US2010831A - Skating rink - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1935. F, s sTRlTE 2,010,831

SKATING RINK Filed 001. 1o, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. S. STRITE Aug. 13, 1935.

SKATING RINK Filed Oct. 10, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gme'ntoi Slz ife Patented Aug 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to skating J rinks, and more particularly to a skating rink which can be formed within a swimming pool,.or the like.

Ari object of this invention is to provide means which' may be readily inserted in any desired depression or tank whereby ice may beformed within the tank or reservoir, the ice being of any an ice making apparatus which canbe readily desired thickness, depending upon the use for the ice.

A further object of this invention is to provide coupled up with the water circulating system for the swimming pool or tank, so that the tank may be used during the winter months or during the cooler months for ice skating and used for swimming purposes during the warmer months.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a movable floor or ice supporting member which can be suitably adjustedwithin thetank and maintained in such adjusted position during the time the tank is used for ice skating orlduring the time that the tank has the ice coatedsurface therein. l

Still another object of this invention is to provide an ice supporting member which is ofrelatively flexible or resilient construction, so that when th supporting member is lowered within the tank so that the tank can be used for swimming purposes,, the supporting "member will substantially conform to the configuration of the tank floor or bottom. 1 v i v The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part bedescribed in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:- I

' Figure l is a detail top plan view partly broken I away. of a device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention mounted,

View showing the preferred manner of elevating the ice supporting floor or member and maintaining the floor in desired elevated position.

Referring to the drawings wherein like 1 numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral l0 designates generally a tanker reservoir used for swimming purposes, or for the purpose of receiving a relatively large quantity of water. This tank or reservoir it is provided with an inclined bottom it which has a drain outlet l3 to which attached a pipe connection 12. This pipe connection I2 is connected to a drain pipe l4 and apump or water pressure member is interposed in this pipe M, so as to draw the water out of the drain Island pass this water through the circulating pipe l6, which returns the water or liquid back to the tank or reservoir it.

A conventional water filteringmember F is in- .terposed in the pipe connection 5, so as to filter this water as it is continuously circulated through the pipe It; and back to the tank or swimming pool It. A motor orup'ower member M is connected to the pump l5., In order to convert the tank or reservoir I0 into askating rink or to provide a frozen surface adjacent the upper. edge thereof, I have provided a relatively large plate or ice supporting member, generally designated as I 1, which is constructed in the form of a sheet of metal of suitable'thickness but having relative flexibility, the'purpose for which will be hereinafter described; This ice supporting member I? is elevated withtrespect to the bottom Hxof the reservoir It by means of a plurality of jacks J which engage the bottom I l and are threadably engaged with the ice supporting floor or member ll; These jack members J are operable at will so thatqthe ice supporting member ll can be raised as may be desired, whether the member I? has ice thereon or not. These jack members J have a square or angular head i8 by which or lower the ice supporting member ll as desired. A considerable number of these jack members J are used which are spacedly mounted in substantially vertical position on the floor 5 l and are spaced apart sufiiciently so that the ice supporting t member ll will be maintained in a substantially p the screw members may be turned so as to raise V horizontal position." The vertical wall 19 of the water will seep downwardly into the space between the ice s upporting member IT and the bottom It oi the tank 10.

In order to freeze the water positioned on the ice supporting plate'll within the curb 26, I have provided a plurality of spray members 22 which are connected to lateral pipe connections 23 which in turn are connected to longitudinally extending pipe members 24. These pipe members 24 are connected to a feed pipe 25 which in turn iscon- V nected with the pipe line l5 of the swimming pool pipe system. A brine cooling member B is interposed in a pipe line 26 which is connected at each end to the pipe line l6 by means of short pipe connections 2?, and valve members 28 and 2d are interposed in the pipe lineifi and are adaptedto control the passage of brine or other cooling medium through the cooling member B.

