Portable, hand-held skate blade polishing device and method of polishing a skate blade

Abstract

A device for preparing a skate blade for use polishes a bottom surface of a skate blade to improve the glidability of the skate. The device includes a polishing surface for polishing the skate blade, blade guides having an opening therebetween for supporting the skate blade while the skate blade is being polished by the polishing surface, and a frame for holding the polishing surface and the blade guides. To polish a skate blade, a polishing compound is applied to the polishing surface, the skate blade is placed in the opening of the blade guides such that the bottom surface of the skate blade contacts the polishing surface, and the skate blade is slid against the polishing surface, while applying a downward force to press the skate blade against the polishing surface, until the bottom surface of the skate obtains a desired polished state.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1) Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention pertains to the field of sports equipment maintenance, and more particularly, to a device and associated method for polishing the blade(s) of a skate, more particularly, an ice skate.

[0003] 2) Description of the Related Art

[0004] Competition ice skate blades are manufactured from alloy steel materials that are very hard and in some cases, their material's composition is held as proprietary information. In any event, the blades are much harder than typical steel products due to the requirement that they maintain their edge during rough use.

[0005] FIG. 7 illustrates a relevant portion of a skate blade 700, including two blade sides 710 connected to a bottom blade surface 720 at two blade edges 730. The bottom blade surface 720 is the surface that is in constant contact with the ice. Typically, the blade surface 720 may have a width of approximately 1 mm.

[0006] Current technology for preparing the blade 700 for skating employs a series of sharpening techniques whereby the blades 700 are clamped in a fixture with the blades 700 in an “up” position. A conventional coarse/fine knife-sharpening stone is stroked along the length of the blade 700 (starting with the coarse side of the stone) several times to grind the blade edges 730 to be sharp (i.e., “squared off” as opposed to “rounded off”), and to add a knife-edge to each intersection point of the blade 700 where the blade side 710 meets the blade surface 720. This process is then repeated with the fine stone, minimizing the surface roughness of the blade 700. The blade sides 710 are then rubbed with a small fine stone which removes any burr that is left from sharpening the blade edges 730.

[0007] A “burr” is a very small jagged shard left along the blade edges 730 resulting from sharpening the blade surface 720, whereby metal cold flows and protrudes perpendicular to the blade side 710. Using a small fine stone on the blade sides 710 to remove the burr, as described above, will sometimes cause the burr to bend ninety degrees so that it is now perpendicular to the blade surface 720. This is referred to as an “over-burr” and is well known to one skilled in the art of skate blade sharpening. Repeating the fine sharpening step on the blade surface 720 will reduce the size of the over-burr and force it, once again, to be perpendicular to the blade side 710. It is important to note that it may be necessary to perform several iterations of the sharpening and/or deburring process to achieve the desired blade edge 730, depending on the condition of the skate blade 700 and the size of the burr. The blade 700 is considered to be sharpened when the final deburring step has been performed and the blade edges 730 are sharp to touch. This process is not an “exact science” and may differ from skater to skater depending on personal preference.

[0008] The type of sharpening process described above is what typically has been used up to now for preparing competition skate blades 700 for use. This prior method hereafter will be referred to herein as “sharpening.” At best, sharpening generates a semi-smooth skate blade surface 720 whose edge is perpendicular to the blade sides 710 where they meet. In addition, sharpening also is sufficient at generating the required sharp blade edge 730 necessary for maintaining traction in turns. However, the prior art sharpening process does not provide any benefits to improve glide of the skate, and in fact has been shown to have limitations due to high friction coefficients.

[0009] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved method of preparing skate blades for use. It would also be advantageous to provide such a method that improves the glide of a skate. It would further be advantageous to provide an improved device for preparing skate blades for use. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention comprises a portable, hand-held skate blade polishing device and an associated method of polishing a skate blade.

[0011] In one aspect of the invention, a device for preparing a skate blade for use comprises a polishing surface for polishing a bottom blade surface of the skate blade, a pair of blade guides having an opening therebetween for supporting the skate blade while the bottom of the skate blade is being polished by the polishing surface, and a frame for holding the polishing surface and the blade guides.

