US3545778A

US3545778A - Safety and decorative cover for ice skates

Info

Publication number: US3545778A
Application number: US821883A
Authority: US
Inventors: Russell A Weidenbacker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-05
Filing date: 1969-05-05
Publication date: 1970-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-08

Description

O Unlted States Patent 1 1 3,545,778

72] Invento Russell Weidenbncker 3,101,957 8/1963 Snyder 230/1 1.12

32 S. Ave. Box Havel'fol'd, P 21 A I N 3%? 9041 586,441 11/1959 Canada 280/1 1.17 E 1 2 5, 1969 545,394 3/1932 Germany 280/1 1.15 Patenwd D. 8,197.0 422,633 l/l935 Great Britain 280/1 1.1(ET) Primary Examiner-Leo F riaglia Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith [54] SAFETY AND DECORATIVE COVER FOR ICE An fl and Howson SKATES 17 Claims, 6 Drawing figs. n ABSTRACT: A decorative safety cover is provided to span the n A63: 3/00 apertures between the runner and the shoe of a figure skate to [50] Field ofSearch 280/] 1.12- prevent a skater from inadvertently inserting the runner of one U81 11-1, 1 137031138; skate in the apertures of the other skate while skating. In addi- 1074/14- tion, the cover has a downwardly and rearwardly sloping portion which overlies the runner extension below the heel of the [56] References cited shoe to prevent the skater from inadvertently stepping thereon UNITED STATES PATENTS and possibly falling while skating. If desired, the cover may 1,771,755 7/1930 Heath 280]] 1.17 carry decorative matter such as bright metal to provide a 2,197,170 4/1940 Anderson 280/1 1.12 unique and pleasing appearance for the skate.

PATENTED nu: 8 19m III/Ill INVENTOR: RUSSELL A. WEIDENBACKER ATTYS.

SAFETY AND DECORATIVE COVER FOR ICE SKATES The present invention relates .to ice skates, and more particularly, the present invention relates to means for covering the apertures between the runner and the shoe of a figure skate and for covering the rearward extension of the runner.

At present, a conventional figure skate has a runner secured to the shoe of the skate by a series of stanchions which define apertures'between therunner' and the shoe. A portion of the runner extends a slight distance rearwardly of the rearmost stanchion to assist a skater to maintain his balance when skating in an erect or slightly backward-leaning position. When the skater is performing intricate maneuvers such as a Mohawk," Choctaw, Spread-Eagle" or the like, there may be a tendency for the skater to entangle his skates, for example by inadvertently inserting the runner extension of one skate into the apertures of the other skate or by inadvertently stepping on the runner extension of the other skate. As a result, the skater may lose his balance and fall, possibly seriously injuring himself.

In order to reduce this hazard as much as possible, the runner extensions on some figure skates are short. A short runner extension creates other problems however. For example, with a short extension a skater may not as easily maintain his balance while skating erectly or while leaning slightly backward, and if he should lose his balance and fall while leaning backward, the possibility of his inflicting serious injury is further increased.

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide novel' means for covering the apertures between the shoe and runner of a figure skate to prevent a skater from entangling his skates and falling while performing intricate maneuvers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide cover means which overlies the runner extension of a figure skate to prevent a skater from inadvertently stepping thereon with his other skate while skating.

As a further object, the present invention provides a safety cover which may carry decorative matter thereon to produce a unique and pleasing appearance for a figure skate.

As an additional object, the present invention provides improved means for securing a safety cover between the shoe and runner of a figure skate to present a solid, continuous surface therebetween for deflecting a skate runner which may inadvertently contact the cover while skating.

More specifically, in the present invention a shoe skate is provided with safety and decorative cover means comprising a pair of elongated planar members which span across the apertures between the runner and the bottom of the shoe and which have a rearward terminal edge which slopes rearwardly and downwardly toward the runner extension behind the heel of the shoe. Spacer means conforming to the shape of the apertures and substantially equal to the width of the runner is disposed in the apertures and between the members, and the members and spacer means are connected together by means of therethrough and which secure them in place on the skate. If desired, the cover means may be metal or may be plastic and may have a thin metal outer surface, or the cover means may be translucent plastic and a thin metal sheet may be disposed between the members and the spacer means to provide a decorative appearance to the skate.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a figure skate having cover means embodying the present invention, the cover means being partially broken away to illustrate a stanchion connecting the runner to the sole of the shoe which is shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the skate illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG-3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrating means for mounting the cover means on the skate;

