Clear Vision Hockey-shield Support

The Challenge:
To design a clear hockey-shield support, replacing aluminum, to be used with acrylic sheets which are currently replacing tempered glass throughout the NHL. The new support had to be strong, yet flexible, to protect players during impacts.

• designed with extensive use of non-linear FEA analysis
• can be used with both thicknesses of acrylic shield now in use
• the support does not block spectators view
• acts as a light pipe allowing visual effects
• first installed in the Dallas Star’s American Airlines Arena
• retrofitted to eight other NHL arenas
• the final product has a near optical finish from a PC grade GE Lexan that provides six times more flexibility than aluminum, therefore reducing player injury

Responsibilities: Human factors and impact review, performance evaluation, product definition, mechanical design, 3D capture, materials selection, functional prototypes, preproduction evaluations and testing.

• recipient of Modern Plastics Innovation Design award in 2002