Abstract: A hockey goaltender's pad is described, in which the upper segment of each side roll is sewn with darts which facilitate flexing of the rolls. As the knee is bent, the darts open, thus in effect increasing the length of the outside of the roll in response to the tensile load there, so that the outside of the roll does not restrict the flexing. As the leg is straightened again, the darts close.

Abstract: A hockey goaltender's glove is described, in which the outer cuff thereof is divided into three segments, namely a central segment and two lateral segments, and in which the central segment is connected to the lateral segments along edges thereof, via elastic webbing. The central segment thus may be readily flexed outwardly and away from the lateral segments, thereby providing improved flexibility of the cuff, to improve the goaltender's ability to smother the puck, without unduly sacrificing protection of the wrist and forearm area.

Abstract: A shin pad is described in which the shin shield is in two pieces, namely an upper piece which is secured to the lining of the knee cap, or to the knee cap itself, and a lower piece which is slidable up and down relative to the upper piece, and to which a lower liner is secured, the lower liner being independent of the knee liner. Preferably, the lower piece is slidable with respect to the upper piece by virtue of one or more slotted holes in either or both of the upper piece and/or lower piece, with bolts and T-nuts being used in the slots to secure the pieces together in the desired position. Preferably, there are three such slotted holes, namely a front central one and two side ones, namely one towards either side of the pad. Preferably, there is sufficient sloppiness in the slots to provide a varus/valgus adjustment, i.e.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective gear having a primary front protective pad and a rear protective pad, the front and rear pads being flexibly connected to one another and being adjustable relative to one another. This allows the primary front protective pad to extend to a greater or lesser extent downwardly over the player's abdomen, so as to accommodate the desired positioning of the front protective pad on the player's body. The protective gear also has arm sections that are adjustable in length to permit desired positioning on the player's arms. In a variant, the protective gear of the invention also has an adjustable secondary front pad which is attached to the primary front pad and the rear pad and which is configured to cover the player's upper chest and clavicle areas. The protective gear according to the invention is particularly useful for ice hockey players and particularly goaltenders.

Abstract: The goaltender's blocker has an angled upper area, with the inside edge of the blocker being raised more than the outside edge. The angled upper area thus angles outwardly away from the plane of the rest of the blocking pad, and also towards the outside edge. One result of this configuration is that when the goaltender is in the usual upright position with the blocker oriented generally upright, a puck which hits the angled portion of the blocker will be deflected outwardly, i.e. toward the corner of the hockey rink, instead of rebounding in front of the net where a goal may be scored by an offensive player.

Abstract: The shin pad, for use in ice hockey and possibly other sports, includes a lower brace element positionable along the front of the player's shin and securable to the player's lower leg, and an upper brace element positionable along the front of the player's lower thigh and securable thereto. A shin shield is secured outside the lower brace element. The lower and upper brace elements are pivotally connected to each other by pivotal connections on lateral and medial sides thereof, the pivotal connections being positionable on lateral and medial sides of the player's knee, in general alignment with the axis of the player's knee joint. To restrict or prevent hyperextension of the knee, the shin pad includes a stop arranged to prevent rotation of the upper and lower brace elements beyond a selected maximum permissible extension angle.

Abstract: A hockey goaltender's glove is described, in which the pocket is divided by a central web split into two side-by-side web portions along a substantial part of its length, or by two separate web portions, the web portions being tied by webbing such that a gap is created between them, spanned by webbing. By virtue of the web portions and the gap, the pocket flexes and closes around the puck more easily, thereby providing more reliable trapping of the puck.

Abstract: An improved fastening system for the axles of wheels of in-line roller skates is disclosed. This tri-axle system includes a multi-position spacer which is mounted in a spacer aperture in the skate chassis, which spacer has an axle aperture to receive the wheel axle. Both the spacer and the spacer aperture are generally triangular in shape. The axle aperture is offset from the geometric center of the spacer so as the spacer is rotated in the spacer aperture both the vertical and horizontal position of the axle may be altered with respect to the chassis. This allows a user to adjust both the wheelbase of the skate and the rocker easily and quickly.

Abstract: A skate boot is described, having a plastic overlay sewn or otherwise secured to the boot of the skate, wrapping around the heel of the boot from the medial to the lateral side of the ankle. The overlay increases the rigidity of the rear of the skate, to restrict pronation and supination, while adding impact resistance. Preferably, in order to permit dorsal and plantar flexion, the plastic overlay has several cut-out areas which allow for a controlled amount of flexion about a lateral axis, namely a heel flex cut-out area and side flex cut-out areas on either side in the instep area. Flexible inserts are preferably installed in the cut-out areas, to maintain extra impact protection while permitting flexion.

