Abstract: A skate including a tongue mounted to a boot of the skate. The tongue has an upper end and a lower end, and a medial edge and a lateral edge, and a longitudinal center axis of the tongue extends between the upper and lower ends and is spaced equidistantly between segments of the medial and lateral edges. The longitudinal center axis divides the tongue into a medial segment and a lateral segment. The medial and lateral segments are asymmetrical about the longitudinal center axis.

Abstract: A protective helmet including an outer shell, and a liner assembly received in the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the liner assembly defining a front portion configured to overlay a front of a head of a wearer, a rear portion configured to overlay a rear of the head of the wearer, a top portion disposed above and out of contact with a top of the head of the wearer when the helmet is worn, and two opposed side portions each configured to overlay a respective side of the head of the wearer. Each of the front, rear, side and top portions includes at least one zone where the liner assembly includes a plurality of overlapping layers.

Abstract: A tongue for a skate boot includes a body having a first segment and a second segment at a lower end. One or both of the first and second segments are displaceable toward the other to a sandwiched position. The first and second segments overlap in the sandwiched position and position part of a toe portion of the boot between the first and second segments. The first segment includes two mating tabs spaced apart from each other, and the second segment includes two segment apertures spaced apart from each other. In the sandwiched position, the first segment engages an inner surface of the part of the toe portion and the second segment engages an outer surface, two toe portion apertures are aligned with the two segment apertures; and the two mating tabs pass into the two toe portion apertures and into the two segment apertures.

Abstract: A skate includes a boot having a toe portion with a toe portion connector on at least one of its inner and outer surfaces. A tongue is mountable within the boot of the skate. The tongue at its lower end has a pressing member with cooperating first and second segments. The tongue has a tongue connector on at least one of the first and second segments. At least one of the first and second segments is foldable to engage the first segment with the inner surface of the toe portion and the second segment with the outer surface of the toe portion, and to engage the tongue connector with the toe portion connector to removably connect the tongue to the toe portion.

Abstract: A skate boot shell including a tridimensional outer sub-shell made of a first material, the outer sub-shell including a first sole portion connected to first heel, ankle and side portions; a tridimensional inner sub-shell received within and connected to the outer sub-shell, an outer surface of the inner sub-shell being complementary to an inner surface of the outer sub-shell, the inner sub-shell being made of a second material different from the first material; and a tridimensional reinforcement sub-shell made of a third material different from the first and second materials and bonded inside at least one of the inner and outer sub-shells.

Abstract: A skate including a tongue mounted to a boot of the skate. The tongue has an upper end and a lower end, and a medial edge and a lateral edge, and a longitudinal center axis of the tongue extends between the upper and lower ends and is spaced equidistantly between segments of the medial and lateral edges. The longitudinal center axis divides the tongue into a medial segment and a lateral segment. The medial and lateral segments are asymmetrical about the longitudinal center axis.

Abstract: A protective helmet including an outer shell, and a liner assembly received in the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the liner assembly defining a front portion configured to overlay a front of a head of a wearer, a rear portion configured to overlay a rear of the head of the wearer, a top portion disposed above and out of contact with a top of the head of the wearer when the helmet is worn, and two opposed side portions each configured to overlay a respective side of the head of the wearer. Each of the front, rear, side and top portions includes at least one zone where the liner assembly includes a plurality of overlapping layers.

Abstract: A protective helmet having a liner assembly received in an outer shell and connected to the outer shell, with front, rear, side and top portions each including at least one zone where the liner assembly includes a plurality of overlapping layers, each of the layers being made from one of first, second, third and fourth materials, where the first material has a greater density and/or hardness than that of the second, third and fourth materials, the second material has a greater density and/or hardness than that of the third and fourth materials, and the third material has a greater density and/or hardness than that of the fourth material, and wherein the liner assembly includes one or more particular zones set forth in Table 3 or 4.

Abstract: A skate boot shell including a tridimensional outer sub-shell made of a first material, the outer sub-shell including a first sole portion connected to first heel, ankle and side portions; a tridimensional inner sub-shell received within and connected to the outer sub-shell, an outer surface of the inner sub-shell being complementary to an inner surface of the outer sub-shell, the inner sub-shell being made of a second material different from the first material; and a tridimensional reinforcement sub-shell made of a third material different from the first and second materials and bonded inside at least one of the inner and outer sub-shells.

