator includes a sparks generating material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, titanium, quartz and flint.
There may also be provided a hockey stick blade wherein the hockey stick blade is mounted to a hockey stick shaft or extends integrally from the hockey stick shaft.
In another broad aspect, there is provided a sparks generator mountable to a hockey stick having a blade, the sparks generator comprising: a mount for mounting the sparks generator to the blade; and a sparks generating material operatively coupled to the mount for protruding downwardly from the blade bottom edge when the sparks generator is operatively mounted to the blade; wherein the sparks generator is operative for generating sparks when the sparks generating material is moved along and pressed against the surface to frictionally engage the latter.
There may also be provided a sparks generator wherein the mount is shaped to conform to a shape of at least part of the blade body.
There may also be provided a sparks generator wherein the mount is for dovetailing with the blade.
In yet another broad aspect, there is provided a method of generating sparks using a hockey stick having a blade, the method comprising: mounting a sparks generator to the blade, the sparks generator having a sparks generating material operative for generating sparks when moved along and frictionally engaging a surface; pressing the blade against the surface so that the sparks generating material frictionally engages the surface; and while pressing the blade against the surface, moving the blade along the surface with enough pressure and velocity to generate sparks using the sparks generating material.
There may also be provided a method further comprising removing the sparks generator from the blade and mounting a similar sparks generator to the blade.
There may also be provided a method wherein the surface is made of asphalt or concrete.
There may also be provided a method wherein the sparks generating material is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, titanium, quartz and flint.
The present application hereby incorporates by reference the priority document GB2311817.7 filed Aug. 1, 2023.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1, in a perspective view, illustrates an embodiment according to the present invention, of a hockey stick including a blade provided with a sparks generator;
FIG. 2, in a perspective view, illustrates the sparks generator shown in FIG. 1, here shown integrated in a replacement blade for a hockey stick;
FIG. 3, in a side elevation view, illustrates the blade shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4, in an alternative side elevation view, illustrates the blade shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5, in a bottom plan view, illustrates the blade shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6, in a partial cross-sectional side elevation view, illustrates the blade shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7, in a partial cross-sectional side elevation view, illustrates another embodiment of a sparks generator integrated in the bottom edge of a hockey blade;
FIG. 8, in a front cross-sectional view, illustrates yet another embodiment of a sparks generator mounted at the bottom edge of a hockey blade;
FIG. 9, in a partial perspective view, illustrates the sparks generator of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10, in a front cross-sectional view, illustrates yet another embodiment of a sparks generator mounted at the bottom edge of a hockey blade;
FIG. 11, in a partial perspective view, illustrates the sparks generator of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12, in a front cross-sectional view, illustrates yet another embodiment of a sparks generator mounted at the bottom edge of a hockey blade;
FIG. 13, in a partial perspective view, illustrates the sparks generator of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14, in a front cross-sectional view, illustrates yet another embodiment of a sparks generator mounted at the bottom edge of a hockey blade;
FIG. 15, in a partial perspective view, illustrates the sparks generator of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16, in a front cross-sectional view, illustrates yet another embodiment of a sparks generator mounted at the bottom edge of a hockey blade;
FIG. 17, in a partial perspective view, illustrates the sparks generator of FIG. 16;
FIG. 18, in a perspective view, illustrates the sparks generator of FIG. 8 ready to be longitudinally engaged through a front or rear end of a compatibly shaped blade bottom edge of a hockey stick;
FIG. 19, in a perspective view, illustrates an alternative sparks generator ready to be longitudinally engaged through a front or rear end of a compatibly shaped blade bottom edge of a hockey stick;
FIG. 20, in a perspective exploded view, illustrates a wheel operated sparks generator mountable along the bottom edge of the blade of a hockey stick;
FIG. 21, in a side cross-sectional view, illustrates the sparks generator of FIG. 20, here shown in its assembled state;
FIG. 22, in a perspective view, illustrates the sparks generator of FIG. 20, here shown in its assembled state;
FIG. 23, in a side schematic view, illustrates a plurality of sparks generating generator of FIG. 20, here shown integrated along a the bottom edge of a blade and further including a motor, a battery, a motion sensor and control button embedded in the handle of a hockey stick and operatively connected to the plurality of wheel operated sparks generating assemblies through a flexible drive shaft;
FIG. 24, in a front cross-sectional view, illustrates yet another embodiment of a sparks generator that can be firmly engaged along the bottom edge of the blade of a conventional hockey stick using a roll of hockey tape; and
FIG. 25, in an environmental view, illustrates the hockey stick equipped with the sparks generator of FIG. 1, here shown maneuvered by a user to generate sparks on an abrasive surface such as asphalt or a rough concrete surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1 to 7 inclusively illustrates various aspects of an embodiment of a blade 302 of a hockey stick 300 provided with a sparks generator 100. The blade 302 includes a blade body 303 to which the sparks generator 100 is mounted. The blade body 303 defines a blade bottom edge 304, a blade forward surface 306 and a blade rearward surface 308. As shown in FIG. 25 for example, the sparks generator 100 is operative for generating sparks 110 when the blade 302 is moved along and pressed against a surface 500 to frictionally engage the latter.
