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Sliding device for recreational purposes

Sliding device for recreational purposes description/claims

The present invention relates, in general, to a sliding device, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a sliding device for recreational purposes that can be used on carpeted surfaces.

There have been a wide variety of sliding devices that have been developed for use on a variety of surfaces. Such sliding device should travel on whatever surface it is on without tumbling, bouncing, or being slowed because of uneven contact with that surface. The most common sliding device is a hockey puck and the most common surface for hockey pucks, obviously is an ice surface. Ice surfaces tend to be free of snags so the bouncing is minimal. Snags if any occur from the skates digging up a portion as the skater stops or veers suddenly. However, most of the snags that occur on hockey surfaces are smoothed over between periods at least in most professional surfaces. But even at the worst these snags are minimal and the puck tends to slide freely without bouncing.

Other pucks or sliding devices have been developed that have been used on uneven or unsmooth surfaces such as streets and parking lots. Some of these pucks have bristles on the outer surface of the pucks while others have springs disposed between the outer surfaces of the puck to reduce the problem of bouncing or flipping when the puck strikes an imperfection on the surface. However, none of these devices have been designed for use indoors on a carpeted surface.

Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a sliding device that could be used on relatively flat indoor surfaces such as carpeted floors without bouncing or flipping.

In a first aspect the present invention provides a sliding device for recreational purposes. Such sliding device comprises a resilient material having each of a first predetermined configuration, a first predetermined thickness and a predetermined hardness, the resilient material having a centrally disposed opening therein. The centrally disposed opening has a predetermined shape. A first disk has a second predetermined configuration and a second predetermined thickness, a portion of the first disk is engageable with a first side of the resilient material. Such first disk is produced from a preselected material having a predetermined coefficient of friction. A second disk has a third predetermined configuration and a third predetermined thickness. A portion of the second disk is engageable with an opposed second side of the resilient material. Such second disk is produced from the same preselected material having a predetermined coefficient of friction and wherein the resilient material extends beyond a periphery of the first disk and the second disk a predetermined distance and wherein the second predetermined thickness and the third predetermined thickness of such first disk and such second disk, respectively, each have a thickness which is at least as thick as one half of the first predetermined thickness of the resilient material. There are a plurality of projections disposed on the portion of at least one of such first disk and such second disk where the portion of such first disk and such second disk engage the resilient material for securing the resilient material so as to prevent it from moving relative to such first disk and such second disk and a means for securing such first disk to such second disk.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a sliding device for recreational purposes, the sliding device comprises a resilient material having each of a first predetermined configuration, a first predetermined thickness and a predetermined hardness, such resilient material having a centrally disposed opening therein, the centrally disposed opening having a predetermined shape. There is a first disk having a second predetermined configuration and a second predetermined thickness, a portion of the first disk is engageable with a first side of the resilient material, such first disk is produced from a preselected material having a predetermined coefficient of friction. A second disk has a third predetermined configuration and a third predetermined thickness, a portion of such second disk is engageable with an opposed second side of the resilient material, such second disk is produced from the preselected material having such predetermined coefficient of friction and wherein the resilient material extends beyond a periphery of the first disk and the second disk for a predetermined distance and wherein the second predetermined thickness and the third predetermined thickness of such first disk and such second disk, respectively, each have a thickness which is at least as thick as one half of the first predetermined thickness of the resilient material. There is a means for securing such first disk to such second disk. The securing means includes a female socket member having a central opening and is centrally secured to and extends outwardly from an inside surface of one of the first disk and the second disk. A male shaft extends outwardly from an opposite one of such first disk and such second disk for engaging the central opening of the female socket member. At least one slot is disposed on a side of the female socket member, the slot extends inwardly toward a base portion of the female socket member for a predetermined distance. At least one projection is disposed on a side of an outer surface of the male shaft, the at least one projection extends outwardly from a base portion of the male shaft for a predetermined distance for engagement with the at least one slot that is disposed on the female socket member.

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a hockey puck that can be used indoors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hockey puck for use on carpeted surfaces which will not damage surfaces that it contacts.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hockey puck which will lessen the possibility of injury to a player if hit by the hockey puck.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hockey puck which will not flip or bounce as it slides across a carpet.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the sliding device for recreational purposes of the present invention according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the sliding device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in side elevation of the sliding device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the parts of the sliding device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the disks of the sliding device showing the projections on the inner edge portion.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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