Games using tangible projectile – Projectile – per se; part thereof or accessory therefor – Disk- or ring-shaped
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-04-17
Chiu, Raleigh W. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Projectile, per se; part thereof or accessory therefor
Disk- or ring-shaped
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217468
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to hockey pucks and, more particularly, to a hockey puck having an outer shock absorbing enclosure and multiple inner core segments separated from one another by the outer enclosure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In-line skates have expanded interest in playing hockey. Similar to ice hockey, the players seek to drive a puck into an opposing team's goal to score points. However, unlike ice hockey, the puck does not slide as easily along an in-line hockey playing surface, usually cement or asphalt, as it would on ice.
Various designs of hockey pucks for use on non-ice surfaces have been proposed in the prior art to reduce friction between the puck and surface. Some examples of these designs are the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,727,744; 3,784,204; 4,078,801; 4,111,419; 4,153,253; 4,793,769; 4,801,144; 5,149,096; 5,184,820; 5,275,410; 5,288,072; 5,346,214; 5,366,219; 5,472,193; 5,482,274; 5,597,161; and 5,697,858. Many designs propose the use of spherical balls or rollers mounted in opposite surfaces of the pucks which reduce friction but over time accumulate dirt and debris that impair proper function. Other designs employ rounded or semispherical heads or runners protruding from opposite surfaces of the puck which do not rotate and thus avoid the problem of clogging with foreign matter but nonetheless sometimes break off resulting in damaged pucks. Some designs have rigid solid one-piece inflexible inner structures which seem to produce overly hard, dull impacts with hockey sticks and thus lack the feel on players' sticks that pucks have in ice hockey. Still other designs appear to be too soft and flexible and thus lack the ice hockey feel also.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The hockey puck of the present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art hockey pucks by providing an outer shock absorbing enclosure and multiple inner core segments separated from one another by the outer enclosure. The inner core segments have protuberances extending from opposite sides thereof and through opposite faces of the outer enclosure so as to define glider elements protruding from the opposite faces of the outer enclosure which are reinforced by gussets interconnecting and extending diagonally between opposite portions of the protuberances and respective sides of the inner core segments within the outer enclosure. The hockey puck of the present invention has enhanced stability and balance through improved absorption and distribution of impact forces and a softer bounce.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a hockey puck which comprises: (a) a plurality of separate inner core segments each having a pair of opposite sides; (b) a plurality of protuberances on the opposite sides of the inner core segments with the protuberances on one of the opposite sides of the inner core segments protruding from the inner core segments in an opposite direction from the protuberances on the other of the opposite sides of the inner core segments; and (c) an outer enclosure of a generally cylindrical configuration having a pair of opposite faces and a plurality of compartments being the same in number as the inner core segments such that each of the compartments respectively surround and contain one of the inner core segments so as to maintain the inner core segments in spaced relationships from one another, the outer enclosure also having a plurality of apertures in each of the opposite faces thereof such that the protuberances on the inner core segments protrude through the apertures substantially the same distance outwardly from the opposite faces of the outer enclosure so as to define glider elements protruding from the opposite faces of the outer enclosure for slidably engaging a hockey playing surface and supporting the outer enclosure and inner core segments in a spaced relationship above the hockey playing surface, the outer enclosure being of a material that provides shock absorbing inner and peripheral wall portions between and around the inner core segments which respond to impacts by reducing bounce and roll of the hockey puck during play. The protuberances extending from opposite sides of the inner core segments are reinforced by gussets interconnecting and extending diagonally between opposite portions of the protuberances and respective sides of the inner core segments within the outer enclosure. Also, the material of the outer enclosure preferably is transparent such that the inner core segments are visible therethrough. Further, the inner core segments and interior compartments of the outer enclosure have substantially similar pie-shaped configurations.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
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Chiu Raleigh W.
Flanagan John K.
Flanagan John R.
Flanagan & Flanagan
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