Retrofittable inflatable hockey-mat rim and hockey-mat provided therewith

Abstract

A retrofittable inflatable rim of the proposed invention comprises tubing which may be provided with a connector strip. The rim is of the size and shape of the perimeter of the hockey-mat it is intended to be used with. The mat can be placed inside the rim on top of the connector strip which is overlapped by the mat. The connector strip, or the rim itself without connector strip, may additionally be attached to the mat by means of Velcro (RTM), stitching, glueing or alternative methods. The cross-sectional geometry of the inflated rim is designed to return a hockey ball crisply and without upward movement when the ball is played over the mat against the rim.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Retrofittable inflatable hockey-mat rim and hockey-mat provided therewith.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a rim for a hockey-mat on which the user practices field and indoor hockey skills .

[0004] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0005] Various designs of so-called hockey-mats are known. A mat may e.g. be of 1.8 x 1.8 metre size and consist of a 3 millimetre neoprene backing with a polyester fabric surface printed with indicia to guide a user when practicing the choreography of hockey skill moves .

[0006] US2004009821A1 describes a mini-stick ice hockey arena specifically suited for use by children to mimic playing ice hockey on their knees . The arena comprises a mat with a playing surface and in an embodiment also a removably securable rim of air inflatable tubing along the edges of the playing surface to assist in retaining the ball or puck within the confines of the playing surface during play.

[0007] Going by figure 1 the cylindrical tubing is about 20 centimeters height.

[0008] US5720678 provides an inflatable barrier ( rim) for sports games to surround the perimeter of a game playing area and prevent a puck, ball or other small object from leaving the playing area. The barrier comprises tubular members of 18" in diameter. Optionally a skirt formed of flexible material is secured along the length of the tubular members on the side which faces the playing area. CN205029694U describes a movable inflatable football field which comprises inflatable tubing (of 60 centimeters height ) to form the side- and backlines ( rim) of the field. The size of the field can be as needed and for example for three-a-side football could be 20 meter long and 12 meter wide. The tubing can effectively prevent the problem of the football frequently going out of bounds .

[0009] Drawbacks of aforementioned prior art mat designs is that they either have no rim, which means the hockey ball might 'escape ' during practice and roll into and damage surroundings, or have a rim which is expensive to produce, or when the user plays a regulation field hockey ball against the rim the ball could get stuck between the playing surface and the rim, or bounce back with upward movement.

[0010] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a rim which overcomes at least one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks of prior art designs .

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A retrofittable inflatable rim of the proposed invention comprises inflatable tubing which is optionally inserted in a ( zipped) sleeve and the tubing or sleeve may be provided with a connector strip. The rim is of the size and shape of the perimeter of the hockey-mat it is intended to be used with. The mat can be placed inside the rim on top of the connector strip which is overlapped by the mat. The connector strip, or the rim itself without connector strip, may additionally be attached to the mat by means of Velcro (RTM) , stitching, glueing or alternative methods . The inflated rim height is approximately 6 - 8.6 centimetres and its cross-sectional geometry is designed to return a hockey ball crisply and without upward movement when the ball is played over the mat against the rim.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings .

[0016] In the drawings :

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a hockey-mat, without the rim of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a hockey-mat, with the rim of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of a corner of the rim of the invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a view of cross-section A - A, indicated in Figure 3 , of the rim according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a corner area of an alternative embodiment of the rim, before inflation and bending of the rim.

[0022] The figures are only schematic representations of preferred embodiments of the invention that are given as non-limiting examples . In the figures, similar or corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals or not numbered. DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 schematically shows an example top view of a hockey-mat 1 printed with indicia to guide the user when practicing the choreography of hockey skill moves .

[0024] Recognisable for skill moves are:

[0025] - dots, with and without letters and numbers, which indicate start, intermediate and end-positions for a hockey ball;

[0026] - dashed lines which indicate paths of a hockey ball;

[0027] - numbers which indicate a right foot starting position for skill moves;

[0028] The dimensions of a hockey-mat 1 as exemplified in Figure 1 may be 1.8 x 1.8 metre, but smaller or larger dimensions are possible too of course. As material a e.g. 3 - 5 millimetre neoprene backing with a printable polyester fabric surface provides enough wear-resistance to the user' s sport shoes and anti-slip between the floor and mat 1 such that the mat 1 stays in place during use.

[0029] Alternatively the layers of mat 1 material could be: - a top layer of a printable polyester or nylon fabric, - a foam ( e.g. cellulose xanthate, closed cell polyethylene or suitable alternative ) intermediate layer which in use is compressed a couple of millimetres by the ball ( not shown) which slows the ball down and generates a genuine 'hockey feel ' because it makes the ball behave similar to on artificial grass, furthermore the foam partially silences noise if the ball is lifted and bounces on the mat 1 ,

[0030] - optionally a layer of cotton fabric to adhere the bottom layer of silicon or dots of silicon to, and

[0031] - a silicon bottom layer or flat silicon dots to provide an anti-slip interface between mat and floor. Figure 2 shows a top view of hockey-mat 1 ' , of 1.6 x 1.4 metre, which is printed with ( alternative ) indicia to guide the user when practicing the choreography of hockey skill moves and shows at the perimeter of mat 1 ' rim 2 to keep the ball ( not shown) on the mat 1 ' during practice.

