GB2177009A

GB2177009A - Ice skate

Info

Publication number: GB2177009A
Application number: GB08516937A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Hugh Whitworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-07-04
Filing date: 1985-07-04
Publication date: 1987-01-14
Also published as: GB8516937D0

Abstract

An ice skate 10 having a boot portion 12 and a blade portion 14 is provided with metal securing plates 36 and 38 embedded within the boot portion 12, the securing plates being attached to the blade portion 14. The metal securing plate 36 is embedded within the boot portion between the sole 34 and inner lining of the boot portion 12 while the securing plate 38 is embedded wholly within the sole 34. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and Relating to Ice Skates This invention relates to ice skates.

Ice skates at present have a boot portion in which a leather sole is firmly joined to the rest of the boot portion. Such skates are reasonably strong and durable, but are relatively expensive to produce.

In accordance with the present invention, an ice skate comprises a boot and a blade, securing means being embedded within the boot to which the blade is attachable.

Such an arrangement enables the boot to have a sole made of artificial material which would not of itself provide sufficient anchorage for example for screws used to secure the blade to the sole.

Preferably, the securing means is embedded within the boot between the sole and the inner lining. The securing means is suitably either slotted, holed or cut-out, whereby the sole can be more firmly joined to the rest of the boot than if it were solid.

Alternatively, the securing means may be embedded wholly within the sole of the boot. The securing means in this option is also preferably either slotted, holed or cut-out, whereby the sole can be more integrally joined to itself than if the securing means were solid.

The securing means is suitably firstly shaped (eg.

cross or horseshoe) in order to correspond at least partly in shape to the fastening plate of the blade to which the securing means is attachable, and secondly positioned within the boot so as to be automatically aligned with the fastening plate when the blade is attached to the boot.

The blade is suitably attachable to the securing means (eg. metal plates) via bolts or screws passing through holes/slots provided both in the fastening plate and securing means. Alternatively, the blade is attachable to the securing means by means of seif-tapping screws passing through hole/slots provided in the fastening plate, which self-tapping screws pass through the body of the securing means.

The sole is preferably of a moulded plastics material in order to provide a quality finish, while the rest of the boot is substantially of leather.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa side elevation of an ice skate in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged underneath view of the blade portion of the ice skate shown in Figure 1, and Figures 3A to D show enlarged plan views of embodiments of a portion of the ice skate shown in Figure 1.

In Figure lithe ice skate 10 comprises a boot portion 12 and a blade portion 14.

The blade 14 has upward extensions 16, 18, and 20 and a serrated tip 22. A sideward sole fastening plate 24 having a number of holes and slots 26 (see Figure 2) for securing the blade 14 to the front of the boot 12, is formed integral to the ends of extensions 16 and 18. A sideward heel fastening plate 28 is similarly provided at the rear end of the blade 14to the end of the extension 20, and has similar holes and slots 30 (see Figure 2) for securing the blade 14 to the rear of the boot 12.

The boot 12 has a leather vamp 32 and a plastic moulded sole 34. At the front of the boot 12, securing means in the form of a metal securing plate 36 is situated between the sole 34 and vamp 32, while at the rear of the boot 12, securing means in the form of a metal securing plate 38 is provided within the sole 34.

Various embodiments of the securing plate 36 are shown in Figures 3A to D, specifically cross-shaped plates in Figures 3A and B, and horseshoe shaped plates in Figures 3C and D.

The securing plate 36 has a number of slots, holes or cut-outs 37, whereby the sole 34 can be more firmly joined to the vamp 32 than if the plate were solid. Similarly, the securing plate 38 has a number of slots, holes or cut-outs (not shown), whereby the sole 34 can be more integrally joined to itself than if the plate were solid.

The securing plates 36 and 38 are shaped to correspond at least partly in shape with the fastening plates 24 and 28 respectively, and furthermore the securing plates 36 and 38 are positioned within the boot 10 so as to be automatically aligned with the fastening plates 24 and 28 respectively when the blade 14 is attached to the sole 34.

The blade 14 is attached to the securing plates 36 and 38 by means of either bolts, screws or selftapping screws (not shown) which pass through the holes/slots 26 and 30 in the fastening plates 24 and 28 respectively.

In the case of bolts or screws, corresponding holes/slots are provided in the securing plates 36 and 38, however in the case of self-tapping screws, the body of the securing plates 36 and 38 are simply penetrated.

The sole 34 is joined to the vamp 32 either as a pre-cast mould, or injection moulded directly thereon. In the former case, the sole 34 is firstly cast with the rear securing plate 38 therein and secondly this sole 34 together with the front securing plate 36 is then joined to the vamp 32 with adhesive and/or by tacking. In the latter case, the front securing plate 36 is firstly joined to the sole 34 with adhesive and/or by tacking, and secondly the sole 34 together with rear securing plate 38 therein is injection moulded onto the vamp 32.

In an embodiment the bottom edges of the leather of the vamp 32 are joined (eg. stapled/tacked) to the sides of the inner base of the boot, whereafter the outer sole 34 is formed firstly around the bottom edges of the leather and secondly against the underneath of the inner base.

1. An ice skate comprising a boot, a blade, and securing means embedded within the boot, to which means the blade is attachable.

