US 11,712,617 C1 (13,075th)
Ice skating rink structure and method
Dylan Gastel, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by Dylan Gastel, Boston, MA (US)
Reexamination Request No. 90/019,754, Dec. 3, 2024.
Reexamination Certificate for Patent 11,712,617, issued Aug. 1, 2023, Appl. No. 16/313,606, Dec. 27, 2018.
PCT Filed Jun. 30, 2017, PCT No. PCT/US2017/040419
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 27, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/006036, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 4, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/356,842, filed on Jun. 30, 2016.
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate issued on Oct. 31, 2025.
Int. Cl. A63C 19/10 (2006.01); E01C 13/10 (2006.01)
CPC A63C 19/10 (2013.01) [E01C 13/102 (2013.01); A63C 2203/10 (2013.01)]
OG exemplary drawing
AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT:
The patentability of claims 72-73, 90-93, 96, 99 and 100 is confirmed.
Claims 15-16, 59 and 78 are cancelled.
Claims 1, 38, 45, 60, 74, 76, 79, 94, 97-98, 101, 102, 103 and 104 are determined to be patentable as amended.
Claims 2-14, 17-37, 39-44, 46-58, 61-71, 75, 77, 80-89, 95 and 105-106, dependent on an amended claim, are determined to be patentable.
New claims 107-115 are added and determined to be patentable.
1. A kit for constructing a self-standing ice skating rink structure, the kit comprising:
side boards configured to collectively define an area, each of the side boards extending from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element;
board holding members each configured to releasably secure at least a portion of at least one of the side boards to hold the at least one of the side boards in a vertical orientation [ , wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle] ; and
tension members each configured to be attached to at least one of the board holding members and to traverse the area,
wherein at least one of the board holding members comprises a receptacle, and at least one of the tension members is configured to be attached to the receptacle.
38. A method of assembling a self-standing ice skating rink structure, the method comprising:
providing side boards, each of the side boards extending from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element;
providing board holding members, and positioning the side boards in relation to the board holding members such that the board holding members each releasably secure at least a portion of at least one of the side boards to hold the at least one of the side boards in a vertical orientation and such that the side boards collectively define an area, wherein at least one of the board holding members comprises a receptacle, [ wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle] ; and
providing tension members, and attaching each of the tension members to at least one of the board holding members such that the tension members traverse the area and at least one of the tension members is attached to the receptacle.
45. A kit for constructing a self-standing ice skating rink structure, the kit comprising:
side boards configured to collectively define an area within the ice skating rink structure, each of the side boards extending from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element;
board holding members each configured to releasably secure at least a portion of at least one of the side boards to hold the at least one of the side boards in a vertical orientation [ , wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle] ; and
tension members each configured to be attached to at least one of the board holding members and to traverse the area,
wherein at least one of the board holding members comprises a receptacle, and at least one of the tension members is configured to be attached to the receptacle.
60. The kit according to claim 59 [ 45] , wherein each of the board holding members is further configured to be oriented such that the an inner end of the base is directed inwardly into the area, and each of the side boards is further configured to be removably engaged in the board holding member.
74. A portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure, comprising:
a perimeter component defining an area; one or more tension members connected to the perimeter component and travelling across the area; and
a plurality of board holding members configured to releasably secure at least a portion of the perimeter component, [ wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle;]
wherein the perimeter component comprises a plurality of side boards,
wherein each of the plurality of side boards extends from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element,
wherein at least one of the one or more tension members extends through an aperture in one of the plurality of board holding members,
wherein the at least one of the one or more tension members engages a locking mechanism to fix the at least one of the one or more tension members to the one of the plurality of board holding members, and
wherein the locking mechanism fixes the at least one of the one or more tension members within the aperture.
76. A portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure, comprising:
a perimeter component defining an area; one or more tension members connected to the perimeter component and travelling across the area; and
a plurality of board holding members configured to releasably secure at least a portion of the perimeter component, [ wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle;]
wherein the perimeter component comprises a plurality of side boards,
wherein each of the plurality of side boards extends from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element,
wherein at least one of the plurality of board holding members comprises a receptacle, and
wherein at least one of the one or more tension members is attached to the receptacle.