complementary threaded members which pass.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views, similar to FIG. 3, of modified cover means in accordance with the present invention; and I FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified spacer adapted to overlie the runner extension on the skate and having a metallic guard extending along its upper edge.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. I a conventional figure skate 10'having a hollow-ground runner l l secured to a shoe 12 by a series of

stanchions

13,13 which define a substantially elliptically'shaped aperture 14a and an irregular-shaped aperture Mb between the runner l1 and the bottom of the shoe 12. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stanchions l3, 13 are of substantially the same thickness as the runner l1 and they are secured to the shoe 12 by

integral plates

15 and 16, the plate 15 being secured to the sole 17 of the shoe 12 and the plate-l6 being secured to the heel 18 thereof. In addition, the runner 11 has a series of teeth 19,19 at its forward end, and the runner has an extension or spur 20 projecting rearwardly past the heel 18.

As noted above, there may bea tendency for a skater to inadvertently insert the spur of one skate into one of the apertures in the other skate, or to inadvertently step on the spur of one skate with the other skate while performing intricate maneuvers on the ice.-This may cause the skater to lose .his balance and fall, possibly causing himserious injury. Therefore, in accordance with the primary object of the present invention, means is provided for use with figure skates to reduce some of the dangers associated'with figure skating.

In accordance with the primary object of the present invention, some of the hazards associated with figure skating may be reduced when the apertures between the runner and the shoe of a figure skate are covered to form a continuous surface therebetween. To this end, a pair of elongated members or webs 25a and 25b are disposed along oppositeupper sides of the runner 11, the web 25:; engaging the outside margin lla of the runner 11 and the web 25b engaging the inside margin 11b of the runner 11. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the webs are each shaped to cover substantially the entire area of the apertures, having triangular shaped portions 260 and 26b respectively which project upwardly into the arch of the shoe 12.

In order to provide a decorative appearance for the skate without adding any substantial weight thereto, the webs 25a and 25b are of thin lightweight material, preferably plastic. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, each web 25a and 25b has an upper edge 24a and 24b respectively which terminates a slight distance below the bottom of the sole and

heel stanchion plates

15 and 16 to provide a slight clearance therebetween. In this manner, the webs may be mounted in close parallel relation against the stanchions and the runner without the outwardly flaring upper portions of the stanchions interfering with their mounting. If desired however, the upper edges 24a and 24b may each have a local chamfer or a local cutout adjacent each stanchion in the event that the outward flaring portions thereof should require additional clearance in order to properly mount the webs 25a and 25b.

Figure skates may tend to accumulate ice chips or snow in use. In order to reduce this tendency as much as possible, the webs 25a and 25b each have a chamfered surface 27a and 27b which tapers inwardly toward the runner 11. Although in the illustrated embodiment the chamfered surfaces 270 and 27b extend across the full width of their respective webs 25a and 25b, it should be apparent that the surfaces need not extend across the full width of the webs to perform this function, it being sufficient that the chamfered surfaces extend across a substantial portion of the width of the webs. With this arrangement, sharp corners are avoided which may tend to accumulate ice chips. Furthermore, the chamfered surfaces provide a handsome appearance for the skate.

As noted heretofore, a skater may tend to tripwhen the runner of one skate is inadvertently placed on the rear runner extension of his other skate. In accordance with the present invention, means is provided to obviate this situation. To this end, each web 250 and 25b has a portion 280 and 28b respectively which extends rearwardly past the heel stanchion 13 along the runner extension 20 and a camming member or spacer 32 of metal or durable plastic construction is disposed therebetween to overlie the extension 20. As may be seen in FIG. 1, each portion 28a and 28b has an edge 29a and 29b respectively and the camming spacer 32 has an edge 320 which each slope rearwardly and downwardly toward the extension 20. In addition, the chamfered surfaces 270 and 27!) extend around the terminus of each web and upwardly toward the heel stanchion to expose the camming edge 32a on the spacer 32. Thus, should a skater inadvertently tend to place the runner of one skate on the extension of the other skate, the camming edge 32a cooperates to cam the runner rearwardly past the terminus of the extension 20. In this manner, the tendency for a skater to trip and fall is reduced.

