Abstract: A hockey skate includes a composite boot form having a rigid lower portion and a less rigid upper portion. The upper portion may be made of a thermoformable material that conforms to the shape of a wearer's foot and ankle. The construction of the boot form—particularly the lower portion of the boot form—may be varied across different size ranges by, for example, varying the fiber angles in the composite material. Varying the stiffness of the lower portion of the boot form in this manner allows the flexibility of different sized boots to be substantially equalized. A skate quarter and other skate-boot features may readily be attached to the upper portion of the boot form via stitching, rivets, or other connectors. The boot form also may include an integral toe cap having a flange or other element to which the skate tongue and other elements may be connected.

Abstract: A hockey skate includes a fiber-reinforced, composite frame, or an injected plastic frame, including a boot form and integral pedestals that serve as a blade-holder. The pedestals are integral with the bottom of the boot sole and are optionally spaced relatively far apart to provide a long span between them. An optional bridge assembly may be used to connect the blade to the pedestals. The bridge assembly may provide increased stiffness and vibration damping, as well as customized fit options.

Abstract: A skate assembly includes a shell structure and a removable tendon guard. The shell structure includes a heel portion, a lateral ankle portion, and a medial ankle portion. The heel portion is formed to cover a human heel. The lateral ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The medial ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The lateral ankle portion and the medial ankle portion are spaced apart to form a notch extending toward the heel portion. The removable tendon guard is removably attached between the lateral ankle portion and medial ankle portion to cover the notch.

Abstract: A boot form for a hockey skate is made of multiple plastic materials having different hardness properties, or different flexural moduli, and is formed via an injection-molding process or another similar process. One or more of the plastic materials may be reinforced with fibers of glass, carbon, aramid, or another stiffening material to strengthen one or more regions of the boot form. For example, pellets of a first plastic material having a flexural modulus of approximately 190 MPa (e.g., a polyamide elastomer block amide) may be injected into a mold to form a softer upper region of the boot form. And pellets of a second plastic having a flexural modulus of approximately 20,000 MPa (e.g., a Nylon 12 with long glass fibers) may be injected into the mold to form a stiffer lower region of the boot form. Additional skate components may then be attached to the boot form.

Abstract: A hockey skate includes a composite boot form having a rigid lower portion and a less rigid upper portion. The upper portion may be made of a thermoformable material that conforms to the shape of a wearer's foot and ankle. The construction of the boot form—particularly the lower portion of the boot form—may be varied across different size ranges by, for example, varying the fiber angles in the composite material. Varying the stiffness of the lower portion of the boot form in this manner allows the flexibility of different sized boots to be substantially equalized. A skate quarter and other skate-boot features may readily be attached to the upper portion of the boot form via stitching, rivets, or other connectors. The boot form also may include an integral toe cap having a flange or other element to which the skate tongue and other elements may be connected.

Abstract: A skate assembly includes a shell structure and a removable tendon guard. The shell structure includes a heel portion, a lateral ankle portion, and a medial ankle portion. The heel portion is formed to cover a human heel. The lateral ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The medial ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The lateral ankle portion and the medial ankle portion are spaced apart to form a notch extending toward the heel portion. The removable tendon guard is removably attached between the lateral ankle portion and medial ankle portion to cover the notch.

Abstract: A sports glove, such as a hockey or lacrosse glove, includes an inner glove and an outer protective layer positioned over the rear surface of the inner glove. The inner glove and the outer protective layer are attached to each other via a plurality of gussets or other connectors. The connectors generally are located along the perimeter or edge regions of the sports glove, such as at the distal ends of the finger sections, along the sides of the finger sections, along the edges of the wrist region, and so forth. The inner surface of the outer protective layer is not secured, or is substantially not secured, to the inner glove, such that a space or void is provided between the outer protective layer and the inner glove. As a result, the outer protective layer is movable independently of the inner glove.