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3 to 7 collectively, the sparks generator 100 comprises at least one, and typically a plurality of, sparks generating elements 102. Each sparks generating element 102 includes a mounting portion 104 secured to the blade body 303 and a sparks generating portion 106 extending from the mounting portion 104 and protruding from the blade bottom edge 304. The sparks generating portion 106 is configured for contacting a surface 500 (shown in FIG. 25) having one of adhering or abrasive properties. Referring to FIG. 25, the sparks generating element 102 is capable of generating sparks 110 when the sparks generating portion 106 is contacting the surface 500, and the blade 302 is moved forwardly or rearwardly along the surface 500.
The sparks generator 100 is suitable for the blade 302 of hockey sticks 300 used for playing hockey games on surfaces such as substantially abrasive asphalt or rough concrete surfaces of a street or a parking lot, on the adhering playing surface of an outdoor playing rink during summer, or the vinyl covered floor of a house or of a school gymnasium. The sparks generator 100 can be applied on any types of blades 302 adapted to manoeuvre a hockey puck 400 or a ball.
Still furthermore, as it will be described in details further below through various embodiments of the present invention, the sparks generator 100 can be added to, or alternatively embedded at the blade bottom edge 304 of a conventional hockey stick 300, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or of a replacement hockey stick blade 310, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3 to 7 inclusively, in some embodiments of the invention, the sparks generator 100 includes a plurality of sparks generating elements 102 located in a longitudinally spaced apart relationship relative to one another and longitudinally aligned substantially parallelly relative to the blade bottom edge 304.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the mounting portion 104 of each sparks generating elements 102 is rigidly engaged in a suitably shaped and sized bores 112 defined in, or moulded in, the blade body 303 at the bottom edge 304 using any suitable known means such as glue, epoxy, a thermal bonding process, an injection moulding process, or the likes. Advantageously, a spent sparks generating element 102 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be drilled out and replaced with a new one.
Furthermore, the sparks generating portion 106 of each sparks generating elements 102 includes or is made entirely of a sparks generating material such as, but not limited to, magnesium, titanium, quartz, flint, or combinations thereof. The sparks generating material may also include or be any suitable pyrophoric material. Typically, each sparks generating element 102 is entirely made of a sparks generating material as described above. When the sparks generator 100 includes portions that are not made of the sparks generating material, any suitable material can be used to manufacture these portions, including, but not restricted to, a metal, a polymer or a composite, among others. The sparks generating material is operative for generating the sparks 110 when frictionally engaged with and moved across the surface 500.
In some embodiments of the invention (not shown in the figures), it is contemplated that each mounting portion 104 of each sparks generating element 102 includes threads engageable in a threaded bore 112 along the blade bottom edge 304, so as to facilitate the replacement of spent sparks generating elements 102.
Alternatively, as exemplified through alternative embodiments of the present invention shown for example in FIGS. 11 and 13, the sparks generator 100 comprises one single and elongated sparks generating element 102b or 102c. The elongated sparks generating element 102b or 102c is located in a longitudinally and substantially parallelly spaced apart relationship relative to the blade bottom edge 304 and protrudes downwardly relative to the blade bottom edge 304. The elongated sparks generating element 102b or 102c is made of a sparks generating material, such as those mentioned hereinabove.
Sparks generating materials, such as magnesium, titanium, quartz and flint, are well known in the art and are commercially available in different shapes and sizes such as cylindrical, spherical, elongated pins or bars, a dust form, and the likes. These sparks generating materials can generate sparks when rubbed against an abrasive surface such as, for example, asphalt or a rough concrete surface. Furthermore, when different types of sparks generating materials are used either within each sparks generating portion 106 or in different ones of the sparks generating portions, sparks of multiple colours can be generated simultaneously. As exemplified through other embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 12, 14 and 16 for sparks generating elements 102c, 102d and 102e, the whole sparks generating element 102c, 102d or 102e may be made of a material including a sandable binding material embedding pellets of sparks generating material of a same type, or of different types for simultaneously generating various colours.
