NO20200906A1

NO20200906A1 - Retrofitted accelerometer hockey puck housing

Info

Publication number: NO20200906A1
Application number: NO20200906A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Romans Saricevs; Erik Grindheim; Polina Ibragimova; Alexander Ibragimov
Original assignee: Airseg As
Priority date: 2020-08-17
Filing date: 2020-08-17
Publication date: 2022-02-18
Also published as: WO2022037831A1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to sport equipment, and more specifically to hockey pucks.

Background Art

In the field of ice hockey practice equipment, various types of hockey pucks both for practice on and off ice are used. Hockey pucks are usually made of rubber or plastic and have the shape of a disk. Rubber pucks are usually used on ice, while plastic pucks are used on other surfaces. Both are used for practicing passes and shots. Stick handling, passing and shooting are important skills in ice hockey.

The ability to receive a pass in such a way that the puck is “sitting on the stick blade” is vital. In order to develop such skill, soft stick-handling ability is important. Receiving a pass should happen softly and the hockey stick should follow the puck movement to decrease the impact force. Otherwise the puck is likely to bounce away after hitting the stick. A player needs exercise for soft puck receiving. Such exercise often takes place under supervision of a coach who can give feedback on the quality of the exercise.

Another exercise aspect is practicing puck shots.

Puck rotation speed is another important parameter, because the gyroscopic effect increases the puck’s stability when the puck is in the air.

There are known various types of practicing pucks and other equipment for practicing passes and shots as well as some pucks containing electronic components.

For example, publication US5564698 discloses a hockey puck having an electromagnetic transmitter. The electromagnetic transmitter is turned on using a shock sensor and is turned off using a timer. The purpose is to enable enhancement of the puck on a television.

Moreover, publication EP1932569 relates to a hockey puck with a built-in light source that is visible through a translucent member. The light makes it easier to see the hockey puck, in particular in conditions with poor light.

Publications US4968036 and US4846475 also present a hockey puck having a light source.

Common hockey pucks merely constitute a cylindrical disc without any additional function. As shown above, solutions have been presented for hockey pucks that makes it easier to observe the hockey puck.

Such solutions typically involve a hockey puck having a complex layout. The complex layout is a result of the integration of electronics inside the puck.

An object of the present invention may thus be to provide a hockey puck housing that is easy to integrate with a common off-the-shelf hockey puck. Advantageously, the hockey puck housing should be of such a design that private persons can adapt a common, off-the-shelf hockey puck for integration with the hockey puck housing.

The Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hockey puck housing with a utility space, configured for installation within a receiving space of a hockey puck. The hockey puck housing has, inside the utility space, an electric circuit arrangement. The hockey puck housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, each comprising an end plate and an attachment cylinder extending from the end plate, which each encircles the utility space. The attachment cylinder of the second housing part extends inside the attachment cylinder of the first housing part.

Such a hockey puck housing is particularly suited for retrofitting inside an existing hockey puck. However, it is also well suited for being mounted inside a puck body during manufacture of a hockey puck.

In some embodiments, the respective end plates of the first and second housing parts, respectively, can be circular with a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the respective attachment cylinders of the first and second housing parts. In embodiments where the attachment cylinders are not circular, but e.g. polygonal, the diameter of the end plates will correspondingly extend beyond the perimeter of the attachment cylinders.

In some embodiments, the attachment cylinders can comprise threads configured for interconnection of the first and second housing parts.

Preferably, the electric circuit arrangement can comprise a circuit board and a resilient member. Moreover, the attachment cylinder of the second housing part has an end portion, and the resilient member and the circuit board can be arranged between the end portion and the end plate of the first housing part.

The circuit board can have an abutment element abutting the end plate of the first housing part, and the resilient member can be located between the circuit board and the end portion.

In some embodiments, the annular seal can abut against the attachment cylinder of the first housing part and the attachment cylinder of the second housing part, and the annular seal can abut against the end plate of the second housing part.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a hockey puck that comprises a through bore, two attachment shoulders, of which one is arranged at respective ends of the through bore, and a hockey puck housing according to the first aspect of the invention, arranged inside the through bore.

Example embodiments

While some general features of the present invention have been presented and discussed above, some more detailed examples of embodiment will be presented in the following with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a hockey puck housing according to the present invention, shown together with a hockey puck prepared for integration with the hockey puck housing;

Fig. 2 is a cross section side view of the hockey puck shown in Fig.1, before the hockey puck housing is installed;

Fig. 3 is a cross section side view corresponding to Fig.2, wherein the hockey puck housing is integrated with the hockey puck;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section side view of an alternative hockey puck housing integrated with a hockey puck;

Fig. 5 is a separate perspective view of a second housing part of the hockey puck housing;

Fig. 6 is a cross section side view of another embodiment;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a PCB.

