Skate cover
An exemplary embodiment provides one or more improvements including inexpensive covers for providing warmth and distinctive colorations and indicia to ice skating team members. Other embodiments are adopted for use with in-line roller skates. Embodiments are constructed from a single piece of fabric. Embodiments protect the sole of the user's skate boot from contact with ice and snow.
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENTNot Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIXNot Applicable.
BACKGROUNDEmbodiments relate to skate appliances or attachments.
BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 37 CFR 1.98Embodiments include covers for ice skates or in-line roller skates which keep warm the skater's feet, allow distinctive skate coloration, and protect the feet of skaters from injury.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,160,159 discloses a skating overshoe.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,714,760 discloses a shoe jacket.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,029,787 discloses a foot protecting device for skaters.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,109,566 discloses a skater's overshoe.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,587,205 discloses a skating shoe muff.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,908 discloses toe covers for ice skates.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,660 discloses a wrap-around overshoe for skater's shoe.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,178,195 discloses a skate warmer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,145 discloses a skate shoe guard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,287 discloses a skate boot cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,704 discloses a split-sole anti-slip attachments for footwear.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,170 discloses a protective cover for an ice hockey skate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,867 discloses a contoured cover for ice skate boot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,258 discloses a protective shoe cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,021,663 discloses a puck deflecting hockey skate covering.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,085 discloses a guard for in-line roller skate.
U.S. Pat. No. D259,521 discloses a ice skating boot warmer.
The examples of the related art do not have the advantages of the present disclosure, that of providing skate covers of distinctive coloration, which also keep the user's feet warm and provide protection against feet injury or skate damage, are simple and inexpensive in construction, and which are durable, effective, and easy to use.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARYEmbodiments include a cover for an ice skate having a shoe with attached skate blade in which the cover has an exterior and an interior surface and the cover is comprised of a body and a tongue. The tongue has a slit along its length, the slit has a length which approximates the distance from the front and back blade stanchions. The body has an oval shape with a front edge and a rear edge with the tongue attached to the rear edge. The body has a left wing and a right wing, each wing has a forward edge and a rearward edge, and the left wing and right wing are permanently mated by a coupling link. The body is large enough to approximately enclose the upper and lower surfaces of the shoe. There are closers on the rearward edges of the left and right wings which are capable of reversibly connecting the left and right wings together underneath the shoe when the cover is attached to a ice skate. The cover is manufactured of flexible, elastic fabric material.
Embodiments include a cover for an in-line roller skate having a shoe with attached frame with rollers. In these embodiments the tongue slit is wide enough to accommodate the frame and wheels. In other aspects, such embodiments are the same as the embodiments for ice skates.
The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.
In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions.
A tongue 112 is attached to the rear 124 edge of the body. The tongue 112 has a slit 114 which extends from the proximal 111 end, that is, the end of the slit nearest the body, to the distal 115 end, that is, the end of the slit farthest from the body.
The length of the slit approximates the distance between the front stanchion and the rear stanchion of the skate blade (shown in
Also visible is the left wing 180, left wing rear edge 186, and the right wing rear edge 182. The left wing rear edge 186 and right wing rear edge 182 are connected together below the bottom of the skate shoe by interacted hook 196 and eye 198 fasteners.
Embodiments of the skate cover are manufactured of any suitable strong, resilient, elastic fabric material. Embodiments are made of fabrics which are water repellent, provide scruff or impact protection, heat retention and decoration. Embodiments made of greater than one piece of material are contemplated.
Embodiments are made of synthetic rubber neoprene, closed or open cell fabric of thicknesses varying from about 1 mm to about 7 mm, with a polyester or nylon fabric fused to one or both sides. Other applications include scuba wet suits. Suitable fabrics may be obtained from Seattle Fabrics, Inc., 8702 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, Wash.
Other embodiments are made of POLARTEC outdoor cold and wet weather stretchable sports fabric, single sided or double sided fleece type material made from various blends of spun nylon and polyester. POLARTEC is a trademark for textile fabric piece goods for use in the manufacture of clothing, the trademark owned by Malden Mills Industries, Inc., 46 Stafford Street, Lawrence, Mass. Other applications include ski clothing. Suitable materials may be obtained from Mill Direct Textiles, LLC, 15 Union Street, Lawrence, Mass.