79. The portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure according to claim 78 [ 76] , wherein the receptacle is an opening formed in an interior of the triangle by material that extends from the base to the outer vertical element.
94. A portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure, comprising:
a perimeter component defining an area within the rink; and
one or more tension members connected to the perimeter component;
wherein the perimeter component comprises a plurality of side boards, and
wherein each of the plurality of side boards extends from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a second connection element;
a plurality of board holding members configured to releasably secure at least a portion of the perimeter component, [ wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle;]
wherein at least one of the tension members extends through an aperture in one of the plurality of board holding members, and at least one of the tension members engages a locking mechanism to fix at least one of the tension members to the one of the plurality of board holding members, and
wherein the locking mechanism fixes the at least one of the tension members within the aperture.
97. A kit for constructing a portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure, the kit comprising:
a perimeter component configured to define an area;
one or more tension members configured to be connected to the perimeter component and to travel across the area; and
a plurality of board holding members configured to releasably secure at least a portion of the perimeter component, [ wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle;]
wherein the perimeter component comprises a plurality of side boards,
wherein each of the plurality of side boards extends from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element,
wherein at least one of the one or more tension members is configured to extend through an aperture in one of the plurality of board holding members,
wherein the at least one of the one or more tension members is configured to engage a locking mechanism to fix the at least one of the one or more tension members to the one of the plurality of board holding members, and
wherein the locking mechanism is configured to fix the at least one of the one or more tension members within the aperture.
98. A kit for constructing a portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure, the kit comprising:
a perimeter component configured to define an area;
one or more tension members configured to be connected to the perimeter component and to travel across the area; and
a plurality of board holding members configured to releasably secure at least a portion of the perimeter component, [ wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle;]
wherein the perimeter component comprises a plurality of side boards,
wherein each of the plurality of side boards extends from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element,
wherein at least one of the plurality of board holding members comprises a receptacle, and
wherein at least one of the one or more tension members is configured to be attached to the receptacle.
101. A kit for constructing a portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure, the kit comprising:
a perimeter component configured to define an area within the rink structure;
one or more tension members configured to be connected to the perimeter component; and
a plurality of board holding members configured to releasably secure at least a portion of the perimeter component, [ wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle;]
wherein the perimeter component comprises a plurality of side boards,
wherein each of the plurality of side boards extends from a first end defined by a first connection element to a second end defined by a second connection element,
wherein at least one of the one or more tension members is configured to extend through an aperture in one of the plurality of board holding members,
wherein the at least one of the one or more tension members is configured to engage a locking mechanism to fix the at least one of the one or more tension members to the one of the plurality of board holding members, and
wherein the locking mechanism is configured to fix the at least one of the one or more tension members within the aperture.
102. A portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure, comprising:
side boards configured to collectively define an area, each of the side boards extending from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element;
board holding members each configured to releasably secure at least a portion of at least one of the side boards to hold the at least one of the side boards in a vertical orientation [ , wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle] ; and
tension members each configured to be attached to at least one of the board holding members and to traverse the area,
wherein at least one of the board holding members comprises a receptacle, and at least one of the tension members is configured to be attached to the receptacle.
103. A portable, self-standing ice skating rink structure, comprising:
side boards configured to collectively define an area within the ice skating rink, each of the side boards extending from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element;
board holding members each configured to releasably secure at least a portion of at least one of the side boards to hold the at least one of the side boards in a vertical orientation [ , wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle] ; and
tension members each configured to be attached to at least one of the board holding members and to traverse the area,
wherein at least one of the board holding members comprises a receptacle, and at least one of the tension members is configured to be attached to the receptacle.
