Hockey puck

Abstract

The invention relates to a hockey puck (1) for synthetic ice. The hockey puck has a cylindrical inner body (11) with two opposite sliding faces (111) made of a first material and arranged parallel to one another, and a hollow-cylindrical outer body (12) made of a second material, wherein the axis of rotation of the inner body and the axis of rotation of the outer body are arranged coaxially, and the outer body (12) is arranged around the inner body (11).

Description

[0001] HOCKEY PUCK

[0002] Technical area

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of a hockey puck for use on synthetic ice.

[0004] 5 State of the art

[0005] A variety of so-called hockey pucks for use on ice surfaces are known in the art. These are usually made of vulcanized rubber, allowing them to glide across the ice at speeds of up to 170 km / h. However, in recent decades, playing and training on non-ice surfaces during warmer months has increased significantly. For example, street hockey is often played on asphalt or concrete during the warmer months. The popularity of synthetic ice, which is made of polyethylene sheets, has also increased significantly, and playing and training on synthetic ice is also preferred during the warmer months.What they all have in common, however, is that conventional hockey pucks are poorly suited to non-ice surfaces, as their material composition results in a significantly higher coefficient of sliding friction on non-ice surfaces than on ice surfaces. Furthermore, conventional hockey pucks tend to roll on their perimeter on non-ice surfaces rather than gliding on one of their surfaces, which is undesirable in hockey play.

[0006] Therefore, special pucks have been developed for playing and training on non-ice surfaces. For example, US Patent US10537778 BB discloses a hockey puck for use on ice and non-ice surfaces. The hockey puck comprises an upper and lower shell element that can be connected to each other and together define a cavity to increase gliding ability on ice and non-ice surfaces.

[0007] Furthermore, US9108095 BA, US6089998 A, US61 52842 A and US5275410 A each disclose a hockey puck for use on non-ice surfaces, wherein the

[0008] 5 hockey pucks each contain so-called runners as additional gliding elements to improve gliding performance. These additional, friction-reducing gliding elements are usually made of plastic, such as wound nylon, and are permanently or replaceably attached to the outer surface of the hockey puck.

[0009] Description of the invention 0 A disadvantage of all of these hockey pucks known from the prior art is, however, that their gliding behavior on synthetic ice, also called syntheis, is unsatisfactory and does not allow a realistic hockey game, which can be compared with the hockey game on water-based ice, hereinafter referred to as ice.

[0010] Another disadvantage of conventional hockey pucks for use on non-ice surfaces is their construction and material composition. A two-part shell construction or additional sliding elements attached to the surface, for example, poses the risk of the hockey puck breaking or jumping apart during play, which can lead to game interruptions or even serious injuries to players. Hockey pucks that use additional sliding elements to reduce friction also pose a safety risk, as the additional sliding elements can detach from the hockey puck due to compression upon impact with, for example, a hockey stick or the rink wall.Furthermore, the state-of-the-art hockey pucks for use on non-ice surfaces are often made of materials that, on the one hand, impair the sliding friction between the hockey puck and the playing surface, but, on the other hand, are no longer made of the same elastic material as conventional hockey pucks, and thus deform with use because they no longer return to their original shape. Furthermore, non-ice playing surfaces are often contaminated with dirt, stones, or other contaminants.

[0011] 5 contaminants, which on the one hand also impair the gliding properties of the hockey puck and on the other hand damage the surfaces of the hockey pucks for non-ice surfaces and thus further reduce the gliding properties.

[0012] All these disadvantages known from the state of the art lead to unacceptable puck control, which can lead to serious losses in game quality and realism on non-zero ice surfaces compared to games on natural ice surfaces.

[0013] It is therefore the general object of the invention to further develop the state of the art in the field of hockey pucks for use on synthetic ice and preferably to overcome one or more disadvantages of the prior art. In advantageous embodiments, a hockey puck is provided that exhibits almost realistic gliding behavior on synthetic ice with the same amount of force as a hockey puck on natural ice.

[0014] The general object of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent patent claims and the disclosure as a whole. 0 The inventive hockey puck for synthetic ice has a rotationally symmetrical, cylindrical inner body that extends along an inner body rotation axis and has two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces, and a rotationally symmetrical, hollow cylindrical outer body that extends along an outer body rotation axis. The inner body rotation axis and the outer body rotation axis are arranged coaxially, and the outer body is arranged around the inner body. The two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces are preferably circular.