[0012] In another aspect of the invention, a method of preparing a skate blade for use comprises providing a skate blade polishing device having a polishing surface for polishing the bottom blade surface of the skate blade and blade guides having an opening therebetween for supporting the skate blade, applying a polishing compound to the polishing surface, placing the skate blade in an opening of the blade guides such that the bottom blade surface of the skate blade contacts the polishing surface, and while applying a downward force to press the skate blade against the polishing surface, sliding the skate blade against the polishing surface until the bottom skate surface of the skate blade obtains a desired polished state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a skate blade polishing device;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows the skate blade polishing device of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a polishing surface of the skate blade polishing device of FIG. 1 being mounted to a frame;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates an initial set up of the skate blade polishing device of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates access ports in the skate blade polishing device of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of using the skate blade polishing device of FIG. 1 to polish an edge of a skate blade;

[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates relevant portions of a skate blade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] A preferred embodiment of a portable, hand-held skate blade polishing device 100 is shown in FIG. 1. The skate blade polishing device 100 is beneficially a personal tool, for use by individual skaters for polishing the blades of their ice skates to provide superior performance, as demonstrated by results achieved in the glide tests, as discussed in more detail below.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the skate blade polishing device 100 in a disassembled state, to more easily observe and understand the major components thereof. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the skate blade polishing device 100 includes a frame, or body, 210, a polishing surface 220, a pair of blade guides 230, and set screws 250.

[0022] The frame 210 and functions as a rigid supporting structure for the other necessary components. The frame 210 is preferably aluminum and beneficially is fabricated to fit naturally to one's hand. This facilitates the ease by which an individual may use the skate blade polishing device 100 to prepare a skate for use.

[0023] The polishing surface 220 is a material against which a skate blade may be polished to generate a mirrored surface, as discussed in more detail below. The polishing surface 220 can be made of any material known in the art suitable for polishing metals and glass materials. Some useable materials would be optical polishing pitch, felt, diamond polishing pads, among other materials. A preferred material is a material known generically as “pelling,” or polishing cloth, which is a felt woven material with a polyurethane impregnation. The thickness of polishing cloth ranges from 0.020″ to 0.250″. In the preferred embodiment, a polishing cloth having a thickness of approximately 0.030″ is used. Beneficially, the polishing cloth has an adhesive backing by which it may be attached to the frame 210 so that it does not slip from its position during polishing.

[0024] The blade glides 230 function to hold the skate blade perpendicular to the polishing surface 220 and serve as a set of “tracks” to guide the skate blade polishing device 100 along a skate blade, much like those of a rail-road. The blade guides 230 are manufactured of a low-friction material. Preferably, the blade guides 230 are made of a composite material called Phenolic. The blade guides 230 are adjustable and held in place to the frame 210 by mounting screws 240. The size of the opening between the blade guides 230 is set by one or more (e.g., six) set screws 250 which allow the skate blade polishing device 100 to accommodate any size skate blade in the space or opening formed between the blade guides 230. It is necessary for the blade guides 230 to allow the skate blade polishing device 100 free motion along the length of the blade, but deliver enough support that the skate blade polishing device 100 does not “rock” side to side opposite the length of the blade. Beneficially, the blade guides 230 include one or more matching pairs of notches 235, preferably semicircular in shape, whose function will be described in more detail below.

[0025] The set screws 250 are used to adjust the contact between the blade guides 230 and a skate blade, as discussed in more detail below. In the preferred embodiment, a set of six small set screws 250 are employed.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates the polishing surface 220 being mounted to the frame 210.

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates the initial set up of the skate blade polishing device 100. Initially, a skate blade, such as the blade 700 in FIG. 7, is placed in the space or opening formed between the blade guides 230 so that the skate blade 700 seats on the polishing surface 220. The mounting screws 240 that hold the blade guides 230 firmly to the frame 210 are loosened, and the set screws 250 protruding out of the side of the frame 210 are adjusted so the blade guides 230 are moved inward to produce a close contact between the blade guides 230 and the skate blade 700. However, the blade guides 230 should not be tightened so much as to prevent the skate blade 700 from sliding freely along its length. When the blade guides 230 are set to the correct spacing, the mounting screws 240 should be tightened to hold the blade guides 230 in place. Once tight, the blade 700 should again be checked for proper fit and should slide freely along the length of the skate blade polishing device 100.