Other embodiments are made of spandex or LYCRA thin stretchable synthetic fiber fabric. LYCRA is a trademark for synthetic fibers and filaments for generalized use in the industrial arts owned by Invista North America S.A.R.L. Corporation, Luxembourg, Lancaster Pike Legal CRP 722/1032, Wilmington, Del. Other applications include swimsuits.
Although embodiments are elastic enough to accommodate a range of sizes of ice or in-line roller skates, it is specifically contemplated that embodiments will be manufactured in several sizes to accommodate the entire spectrum of skate sizes.
In embodiments the reinforcements shown are stitching. Other reinforcements, such as manufactured from metal, resins, or plastics or multiple fabric layers, are contemplated. Hook and eye fasteners are disclosed in embodiments. Other fasteners, such as fabric hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons and button holes, and magnets, are contemplated.
Embodiments of Methods of Applying CoversEmbodiments of methods of attaching a cover to an ice skate comprising a shoe and blade or to an in-line roller skate comprising a shoe and framework holding to rollers, comprise the steps:
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- a. providing a ice skate or in-line roller skate cover comprising a cover having an exterior and an interior surface, the cover comprised of a body and a tongue, the tongue attached at one end to the body, the tongue having a slit along its length, the slit having a length which approximates the distance from the front and back blade stanchions of the ice skate blade, or the tongue having a slit along its length which approximates the length of the framework supporting the wheels of an in-line roller skate and the slit having a width which approximates the width of the framework supporting the wheels of an in-line roller skate, the body having an oval shape with a front edge and a rear edge, the tongue attached to the rear edge of the body, the body having a left wing and a right wing, the body large enough to approximately enclose the upper and lower surfaces of the shoe, the left wing and right wing mated by a coupling link, closers on the edges of the left and right wings capable of reversibly connecting the left and right wings together underneath the shoe when the cover is attached to a ice skate or to an in-line roller skate, and the cover manufactured of flexible, elastic material,
- b. inserting the ice skate blade or in-line roller skate framework into the interior side of the slit with the rear of the blade or framework nearest to the distal end of the tongue,
- c. pulling the front edge of the body upward and toward the shoe so the interior surface of the body is adjacent to the laces of the shoe,
- d. inverting the wings and connector strap so the interior surface of the wings and coupling link extend above and are visible above the exterior surface of the body,
- e. holding the exterior surface of the body against the laces of the shoe with the user's hand,
- f. pulling the coupling link forward over the toe of the shoe and under the shoe back to the rear of the ice skate blade or in-line roller skate framework using the user's other hand,
- g. looping the coupling link about the rear of the ice skate blade or in-line roller skate framework, thereby inverting the body so that the interior surface of the body is adjacent to the top of the shoe and the interior surfaces of the body wings are adjacent to the bottom surfaces of the shoe, and
- h. attaching the closures on the rear edges of the left and right wings to each other below the shoe.
The covers of this disclosure may be applied to ice or in-line roller skates when the skates are on the feet of the user or when the skates are not on the user's feet.
An embodiment of the process or method of applying an embodiment cover to a ice skate is further illustrated by
Embodiments of ice skate and in-line roller skate covers may have a variety of functions. They insulate the user's fee from the cold on both the top and the bottom of the skate shoe. They prevent ice and water from contacting the top and bottom of the user's skate shoes. In addition, covers provide protection to the user's skates and feet against cuts and abrasion from the surfaces skated upon. In addition, covers of specific colors are used as uniforms to distinguish members of athletic teams.
While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. The applicant or applicants have attempted to disclose all the embodiments of the invention that could be reasonably foreseen. There may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications that remain as equivalents.
Claims
1. A cover for an ice skate having a shoe with attached skate blade comprising:
- the cover having an exterior and an interior surface,
- the cover comprised of a body and a tongue,
- the tongue having a slit along its length, the slit having a length which approximates the distance from the front and back blade stanchions,
- the body having an oval shape with a front edge and a rear edge,
- the tongue attached to the rear edge,
- the body having a left wing and a right wing,
- each wing having a forward edge and a rearward edge,
- the left wing and right wing connected by a coupling link,
- the body large enough to approximately enclose the upper and lower surfaces of the shoe,
- closers on the rearward edges of the left and right wings capable of reversibly connecting the left and right wings together underneath the shoe when the cover is attached to a ice skate, and
- the cover manufactured of flexible, elastic material.