Valve members 33 and iii are mounted in the pipe line iii, one on each side of the water filtering member F, so that when the circulating system for the pool is used for conducting the cooling medium to'the spray members 22, the filtering member F may be cut out and the cooling medium passed through the liquid cooling member B, using the pump or circulating member for the cooling medium in the same manner as it is now being used for the pool circulating system. The ice supporting plate ll is provided adjacent each corner thereofwith trap doors T, so that access may be had to the space between the supporting member ill and the bottom ll. of the tank. A drain valve 32 is interposed in the pipe line i l and is provided with an elongated stem 33 having a hand wheel 32 mounted thereon, so that when the pool or tank is being used for swimming purposes, the water may be drained out of the tank and system to a suitable source of drainage.

In the use of this device, during the time that the' tank H3 is being used as a swimming pool or for holding liquids, or the like, the ice supporting floor ll may be lowered so that it will contact with the floor l l and the screws 35 forming a portionof the jack construction may be removed. Due to theflexibility of the floor ll, when this floor is lowered so as to contact with the bottom I I, it will substantially conform to the configuration of the floor and the openings in the floor ll causedby removing the screw members 35 will permit the water in the pool if to flow on the inclined surface of the bottom I 1! toward the drain opening is. Preferably, the bottom H is provided with a plurality of base members 35 for the jacks J, so that the bottom ll will not lie fiat on the bottom H, but will be held in spacedrelation thereto so as'to permit the free circulation of water in the pool. During the use of the tank it as a pool, the valves 28 and 29 will be closed and the valves 36 and 3! opened so as'to permit the water to circulate through the pipes I l and it without passing through the cooling member B. When it is'desired to use the tank iii as a skating rink or the like, the jack members 35 may be inserted in desired position and the ice fioor ll raised to the desired height and the longitudinal pipe connections 24 connected up to the brine header 25. A suitable brine or liquid is placed in the system, this liquid being such that when it is properly cooled in the brine cooling member B and sprayed through the spray nozzles 22,-it will cool the ice floor ll suiiiciently to freeze water on the upper surface of the floor ll" to any desired thickness.

After the liquid is ejected from the spray nozzles and drops downwardly from the lower surface of the ice bottom member ll, it will drain into the outlet 53 and be drawn back into the system by means of the pump member l5. In this manner, a relatively small quantity ofbrine 'or freezing liquid may be used, the liquid being used continuously and none of the liquid passing out of the system until the drain valve 32 is opened. While the floor l'i has been designed for the purpose of supporting ice within the tank ii), I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction as, if desired, other material may be placed on the floor ll so that any desired games or sports events may be played on this elevated floor construction.

It will be obvious, from the foregoing, that whereapool has been provided in the interior of a building or the like, it will be possible to use the space occupied by the pool for purposes other than swimming, so that where the amount of space available is relatively limited, any desired sports such as swimming, ice skating, tennis or other sports events may be held by using the device hereinbefore described.

The use of the words swimming pool in the claims is to be construed as any tank or kindred structure having a drain in the bottom thereof.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may e made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims. 1

What is claimed is:'

l. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a swimming pool structure and a liquid circulating system for the swimming pool, of a removably. mounted plate positioned within the pool structure, means for retaining a liquid on the plate, means for supporting the plate in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom of the pool, liquid cooling means interposed in the circulating system of the pool, and means disposed intermediate the plate and the bottom of the pool for projecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.

2. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a swimming pool structure including a liquid circulating system, of a plate disposed within the vertical walls of the pool, means for supporting the plate in a position above the bottom of the pool, said means including screw members engaging the bottom of the pool and the plate, liquid cooling means interposed in the circulating system, and means for projecting a cooling medium against the bottom of the plate whereby to freeze a liquid disposed .on the upper surface thereof.

3. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a swimming pool structure and a liquid circulating system for the swimming pool, of a removably mounted plate disposed within the vertical walls of the pool, means for supporting the plate in an elevated position, means for retaining a liquid on the upper surface of the plate, a trap door carried by the plate whereby to permit entrance to the space between the plate and the bottom of the pool, and means for projecting a cooling medium against the bottom of the plate whereby to freeze the liquid positioned on the upper surface of the plate.

4. A device of the character described comprising a plate, means for retaining a liquid on the upper surface of the plate intermediate the marginal edges thereof, means for supporting the plate in an elevated position, said supporting means including a plurality of jack members having a portion thereof projecting through the plate whereby to permit vertical adjustment of the plate, and means engaging the bottom of the plate whereby to freeze the liquid positioned on the upper surface thereof.

