Enhanced Portable Marker for Ice Hockey

Publication ID: 24-11857857_0001_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Portable Marker for Ice Hockey,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857857_0001_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857857_0001_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,857.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The present inventive concept relates to an improved portable marker for ice hockey, providing enhanced traction, stability, and visibility on ice surfaces. The marker features a textured bottom contact surface, reinforced rim, friction-enhancing coating, ventilation holes, reflective material, and a removable carrying strap, addressing the limitations of existing portable markers.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent for a portable marker for ice hockey has limitations, such as inadequate traction, stability, and visibility. The present inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing novel features that improve the overall performance and user experience of the portable marker.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced portable marker comprises a base portion with a textured bottom contact surface, providing improved traction on ice surfaces. The outer wall extends upward from the base portion to a top surface, featuring a reinforced rim to prevent damage from hockey sticks. Additionally, a friction-enhancing coating can be applied to the bottom contact surface to further improve stability. The outer wall includes ventilation holes to reduce wind resistance, making the marker more stable in windy conditions. For increased visibility, the outer wall incorporates a reflective material, allowing the marker to be easily seen in low-light conditions. A removable and adjustable carrying strap is also provided for convenient transportation.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The novelty of the present inventive concept lies in the combination of features that address the limitations of existing portable markers. The textured bottom contact surface, reinforced rim, friction-enhancing coating, ventilation holes, reflective material, and removable carrying strap provide a unique solution that is not obvious from the original patent.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include varying the texture pattern on the bottom contact surface, using different materials for the reinforced rim, or incorporating additional features such as LED lights or sensors to enhance visibility and functionality. The inventive concept can also be adapted for use in other ice sports, such as figure skating or speed skating.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced portable marker has significant commercial potential in the ice hockey and ice sports industries, providing a safer and more efficient training experience for athletes. The marker can be marketed as a premium product, targeting professional and amateur hockey teams, ice rinks, and sports equipment manufacturers.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A63 A63B69/0026
A A63 A63B71/0036
A A63 A63B71/03
A A63 A63B2209/08
A A63 A63B2209/10
A A63 A63B2214/00
A A63 A63B2244/18

Field of Art

Ice hockey training equipment and sports accessories, focusing on portable markers and training aids for ice surfaces. Skill in this field requires understanding of sports equipment design, materials science, and practical athletic training requirements

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A person with engineering or industrial design background specializing in sports equipment, familiar with material properties, manufacturing techniques, and performance optimization for athletic training tools

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable incremental improvements to the source patent's portable marker design. The disclosed enhancements like textured surfaces, reinforced rims, and reflective materials are standard design optimization techniques commonly applied in sports equipment engineering. These modifications address known limitations in existing ice markers through straightforward engineering solutions that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Base portion with bottom contact surface for interfacing with ice
PTD Variation
Adding textured bottom contact surface to improve traction
Obviousness Reasoning
Surface texture modification is a known technique for enhancing friction, representing a predictable design optimization that a PHOSITA would readily conceive
Source Patent Element
Outer wall extending upward from base portion
PTD Variation
Incorporating reinforced rim to prevent hockey stick damage
Obviousness Reasoning
Structural reinforcement is a standard design approach to improve durability, representing a finite solution to equipment wear that would be obvious to a skilled designer
Source Patent Element
Portable marker for ice sports training
PTD Variation
Adding reflective material and ventilation holes
Obviousness Reasoning
Visibility and aerodynamic improvements are well-known design considerations in sports equipment, representing predictable performance enhancements
Source Patent Element
Basic marker structure with base and outer wall
PTD Variation
Including removable and adjustable carrying strap
Obviousness Reasoning
Accessory attachment methods are common design solutions for improving equipment portability and user convenience
Source Patent Element
Ice surface training marker
PTD Variation
Applying friction-enhancing coating to bottom surface
Obviousness Reasoning
Material surface treatment is a standard engineering technique for modifying performance characteristics, representing a predictable solution to improving marker stability
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857857, the variations disclosed herein would be considered obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art of sports training equipment design. The incremental improvements represent standard engineering solutions that would be readily apparent to a skilled practitioner, thus rendering potential derivative claims non-patentable under 35 U.S.C. Section 103 obviousness standards.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,857
TitlePortable marker for ice hockey