EP3445460A1

EP3445460A1 - A skate guard for protecting the blade of a skate

Info

Publication number: EP3445460A1
Application number: EP17786255.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pierre CONNYSSON
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-22
Filing date: 2017-04-21
Publication date: 2019-02-27
Also published as: WO2017184069A1; SE1650549A1; SE539870C2; EP3445460A4

Abstract

The present invention relates to a skate guard (100) for protecting the blade of a skate. The skate guard (100) comprises: a groove (102) extending along a longitudinal direction (104) of the skate guard (100), the groove (102) being suitable for receiving the blade, a base (200), and a cross-sectional part (106), wherein the cross-sectional part (106) has a stable state in which: the base (200) is arranged to be in contact with a horizontal surface (107) and wherein the cross-sectional part (106) has an unstable state in which a point of support (402), in contact with the horizontal surface (107), and a center of gravity (108, 404) of the skate guard (100) is positioned on a same side as the base relative to a defining plane (408), wherein the skate guard (100) is arranged to return to the stable state in event of the skate guard (100) being in the unstable state.

Description

A SKATE GUARD FOR PROTECTING THE BLADE OF A SKATE

Technical field

The present invention relates to a skate guard for protecting a blade of a skate.

Background

A skate guard is used to protect the blade of an ice skate. It is in particular used to protect the blade when a wearer of the ice skate walks on asphalt, cement or other non-ice surfaces. The skate guard furthermore makes wearing the ice skate safer for the user when not being on the ice.

A skate guard can provide a more stable walking foundation than would otherwise be possible with only the thin blade of the skate. However, putting on the skate guard can be cumbersome, especially when wearing heavy hockey gear.

There are skate guards that offer step-in functions allowing the user to put on the skate guard with relative ease and without using their hands.

However, it would be desirable to have skate guards that are even easier to use. Summary of the invention

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a skate guard for protecting a blade of a skate that is easy to put on and easy to use.

According to a first aspect a skate guard for protecting the blade of a skate is provided. The skate guard comprises: a groove extending along a longitudinal direction of the skate guard, the groove being suitable for receiving the blade, a base, and a cross-sectional part, which is a part defined by a cross-section of the skate guard in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, said cross-sectional part having a boundary defining an outer shape of the skate guard, which outer shape is arranged to make contact with a horizontal surface, when the skate guard is arranged on the horizontal surface, wherein said boundary comprises: a righting edge being separate from the base and running along substantially the whole boundary of the cross-sectional part, and wherein the cross-sectional part has a stable state in which: the base is arranged to be in contact with a horizontal surface and the skate guard presents the groove in an upright position to receive the blade, and wherein the cross-sectional part has an unstable state in which: a point of support, the point of support being part of the righting edge, is in contact with the horizontal surface, and a center of gravity of the skate guard positioned on a same side as a majority of the base relative to a defining plane defined by a normal line to the surface and a vector parallel to the longitudinal direction, wherein the normal line and the vector are originating from the point of support, and further wherein the skate guard is arranged to return to the stable state in event of the skate guard being in the unstable state.

According to another aspect of the invention, a self-righting skate guard is provided.

The groove is suitable for receiving the blade. By extending in a longitudinal direction it is understood that the groove runs along the body of the skate guard. However, the groove need not be parallel to the body of the skate guard, while still being extended in a longitudinal direction.

The base should be considered to be part of the underside of the skate guard when the skate guard is in the stable state.

The cross-sectional part should be construed to be a part of the skate guard that has a certain thickness in the longitudinal direction.

When the skate guard is arranged with the cross-sectional part in the stable state it maintains the stable position unless an external force is exerted on the skate guard.

There may be a part of the boundary in the transition from base to righting edge which is part of the boundary but not a righting edge.

When the skate guard is arranged in the unstable state, the skate guard is biased to change its position towards the stable state by gravity acting on the skate guard for righting of the skate guard. Furthermore, while being in the unstable state, a point of support is in touch with the horizontal surface. The point of support is meant to be understood as the contact point between the righting edge and the horizontal surface. It should also be understood that an area, not only a single point of support may be in contact with the horizontal surface.

The righting edge is not a part of the base and runs along substantially the whole boundary of the cross-sectional part. Substantially is here meant to be understood as almost the whole boundary of the cross-sectional part, or at least a majority of the boundary of the cross-sectional part. When a point of support on the righting edge is in contact with the surface, the skate guard will be righted. Since the righting edge runs along substantially the whole boundary, the skate guard will be righted regardless of which part of the boundary is arranged in contact with the surface.