104. A kit for constructing a self-standing ice skating rink structure, the kit comprising:
side boards configured to collectively define an area;
board holding members each configured to secure at least a portion of at least one of the side boards to hold the at least one of the side boards in a vertical orientation [ , wherein each of the plurality of board holding members comprises a base, a buttress, and an outer vertical element, the buttress extends from the base, the outer vertical element extends from the base, the buttress extends from the base to the outer vertical element, and the outer vertical element is perpendicular to the base such that the base, the buttress, and the outer vertical element form a right triangle] ; and
tension members each configured to be attached to at least one of the board holding members and to traverse the area,
wherein at least one of the board holding members comprises a receptacle, and at least one of the tension members is configured to be attached to the receptacle, and
wherein each of the side boards extends from a first end defined by a connection element comprising a first flat surface to a second end defined by a complementary connection element comprising a second flat surface.
[ 107. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is an opening formed in an interior of the triangle by material that extends from the base to the outer vertical element.]
[ 108. The kit according to claim 107, wherein each of the plurality of board holding members further comprises a foot extending from an intersection of the base and the outer vertical element in a direction parallel to the base.]
[ 109. The kit according to claim 108, wherein each of the board holding members further comprises an inner vertical element extending from the foot in a direction parallel to the outer vertical element to form a slot configured to releasably secure the portion of the perimeter component such that the inner vertical element is on one side of the perimeter component and within the area and the outer vertical element is on another side of the perimeter component and outside of the area.]
[ 110. The kit according to claim 109, wherein a tension member of the one or more tension members extends from the foot.]
[ 111. The kit according to claim 110, wherein each of the one or more tension members is a strap.]
[ 112. A kit for constructing a self-standing ice skating rink structure, the kit comprising: side boards configured to collectively define an area, each of the side boards extending from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element; board holding members each configured to releasably secure at least a portion of at least one of the side boards to hold the at least one of the side boards in a vertical orientation; and tension members each configured to be attached to at least one of the board holding members and to traverse the area, wherein at least one of the board holding members comprises a receptacle, and at least one of the tension members is configured to be attached to the receptacle; wherein the board holding members each comprise a flat base having an inner end and an outer end, an outer vertical element perpendicular to the base and located a fixed distance from the outer end of the base, and an inner vertical element perpendicular to the base and separated from and parallel to the outer vertical element and located a fixed distance from the inner end of the base or at the inner end of the base, the outer vertical element, the inner vertical element and an intervening portion of the base define a U-shaped slot, a supporting buttress is connected to an outer surface of the outer vertical element and connected to the base at a fixed distance from the outer end of the base or at the outer end of the base, the base, the supporting buttress, and the outer vertical element define an essentially rectangular geometric shape, and the receptacle is a receiver positioned on the base and on an outer side of the U-shaped slot for receiving the at least one of the tension members.]
[ 113. The kit according to claim 112, wherein each of the board holding members is further configured to be oriented such that the inner end of the base is directed to an interior of the essentially rectangular geometric shape, and each of the side boards is configured to be removably and vertically engaged in the U-shaped slot.]
[ 114. A kit for constructing a self-standing ice skating rink structure, the kit comprising: side boards configured to collectively define an area within the ice skating rink structure, each of the side boards extending from a first end defined by a connection element to a second end defined by a complementary connection element: board holding members each configured to releasably secure at least a portion of at least one of the side boards to hold the at least one of the side boards in a vertical orientation; and tension members each configured to be attached to at least one of the board holding members and to traverse the area, wherein at least one of the board holding members comprises a receptacle, and at least one of the tension members is configured to be attached to the receptacle; wherein the board holding members each comprise a flat base having an inner end and an outer end, an outer vertical element perpendicular to the base and located a fixed distance from the outer end of the base, and an inner vertical element perpendicular to the base and separated from and parallel to the outer vertical element and located a fixed distance from the inner end of the base or at the inner end of the base, the outer vertical element, the inner vertical element and an intervening portion of the base define a U-shaped slot, a supporting buttress is connected to an outer surface of the outer vertical element and connected to the base at a fixed distance from the outer end of the base or at the outer end of the base, and the base, the supporting buttress, and the outer vertical element define an essentially rectangular geometric shape.]
[ 115. The kit according to claim 114, wherein each of the board holding members is further configured to be oriented such that the inner end of the base is directed inwardly into the area, and each of the side boards is further configured to be removably engaged in the board holding member.]