[0032] The rim 2 has an equivalent function as the interlocking side boards of 9x10x10x10cm cross-section used for indoor hockey with an upwardly inwardly sloping face to keep the hockey ball in play, without bouncing upwards .

[0033] Figure 3 schematically shows a bottom view of a corner of rim 2 with connector strip 3 attached thereto by e.g. stitching, glueing, heat melting, ultrasonic or high frequency welding, depending on mostly the rim 2 material, strip 3 material and manufacturing economics .

[0034] Figure 4 shows schematically cross-section A-A, as indicated in Figure 3 , through rim 2 and connector strip 3 according to the proposed invention, with additionally a partial cross-section of mat 1 ' and a front view of hockey ball 6. Rim 2 comprises inflatable tube 4 which is (optionally) covered and protected by sleeve 5. To enable inflating tube 4 it will be provided with a mouth piece ( not shown) which sticks through a hole ( not shown) in (optional ) sleeve 5.

[0035] The cross-section of rim 2 could be e.g. hexagonal ( not shown) , oval ( not shown) or of the trapezoid variety ( not shown) with a cross-section similar to the indoor boards, but with dimensions 8 x 9 x 9 x 9 centimetres and includes the upwardly inwardly sloping face any indoor hockey playing player is familiar with. The inflated rim 2 cross-sectional geometry is designed to return a hockey ball crisply and without upward movement when the ball is played over e.g. hockey-mat 1 or 1 ' against the rim 2 .

[0036] Suitable materials for tube 4 and sleeve 5 are known to the person skilled in the art, however for the sleeve 5 we prefer so-called Scuba fabric (testing showed of 250 GSM weight ) which consists of a 92% polyester and 8% elastane blend and is constructed using a double knit method which results in a thick fabric with a smooth yet spongy feel and allows it to hold shape whilst having an amount of stretch and hence capability of stretching tightly around tube 4 .

[0037] The combination of inflated tube 4 inside sleeve 5 provides a rim 2 with good rigidity, which can withstand the user standing on it and has a suitable amount of bounciness to, as indicated, crisply return a hockey ball 6 which is played against the rim 2 during practice.

[0038] The material for the alternatively airtight inflatable tube 4 without sleeve 5 could be equivalent to ( flocked) material used for camping airbeds, or e.g. a laminated fabric consisting of 100% polyamide ( for outside of tube ) and 100% polyvinylchloride bonded layers . The tube 4 material may be PVC as used for inflatable lilo' s .

[0039] The material of connector strip 3 would be wear & tear resistant, not more than 3 mm thick to prevent too high a ridge on mat 1 or 1 ' , and preferably compatible to that of sleeve 5 for bonding purposes . Connector strip 3 could be an extension of tube / sleeve 4 / 5 material rolled and bonded onto itself to form tube / sleeve 4 / 5. When ( retro- ) fitting rim 2 to mat 1 the connector strip 3 will extend, preferably 5 - 15 centimetres under, and along the perimeter of mat 1 which overlaps strip 3 . The non-slip properties of the bottom of mat 1 and the at least slight roughness or non-slip properties of the surface of connector strip 3 will ensure that rim 2 stays in place.

[0040] Alternatively mat 1 or 1 ' and strip 3 and rim 2 may be provided with hook and loop fastening means such as Velcro (RTM) to ensure that rim 2 stays in place, or rim 2 even may be irremovably attached by means of bonding or welding methods mentioned before, or alternative well known methods to the person skilled the art. Furthermore as indicated, rim 2 itself , without strip 3 , may be attached to mat 1 or 1 ' .

[0041] For the latter embodiment, a ribbon of sleeve 5 fabric, with zip halves on opposite outer longitudinal sides, may be attached to the perimeter of the mat 1 or 1 ' , e.g. by stitching or other well-known means, whereby the seamline (which is close, e.g. 2 centimetre, from the edge of mat 1 ' and not shown in figure 4 ) may be such that 3 / 4 of the sleeve 5 fabric overlaps mat 1 ' and 1 / 4 lies outside the perimeter of the mat 1 or 1 ' .

[0042] When the user assembles the rim 2 which is attached to mat 1 or 1 ' they will lay the partially inflated tube 4 on top of the seamline, envelop tube 4 with sleeve 5 fabric whilst closing zip 7 all the way around rim 2 and finish the assembly by fully inflating tube 4 . In this way the zip 7 ends up in approximately the middle of the outside of the rim 2 which renders zip 7 hardly visible to the user during practice and keeps the zipper pull ( not shown) away from the floor such that it does not scratch the floor.