The center of gravity being on the same side of the plane as a majority the base implies that gravity will act on the skate guard to rotate the skate guard until the base is in contact with the surface.

Returning to a stable state from an unstable state may be performed by the skate guard rolling or flipping due to the position of the center of gravity relative to the base.

By providing a self righting skate guard, a user may more easily put on the skate guard. A skate guard that falls to its side returns to an upright position without interaction by the user. A skate guard that always presents the groove upwards enables the user to insert the blade of a skate into the groove without having to bend down to put the skate guard in a receivable position. Normally a user would have to use a hockey stick or bend down to adjust the skate guard, which for an ice-hockey player wearing heavy gear is a cumbersome task, especially if the player is a junior. Thanks to the skate guard being self-righting, the user may even just drop the guard on ground to let the skate guard assume correct position by self-righting. Thereafter, the user may step into the skate guard.

In one embodiment, the cross-sectional part is positioned on a longitudinal end of the skate guard. The cross-section of the skate guard at the longitudinal end may thus protrude in relation to a cross-section of the groove such that when the cross-sectional part at the longitudinal end is in an unstable state, the cross-section at the groove will not be in contact with the surface.

The cross-sectional part may be spatially separated from the groove. By having the cross-sectional part on one side of the skate guard, the groove is enabled to receive the blade of a skate without the potential disturbance of a cross-sectional part.

In another embodiment, the base is a part of at least a cross-sectional part.

A cross-sectional part that comprises the base may be easier to manufacture, since the functionality of the self righting skate guard may be concentrated to one part.

In yet another embodiment, the skate guard comprises a plurality of cross-sectional parts.

A plurality of cross-sectional part may enhance the self righting functionality of the skate guard. The cross-sectional part may for example be positioned on both ends of the skate guard. By having the groove position in between the two cross sectional parts, the groove is well positioned to receive the blade while the cross sectional parts ensures that the skate guard returns to a stable state in the case of being in an unstable case.

In another embodiment, an upper part of the righting edge, which is farthest from the horizontal surface in the stable state, is curved.

By having the upper part of the righting edge curved the skate guard will be less inclined to stay in an upside-down position. A curve shaped top of the cross-sectional part will in other words force the skate guard to roll towards the stable state in either lateral direction of the body of the skate guard.

In yet another embodiment, the skate guard comprises a first and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a denser material than the second portion.

Having materials of different densities allows an accurate control of the position of center of gravity of the skate guard without implying strict requirements of the design shape of the skate guard. In an embodiment, the first portion is positioned closer to the base than the second portion.

By having a denser material lower in the skate guard, the center of gravity may be positioned closer to the base. The skate guard is arranged to have the center of gravity on the same side as the base while being in the unstable state. A self-righting skate guard with a center of gravity close to the may be relatively easy to design to achieve the self-righting effect , in comparison to a skate guard having the center of gravity positioned further away from the base.

In another embodiment, the skate guard is symmetrical around a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

A symmetrical skate guard may be easier to manufacture. The symmetry also enables the user to place the blade in the groove from both directions.

In yet another embodiment, the groove comprises springs arranged to maintain a blade in position in the groove.

The springs may ensure that the blade is steadily arranged in the groove. The springs may also ensure that the skate guard does not fall of while being used.

A further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Hence, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described as such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to appended drawings showing embodiments of the invention. The figures should not be considered limiting the invention to the specific embodiment; instead they are used for explaining and understanding the invention.

As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures of embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a skate guard.

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section of a cross-sectional part.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross section of a cross-sectional part in a stable state.

Fig. 4 illustrates a cross section of a cross-sectional part in an unstable state.

Fig. 5 a-b illustrates cross sections of cross-sectional parts in unstable states.

Fig. 6 a-b illustrates non-limiting embodiments of the skate guard.

Detailed description

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person. Fig.1 illustrates a skate guard 100. The skate guard 100 comprises a groove 102. The groove 102 is adapted to receive the blade of a skate. The length and depth of the groove 102 may vary to fit different types of skates. The positioning of the groove 102, both in a lateral and longitudinal direction of the skate guard 100, may also vary. The groove 102 may extend in a longitudinal direction 104.

