ICE HOCKEY RUNNER-BLADE ASSEMBLY

• US 20140312583A1
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bauer Hockey, LLC
• Original Assignee: Easton Sports Incorporated (BRG Sports, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cruikshank, David W., Altshuler, Edward L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,295,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/11.18
• 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 1/303 removably fastened to the blade holder
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/42 Manufacture of skates
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/20 Shock or vibration absorbing

Abstract

A customizable hockey skate includes a removable runner-blade assembly such that a runner-blade assembly having a first stiffness may be readily replaced with a runner-blade assembly having a second stiffness. The runner-blade assembly may be removably attached to first and second cups that are optionally removably attached to the sole of a skate boot. The first and second cups optionally are removably attachable at multiple lateral locations on the sole. Mounting plates to which the first and second cups are mounted may be included to provide damping interfaces between the first and second cups and the boot sole. The first and second cups may be separately removable from the sole such that the first cup may be replaced with a third cup (for example, a cup having a different stiffness than the first cup) without removal of the second cup.

Claims

1. A hockey skate, comprising:

a boot including a sole;

a first cup attached to the sole;

a second cup attached to the sole;

a runner-blade assembly removably attached to the first and second cups via exposed connecting elements such that the runner-blade assembly may be removed from the first and second cups without removing the first and second cups from the sole.

2. The hockey skate of claim 1 wherein the connecting elements comprise bolts.

3. The hockey skate of claim 1 wherein the runner-blade assembly comprises a plurality of upwardly projecting tongues, and the first and second cups each include a slot that receives one of the tongues.

4. The hockey skate of claim 3 wherein at least one of the slots extends from an open end to a back end, with the slot tapered such that the open end is wider than the back end, and wherein the corresponding tongue is tapered to match the taper of the slot.

5. The hockey skate of claim 1 wherein the runner-blade assembly includes a contoured engaging surface, and at least one of the first and second cups includes a corresponding contoured receiving surface that engages the contoured engaging surface.

6. The hockey skate of claim 1 further comprising a first mounting element—

to which the first cup is mounted—

fixed to a first end of the boot, and a second mounting element—

to which the second cup is mounted—

fixed to a second end of the boot.

7. The hockey skate of claim 6 wherein the first and second mounting elements are molded into the boot.

8. The hockey skate of claim 6 wherein the first and second mounting elements each comprise a layer of damping material.

9. The hockey skate of claim 6 further comprising a stiffening element joining the first mounting element to the second mounting element.

10. The hockey skate of claim 1 wherein the runner-blade assembly comprises a polymeric runner and a metal blade.

11. The hockey skate of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second cups comprises two pieces attached to each other.

12. The hockey skate of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second cups is removably attached to the sole.

13. The hockey skate of claim 12 wherein at least one of the first and second cups is removably attachable at multiple lateral locations on the sole.

14. The hockey skate of claim 1 wherein the first cup is made of a different material than the second cup.

15. A hockey skate, comprising:

a boot including a sole;

a first cup attached to the sole including a first contoured receiving surface;

a second cup attached to the sole including a second contoured receiving surface;

a runner-blade assembly including a contoured engaging surface that engages the first and second contoured receiving surfaces.

16. The hockey skate of claim 15 wherein the engaging surface comprises alternating concave and convex curves.

17. The hockey skate of claim 15 wherein the engaging surface comprises a scalloped edge.

18. The hockey skate of claim 15 wherein the runner-blade assembly is attached to the first and second cups via connecting elements that pass through openings in the runner-blade assembly and the first and second cups, and wherein the runner comprises a polymeric material molded over the openings to irremovably connect the runner to the blade.

19. A hockey skate, comprising:

a boot including a sole;

a first cup attached to the sole, wherein the first cup comprises at least two pieces attached to each other;

a second cup attached to the sole, wherein the second cup comprises at least two pieces attached to each other; and

a runner-blade assembly attached to the first and second cups.

20. The hockey skate of claim 19 wherein at least one of the first and second cups is removably attachable at multiple lateral locations on the sole.