Abstract: A skate assembly includes a shell structure and a removable tendon guard. The shell structure includes a heel portion, a lateral ankle portion, and a medial ankle portion. The heel portion is formed to cover a human heel. The lateral ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The medial ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The lateral ankle portion and the medial ankle portion are spaced apart to form a notch extending toward the heel portion. The removable tendon guard is removably attached between the lateral ankle portion and medial ankle portion to cover the notch.

Abstract: A sports glove, such as a hockey or lacrosse glove, includes inverted finger pads connected such that exterior gaps are not present between some or all of the adjacent pads when a wearer grips a stick or otherwise closes his or her hand. The inverted pads optionally include stiffening elements attached to or integral with their outer surfaces to provide additional protection to the wearer's fingers. The finger pads covering the base regions of the fingers optionally are attached to the main body of the glove via an elastic material or similar material that allows the finger pads to move away from the main body during closure of a wearer's hand. These finger pads may further be attached to the main body via an inelastic strap or similar feature that prevents the finger pads from being pulled forward beyond the rear housing or cover that overlies these finger pads.

Abstract: A reversible chest protector includes internal padding configured to absorb impacts against both the front and rear-facing surfaces of the chest protector. The chest protector includes inner and outer layers of fabric that are molded to an internal foam core. The foam core may include outer layers of closed-cell foam molded to the fabric layers, and an internal layer of open-cell foam molded to the closed-cell foam layers, such that the padding layup is symmetrical. Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter.

Abstract: A reversible chest protector includes internal padding configured to absorb impacts against both the front and rear-facing surfaces of the chest protector. The chest protector includes inner and outer layers of fabric that are molded to an internal foam core. The foam core may include outer layers of closed-cell foam molded to the fabric layers, and an internal layer of open-cell foam molded to the closed-cell foam layers, such that the padding layup is symmetrical. Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter.

Abstract: A skate assembly includes a shell structure and a removable tendon guard. The shell structure includes a heel portion, a lateral ankle portion, and a medial ankle portion. The heel portion is formed to cover a human heel. The lateral ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The medial ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The lateral ankle portion and the medial ankle portion are spaced apart to form a notch extending toward the heel portion. The removable tendon guard is removably attached between the lateral ankle portion and medial ankle portion to cover the notch.

Abstract: A multi-piece chest protector includes a front section connected to side sections by straps or other connectors that provide independent and relative movement between the front section and the side sections. The front and side sections include padding for absorbing impact. Additional padding, such as shoulder pads, may optionally be removably or permanently attached to the chest protector.

Abstract: A chest protector includes rows of padding protruding inwardly from a base section. The pads are arranged to rest against the body of a wearer. Ventilation channels are located between neighboring rows of padding to provide multiple paths for heat dispersion. The rows of padding are able to flex relative to one another such that the chest protector may conform to the body of the wearer.

Abstract: A multi-piece chest protector includes a front section connected to side sections by straps or other connectors that provide independent and relative movement between the front section and the side sections. The front and side sections include padding for absorbing impact. Additional padding, such as shoulder pads, may optionally be removably or permanently attached to the chest protector.

Abstract: A method and system for determining similarity between a first event set, the first event set including a first plurality of event types, and a second event set, the second event set including a second plurality of event types, is provided. Observed events are randomly mapped to a multidimensional vector-Q and query events are mapped to a multidimensional query vector-q. Comparison of the vectors for a predetermined similarity according to: ?Q?q??SV, where SV=a predetermined similarity value determines similarity.

Abstract: A method and system for determining similarity between a first event set, the first event set including a first plurality of event types, and a second event set, the second event set including a second plurality of event types, is provided. Observed events are randomly mapped to a multidimensional vector-Q and query events are mapped to a multidimensional query vector-q. Comparison of the vectors for a predetermined similarity according to: ∥Q-q∥≦SV, where SV=a predetermined similarity value determines similarity.