Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Specialized Portable Markers for Niche Ice Hockey Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857857_0009_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Specialized Portable Markers for Niche Ice Hockey Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857857_0009_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857857_0009_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 disclosure relates to portable markers adapted for specific, narrow ice hockey markets or unique operational environments, such as high-security, disaster relief, extreme weather, adaptive, and underwater training.

Background and Problem Solved

The original portable marker for ice hockey, as disclosed in the parent patent, has limitations when applied to specialized environments. The present inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing innovative features and adaptations to cater to distinct market needs, ensuring enhanced performance, safety, and accessibility.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The new claims introduce specialized portable markers for high-security ice hockey training, featuring biometric authentication and encryption to prevent unauthorized access and tampering. Another embodiment is designed for disaster relief ice hockey training, incorporating a built-in emergency beacon and GPS locator to facilitate quick response and rescue operations. A weather-resistant and insulated design is proposed for extreme weather ice hockey training, while an adaptive portable marker with adjustable height and angle settings accommodates players with disabilities or injuries. Additionally, a waterproof and pressure-resistant design enables underwater ice hockey training. These innovative features and adaptations enable the portable markers to thrive in unique operational environments.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims provide a non-obvious solution by introducing specialized features and adaptations that address the specific needs of niche ice hockey markets and environments. The inventive step lies in the integration of these features, which significantly enhance the performance, safety, and accessibility of the portable markers in their respective applications.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include portable markers with modular components, allowing users to customize the device for their specific needs. Variations could also include portable markers with integrated sensors for real-time performance tracking or portable markers with adjustable colors and patterns for enhanced visibility in different environments.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The specialized portable markers have significant commercial potential in various industries, including professional and amateur ice hockey leagues, ice hockey training facilities, disaster relief organizations, and adaptive sports programs. The market for these devices is expected to grow as ice hockey becomes increasingly popular and the need for specialized training equipment becomes more apparent.

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

Sports equipment design, specifically portable markers and training accessories for ice hockey and athletic training environments, requiring expertise in materials engineering, ergonomic design, and sports technology adaptation

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A skilled practitioner with a background in sports equipment engineering, familiarity with athletic training technologies, understanding of material science, and experience designing adaptable sporting accessories

Obviousness Rationale

A person having ordinary skill would recognize that the source patent's portable hockey marker provides a fundamental design that can be readily adapted to specialized environments through predictable modifications. The core structural elements of the original marker serve as a foundation for introducing context-specific features like security, emergency response, and accessibility enhancements. These variations represent logical extensions of the original marker's fundamental purpose of facilitating hockey training across different operational contexts.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Base portion with bottom contact surface configured to interface with ice
PTD Variation
Weather-resistant and insulated design with thermal shielding for extreme environments
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that modifying material composition to enhance environmental resistance is a standard design optimization technique with predictable results
Source Patent Element
Portable marker capable of interaction with hockey stick
PTD Variation
Biometric authentication and encryption to prevent unauthorized access
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating security features into sporting equipment is a known technique for protecting specialized training assets, representing a straightforward technological adaptation
Source Patent Element
Marker designed for surface interaction and training purposes
PTD Variation
Underwater and pressure-resistant design for alternative training environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Extending a marker's functional range through material and structural modifications represents a predictable engineering solution within the field of sports training equipment
Source Patent Element
Marker with potential for positional adjustment
PTD Variation
Adjustable height and angle settings for adaptive player training
Obviousness Reasoning
Introducing configurable design elements to accommodate diverse user needs is a standard approach in assistive and adaptive sports equipment design
Source Patent Element
Basic marker with potential for additional functionality
PTD Variation
Built-in emergency beacon and GPS locator for disaster relief scenarios
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating communication and tracking technologies into portable markers represents a logical extension of existing sports safety and training equipment design principles
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857857 and the disclosed variations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed specialized portable markers obvious and lacking inventive step. The systematic adaptation of the foundational marker design to specific environmental and operational contexts represents predictable engineering modifications that do not rise to the level of non-obvious innovation, thereby establishing this disclosure as valid prior art against potential future patent claims in this technological domain.

Original Patent Information

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