Abstract: The braking mechanism has two generally L-shaped levers, one on each side of the skate. Each lever has two arms, namely an upwardly projecting arm and a rearwardly projecting arm, pivotally connected to the chassis of the skate where the arms intersect, such that each upwardly projecting arm extends upwardly in general alignment with the skater's leg, and that each rearwardly projecting arm extends rearwardly from the chassis, the rearward distal ends having a brake pad secured beneath them. The upper distal ends may be connected to a pivotable boot cuff, but preferably instead have a generally C-shaped cup extending laterally between them, positionable behind the skater's calf. Rearward rotation of the skater's calf relative to the boot produces rearward movement of the upper distal ends, thereby moving the brake pad downwardly.

Abstract: A braking system for an in-line skate, where a linkage assembly connects a rotatable boot cuff to a brake assembly which pivots between a retracted position braking position. The linkage assembly includes a drive arm, a transfer bracket and a short connector link. The transfer bracket has three pivot points which are arranged such that the mechanical advantage provided by the transfer bracket in translating downward movement of the drive arm to downward movement of the connector link and brake assembly is less than one in the retracted position, and increases as the cuff is rotated rearwardly to move the drive arm downwardly and the brake assembly towards the ground. Preferably, the connector link rotates over center to a locked position once the brake is in contact with the ground and the cuff is rotated slightly rearwardly.

Abstract: A rigid reinforcement member extends longitudinally along the neck portion of the skate blade holder, to reduce stress and improve force transfer. The blade holder has a longitudinal slot running along the bottom thereof to receive a blade or runner, which is secured in the slot. At least one rigid reinforcement member runs along at least the neck portion, within the slot and above the runner, the slot being enlarged at the location of the reinforcement member(s) in order to accommodate the member(s). Preferably, the reinforcement member is in one piece, including an upper web portion and an integral channel with a cross-section in the form of inverted U-shape beneath the upper web portion. The arms of the U-shape run alongside the runner, one on either side of the runner, and the base of the U-shape overlies the top of the runner and follows the shape thereof. Preferably, the rigid reinforcement member is of a reinforced plastic composite material, although a metal could also be used.

Abstract: A fastener for securing a hard shell and a soft lining together, with particular utility for protective sports gear, is described. The fastener has a broad flexible base portion, a bell-shaped portion leading from the base portion to a shoulder portion, and a post projecting from the shoulder portion and having an annular flange extending therefrom. The shell is trapped between the shoulder portion and the annular flange, and the lining is trapped between the hard shell and the base portion.

Abstract: A braking system for an in-line skate for use with in-line skates having a chassis and boot assembly and a cuff pivotally mounted thereon, preferably including a plate secured to the cuff at one of the pivot points, to rotate relative to the boot with rotation of the cuff. A cable is attached to the plate a short distance from the pivot point, and is routed to lead rearwardly from the lower edge of the plate and thence through a cable housing connected to the boot and chassis near the heel area, and thence forwardly to the area of the wheels. At least one brake assembly is connected to the cable and is configured such that braking action is initiated when the cable is pulled by rearward rotation of the cuff relative to the chassis/boot assembly.

Abstract: A shoulder pad assembly for contact sports such as hockey is described. Two separate shoulder assemblies, in the form of generally U-shaped shoulder bands, are each pivotally connected fore and aft to chest and back pieces. Preferably the pivotal connections are co-axial, so that there are just two pivot points, namely fore and aft pivot points centrally located on the chest and back pieces, thus generally defining a V-shape for the shoulder portions of the pad. Preferably, the flexibility is limited by the use of a pivot clip at each pivot point, the pivot clip having at least one post disposed from the pivot axis and projecting from the clip through an arcuate slot in each shoulder band, the arcuate slots being of finite length such that further pivoting is prevented once the post reaches an end of the slot.

Abstract: An in-line skate is shown, including a rigid plastic chassis having a main portion and integral wing portions extending upwardly therefrom on either side adjacent the heel end of the chassis, with an integral heel portion between the wing portions. The main portion, heel portion and wing portions together define a heel box area. A plastic boot is secured to the chassis inside the wing portions and against the heel portion, and extends forwardly along the chassis. A plastic cuff wraps around either side and the rear above the boot, and is pivotally connected to each wing portion. A soft flexible padded sock-like liner is positionable inside the boot and the cuff.