The groove 102 may comprise at least a spring in order to maintain the blade in position in the groove 102. The spring may also act to prevent the skate guard 100 from falling off unless a certain force is applied to the skate guard 100.

The skate guard 100 is self righting. This implies that the skate guard 100 will assume a position where the groove 102 is turned up when the skate guard 100 is arranged on a horizontal surface 107, or a essentially horizontal surface 107.

The skate guard 100 may comprise a center of gravity 108. The center of gravity may be positioned anywhere in skate guard 100. The center of gravity may be positioned both on and inside a body of the skate guard 100. The shape of the skate guard 100 may even be such that the center of gravity 108 is completely outside the body of the skate guard 100.

The skate guard 100 may further comprise a cross-sectional part 106.

The cross-sectional part 106 may be made of various materials. The cross- sectional part 106 may be made of wood. The cross-sectional part 106 may also be made of a polymer. The cross-sectional part 106 may be positioned anywhere along the body of the skate guard 100.

Figure 2 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a cross-sectional part

106. The cross-sectional part 106 comprises a boundary 202. The boundary 202 defines the outer shape 204 of the body of the skate guard 100 at the cross-sectional part 106, which is a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 104 of the skate guard 100. A righting edge 206 is a part of the boundary 202. The righting edge is separated from a base 200. The base 200 may be part of the boundary 202.

The cross-sectional part 106 may be of any form and shape as long as a self-righting effect as described below is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the righting edge 206 is curved. In another embodiment a part of the cross-sectional part 106 farthest away from the base 200 is curved. Furthermore, the base 200 may be part of the cross- sectional part 106.

The cross-sectional part 106 may also comprise the groove 102.

Figure 3 illustrates a non-limiting example of when the cross-sectional part 106 is in a stable state 300. When in the stable state 300, the skate guard is arranged to have the base 200 in contact with the horizontal surface 107. When the cross-sectional 106 part is in the stable state 300, the groove 102 is presented vertically relative to the horizontal surface 107, making it possible for a user to insert the blade of a skate into the groove 102.

The cross-sectional part 106 maintains the stable state unless an external force is exerted on the skate guard 100. Also, the skate guard 100 will not be affected by small forces, such as vibrations in the horizontal surface 107.

In figure 4, the cross-sectional part 106 is in an unstable state 400. When in the unstable state 400, the contact point between the cross-sectional part 106 and the horizontal surface 107 may be a point of support 402. The point of support 402 may be part of the cross-sectional part 106. The cross- sectional part 106 may further comprise a plurality of points of supports.

The point of support 402 may form an originating point for a normal vector 406, that is perpendicular to the horizontal surface 107.

The normal vector 406 and the longitudinal direction 104 also originating from the point of support 402 may thus together define a defining plane 408.

The defining plane 408 may be part of the cross sectional part 106. The defining plane may further be a part of the body of the skate guard 100.

The center of gravity 404 is arranged to be positioned on the same side of the defining plane 408 as a majority part of the base 200. For example, a third of the base 200 may be positioned on a first side of the defining plane 408 and two thirds of the base 200 may be positioned on a second side of the defining plane 408, in which case the center of gravity 404 is arranged to be positioned on the second side of the defining plane 408. Now referencing fig 5 a-c, depending on the positioning of the center of gravity 404 relative to the defining plane 408 a rotational force may be present around the center of gravity. The rotational force may adjust the skate guard 100 to a stable state from an unstable state. Thus, regardless of which part of the righting edge 206 is in contact with the horizontal surface 107, a rotational force will act to move the cross-sectional part 106 towards the stable state. Hence the skate guard is self righting.

In the case of figure 5 c, the skate guard 100 may be in such a position that the center of gravity 404 is positioned in the defining plane 408, e.g. when the skate guard 100 is upside-down. The shape of the righting edge 206 may comprise a curvature arranged to move, using a small force, the center of gravity 404 out from the defining plane 408. Thus, the skate guard 100 may have an unstable equilibrium point, such that it only takes a very small force to move the skate guard 100 from the unstable equilibrium. Once move out of the unstable equilibrium, the skate guard 100 is self-righting. The small force may be vibrations in the horizontal surface 107. The small force may also be from a dust of air. Thus, having a curved shape of the righting edge 206, the skate guard 100 will in practice not stay in the unstable equilibrium point in Fig 5c.

