Soft caps for dasher board assemblies

Abstract

Soft caps for absorbing player impact against dasher boards are disclosed. The soft cap can include an elongated body defining a number of absorption ribs and channels for absorbing impact forces against the dasher board. The elongated body can be formed from a material having a relatively low durometer adapted to displace and absorb the impact energy when a player strikes the dasher board. One or more curved sections of the elongated body can be configured to fit adjacent to the hard edges of the dasher board. The soft cap can be provided as part of a dasher board assembly including a lower frame assembly and a number of upper shielding panes.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A flexible, compressible molded elongate thermoplastic bumper soft cap to be mounted to a top sill over a hard upper 90° edge along an impact side of a lower frame dasher board for a rink, comprising
 (a) a molded low-density polyethylene elongate body having a durometer of about 60-90 Shore A, the body having: 
 (b) a top flat first side; 
 (c) a solid vertical flat second side, the top and vertical sides of the elongate body are oriented in a direction along a general longitudinal axis of the elongated body; 
 (d) the top flat first side being substantially thicker than the solid vertical flat second side, the solid vertical flat second side being orthogonal to the first side for overlapping the impact side of the lower frame dasher board in flush arrangement as to not interfere with sports play; and 
 (d) a curved section between the first and second sides to be mounted adjacent the upper hard dasher board edge. 
 
     
     
         34 . The soft cap of  claim 33 , further comprising a void channel extending longitudinally in the body below the curved section to be displaced or yield when compressed to absorb and distribute impact energy when a player strikes the cap. 
     
     
         35 . The soft cap of  claim 33 , further comprising alternating ribs and void channels extending longitudinally in the body below the top flat surface and curved section to be displaced or yield when compressed to absorb and distribute impact energy when a player strikes the cap. 
     
     
         36 . The soft cap of  claim 35  wherein the channels have a width of about 1 inch. 
     
     
         37 . The soft cap of  claim 35  wherein the ribs have a width of about ¾ inch. 
     
     
         38 . A flexible, compressible molded elongate thermoplastic bumper soft cap to be mounted to a top sill over a hard upper 90° edge along an impact side of a lower frame dasher board for a rink, comprising
 (a) a molded low-density polyethylene elongate body having a durometer of about 60-90 Shore A, the body having: 
 (b) a top flat first side; 
 (c) a solid vertical flat second side, the top and vertical sides of the elongate body are oriented in a direction along a general longitudinal axis of the elongated body; 
 (d) the top flat first side being substantially thicker than the solid vertical flat second side, the solid vertical flat second side being orthogonal to the first side for lying along the lower frame dasher board in flush arrangement as to not interfere with sports play; and 
 (d) a curved section between the first and second sides to be mounted adjacent the upper hard dasher board edge. 
 
     
     
         39 . The soft cap of  claim 38 , further comprising a void channel extending longitudinally in the body below the curved section to be displaced or yield when compressed to absorb and distribute impact energy when a player strikes the cap. 
     
     
         40 . The soft cap of  claim 38 , further comprising alternating ribs and void channels extending longitudinally in the body below the top flat surface and curved section to be displaced or yield when compressed to absorb and distribute impact energy when a player strikes the cap. 
     
     
         41 . The soft cap of  claim 38  wherein the channels have a width of about 1 inch. 
     
     
         42 . The soft cap of  claim 38  wherein the ribs have a width of about ¾ inch. 
     
     
         43 . A flexible, compressible molded elongate thermoplastic bumper soft cap to be mounted to a top sill over a hard upper 90° edge along an impact side of a lower frame dasher board for a rink, consisting of:
 (a) a molded low-density polyethylene elongate body having a durometer of about 60-30 Shore A, the body having: 
 (b) a top flat first side; 
 (c) a solid vertical flat second side, the top and verical sides of the elongate body are oriented in a direction along a general longitudinal axis of the elongate body; 
 (d) the top flat first side being substantially thicker than the solid vertical flat second side, the solid vertical flat second side being orthogonal to the first side for overlapping the impact side of the lower frame dasher board in a flush arrangement as to not interfere with sports play; 
 (d) a curved section between the first and second sides to be mounted adjacent the upper hard dasher board edge; and 
 (e) a void channel extending longitudinally in the body below the curved section to be displaced or yield when compressed to absorb and distribute impact energy when a player strikes the cap. 
 
     
     
         44 . A flexible, compressible molded elongate thermoplastic bumper soft cap to be mounted to a top sill over a hard upper 90° edge along an impact side of a lower frame dasher board for a rink, consisting of:
 (a) a molded low-density polyethylene elongate body having a durometer of about 60-30 Shore A, the body having: 
 (b) a top flat first side; 
 (c) a solid vertical flat second side, the top and vertical sides of the elongate body are oriented in a direction along a general longitudinal axis of the elongated body; 
 (d) the top flat first side being thicker than the solid vertical flat second side, the solid vertical flat second side being orthogonal to the first side for lying along the lower frame dasher board; 
 (d) a curved section between the first and second sides to be mounted adjacent the upper hard dasher board edge; 
 (e) a void channel extending longitudinally in the body below the curved section to be displaced or yield when compressed to absorb and distribute impact energy when a player strikes the cap; and 
 (f) alternating ribs and void channels extending longitudinally in the body below the top flat surface to be displaced or yield when compressed to absorb and distribute impact energy when a player strikes the cap.