Ice skate

• US 20040140631A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bauer Hockey Incorporated (Old PSG Wind-down Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Jas D Easton Incorporated
• Inventors: Goldsmith, Edward M., Grossman, Richard D.
• Application Number:
  US10/746,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140631A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/11.12
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/00 Skates roller skates or skate boards A63C17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/22 with special foot-plates of the boot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/30 with special blades
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/32 Special constructions of the simple blade

Abstract

An ice skate comprising a blade and a blade holder. The blade holder providing decreasing, non rigid, and/or no lateral support in a rearward region of the blade so that it may facilitate increased or freer flexibility of the blade and improved maneuverability. The blade is rigidly laterally supported at a front end section of the blade holder and preferably also at a back end section of the blade holder so that it may facilitate efficient transfer of force between the skater and the blade. One or more non-rigid support members may be employed to control, absorb and/or cushion the flexing of the blade. The ice skate may be tuned to reflect the desired performance requirements of the individual skater and/or use.

Claims

1. An ice skate comprising:

a blade holder including an elongate body extending from a front end section to a back end section;

a blade including a front end and a back end, the front end being enclosed by the front end section, the back end being enclosed by the back end section, the blade being rigidly laterally supported at the front end section of the blade holder and a portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section being laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder.

2. The ice skate as set forth in claim 1, wherein the blade is rigidly laterally supported at the back end section of the blade holder.

3. The ice skate as set forth in claim 1, wherein the blade holder further comprises a groove adapted to snugly receive the blade.

4. The ice skate as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of both sides of the blade located behind the front end section being laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder.

5. The ice skate as set forth in claim 1, wherein the blade further comprises an upper surface, the upper surface being spaced apart from the blade holder so as to form a void between the upper surface and the blade holder.

6. The ice skate as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section being laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder is located behind the ball of the foot.

7. The ice skate as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an elastic non-rigid support member being interposed between a portion of the blade located behind the front end section and the blade holder.

8. The ice skate as set forth in claim 7, wherein the blade holder further comprises a groove and the elastic non-rigid support member is interposed between a portion of at least one side of the blade and the groove.

9. The ice skate set forth in claim 1, further comprising an ice skate boot in communication with the blade holder.

10. An ice skate comprising:

a blade including a first and second side, an upper surface, an ice engaging surface generally opposed to the upper surface and a forward section;

a blade holder rigidly laterally supporting the blade at the forward section of the blade, a portion of the first side located behind the forward section being displaced from the blade holder;

an elastic non-rigid support member being interposed between the blade holder and the portion of the first side located behind the forward section of the blade that is displaced from the blade holder.

11. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein the blade further comprises a rearward section located behind the forward section, the rearward section being rigidly laterally supported by the blade holder.

12. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein the blade holder further comprises a groove adapted to snugly receive the blade.

13. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein a portion of the second side of the blade located behind the forward section is displaced from the blade holder.

14. The ice skate as set forth in claim 13, wherein an elastic non-rigid support member is interposed between the blade holder and the portion of the second side of the blade located behind the forward section and displaced from the blade holder.

15. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one side of the blade located behind the forward section is laterally unsupported.

16. The ice skate as set forth in claim 15, wherein the portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the forward section that is laterally unsupported is located behind the ball of the foot.

17. The ice skate as set forth in claim 16, wherein the portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the forward section that is laterally unsupported is located underneath the rearward metatarsal bones of the foot.

18. The ice skate as set forth in claim 16, wherein the portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the forward section that is laterally unsupported is located underneath the tarsal bones of the foot.

19. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein the upper surface is spaced apart from the blade holder so as to form a void between the upper surface and the blade holder.

20. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein the elastic non-rigid support member is located behind the ball of the foot.

21. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein the elastic non-rigid support member is located underneath the rearward metatarsal bones of the foot.

22. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein the elastic non-rigid support member is located underneath the tarsal bones of the foot.

23. The ice skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein the blade holder further comprises a groove and the elastic non-rigid support member is interposed between a portion of at least one side of the blade and the groove.

24. The ice skate set forth in claim 10, further comprising an ice skate boot in communication with the blade holder.

25. An ice skate comprising:

a blade holder including a front member having a front end section, a back member having a back end section, the front member extending from the front end section toward the back member and the back member extending from the back end section toward the front member;

a blade including a front end and a back end, the front end being enclosed by the front member and the back end being enclosed by the back member, the blade being rigidly laterally supported at the front end section, a portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section being laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder.

26. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, wherein the blade is rigidly laterally supported at the back end section of the blade holder.

27. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, wherein the blade holder further comprises a groove adapted to snugly receive the blade.

28. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, wherein a portion of both sides of the blade located behind the front end section are laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder.

29. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, wherein the blade further comprises an upper surface, the upper surface being spaced apart from the blade holder so as to form a void between the upper surface and the blade holder.

30. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, wherein the portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section being laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder is located behind the ball of the foot.

31. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, wherein the portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section being laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder is located underneath the rearward portion of the metatarsal bones of the foot.

32. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, wherein the portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section being laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder is located underneath the tarsal bones of the foot.

33. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, further comprising an elastic non-rigid support member interposed between a portion of the blade located behind the front end section and the blade holder.

34. The ice skate as set forth in claim 33, wherein the blade holder further comprises a groove and the elastic non-rigid support member is interposed between a portion of at least one side of the blade and the groove.

35. The ice skate as set forth in claim 33, wherein the elastic non-rigid support member is located behind the ball of the foot.

36. The ice skate as set forth in claim 33, wherein the elastic non-rigid support member is located underneath the rearward metatarsal bones of the foot.

37. The ice skate as set forth in claim 33, wherein the elastic non-rigid support member is located underneath the tarsal bones of the foot.

38. The ice skate as set forth in claim 25, further comprising an elastic non-rigid support member being interposed between the blade holder and a portion of both sides of the blade located behind the front end section.

39. The ice skate set forth in claim 25, further comprising an ice skate boot in communication with the blade holder.

40. An ice skate comprising:

a blade holder including a front member generally underlying the toe region and the forward metatarsal area of the foot, a back member generally underlying the heel of the foot, a center section longitudinally extending from the front member to the back member, the center section having a portion being more laterally rigid toward the front member than the back member;

a blade being rigidly laterally supported at the front member of the blade holder.

41. The ice skate set forth in claim 40, wherein the portion of the center section being more laterally rigid toward the front member than the back member is located behind the ball of the foot.

42. The ice skate set forth in claim 40, wherein the portion of the center section being more laterally rigid toward the front member than the back member is located underneath the rearward metatarsal bones of the foot.

43. The ice skate set forth in claim 40, wherein the portion of the center section being more laterally rigid toward the front member than the back member is located underneath the tarsal bones of the foot.

44. The ice skate set forth in claim 41, 42 or 43, wherein the portion of the center section being more laterally rigid toward the front member than the back member communicates continuous and decreasing lateral rigidity extending rearward toward the heel of the foot to the underlying portion of the blade.

45. The ice skate set forth in claim 40, wherein at least one side of the blade located behind the rigid lateral support is laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder.

46. The ice skate set forth in claim 40, further comprising an elastic non-rigid support member interposed between at least one side of the blade and the blade holder.

47. The ice skate set forth in claim 40, wherein the blade is rigidly laterally supported at the back member of the blade holder.

48. The ice skate set forth in claim 40, further comprising an ice skate boot in communication with the blade holder.

49. An ice skate comprising:

a blade holder including a front end section, a back end section and, a center section longitudinally extending between the front end section and the back end section, a portion of the center section located behind the ball of the foot having continuos decreasing lateral rigidity extending toward the heel of the foot.

a blade being rigidly laterally supported at the front end section of the blade holder.

50. The ice skate set forth in claim 49, wherein the portion of the center section having continuos decreasing lateral rigidity extending toward the heel of the foot is located underneath the rearward metatarsal bones of the foot.

51. The ice skate set forth in claim 49, wherein the portion of the center section having continuos decreasing lateral rigidity extending toward the heel of the foot is located underneath the tarsal bones of the foot.

52. The ice skate set forth in claim 49, 50 or 51, wherein the portion of the center section having continues decreasing lateral rigidity extending toward the heel of the foot communicates continuous and decreasing lateral rigidity extending rearward toward the heel of the foot to the underlying portion of the blade.

53. The ice skate set forth in claim 49, wherein at least one side of the blade located behind the rigid lateral support at the front end section of the blade holder is laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder.

54. The ice skate set forth in claim 49, further comprising an elastic non-rigid support member interposed between at least one side of the blade and the blade holder.

55. The ice skate set forth in claim 49, wherein the blade is rigidly laterally supported at the back end section of the blade holder.

56. The ice skate set forth in claim 55, wherein the center section is integrally connected with the front and back end sections.

57. The ice skate set forth in claim 49, further comprising an ice skate boot in communication with the blade holder.

58. An ice skate for a foot comprising:

a blade holder including a front end section and a back end section; and

a blade including a front end and a back end, the front end being enclosed by the front end section, the blade being rigidly laterally supported at the front end section of the blade holder and a portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section not being rigidly laterally supported.

59. The ice skate as set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade is rigidly laterally supported at the back end section of the blade holder.

60. The ice skate as set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade holder comprises a plastic construction.

61. The ice skate as set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade holder comprises a fiber reinforced plastic construction.

