Curling hack

Amusement devices: games – Surface projectile game; game element – Disk or ring games

Patent

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Details

273128R, A63B 6714, A63C 1910

Patent

active

054659647

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to curling hacks.


BACKGROUND

The curling hack is a foothold secured to the ice of a curling rink. Present day hacks are conventionally rubber-lined cups sunken into the ice. The design of the conventional hack has remained substantially unchanged for over 50 years. A recent modification of the conventional design, the "Marco Hack", provides an extended length, slightly convex, sloping rear tread surface and a reduced size notch between the rear tread surface and the front flat surface. Both of these hacks suffer from certain disadvantages. These include a limited contact area with the shoe sole in actual use, as can be demonstrated by the wear pattern on the tread surfaces. The known hacks are also made of a relatively hard rubber, which is necessary in order to provide adequate wear resistance. However, the hard rubber has a relatively low coefficient of friction, especially at low temperatures, so that foot slippage can occur. The known hacks are also prone to the collection of ice and debris in the notch formed between the two tread sections.
The present invention is concerned with various aspects of a novel hack that deal with these and other problems of the prior an devices.


SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a curling hack comprising: ambient temperatures; and
Because the removeable grip pad is made of a high friction material, for example natural rubber, it will tend to wear more rapidly than the known hacks, however, the pad is replaceable at relatively low cost, so that the service life of the base unit is significantly greater. Natural rubber or another elastomeric material with similar high friction and low temperature sensitivity properties is preferred. A hardness in the range 30 to 70 Durometer is appropriate, with the preferred range being 40 to 70, or possibly more where conditions of use require better physical resistance to damage.
The grip pad may be designed to provide a cushioning action on the sole of the foot, so that the relatively soft pad conforms more readily to the sole of a shoe and increases the surface area of the sole that is in engagement with the hack.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a curling hack comprising: supporting the back end of the base above the anchor means, the support means including adjustment means for adjusting the height of the base with respect to the anchor means.
The conventional technique for varying hack height is with wooden blocks placed between the back of the hack and the sand base or concrete floor below the ice. This means that to adjust hack height, it is necessary to remove the hack, install a new block and then reinstall the hack. With the present arrangement, the hack can be adjusted without removal. Height is infinitely variable between maximum and minimum limits. It is preferred that the base is made from a fire resistant material, for example a glass filled polyester, so that heat can be applied to the hack with a torch to melt the ice around the hack and allow its adjustment.
Preferably, the hack has a minimum height slightly less than two inches, say one and thirteen sixteenth inches, and a maximum height of under three inches, say two and three quarters inches. The low height limits exposure of the hack to damage and potential interference with players.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a curling hack comprising a base including a front end and a back end, a first top surface portion extending rearwardly from the front end and a second top surface portion extending from the first portion towards the back end, the first and second portions meeting along a line extending laterally of the hack.
This eliminates the notch that is conventionally found between the horizontal surface at the front and the sloping back tread surface of a hack. The notch tends to collect ice and debris, and is difficult to clean out.
According to a further aspect of the present invention th

REFERENCES:
patent: 1793898 (1931-02-01), Barron
patent: 2004172 (1935-06-01), Niday
patent: 2505784 (1950-05-01), Miller
patent: 2534159 (1950-12-01), Brouwer et al.
patent: 3401931 (1968-09-01), McCafferty et al.
patent: 3746335 (1973-07-01), Fichter et al.
patent: 3799542 (1974-03-01), Potgieter
patent: 4089519 (1978-05-01), Newton, Jr.
Brochure-"The Marco Hack", 1987.
Canadian Design Registration No. 60,188, Registered Feb. 1988.

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