Abstract: A skate includes a boot having a toe portion with a toe portion connector on at least one of its inner and outer surfaces. A tongue is mountable within the boot of the skate. The tongue at its lower end has a pressing member with cooperating first and second segments. The tongue has a tongue connector on at least one of the first and second segments. At least one of the first and second segments is foldable to engage the first segment with the inner surface of the toe portion and the second segment with the outer surface of the toe portion, and to engage the tongue connector with the toe portion connector to removably connect the tongue to the toe portion.

Abstract: A runner for an ice skate. The runner extends along a longitudinal axis between a front end and an opposed rear end. The runner is entirely metal and has a height extending between an ice-contacting portion for engaging an ice surface and an opposed upper portion. The runner has a datum runner thickness defined between outer and inner side surfaces of the runner. The runner has one or more regions of reduced thickness that are recessed inwardly from one or both of the outer and inner surfaces. The regions have a local thickness being less than the datum runner thickness. An ice skate and method of making a runner for an ice skate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A protective helmet having a liner assembly received in an outer shell and connected to the outer shell, with front, rear, side and top portions each including at least one zone where the liner assembly includes a plurality of overlapping layers, each of the layers being made from one of first, second, third and fourth materials, where the first material has a greater density and/or hardness than that of the second, third and fourth materials, the second material has a greater density and/or hardness than that of the third and fourth materials, and the third material has a greater density and/or hardness than that of the fourth material, and wherein the liner assembly includes one or more particular zones set forth in Table 3 or 4.

Abstract: A skate including a tridimensional skate boot shell with a sole insert embedded in or received in the skate boot shell such that at least part of a thickness of the sole portion is defined under the sole insert, and a holder under the skate boot shell configured for retaining a ground-engaging skate element. The holder is connected to the sole insert by at least one fastener extending through the at least part of the thickness of the sole portion. A method of manufacturing a skate boot is also discussed.

Abstract: A blade holder assembly for a skate including a blade holder having an elongated groove defined in a bottom surface, and a recess extending upwardly therefrom in alignment with a pedestal, for engagement with a blade. The pedestal has an internal cavity defined therein separate and spaced from the elongated groove and the recess. A locking arm is engaged to the pedestal and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking arm has an engagement end protruding into the recess through an opening defined in a wall of the pedestal. A greater portion of the engagement end protrudes into the recess in the locked position than in the unlocked position. At least a major part of the locking arm, including the engagement end, remains outside of the internal cavity of the pedestal in the locked and unlocked positions. A blade assembly is also discussed.

Abstract: A runner for an ice skate. The runner extends along a longitudinal axis between a front end and an opposed rear end. The runner is entirely metal and has a height extending between an ice-contacting portion for engaging an ice surface and an opposed upper portion. The runner has a datum runner thickness defined between outer and inner side surfaces of the runner. The runner has one or more regions of reduced thickness that are recessed inwardly from one or both of the outer and inner surfaces. The regions have a local thickness being less than the datum runner thickness. An ice skate and method of making a runner for an ice skate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A blade holder assembly for a skate including a blade holder having an elongated groove defined in a bottom surface, and a recess extending upwardly therefrom in alignment with a pedestal, for engagement with a blade. The pedestal has an internal cavity defined therein separate and spaced from the elongated groove and the recess. A locking arm is engaged to the pedestal and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking arm has an engagement end protruding into the recess through an opening defined in a wall of the pedestal. A greater portion of the engagement end protrudes into the recess in the locked position than in the unlocked position. At least a major part of the locking arm, including the engagement end, remains outside of the internal cavity of the pedestal in the locked and unlocked positions. A blade assembly is also discussed.

Abstract: A skate boot shell including a tridimensional outer sub-shell made of a first material, the outer sub-shell including a first sole portion connected to first heel, ankle and side portions; a tridimensional inner sub-shell received within and connected to the outer sub-shell, an outer surface of the inner sub-shell being complementary to an inner surface of the outer sub-shell, the inner sub-shell being made of a second material different from the first material; and a tridimensional reinforcement sub-shell made of a third material different from the first and second materials and bonded inside at least one of the inner and outer sub-shells.