SE1650549A1

SE1650549A1 - A skate guard for protecting the blade of a skate

Info

Publication number: SE1650549A1
Application number: SE1650549A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Connysson Pierre
Original assignee: Connysson Pierre
Priority date: 2016-04-22
Filing date: 2016-04-22
Publication date: 2017-10-23
Also published as: EP3445460A1; WO2017184069A1; SE539870C2; EP3445460A4

Abstract

14 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a skate guard (100) for protecting the bladeof a skate. The skate guard (100) comprises: a groove (102) extending alonga Iongitudinal direction (104) of the skate guard (100), the groove (102) beingsuitable 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 (100) in adirection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (104), said cross-sectionalpart (106) having a boundary (202) defining an outer shape (204) of the skateguard (100), which outer shape (204) is arranged to make contact with ahorizontal surface (107), when the skate guard (100) is arranged on thehorizontal surface (107), wherein said boundary (202) comprises: a rightingedge (206) being separate from the base (200) and running alongsubstantially the whole boundary (202) of the cross-sectional part (106), andwherein 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 theskate guard (100) presents the groove (102) in an upright position to receivethe blade, and wherein the cross-sectional part (106) has an unstable state inwhich: a point of support (402), the point of support (402) being part of therighting edge (206), is in contact with the horizontal surface (107), and acenter of gravity (108) of the skate guard (404) positioned on a same side asthe base relative to a defining plane (408) defined by a normal line to thesurface and a vector parallel to the Iongitudinal direction (104), wherein thenormal line and the vector are originating from the point of support (402), andfurther wherein the skate guard (100) is arranged to return to the stable statein event of the skate guard (100) being in the unstable state. Figure elected for publication: Fig. 6a

Description

A SKATE GUARD FOR PROTECTING THE BLADE OF A SKATE Technical fieldThe present invention relates to a skate guard for protecting a blade ofa skate.

BackgroundA skate guard is used to protect the blade of an ice skate. lt is in particular used to protect the blade when a wearer of the ice skate walks onasphalt, cement or other non-ice surfaces. The skate guard furthermoremakes wearing the ice skate safer for the user when not being on the ice.

A skate guard can provide a more stable walking foundation thanwould othenNise be possible with only the thin blade of the skate. However,putting on the skate guard can be cumbersome, especially when wearingheavy hockey gear.

There are skate guards that offer step-in functions allowing the user toput 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 USS.

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

According to a first aspect a skate guard for protecting the blade of askate is provided. The skate guard comprises: a groove extending along alongitudinal direction of the skate guard, the groove being suitable forreceiving the blade, a base, and a cross-sectional part, which is a part definedby a cross-section of the skate guard in a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction, said cross-sectional part having a boundary defining anouter shape of the skate guard, which outer shape is arranged to makecontact with a horizontal surface, when the skate guard is arranged on the horizontal surface, wherein said boundary comprises: a righting edge beingseparate from the base and running along substantially the whole boundary ofthe cross-sectional part, and wherein the cross-sectional part has a stablestate in which: the base is arranged to be in contact with a horizontal surfaceand the skate guard presents the groove in an upright position to receive theblade, and wherein the cross-sectional part has an unstable state in which: apoint of support, the point of support being part of the righting edge, is incontact with the horizontal surface, and a center of gravity of the skate guardpositioned on a same side as a majority of the base relative to a definingplane defined by a normal line to the surface and a vector parallel to thelongitudinal direction, wherein the normal line and the vector are originatingfrom the point of support, and further wherein the skate guard is arranged toreturn to the stable state in event of the skate guard being in the unstablestate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the skate guard is arranged in the unstable state, the skateguard is biased to change its position towards the stable state by gravityacting on the skate guard for righting of the skate guard.

Furthermore, while being in the unstable state, a point of support is intouch with the horizontal surface. The point of support is meant to beunderstood as the contact point between the righting edge and the horizontalsurface. lt should also be understood that an area, not only a single point ofsupport may be in contact with the horizontal surface.

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

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

Returning to a stable state from an unstable state may be performedby the skate guard rolling or flipping due to the position of the center of gravityrelative to the base.

By providing a self righting skate guard, a user may more easily put onthe skate guard. A skate guard that falls to its side returns to an uprightposition without interaction by the user. A skate guard that always presentsthe groove upwards enables the user to insert the blade of a skate into thegroove without having to bend down to put the skate guard in a receivableposition. Normally a user would have to use a hockey stick or bend down toadjust the skate guard, which for an ice-hockey player wearing heavy gear isa cumbersome task, especially if the player is a junior. Thanks to the skateguard being self-righting, the user may even just drop the guard on ground tolet the skate guard assume correct position by self-righting. Thereafter, theuser may step into the skate guard. ln one embodiment, the cross-sectional part is positioned on alongitudinal end of the skate guard. The cross-section of the skate guard atthe 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 anunstable state, the cross-section at the groove will not be in contact with thesurface.