FIGS. 8 to 17 collectively illustrate alternative sparks generators 100a to 100e. Sparks generators 100a, 100b, 100c and 100e include respectively a mounting member 116a, 116b, 100c and 100e supporting respectively sparks generators 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d. The sparks generators 100d has a sparks generating elements 102d that is directly mountable to the blade body 303. As exemplified in FIG. 18 for the sparks generator 100a, the sparks generators 100a to 100e have a substantially elongated configuration including longitudinally opposed generator end portions 120a to 120e, and generator top and bottom longitudinal portions 122a to 122e and 124a to 124e extending therebetween. The generator top longitudinal portions 122a to 122e form a mounting portion and are configured for parallelly engaging at least a longitudinal portion of a compatibly shaped and sized blade body 303 at the blade bottom edge 304. A plurality of sparks generating elements 102a, or, alternatively, a single elongated sparks generating element 102b, 102c and 102d extends downwardly from the mounting members 116a, 116b, 116c, and 116e. The sparks generator 100d is made of an integrally formed sparks generating element 102d made of a single material.
In some embodiments of the invention, the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e is permanently secured to the blade body 303. For example, the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e may be secured to the blade body 303 using any suitable means such as, but not limited to, glue, epoxy, a double-sided adhesive tape, screws, staples, or a thermal bonding process. Alternatively, the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e is user selectively and removably secured to the blade bottom edge 304 through oppositely facing cross-sectional edge portions thereof that are suitably shaped and sized so as to allow a releasable mutual locking engagement relationship there between, such as for example a dovetail configuration.
In some embodiments, the releasable engagement between the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e and the blade body 303 is actuated through a parallel longitudinal sliding movement of the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e through one longitudinal end, or the other, of the blade body 303 at the blade bottom edge 304, as illustrated in FIG. 18. Alternatively, the mutual engagement between the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e and the blade body 303 is actuated through a substantially parallelly lateral urging movement of the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e towards the compatibly shaped and engaging blade bottom edge 304, as illustrated in FIG. 19, by starting gradually at corresponding longitudinal ends thereof. FIGS. 8 to 17 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of compatibly shaped cross-sectional edge portions between the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e and the blade body 303. Other equivalent embodiments of compatibly shaped cross- sectional edge portions are also possible for releasably engaging the mounting member 116a to 116f with the blade bottom edge 304. The generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e may be made of an at least slightly flexible, yet resilient material to allow the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e to be resiliently engaged with the compatibly shaped blade body 303 through frictional pressure there between. Thus, advantageously, a sparks generator 100a to 100e with spent sparks generating material may be removed by hand and replaced with a new one. Alternatively or in combination with the resilient engagement described above, the generator top longitudinal portion 122a to 122e may be removably secured to the blade body 303 using one or more threaded fastener and hole combinations located at suitable locations there between.
In some embodiments, the whole sparks generator 100d may be represented by a single integrated component made entirely of such sandable binding material embedding sparks generating pellets, as illustrated in FIG. 14, or only an underside surface thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 16 for the sparks generator 100e.
Referring to FIG. 24, in some embodiments of the invention, the mounting member 116f has an upper cross-section suitably sized and shaped so as to substantially conform to the shape of the underside surface of the blade bottom edge 304, and at least an adjacent portion of the blade rearward surface 308, of an off-the-shelf commercially available hockey stick or a hockey blade replacement. The mounting member 116f is connected to the conventional blade bottom edge 304 using any suitable means such as, but not limited to, glue, epoxy, a double-sided adhesive tape, screws, staples, or a thermal bonding process there between. Still referring to FIG. 24, alternatively, or in combination with a double sided tape as described above, the mounting member 116g is releasably connected to the conventional blade bottom edge 304 using a hockey blade tape 402 that is wrapped concurrently around the blade 302 and between each of the at least one sparks generating elements 102f protruding downwardly from the mounting member 116f. Thus, advantageously, the use of a roll of hockey blade tape 402 in combination with a double-sided adhesive tape between the mounting member 116f and the blade body 303, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the sparks generator 100f shown in FIG. 24 may be user selectively mounted on the typical blade body 303 of an off-the-shelf hockey stick. Further advantageously, a spent sparks generator 100f of the presently described embodiment may be relatively easily removed by hand and replaced with a new one.
