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: A shin pad for ice hockey or other sports is described, together with a method of manufacturing shin pads. The shin pad includes an elongated flexible lining, and a rigid or semi-rigid knee shield secured to the lining. A lower aspect of the knee shield has one or more lateral slots defined therein. In the preferred embodiment, there is one such slot, generally centrally located. A rigid or semi-rigid shin shield is provided with a corresponding tab or tabs projecting from the upper end thereof for insertion in the slot(s), thereby locating the upper end of the shin shield against the lining. The lower portion of the shin shield is secured against the lining by any suitable conventional means such as sewing or one or more rivets. In the method of manufacturing the shin pad, the knee shield is secured to the lining in conventional fashion, such as by sewing.

Abstract: A shin pad is described in which the shin shield is in two pieces, namely an upper piece which is secured to the lining of the knee cap, or to the knee cap itself, and a lower piece which is slidable up and down relative to the upper piece, and to which a lower liner is secured, the lower liner being independent of the knee liner. Preferably, the lower piece is slidable with respect to the upper piece by virtue of one or more slotted holes in either or both of the upper piece and/or lower piece, with bolts and T-nuts being used in the slots to secure the pieces together in the desired position. Preferably, there are three such slotted holes, namely a front central one and two side ones, namely one towards either side of the pad. Preferably, there is sufficient sloppiness in the slots to provide a varus/valgus adjustment, i.e.

Abstract: The shin pad, for use in ice hockey and possibly other sports, includes a lower brace element positionable along the front of the player's shin and securable to the player's lower leg, and an upper brace element positionable along the front of the player's lower thigh and securable thereto. A shin shield is secured outside the lower brace element. The lower and upper brace elements are pivotally connected to each other by pivotal connections on lateral and medial sides thereof, the pivotal connections being positionable on lateral and medial sides of the player's knee, in general alignment with the axis of the player's knee joint. To restrict or prevent hyperextension of the knee, the shin pad includes a stop arranged to prevent rotation of the upper and lower brace elements beyond a selected maximum permissible extension angle.

Abstract: A fastener for securing a hard shell and a soft lining together, with particular utility for protective sports gear, is described. The fastener has a broad flexible base portion, a bell-shaped portion leading from the base portion to a shoulder portion, and a post projecting from the shoulder portion and having an annular flange extending therefrom. The shell is trapped between the shoulder portion and the annular flange, and the lining is trapped between the hard shell and the base portion.

Abstract: A braking system for an in-line skate for use with in-line skates having a chassis and boot assembly and a cuff pivotally mounted thereon, preferably including a plate secured to the cuff at one of the pivot points, to rotate relative to the boot with rotation of the cuff. A cable is attached to the plate a short distance from the pivot point, and is routed to lead rearwardly from the lower edge of the plate and thence through a cable housing connected to the boot and chassis near the heel area, and thence forwardly to the area of the wheels. At least one brake assembly is connected to the cable and is configured such that braking action is initiated when the cable is pulled by rearward rotation of the cuff relative to the chassis/boot assembly.

Abstract: An in-line skate is shown, including a rigid plastic chassis having a main portion and integral wing portions extending upwardly therefrom on either side adjacent the heel end of the chassis, with an integral heel portion between the wing portions. The main portion, heel portion and wing portions together define a heel box area. A plastic boot is secured to the chassis inside the wing portions and against the heel portion, and extends forwardly along the chassis. A plastic cuff wraps around either side and the rear above the boot, and is pivotally connected to each wing portion. A soft flexible padded sock-like liner is positionable inside the boot and the cuff.

Abstract: A skate boot is described which includes an overlapping tension strap extending from the medial side of the outer sole to the medial lacing band, and the lacing passes through eyelets provided in the tension strap. The lacing bands are arranged such that in the bottom portion thereof below the tarsis, they are symmetrical to a line drawn approximately over the highest ridge of the dorsal of the foot, that is, at the first or second metatarsal and above the tarsis they are symmetrical with the axis of the anterior tibial tendon so that the lacing is evenly distributed on either side of the highest ridge of the foot in these areas. A liner is provided in the rear part of the boot such as to provide lateral support. The liner is relatively stiff but is provided with cutouts allowing the boot to flex in the dorsal-plantar flexion direction.

Abstract: A skate comprises a boot and an ice skate blade with fixed molded plastics support. The molded plastics support includes a boot receiving means having the outline of the sole of the boot and having a ridge adapted to be fixed to the base of the boot. The support may be fixed to the boot by way of a suitable adhesive, and the boot receiving portion of the support replaces the sole of the boot.

Abstract: A sole insert for use in footwear includes a toe plate portion, a metatarsal portion and a heel portion all formed in an integral molded member. The heel portion includes a thickened block-type reinforcing frame merging smoothly into a similarly constructed-type metatarsal portion of reduced thickness which in turn merges into the flat toe portion. The toe portion includes laterally extending weakened portion such that the insert will resist to torsional twisting but will flex about a lateral axis located in the toe portion.

Abstract: A skate boot comprises a lower, upper and an intermediate portion between the lower and the upper. The lower includes a sole, toe and heel portions made of a molded unitary rigid plastics material. The intermediate portion is connected to the lower and includes ankle and Achilles tendon portions of the boot and is made of a relatively flexible material. The upper including the eyelet bands and the upper tendon guard are made of a pliable material. The construction allows forward flexure and torsional flexibility in the ankle area, foot forming moldability in the upper area of the boot and impact resistant rigidity in the lower.