62. The ice skate as set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade, when secured to the blade holder, is configured to allow lateral flexing of the blade relative to the blade holder.

63. The ice skate as set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade holder includes a first passage and the blade includes a second passage configured to be in alignment with the first passage when the blade is secured to the blade holder.

64. The ice skate as set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade includes a convex ice engaging surface.

65. The ice skate as set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade holder is removably secured to the blade.

66. The ice skate as set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade holder further comprises a groove adapted to snugly receive upper regions of the blade.

67. The ice skate set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade further comprises an upper surface spaced apart from the blade holder to define a space between the upper surface of the blade and the blade holder.

68. The ice skate set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade holder further comprises a front pedestal configured to underlie the toe region of the foot of the intended wearer and a rear pedestal configured to underlie the heel region of the foot of the intended wearer.

69. The ice skate set forth in claim 58, wherein the blade holder further comprises molded opposed wall members spaced apart from one another.

70. The ice skate set forth in claim 69, wherein the opposed wall members are constructed of molded plastic.

71. The ice skate set forth in claim 68, further comprising a boot configured to receive a foot, said boot being secured to the front and rear pedestals of the blade holder.

72. The ice skate set forth in claim 71, wherein the boot is secured to the blade holder via rivets that extend through flanges of the front and rear pedestals.

73. The ice skate set forth in claim 58, wherein a portion of both sides of the blade located behind the front end section are not being rigidly laterally supported.

74. The ice skate set forth in claim 58, wherein the portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section not being rigidly laterally supported is configured to be located behind the ball of the foot.

75. An ice skate for a foot comprising, a blade holder and blade assembly configured such that, when the blade is operatively secured to the blade holder, the blade is enclosed by the blade holder at the blade'"'"'s front and back ends and a portion of at least one side of the blade located between the front and back ends is laterally unsupported and displaced from the blade holder.

76. A method for making an ice skate for a foot comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a blade holder including an elongate body extending from a front end section to a back end section;

(b) providing a blade that extends from a front end to a back end;

(c) securing the blade holder to the blade to form a blade holder and blade assembly;

(d) configuring the blade holder and blade assembly, such that, when the blade is operatively secured to the blade holder;

the blade is enclosed at its front and back ends by the front and back end sections, respectively, of the blade holder, the blade is rigidly laterally supported at the front end section of the blade holder, and a portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section is not rigidly laterally supported.

77. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of securing the blade holder to a boot.

78. An ice skate for a foot comprising:

a blade holder including a front end section and a back end section; and

a unitary metal blade extending from a front end to a back end, the front end being enclosed by the front end section, the back end being enclosed by the back end section, the blade being rigidly laterally supported at the front end section of the blade holder and a portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section not being rigidly laterally supported.

79. An ice skate blade and blade holder assembly comprising:

a blade holder including a front end section and a back end section; and

a unitary metal blade extending from a front end to a back end, the front end being enclosed by the front end section, the back end being enclosed by the back end section, the blade being rigidly laterally supported at the front end section of the blade holder and a portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the front end section not being rigidly laterally supported.

80. An ice skate blade and blade holder assembly comprising:

a blade holder including an elongate body extending from a front end section to a back end section; and

a unitary metal blade extending from a front end to a back end, the front end being enclosed by the front end section, the back end being enclosed by the back end section, the blade being rigidly laterally supported at the front end section of the blade holder and a portion of at least one side of the blade located between the front and back end sections being adapted to allow for lateral flex of the blade relative to the directly overlying portion of the blade holder.

81. A unitary metallic ice skate blade extending from a front end to a back end and having a top surface and bottom surface and a first and second side, such blade configured to being secured to an ice skate blade holder, such that when the blade is operatively secured to the blade holder:

(a) the front end and back end are enclosed by the blade holder;

(b) the front end of the blade is rigidly laterally supported by the blade holder;

(c) a portion of at least one side of the blade located behind the rigidly laterally supported front end is not rigidly laterally supported; and

(d) the top surface of the metallic blade at said portion being vertically displaced from the blade holder.

82. The ice skate blade of claim 81, further comprising a means for removably securing the blade to the blade holder.

83. The ice skate blade of claim 82, wherein said means comprises at least two fastening apertures arranged to receive a fastener.

84. The ice skate blade of claim 81, wherein said portion is configured to be located behind the ball of the foot.

85. The ice skate blade of claim 81, wherein said portion is not laterally supported on both sides.

86. The ice skate blade of claim 81, wherein said lower surface includes a convex ice engaging surface.

87. The ice skate blade of claim 81, wherein said upper surface includes a recessed region positioned between the front and back ends of the blade.

88. The ice skate blade of claim 81, wherein the blade is an ice hockey blade.