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 grooveis enabled to receive the blade of a skate without the potential disturbance ofa cross-sectional part. ln another embodiment, the base is a part of at least a cross-sectionalpart.

A cross-sectional part that comprises the base may be easier tomanufacture, since the functionality of the self righting skate guard may beconcentrated to one part. ln yet another embodiment, the skate guard comprises a plurality ofcross-sectional parts.

A plurality of cross-sectional part may enhance the self rightingfunctionality of the skate guard. The cross-sectional part may for example bepositioned on both ends of the skate guard. By having the groove position inbetween the two cross sectional parts, the groove is well positioned to receivethe blade while the cross sectional parts ensures that the skate guard returnsto a stable state in the case of being in an unstable case. ln another embodiment, an upper part of the righting edge, which isfarthest from the horizontal surface in the stable state, is curved.

By having the upper part of the righting edge curved the skate guardwill be less inclined to stay in an upside-down position. A curve shaped top ofthe cross-sectional part will in other words force the skate guard to rolltowards the stable state in either lateral direction of the body of the skateguard. ln yet another embodiment, the skate guard comprises a first and asecond portion, wherein the first portion comprises a denser material than thesecond portion.

Having materials of different densities allows an accurate control of theposition of center of gravity of the skate guard without implying strictrequirements of the design shape of the skate guard. ln an embodiment, the first portion is positioned closer to the base thanthe second portion.

By having a denser material lower in the skate guard, the center ofgravity may be positioned closer to the base. The skate guard is arranged tohave the center of gravity on the same side as the base while being in theunstable state. A self-righting skate guard with a center of gravity close to themay be relatively easy to design to achieve the self-righting effect , incomparison to a skate guard having the center of gravity positioned furtheraway from the base. ln another embodiment, the skate guard is symmetrical around a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

A symmetrical skate guard may be easier to manufacture. Thesymmetry also enables the user to place the blade in the groove from bothdirections. ln yet another embodiment, the groove comprises springs arranged tomaintain a blade in position in the groove.

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

A further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should beunderstood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way ofillustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope ofthe invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

Hence, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular component parts of the device described or steps of the methodsdescribed as such device and method may vary. lt is also to be understoodthat the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particularembodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. lt must be noted that, asused 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 Drawinqs The above and other aspects of the present invention will now bedescribed in more detail, with reference to appended drawings showingembodiments of the invention. The figures should not be considered limitingthe invention to the specific embodiment; instead they are used for explainingand understanding the invention.

As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions areexaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate thegeneral structures of embodiments of the present invention. Like referencenumerals 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 stablestate.

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

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

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

Detailed descriptionThe present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferredembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited tothe embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided forthoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of theinvention to the skilled person.

Fig.1 illustrates a skate guard 100. The skate guard 100 comprises agroove 102. The groove 102 is adapted to receive the blade of a skate. Thelength and depth of the groove 102 may vary to fit different types of skates.The positioning of the groove 102, both in a |atera| and |ongitudina| directionof the skate guard 100, may also vary. The groove 102 may extend in a|ongitudina| direction 104.

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

The skate guard 100 is self righting. This implies that the skate guard100 will assume a position where the groove 102 is turned up when the skateguard 100 is arranged on a horizontal surface 107, or a essentially horizontalsurface 107.

The skate guard 100 may comprise a center of gravity 108. The centerof gravity may be positioned anywhere in skate guard 100. The center ofgravity 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 gravity108 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 mayalso be made of a polymer. The cross-sectional part 106 may be positionedanywhere along the body of the skate guard 100.

Figure 2 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a cross-sectional part106. The cross-sectional part 106 comprises a boundary 202. The boundary202 defines the outer shape 204 of the body of the skate guard 100 at thecross-sectional part 106, which is a cross-section perpendicular to the|ongitudina| direction 104 of the skate guard 100. A righting edge 206 is a partof the boundary 202. The righting edge is separated from a base 200. Thebase 200 may be part of the boundary 202.

The cross-sectional part 106 may be of any form and shape as long asa self-righting effect as described below is provided. ln a preferred embodiment, the shape of the righting edge 206 is curved. ln anotherembodiment a part of the cross-sectional part 106 farthest away from thebase 200 is curved. Furthermore, the base 102 may be part of the cross-sectional part 106.

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

Figure 3 i||ustrates a non-limiting example of when the cross-sectionalpart 106 is in a stable state 300. When in the stable state 300, the skateguard is arranged to have the base 200 in contact with the horizontal surface107. When the cross-sectional 106 part is in the stable state 300, the groove102 is presented vertically relative to the horizontal surface 107, making itpossible for a user to insert the blade of a skate into the groove 102.

