DOUBLE BLADED ICE SKATE

Abstract

An ice skate having a low profile, dual blade assembly. The blade assembly is affixed to the sole of a boot, and each blade is positioned symmetrically about the center line of the boot, and separated by a lateral distance which is sufficient to avoid a build up of ice/snow between the blades. The blade assembly has a short vertical profile in order to provide a low center of gravity, for example, in the range of forty to sixty percent of the conventional vertical profile.

Description

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to the construction of an ice skate, and in particular, a unique construction having a double blade assembly that is useful for training beginning ice skaters.

A problem for beginning ice skaters is a lack of balance and stability while learning how to skate using a conventional single-bladed ice skate, whether for figure skating or for ice hockey. Others have recognized this problem and offered solutions.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,764,417 discloses several embodiments of ice skates with multiple blades to provide increased stabilization. Each embodiment includes a main central blade, with a pair of stabilizing blades disposed on both sides of the central blade. U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,897 discloses an adjustable attachment to provide auxiliary runners on both sides of the central blade, and likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,397 discloses an attachment to provide auxiliary runners on both sides of the central blade. U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,445 discloses an attachment to provide a single auxiliary runner disposed to the inside of the central blade (i.e. under the inside portion of the foot).

U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,883 discloses a double bladed skate, wherein each blade is attached to the boot by a complicated bracket assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,522 discloses a double-bladed attachment device that is clamped onto an existing boot to provide auxiliary runners on either side of the main blade.

Despite these various solutions, it remains desirable to find a simple design that provides a blade arrangement that is comfortable and easy to use for the beginning ice skater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an ice skating boot having two blades.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the blade assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom plan view of the blade assembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of the blade assembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side plan view of an integrally molded blade assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure describes a unique blade construction for an ice skating boot, wherein a pair of blades is affixed to the boot in a manner that provides a low center of gravity. This double blade arrangement is particularly useful to provide increased stability for the beginning skater and thereby ease the process of learning to skate.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a figure skating boot 10 having a skate blade assembly 20 affixed to the boot. The skate blade assembly 20 uses a unique double blade arrangement, as further described below. The boot 10 is of conventional construction, having a sole 11 affixed to a shoe portion 12, for example, by stitching. Since the heel portion 13 of the boot 10 is generally higher than the toe portion 14, a heel post 15 is affixed to the heel portion 13 of the boot, for example, by an adhesive. All of the boot portions are preferably made from leather, although other materials may be used for some or all portions. Further, although the first embodiment is a figure skating boot with a distinct blade attachment, the teachings disclosed herein are applicable to any type or style of skating boot. For example, a hockey style boot having an integrally molded blade attachment can also be made, as further described below with regard to FIG. 5. However, since the objective is to provide a training skate for beginners, it is preferred that such a training skate be implemented as a simple and economical ice skate, and unlikely that the teachings disclosed herein would find practical application to the specialty skates, such as speed skates or dancing skates.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate one embodiment of the skate blade assembly 20 as used with skate boot 10. The skate blade assembly 20 includes a pair of tempered steel blades 21, coated with chrome, and affixed at stanchion 22a to a heel platform 24, and at stanchions 22b, 22c to a toe platform 26, for example, by welding the stanchions to the platforms at weldment spots 28. The blades 21 are disposed symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal center line of the boot and are separated by lateral distance W. The blades 21 are not flat, but curved slightly, forming an arc having a radius of about 180-220 centimeters. Further, each of the blades 21 has a width of about 0.32 cm. Figure skates typically include a toe pick 23, but such a feature is optional and probably not necessary for training the beginning skater, as intended here.

The heel platform 24 is preferably a rigid flat piece of steel having mounting holes 25, and similarly, the toe platform 26 is a rigid flat piece of steel having mounting holes 27. The mounting holes 25, 27 are provided so that the blade assembly 20 can be fastened by screws (not shown) into the bottom of boot 10. Other known attachment methods could also be used, for example, pop rivets, or alternatively, the platforms 24, 26 could be integrally molded as part of the boot, like a hockey style boot, as further discussed below.

Note that the heel platform 24 and toe platform 26 are welded between the stanchions 22 of blades 21, rather than on top of the stanchions, in order to minimize the vertical profile of the blades. In fact, when compared to a conventional skate, rather than changing the vertical geometry of the blade itself, the present embodiment achieves a lower profile by having shorter stanchions.