[0015] In preferred embodiments, the maximum axial extent of the

[0016] 5 outer body from radially outside to radially inside. The maximum axial extent of the outer body is radially outside the same as the maximum axial extent of the inner body. This means that the maximum axial extent of the outer body runs at an incline from radially outside to radially inside. Preferably, the maximum axial extent of the outer body decreases evenly from radially outside to radially inside. This prevents the hockey puck according to the invention from rotating or wobbling back and forth on the sliding surface, or from exhibiting uneven sliding behavior, when used on synthetic ice. The difference between the maximum axial extent of the outer body radially outward and the maximum axial extent of the outer body radially inward can lie in a range between 0.25 mm5 and 5 mm.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the maximum axial extent of the inner body is greater than the maximum axial extent of the outer body, so that the two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces of the inner body protrude beyond the outer body on both sides in the axial direction, each with a projection. The maximum axial extent of the inner body can be selected such that it has a maximum extension between 0.5 mm and 5 mm greater than the outer body. As a result, when the outer body is arranged around the inner body, the maximum axial extent of the inner body can be spaced from the maximum axial extent of the outer body on both sides, and the inner body, with its two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces, forms a projection on both sides relative to the outer body.The inner body, with its maximum axial extension, can protrude axially beyond the maximum axial extension of the outer body on both sides. The outer body can be arranged around the inner body in such a way that the inner body's axis of rotation and the outer body's axis of rotation lie coaxially one above the other, and that the maximum axial

[0018] 5 The extension of the inner body is spaced apart on both sides in the axial direction from the maximum axial extension of the outer body. This means that the inner body projects with its maximum extension on both sides in the axial direction beyond the maximum axial extension of the outer body with a projection, whereby the maximum axial extension of the inner body is spaced apart from the maximum extension of the outer body in the respective axial direction at a different distance.

[0019] In preferred embodiments, the outer body and the inner body are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a central plane of the hockey puck. The central plane of the hockey puck is perpendicular to the rotation axis and runs through the center of the hockey puck. 5 The hockey puck has a total weight of between 100 g and 200 g and is substantially cylindrical in shape, with its diameter being greater than its axial length. The diameter of a hockey puck can be between 70 mm and 80 mm, preferably between 75 mm and 78 mm, and the axial length between 20 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 24 mm and 28 mm. If the hockey puck is used for training or games0 in which the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (UHF) apply, the dimensions of the rules apply and the hockey puck has a diameter of 76.2 mm, an axial length of 25.4 mm and a total weight between 1.56 g and 1.70 g.

[0020] The inner body and the outer body of a hockey puck are each preferably manufactured individually5 and the outer body is arranged around the inner body, ie the outer body encloses the inner body, wherein the outer body is arranged around the inner body such that the inner body and outer body can be connected to one another by means of a form fit and / or force fit and / or material fit. Preferably, the inner body and outer body are detachably connected to one another. The term used here

[0021] 5 "Releasably connected" means that the connection can be removed without destroying the connected components or parts thereof. Furthermore, a removable connection can undergo multiple separation cycles. Furthermore, a removable connection can usually be removed again without significant force. This allows the inner and outer bodies to be replaced separately, for example, in the event of wear or material fatigue.

[0022] The rotationally symmetrical, cylindrical inner body has a radial and an axial extension, wherein the radial extension of the two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces, i.e., the sliding surface diameter, is greater than the maximum axial extension of the inner body. The opposing, parallel sliding surfaces are preferably circular. The inner body can be made of a suitable plastic, such as a thermoplastic or thermoset, or of another suitable material, such as metal.

[0023] Furthermore, the two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces of the inner body are preferably planar sliding surfaces, meaning the entire sliding surface touches the synthetic ice when the hockey puck rests on the synthetic ice. The sliding surfaces are made of a suitable material, such as a thermoplastic or a thermoset with a sliding friction coefficient of <0.35 on synthetic ice. In preferred embodiments, the inner body and the two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces are integrally formed from a thermoplastic or a thermoset with a sliding friction coefficient of <0.35 on synthetic ice.The integrally formed inner body creates a uniform mass distribution, which, on the one hand, results in a consistent gliding behavior of the hockey puck on synthetic ice and, on the other hand, in consistent compression from every circumferential direction, regardless of the point of impact. This makes the playing characteristics more predictable and further enhances the quality of play on synthetic ice.

[0024] In preferred embodiments, the two sliding surfaces of the inner body are made of polyoxymethylene, with the inner body and its two sliding surfaces preferably being integrally formed. The use of polyoxymethylene can further improve the gliding ability of the hockey puck on synthetic ice, as the coefficient of sliding friction between polyoxymethylene and synthetic ice is lower than that between vulcanized rubber and synthetic ice, which is used in conventional ice hockey pucks. Furthermore, due to the material properties of polyoxymethylene, the sliding surfaces of the inner body are less damaged by the contaminants found on synthetic ice, and the gliding properties are maintained for longer.

