Method and device for anchoring a hockey net to an ice surface

Abstract

An anchor is installed in an ice surface for securing a hockey net. The anchor device comprises a plate having two different-sized spikes and a protrusion and a rubber peg. A larger diameter end of the hockey net poles is inserted onto the rubber peg and the hockey net is secured to ice but is able to be bent or dislodged when force from impact is applied.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A hockey net anchor comprising:
 a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and a protrusion extending from the top surface,   a pair of spaced apart spikes extending from the bottom surface;   a flexible member extending from the top surface of the plate and attached to the protrusion, the flexible member sized to be inserted into a hollow post of a hockey net.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is solid rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein one of the spaced apart spikes is larger than the other one. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member has an outer cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor of  claim 4 , wherein a bottom portion of the flexible member extends outwardly to increase contact between a top surface of the bottom portion and an end of the post of a hockey net to enhance disengagement between the hockey net post and the flexible member. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the plate, protrusion, and spaced-apart spikes are metal. 
     
     
         7 . In a method of securing a hockey net to ice, the improvement comprising using a pair of the anchor of  claim 1  to secure the hockey net to the ice. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the two spaced apart metal spikes of each anchor engage the ice and then posts of a hockey net are mounted over the two flexible members of the pair of anchors or the posts of a hockey net are mounted over the two flexible members of the pair of anchors and then the two spaced apart metal spikes of each anchor engage the ice. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of mounting of one or both of the posts of the hockey is repeated if the one of both of the flexible members becomes dislodged from a post.