In FIGS. 2 and 4, the measure H1 is the vertical distance from the bottom edge of the blades 21 to the top of the heel platform 24 at the rear stanchion 22a; the measure H2 is the vertical distance from the bottom edge of the blades 21 to the top of the toe platform 26 at the middle stanchion 22b; and the measure H3 is the vertical distance from the bottom edge of the blades 21 to the top of the toe platform 24 at the front stanchion 22c. In accord with this disclosure, these vertical measures H1, H2, H3 are minimized in order to provide a lower center of gravity than conventional blades. As a practical matter, this is achieved by reducing the height of the stanchions 22. For example, in conventional figure skates, H1 measures approximately 5.5 centimeters, H2 measures approximately 5.6 centimeters, and H3 measures approximately 5.4 centimeters. In the present embodiment, however, those measures are reduced significantly, for example, on the order of 40% to 60%. In one embodiment, those measures are approximately as follows: H1=2.8 centimeters; H2=3.0 centimeters; and H3=2.5 centimeters. Thus, it can be appreciated that by providing a shorter vertical profile of the blade portion, the skater has a lower center of gravity and therefore better balance while skating.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the measure W is the lateral distance between the blades 21. This measure W should be optimized in order to provide a stable platform to go with the lower center of gravity dictated by the measure H. As a minimum requirement, the blades 21 should be separated enough to prevent a buildup of ice/snow between the blades. In one preferred embodiment, the measure W is approximately 3.6 centimeters.

Different boot sizes will generally not require different values of H and W. However, it is possible that a very small child's size could benefit from a slight reduction in the value of W, and likewise, that a very large adult size could benefit from a slight increase in the value of W, which would also lead to larger heel and toe platforms.

An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a side profile of a blade assembly 100 for a hockey style boot is illustrated. The basic principles are the same, and the preferred values for H and W remain the same. However, since hockey skates are now made exclusively as an integrally molded assembly, the blade assembly 100 must be formed differently than one used for a standard figure skating boot, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, and one illustrative embodiment for such a molded assembly is described. Thus, the blade assembly 100 includes a blade holder 102 having a groove 104 (shown in dashed lines) formed in the underside of the blade holder to receive blade 106. The blade holder 102 is preferably made from a fiber reinforced composite material. Further, one or more elastic non-rigid support members (not shown), including elastomer thermoplastics such as urethane or rubber, may be placed into the groove 104 in order to absorb and cushion the flexing of blade 106 when in use. The blade holder 102 includes flanges 108 to facilitate coupling to the boot, either by conventional means, such as screws or rivets, or by being integrally molded with the boot (not shown).

In general, those skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize that many changes in construction and materials as well as widely differing embodiments will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of this disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative only, and not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. An ice skate, comprising:

a boot having a sole;

a blade assembly coupled to the sole of the boot, including a pair of blades each positioned symmetrically about a longitudinal center line of the boot, said blade assembly having a short vertical profile in order to provide a low center of gravity.

2. An ice skate as in claim 1, wherein the vertical profile is approximately half that of a conventional ice skate.

3. An ice skate as in claim 1, wherein the vertical profile is reduced by approximately forty to sixty percent compared to a conventional ice skate.

4. An ice skate as in claim 1, wherein the vertical profile is approximately two to three centimeters.

5. An ice skate as in claim 1, wherein the pair of blades is separated by a lateral distance which is sufficient to avoid a build-up of ice/snow between the blades.

6. An ice skate as in claim 5, wherein the lateral distance is a few centimeters.

7. An ice skate as in claim 5, wherein the lateral distance is approximately 3.6 centimeters.

8. An ice skate as in claim 1, the blade assembly further comprising a toe platform and a heel platform, wherein the blades are rigidly affixed to the toe and heel platforms, and the toe and heel platforms are fastened to the boot.

9. An ice skate as in claim 1, wherein the blade assembly is integrally formed with the boot.

10. An ice skate, comprising:

a boot having a sole;

a blade assembly coupled to the sole of the boot, said blade assembly comprising a toe platform, a heel platform, and a pair of blades affixed to the toe and heel platforms, wherein each blade is positioned symmetrically about a longitudinal center line of the boot, said blade assembly having a short vertical profile in order to provide a low center of gravity.

11. An ice skate as in claim 10, wherein the blade assembly is affixed to the toe and heel platforms by at least two stanchions, said stanchions being sized to provide said short vertical profile.

12. An ice skate, comprising:

a blade assembly integrally molded with a boot, said blade assembly including a pair of blades each positioned symmetrically about a longitudinal center line of the boot, said blade assembly having a short vertical profile in order to provide a low center of gravity, wherein the pair of blades is separated by a lateral distance which is sufficient to avoid a build-up of ice/snow between the blades.