PROTECTIVE COVER FOR HOCKEY SKATE BOOT
A protective cover fits over the top of a hockey skate boot. The cover has a vertically-split heel that is contiguous with an open bottom, and includes enough flexibility and tension that the cover can be flexed open diagonally from the split heel to fit over the top of the hockey skate boot, and then released to substantially conform to the instep, sides, ankles, and a portion of the heel in a tensioned fit. The preferred material for the cover is a high grade polycarbonate. The high grade polycarbonate is advantageous over other materials known in the art of covers based on the specific strength, impact resistance and elongation characteristics of high grade polycarbonates. The temperature ranges that the cover may be used in vary significantly and the high grade polycarbonate provides for optimal protection and performance in the wide temperature ranges.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/497,200 for a PROTECTIVE COVER FOR HOCKEY SKATE BOOT, filed on Jun. 15, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a protective cover for a hockey skate boot, more particularly, a protective cover molded from a high grade polycarbonate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hockey pucks can cause foot and ankle injuries even through modern skate boots that are constructed of hard-shelled plastic or synthetic leather. This is, in part, because the fit of modern hockey skate boots is intentionally tight. In addition, modern hockey skate boots are designed for performance and light weight rather than protection. The problem is worsened by the use of composite-material hockey sticks, which throw the puck faster than wooden sticks. The unsportsmanlike “slashing” of another player's feet with a hockey stick can also cause foot injuries.
Tie-on or strap-on ankle protectors have been known for many years, and the present inventor can recall cardboard-and-leather and plastic-and-leather protective covers that are either tied or strapped onto the exterior of a hockey skate boot directly over the anklebone area.
One such protector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,523,567 to McClelland. The McClelland patent discloses a removable protective boot cover for a hockey skate boot. The cover includes a hard but flexible protective shell with an open bottom and heel. The heel includes heel-cupping sidewall portions that flex apart diagonally to apply the cover to the boot and to grip portions of the boot heel under tension when released. The shell floats above the surface of the boot on spaced pads that are secured to the underside of the shell. The pads protect the side-foot, ankle, and instep portions of the foot, while still allowing the boot-laces to be adjusted when the protective boot cover is installed on the boot. The shell is slotted on the instep to improve flexibility. The initial tensioned fit of the cover on the boot frees the user's hands from having to stabilize the cover while adjusting supplemental fasteners such as straps.
Another such protector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,170 to Lutz, Jr. The Lutz patent discloses a removable protective boot cover that is molded into a boot-fitting shape. The protective cover is disposed over the upper surface and sides of the boot, including the ankle region, and is fastened to the boot with straps that run behind the heel and under the sole of the boot. The strap ends are folded and secured through slots in an effort to uniformly space the boot cover from the boot to allow the boot cover to absorb and dissipate impact away from the surface of the boot. The strap arrangement also specifically tensions the upper surface of the boot cover against the boot lacing on top of the boot, using the lacing to help define the gap and to serve as a cushion between the boot and the boot cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a removable hard-shell cover having a shell portion that fits over a portion of a hockey skate boot. The shell portion can be fitted to cover portions of the top, sides, ankles, and may cup a portion of the heel of the boot. The shell portion may include a vertically-split heel that is contiguous with an open bottom, and is preferably a one-piece construction. The shell portion has enough flexibility and tension that the protective cover can be flexed open diagonally from the split heel portion to fit over the top of the hockey skate boot, and then released to substantially conform to the instep, sides, and a portion of the heel in a tensioned fit.
In one embodiment, the shell portion covers the top, sides, ankles and a portion of the heel of the hockey skate boot. In this embodiment, the shell portion extends toward the toe portion of the hockey skate boot to provide greater coverage over the top and sides of the hockey skate boot. In another embodiment, a shorter shell portion covers only a portion of the top, ankles, and heel of the boot.
The preferred material for the protective shell portion is a high grade polycarbonate. The high grade polycarbonate includes at least three primary characteristics that make it advantageous over other materials known in the art of protective covers; strength, impact resistance and elongation. The temperature ranges that a protective covers may be used in may vary significantly and the high grade polycarbonate is superior in performance and maintains the three primary characteristics in wide temperature ranges.