2. The cover of claim 1 manufactured of a single piece of material.
3. The cover of claim 1 in which the material of manufacture is polymeric foam.
4. The cover of claim 1 further comprising a second layer attached to the exterior surface of the cover.
5. The cover of claim 1 in which the material of manufacture is synthetic rubber closed or open cell foam fabric of varying thicknesses with a polyester or nylon fabric fused to one or both sides.
6. The cover of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface has distinctive coloration or indicia.
7. The cover of claim 1 further comprising a connector on the front edge of the body for attachment to the a shoe.
8. A cover for an in-line roller skate having a shoe with attached framework supporting the wheels comprising:
- the cover having an exterior and an interior surface,
- the cover comprised of a body and a tongue,
- the tongue having a slit along its length, the slit having a length which approximates the length of the framework supporting the wheels, the slit having a width which approximates the width of the framework supporting the wheels,
- the body having an oval shape with a front edge and a rear edge,
- the tongue attached to the rear edge of the body,
- the body having a left wing and a right wing,
- each wing having a forward edge and a rearward edge,
- the body large enough to approximately enclose the upper and lower surfaces of the shoe,
- the left wing and right wing connected by a coupling link,
- closers on the rearward edges of the left and right wings capable of reversibly connecting the left and right wings together underneath the shoe when the cover is attached to an in-line roller skate skate, and
- the cover manufactured of flexible, elastic material.
9. The cover of claim 8 manufactured of a single piece of material.
10. The cover of claim 8 in which the material of manufacture is polymeric foam.
11. The cover of claim 8 further comprising a second layer attached to the exterior surface of the cover.
12. The cover of claim 8 in which the material of manufacture is synthetic rubber closed or open cell foam fabric of varying thicknesses with a polyester or nylon fabric fused to one or both sides.
13. The cover of claim 8 wherein the exterior surface has distinctive coloration or indicia.
14. The cover of claim 8 further comprising a connector on the front edge of the body for attachment to a shoe.
15. The method of attaching a cover to an ice skate comprising a shoe and a blade or to an in-line roller skate comprising a shoe and a framework holding rollers, comprising the steps:
- a. providing a ice skate or in-line roller skate cover comprising a cover having an exterior and an interior surface, the cover comprised of a body and a tongue, the tongue attached at one end to the body, the tongue having a slit along its length, the slit having a length which approximates the distance from the front and back blade stanchions of the ice skate blade, or the tongue having a slit along its length which approximates the length of the framework supporting the wheels of an in-line roller skate and the slit having a width which approximates the width of the framework supporting the wheels of an in-line roller skate, the body having an oval shape with a front edge and a rear edge, the tongue attached to the rear edge of the body, the body having a left wing and a right wing, the body large enough to approximately enclose the upper and lower surfaces of the shoe, the left wing and right wing connected by a coupling link, closers on the edges of the left and right wings capable of reversibly connecting the left and right wings together underneath the shoe when the cover is attached to a ice skate or to an in-line roller skate, and the cover manufactured of flexible, elastic material,
- b. inserting the ice skate blade or in-line roller skate framework into the interior side of the slit with the rear of the blade or framework nearest to the distal end of the tongue,
- c. pulling the front edge of the body upward and toward the shoe so the interior surface of the body is adjacent to the laces of the shoe,
- d. inverting the wings and connector strap so the interior surface of the wings and coupling link extend above and are visible above the exterior surface of the body,
- e. holding the exterior surface of the body against the laces of the shoe with the user's hand,
- f. pulling the coupling link forward over the toe of the shoe and under the shoe back to the rear of the ice skate blade or in-line roller skate framework using the user's other hand,
- g. looping the coupling link about the rear of the ice skate blade or in-line roller skate framework, thereby inverting the body so that the interior surface of the body is adjacent to the top of the shoe and the interior surfaces of the body wings are adjacent to the bottom surfaces of the shoe, and
- h. attaching the closures on the rear edges of the left and right wings to each other below the shoe.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 6, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 9, 2010
Inventors: Jennifer Yi Ignacio (Woodstock, MD), Nelson Quimpo Ignacio (Woodstock, MD)
Application Number: 12/381,056
International Classification: A43B 23/00 (20060101); A43B 13/22 (20060101);