Skating Rink Assembled From a Kit

The invention is directed towards a kit which may be used to assemble an outdoor skating rink.

Thus, an annular flexible plastic floor is attached to the ground by tacks. The outer periphery of the floor is bent vertically upwards to form a wall. A vertical circular band abuts the outside of the wall. Clips hold the floor to the inside of the band, and also secure the band to the ground, to form a squat, wide vertical cylinder with an open top.

When the inside of the rink is filled with water in cold weather, a circular disc of ice will be formed, which can be skated upon.

When the inside of the rink is not filled with water, as for example in summer use, users wearing roller skates can skate therein.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of two plastic pieces;

FIG. 3 shows the plastic pieces overlapping;

FIG. 4 shows a plastic strap overlying the overlap of the plastic pieces, which strap has tacks therethrough for ground attachement thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view along line 5--5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a blower in use with the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of the blower.

Referring now to the drawings, a plurality of flexible rectangular plastic sheets 10 are placed on the ground 20 and overlap each other as shown in FIG. 3, and are shaped into an annulus, which overlaps the inside of a circular corrugated metal band 30. Rectangular plastic straps 40 are placed on top of the boundaries between adjacent sheets and are attached to the ground by tacks 50. Clips 60 have their lower extremities driven into the ground and extend upwardly against the outside of the band, to a U shaped band 70 which holds the sheets up against the band. Thus, a squat, wide, vertical and hollow cylinder is formed, with an open top. If the ground which is exposed is sufficiently impermeable to water, the cylinder can be filled with water in cold weather, the water will freeze and a disc of ice may be formed upon which the user may skate. If the ground is soft or otherwise cannot be used as indicated a plastic sheet can be disposed under the annulus to seal off the opening. The cylinder can then be filled with water as before. A blower 80 can be used to blow air over the water in the cylinder to facilitate freezing and ice formation, providing that the ambient temperature is sufficiently below the freezing temperature of the water.

If desired, during warmer weather, no water should be added and the arrangement can be used to provide a suitable surface for roller skating.

While the invention has been described with detailed reference to the drawings, the protection sought is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.