While the initial tensioned fit is secure enough for casual skating, for competition the protective cover can be further secured with supplemental fasteners such as straps across the heel, top and/or sole of the boot. The shell portion of the protective cover may be ribbed to define a gap portion between the shell portion and the hockey skate boot. The ribbed portion and the gap defined thereby, improve the deflection and energy dissipation of the boot cover. The ribbing formed in the protective cover provides significantly increased strength.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on further reading of the detailed description below, in light of the accompanying drawings.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTIONThe protective cover of the present invention provides several advantages. In accordance with one aspect, the high grade polycarbonate has better energy absorption and better impact dissipation qualities in a wide range of temperatures than other materials previously used to provide protection for the player. In addition, the high grade polycarbonate protective cover is more flexible, durable and lighter. The one piece shell portion provides for maximum protection. The one piece shell portion further facilitates ease of use, thus making the protective boot easy to put on and take off.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a protective cover 20 for a hockey skate boot 22 is generally shown.
The subject invention relates to a removable hard-shell, protective cover 20 that fits over a hockey skate boot 22. The hockey skate boot 22 is a conventional hockey skate boot 22 having a boot portion 24 and a skate blade 26 secured to the boot bottom or sole 28 of the boot portion 24. The boot portion 24 is typically made from a hard plastic, composite material or stiffened leather, and has sides 30, a toe portion 32, a top or instep 34, ankles 36, a heel 38, and a bottom or sole 28. The boot 22 is shown with the laces being disposed over the instep 34, but it will be understood that the protective cover 20 can be adapted for boots 22 with other forms of boot closures such as buckles or straps or hook-and-loop closures, and to boots 22 with closures other than over the instep 34.
The protective cover 20 includes a shell portion 40 that fits over the hockey skate boot 22 to cover portions of the instep 34, sides 30, ankles 36 and cup a portion of the heel 38 of the boot 22. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that manufacturing the protective cover 20 to fit over one specific type or style or brand of hockey skate boot 22 will result in the best fit, but that the protective cover 20 can also be manufactured to fit over more than one type or style or brand of hockey skate boot 22, and that its proportions and shape can accordingly vary to accommodate hockey skate boot 22 styles different from that shown in the illustrated example.
In an exemplary embodiment as shown in
The shell portion 40 of both the long and short versions of the protective cover 20 may include a vertically-split heel portion 48. In the preferred embodiment, the shell portion 40 is a one-piece construction. The shell portion 40 has enough flexibility and tension that the protective cover 20 can be flexed open diagonally from the split heel portion 48 to fit over the top 34 of the hockey skate boot 22, and then released to substantially conform to the hockey skate boot 22 in a tensioned fit. Based on the material used to form the protective boot cover 20, the wall thickness of the protective cover 20 may be under ⅛-inch (0.125 inches) making it lighter while retaining the physical characteristics. While the protective cover 20 may be under ⅛-inch (0.125 inches), it may be any thickness deemed necessary to meet the requirements of a specific application.
To put the protective cover 20 on the hockey skate boot 22, the user grasps the edges of split heel portion 48 and spreads them diagonally apart far enough to fit the protective cover 20 diagonally over the instep 34 of the hockey skate boot 22 toward the heel 38 and pushes the entire protective cover 20 down until it seats on the skate boot 22. When the protective cover 20 is in place, the user simply releases the spread-apart split heel portion 48. The diagonal bias molded or formed into the shell portion 40 and especially running along the side portions 42 into the split heel portion 48 causes the shell portion 40 to try to return to its at-rest or relaxed dimensions, which are narrower than the corresponding sides 30 and heel 38 of the hockey skate boot 22. The shell portion 40 accordingly grips the hockey skate boot 22 in a tensioned fit, with the split heel portions 48 wrapping partway around and cupping the rounded heel 38 of the hockey skate boot 22. The shell portion 40 may include a molded-in flex bias that is disposed along a diagonal line from the split heel portion 48 toward the instep portion 44. The molded-in flex bias draws the split heel portion 48 together at the heel 38 of the hockey skate boot 22 to grip the heel 38 of the hockey skate boot 22 when the split heel portion 48 is released.