Fig. 1 shows a hockey puck 100 having a receiving space 101 in it. In this embodiment, the receiving space is in the form of a through bore 101 drilled through the hockey puck 100. The through bore 101 is configured for receiving a hockey puck housing 10. The hockey puck housing 10 comprises a first housing part 10a and a second housing part 10b. As will be discussed in further detail below, the first and second housing parts 10a, 10b define a utility space 11 (see Fig.3).

In the utility space 11 there is arranged an electric circuit arrangement 20. In the shown embodiment, the electric circuit arrangement 20 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 15, batteries 17, and an accelerometer. It may further include one or more of the following: a memory chip, a gyro, an antenna, a wireless communication device (e.g. Bluetooth), a microcontroller, led lights and a speaker. The accelerometer will typically be part of the PCB 15.

Fig. 2 shows the hockey puck 100 without the hockey puck housing 10 installed in the receiving space 101 (i.e. the through bore in the present embodiment). As can be appreciated from Fig.2, the through bore 101 is centrally positioned on the hockey puck 100 and extends through it with a direction orthogonally with respect to the two flat opposite faces of the hockey puck.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the through bore 101 is at its respective two ends provided with an attachment shoulder 103. As shown, the attachment shoulders 103 is a part of the through bore 101 where the diameter is larger than the diameter between the two attachment shoulders 103.

Fig. 3 shows the hockey puck 100 of Fig.2, however with a hockey puck housing 10 installed in its receiving space 101 (i.e. the bore 101 in the present embodiment). As briefly discussed above, the hockey puck housing 10 comprises a first housing part 10a and a second housing part 10b. The first housing part 10a comprises an end plate 31a and an attachment cylinder 33a. The end plate 31a has a cylindrical shape. The attachment cylinder 33a is also circular and extends from the end plate 31a into the receiving space 101 of the hockey puck 100. The outer diameter of the end plate 31a is larger than the outer diameter of the attachment cylinder 33a. Consequently, an attachment collar 35a is provided at the perimeter of the end plate 31a. As appears from Fig. 3, the attachment collar 35a engages with the attachment shoulder 103.

Corresponding to the first housing part 10a, the second housing part 10a also comprises an end plate 31b, an attachment cylinder 33b and an attachment collar 35b.

The attachment cylinder 33b of the second housing part 10b has a smaller diameter than the attachment cylinder 33a of the first housing part 10a. The attachment cylinder 33b of the second housing part 10b is configured to enter into the larger attachment cylinder 33a of the first housing part 10a.

Thus, the first and second housing parts 10a, 10b can engage each other while entering the through bore 101 from opposite sides. When engaged, i.e. when the hockey puck housing 10 is in an assembled position, a part of the attachment cylinder 33a of the first housing part 10a overlaps with a part of the attachment cylinder 33b of the second housing part 10b.

Advantageously, the attachment cylinders 33a, 33b of the first and second housing parts 10a, 10b can be provided with threads 37a, 37b. Thus, when attaching the first and second housing parts 10a, 10b together, they can be mutually rotated such that the attachment cylinder 33b of the second housing part 10b moves axially inwards inside the attachment cylinder 33a of the first housing part 10a. To facilitate such rotation, an engagement slot 39b can be arranged in the end plate 31b of the second housing part 10b. The engagement slot 39b is perhaps best shown in Fig.5.

When rotating the second housing part 10b with respect to the first housing part 10a, the distance between the opposite end plates 31a, 31b will be reduced until both attachment collars 35a, 35b abuts the attachment shoulders 103 of the through bore 101. As the skilled person now will appreciate, the design of the hockey puck housing 10 will thus tolerate some deviation of the height of the hockey puck 100, i.e. different distances between the two flat surfaces of the hockey puck 100.

Still referring to Fig.3, there is arranged an annular seal 41 between the first and second housing parts 10a, 10b. In the shown embodiment, the annular seal 41 is arranged on the ambient side with respect to the threads 37a, 37b. In other words, the annular seal 41 protects the threads 37a, 37b from contaminants entering into the hockey puck housing 10. Contaminants may typically be water or possible particles present on the playing field. In the shown embodiment, the annular seal 41 is arranged substantially at an end portion 34a (indicated in Fig.4) of the attachment cylinder 33a of the first housing part 10a. However, in other embodiments the annular seal 41 could be arranged with a distance from that end portion 34a.

In this manner, one obtains that the threads 37a, 37b are not worn due to particles, such as sand or dust. Furthermore, by maintaining the threads 37a, 37b in good condition, the threads themselves will provide some protection from contamination if the annular seal 41 should be destroyed or malfunction.

The PCB 15 is also shown in Fig.3. The PCB 15 comprises an abutment element 15a, which when in the shown assembled state is configured to abut against the inner face of the end plate 31a of the first housing part 10a.