[0025] Alternatively, the two sliding surfaces and the inner body can also be designed as a sandwich construction. This means that the two opposing sliding surfaces can also be designed as two separate elements, each of which is attached to the opposite sides of the inner body by means of a suitable fastening. Furthermore, the inner body can also be designed with an additional weight element arranged centrally in the inner body, for example to further increase the weight of the inner body. The inner layer of the sandwich construction and the centrally arranged weight element can be made of any material, such as metal. If the inner body consists of a sandwich construction, the material of the opposing, parallel sliding surfaces of the inner body is selected so that the sliding surfaces have a sliding friction coefficient of < 0.35 on synthetic ice.Preferably, the sliding surfaces of the inner body consist of a.

[0026] Sandwich construction made of polyoxymethylene.

[0027] In preferred embodiments, the inner body of the hockey puck has an axial extension of between 20 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 24 mm and 28 mm.

[0028] 5 If the hockey puck is used for training or games in which the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (UHF) apply, the inner body is preferably made integrally from polyoxymethylene and meets the dimensions specified by the International Ice Hockey Federation (11 HF).

[0029] In preferred embodiments, the two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces and the outer body of the hockey puck have a sliding surface diameter and an outer body inner diameter, respectively, of between 55 mm and 65 mm, preferably between 57 mm and 61 mm. The sliding surfaces and the outer body are corresponding bodies, and the sliding surface diameter and the outer body inner diameter are each adapted to one another.

[0030] In further embodiments, the inner body and the outer body are connected to one another, preferably detachably, by means of a positive connection and / or frictional connection and / or material connection. Depending on the material of the outer body, the outer body's inner diameter can also be selected such that the outer body's inner diameter is smaller than the inner body and can be expanded, for example, by heating, to accommodate the inner body. Furthermore, the inner body and outer body can have corresponding positive-locking means for additional fastening, which are described in detail below.

[0031] In further embodiments, the inner body of a hockey puck has a weight between 50 g and 150 g. The weight of the inner body is always selected so that the inner body, together with the weight of the outer body, forms a

[0032] Hockey puck with a total weight between 100 g and 200 g.

[0033] The rotationally symmetrical, hollow cylindrical outer body is preferably made integrally from a suitable material such as an elastomer or a thermoset

[0034] 5. The material of the outer body is selected to reduce the impact on the inner body and to ensure that the hockey puck returns to its original shape after each impact and the resulting deformation. Preferably, the outer body is integrally formed from an elastomer or a thermoset, particularly preferably from a hard rubber. The rotationally symmetrical, hollow-cylindrical outer body has a radial and an axial extension, with the radial extension of the outer body being greater than the maximum axial extension.

[0035] Furthermore, in preferred embodiments, the inner body has an inner body circumferential surface and the outer body has an inner outer body circumferential surface, which lie directly against one another when the outer body accommodates the inner body. This means that the inner body circumferential surface lies as closely as possible against the inner outer body circumferential surface when the outer body encloses the inner body. Alternatively, however, a uniform distance of between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm can exist between the inner body circumferential surface and the inner outer body circumferential surface. This means that the inner body has a minimally smaller inner body diameter than the outer body inner diameter of the outer body. If the inner body has a smaller diameter, additional corresponding form-locking means, which are described further below, are required on the inner body and outer body for the releasable fastening of the inner body.

[0036] In preferred embodiments, corresponding form-locking means are arranged on the inner body circumferential surface and the inner outer body circumferential surface in order to reinforce the preferably detachable connection between the inner body and the outer body. The form-locking means are preferably formed integrally with the inner body or the outer body. The form-locking means are preferably circumferential form-locking means. Furthermore, one or more circumferential

[0037] 5 corresponding form-locking means are arranged. Alternatively, the corresponding form-locking means can also be individually formed form-locking means. The corresponding form-locking means are preferably arranged rotationally symmetrically and mirror-symmetrically on the inner body circumferential surface and on the inner outer body circumferential surface, respectively. 0 In preferred embodiments, the corresponding form-locking means are present as a projection, such as a spring, and as a recess, such as a groove. The corresponding form-locking means are preferably circumferential form-locking means. The projections can be arranged on the inner body circumferential surface and the recesses in the inner outer body circumferential surface, or vice versa.

