Abstract: An ice skate assembly with a provision for the replacement of ice skate runners. The ice skate assembly includes a molded runner holder having a pair of side walls, the side walls extending downwards and forming a groove therebetween where a runner is received, a recess and a bore suitable for receiving a fastener. The ice skate runner is fastened to the runner holder by a runner projection suitable to be engaged with the recess on the molded runner holder and a fastener passing transversely through the runner and through the bore of the molded runner holder. The fastener is adapted to exert a force on the ice skate runner such that the hooked portion is engaged on the recess and the runner is secured to the runner holder. The force exerted on the ice skate runner comprises a generally longitudinal component, a generally upward component and a generally transversal component.

Abstract: A protective sporting glove featuring a hand receiving portion and a cuff portion cooperating to protect the entire hand of the wearer, the wrist, the thumb and the four fingers; the hand receiving portion includes finger sheath means for receiving and enclosing the four fingers of a hand placed in the glove; each of the finger sheath means comprises an elongated protective padding element extending along the dorsal side of the finger sheath means. The hand receiving portion further including a thumb receiving portion enclosing the thumb from an area proximate the base of the thumb to the tip of the thumb and comprising a rigid thumb shell covering the dorsal side of the thumb receiving portion.

Abstract: An adjustable protective helmet for sporting activities comprising a first and second shell component, each having respective cooperating overlapping segments extending transversely across the top portion of the wearer's head for connecting together to form a helmet shell assembly circumscribing the wearer's head. The shells are movable relative to one another in the overlapping segments to provide size adjustability of the helmet. The protective helmet includes a shock absorbing pad assembly inside comprising at least two padding sections, one padding section comprising an opening, the other padding section comprising an extension loosely fitting within the opening and shaped to allow relative longitudinal motion between the padding sections; the padding sections further comprising stopping means to limit the relative longitudinal motion between them.

Abstract: An adjustable protective helmet for sporting activities comprising a first shell and second shell, having respective cooperating inner and outer overlapping portions extending transversely across the top portion of the wearer's head for connecting together the shells to form a bowl shaped shell assembly circumscribing the wearer's head. The shells are movable relative to one another in the overlapping portions to provide size adjustability of the helmet. The helmet includes a shock absorbing liner inside the shell assembly. The shell assembly comprises a ramp defined by a plurality of raised formations on the inside surface of the shell assembly, that is adjacent and facing a free edge of the inner overlapping portion thereby increasing the contact surface area between the liner and the shell assembly around said overlapping portions in order to reduce the concentration of force of an impact in the vicinity of the overlapping portions.

Abstract: A pad assembly for use in a protective helmet shell. The pad assembly is formed from a resilient material. The pad assembly includes a front pad assembly, a back pad assembly, and an intermediate pad assembly. The front pad assembly is attached to a front portion of the helmet shell, the back pad assembly is attached to a back portion of the helmet shell, and the intermediate pad assembly is both centrally located between the front pad assembly and the back pad assembly and slidably connected to the front pad assembly and to the back pad assembly.

Abstract: A method of making footwear. The method is suited generally to making skate boots and, more specifically, to making ice skates and in-line roller skates. The method comprises the steps of: (a) positioning a skin assembly over a structural inner shell component; (b) adhesively affixing the skin assembly to the structural inner shell component by applying pressure on the entire surface of the skin assembly; (c) perforating lace eyelets through the structural inner shell and the skin assembly; and (d) mounting a toe box and a tongue to the front portion of the structural inner shell component.

Abstract: An extensible leg pad including an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion comprises a rigid knee shield and a first rigid shin, and the lower portion comprises a second rigid shin shield. These shields comprise overlapping surfaces that allow adjustment of the overall length of the pad. The pad also comprises a belt which secures together the upper and lower portions and which is responsive to tension for pressing the overlapping surfaces together at a contacting area.

