Ice hockey puck with reduced frictional resistance

Abstract

An ice hockey puck with reduced frictional resistance is provided. The ice hockey puck includes a cylindrical puck shell, propellers, a drive assembly, and a control unit. A receiving cavity is formed in the puck shell, and grating openings communicating with the receiving cavity are provided on both end faces of the puck shell. The propellers and the drive assembly are both disposed within the receiving cavity. A rotation of the propellers generates an airflow directed toward one of the end faces. The drive assembly is drivingly connected to the propellers to rotate the propellers. The drive assembly includes fixedly mounted motors for providing power. The control unit is fixedly disposed within the receiving cavity and includes a battery and a controller. The controller is operatively connected to the motors, and the battery is electrically connected to both the motors and the controller to supply power.

Description

A low-friction ice ball Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of sports equipment, and in particular to an ice hockey puck with low friction resistance. Background Art

[0002] Ice hockey is a competitive sport played on ice using ice skates and a hockey stick. Players score by repeatedly hitting and dribbling the puck with their sticks, aiming for it to be scored. The standard hockey puck used in the game is cylindrical, 25mm thick and 76mm in diameter, weighing between 156g and 170g.

[0003] In order to increase the opportunities for practicing, you can consider training on smoother hard surfaces such as wooden floors. However, when a conventional ice hockey puck slides on these hard surfaces, the friction with the ground is relatively large, which is significantly greater than the friction on the ice surface. It is difficult to truly simulate actual sliding on the ice surface, which affects the training effect.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ice hockey puck with low friction resistance, which can reduce the resistance between the ice hockey puck and the ground on which it is located.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides an ice hockey puck with low friction resistance, comprising a cylindrical spherical shell, a propeller, a drive assembly and a control unit. The spherical shell is provided with an accommodating inner cavity, and both end faces of the spherical shell are provided with grille holes connected to the accommodating inner cavity. The propeller and the drive assembly are both installed in the accommodating inner cavity. When the propeller rotates, it can generate an airflow toward the end face. The drive assembly is connected to the propeller for driving the propeller to rotate. The drive assembly includes a fixedly installed motor for providing power. The control unit is fixedly installed in the accommodating inner cavity. The control unit includes a battery and a controller. The controller is connected to the motor control, and the battery is respectively connected to the motor and the controller for power supply.

[0007] Furthermore, the control unit also includes a gyro sensor for detecting the flip angle of the ice hockey puck, the gyro sensor is connected to the controller signal, and the battery is connected to the gyro sensor for power supply.

[0008] Furthermore, the accommodating inner cavity is cylindrical and its axis is located on the axis of the spherical shell. The propellers are an even number, and are paired in pairs to form a propeller pair. When the drive assembly drives the propellers to rotate, the two propellers in the propeller pair rotate in opposite directions and the rotational inertia generated can offset each other, and the airflow generated is in the same direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the control unit includes a housing seat, the controller, the battery and the gyro sensor are all installed on the housing seat, and the control unit is located on the axis of the spherical shell.

[0010] Furthermore, a plurality of connecting rods are provided in the accommodating inner cavity of the spherical shell, and the two ends of the connecting rods are fixedly connected to the spherical shell and the control part respectively. There are two motors and they are fixedly mounted on the upper and lower side surfaces of the outer shell seat respectively, and the output shafts of the two motors are coaxial. There are two propellers and they are respectively mounted on the output shafts of the two motors.

[0011] Furthermore, there are four propellers forming two propeller pairs, the two propellers in the propeller pair are symmetrical about the axis of the spherical shell and are located at the same height in the axial direction of the spherical shell, and the propellers of different propeller pairs are located at different heights in the axial direction of the spherical shell.

[0012] Furthermore, the four propellers are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the spherical shell, there are four motors, and the four propellers are respectively installed on the output shafts of the four motors.

[0013] Furthermore, the output shaft of the motor is perpendicular to the axis of the propeller, and a first bevel gear is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the motor, a second bevel gear is coaxially arranged on the propeller, and the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear are meshed.

[0014] Furthermore, there are two propellers, which are respectively close to the upper and lower sides of the inner cavity. The motor is fixed on the side wall of the inner cavity and is located between the two propellers. The control unit is located between the two propellers. A plurality of connecting rods are provided between the control unit and the side wall of the inner cavity. The two ends of the connecting rods are respectively fixedly connected to the side wall of the inner cavity and the control unit.

