CA2324724C - Ice skate with suspension - Google Patents
Ice skate with suspension Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2324724C CA2324724C CA 2324724 CA2324724A CA2324724C CA 2324724 C CA2324724 C CA 2324724C CA 2324724 CA2324724 CA 2324724 CA 2324724 A CA2324724 A CA 2324724A CA 2324724 C CA2324724 C CA 2324724C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- blade
- housing
- blade housing
- groove
- spring
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
- A63C1/00—Skates
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/18—Resilient soles
- A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
- A43B13/182—Helicoidal springs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
- A43B5/16—Skating boots
- A43B5/1641—Skating boots characterised by the sole ; characterised by the attachment of the skate
- A43B5/1658—Skating boots characterised by the sole ; characterised by the attachment of the skate provided with resilient means in the sole or between the chassis and the sole
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
Disclosed is to an improved ice skate with suspension between the skate boot and the blade in a blade runner/holder housing in order to utilize kinetic energy generated during various skating motions to increase the speed of such skating motions and as well to provide more comfort to the wearer of the skates. The suspension is intended to be accomplished with either coil, or leaf type springs mounted between the bottom of the skate boot and the blade runner/holder and the suspension is to be enclosed in the blade runner/holder housing so as to protect the suspension assembly from damage and to provide for a safe overall skate construction.
Description
ICE SKATE WITH SUSPENSION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to ice skates and more particularly to ice skates with a suspension for the blade of the skates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Spring loaded blades in association with skates have conceptionally been known since at least as early as 1862, Ansley, U.S. patent No. 36,595.
U.S. patent No. 4,993,725, February 19, 1991 to BARNES ET AL discloses a vertical spring assembly for a skate blade.
Nevertheless, generally all ice skates currently in use, including pleasure skates, hockey skates, figure skates and speed skates are very rigid in construction in respect of the connection between the skate boot and blade runner/holder housing, with the exception of the "Clap" or "Slap" style speed skates, which incorporate a spring-hinged mechanism to essentially permit the skate blade to remain in contact with the ice surface for a longer duration, resulting in increased skating speed. The spring component of this unique speed skate is utilized to facilitate the return of the blade runner/holder to the heel of the skater's boot at the completion of each full stride, but it does not provide any suspension between the boot and the blade runner/holder housing.
It would be advantageous to provide an improved suspension system between the blade runner/holder housing for ice skates and the boot portion of the skate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention relates to an improved ice skate with suspension between the skate boot and the blade in a blade runner/holder housing in order to utilize kinetic energy generated during various skating motions (such as, but not limited to turning and the initial "push off" portion of the skater's stride) to increase the speed of such skating motions, to reduce pressure and tension which can lead to groin, knee, hip flexors and extensor injuries that are often caused by overuse of extension and as well to provide more comfort to the wearer of the skates. The suspension is intended to be accomplished with either coil, or leaf type springs mounted between the bottom of the skate boot and the blade runner/holder housing. The suspension is preferably enclosed in the blade runner/holder housing so as to protect the suspension assembly from damage and to provide for a safe overall skate construction in order to comply with the current rules for equipment imposed by the National Hockey League, (NHL), the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) and other skating organizations.
The invention in one broad aspect provides an ice skate having a boot portion with an outer bottom surface, a blade housing and a blade, the blade housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper blade housing portion has means for securement of the blade housing to the boot bottom surface. The lower blade housing portion has an elongate groove substantially the length of the lower blade housing portion, which groove is configured and sized to permit limited vertical reciprocal movement of an upper portion of the blade within the groove in the direction of the boot. The blade housing has longitudinally spaced, substantially vertical bore means extending upwardly from the groove, the blade housing having stop means surrounding each bore means. Blade securing means is fastened to the blade and has an annular portion extending upwardly from the blade and reciprocal within each bore means. Means are secured to an upper end of each annular portion and is in cooperation with the blade housing stop means limiting outward movement of said blade within the groove.
Spring means is within the blade housing and associated with the blade to normally force the blade outwardly and wherein, inward movement of the upper portion of the blade within the groove is against the force of the spring means. The spring means may comprise a compression coil spring within well means in the blade housing or may comprise a leaf spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side view of a skate according to a first embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective schematic view of the blade runner/holder housing and blade of the first embodiment of the invention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to ice skates and more particularly to ice skates with a suspension for the blade of the skates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Spring loaded blades in association with skates have conceptionally been known since at least as early as 1862, Ansley, U.S. patent No. 36,595.
