US2867445A - Auxiliary runner for ice skates - Google Patents

Description

Jan. '6, 1959 P. J. LACHAT "2,867,445

AUXILIARY RUNNER FOR ICE SKATES Filed May 17, 1957 R m M W.

Mona/n. v A77'O/e/YEYS United States PatentO AUXILIARY RUNNER FOR ICE SKATES Paul J. Lachat, Winsted, Conn.

Application May 17, 1957, Serial No. 659,793

4 Claims. (Cl. 280-1112) This invention relates to ice skates, and more particularly to an auxiliary runner or blade, attachable to a conventional ice skate, as for example, the type including a tubular blade, the type in which there is a heel on the shoe, etc.

Among important objects of the invention are the following:

To provide a device which will not interfere with normal skating activities;

To effect contact between the device and the ice whenever ones ankle weakens to an extent that causes the shoe and skate to collapse inwardly a predetermined extent beyond their normal vertical positions;

To permit the device to be applied or removed with maximum speed or ease, so that it can be taken off the skate when one has learned to skate well enough to no longer require aid in counteracting the ankle weakness which normally is encountered by novices; and

To form the device at low cost while yet providing a strong, rugged attachment to the ice skate.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ice skate equipped with an attachment according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear end elevational view of the skate and attachment;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the attachment per se, as seen from the inside;

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

'Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified form applied to a skate;

Figure 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the modified device per se;

Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of the modified device per se, on the same scale as Figure 7, partly in section;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the modified device on the same scale as Figure 8 with the base plate removed, the skate blade being shown in dotted lines; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of one of the holding straps.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a conventional shoe skate includes a shoe 10 and ice skate 12 having a tube 14 rigid with a runner or blade 16.

The auxiliary runner 18 includes a base plate 20 having at each side a pair of upwardly projecting cars 22. To the rear ears are connected straps 24 crossed in back of the shoe (Figure 2) and adjustably connected together at their point of crossing by snaps 26. In front of the shoe the straps are again crossed and have distal end portions 28 connected removably to buckles 30 on short straps connected to the front ones of the ears 22.

Rigid with and depending from base plate 20 at one side of blade 16 is a connecting plate 32. The plate 32 has a serrated or toothed outer surface and a horizontally extending blade 34 is formed medially between its ends with an upwardly projecting tongue 36 having teeth meshing with the teeth of plate 32 in selected positions to which blade 34 is vertically adjusted in respect to the surface of the ice. A connecting bolt 33 extends throughan opening of tongue 36 and through a vertical slot of plate 32. A wing nut on the bolt is tightened to fixedly connect the plate 32 and tongue 36.

Rigid with blade 34 is a means for supporting the same in predetermined, laterally spaced relation to runner 16. This includes spring clamps 40 of inverted U shape embracing and gripping the tube 14 and integral with a laterally projecting rib rigid with blade 34. The blade 34 has a lower edge 43 that extends parallel to the blade 16 just above the ice (Figures 1 and 2).

In Figures 6-9 a shoe 44 is connected with an ice skate 46 having a blade 48 connected by longitudinally spaced connecting portions 50 to the shoe.

The auxiliary runner 52 is mountable on the heel 54 of the shoe. it includes a base plate 56 having a forwardly opening slot 58 provided with a flared entrance- Way 60 for receiving the rear connecting portion 50. The entranceway 60 is formed in an upwardly offset front part or abutment 62 integrally formed on the plate 56.

Front ears 64 and rear cars 66 on the base plate are connected to straps in a manner to be made presently apparent.

integral with one side of the base plate is a depending mounting plate 68 having teeth on its outer surface. A blade 70 is integral with an upwardly projecting tongue '72 toothed to mate with the teeth of plate 68. Plate 68 and tongue 72 are connected by a bolt 74 extending through a slot of plate 68. Downwardly opening clamps 76 are integral with laterally extending arms 77 rigid with plate 72.

Connected to ears 66 are straps '78 crossed in back of the shoe and having books 80 engaged with the ears 64, 66. The straps are crossed as at 82 in front of the shoe and are adjustably connected by snaps 84.

In both forms the blade 34- or 70 will not contact the ice when one is skating properly, that is, with the ice skate and shoe perfectly upright. Beginning skaters, however, tend to weaken in the ankles causing the shoes to bend inwardly. In this situation, the blades of the auxiliary devices will immediately contact the ice toprevent any more than a slight inward bending of the ankle. Discomfort is reduced and the necessity for a beginner to take frequent rests is eliminated. Further, one quickly learns to maintain the runner of the ice skate in perfectly vertical position. Then, when the device is no longer needed, it may be removed.

It is believed clear that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination, with an ice skate of the shoe skate type, said ice skate including a shoe and a runner permanently attached thereto, of an auxiliary runner attachment comprising a base plate formed separately from and underlying the shoe, said base plate being centered between opposite sides of the shoe; straps on the plate connected about said shoe; an auxiliary blade extending horizontally below one side of the base plate; and means spaced laterally from the midwidth portion of the base plate and connecting the blade and base plate, said means compris ing a plate rigid with and depending from the base plate,

a tongue extending upwardly from the blade, and a bolt connecting the tongue and plate.

2. The combination, with an ice skate of the shoe skate type, said ice skate including a shoe and a runner permanently attached thereto, of an auxiliary runner attachment comprising a base plate formed separately from and underlying the shoe, said base plate being centered between opposite sides or" the shoe; straps on the plate connected type, said ice skate including a shoe and a runner permanently attached thereto, of an auxiliary runner attachment comprising a base plate formed separately from and underlying the shoe, said base plate being centered between opposite sides of the shoe; straps on the plate connected about said shoe; an auxiliary blade extending horizontally below one side of the base plate; means spaced laterally from the midwidth portion of the base plate and connecting the blade and base plate, said means comprising a plate rigid with and depending from the base plate, a tongue extending upwardly from the blade, and a bolt connecting the tongue and plate; and means extending laterally from'the blade for engaging said runner to hold 4 the blade at a predetermined distance laterally from the runner.

4. The combination, with an ice skate of the shoe skate type, said ice skate including a shoe and a runner permanently attached thereto, of an auxiliary runner attachment comprising a base plate formed separately from and underlying the shoe, said base plate being centered between opposite sides of the shoe; straps on the plate connected about said shoe; an auxiliary blade extending horizontally below one side of the base plate; means spaced laterally from the midwidth portion of the base plate and connecting the blade and base plate, said means comprising a plate rigid with and depending from the base plate, a tongue extending upwardly from the blade, and a bolt connecting the tongue and plate; and means extending laterally from the blade for engaging said runner to hold the blade at a predetermined distance laterally from the runner, comprising a pair of clamps of inverted U shape adapted to embrace'the' runner, and at least one c'onne'cting member rigid'with and extending between the blade and clamps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 601,013 Evans Mar. '22, 1898 1,212,855 Wachs Jan. 16, 1917 2,691,532 Hayner Oct. 12, 1954 2,764,417 Sweet Sept. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 127,359 Germany Ian. 10, 1902 7,887 Great Britain Apr. 17, 1901 of 1901 148,636 Sweden Jan. 25, 1955

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