The cross-sectional part 106 maintains the stable state unless anexternal force is exerted on the skate guard 100. Also, the skate guard 100will not be affected by small forces, such as vibrations in the horizontalsurface 107. ln 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-sectionalpart 106 and the horizontal surface 107 may be a point of support 402. Thepoint 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 normalvector 406, that is perpendicular to the horizontal surface 107.

The normal vector 406 and the longitudinal direction 104 alsooriginating from the point of support 402 may thus together define a definingplane 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 ofgravity 108 is arranged to be positioned on the sameside of the defining plane 408 as a majority part of the base 200. Forexample, a third of the base 200 may be positioned on a first side of thedefining plane 408 and two thirds of the base 200 may be positioned on asecond side of the defining plane 408, in which case the center ofgravity 108is 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 ofgravity 108 relative to the defining plane 408 a rotational force may bepresent around the center of gravity. The rotational force may adjust the skateguard 100 to a stable state from an unstable state. Thus, regardless of whichpart of the righting edge 206 is in contact with the horizontal surface 107, arotational force will act to move the cross-sectional part 106 towards thestable state. Hence the skate guard is self righting. ln the case of figure 5 c, the skate guard 100 may be in such a positionthat the center of gravity 108 is positioned in the defining plane 408, e.g.when the skate guard 100 is upside-down. The shape of the righting edge206 may comprise a curvature arranged to move, using a small force, thecenter of gravity 108 out from the defining plane 408.Thus, the skate guard100 may have an unstable equilibrium point, such that it only takes a verysmall force to move the skate guard 100 from the unstable equilibrium. Oncemove out of the unstable equilibrium, the skate guard 100 is self-righting. Thesmall force may be vibrations in the horizontal surface 107. The small forcemay also be from a dust of air. Thus, having a curved shape of the rightingedge 206, the skate guard 100 will in practice not stay in the unstableequilibrium point in Fig 5c.

Figure 6a and 6b presents embodiments of the present invention. ln apreferred embodiment shown in 6a, the skate guard 100 comprises a pluralityof cross-sectional parts 106. The cross-sectional parts may be positioned onboth ends of the skate guard 100. The groove 102 may be positioned inbetween the two cross sectional parts 106.

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

The base 200 may be positioned underneath one or both of the crosssectional parts 106. The base 200 may further be positioned in between thecross-sectional parts 106. ln another embodiment, the skate guard 100 comprises a cross-sectional part on one end of the skate guard 100, as illustrated in Fig 6b. ln a preferred non-limiting embodiment illustrated in figure 6a, a firstportion 600 of the skate guard 100 is made of a denser material than asecond portion of the skate guard 100. The first portion may be positionedanywhere on or inside the skate guard 100. ln a preferred embodiment, thefirst portion is positioned closer to the base of the skate guard 100 than thesecond 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 acombination of materials.

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

The groove 102 may furthermore comprise a spring 602, arranged tohold the blade of a skate in place in the groove 102. The skate guard 100may comprise a plurality of springs 602. The spring 602 may be positionedanywhere in the groove 102.

The skate guard 100 may further comprise a flexible material attachedto the body of the skate guard 100. The flexible material may be a rubberband. The flexible material may further be arranged to extend around at leasta part of the blade of a skate, in order to keep the blade in place in the groove102.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by nomeans is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On thecontrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope ofthe appended claims.

For example, the skate guard 100 may, as illustrated in theembodiment in figure 6a, be symmetrical. The skate guard 106 mayfurthermore be manufactured in different parts and assembled.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can beunderstood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimedinvention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appendedclaims.

Claims

1. A skate guard (100) for protecting a blade of a skate, the skate guardcomprising: a groove (102) extending along a longitudinal direction (104) ofthe skate guard (100), the groove (102) being suitable for receiving theblade, 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 theIongitudinal direction (104), said cross-sectional part (106) having aboundary (202) defining an outer shape (204) of the skate guard (100),which outer shape (204) is arranged to make contact with a horizontalsurface (107), when the skate guard (100) is arranged on thehorizontal 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 ahorizontal surface (107) and the skate guard (100)presents the groove (102) in an upright position to receivethe blade, and wherein the cross-sectional part (106) has an unstable state in which: a point of support (402), the point of support (402) beingpart of the righting edge (206), is in contact with thehorizontal surface (107), and a center of gravity (404) of the skate guard (100)positioned on a same side as the base (200) relative to adefining plane (408) defined by a normal line to thesurface and a vector parallel to the Iongitudinal direction 12 (107), wherein the normal line and the vector areoriginating from the point of support (402),and further wherein the skate guard (100) is arranged to returnto the stable state in event of the skate guard (100) being in theunstable state. _ A skate guard (100) according to any previous claim, wherein the cross-sectional part (106) is positioned on a longitudinal end of theskate 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 thehorizontal 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 thefirst 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 thelongitudinal direction. 13 9. A skate guard according (100) to any previous claims, wherein thegroove (102) comprises springs (602) arranged to maintain a blade inposition in the groove (102).