While the initial tensioned fit is secure enough for casual skating, for competition, the protective cover 20 may be secured with at least one supplemental fastener generally indicated, such as a strap 50 disposed across the heel 38, sole 28, or instep 34 of the boot 22. Webbing type straps 50 with a hook and loop closure are preferred to secure the protective cover 20 to the hockey skate boot 22 during the rigors of a hockey game play and puck/stick impacts. The initial tensioned fit is also secure enough to free up the user's hands for securing the supplemental fastener 50. The strap 50 is preferably constructed of nylon or the like; however, the strap 50 could also be formed of an elastic material to accommodate flex of the hockey skate boot 22 and protective cover 20 that can occur on the “power stroke” portion of the skating motion during a hockey game.
On both the long and short versions of the protective cover 20, the split heel portion 48 may be supplied with a self-adhering hook-and-loop strap 50 of a known type (or equivalent releasable connector such as a lace, cord, buckle, opposing hook-and-loop pieces, etc.) secured to one rear edge of the split heel portion 48 of the protective cover 20 (preferably permanently, for example by being stitched/sewn, with an adhesive or a rivet, or any other method known in the art). The rear edge may be secured to the other rear edge of the split heel portion 48 of the protective cover 20, for example by threading the strap 50 through heel slots or buckles affixed to the rear edges of the protective cover 20 and doubling the strap 50 back on itself in known manner. The heel slots 66 for receiving the strap 52 may be defined within the shell portion 40. According to one aspect, the area adjacent the slots 66 (as well as other slots) is reinforced to eliminate potential weakness.
On the long version of the protective cover 20, as shown in
On the short version of the protective cover 20, as shown in
The shell portion 40 of both the long and short versions of the boot cover 20 may include at least one ribbed portion 54 or ribbing on its outer upper surface or instep portion 44 over the instep 34 of the hockey skate boot 22 and the sides 30 of the cover 20 to improve deflection and dissipation protection. This ribbing 54 may be disposed on multiple surfaces of the cover 20 and defines gap portions 64 between the protective cover 20 and the hockey skate boot 22. On the long version of the protective cover 20, the ribbing 54 may extend continuously from the bottom 46 of one of the side portions 42 of the cover 20, over the upper surface that defines the instep portion 44 of the protective cover 20, and downwardly along the other of the side portions 42 of the protective cover 20 to the bottom 46. On the short version of the protective cover 20, the ribbing 54 may extend continuously over one of the ankle 36 portions, the instep portion 44, and the other of the ankle 36 portions. In addition, the ribs 54 may be disposed in groupings that are not continuous over multiple surfaces of the boot 22. For example, the ribs 54 may be disposed in a first grouping on one of the side portions 42, a second grouping on the other of the side portions 42 and a third grouping over the instep portion 44 of the protective cover 20. The ribbing 54 and gap portions 64 defined thereby, provide for increased strength and better energy dissipation through the multiple surfaces that deflect and dissipate impact energy better than a flat/smooth surface, and thereby better protect the user by transferring less impact energy to the user's foot. It will be understood that more or fewer ribs 54 than shown are possible, and that the number, length, width, shape, and spacing of the ribs 54 can vary from the preferred, illustrated example.
While the protective cover 20 of the present invention may be applied directly to the hockey skate boot 22, the shell portion 40 of the protective cover 20 may be partially backed by a protective padding. The optional padding (not shown) may include at least one protective pad or a plurality of protective pads that are located on the shell portion 40 to perform two functions: to provide an additional air pocket (by slightly suspending the shell portion 40 over the hockey skate boot 22) for impact absorption; and to better allow the hockey skate boot 22 to flex.
The padding may include, but is not limited to, spaced pads that are located on the inner surfaces of the side portions 42 and instep portion 44 of the protective cover 20. The padding is preferably made from a known protective padding material such as, but not limited to, closed cell foam or cushioning gel material, and many of the known types used in protective sports equipment padding should be suitable provided they can be cut or formed with a suitable thickness. The pads can be secured to the inside of shell portion 40 using known means including but not limited to adhesives and mechanical means. Padding of suitable thickness space the protective cover 20 away from the boot portion 24 of the hockey skate boot 22, such that the protective cover 20 “floats” above and around the boot portion 24 of the hockey skate boot 22 with an air gap (except where the padding is in contact with the boot 22). An exemplary thickness for the padding is less than ⅛-inch, although lesser and greater thicknesses can be used depending on the degree of protection and shock absorption desired from the spacing between shell portion 40 and boot 22 and from the padding material itself. The thickness of the different padding can be varied depending on their location on the boot 22.