5. A device as described comprising a horizontally disposed liquid holding member, a catch basin below the member having an area substantially equal to the area of the member, means for supporting the member in adjusted position relative to the basin, and means supported intermediate the member and the basin to project a cooling means against the bottom of the member for freezing of a liquid positioned on top of the member, saidcatch basinreceiving the. cooling means dropping from the member..

W6. A device as described comprising a horizontally disposed liquidholding member, a catch basin below the member having an area substantially equal to the area of the member, means.

supported intermediate the member and the basin to project a cooling means against the bottom of the member, said catch basin receiving the cooling means dropping from the member, and means for supporting the member in adjusted position relative to the projecting means. i

7. A device as described comprising a liquid holding member, a catch basin disposed below the member, means disposed betweenthe member and the basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and supporting means for supporting said member in adjusted position, said supporting means being operable from above the member and being removable through the member.

8. A device as described comprising a liquid holding member, a catch basin 3 disposed below the member, means between themember and the catch basin for freezing a liquidcarried by the member, and means operableifrom above the" member and extensible 'therjethrough for sup} porting the member inadjusted position relative to the freezing means. i i Y- 9. A device as described comprising a liquid holding member, a catch basin disposed below the member, means ldisposed between the "member and the basin for freezing a liquid'carried by the member, and threaded supporting members rotatably carried by the basin and threadably engaging the member to support the member in adjusted position relative to thebasin.

10. A' device as described comprising a member adapted to hold a liquid, a'catch' basindisposed below the member, means disposed between the member and the basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and supporting means for supporting said member in adjusted position relative to the catch basin, said supportingmeans being operable from above the member;

11. A device as described comprising a member adapted to hold a liquid, a catch basin disposed below the member, means disposed between the member and the basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and supporting means for supporting said member in adjusted position relative to the catch basin and the freezing means, said supporting means being removable through the member.

' .12. A device as described comprising a plate, means for supporting the plate in. an elevated position above a substantially horizontal surface,

means for projecting a freezing means against the surface of the plate to freeze a liquid positioned thereon, said plate having an opening:

therethrough, and a closure for the opening to permit access through ,the 'plateto the space below. the plate.

prising a 13. A device of the character describedcorn [prising a floor member adapted tohold a frozen liquid, means for supporting the floor member within apool' above the, bottom of the pool,1said supporting means including screwthreaded mem- I bers engaging the bottom for adjustably supporting the'member relative to the pool.

14. A device of the character described com plate for supporting the plate inan elevated horizontally disposed plate, screw.

position, a liquid cooling system, and means engaging said cooling system for projecting a cooling medium against the bottom of said. plate whereby to freeze a liquid disposed on the upper surface thereof. r 15. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a tank structure and a liquid circulatingsystem for the tank, of a plate supported above the bottom of the tank and adapted to hold a liquid thereon, liquid cooling means interposed in the circulating system, and means disposed intermediate the plate and the bottom of the tank for projecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.

16. A device of the character described comprising a plate adapted to hold a liquid on the upper surface thereof, a liquid collecting means below the plate, means operable from above the plate and engaging the collecting means for raising the plate, and means between the plate and the collecting means for freezing a liquid carried by the plate. 1'7. Adevice as described comprising a member adapted to hold a liquid, a catch basin below the member, means disposed between the member and the basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and means engaging the member and the catch basin for raising the member relative to the catch basin, said means being operable from above the member.

, 18." A device as described comprising a member adapted to hold a liquidga catch basin below member, and means engaging themember and the basin for raising the member relative to the basin, said latter means being removable through the member. I

19. A device as described comprising a plate, a catch basin below the plate, means for raising the plate relative to the catch basin; means for projecting a freezing means against the bottom of the plate, and means for obtaining access to thespace belowv the plate. v

20.jA device as described comprising a. plate adaptedto hold a liquid, a catch basin below the plate, means engaging the plate and the catch basin for raising the plate relative to the basin, said means being removable through the plate, means for projecting a freezing means against the surface of the plate to freeze a liquid positioned thereon, said plate having an opening therethrough, and a closure for the opening to permit access through the plate to the space therebelow. ""TL'A device as described comprising a horizontally disposed plate, screw threaded elevating means swivelly supported below the plate and threadably engaging the plate for raising or low the member, means disposed between the memher and the'basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and means engaging the member (to elevate the member relative to the basin.