[0015] Furthermore, the grid holes on the end surface of the spherical shell are evenly arranged along the circumference of the spherical shell.

[0016] As described above, the ice hockey ball according to the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] By providing a ball shell, a propeller, a drive assembly, and a control unit, when in use, the end face of the ice hockey puck is placed on the ground. The controller controls the drive assembly to rotate the propeller in a specified direction. The propeller generates airflow toward the end face of the bottom side of the ball shell, which generates a certain amount of lift for the ice hockey puck, reduces the pressure between the ice hockey puck and the ground, and thus reduces the frictional resistance between the ice hockey puck and the ground, which can be adjusted to a frictional resistance similar to that of a conventional ice hockey puck on an ice surface. The ice hockey puck of the present invention can effectively reduce frictional resistance with the ground and can be used on surfaces rougher than ice, such as wooden surfaces. This allows for flexible ice hockey training on a variety of surfaces, not just on ice. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of an ice hockey embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0019] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure inside the shell of the ice hockey embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0020] FIG3 is a top view of FIG2 .

[0021] FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 2 .

[0022] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of an ice hockey puck according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the structure inside the shell of the ice hockey embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 6 .

[0025] FIG8 is a front view of FIG6.

[0026] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a third embodiment of an ice hockey puck according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure inside the shell of the ice hockey embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[0028] FIG11 is a top view of FIG10 .

[0029] FIG12 is a right side view of FIG10.

[0030] DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Ball housing 11 Side panel 12 End panel 13 Grille hole 2 Propeller 3 Motor 4 Control unit 5 Connecting rod 6 First bevel gear 7 Second bevel gear DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following describes the implementation of the present invention through specific embodiments. People skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification.

[0032] It should be noted that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc. depicted in the drawings of this specification are only used to match the contents disclosed in the specification for people familiar with this technology to understand and read, and are not used to limit the conditions for the implementation of the present invention. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modification of the structure, change in the proportional relationship, or adjustment of the size should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed by the present invention without affecting the efficacy and purpose of the present invention. At the same time, the terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "middle", etc. quoted in this specification are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the implementation of the present invention. Changes or adjustments in their relative relationships should also be regarded as the scope of the implementation of the present invention without substantially changing the technical content.

[0033] Referring to Figures 1 to 12, the present invention provides an ice hockey with low friction resistance, including a cylindrical spherical shell 1, a propeller 2, a drive assembly and a control unit 4. The spherical shell 1 is provided with an accommodating inner cavity, and both end faces of the spherical shell 1 are provided with grille holes 13 connected to the accommodating inner cavity. The propeller 2 and the drive assembly are both installed in the accommodating inner cavity. When the propeller 2 rotates, it can generate an airflow toward the end face, wherein the propeller 2 can be parallel to the end face of the spherical shell 1, that is, the rotation axis of the propeller 2 is along the axial direction of the ice hockey, and the propeller 2 can also have a certain inclination angle with the end face of the spherical shell 1. The drive assembly is connected to the propeller 2 for driving the propeller 2 to rotate. The drive assembly includes a fixedly installed motor 3 for providing power. The control unit 4 is fixedly installed in the accommodating inner cavity. The control unit 4 includes a battery and a controller. The controller is connected to the motor 3 for control, and the battery is connected to the motor 3 and the controller respectively for power supply.

[0034] The ice hockey disclosed herein can be used on a variety of relatively smooth surfaces, such as wooden surfaces. During use, the end face of the ice hockey puck is placed on the ground, and a controller controls the operation of the drive assembly, driving propeller 2 to rotate in a specified direction. Propeller 2 generates airflow toward the bottom end face of the ball shell 1, which in turn generates a certain lift for the ice hockey puck, reducing the pressure between the ice hockey puck and the ground, thereby reducing the frictional resistance between the ice hockey puck and the ground, and adjusting the frictional resistance between the ice hockey puck and the ground to a level similar to that of a conventional ice hockey puck on an ice surface. The ice hockey puck disclosed herein can effectively reduce frictional resistance with the ground and can be used on surfaces rougher than ice, such as wooden surfaces. Of course, it can also be used on ice surfaces, thus enabling flexible ice hockey training on a variety of surfaces, not just on ice.