The padding may include spaced side pads and ankle pads on each of the side portions 42 of the shell portion 40. The side pads and ankle pads on each side portion 42 may be spaced by a reinforced portion of each the side portions 42 of the shell portion 40 that extends diagonally between the split heel portion 48 and the instep portion 44 of the shell portion 40. In addition, the padding may include an instep pad that is disposed on the instep portion 44 of the shell portion 40.
Since the padding is merely optional, no padding is required and the shell portion 40 may fit directly over the hockey skate boot 22 to be placed in direct contact with the hockey skate boot 22. The protective cover 20 may be molded to fit over one specific type or style or brand of hockey skate boot 22, which would will result in the best fit. In addition, the protective cover 20 may also be manufactured to fit over more than one type or style or brand of hockey skate boot 22, and that its proportions and shape can accordingly vary to accommodate hockey skate boot 22 styles different from that shown in the illustrated example.
The preferred material for the protective cover 20 is a relatively hard but flexible plastic such as an impact resistant, a high grade polycarbonate, with high performance specifications in areas of strength, impact resistance and flexibility. The high grade polycarbonate is selected to provide durability, light weight and better impact dissipation for the player wearing the protective cover 20. In the preferred embodiment, the high grade polycarbonate is manufactured by Sabic, more specifically the high grade polycarbonate may be SABIC Innovative Plastics Lexan® EXL1414T PC Copolymer, but the high grade polycarbonate may be any high grade polycarbonate known in the art, such as SABIC Innovative Plastics Lexan® EXL1413T PC Copolymer. The high grade polycarbonate has been field tested to have better durability, energy absorption and impact dissipation performance qualities than other plastic materials such as ABS, PETG, and lower grade polycarbonates.
A high grade polycarbonate is advantageous over a low grade polycarbonate. The higher the grade of the polycarbonate, the tighter the specs and the more consistent the quality of the polycarbonate. With a low grade polycarbonate, having a “wide spec” in engineering terms, one does not get a consistent quality. That is, one batch of a low grade polycarbonate may be at the top of the performance specification range with the next batch being at the bottom of the performance specification range, meaning one batch is good and the next not so good and thus lacks consistency. In addition to consistency, the high grade polycarbonate includes at least three primary characteristics that make it advantageous over other materials known in the art of protective covers 20. The at least three primary characteristics include strength, impact resistance and elongation, i.e., how far will the polycarbonate bend before breaking. The temperature ranges that a protective cover 20 may be used can vary significantly, increasing the need for a material that can maintain the three primary characteristics in the wide range of temperatures. In the range of temperatures a user might encounter, be it in an indoor or outdoor ice rink, the high grade polycarbonate is superior in performance and maintains the three primary characteristics to provide for a higher quality product with optimal protection and performance.
As stated above, the high grade polycarbonate may be a SABIC Innovative Plastics Lexan® EXL1414T PC Copolymer, but the high grade polycarbonate may be any high grade polycarbonate known in the art having similar product specifications as they relate to strength, impact resistance and elongation. The high grade polycarbonate from Sabic has a tensile strength at break between 55.0 MPa (7980 psi) and 59.0 MPa (8560 psi) to indicate the preferred strength. The high grade polycarbonate from SABIC has an elongation at break between 108.5% and 123.9% to indicate the preferred elongation. The high grade polycarbonate from SABIC has a Charpy impact between 6.00 J/cm2 at a thickness of 3.00 mm and temperature of −30.0° C. (28.6 ft-lb/in2 at a thickness of 0.118 inches and temperature of −22.0° F.) and 7.00 J/cm2 at a thickness of 3.00 mm and temperature of 23.0° C. (33.3 ft-lb/in2 at a thickness of 0.118 inches and temperature of 73.4° F.) to indicate the preferred impact resistance. The high grade polycarbonate is selected to provide durability, light weight and better impact dissipation over materials previously used in the art. The high grade polycarbonate of the present invention is a transparent injection molding grade. The high grade polycarbonate offers extreme low temperature (−40° C.) ductility in combination with medium flow characteristics and excellent processability. Again, the high grade polycarbonate from Sabic is merely exemplary, and any high grade polycarbonate having similar product characteristics may be used.