Figure 6a and 6b presents embodiments of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment shown in 6a, the skate guard 100 comprises a plurality of cross-sectional parts 106. The cross-sectional parts may be positioned on both ends of the skate guard 100. The groove 102 may be positioned in between the two cross sectional parts 106.

According to an alternative, the base 200 is exclusively arranged between the cross-sectional parts 106, such that, when the cross-sectional parts 106 are in the stable state, the boundary of the cross-sectional part 106 is not in contact with the horizontal surface 107.

The base 200 may be positioned underneath one or both of the cross sectional parts 106. The base 200 may further be positioned in between the cross-sectional parts 106.

In another embodiment, the skate guard 100 comprises a cross- sectional part on one end of the skate guard 100, as illustrated in Fig 6b. In a preferred non-limiting embodiment illustrated in figure 6a, a first portion 600 of the skate guard 100 is made of a denser material than a second portion of the skate guard 100. The first portion may be positioned anywhere on or inside the skate guard 100. In a preferred embodiment, the first portion is positioned closer to the base of the skate guard 100 than the second portion.

The first and second portions may be manufactured in any material, such as plastic, wood and metal. The portions may also be made of a combination of materials.

The skate guard 100 may furthermore, as illustrated in the embodiment in figure 6a, be symmetrical. The skate guard 106 may be manufactured in different parts and assembled.

The groove 102 may furthermore comprise a spring 602, arranged to hold the blade of a skate in place in the groove 102. The skate guard 100 may comprise a plurality of springs 602. The spring 602 may be positioned anywhere in the groove 102.

The skate guard 100 may further comprise a flexible material attached to the body of the skate guard 100. The flexible material may be a rubber band. The flexible material may further be arranged to extend around at least a part of the blade of a skate, in order to keep the blade in place in the groove

102.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the skate guard 100 may, as illustrated in the

embodiment in figure 6a, be symmetrical. The skate guard 106 may furthermore be manufactured in different parts and assembled.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be

understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

A skate guard (100) for protecting a blade of a skate, the skate guard comprising:

a groove (102) extending along a longitudinal direction (104) of the skate guard (100), the groove (102) being suitable for receiving the blade,

a base (200), and

a cross-sectional part (106), which is a part defined by a cross- section of the skate guard in a direction perpendicular to the

longitudinal direction (104), said cross-sectional part (106) having a boundary (202) defining an outer shape (204) of the skate guard (100), which outer shape (204) is arranged to make contact with a horizontal surface (107), when the skate guard (100) is arranged on the horizontal surface (107), wherein said boundary (202) comprises:

an righting edge (206) being separate from the base

(200) and running along substantially the whole boundary (202) of the cross-sectional part (106), and

wherein the cross-sectional part (106) has a stable state in which:

the base (200) is arranged to be in contact with a horizontal surface (107) and the skate guard (100) presents the groove (102) in an upright position to receive the blade, and

wherein the cross-sectional part (106) has an unstable state in which:

a point of support (402), the point of support (402) being part of the righting edge (206), is in contact with the horizontal surface (107), and

a center of gravity (108, 404) of the skate guard (100) positioned on a same side as the base (200) relative to a defining plane (408) defined by a normal line to the horizontal surface (107) and a vector parallel to the longitudinal direction (104), wherein the normal line and the vector are originating from the point of support (402), and further wherein the skate guard (100) is arranged to return to the stable state in event of the skate guard (100) being in the unstable state.

A skate guard (100) according to any previous claim, wherein the cross-sectional part (106) is positioned on a longitudinal end of the skate guard (100).

A skate guard (100) according to any previous claim, wherein the base (200) is a part of at least a cross-sectional part (106).

A skate guard (100) according to any previous claim, wherein the skate guard (100) comprises a plurality of cross-sectional parts (106).

A skate guard (100) according to any previous claims, wherein an upper part of the righting edge (206), which is farthest from the horizontal surface (107) in the stable state, is curved.

A skate guard (100) according to any previous claims, wherein the skate guard (100) comprises a first and a second portion, wherein the first portion (600) comprises a denser material than the second portion.

A skate guard (100) according to claim 6, wherein the first portion (600) is positioned closer to the base (200) than the second portion.

A skate guard (100) according to any previous claims, wherein the skate guard (100) is symmetrical around a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the plane goes through the center of the skate guard (100). A skate guard according (100) to any previous claims, wherein the groove (102) comprises springs (602) arranged to maintain a blade i position in the groove (102).