SKATE SUPPORT
Apparatus for supporting a skate includes a main body and a support arrangement. The apparatus supports the skate while the laces of the skate are being drawn by a seated user to secure the skate to a foot of the user. The main body has a surface against which the sole of the skate rests in use. The surface has a slot through which the blade passes in use. The support arrangement is connected to the main body to support the main body such that, in use, the sole of the skate is disposed in elevated relation to the floor surface with the heel of the skate below the toe.
The invention relates to the field of skate supports.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSkating is a way to exercise, but skating can be uncomfortable with loose laces and the difficulty of tightening skate laces is widely known and appreciated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONForming one aspect of the invention is apparatus for supporting a skate while the laces of the skate are being drawn by a user to secure the skate to a foot of the user, the user being seated in elevated relation to a floor surface. The apparatus comprises: a main body having a surface against which the sole of the skate rests in use, the surface having a slot through which the blade passes in use; and a support arrangement connected to the main body to support the main body such that, in use, the sole of the skate is disposed in elevated relation to the floor surface with the heel of the skate below the toe.
According to another aspect of the invention, the support arrangement can comprise a pair of supports, the supports each being pivotably connected to the main body for movement between an operative configuration and a storage configuration. In the operative configuration, in use, the supports extend from opposite ends of the main body, one of the supports extending from the main body adjacent the heel of the skate and the other of the supports extending from the main body adjacent the toe. In the storage configuration, in use, the supports extend towards one another and are arranged in nested relation against the main body.
According to another aspect of the invention, the supports can be generally planar, the main body can be generally planar and the support and main body can be generally coplanar when the supports are in the storage configuration.
According to another aspect of the invention, in use, the surface of the main body can be disposed at an angle to the floor surface between 9° and 17°
According to another aspect of the invention, in use, the surface of the main body can be disposed at an angle of about 13° to the floor surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, in use, that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate can be positioned between 9″ and 13″ above the floor surface; and that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate can be positioned 3″ to 11″ above the floor surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, in use, that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate can be positioned about 11″ above the floor surface; and that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate can be positioned about 6.8″ above the floor surface.
According to another aspect of the invention:
-
- L1:L2:H1:H2:W can be about 472:556:172:278:196
- wherein
- L1 length of surface
- L2 overall length of apparatus in use
- H1 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate in use
- H2 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate in use
- W width of apparatus
The invention provides a stable inclined surface, suitable for use as a skate rest, that can reduce lower back pain, neck, shoulder and upper arm pain and lower leg pain all normally associated with skate tightening.
The foregoing and other features and advantages will be further explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and detailed description.
Reference is now made to
The apparatus 20 comprises a main body 22 and a support arrangement 24.
The main body 20 is a generally planar plastic structure and has a planar surface 26 in which a slot 28 is defined.
The support arrangement 24 comprises a pair of generally planar plastic supports 30,31 each having a pair of legs 32 formed in an arch and pivotably connected by rivets 34 to the main body 22 for movement between an operative configuration, as shown in
In the operative configuration, the supports 31,30 extend from opposite ends 36,38 of the main body 22, to support the main body 22 with the surface 26 at an angle α to the floor surface of about 13°, with the uppermost portion of the surface 26 about 11″ above the floor surface, as indicated by H2 in
In the storage configuration of
-
- the apparatus 20 supports a skate while the laces of the skate are being drawn by a user to secure the skate to a foot of the user, the user being seated in elevated relation to a floor surface.
- one 30 of the supports extends from main body 22 adjacent the heel of the skate and the other 31 of the supports extends from the main body 22 adjacent the toe of the skate
- the sole of the skate rests against the surface 26
- the blade passes through the slot 28
- the sole of the skate is disposed in elevated relation to the floor with the heel below the toe, that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe being positioned about 11″ above the floor and that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel being positioned about 6.8″ above the floor, thereby to create the relationship
- L1:L2:H1:H2:W is about 472:556:172:278:196, wherein
- L1 length of surface
- L2 overall length of apparatus in use
- H1 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate in use
- H2 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate in use
- W width of apparatus
Use of the apparatus has been found to reduce lower back pain, neck, shoulder and upper arm pain and lower leg pain, all conditions being normally associated with skate tightening.
Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that these advantages flow from the geometry and stability of the apparatus, which provides a stable support surface at an appropriate height and orientation to reduce back strain.
In this regard, reference is now made to
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- in the case of the person of FIGS. 7,8, the apparatus reduces back motion by 2°
- in the case of the person of FIGS. 9,10, the apparatus reduced back motion by 4°
- in the case of the person of FIGS. 11,12, the apparatus reduced back motion by 7°
Whereas a specific embodiment is herein shown and described, variants are, of course, possible.
For example, whereas in the illustrated device, the surface of the main body is disposed at 13°, experiments with angles between 9° and 17° have also shown some usefulness.
As well, whereas in the illustrated device, the heel height is about 7″ and the toe height is about 11″, experiments with heel height between 3″ and 11″ have demonstrated some usefulness; the toe height will always be between about 2″ and 6″ higher.
Yet further variations are possible. Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.
Claims
1. Apparatus for supporting a skate while the laces of the skate are being drawn by a user to secure the skate to a foot of the user, the user being seated in elevated relation to a floor surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a main body having a surface against which the sole of the skate rests in use, the surface having a slot through which the blade passes in use; and
- a support arrangement connected to the main body to support the main body such that, in use, the sole of the skate is disposed in elevated relation to the floor surface with the heel of the skate below the toe.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
- the support arrangement comprises a pair of supports, the supports each being pivotably connected to the main body for movement between
- an operative configuration wherein, in use, the supports extend from opposite ends of the main body, one of the supports extending from the main body adjacent the heel of the skate and the other of the supports extending from the main body adjacent the toe; and
- a storage configuration wherein the supports extend towards one another and are arranged in nested relation against the main body.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the supports are generally planar, the main body is generally planar and the support and main body are generally coplanar when the supports are in the storage configuration.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in use:
- the surface of the main body is disposed at an angle to the floor surface, the angle being between 9 and 17°
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in use:
- the surface of the main body is disposed at an angle to the floor surface, the angle being about 13°.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in use,
- that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate is positioned between 9″ and 13″ above the floor surface; and
- that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate is 3″ to 11″ above the floor surface.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in use,
- that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate is positioned about 11″ above the floor surface; and
- that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate is positioned about 6.8″ above the floor surface.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- L1 length of surface
- L2 overall length of apparatus in use
- H1 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate in use
- H2 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate in use
- W width of apparatus
- and
- L1:L2:H1:H2: W is about 472:556:172:278:196
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 20, 2012
Publication Date: Jan 2, 2014
Inventor: Wally Earle (Cameron)
Application Number: 13/721,854
International Classification: A63C 3/06 (20060101);