Abstract: An ice skate blade assembly for a skate, includes a blade holder that releasably receives an ice skate blade therein. The blade has first and second hooks projecting upwardly from respective first and second ends of the blade. The holder has a bridge portion with a groove to receive the main portion of the blade therein and first and second pedestals at either end of the bridge portion with cavities to receive the first and second hooks therein. An actuator mounted within the second pedestal includes a hook-receiving portion slidably movable along a curved sliding path between one end portion parallel to the longitudinal axis of the assembly in a locked position retaining the second hook thereon and an opposing released position. The actuator is recessed into the pedestal and includes a tool receiving aperture so that a tool is used to displace the actuator.

Abstract: A customizable hockey skate includes a removable runner-blade assembly such that a runner-blade assembly having a first stiffness may be readily replaced with a runner-blade assembly having a second stiffness. The runner-blade assembly may be removably attached to first and second cups that are optionally removably attached to the sole of a skate boot. The first and second cups optionally are removably attachable at multiple lateral locations on the sole. Mounting plates to which the first and second cups are mounted may be included to provide damping interfaces between the first and second cups and the boot sole. The first and second cups may be separately removable from the sole such that the first cup may be replaced with a third cup (for example, a cup having a different stiffness than the first cup) without removal of the second cup.

Abstract: A customizable hockey skate includes a removable runner-blade assembly such that a runner-blade assembly having a first stiffness may be readily replaced with a runner-blade assembly having a second stiffness. The runner-blade assembly may be removably attached to first and second cups that are optionally removably attached to the sole of a skate boot. The first and second cups optionally are removably attachable at multiple lateral locations on the sole. Mounting plates to which the first and second cups are mounted may be included to provide damping interfaces between the first and second cups and the boot sole. The first and second cups may be separately removable from the sole such that the first cup may be replaced with a third cup (for example, a cup having a different stiffness than the first cup) without removal of the second cup.

Abstract: A replaceable blade system for ice skates is provided with a rotary retention latch located within an enclosed chamber of the holder of the skate. The rotary retention latch is configured with a release lever that is adapted to be accessed through an aesthetic aperture in the holder.

Abstract: A blade holder for holding an ice skate blade and for attachment to a skate boot. The blade holder comprises a body having a top portion for attachment to a skate boot and a bottom portion for receiving an ice skate blade. The body is at least partly made of clear material and defines a cavity. The blade holder also comprises a graphical element inside the cavity and visible through the clear material. An ice skate comprising such a blade holder and a method of customizing the appearance of the blade holder are also provided.

Abstract: A blade for a skate includes a holder, a runner, and an attachment device. The holder includes a front section and a rear section where at least one of the front section and the rear section includes at least two, separate hollow regions and an aperture. The aperture extends through the holder between the at least two, separate hollow regions. The attachment device extends through a substantially solid portion of the holder between the two, separate hollow regions into the aperture and secures the runner to the holder. At least a portion of the attachment device used to secure the runner to the holder is accessible in the aperture.

Abstract: A method of customizing a blade holder for an ice skate, comprising: (a) providing to a customer a blade holder body being at least partly made of a clear material and comprising a front pedestal with a front inner surface, a rear pedestal with a rear inner surface and a bridge portion interconnecting said front and rear pedestals, the front and rear inner surfaces defining respective front and rear cavities; (b) providing to the customer a plurality of graphical elements; (c) receiving from the customer an indication of a certain graphical element selected from the plurality of graphical elements; and (d) applying the selected graphical element to one of the front and rear inner surfaces such that the selected graphical element is visible through the clear material.

Abstract: An ice skate chassis is configured so that a user can adjust the pitch of the skate chassis between a plurality of discrete pitch positions. The pitch is adjusted by locking the ice blade at a desired angle relative to a bladeholder of the chassis. The blade can be positively locked at a plurality of discrete, repeatable angle positions so that the angle will not slip or creep during skating.

Abstract: A method of customizing a blade holder for an ice skate, comprising: (a) providing to a customer a blade holder body being at least partly made of a clear material and comprising a front pedestal with a front inner surface, a rear pedestal with a rear inner surface and a bridge portion interconnecting said front and rear pedestals, the front and rear inner surfaces defining respective front and rear cavities; (b) providing to the customer a plurality of graphical elements; (c) receiving from the customer an indication of a certain graphical element selected from the plurality of graphical elements; and (d) providing one of the front and rear cavities with the selected graphical element such that the selected graphical element is visible through the clear material.

Abstract: A skate that includes a boot fixed between an insole and an outsole. The insole has at least one retainer projecting through an aperture in the outsole. The retainer extends into an interior chamber formed in a blade holder. An adapter is mounted in a recess in the blade and extends to an opposite end received in the retainer. A fastener is extendable through aligned bores in the holder, the adapter and the retainer to fixedly connect the blade and the holder and the insole of the boot.

Abstract: An ice skate chassis is configured so that a user can adjust the pitch of the skate chassis between a plurality of discrete pitch positions. The pitch is adjusted by locking the ice blade at a desired angle relative to a bladeholder of the chassis. The blade can be positively locked at a plurality of discrete, repeatable angle positions so that the angle will not slip or creep during skating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a unitary runner for an ice skate (such as a figure skate) and to a method for manufacturing the unitary runner including an extrusion step.

Abstract: A skate that includes a boot fixed between an insole and an outsole. The insole has a pair of retainers projecting through apertures in the outsole for receiving one end of a pair of legs projecting from a blade runner. The retainers extend through interior chambers formed in a blade holder, with the interior chambers slidably receiving the blade legs. A fastening pin is extendable through the aligned bores in the holder, the blade legs and the retainers to fixedly connect the blade, the holder and the insole. Various aspects of the outsole and holder are formed with mating projections and recesses to resist lateral movement of the holder relative to the outsole and the boot.

Abstract: An ice skate assembly with a provision for the replacement of ice skate runners. The ice skate assembly includes a molded runner holder having a pair of side walls, the side walls extending downwards and forming a groove therebetween where a runner is received, a recess and a bore suitable for receiving a fastener. The ice skate runner is fastened to the runner holder by a runner projection suitable to be engaged with the recess on the molded runner holder and a fastener passing transversely through the runner and through the bore of the molded runner holder. The fastener is adapted to exert a force on the ice skate runner such that the hooked portion is engaged on the recess and the runner is secured to the runner holder. The force exerted on the ice skate runner comprises a generally longitudinal component, a generally upward component and a generally transversal component.

Abstract: An elongate metal body, for instance an aluminium rod, with a chosen cross-sectional form manufactured by extrusion. It is a first object of the invention to make an elongate metal body stiffer and stronger without this entailing an increase in weight. In respect of this objective the metal body according to the invention has the feature that the body has at least one cavity extending at least to a considerable degree in longitudinal direction, in which cavity is received a pre-manufactured elongate reinforcing rod, of which at least the ends are coupled to the body in force-transmitting manner.

Abstract: A skate that includes a boot fixed between an insole and an outsole. The insole has a pair of retainers projecting through apertures in the outsole for receiving one end of a pair of legs projecting from a blade runner. The retainers extend through interior chambers formed in a blade holder, with the interior chambers slidably receiving the blade legs. Fasteners are extendable through the aligned bores in the holder, the blade legs and the retainers to fixedly connect the blade, the holder and the insole. Various aspects of the outsole and holder are formed with mating projections and recesses to resist lateral movement of the holder relative to the outsole and the boot.