[0028] To use the skate blade polishing device 100, a small amount of polishing compound must be placed into the access ports 410 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) formed and provided by the semicircular notches 235 in the blade guides 230. Beneficially, the polishing compound may be a petroleum-based paste including, preferably, 3-5 micron diamond particles. The access ports 410 allow the polishing compound to be placed directly onto the polishing surface 220.

[0029] In addition, an amount (preferably, about six drops) of a lubricant (e.g., lapping oil) should be dropped into the access ports 410. Beneficially, the lubricant may be a petroleum-based diamond polishing lubricant, for example, LAP5-LUDP-5.0-0003, Type OS, sold by Lapmaster. The skate blade 700 is then slipped into the space between the two blade guides 230 and recessed to the bottom where the polishing surface 220 is located. Beneficially, at this point the skate blade 700 has already been sharpened using a prior art sharpening process, but has not yet received the final deburring step as mentioned earlier in the specification.

[0030] Once positioned, the skate blade polishing device 100 is stroked back and forth (as illustrated in FIG. 6) along the full length of the skate blade 700 very vigorously, at an optimum rate of 6 to 8 complete strokes per 5 seconds of time, one complete stroke being up and back. Moderate pressure should be applied to create the required friction necessary to generate a polished finish for the blade surface 720. A pressure of 10 to 15 pounds of downward force is usually sufficient. This action should continue non-stop, preferably for a minimum of thirty strokes, at which point the blade surface 720 can be wiped clean with a solvent and inspected. The blade 700 is considered finished when the user is happy with the level of reflectivity that he or she desires for their application. Typically, after thirty to seventy strokes of polishing, the blade surface 720 is polished to a sufficient level to see one's reflection therein. Once surface reflectivity is present, the blade surface 720 can be deburred as previously described.

[0031] The above-described polishing process using the skate blade polishing device provides a polished skate blade with improved glide characteristics compared with skate blades which are only sharpened using the prior art sharpening process. Tests performed by the inventor revealed that skate blades which have been polished using the above-described skate blade polishing device and associated polishing process produced a 10% to 14% improvement in glide over blades prepared for use only using the prior art sharpening process. In the world of competition speed skating, where the lapsed time between the fastest and slowest contestant is defined by hundredths of a second, this kind of improvement in glide is very significant.

[0032] While preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept and scope of the invention. Such variations would become clear to one of ordinary skill in the art after inspection of the specification, drawings and claims herein. The invention therefore is not to be restricted except within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for preparing a skate blade for use, comprising:

a polishing surface for polishing a bottom blade surface of the skate blade;

a pair of blade guides having an opening therebetween for supporting the skate blade while the bottom blade surface of the skate blade is being polished by the polishing surface; and

a frame for holding the polishing surface and the blade guides.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one set screw for adjusting a width of the opening of the blade guides.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the pair of blade guides define at least one access port for applying a polishing compound onto the polishing surface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the blade guides comprise a phenolic material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the polishing surface comprises a felt woven material with a polyurethane impregnation.

6. A method of preparing a skate blade for use, comprising:

providing a skate blade polishing device having a polishing surface for polishing a bottom blade surface of the skate blade, and blade guides having an opening therebetween for supporting the skate blade;

applying a polishing compound to the polishing surface;

placing the skate blade in an opening of the blade guides such that the bottom blade surface of the skate blade contacts the polishing surface; and

while applying a downward force to press the bottom blade surface of the skate blade against the polishing surface, sliding the skate blade against the polishing surface until the bottom blade surface of the skate blade obtains a desired polished state.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising applying a quantity of a lubricant to the polishing surface prior to sliding the skate blade against the polishing surface.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein sliding the skate blade against the polishing surface comprises sliding the skate blade back and forth along the polishing surface

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a rate of sliding the skate blade against the polishing surface is 6 to 8 complete strokes per 5 seconds of time, one complete stroke being a slide up and back.

10. The method of claim 6, further including adjusting a width of the opening of the blade guides wherein the skate blade is placed.