Moreover, a resilient element, here shown as a cushioning ring 43 is arranged between an end portion 34b of the attachment cylinder 33b of the second housing part 10b and the PCB 15. When the hockey puck housing 10 is assembled, the cushioning ring 43 will become compressed between the end portion 34b of the attachment cylinder 33b and the PCB 15. An enlarged view of the PCB 15 and its abutment element 15a is presented in Fig.7.

In some embodiments, there may be a battery spring (not shown) arranged for maintaining a contact force between the batteries (or battery) and electric contacts (not shown). However, in other embodiments one may omit the battery spring and instead use the springiness of the cushioning ring 43 to provide such a contact force.

To prevent that the first housing part 10a rotates with along with the second housing part 10b during engagement of the threads 37a, 37b, the first housing part 10a can for instance be attached to the through bore 101 with an adhesive or with a tight fit. Alternative or in addition, one may provide the first housing part 10a with an engagement slot corresponding to the engagement slot 39b of the second housing part 10b.

The engagement slots could for instance be operated with a screwdriver, a coin, or similar item.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section side view that illustrates substantially the same parts as shown in Fig.3. However, in the embodiment shown in Fig.4 the through bore 101 has a constant diameter, i.e. it has no attachment shoulders 103. Correspondingly, the hockey puck housing 10 is not provided with attachment collars 35a, 35b. Consequently, the hockey puck housing 10 needs to be kept in place inside the through bore 101 by means of an attachment means, such as glue, an adhesive, or a press fit. Alternatively, the hockey puck housing 10 can be molded together with the hockey puck body. The other parts shown in Fig.4 have been discussed above with reference to Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the second housing part 10b.

The batteries 17 can advantageously be disc-shaped batteries, often referred to as button batteries.

Fig. 6 is a cross section view corresponding to the views of Fig.2 and Fig.3. However, in the embodiment shown in Fig.6, the receiving space 101 is not in form of a through hole, but rather in form of a blind hole 101. As the skilled person will appreciate though, most of the components shown correspond to the components shown in the previous embodiments.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the printed circuit board 15. In this view, the abutment element 15a is more visible than in the previous figures.

In some embodiments, the attachment collar 35a can be provided with screw apertures (not shown) for attachment of the hockey puck housing 10 with screws. Such attachment method could be instead of or in addition to the threads 37a, 37b discussed above. When used together with the treads 37a, 37b, the screws will prevent mutual rotation of the first and second housing parts 10a.10b.

In the embodiments discussed above, the attachment cylinders 33a, 33b have a circular cross section. In other embodiment, they could however have a polygonal cross section, for instance a square cross section. Such embodiments would of course be without threads 37a, 37b.

Claims

1. A hockey puck housing (10) with a utility space (11), configured for installation within a receiving space (101) of a hockey puck (100),

the hockey puck housing (10) comprising, inside the utility space (11), an electric circuit arrangement (20),

wherein the hockey puck housing (10) comprises a first housing part (10a) and a second housing part (10b), each comprising an end plate (31a, 31b) and an attachment cylinder (33a, 33b) extending from the end plate, which each encircles the utility space (11),

wherein the attachment cylinder (33b) of the second housing part (10b) extends inside the attachment cylinder (33a) of the first housing part (10a).

2. A hockey puck housing (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective end plates (31a, 31b) of the first and second housing parts (10a, 10b), respectively, are circular with a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the respective attachment cylinders (33a, 33b) of the first and second housing parts (10a, 10b).

3. A hockey puck housing (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment cylinders (33a, 33b) comprise threads (37a, 37b), configured for interconnection of the first and second housing parts (10a, 10b).

4. A hockey puck housing (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric circuit arrangement (20) comprises a circuit board (15) and a resilient member (43),

that the attachment cylinder (33b) of the second housing part (10b) has an end portion (34b),

and that the resilient member (43) and the circuit board (15) are arranged between the end portion (34b) and the end plate (31a) of the first housing part (10a).

5. A hockey puck housing (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the circuit board (15) comprises an abutment element (15a) abutting the end plate (31a) of the first housing part (10a), and that the resilient member (43) is located between the circuit board (15) and the end portion (34b).

6. A hockey puck housing (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an annular seal (41), wherein the annular seal (41) abuts the attachment cylinder (33a) of the first housing part (10a) and the attachment cylinder (33b) of the second housing part (10b), and wherein the annular seal (41) abuts the end plate (31b) of the second housing part (10b).

7. A hockey puck (100), characterized in that it comprises

- a through bore (101);

- two attachment shoulders (103), of which one is arranged at respective ends of the through bore (101); and

- a hockey puck housing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, arranged inside the through bore (101).