APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CUTTING TAPE ON A HOCKEY STICK BLADE

• US 20100275449A1
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glen Sheldon Gerald Collard, Robert Michael Skinner
• Original Assignee: Glen Sheldon Gerald Collard, Robert Michael Skinner
• Inventors: Collard, Glen Sheldon Gerald, Skinner, Robert Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,875,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/278
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/08 with special construction of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/70 with bent or angled lower parts for hitting a ball on the ground, on an ice-covered surface, or in the air, e.g. for hockey or hurling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/14 Coverings specially adapted for handles, e.g. sleeves or ribbons
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 27/005 Carton openers
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/00 Hand knives with one or more detachable blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cutting tape on a hockey stick blade is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body for holding the apparatus, a ski including a front edge and a bottom surface, and a cutting blade arranged generally upright relative to the bottom surface of the ski. The cutting blade may include a cutting edge disposed at an acute angle relative to the bottom surface of the ski, the cutting edge positioned proximate to the front edge of the ski.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting tape on a hockey stick blade, the apparatus comprising:

a body;

a ski including a front edge and a bottom surface; and

a cutting blade arranged generally upright relative to the bottom surface of the ski, the cutting blade including a cutting edge disposed at an acute angle relative to the bottom surface of the ski, the cutting edge positioned proximate to the front edge of the ski.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tip of the cutting edge is offset a distance from the front edge of the ski.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the distance is about 0.5 to 5 mm.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the distance is about 1 to 3 mm.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cutting blade is arranged generally perpendicularly to the bottom surface of the ski.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cutting blade is centrally and longitudinally fixed to a top surface of the ski.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the acute angle is about 10 to 25 degrees.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the acute angle is about 18 to 23 degrees.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bottom surface includes a bevel proximate to the front edge of the ski.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bevel is at an angle of about 7 to 17 degrees in relation to the bottom surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bevel is at an angle of about 9 to 12 degrees in relation to the bottom surface.

12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the front edge of the ski is about 3 to 8 mm wide.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the front edge of the ski is about 4 to 5 mm wide.

14. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the ski comprises a flare portion and a tip portion, the tip portion including the front edge, wherein the tip portion tapers between the flare portion and the front edge.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the flare portion of the ski is about 8 to 14 mm wide.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flare portion of the ski is about 10 to 12 mm wide.

17. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the front edge of the ski has a thickness of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the front edge of the ski has a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.3 mm.

19. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the ski further comprises two sidewalls provided on a top surface of the ski, wherein the two sidewalls define a slot, and wherein the cutting blade is received within the slot.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the slot provides at least the tip of the cutting blade at a recessed position relative to the top surface of the ski.

21. The apparatus of any one of claim 19 or 20, wherein the bottom edge of the cutting blade and a bottom surface of the slot comprise complementary notch and knob features for securing the cutting blade within the slot.

22. The apparatus of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the cutting blade is retained in the slot by fastening means.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the fastening means secures the cutting blade to the ski.

24. The apparatus of any one of claim 22 or 23, wherein the fastening means secures the cutting blade to the body.

25. The apparatus of any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the fastening means secures the cutting blade and the ski to the body.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the fastening means comprises at least one bolt.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the bolt is releasable by hand.

28. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein at least the front edge of the ski is formed of a tough material.

29. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein at least the front edge of the ski is formed of a metallic material.

30. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein at least the front edge of the ski is formed of stainless steel.

31. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the ski comprises a plastic material.

32. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the body is formed of a plastic material.

33. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein the body is adapted to be held by a user'"'"'s hand.

34. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein a longitudinal extent of the body is angled in relation to the bottom surface of the ski.

35. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the body comprises a blade covering portion that extends longitudinally beyond the front edge of the ski.

36. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 35, further comprising a lace tightening member connected to the body.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the lace tightening member includes a screwdriver head at a distal end thereof.

38. The apparatus of any one of claim 36 or 37, wherein the lace tightening member includes a bottle opener.

39. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 38, further comprising a sharpening stone connected to the body.

40. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 39, wherein the body further comprises at least one sharp edge for the removal of tape residue.

41. A method of cutting tape on a hockey stick blade, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 40;

gripping the body of the apparatus;

guiding the front edge of the ski to an edge of the tape; and

pushing and directing the front edge of the ski between the tape and the hockey stick blade so that the tape engages the cutting edge of the cutting blade thereby cutting the tape.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising pushing the apparatus though to an other end of the hockey stick blade.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the end is a heel end of the hockey stick blade and the other end is a toe end of the hockey stick blade.

44. The method of any one of claims 41 to 43, wherein the tape is cut along an inside curvature of the hockey stick blade.