System and Method For a Portable Ice Skating Rink

Abstract

The present invention discloses a portable and modular ice skating rink structure kit that includes a liner, sidewall, a wicket or slotted anchor block for supporting the sidewall, and sidewall connectors and liner clips. The skating rink disclosed herein may be used on hard or soft surfaces. The sidewall is supported by wickets for use with soft surfaces, such as ground, and slotted anchor blocks for use with hard surfaces, such as pavement. Once the sidewall is supported, a liner is draped over the playing surface and the sidewalls create a pool of water. When temperatures fall below freezing, a smooth sheet of surface ice is created.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable ice skating rink comprising:
 a flexible rubber sheet having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the second end thereby forming a sidewall, wherein the sidewall is positioned on a horizontal surface to form the border of a closed geometric shape thereby defining a skating surface area, and a flexible, water-proof slip draped over and connected to the sidewalls, thereby forming a liner of a structure capable of containing a liquid inward of the sidewalls to create a skating surface.   
     
     
         2 . The portable ice skating rink of  claim 1 , wherein a sidewall slotted anchor block is removably attached to the sidewall and rests on the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         3 . The portable ice skating rink of  claim 1 , wherein a wicket secures the sidewall to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         4 . The portable ice skating rink of  claim 1 , wherein an interlocking mechanism having at least one connector, the connector being selected from the group consisting of a male connector and a female connector, the male connector being a projection from the flexible rubber sheet located at either the first end or the second end of the flexible rubber sheet, the female connector being a hole located at the opposite end of which the male connector is located on the flexible rubber sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The portable ice skating rink of  claim 4 , wherein the projection of the male connector has a narrow neck connecting the projection to the flexible rubber sheet and the hole of the female connector has a narrow throat. 
     
     
         6 . The portable ice skating rink of  claim 2 , wherein, the sidewall slotted anchor block generally rectangular shaped having a first front face, a first side face, a second side face, a rear face, a bottom face, a top surface, and a slot opening to said first side face, said second side face and said top face. 
     
     
         7 . The portable ice skating rink of  claim 3 , wherein the wicket has a first end and a second end, the first end having a shape of a rod and the second end having a shape rod where both ends are of generally similar size and separated by a central bend allowing the end to contact the horizontal surface on each side of the sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The portable ice skating rink of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking mechanism of the sidewall comprises holes capable of receiving a bolt. 
     
     
         9 . The portable ice skating rink of  claim 1 , wherein the liner is connected to the sidewall with a liner clip. 
     
     
         10 . A method of assembling a portable ice skating rink, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing supports at locations on a horizontal surface to establish a border of a closed geometric shape;   wrapping a flexible rubber sheet having a first end and a second end around the supports thereby defining a skating surface area;   connecting the first end of the flexible rubber sheet to the second end of the flexible rubber sheet thereby forming a sidewall;   removably attaching the sidewall to the supports;   placing a flexible, water-proof slip on said horizontal surface over the closed geometric shape and extending beyond the sidewalls, thereby forming a liner of a structure capable of containing a liquid;   securing the liner to the sidewall;   placing a liquid within the structure; and   freezing the liquid to create a skating surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising removably attaching the sidewall to a slotted anchor block for support; 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising enclosing the sidewall with wickets for support; 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of using an interlocking mechanism to connect the first end of the flexible rubber sheet to the second end of the flexible rubber sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of using bolts and nuts to connect the first end of the flexible rubber sheet to the second end of the flexible rubber sheet.