[0038] Short description of the characters

[0039] The disclosure described herein will be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying figures, which should not be considered as limiting the disclosure described in the appended claims. The figures show:

[0040] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a hockey puck according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an inner body and an outer body of the hockey puck according to Fig. 1;

[0041] Fig. 3 A cross section through the plane of the hockey puck shown in Fig. 1;

[0042] Fig. 4 Another embodiment of a hockey puck according to the invention in a

[0043] 5 Cross-sectional view through the shown plane of the hockey puck;

[0044] Fig. 5 A further embodiment of a hockey puck according to the invention in a cross-sectional view through the shown plane of the hockey puck;

[0045] Fig. 6 A further embodiment of a hockey puck according to the invention in a cross-sectional view through the shown plane of the hockey puck; 0 Fig. 7 A further embodiment of a hockey puck according to the invention in a cross-sectional view through the shown plane of the hockey puck.

[0046] Descriptions of the embodiments

[0047] Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which some, but not all, features are shown. Indeed, the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will conform to applicable legal requirements. Wherever possible, like reference numerals are used to refer to the same components or parts. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0048] Figures 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a hockey puck. The embodiment shown in these figures is a variation of the hockey puck for use under the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (UHF) with a diameter of 76.2 mm, an axial length of 25.4 mm, and a weight between 1.56 g and 1.70 g.

[0049] As can be seen from the perspective view of Figure 1, the hockey puck 1 shown in this embodiment has a rotationally symmetrical, circular-cylindrical inner body 11 with an inner body diameter of 60.2 mm, which forms the sliding surface 111. Furthermore, the hockey puck 1 has a rotationally symmetrical, hollow-circular-cylindrical outer body 12 with an outer body diameter and thus a hockey puck 1 total diameter of 76.2 mm. The inner body 11 is designed such that its maximum axial extent is greater than the maximum axial extent of the outer body 12. The inner body 11 protrudes with its sliding surfaces 111 in the axial direction with a projection 3 beyond the outer body 12.Furthermore, the inner body 11 and the outer body 12 are each formed integrally, and the outer body 12 is arranged around the inner body 11 such that the inner body circumferential surface and the inner outer body circumferential surface lie directly against one another. As can be seen in Figure 2a, the inner body 11 has two circumferential form-locking means in the form of a projection or a spring 2-1 on its inner body circumferential surface 112, wherein the two projections 2-1 are arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction. In addition to the form-locking means in the form of a projection 2-1 arranged on the inner body circumferential surface 112, as shown in Figure 2b, corresponding circumferential form-locking means in the form of a circumferential recess or groove 2-2 are arranged on the inner outer body circumferential surface 121.The two recesses 2-2 are arranged on the inner outer body peripheral surface 1 21 such that the distance between the two recesses 2-2 corresponds to the distance of the projections 2-1 arranged on the inner body peripheral surface.

[0050] Figure 3a shows a cross section through the shown plane of the hockey puck 1 , where the

[0051] 5 Inner body 1 1 has a maximum axial extension of 25.4 mm and the outer body 1 2 has a maximum axial extension of 24 mm. As can be seen from Figures 3a and 3b, the outer body 1 2 is arranged around the inner body 1 1 in such a way that the inner body rotation axis and the outer body rotation axis lie coaxially one above the other and the maximum axial extension of the inner body 1 1 is spaced equidistantly on both sides in the axial direction from the maximum extension of the outer body 1 2 with a respective projection 3 of 0.7 mm. This means that the two opposite, parallel sliding surfaces 1 1 1 of the inner body 1 1 protrude beyond the outer body 1 2 on both sides in the axial direction with an equidistant projection 3 of 0.7 mm. Furthermore, the two sliding surfaces 1 1 1 are each planar5 sliding surfaces and, like the inner body, are made of polyoxymethylene.Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inner body 1 1 and outer body 1 2 are detachably connected to one another in a force-locking and form-locking manner, wherein the inner body peripheral surface 1 1 2 and the inner outer body peripheral surface 1 21 each have two corresponding form-locking means in the form of a tongue and groove connection, wherein the tongues 2-1 are arranged circumferentially on the inner body peripheral surface 1 1 2 and the grooves 2-2 are arranged circumferentially on the inner outer body peripheral surface 1 21.

[0052] Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of a hockey puck 1 according to the invention. The hockey puck 1 shown in this embodiment has an integrally formed inner body 11 with integrally formed sliding surfaces 111. The two opposing sliding surfaces 111 arranged parallel to one another are planar sliding surfaces 111. Furthermore, the hockey puck 1 shown in Figure 4 has an outer body 12 which is arranged around the inner body 11, wherein the inner body rotation axis and the outer body rotation axis are arranged coaxially. The maximum axial extent of the outer body 12 decreases in this embodiment from radially outside to radially inside. The maximum axial extent of the outer body 12 radially outside

[0053] 5 corresponds to the maximum axial extent of the inner body 1 1 . In this embodiment, the two opposing, parallel sliding surfaces 1 1 1 of the inner body 1 1 protrude radially inward on both sides in the axial direction with an equidistant projection 3 beyond the outer body 1 2. The inner body 1 1 and the outer body 1 2 are releasably connected to one another in a force-locking and form-locking manner, with the form-locking connection corresponding to the connection shown in Figure 3.

