Cover assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US6662508B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Cover assembly",
  "abstract": "A cover assembly for temporarily covering areas such as an ice rink, to support people or other items thereon. The assembly comprises a number of components (10) which can be engaged with other such components (10) placed adjacent thereto-on the surface to be covered. The components include upper and lower parts (12, 16) with a gap (20) being provided between such parts to provide insulation from the underlying area. Adjacent components (10) are retained together by locking means (22) which are provided on two adjacent sides of each component (10). and are selectively engageable in recesses (32) on adjacent components (10).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A cover assembly comprising a plurality of components (10) engagable adjacent each other to cover the ground or another surface, each component (10) comprising an upper (12) and lower part (16), each component (10) being arranged such that the upper part (12) defines an at least generally planar upper surface (14) upon which a person can be supported, the lower part (16) being engagable with the ground or other surface, with a gap (20) being provided between the lower and upper parts (16, 12) to provide insulation and such that the upper part (12) is spaced from the ground or other surface, overlapping means (32) being provided on at least some of the sides of the component (10) to cover any gap between adjacent components (10), locking means (22) being provided for selectively retaining together adjacent components (10), the locking means (22) comprising a locking member (26) mounted on the component (10) to be movable between a locked position extending generally laterally from the component (10) so as to be engagable with an adjacent component (10), and an unlocked position contained substantially wholly within the component (10).",
    "2. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of spaced formations are provided on one of the upper or lower parts (12, 16) and supportingly engageable with the other of said parts to space said parts (12, 16) apart.",
    "3. A cover assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the formations are provided in a regular pattern.",
    "4. A cover assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the formations are substantially frusto conical.",
    "5. A cover assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the formations (18) are provided on the lower part (16).",
    "6. A cover assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that the lower part (16) is at least generally planar.",
    "7. A cover assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the lower part (16) is formed from a single sheet of material with the formations (18) being provided by shaping of the sheet.",
    "8. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the gap (20) provided between the lower and upper parts (16, 12) is filled with insulating means.",
    "9. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the gap is filled with air.",
    "10. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the support surface (14) of the upper part (12) is contoured.",
    "11. A cover assembly according to claim 10, characterised in that the support surface (14) is contoured to aid the grip of persons walking thereon.",
    "12. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that each component (10) is of substantially rectangular shape.",
    "13. A cover assembly according to claim 12, characterised in that each component (10) is substantially square.",
    "14. A cover assembly according to claim 1, charaterised in that the locking means (22) are provided on some of the sides of the component (10).",
    "15. cover assembly according to claim 14, characterised in that the locking means (22) are provided on two of the sides of the component (10).",
    "16. A cover assembly according to claim 14, characterised in that a plurality of locking means (22) are provided along each said side.",
    "17. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking member (26) is pivotally mounted on the component (10).",
    "18. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking member (26) comprises a curved engagement part (28).",
    "19. A cover assembly according to claim 18, characterised in that the engagement part (28) may be substantially arcuate.",
    "20. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that recesses (30) or other formations are provided on the sides of the component with which the locking means (22) is engageable.",
    "21. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the overlapping means (32) are provided on the sides without locking means (22).",
    "22. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the overlapping means (32) comprises flanges.",
    "23. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the components (10) are made of plastics material.",
    "24. A cover assembly according to claim 23, characterised in that the components (10) are made of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene).",
    "25. A cover assembly according to claim 23, characterised in that the components (10) are made by twin sheet thermoforming.",
    "26. A cover assembly according to claim 25, characterised in that the upper and lower parts (12, 16) are integrally formed.",
    "27. A component usable in a cover assembly according claim 1.",
    "28. A temporary cover for ice, the cover being in the form of an assembly according to claim 1."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application is a national stage application, according to Chapter II of the Patent Cooperation Treaty. This application claims the priority date of Apr. 6, 1999 for Great Britain Patent Application No. 9907607.7.\n\nThis invention concerns a cover assembly, and particularly but not exclusively an area for covering an area of ice such as for example at an ice rink.\n\nTo make full use of venues such as ice rinks it is often desirable for the ice to be covered to permit activities to take place other than on ice. Such activities may comprise other sports such as boxing or basketball, or concerts or other performances. A number of arrangements have been proposed to temporarily cover ice, but in general these have not been wholly satisfactory. For example, some do not provide sufficient insulation, and others have proved quite expensive.\n\nAccording to the present invention there is provided a cover assembly, the assembly comprising a plurality of components engageable adjacent each other to cover the ground or another surface, each component comprising an upper and lower part, each component being arranged such that the upper part defines an at least generally planar upper surface upon which a person can be supported, the lower part being engageable with the ground or other surface, with a gap being provided between the lower and upper parts to provide insulation and such that the upper part is spaced from the ground or other surface.\n\nA plurality of spaced formations are preferably provided on one of the upper or lower parts and supportingly engageable with the other of said parts to space said parts apart.",
  "cpc": [
    "A63C 19/12"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A63C 19/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Terraplas PLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Robert Arthur Else"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2000-03-30",
  "publication_date": "2003-12-16",
  "grant_date": "2003-12-16",
  "priority_date": "1999-04-06",
  "application_number": "US-91410801-A",
  "family_id": "10850870",
  "cited_by_count": 62,
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}