U.S. patent No. 4,993,725, February 19, 1991 to BARNES ET AL discloses a vertical spring assembly for a skate blade.
Nevertheless, generally all ice skates currently in use, including pleasure skates, hockey skates, figure skates and speed skates are very rigid in construction in respect of the connection between the skate boot and blade runner/holder housing, with the exception of the "Clap" or "Slap" style speed skates, which incorporate a spring-hinged mechanism to essentially permit the skate blade to remain in contact with the ice surface for a longer duration, resulting in increased skating speed. The spring component of this unique speed skate is utilized to facilitate the return of the blade runner/holder to the heel of the skater's boot at the completion of each full stride, but it does not provide any suspension between the boot and the blade runner/holder housing.
It would be advantageous to provide an improved suspension system between the blade runner/holder housing for ice skates and the boot portion of the skate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention relates to an improved ice skate with suspension between the skate boot and the blade in a blade runner/holder housing in order to utilize kinetic energy generated during various skating motions (such as, but not limited to turning and the initial "push off" portion of the skater's stride) to increase the speed of such skating motions, to reduce pressure and tension which can lead to groin, knee, hip flexors and extensor injuries that are often caused by overuse of extension and as well to provide more comfort to the wearer of the skates. The suspension is intended to be accomplished with either coil, or leaf type springs mounted between the bottom of the skate boot and the blade runner/holder housing. The suspension is preferably enclosed in the blade runner/holder housing so as to protect the suspension assembly from damage and to provide for a safe overall skate construction in order to comply with the current rules for equipment imposed by the National Hockey League, (NHL), the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) and other skating organizations.
The invention in one broad aspect provides an ice skate having a boot portion with an outer bottom surface, a blade housing and a blade, the blade housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper blade housing portion has means for securement of the blade housing to the boot bottom surface. The lower blade housing portion has an elongate groove substantially the length of the lower blade housing portion, which groove is configured and sized to permit limited vertical reciprocal movement of an upper portion of the blade within the groove in the direction of the boot. The blade housing has longitudinally spaced, substantially vertical bore means extending upwardly from the groove, the blade housing having stop means surrounding each bore means. Blade securing means is fastened to the blade and has an annular portion extending upwardly from the blade and reciprocal within each bore means. Means are secured to an upper end of each annular portion and is in cooperation with the blade housing stop means limiting outward movement of said blade within the groove.
Spring means is within the blade housing and associated with the blade to normally force the blade outwardly and wherein, inward movement of the upper portion of the blade within the groove is against the force of the spring means. The spring means may comprise a compression coil spring within well means in the blade housing or may comprise a leaf spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side view of a skate according to a first embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective schematic view of the blade runner/holder housing and blade of the first embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Turning to Figure 1 and Figure 2, there are shown a skate 10 with boot 12 having a bottom 16, blade runner/holder housing 20 and blade 24. In the Figure 1 embodiment, there is shown the use of coil springs 30, 32 in the blade runner/holder housing 20. The embodiment of Figure 2 illustrates the use of a leaf spring 40 in the blade runner/holder housing 20.
A minimum of two (2) coil springs 30, 32 or one (1) leaf spring 40 would be mounted between the boot bottom 16 and the blade 24 in the blade runner/holder housing 20, to permit the skate blade 24 to move specifically only vertically up and down, either independently at each end of the skate, or uniformly, depending on the forces applied and the angles of such forces, as it is compressed by the skater's weight and force and released as the skate lifts off the ice surface. The blade runner/holder housing 20 is to be made of strong injection moulded plastic such as "Zytel", or other similar plastics being used in present day runner/blade housings, or any other suitably strong material which can be moulded or formed to create a strong, but light housing.
The compression strength of the coil spring(s) 30, 32 or leaf spring 40 would be matched to a certain weight range and therefore a different spring(s) would be used for each weight range. If more than one (1) spring is used, as in the case of coil springs 30, 32, the compression strength of each spring used in each blade runner/holder housing 20 would be equal, or identical springs would be utilized.
The blade 24 is held in place horizontally along its length by a channel of corresponding width in the blade runner/holder housing 20, with very tight tolerances to negate any side to side or bending movement of the blade.