Referring to FIGS. 20 to 23 collectively, in some embodiments of the invention, the sparks generator 100 includes a plurality of sparks generating assemblies 130. The sparks generating assemblies 130 are provided at the blade bottom edge 304 at longitudinally spaced apart locations therealong. Each sparks generating assembly includes a floor contacting wheel 132 rotatably mounted to the mounting portion blade body 303, as seen in the drawings, or to a suitable mounting portion mountable to the blade body 303 (not shown in the drawings), along a wheel axis 134 extending substantially parallelly and adjacently the blade bottom edge 304. A sparks generating element 102g including a sparks generating material is operatively coupled to the floor contacting wheel 132 for producing sparks 110 when the floor contacting wheel 132 in rotated. For example, the floor contacting wheel 132 includes a substantially adhering peripheral surface and is suitably dimensioned such that a peripheral edge portion thereof protrudes at least slightly from below the blade bottom edge 304, so as to be capable of contacting the surface 500 as illustrated in FIG. 21. Furthermore, at least one file wheel 138 is mounted coaxially on the wheel axis 134, and a spring biased sparks generating element 102g is mounted on the blade body 303 or to a suitable mounting portion.
The spring biased sparks generating element 102g is configured so as to abuttingly contact a bottom peripheral portion of a respective one of the at least one file wheel 138. As exemplified in FIG. 20, one file wheel 138 is located coaxially on each side of the floor contacting wheel 132. The sparks generating element 102g is made of a sparks generating material as described above.
As best exemplified in FIGS. 20 and 21, the blade body 303 or the suitable mounting portion is suitably shaped and sized and provided with forward and rearward apertures 135 and 136 so as to allow the sparks generated between the file wheel 138 and sparks generating element 102g to be directed rearwardly or forwardly, as the blade 302 is respectively moved forwardly or rearwardly while in contact with an adhering surface 500.
As exemplified in FIG. 20, the spring biased sparks generating element 102g may be represented by a relatively small cylindrical sparks generating material maintained urged against the file wheel 138 via a coil spring 140 and a threaded cap 142 engaged in a threaded bore extending upwardly through the blade body 303. Thus, a spent sparks generating element 102g may be easily replaced using a suitable hand tool such as an Allen key, a screw driver or the likes. Other equivalent arrangements for a spring biased sparks generating element 102g are also possible.
The sparks generator 100 thus equipped with wheeled sparks generating elements can be used not only on rough surfaces, but just as well on any smooth surfaces having at least some adherence properties such as, for example, a vinyl covered floor in a house or a school gymnasium.
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 23, in some embodiments of the invention, the sparks generator 100 further comprises a motor 150, a battery 152, a controller in the form of a control button 154, and a flexible drive shaft 156 suitably operatively connected to one another. The flexible drive shaft 156 is further serially rotably connected to each one of the floor contacting wheels 132. The controller is operative to rotate the floor contacting wheel 132 so that when the control button 154 is engaged, the battery 152 can power the motor 150 to rotate drive shaft 156, and consequently the floor contacting wheels 132.
Advantageously, the sparks generator 100 thus equipped with a motor 150 may be used to generate sparks as described above, by engaging the floor contacting wheels 132 with an adhering surface 500. And when the wheels 132 are not contacting the surface 500, via the control button 154 mounted on the shaft 312 of the hockey stick 300, the floor contacting wheels 132 may be user selectively rotated so as to continue to generate sparks. Hence, a hockey stick 300 thus equipped with the motor operated sparks generator may also be used to generate sparks 110 when the user is skating over an ice surface or otherwise moving along a surface that does not present enough friction to engage the floor contacting wheels 132.
In some embodiments of the invention, the control button 154 is a suitably configured multifunction control button allowing the user to control both the direction and speed of rotation of the motor 150. Alternatively or in combination with the multifunction button described above, the sparks generator 100 may further comprises a motion sensor 158. The motion sensor 158 is operative for sensing a direction of motion of the blade body across the surface 500. For example, the motion sensor may be ultrasound or light based, or use triangulation from electromagnetic signals, such as Bluetooth Low Emission signals, to sense a direction of motion of the blade 302. The motion sensor 158 is operatively connected to the motor 150 so as to automatically control the direction of rotation of the motor 150 such that sparks are generated in the opposite direction of the forward or rearward movement of the blade 302.
Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. The present invention can thus be modified without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20250041688