2. An ice skate as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least part of the securing means is embedded within

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and Relating to Ice Skates This invention relates to ice skates. Ice skates at present have a boot portion in which a leather sole is firmly joined to the rest of the boot portion. Such skates are reasonably strong and durable, but are relatively expensive to produce. In accordance with the present invention, an ice skate comprises a boot and a blade, securing means being embedded within the boot to which the blade is attachable. Such an arrangement enables the boot to have a sole made of artificial material which would not of itself provide sufficient anchorage for example for screws used to secure the blade to the sole. Preferably, the securing means is embedded within the boot between the sole and the inner lining. The securing means is suitably either slotted, holed or cut-out, whereby the sole can be more firmly joined to the rest of the boot than if it were solid. Alternatively, the securing means may be embedded wholly within the sole of the boot. The securing means in this option is also preferably either slotted, holed or cut-out, whereby the sole can be more integrally joined to itself than if the securing means were solid. The securing means is suitably firstly shaped (eg. cross or horseshoe) in order to correspond at least partly in shape to the fastening plate of the blade to which the securing means is attachable, and secondly positioned within the boot so as to be automatically aligned with the fastening plate when the blade is attached to the boot. The blade is suitably attachable to the securing means (eg. metal plates) via bolts or screws passing through holes/slots provided both in the fastening plate and securing means. Alternatively, the blade is attachable to the securing means by means of seif-tapping screws passing through hole/slots provided in the fastening plate, which self-tapping screws pass through the body of the securing means. The sole is preferably of a moulded plastics material in order to provide a quality finish, while the rest of the boot is substantially of leather. The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa side elevation of an ice skate in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged underneath view of the blade portion of the ice skate shown in Figure 1, and Figures 3A to D show enlarged plan views of embodiments of a portion of the ice skate shown in Figure 1. In Figure lithe ice skate 10 comprises a boot portion 12 and a blade portion 14. The blade 14 has upward extensions 16, 18, and 20 and a serrated tip 22. A sideward sole fastening plate 24 having a number of holes and slots 26 (see Figure 2) for securing the blade 14 to the front of the boot 12, is formed integral to the ends of extensions 16 and 18. A sideward heel fastening plate 28 is similarly provided at the rear end of the blade 14to the end of the extension 20, and has similar holes and slots 30 (see Figure 2) for securing the blade 14 to the rear of the boot 12. The boot 12 has a leather vamp 32 and a plastic moulded sole 34. At the front of the boot 12, securing means in the form of a metal securing plate 36 is situated between the sole 34 and vamp 32, while at the rear of the boot 12, securing means in the form of a metal securing plate 38 is provided within the sole 34. Various embodiments of the securing plate 36 are shown in Figures 3A to D, specifically cross-shaped plates in Figures 3A and B, and horseshoe shaped plates in Figures 3C and D. The securing plate 36 has a number of slots, holes or cut-outs 37, whereby the sole 34 can be more firmly joined to the vamp 32 than if the plate were solid. Similarly, the securing plate 38 has a number of slots, holes or cut-outs (not shown), whereby the sole 34 can be more integrally joined to itself than if the plate were solid. The securing plates 36 and 38 are shaped to correspond at least partly in shape with the fastening plates 24 and 28 respectively, and furthermore the securing plates 36 and 38 are positioned within the boot 10 so as to be automatically aligned with the fastening plates 24 and 28 respectively when the blade 14 is attached to the sole 34. The blade 14 is attached to the securing plates 36 and 38 by means of either bolts, screws or selftapping screws (not shown) which pass through the holes/slots 26 and 30 in the fastening plates 24 and 28 respectively. In the case of bolts or screws, corresponding holes/slots are provided in the securing plates 36 and 38, however in the case of self-tapping screws, the body of the securing plates 36 and 38 are simply penetrated. The sole 34 is joined to the vamp 32 either as a pre-cast mould, or injection moulded directly thereon. In the former case, the sole 34 is firstly cast with the rear securing plate 38 therein and secondly this sole 34 together with the front securing plate 36 is then joined to the vamp 32 with adhesive and/or by tacking. In the latter case, the front securing plate 36 is firstly joined to the sole 34 with adhesive and/or by tacking, and secondly the sole 34 together with rear securing plate 38 therein is injection moulded onto the vamp 32. In an embodiment the bottom edges of the leather of the vamp 32 are joined (eg. stapled/tacked) to the sides of the inner base of the boot, whereafter the outer sole 34 is formed firstly around the bottom edges of the leather and secondly against the underneath of the inner base. CLAIMS

2. An ice skate as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least part of the securing means is embedded within the boot between the sole and the inner lining thereof.

3. An ice skate as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 wherein at least part of the securing means is embedded wholly within the sole of the boot.

4. An ice skate as claimed in any preceding claim where the securing means is either slotted, holed or cut-out.

5. An ice skate as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the securing means is firstly shaped in order to correspond at least partly in shape to the fastening plate of the blade to which the securing means is attachable, and secondly positioned within the boot so as to be automatically aligned with the fastening plate when the blade is attached to the boot.

6. An ice skate as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the blade is attachable to at least part of the securing means via bolts or screws passing through holes/slots provided both in the fastening plate of the blade and the securing means.

7. An ice skate as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the blade is attachable to at least part of the securing means of self-tapping screws passing through hole/slots provided in the fastening plate of the boot, which self-tapping screws pass through the body of the securing means.

8. An ice skate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.