In a prototype of my invention, I employed a modified holder and blade, (relating to the TUUK blade), as shown in Figure 3 of U.S. patent No.
4,074,909 and reproduced as Figure 3 herein but with revised reference numerals. In my prototype, groove 50 is extended vertically upwards for the entire length of the thermoplastic blade runner/holder housing 20 in order for blade 24 to move up and down in the housing 20. Bolts 54 which, in my prototype, were larger and longer in length than those illustrated in Figure 3 were welded to blade 24 and are reciprocal in housing bores 50. Larger nuts 56 were threaded down on bolts 54 to limit the downward travelling distance of blade within groove 50. High compression coil springs 32 were mounted over each of the bolts 54 within housing wells 58 such that the springs 32 were held in place at the bottom by the housing 20 about bores 50 for bolts 54 and at the top by the underside of the boot, (not shown in Figure 3). The upward travel of the blade is controlled by the compression strength of the coil springs 32.
It will be appreciated that a modified design can accommodate a leaf spring rather than coil springs. As schematically noted in Figure 2, with bolts 70 welded to blade 24 and extending upwardly through groove 72, internal bores 74 in housing 20, which housing has wells similar to those shown in Figure 3.
Leaf spring 40 has apertures through which bolts 70 extend and is held between the top 80 of the groove 72 and the top of blade 24.
This invention is intended for adaptation in all classifications of skating, including pleasure, hockey, figure and speed skating. The construction of this invention can be used in place of the spring-hinged construction in speed skates. The type of blade, its length and construction, would be matched to the classification of skating and the blade runner/holder housing and suspension assembly would be altered accordingly to house the appropriate blade. In the case of speed skating for example, the blade would be of the same length used in present day speed skates.
When a downward force is applied to the skate blade, kinetic energy is stored and the kinetic energy is released as each skate is lifted off the ice. The skates of this invention facilitate faster skating motions utilizing kinetic energy, reduce stress/strain/pressure on legs and associated joints (and thereby may reduce muscle/joint pain and injuries) and generally provide a more comfortable skate, somewhat akin to the feeling of driving in a car with shock absorbers versus in one without shock absorbers.
Turning to Figure 1 and Figure 2, there are shown a skate 10 with boot 12 having a bottom 16, blade runner/holder housing 20 and blade 24. In the Figure 1 embodiment, there is shown the use of coil springs 30, 32 in the blade runner/holder housing 20. The embodiment of Figure 2 illustrates the use of a leaf spring 40 in the blade runner/holder housing 20.
A minimum of two (2) coil springs 30, 32 or one (1) leaf spring 40 would be mounted between the boot bottom 16 and the blade 24 in the blade runner/holder housing 20, to permit the skate blade 24 to move specifically only vertically up and down, either independently at each end of the skate, or uniformly, depending on the forces applied and the angles of such forces, as it is compressed by the skater's weight and force and released as the skate lifts off the ice surface. The blade runner/holder housing 20 is to be made of strong injection moulded plastic such as "Zytel", or other similar plastics being used in present day runner/blade housings, or any other suitably strong material which can be moulded or formed to create a strong, but light housing.
The compression strength of the coil spring(s) 30, 32 or leaf spring 40 would be matched to a certain weight range and therefore a different spring(s) would be used for each weight range. If more than one (1) spring is used, as in the case of coil springs 30, 32, the compression strength of each spring used in each blade runner/holder housing 20 would be equal, or identical springs would be utilized.
The blade 24 is held in place horizontally along its length by a channel of corresponding width in the blade runner/holder housing 20, with very tight tolerances to negate any side to side or bending movement of the blade.
In a prototype of my invention, I employed a modified holder and blade, (relating to the TUUK blade), as shown in Figure 3 of U.S. patent No.
4,074,909 and reproduced as Figure 3 herein but with revised reference numerals. In my prototype, groove 50 is extended vertically upwards for the entire length of the thermoplastic blade runner/holder housing 20 in order for blade 24 to move up and down in the housing 20. Bolts 54 which, in my prototype, were larger and longer in length than those illustrated in Figure 3 were welded to blade 24 and are reciprocal in housing bores 50. Larger nuts 56 were threaded down on bolts 54 to limit the downward travelling distance of blade within groove 50. High compression coil springs 32 were mounted over each of the bolts 54 within housing wells 58 such that the springs 32 were held in place at the bottom by the housing 20 about bores 50 for bolts 54 and at the top by the underside of the boot, (not shown in Figure 3). The upward travel of the blade is controlled by the compression strength of the coil springs 32.