Abstract: A one-piece quarter for a lasted skate boot. The quarter comprises a quarter medial portion and a quarter lateral portion. The quarter medial and quarter lateral portions each comprise, respectively, foxing medial and lateral portions. A tendon guard is disposed in the upper portion of the quarter. This tendon guard is preferably sewn to the quarter. Therefore, the guard is attached to the quarter along the junction line. According to the invention, with a quarter consisting of only one piece, there is no sewing line along the symmetry line. The skate boot provided with such a quarter features a stronger heel portion, without any risk of a broken sewing line. The skate boot is less expensive to manufacture, with at least one sewing step eliminated.

Abstract: An adjustable shoulder pad particularly adapted for use by children for playing hockey and other similar sports. The adjustable junior shoulder pad is made of two main portions, namely a left-hand portion and a right-hand portion. These two main portions have front and rear panels interconnected together by a shoulder arch and these panels have respective overlapping surfaces. The overlapping surfaces of the front and rear panels have affixing means which allow interconnection of the right and left portions in accordance with different positions for allowing size adjustment of the shoulder pad.

Abstract: A pair of protective sporting gloves which includes a first glove and a second glove. The first glove has a preformed structure. The second glove has a different structure formed and angulated to define a shape adapted to the natural position taken by a hand holding the intermediate portion of a sport stick.

Abstract: An adjustable elbow pad for playing hockey and other similar sporting activities adapted to cover the gap between a protective glove and a shoulder pad and more particularly adapted for use by children in their years of growth. The elbow pad is adjustable in length and diameter to accommodate the increase in size and length of a growing child and also to accommodate varying gaps between protective glove and shoulder pad when one of these two protective equipments is replaced. The adjustable elbow pad comprises an elbow protector and a forearm protector telescopingly joined together, and locking means for locking the forearm protector to the elbow protector at least when worn.

Abstract: A protective helmet having a rigid outer helmet shell, an inner pad assembly formed from a resilient material and threaded fasteners partially embedded in the inner pad assembly and adapted to secure the inner pad assembly into the outer helmet shell. The embedded fastener has a threaded aperture to receive a securement means such as a threaded screw, and a non-circular portion, which protrudes from the inner pad assembly and is inserted in a corresponding mounting hole on the outer helmet shell. The non-circular portion of the fastener prevents rotation of the fastener when the threaded securement means is fastened into the threaded aperture during installation or removal of the inner padding assembly.

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 last 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 U-shape run alongside the runner, one on either side of the runner, and the base of the U-shape lies against 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 skate boot is described in which a one-piece plastic ankle and heel counter insert is employed, positioned between the various layers which make up the skate boot. In sequence from outside to inside, the boot includes a conventional outer, the one-piece plastic insert, suitable cushioning, and a lining. The insert has a heel counter portion which is generally U-shaped and which cups around the heel area from along the lateral side, across the heel, and along the medial side, and an integral ankle portion which extends upwardly from the heel area of the heel counter portion and which includes forwardly projecting wing portions which cup around the ankle area from over the area of the lateral malleolus, across the rear and over the area of the medial malleolus. Preferably, the plastic insert extends up most of the height of the back of the boot, and includes lateral and medial cuff portions which extend partially forward along the sides of the skater's upper ankle.

Abstract: Goalie pants provided with a space within the pants in which the upper protective pad of the goalie can be received. This space enables the goalie to freely move without causing any bunching of the upper pad or the pants that may lead to a lack of comfort. A second innovative feature of the improved goalie pants resides in the provision of overlapping thigh and knee padding elements that can move between a retracted and an extended position. In the extended position, the thigh and the knee padding elements are arranged such that they provide a continuous protection of the thigh and the knee. The overlapping relationship between the knee and the thigh padding elements allow them to retract when the goalie is in a position such that other protective equipment (such as the pads covering the legs) interferes with the goalie pants. A third innovative feature resides in the provision of a groin padding element that is mounted on the outside of the pants and forms a flap that overlaps the thigh padding element.