The protective cover 20 may be formed in multiple pieces and then joined by mechanical or adhesive or welding type means, but a one-piece molded construction is preferred. A one piece shell portion 40, with no gaps between pieces, as would be true of multiple piece covers as well, provides for maximum protection. The one piece shell portion 40 is also intended to facilitate ease of use, thus making the protective cover 20 easy to put on and take off. Extensive field testing at the highest levels of professional hockey has shown that the ribbed, one piece shell portion 40 is the most protective and durable.
The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A protective cover for a hockey skate boot having a top, sides extending downward from the top to a sole, ankles and a heel, the protective cover comprising;
- a shell portion having side portions for covering portions of at least one of the ankles and sides of the hockey skate boot, said side portions connected by an instep portion for placement over the top of the hockey skate boot; and
- wherein said shell portion is molded from a high grade polycarbonate for providing for a light weight protective cover with improved durability and impact dissipation.
2. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said high grade polycarbonate has a tensile strength at break between 55.0 MPa and 59.0 MPa for indicating the strength of said shell portion.
3. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said high grade polycarbonate has an elongation at break between 108.5% and 123.9% for indicating the elongation of said shell portion.
4. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said high grade polycarbonate has a Charpy impact between 6.0 J/cm2 and 7.0 J/cm2 for indicating the impact resistance of said shell portion.
5. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said high grade polycarbonate is SABIC Innovative Plastics Lexan® EXL1414T PC Copolymer.
6. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shell portion has a thickness less than 0.125 inches.
7. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shell portion is a one-piece molded shell portion.
8. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shell portion includes a plurality of ribbed portions for providing dissipation protection and for improving deflection of said shell portion.
9. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 further including a split heel portion and wherein said shell portion is adapted to partially wrap around opposite sides of the heel portion of the hockey skate boot and said split heel portion is capable of being flexed apart by a user to fit said shell portion diagonally over said instep portion of the hockey skate boot.
10. The protective cover as set forth in claim 9 further including at least one supplemental fastener disposed on said split heel portion for securing said shell portion to the hockey skate boot at said split heel portion.
11. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 further including at least one fastener for securing said shell portion to the hockey skate boot.
12. The protective cover as set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one fastener is a strap.
13. The protective cover as set forth in claim 11 further including a hockey skate boot for receiving said shell portion, said hockey skate boot having a top, sides extending downward from said top to a sole, ankles and a heel and wherein said at least one fastener is disposed over said heel for securing said shell portion to said hockey skate boot.
14. The protective cover as set forth in claim 1 further including a hockey skate boot for receiving said shell portion, said hockey skate boot having a top, sides extending downward from said top to a sole, ankles, a toe portion, and a heel and wherein said side portions of said shell portion covers said ankles of said hockey skate boot and said instep portion of said shell portion covers a portion of said top of said hockey skate boot.
15. The protective cover as set forth in claim 14 further including an instep slot defined in said instep portion of said shell portion and wherein said instep slot receives a supplemental fastener for securing said shell portion to said hockey skate boot at said instep portion.
16. The protective cover as set forth in claim 14 wherein said side portions of said shell portion further covers said sides of said hockey skate boot and said instep portion of said shell portion extends toward said toe portion of said hockey skate boot for covering a larger portion of said top of said hockey skate boot.
17. The protective cover as set forth in claim 16 wherein said at least one fastener is disposed under said sole for securing said shell portion to said hockey skate boot.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 20, 2012
Applicant: RESPOND, INC. (Gaylord, MI)
Inventor: Frank McClelland (Gaylord, MI)
Application Number: 13/495,775
International Classification: A43B 23/00 (20060101); A43B 5/16 (20060101);
