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 through-out the NHL. The new support had to be strong, yet flexible, to protect players during impacts.

Accomplishments:
• 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
• it acts as a light pipe allowing visual effects
• first installed in the Dallas Star’s American Airlines Arena
• has been retrofitted to eight other NHL arenas
• recipient of Modern Plastics Innovation Design award in 2002
• 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 engineering, 3D capture, materials selection, functional prototypes, preproduction evaluations and testing.