Goalie skate

• US 20080238006A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bauer Hockey, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nike Bauer Hockey U.S.A., Inc.
• Inventors: Labonte, Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/11.12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1666 characterised by the upper
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/0054 by compression moulding, vulcanising or the like; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/126 Uppers

Abstract

A goalie skate having a skate boot comprising a thermoformed outer shell with a sole and an ankle portion for receiving the ankle of the foot, the ankle portion comprising medial and lateral sides for facing the medial and lateral malleoli respectively, the medial side comprising an upper edge that is a first distance away from the sole and the lateral side comprising an upper edge that is a second distance away from the sole, the first distance being greater than the second distance. By having a goalie skate boot that has the lateral upper edge located below the medial upper edge, the lateral outward flexion of the foot is eased when the goalie skate is in an angled position. The invention also relates to a goalie skate with a skate boot comprising an outer shell that is thermoformed such that it comprises an integrated toe portion, thereby eliminating the traditional toe cap.

Claims

1. A goalie skate for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, medial and lateral sides, a plantar surface and toes, said goalie skate comprising:

(a) a skate boot comprising an outer shell made of a thermoformable material, said outer shell being thermoformed such that it comprises;

i) a heel portion for receiving the heel of the foot;

ii) medial and lateral side portions for facing the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively;

iii) an ankle portion for receiving the ankle of the foot;

iv) a toe portion for facing the toes of the foot; and

v) a sole for facing the plantar surface of the foot; and

(b) a rigid shell comprising a base for receiving said sole of said outer shell, a toe portion for at least partially covering said toe portion of said outer shell and a bottom portion for receiving an ice skate blade.

2. A goalie skate as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer shell of said skate boot is thermoformed such that said ankle portion comprises a medial side having a medial upper edge and a lateral side having a medial upper edge, said lateral upper edge being located below said medial upper edge such that lateral outward flexion of the foot is eased when said goalie skate is in an angled position relative to the ground.

3. A goalie skate as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer shell of said skate boot is thermoformed such said medial and lateral side portions comprise foldable skirt portions projecting therefrom for forming said sole.

4. A goalie skate as defined in claim 3, wherein said ankle portion comprises a medial side having an upper edge that is a first distance away from said sole and a lateral side having an upper edge that is a second distance away from said sole, said first distance being greater than said second distance.

5. A goalie skate as defined in claim 1, wherein said bottom portion of said rigid shell comprises an ice skate blade receiving portion and at least one pedestal connecting said base and said ice skate blade receiving portion.

6. A goalie skate as defined in claim 5, wherein said ice skate blade receiving portion comprises a longitudinal slot for receiving said ice skate blade.

7. A goalie skate as defined in claim 5, wherein said rigid shell comprises medial and lateral walls and a heel portion extending upwardly from said base, said medial and lateral walls, heel portion, toe portion and base defining a cavity for receiving at least partially said skate boot.

8. A goalie skate as defined in claim 7, wherein said rigid shell is a cowling.

9. A goalie skate as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer shell of said skate boot is thermoformed such that said heel portion is substantially cup shaped for following the contour of the heel of the foot.

10. A goalie skate as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer shell of said skate boot is thermoformed such that said medial and lateral sides comprise respective medial and lateral cup-shaped depressions for receiving the medial and lateral malleoli respectively.

11. A goalie skate as defined in claim 10, wherein said lateral cup-shaped depression is below said medial cup-shaped depression.

12. A goalie skate as defined in claim 8, wherein said outer shell of said skate boot is thermoformed such said medial and lateral side portions comprise foldable skirt portions projecting therefrom for forming said sole.

13. A goalie skate as defined in claim 12, wherein said ankle portion comprises a medial side having an upper edge that is a first distance away from said sole and a lateral side having an upper edge that is a second distance away from said sole, said first distance being greater than said second distance.

14. A goalie skate as defined in claim 8, wherein said outer shell of said skate boot is thermoformed such that said ankle portion comprises a medial side having a medial upper edge and a lateral side having a medial upper edge, said lateral upper edge being located below said medial upper edge such that lateral outward flexion of the foot is eased when said goalie skate is in an angled position relative to the ground.

15. A goalie skate as defined in claim 8, wherein said skate boot comprises an inner lining having a surface intended for contact with the heel, ankle and lateral and medial sides of the foot, said inner lining being affixed to an inner surface of said outer shell.

16. A goalie skate as defined in claim 8, wherein said skate boot comprises a footbed adapted for being inserted within said skate boot.

17. A goalie skate as defined in claim 8, wherein said skate boot comprises a tongue affixed to said toe portion of said outer shell.

18. A goalie skate as defined in claim 8, wherein said skate boot is a lasted skate boot.