[0035] 1 to 12 , the present invention will be further described below with reference to several preferred embodiments:

[0036] Example 1:

[0037] Refer to Figures 1 to 4 for schematic diagrams of the structure of this first embodiment. In this embodiment, referring to Figure 1, as a preferred design, the spherical housing 1 includes a cylindrical side panel 11 and circular end panels 12 fixed to the upper and lower ends of the side panel 11. A cylindrical inner cavity is formed between the end panel 12 and the side panel 11, and the axis of the inner cavity is located on the axis of the spherical housing 1. Grille holes 13 are formed in the end panel 12. Preferably, the grille holes 13 are evenly arranged along the circumference of the end panel 12. Specifically, the grille holes 13 are arranged in multiple circles from the center to the edge of the end panel 12, and each circle contains multiple grille holes 13. This ensures that airflow through the grille holes 13 is more uniform and smooth.

[0038] In this embodiment, as a preferred design, the control unit 4 also includes a gyroscopic sensor for detecting the puck's flip angle. The gyroscopic sensor is signal-connected to the controller, and a battery is connected to the gyroscopic sensor for power. During the puck's motion, the gyroscopic sensor monitors the puck's flip angle in real time, specifically the angle between the puck and the ground, and whether the puck is flipping. An appropriate angle value A can be set. When the angle between the puck and the ground is below angle value A, the puck is only slightly tilted. When the angle between the puck and the ground is greater than angle value A, the puck is significantly tilted. At this point, the controller controls the drive assembly to stop, and motor 3 to stop rotating, based on the gyroscopic sensor signal. When the angle returns to below angle value A, motor 3 restarts. When the gyroscopic sensor detects that the puck has flipped, meaning that the puck's end face, which was originally facing downward, now faces upward, the controller controls the drive assembly's motor 3 to reverse direction based on the gyroscopic sensor signal. This ensures that the airflow generated remains downward, generating lift and ensuring continued normal operation after the puck flips.

[0039] In this embodiment, referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, as a preferred design, there are two propellers 2, forming a propeller pair. The two propellers 2 are preferably of the same size, and the propellers 2 are parallel to the end face of the ball shell 1. When the drive assembly drives the propellers 2 to rotate, the two propellers 2 rotate in opposite directions and the rotational inertia generated can offset each other, and the airflow generated is in the same direction, which can improve the stability of the ice hockey.

[0040] In this embodiment, control unit 4 comprises a housing housing, to which the controller, battery, and gyroscope sensor are mounted, forming a single integrated unit. This creates a more compact structural layout, facilitates control of the overall center of gravity, and facilitates installation of control unit 4 within the inner cavity. Control unit 4 is located on the axis of spherical shell 1. Its overall cylindrical shape ensures a uniform mass distribution, with its center of gravity located along its axis. When installed, control unit 4's axis is aligned with the axis of spherical shell 1, further ensuring uniform mass distribution throughout the hockey puck.

[0041] In this embodiment, referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, a plurality of connecting rods 5 are provided in the accommodating inner cavity of the spherical shell 1. The two ends of the connecting rods 5 are fixedly connected to the spherical shell 1 and the control unit 4, respectively, fixing the control unit 4 in the middle of the inner cavity, and all the connecting rods 5 are arranged in a circumferential array along the spherical shell 1, thereby ensuring the stable installation of the control unit 4. In this embodiment, the propeller 2 is directly driven by the motor 3. There are two motors 3, which are fixedly mounted on the upper and lower sides of the housing seat, and the output shafts of the two motors 3 are coaxial. The propellers 2 are respectively mounted on the output shafts of the two motors 3 and the control unit 4, and are respectively close to the two end panels 12 of the spherical shell 1. When the controller controls the two motors 3 to rotate, the rotation directions are always opposite. The two propellers 2 are coaxially arranged and the rotation directions are always opposite, and the generated rotational inertia can also offset each other.