[0043] Tube 4 may be provided with an air pressure relief valve ( not shown) to prevent a leak from forming if the user inadvertently jumps too hard on the rim 2.

[0044] The height Hl of the middle of a cylindrical rim 2 needs to be approximately maximally 15% more or less than the height H2 of the centre of a hockey ball 6 to ensure that when the user plays the ball 6 (over the mat 1 ' ) against rim 2 the ball 6 would not get stuck between mat 1 ' and rim 2 , and bounce away horizontally and most importantly without upward movement. A regulation field hockey ball has a diameter of 7.13 - 7.48 centimetres and a suitable inflated rim 2 height is approximately 6 - 8.6 centimetres .

[0045] In an alternative embodiment ( not shown in the figures ) rim 2 for e.g. a rectangular hockey-mat 1 or 1 ' may consist of four sections of inflatable tubing without sleeve such that each section would fit a side of the mat 1 or 1 ' , or four sleeve 5 sections could each be open at at least one end to provide access for, and enable sliding in of , the four tube 4 sections of appropriate length. In addition the corners of the sections could be connected somehow before and / or after the tube 4 sections are inserted.

[0046] Figure 5 is a side view of a corner area of another alternative embodiment which shows ( not to scale ) an unbent uninflated rim 2 with demi-circular notches 8 cut out from the top and bottom side of the rim 2. (The notches 8 could alternatively have the profile of a hockey D / stricking circle, rectangle or slit. ) The diameter of each of the notches 8 may be such that the inflated rim 2 diameter is locally reduced to about a half of the full diameter of the lengths of rim 2 between corner areas . Only one but bigger notch 8 at the bottom of rim 2 could work too.

[0047] Other ways of reducing the local diameter of the inflated rim 2 could achieve the similar advantage that the diameter reduction of the rim 2 in the corner areas allows bending of rim 2 without rim 2 material pushing the corners upwards, and / or without corner material of rim 2 substantially sticking out above the general height of rim 2 .

[0048] To have one continuous inflatable rim 2 (or tube 4 ) with one blow-up valve instead of the four separate sections, with each a blow-up valve, of the previous ( not shown in the figures ) alternative embodiment is also more economical .

[0049] Another alternative embodiment ( not shown in the Figures ) is a rim 2 manufactured in any way as described above which extends only along 3 sides of the perimeter of the mat 1 or 1 ' . The possible advantage of this is that the user of the mat 1 or 1 ' can more easily step onto and off the mat 1 or 1 ' , without and with ball 6.

[0050] Many other variants, variations and combinations of features of the discussed embodiments will be clear to the person skilled in the art. These variants, variations and combinations are understood to fall within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims .

Claims

CLAIMSA retrofittable inflatable rim for a hockey-mat, of the size and shape of the perimeter of the hockey-mat it is intended to be used with, comprising a tube which is airtight and inflatable, characterised in that the cross-sectional geometry of the rim is designed to return a hockey ball crisply and without upward movement when the ball is played over the mat against the rim.A rim according to claim 1 whereby the tube is cylindrical .A rim according to claim 1 whereby the tube has a trapezoid cross-section with an upwardly inwardly sloping inner face.A rim according to claim 1-3 whereby the inflated rim height is approximately 6 - 8.6 centimetres .A rim according to any of the previous claims which extends only along 3 sides of the perimeter of the mat.A rim according to any of the preceding claims whereby the tube is one continuous tube with a reduced diameter in the corner areas to allow bending of the tube in the corner areas without tube material pushing the corners upwards and / or sticking out above the general height of the rim.A rim according to any of the preceding claims whereby the tube is inserted in a sleeve.A rim according to claim 7 whereby the sleeve is provided with a longitudinal zip to be zipped close to form the rim by said sleeve with tubing inside.A rim according to any of the preceding claims with a connector strip attached thereto which extends from the bottom of the rim and in use under and along the perimeter of the hockey-mat which overlaps the connector strip.A rim according to claim 9 of which in use the connector strip extends 5 - 15 centimetres under the hockey-mat.A rim according to claim 9 or 10 whereby the connector strip material is an extension of the tube or sleeve material .A hockey-mat with attached thereto a rim, with or without connector strip, according to any of the preceding claims .A hockey-mat according to claim 12 whereby the rim is removably attached thereto, e.g. by hook and loop fastening means which is provided on the mat and on the rim or connector strip.A hockey-mat according to claim 12 whereby the rim or connector strip is irremovably attached thereto, e.g. by stitching, glueing or ultrasonic welding.A method of assembling the rim of a hockey-mat according to claim 8 whereby a user lays a partially inflated tube on top of the sleeve fabric, envelops the tube with the sleeve fabric whilst closing the zip all the way around the rim and finishes assembly by fully inflating the tube.

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