It will be appreciated that a modified design can accommodate a leaf spring rather than coil springs. As schematically noted in Figure 2, with bolts 70 welded to blade 24 and extending upwardly through groove 72, internal bores 74 in housing 20, which housing has wells similar to those shown in Figure 3.
Leaf spring 40 has apertures through which bolts 70 extend and is held between the top 80 of the groove 72 and the top of blade 24.
This invention is intended for adaptation in all classifications of skating, including pleasure, hockey, figure and speed skating. The construction of this invention can be used in place of the spring-hinged construction in speed skates. The type of blade, its length and construction, would be matched to the classification of skating and the blade runner/holder housing and suspension assembly would be altered accordingly to house the appropriate blade. In the case of speed skating for example, the blade would be of the same length used in present day speed skates.
When a downward force is applied to the skate blade, kinetic energy is stored and the kinetic energy is released as each skate is lifted off the ice. The skates of this invention facilitate faster skating motions utilizing kinetic energy, reduce stress/strain/pressure on legs and associated joints (and thereby may reduce muscle/joint pain and injuries) and generally provide a more comfortable skate, somewhat akin to the feeling of driving in a car with shock absorbers versus in one without shock absorbers.
Claims (3)
1. An ice skate having a boot portion with an outer bottom surface, a blade housing and a blade, said blade housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper blade housing portion having means for securement of said blade housing to said boot bottom surface, said lower blade housing portion having an elongate groove substantially the length of said lower blade housing portion, which groove is configured and sized to permit limited vertical reciprocal movement of an upper portion of said blade within said groove in the direction of said boot;
said blade housing having longitudinally spaced, substantially vertical bore means extending upwardly from said groove, said blade housing having stop means surrounding each said bore means;
blade securing means fastened to said blade and having an annular portion extending upwardly from said blade and reciprocal within each said bore means;
means secured to an upper end of each said annular portion and in cooperation with said blade housing stop means limiting outward movement of said blade within said groove; and spring means within said blade housing and associated with said blade to normally force said blade outwardly and wherein, inward movement of the upper portion of said blade within said groove is against the force of said spring means.
said blade housing having longitudinally spaced, substantially vertical bore means extending upwardly from said groove, said blade housing having stop means surrounding each said bore means;
blade securing means fastened to said blade and having an annular portion extending upwardly from said blade and reciprocal within each said bore means;
means secured to an upper end of each said annular portion and in cooperation with said blade housing stop means limiting outward movement of said blade within said groove; and spring means within said blade housing and associated with said blade to normally force said blade outwardly and wherein, inward movement of the upper portion of said blade within said groove is against the force of said spring means.
2. The ice skate of claim 1 wherein said blade housing further includes well means surrounding said bore means and said spring means comprises a compression coil spring within each well means.
3. The ice skate of claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2324724 CA2324724C (en) | 2000-10-27 | 2000-10-27 | Ice skate with suspension |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2324724 CA2324724C (en) | 2000-10-27 | 2000-10-27 | Ice skate with suspension |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2324724A1 CA2324724A1 (en) | 2002-04-27 |
| CA2324724C true CA2324724C (en) | 2009-02-10 |
Family
ID=4167503
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2324724 Expired - Fee Related CA2324724C (en) | 2000-10-27 | 2000-10-27 | Ice skate with suspension |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2324724C (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2477725B (en) * | 2010-02-10 | 2013-05-08 | Canskate Designs Ltd | Blade member |
| US9943748B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2018-04-17 | Bladetech Hockey Inc. | Skate blade system with dynamic movement |
| CN103768777B (en) * | 2014-01-28 | 2016-08-17 | 吉林体育学院 | Figure skating elastic force skates |
| CN108939518B (en) * | 2018-10-15 | 2023-12-19 | 河南师范大学 | Ice skate base capable of automatically withdrawing ice skates when losing balance |
-
2000
- 2000-10-27 CA CA 2324724 patent/CA2324724C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2324724A1 (en) | 2002-04-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20201027 |