Protective device for sports equipment

摘要

Safety or protective devices for use in preventing or limiting injury to players impacting against sports equipment use compression coil springs, gas springs, foam or combinations thereof to absorb force during the impact. Particular embodiments are configured for use at the edge of a glass viewing and shielding panel disposed atop the boards of a hockey rink, for example such edges typically found at the team bench of a conventional hockey rink. A shock absorbing system of the device is positioned so as not to reach beyond the plane of the glass into the area of play.

主权项

1. In combination with an upright panel mounted atop boards of a hockey rink that delimit a playing area thereof, a protective device for an edge of said panel, the device comprising:
a bracket mounted at or on the edge of the panel; an upstanding engagement member equal or similar in height to the panel, the engagement member being supported in a position placing an outer face of the engagement member in an orientation facing away from said edge of the panel at a distance spaced therefrom in a lengthwise direction of the boards; and a shock absorbing system located between the bracket and the outer face of the engagement member and being compressible in a longitudinal impact direction that is parallel to a flat upright plane of the panel and parallel to the lengthwise direction of the boards, whereby the shock absorbing system is arranged to absorb against the outer face of the engagement member in the longitudinal impact direction; wherein the shock absorbing system is free of any component or portion that extends beyond the flat upright plane of the panel into the playing area of the hockey rink.