[0054] Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a hockey puck 1 according to the invention. The embodiment shown in Figure 5 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 4 in that a corresponding positive-locking means in the form of a tongue and groove connection is attached to the inner body peripheral surface 112 and to the inner outer body peripheral surface 121. The groove 2-2 is arranged circumferentially on the inner body peripheral surface 112, and the tongue 2-1 is arranged circumferentially on the inner outer body peripheral surface 121.

[0055] The embodiment shown in Figure 6 shows a further version of a rotationally symmetrical and cylindrical inner body with sliding surfaces of a hockey puck according to the invention. The sliding surfaces 1 1 1 and the inner body 1 1 are designed as a sandwich construction in this embodiment. The two opposite sliding surfaces 1 1 1 arranged parallel to one another are circular sliding surfaces 1 1 1 . Furthermore, the two sliding surfaces 1 1 1 are planar sliding surfaces 1 1 1 . The sliding surface diameter of the two sliding surfaces 1 1 1 in this embodiment is greater than the inner body diameter. The sliding surfaces 1 1 1 shown in this embodiment are made of polyoxymethylene. Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of a rotationally symmetrical and cylindrical inner body 1 1 of a hockey puck 1 according to the invention. The sliding surfaces 1 1 1 and the inner body 1 1 are designed as a sandwich construction in this embodiment.The two opposite, parallel to each other.

[0056] 5 arranged sliding surfaces 1 1 1 are circular sliding surfaces 1 1 1 . Furthermore, the two sliding surfaces 1 1 1 are planar sliding surfaces 1 1 1 . Furthermore, the sliding surfaces 1 1 1 shown are made of polyoxymethylene. Furthermore, the inner body 1 1 shown in this embodiment has a cavity. 0 List of Reference Symbols

[0057] I Hockey puck

[0058] II Inner body

[0059] III Sliding surfaces

[0060] 1 1 2 Inner body peripheral surface

[0061] 1 2 Outer body

[0062] 1 21 Inner outer body peripheral surface

[0063] 2-1 lead / spring

[0064] 2-2 Recess / Groove

[0065] 3 Overhang 0

Claims

Patent claims 1. Hockey puck (1) for synthetic ice, comprising: a rotationally symmetrical, cylindrical inner body (11) extending along an inner body rotation axis and having two opposing sliding surfaces (111) arranged parallel to one another, a rotationally symmetrical, hollow cylindrical outer body (12) extending along an outer body rotation axis, wherein the inner body rotation axis and the outer body rotation axis are arranged coaxially, and the outer body (12) is arranged around the inner body (11).

2. Hockey puck (1) according to claim 1, wherein the maximum axial extent of the outer body (12) decreases from radially outside to radially inside and wherein the maximum axial extent of the outer body (12) radially outside is equal to the maximum axial extent of the inner body (11).

3. Hockey puck (1) according to claim 1, wherein the maximum axial extent of the inner body (11) is greater than the maximum axial extent of the outer body (12), so that the two opposite, parallel sliding surfaces (111) of the inner body (11) protrude on both sides in the axial direction with a projection (3) beyond the outer body (12).

4. Hockey puck (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer body (12) and the inner body (11) are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a central plane of the hockey puck (1), wherein the central plane of the hockey puck (1) is perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passes through the center of the hockey puck (1).

5. Hockey puck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner body (11) and the outer body (12) are connected to one another by means of a positive connection and / or a force connection and / or a material connection.

6. Hockey puck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner body (11) has an inner body peripheral surface (112) and the outer body (12) has an inner outer body peripheral surface (121), wherein the inner body peripheral surface (112) and the inner outer body peripheral surface (121) lie directly against one another when the outer body (12) comprises the inner body (11).

7. Hockey puck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein corresponding form-locking means are arranged on the inner body peripheral surface (112) and the inner outer body peripheral surface (121).

8. Hockey puck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two sliding surfaces (111) consist of polyoxymethylene.

9. Hockey puck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opposite, parallel sliding surfaces (111) and the outer body (12) have a sliding surface diameter and an outer body inner diameter of between 55 mm and 65 mm, respectively.

10. Hockey puck (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer body (12) is made of hard rubber.

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