Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a skate sharpening system comprising an operative unit and a base, the operative unit comprising a central body, the central body comprising a skate receiving slot, a skate clamp being positioned adjacent to the skate receiving slot such that a skate can be secured within the skate receiving slot for a sharpening operation, the operative unit further comprising a grinding unit, the grinding unit being configured to translate along a length of the slot such that the grinding unit can conduct the sharpening operation on the skate that is secured within the skate receiving slot, the operative unit being positioned over at least a portion of the base, the base comprising a swarf-receiving cavity, the operative unit and the base being pivotably connected.

Abstract: A collection tool for collecting metallic debris can comprise a handle, a sheath, and a plunger. The handle can comprise a handle body and a first channel extending through the handle body between a distal opening a proximal opening. The sheath can extend from the distal end of the handle body and can comprises a sheath body and a second channel extending through the sheath body between a distal end and a proximal opening aligned with the distal opening of the first channel. The plunger can comprise a plunger body compressing one or more magnets and configured to move the magnets along the channels, and a plunger handle at a proximal end of the plunger body. The plunger handle is configured to move the plunger between a first configuration with the magnets near the distal end of the second channel and a second configuration with the magnets positioned within the first channel.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system used to sharpen the blades of ice skates. The skate sharpener can include a housing that includes an elongated slot for receiving the blade of an ice skate for sharpening, and clamp jaws for retaining the skate. The housing can include at least one slot cover to engage the skate blade. Engagement of the skate blade can be sensed by a controller to enable sharpening operations to proceed. The skate blade sharpening system can automatically operate a grinding wheel and move the rotating grinding wheel back and forth along the lower face of the skate blade a desired number of times to sharpen the skate blade.

Abstract: An alignment system configured for use in a skate sharpening system (200) can comprise: a securing component (202) configured to secure a skate blade (100) within a skate sharpening system (200); an alignment component (600) positioned within a housing of the skate sharpening system (200); a control system configured to control operation of the skate sharpening system (200); and at least one measurement device (400) configured to perform at least one measurement of at least one of component of the skate sharpening system (200).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a skate blade including a peripheral rim including a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface configured to interface with a skate and the bottom surface configured to be in contact with a skating surface. The peripheral rim can include a first material, the peripheral rim defining one or more openings between the top surface and the bottom surface. The skate blade can further include one or more support ribs extending across the one or more openings of the peripheral rim.

Abstract: An ice skate blade measurement device comprising a frame configured to couple to an ice skate blade; a measurement system configured to obtain measurement data associated with the ice skate blade; and a control system with computer-executable instructions configured to, when executed: determine, one or more measurements associated with geometry of the ice skate blade, and generate, an output based at least in part on the one or more measurements.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a skate sharpening system comprising an operative unit and a base, the operative unit comprising a central body, the central body comprising a skate receiving slot, a skate clamp being positioned adjacent to the skate receiving slot such that a skate can be secured within the skate receiving slot for a sharpening operation, the operative unit further comprising a grinding unit, the grinding unit being configured to translate along a length of the slot such that the grinding unit can conduct the sharpening operation on the skate that is secured within the skate receiving slot, the operative unit being positioned over at least a portion of the base, the base comprising a swarf-receiving cavity, the operative unit and the base being pivotably connected.

Abstract: Method and device for determining the squareness of an ice skate blade. According to one embodiment, the device may include an electrode stator and a reading unit. The reading unit may be mechanically coupled to a carriage. The carriage, in turn, may be slidably mounted on a pair of posts for translational movement. A master roller may be disposed at one end of the carriage, and the carriage may be biased in the direction of the master roller. The electrode stator may be mechanically coupled to a plunger. The plunger, in turn, may be slidably mounted on the carriage for translational movement along the same axis as the carriage; however, the plunger may be capable of moving independently of the carriage. A slave roller may be disposed at one end of the plunger, and the plunger may be biased in the direction of the slave roller.

Abstract: A skate blade grinding system used to sharpen and profile the blades of ice skates. The skate blade grinding system can include a housing that includes an elongated slot for receiving the blade of an ice skate for sharpening, and clamp jaws for retaining the skate. The skate blade grinding system can automatically operate a grinding wheel and move the rotating grinding wheel back and forth along the lower face of the skate blade to grind the skate blade.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a skate sharpening system comprising an operative unit and a base, the operative unit comprising a central body, the central body comprising a skate receiving slot, a skate clamp being positioned adjacent to the skate receiving slot such that a skate can be secured within the skate receiving slot for a sharpening operation, the operative unit further comprising a grinding unit, the grinding unit being configured to translate along a length of the slot such that the grinding unit can conduct the sharpening operation on the skate that is secured within the skate receiving slot, the operative unit being positioned over at least a portion of the base, the base comprising a swarf-receiving cavity, the operative unit and the base being pivotably connected.