23. A device as described comprising a memberadapted to hold a liquid, a catch basin below the membeig means disposed between the member and the basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and means operable at will for elevating the member relative to the basin.

. 24'. A device as described comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid, and a supporting means for the member, said supporting means including screw threaded means. engaging the member from below for supporting. the member in an elevated position;

25. A device as described comprising a memberadapted to hold a frozen liquid, and a supporting means for the member, said supporting means including members engaging the first member from below and removable through the first member.

'26. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a swimming pool,

structure, of a removably mounted plate, means for retaining a liquid on the plate, means for supporting the plate above the bottom of the pool, and means intermediate the plate and the bottom of the pool for projecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.

27. A device as described comprising the combination with a swimming pool structure and a liquid circulating system for the pool, of a removably mounted plate, means for retaining a liquid on the plate, means for supporting the plate in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom of the pool, liquid cooling means interposed the circulating system of the pool, and means disposed intermediate the plate and the bottom of the pool for projecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of the plate. 1

28. A device as described comprising the com-- bination with a swimming pool structure and a liquid circulating system for the pool, of a removably mounted plate adapted to substantially close the open top of the pool, means for retain ing a liquid on the plate, means for supporting the plate above the bottom of the pool, liquid cooling means interposed in the circulatin system of the pool, and means disposed intermedi ate the plate and the bottom of the pool for projecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.-

29. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a swimming pool structure, of a plate, screw threaded means for supporting the plat-e within the walls of the pool structure in adjusted position relative to the bottom of the pool, means for retaining a liquid on the upper surface of the plate, and means disposedbetween the plate and the bottom of the pool for freezing a liquid carried by the upper surface of the plate.

30. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a swimming pool structure of a relatively large plate, means for retaining a liquid on the plate, means for supporting the plate above the bottom of the pool structure, and means intermediate the plate and the bottom of the pool and independent of the plate for projecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.

31. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to an ice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid and to be disposed at a point upwardly from the bottom of the basin, and means disposed below the member for freezing a liquid on the member, said means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

32. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to an ice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid, means for supporting the member in upwardly spaced relation to the. bottom of the pool, and means independent of the member for freezing a liquid on the member, said latter means being disposed Within the basin of the pool structure.

33. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to an ice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid, and means for supporting the member in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom of the pool structure, and means independent of the member and of the supporting means therefor to freeze a liquid on the member, said latter means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

34'. The combination with the basin of a swimming pool structure, of a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid and to engage the pool structure in a manner whereby the memberis disposed in upwardly spaced relation to bottom of the basin, and means disposed below the member for freezing a liquid on the member.

35. A converting means for the basin of a swimming pool'for converting the pool structure to an ice skating rinkpomprising the combination with thebasin of the pool structure, of a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid on one surface thereof, and means disposed below the member for freezing a liquid on the member, said means being disposedv within'the basin of the pool structure.

36. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to an ice skating rink comprising a relatively flat member, means carried by one surface of the member for retaining a. liquid thereon forfreezing, means for supporting the member relative to the basin, and means below the member and independent thereof 'for freezing a liquid on the member, said latter means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

37. A means for converting the basin of a. swimming pool structure to an ice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid, means for supporting the member adjacent the top of the basin, and means supported between the bottom of the member and the basin of the pool for freezing a liquid on the member, said latter means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

38. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to an ice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid and having an area to substantially enclose the top of the basin, means for supporting the member in operative position, and means independent of the member and supported therebelow for freezing a liquid on the member, said latter means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

39. The combination with the basin of a swimming pool structure, of a member engaging the basin and adapted to hold a frozen liquid and having an area substantially equal to the area of the basin engaged by the member, means for supporting the member relative to the basin, and means independent of the member and supported therebelow for freezing a liquid on the member, said latter means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

FRANK S. STRITE.

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