CA2415980A1

CA2415980A1 - Hockey puck

Info

Publication number: CA2415980A1
Application number: CA002415980A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Lorne Thoen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-09
Filing date: 2003-01-09
Publication date: 2004-07-09

Abstract

A hockey puck is provided which is formed of a clear or translucent material to permit illumination thereof. Illumination is provided by a receptacle formed within the body of the hockey puck which is suitably arranged for receiving luminescent material therein, for example a conventional glow stick.
Activation of the luminescent material illuminates the translucent material forming the hockey suck so that the puck is illuminated and remains visible in darkened environments.

Description

HOCKEY PUCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hockey puck and more particularly to a hockey puck using luminescent material for illumination of the puck.
BACKGROUND
Conventional hockey pucks generally comprise a flat cylindrical member formed of vulcanized rubber which is typically black in colour. These pucks are typically used in well lit arenas or rinks and accordingly in such instances, conventional black pucks are clearly visible against well lit whiter ice.
Pucks however are also commonly used for recreation on various surfaces including roads, frozen lakes or other surfaces which may on occasion be poorly lit. Conventional black pucks in this instance can be very difficult to see on darker or poorly lit surfaces.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hockey puck comprising:
a cylindrical member at least partially formed of translucent material;
and a receptacle formed in the cylindrical member for receiving a cartridge of luminescent material.
The use of luminescent material within a hockey puck provides illumination to make the puck clearly visible even poorly lit areas. The use of luminescent material as opposed to illumination from a conventional electric bulb for instance, permits regular use of the puck without damaging the source of light as luminescent material is not damaged by common impact to a hockey puck as would a conventional light bulb or other similar light sources.
Preferably, the cylindrical member is entirely formed of substantially transparent material.
The receptacle may comprise a cylindrical bore for receiving a cylindrical cartridge of luminescent material, including an open end for receiving the cartridge therein and a closed end opposite the open end.
A cap is preferably provided for enclosing the open end of the receptacle. The cap may be threadably secured within the receptacle.
The receptacle is preferably suitably sized for receiving a conventional disposable cartridge of luminescent material.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of illuminating a hockey puck, the method comprising:
providing a cylindrical puck at least partially formed of translucent material and having a receptacle formed therein;
providing a cartridge of material which is luminescent upon activation;
activating the cartridge; and inserting the cartridge into the receptacle of the puck.
The method preferably includes enclosing the open end of the receptacle once the cartridge is received within the receptacle by threadably inserting a cap into the open end of the receptacle.
The cartridge preferably comprises a single use replaceable cartridge of the type which includes a dye solution and an activator solution which produce a luminescent reaction when mixed. In the method of illuminating a puck described herein, activation of the cartridge comprises mixing the dye solution and the activator solution.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the hockey puck according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the hockey puck; and Figure 3 is a sectional top view of the hockey puck.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a hockey puck generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The puck 10 makes use of luminescent material for illumination thereof to make the puck more visible in poorly lit environments.
The puck 10 generally comprises a cylindrical member having flat top and bottom surfaces 12 which are circular. The puck is formed of a clear and transparent plastic-like material which can be readily molded, for example Plexiglas, Lexan or any other suitable translucent material which can be shaped and molded.
The material forming the puck has a density and resilience which is similar to the vulcanized rubber used for forming conventional hockey pucks. The puck 10 is similar in dimensions to conventional pucks so as to have the same size and weight as a conventional hockey puck.
The puck 10 includes a receptacle 14 formed therein for receiving the luminescent material. The receptacle 14 generally comprises a bore which is approximately 3I8 of an inch in diameter. The receptacle extends inwardly from an open end 16 thereof at a peripheral side wall 18 of the puck. The receptacle extends from the open end 16 diametrically across a center of the puck, parallel to the top and bottom surfaces 12 while being spaced evenly therebetween. The receptacle 14 terminates at a closed end 20 adjacent the side wall 18 of the puck, at a location diametrically opposite from the open end 16.
The receptacle 14 includes a threaded portion 22 in which the bore is internally threaded adjacent the open end 16 of the receptacle for receiving a cap 24 therein. The cap 24 is an externally threaded cylindrical plug which is threadably received within the threaded portion of the receptacle 14 for enclosing the open end 16 of the receptacle. The cap 24 includes a socket 26 formed in an outer end thereof similar to a conventional screw for insertion and removal of the cap 24 using a conventional screw driver bit.
A light cartridge 28 is provided which is arranged to be received within the receptacle 14 of the puck. The cartridge is an elongate cylindrical member of conventional commercially available size in the order of'/4 of an inch in diameter and 2 inches in length. The cartridge 28 includes a clear or translucent plastic body which retains a dye compound and an activator compound therein which remain separated from one another until the cartridge has been activated. Upon activation the dye compound and the activator compound are mixed whereby the resulting chemical reaction produces light as in commercially available glow sticks and the like.
The cartridge 28 and the receptacle 14 are suitable sized so that the cartridge may be slidably received within the receptacle when the cap 24 is removed. The cartridge 28 is shorter in length than the receptacle 14 to accommodate the length of the cap 24 which is threadably received within the receptacle 14 to secure the cartridge within the receptacle between the closed end 20 and the cap 24. Length of the cap 24 is arranged to permit the cap to be fully contained within the boundaries of the side wall 18 of the puck when the cap is threadably received within the threaded portion of the receptacle in a closed and locked position of the cartridge 28.
In use, the cap 24 is first removed to provide access to the interior of the receptacle 14. A new cartridge 28 is provided which is first activated and then inserted into the receptacle, Replacing the cap 24 thus secures the new cartridge within the puck 10. Once the light producing reaction of the cartridge 28 has expired, a replacement cartridge may be provided for replacing the expired cartridge by again removing the cap 24 and replacing it as described above.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hockey puck comprising:
a cylindrical member at least partially formed of translucent material;
and a receptacle formed in the cylindrical member for receiving a cartridge of luminescent material.

2. The puck according to Claim 1 wherein the cylindrical member is entirely formed of substantially transparent material.

3. The puck according to Claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a cylindrical bore for receiving a cylindrical cartridge of luminescent material.

4. The puck according to Claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes an open end for receiving the cartridge therein and a closed end opposite the open end.

5. The puck according to Claim 4 wherein there is provided a cap for enclosing the open end of the receptacle.

6. The puck according to Claim 5 wherein the cap is threadably secured within the open end of the receptacle.

7. The puck according to Claim 1 wherein the receptacle is suitably sized for receiving a conventional disposable cartridge of luminescent material.

8. A method of illuminating a hockey puck, the method comprising:
providing a cylindrical puck at least partially formed of translucent material and having a receptacle formed therein;
providing a cartridge of material which is luminescent upon activation;
activating the cartridge; and inserting the cartridge into the receptacle of the puck.

9. The method according to Claim 8 wherein the puck is entirely formed of substantially transparent material.

10. The method according to Claim 8 wherein the receptacle comprises a cylindrical bore.

11. The method according to Claim 8 wherein the receptacle is an elongate bore open only at one end.

12. The method according to Claim 11 including enclosing the open end of the receptacle once the cartridge is received within the receptacle.

13. The method according to Claim 12 wherein enclosing the open end of the receptacle comprises threadably inserting a cap into the open end of the receptacle.

14. The method according to Claim 8 wherein the cartridge comprises a single use replaceable cartridge.

15. The method according to Claim 8 wherein the cartridge includes a dye solution and an activator solution which produce a luminescent reaction when mixed and wherein activation of the cartridge comprises mixing the dye solution and the activator solution.