Abstract: A skate blade grinding system used to sharpen and profile the blades of ice skates. The skate blade grinding system can include a housing that includes an elongated slot for receiving the blade of an ice skate for sharpening, and clamp jaws for retaining the skate. The skate blade grinding system can automatically operate a grinding wheel and move the rotating grinding wheel back and forth along the lower face of the skate blade to grind the skate blade.

Abstract: A skate blade grinding system used to sharpen and profile the blades of ice skates. The skate blade grinding system can include a housing that includes an elongated slot for receiving the blade of an ice skate for sharpening, and clamp jaws for retaining the skate. The skate blade grinding system can automatically operate a grinding wheel and move the rotating grinding wheel back and forth along the lower face of the skate blade to grind the skate blade.

Abstract: A skate blade grinding system used to sharpen and profile the blades of ice skates. The skate blade grinding system can include a housing that includes an elongated slot for receiving the blade of an ice skate for sharpening, and clamp jaws for retaining the skate. The skate blade grinding system can automatically operate a grinding wheel and move the rotating grinding wheel back and forth along the lower face of the skate blade to grind the skate blade.

Abstract: Intrauterine devices and methods for facilitating deployment thereof using a bumper are disclosed. In one embodiment, an intrauterine device comprises a structure including a first central support member and a deployment mechanism coupled to the first central support member. The intrauterine device further comprises a bumper positioned at a distal end of a second central support member and at a more distal position relative to a distal end of the structure so as to prevent the distal end of the structure from contacting the fundus of the uterus of a patient during deployment of the deployment mechanism. In another embodiment, the intrauterine device comprises a bumper coupled to the deployment mechanism and configured to move from a more distal to a more proximal position relative to a distal end of the structure.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system used to sharpen the blades of ice skates. The skate sharpener can include a housing that includes an elongated slot for receiving the blade of an ice skate for sharpening, and clamp jaws for retaining the skate. The housing can include at least one slot cover to engage the skate blade. Engagement of the skate blade can be sensed by a controller to enable sharpening operations to proceed. The skate blade sharpening system can automatically operate a grinding wheel and move the rotating grinding wheel back and forth along the lower face of the skate blade a desired number of times to sharpen the skate blade.

Abstract: Intrauterine devices and methods for facilitating deployment thereof using a bumper are disclosed. In one embodiment, an intrauterine device comprises a structure including a first central support member and a deployment mechanism coupled to the first central support member. The intrauterine device further comprises a bumper positioned at a distal end of a second central support member and at a more distal position relative to a distal end of the structure so as to prevent the distal end of the structure from contacting the fundus of the uterus of a patient during deployment of the deployment mechanism. In another embodiment, the intrauterine device comprises a bumper coupled to the deployment mechanism and configured to move from a more distal to a more proximal position relative to a distal end of the structure.

Abstract: An intrauterine device includes a central support member, first and second internal flexures and first and second external flexures. The first and second internal flexures each include a first section having a first stiffness, a second section having a second stiffness, and third section having a third stiffness, wherein the second stiffness is more flexible than the first and third stiffness and wherein the first section of each internal flexure is coupled to the central support member. The first and second external flexures are coupled to the central support member and coupled to the third sections of the first and second internal flexures, the first and second external flexures in combination with the first and second internal flexures being configured to extend from a collapsed position parallel to the central support member to a deployed position flexing away from the central support member.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a skate sharpening system comprising an operative unit and a base, the operative unit comprising a central body, the central body comprising a skate receiving slot, a skate clamp being positioned adjacent to the skate receiving slot such that a skate can be secured within the skate receiving slot for a sharpening operation, the operative unit further comprising a grinding unit, the grinding unit being configured to translate along a length of the slot such that the grinding unit can conduct the sharpening operation on the skate that is secured within the skate receiving slot, the operative unit being positioned over at least a portion of the base, the base comprising a swarf-receiving cavity, the operative unit and the base being pivotably connected.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a skate blade including a peripheral rim including a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface configured to interface with a skate and the bottom surface configured to be in contact with a skating surface. The peripheral rim can include a first material, the peripheral rim defining one or more openings between the top surface and the bottom surface. The skate blade can further include one or more support ribs extending across the one or more openings of the peripheral rim.

Abstract: A skate blade alignment system used to align a skate blade sharpening system. The skate alignment system can align a grinding wheel for sharpening a skate blade secured within the skate blade sharpening system. A controller can enable alignment operations and control an alignment process.