Puck and stick for icehockey game

Abstract

 The object of the present invention is a puck (1) and a stick (5) for an ice hockey game. The surface (2) of the puck (1) and the blade (5b) of the stick (5) are coated with a coating material (3, 6) which improves friction or attachment.

Description

[0001] The object of the invention is a puck and a stick for an ice hockey game.

[0002] The lacrosse-style goal seen in the 2011 Ice Hockey World Championships has inspired especially junior players to start practising it. With conventional game equipment this is, however, very difficult to do. The aim of the invention is to provide game equipment, that is, a puck and an ice hockey stick, which facilitate scoring lacrosse-style goals and thus practising them.

[0003] This aim is achieved in accordance with the invention by coating the surface of the puck and the blade of the stick with a coating material which improves friction or attachment.

[0004] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0005] The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1

shows a puck according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is provided with Velcro tape,

Figure 2

shows Velcro tape according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is removably attachable to the stick blade,

Figure 3

shows a cross-section of the Velcro tape shown in Figure 2, which is arranged on the stick,

Figure 4

shows the Velcro tape shown in Figure 2 fixed to the stick blade, as seen from the back of the stick, and

Figure 5

shows a top view of the puck shown in Figure 1 and the Velcro tape attached to the stick shown in Figure 4.

[0006] Figure 1 thus shows a puck according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is marked by reference numeral 1. The puck 1 has a flat cylindrical shape with three surfaces. Two of these are opposing circular planes 4 and the third is a lateral surface 2 between them. The puck 1 complies with standards known as such in diameter and other magnitudes (height of lateral surface, weight) and is made of generally known puck manufacturing materials. Rubber is generally used as puck material. In addition to the official puck, pucks of different sizes include several types of practice pucks and pucks intended for juniors.

[0007] According to the invention, the surface of this type of puck is coated with a coating material which improves friction or attachment, indicated by reference numeral 3. The coating material 3 is placed around the lateral surface 2 of the puck.

[0008] The coating material is preferably an elongated first Velcro tape 3, the width of which preferably corresponds to the height of the lateral surface 2 of the puck, or the width of which is approximately 50-99% of the height of the lateral surface 2 of the puck. The Velcro tape 3 is preferably glued and/or fixed mechanically, for example with rivets, on the lateral surface 2. In addition, or as an alternative to this, the Velcro tape 3 is fitted in a groove (not shown) formed on the outer edge of the puck 1. In this case the Velcro tape is preferably endless, which makes it possible to fit the Velcro tape 3 in the groove without gluing or mechanical fixing. The surface of the Velcro tape 3 forms an attachment surface by means of which the puck is made to attach to the coating material arranged around the blade 5b of the stick 5 (see Figure 4), such as another Velcro tape.

[0009] Figure 2 shows a second Velcro tape according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, indicated by reference numeral 6. The second Velcro tape 6 is an elongated Velcro tape, the first end 6c of which is provided with a clasp 6b or the like, through which the second end 6f of the second Velcro tape 6 can be passed in order to tighten the second Velcro tape around the blade 5b of the stick 5. One side of the base 6a of the Velcro tape 6 is provided with a counter-attachment surface 6e, by means of which the Velcro tape 3, and therefore the puck 1, attaches to the other Velcro tape and thus the stick blade 5b. This attachment is illustrated in Figure 5. The width of the second Velcro tape 6 is selected in such a way that it coats at least a part of the front side of the stick 5 blade 5b over the longitudinal distance of the blade 5b. The width of the second Velcro tape is thus preferably 5-50% of the length of the blade 5b, but may deviate from this.

[0010] The second end 6f of the second Velcro tape 6 is provided with a Velcro part 6f', which is arranged on the same side of the second Velcro tape 6 as the counter-attachment surface 6e. The Velcro part 6f' is arranged to attach to the counter-attachment surface 6e once the second end 6f has been passed through the opening 6b' of the clasp 6b and the second Velcro tape 6 has been tightened around the stick 5 blade 5b. The Velcro part 6f' and the clasp 6b thus form means by which the second Velcro tape 6 can be removably attached around the blade 5b of the stick 5. This is illustrated in Figure 3 by the cross-section of the second Velcro tape 6. Figure 4 further shows that the Velcro part 6f' and the clasp 6b remain on the back of the blade 5b, where they do not obstruct training.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment (not shown) of the invention, it is advantageous that the coating material may be or may contain silicone. Well attaching silicone products are known, for example, from the seams of wet suits.

[0012] The coating material may also be rubber mass, which is alloyed to be softer and stickier than the actual puck mass. The coating may be fixed either in connection with manufacture as an integral part of the puck or it may be fixed as a separate foil or film on the plane of the finished puck. This type of sticky foil or film may be an adhesive foil or an adhesive film which can be adhered on the surface of the puck and blade.

[0013] When the coating material is used on both the puck and the stick blade, good and/or suitable attachment is obtained more easily. In other words, the adhesive force is easier to adjust, for example, in order to adjust the difficulty of the practice by selecting coating materials of suitable adhesion for the surface of the puck and the blade of the stick.

[0014] It is obvious that the puck, or puck and stick, according to the invention cannot be used in games where the game equipment must comply with regulations. The lacrosse-style puck according to the invention is, therefore, intended to facilitate practising of lacrosse-style goals and for unofficial games.

Claims

1. A puck (1) and a stick (5) for an ice hockey game, characterised in that the surface (2) of the puck (1) and the blade (5b) of the stick (5) are coated with a coating material (3, 6) which improves friction or attachment.

2. A puck (1) and a stick (5) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the coating material is comprised of two Velcro tapes (3, 6), the first of the Velcro tapes (3) being arranged around the puck (1) and the second of the Velcro tapes (6) around the blade (5b) of the stick (5).

3. A puck (1) and a stick (5) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first Velcro tape (3) is glued to the lateral surface (2) of the puck (1) or fitted in a groove formed on the outer edge (2) of the puck (1).

4. A puck (1) and a stick (5) as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the second Velcro tape (6) is provided with means (6b, 6f') by which one of the Velcro tapes (6) is removably attachable around the stick (5) blade (5b).

5. A puck (1) and a stick (5) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the coating material (3, 6) is or contains silicone.

6. A puck (1) and a stick (5) as claimed in claim 1 or 5, characterised in that the coating material is rubber mass.

7. A puck (1) and a stick (5) as claimed in claim 1, 5 or 6, characterised in that the coating material (3, 6) is a foil or film with a sticky surface.

8. A puck (1) and a stick (5) as claimed in claim 1, 5, 6 or 7, characterised in that the coating material is an adhesive foil or an adhesive film which can be adhered on the surface of the puck (1) or blade (5b).

Drawing