[0042] Example 2:

[0043] Refer to Figures 5 to 8 for a schematic diagram of the structure of Example 2. In this embodiment, there are four propellers 2, forming two propeller pairs. The propellers 2 are parallel to the end surface of the spherical shell 1. The propellers 2 are preferably the same size. The two propellers 2 in the propeller pair are symmetrical about the axis of the spherical shell 1. In this way, the rotational inertia generated by the two propellers 2 when rotating at a constant speed in opposite directions can offset each other. The two propellers 2 in the propeller pair are located at the same height in the axial direction of the spherical shell 1. The propellers 2 of different propeller pairs are located at different heights in the axial direction of the spherical shell 1 and are distributed near the two end panels 12 of the two spherical shells 1 to facilitate the structural layout in the inner cavity.

[0044] In this embodiment, the four propellers 2 are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the spherical shell 1. The propellers 2 are directly driven by the motor 3. There are four motors 3. The four propellers 2 are respectively installed on the output shafts of the four motors 3. The motor 3 is vertically fixed on the end panel 12 of the spherical shell 1. The four motors 3 are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the spherical shell 1. In this way, the stability of the ice hockey is further improved.

[0045] In this embodiment, the structure of the spherical shell 1 is the same as that in the above-mentioned embodiment 1, so it is not described in detail. The structure of the control part 4 is also basically the same as that in the embodiment 1. The difference is that the upper and lower ends of the control part 4 are directly fixed to the two end panels 12 of the spherical shell 1, which is stable and reliable.

[0046] Example 3:

[0047] Referring to Figures 9 to 12 , which illustrate the structure of Embodiment 3, the structure of the spherical housing 1 is identical to that of Embodiment 1 and will not be described in detail. The structure and mounting method of the control unit 4 are also identical to those of Embodiment 1, being fixedly mounted in the middle of the inner cavity via a plurality of connecting rods 5.

[0048] In this embodiment, two propellers 2 form a propeller pair. Propellers 2 are parallel to the end surface of the spherical shell 1 and are preferably of equal size. When the drive assembly drives the propellers 2, they rotate in opposite directions, and the resulting rotational inertia cancels each other out, generating airflow in the same direction, thereby improving the stability of the ice hockey puck. In this embodiment, referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the two propellers 2 are independently driven by two motors 3. The motors 3 are arranged transversely within the inner cavity, with their output shafts perpendicular to the axes of the propellers 2. A first bevel gear 6 is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the motor 3, and a second bevel gear 7 is coaxially mounted on the propeller 2. The first bevel gear 6 and the second bevel gear 7 mesh with each other. When the motors 3 rotate, the transmission from the first bevel gear 6 and the second bevel gear 7 drives the propellers 2. The transverse arrangement of the motors 3 facilitates their installation within the inner cavity.

[0049] In order to further facilitate installation and layout, the two propellers 2 are respectively close to the two end panels 12 of the spherical shell 1, the motor 3 is fixed on the side panel 11 and is located between the two propellers 2, and the control unit 4 is located between the two propellers 2. The two propellers 2 are rotatably mounted on the outer shell seat of the control unit 4. Of course, the propellers 2 can also be rotatably mounted on the end panels 12 of the spherical shell 1.

[0050] In the present invention, the shell 1 is made of a material with considerable hardness and strength, such as aluminum alloy or rubber. The size and overall weight of the ice hockey puck are designed to match the size and weight of a standard competition ice hockey puck. By properly arranging the propeller 2, drive assembly, and control unit 4 within the inner cavity, the ice hockey puck is ensured to maintain overall balance, with its center of gravity located at its axis.

[0051] In the present invention, both the controller and the gyro sensor are existing instruments. The gyro sensor can detect the angle changes of the ice hockey puck, enabling real-time detection of the ice hockey puck's flip angle. The controller has signal receiving, calculation, and control instruction transmission functions, and can receive signals from the gyro sensor and control the rotation of motor 3.

[0052] In the present invention, a switch for controlling the start and stop of the ice hockey puck and the motor speed can also be provided on the ice hockey puck. The switch is provided on the side panel 11 of the ball shell 1 and does not protrude from the side panel 11, making it easy to operate while not affecting the contact between the stick and the ice hockey puck. Of course, if the internal space of the ball shell 1 allows, the controller can also be selected to receive wireless signals, and the remote control can send command signals to the controller to control the start and stop and speed of the motor.

[0053] The installation of the ice hockey of the present invention, the propeller 2, the motor 3 and the control unit 4 requires a certain stability so that the ice hockey can withstand a certain degree of impact force and can be used for dribbling, shooting and other training, especially for dribbling training.

[0054] As can be seen from the above, the ice hockey of the present invention has the following technical effects:

[0055] 1. Propeller 2 generates lift to reduce the frictional resistance between the ice hockey puck and the ground. This allows the ice hockey puck to move on various surfaces with the same frictional resistance as on ice, creating a motion effect close to that on ice and facilitating ice hockey training.

[0056] 2. By setting up a gyroscope sensor, the state of the ice hockey puck can be detected to ensure that the ice hockey puck can still work normally after flipping during movement.

[0057] In summary, the present invention effectively overcomes various shortcomings in the prior art and has high industrial utilization value.

[0058] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art may modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and technical principles disclosed herein are intended to be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A low friction ice ball, characterized in that: The invention comprises a cylindrical spherical shell (1), a propeller (2), a driving assembly and a control unit (4); the spherical shell (1) is provided with a containing inner cavity; both end surfaces of the spherical shell (1) are provided with grille holes (13) communicating with the containing inner cavity; the propeller (2) and the driving assembly are both installed in the containing inner cavity; when the propeller (2) rotates, an airflow toward the end surface can be generated; the driving assembly is transmission-connected with the propeller (2) for driving the propeller (2) to rotate; the driving assembly comprises a fixedly installed motor (3) for providing power; the control unit (4) is fixedly installed in the containing inner cavity; the control unit (4) comprises a battery and a controller; the controller is control-connected with the motor (3); and the battery is respectively connected with the motor (3) and the controller for power supply.

2. The ice ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit (4) also includes a gyro sensor for detecting the flip angle of the ice ball. The gyro sensor is connected to the controller signal, and the battery is connected to the gyro sensor for power supply.

3. The ice ball according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The accommodating inner cavity is cylindrical and its axis is located on the axis of the spherical shell (1); the propellers (2) are an even number and are paired to form a propeller pair; when the driving component drives the propellers (2) to rotate, the two propellers (2) in the propeller pair rotate in opposite directions and the rotational inertia generated can offset each other, and the airflows generated are in the same direction.

4. The ice ball according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control unit (4) comprises a housing seat, the controller, the battery and the gyro sensor are all mounted on the housing seat, and the control unit (4) is located on the axis of the spherical housing (1).

5. The ice ball according to claim 4, characterized in that: A plurality of connecting rods (5) are arranged in the accommodating inner cavity of the spherical shell (1), and the two ends of the connecting rods (5) are respectively fixedly connected to the spherical shell (1) and the control unit (4). The number of the motors (3) is two and they are respectively fixedly mounted on the upper and lower side surfaces of the outer shell seat, and the output shafts of the two motors (3) are coaxial. The number of the propellers (2) is two and they are respectively mounted on the output shafts of the two motors (3).

6. The ice ball according to claim 3, characterized in that: There are four propellers (2) forming two propeller pairs, the two propellers (2) in the propeller pair are symmetrical about the axis of the spherical shell (1) and are located at the same height in the axial direction of the spherical shell (1), and the propellers (2) in different propeller pairs are located at different heights in the axial direction of the spherical shell (1).

7. The ice ball according to claim 6, characterized in that: The four propellers (2) are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the spherical housing (1); there are four motors (3) and the four propellers (2) are respectively mounted on the output shafts of the four motors (3).

8. The ice ball according to claim 3, characterized in that: The output shaft of the motor (3) is perpendicular to the axis of the propeller (2), and a first bevel gear (6) is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the motor (3), and a second bevel gear (7) is coaxially arranged on the propeller (2), and the first bevel gear (6) and the second bevel gear (7) are meshed with each other.

9. The ice ball according to claim 8, characterized in that: There are two propellers (2) and they are respectively close to the upper and lower sides of the inner cavity. The motor (3) is fixed on the side wall of the inner cavity and is located between the two propellers (2). The control unit (4) is located between the two propellers (2). A plurality of connecting rods (5) are provided between the control unit (4) and the side wall of the inner cavity. The two ends of the connecting rods (5) are respectively fixedly connected to the side wall of the inner cavity and the control unit (4).

10. The ice ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: The grid holes (13) on the end surface of the ball housing (1) are evenly arranged along the circumference of the ball housing (1).