Figure skates are subject to shocks in use. Therefore, the covering webs must be securely fastened to the skates to ensure that they do not disengage the skates while skating and to ensure that they are able to withstand lateral impact from a misplaced runner. To this end, means is provided to securely mount the webs 25a and 25b on each skate. As any may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, lateral support for the webs 25a and 25b is provided by means of

spacers

30 and 31 disposed in the apertures 14a and 14b between the runner 11 and the shoe l2, and lateral support for the web portions 28a and 28b behind the heel stanchion is provided by means of the camming spacer 32. In the present instance, the

spacers

30 and 31 are shaped to conform substantially to the configuration of the apertures 14a and 14b, the rear spacer 32 being shaped to conform to the curvature of the downwardly and rearwardly sloping edges 29a and 29b of the webs to fit flush therewith when mounted against the heel stanchion l3 and the runner extension 20. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the spacer means are substantially equal in thickness to the thickness of the runner 11. Thus, the webs 25a and 25b may be disposed in close parallel relation to form a narrow cross-sectional profile along the runner to lend a sleek appearance to each skate.

The webs 25a and 25b are securely mounted on each skate in a manner which eliminates the possibility of their catching on a skate runner or on articles of clothing. To this end, the webs are mounted by means of fasteners which, in the present instance, include a series of

bolts

35, 36 and 37 extending transversely through the webs 25a and 25b in

counterbored holes

38, 39 and 40 respectively to dispose the bolts below the plane of the outer surface of the webs. As may be seen in FIG. 3, each bolt, for example the bolt 36, has an enlarged flat head 36a and a threaded shank 36b which threadedly engages an internally threaded ferrule 46 having a head 46a nested in its as sociated counterbored hole and a body 46b engaging the shank 36b. Thus, when each bolt is rotated clockwise (FIG. 1) the members are clamped onto the skate in a secure manner, and when each bolt is rotated counterclockwise the members may be removed from the skate. It should be noted that for webs which are narrow in width, for example from about .020 inch to about l/32 inch in thickness, it is desirable to employ a bolt and nut having slightly convex outer surfaces. In addition, if desired, the shank 36b may extend slightly past the head 46a of the ferrule 46 and may be peened to prevent it from loosening in use and to thereby permanently secure the webs to each skate.

As noted above, thecover means may possess a decorative function in addition to its function primarily as a safety device. For this'purpose, the webs 251 and 25b are preferably of clear plastic construction; however, they may also be colored plastic or they may have decorative matter applied thereto by printing, etching, or the like. If desired, a bright metallic appearance may be provided for the cover means. To this end, sheets of thin metal or foil 140a and l40b (FIG. 4) may be secured to the outer surface of each web 125a and 12512 by suitable adhesive after the webs are mounted on a runner 111. As may be seen in FIG. 4 the foil 140a and 14% overlies the fasteners 136 which secure-the webs together and thereby obscures the fasteners 136st) that the means by which the webs are secured to the skate may not be readily perceived by an observer.

In a modified embodiment of the present invention, decorative cover means which is resistant to damage may be provided. For'this purpose, a pair of metallic foils 240a and 24% (FIG. 5) are disposed on the inside surface of a pair of transparent, plastic webs 225a and 2251; between the webs and a spacer 231. With this structure, the foils are secured in position by a clamping action which is effected upon tightening a bolt 236 when mounting the webs 225a and 225b to the runner 211. The transparency of the webs 225a and 22512 permits the foils 240a and 24012 to reflect light while simultane-:

ously protecting the foil against being damaged or dislodged.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a modified spacer 337 which is resistant to damage and wear may be provided for mounting between the rearwardly extending portions 28a and 28b of the webs 25a and 25b illustrated in FIG. 1. As may be seen in FIG. 6, the spacer 337 has a metallic, preferably stainless steel guard 350 which extends along its upper edge 329a, the guard 350 having a U-shaped cross section which grips the spacer 337 between its legs to fasten it to the body of the spacer. A locking tab is provided at 352 to engage in a slotted recess 353 in the spacer to prevent rearward dislodgement of the guard in use. In addition, the spacer has a through bore 338 for receiving a suitable fastener to mount the spacer on the skate. Thus, with this arrangement, the metallic guard 350 protects the spacer 337 from being damaged by a misplaced skate runner by providing a strong, metallic deflecting surface above the runner extension.

In view of the foregoing, it should now be apparent that a safety and decorative cover has now been provided for figure skates to reduce some of the dangers associated with figure skating while providing a pleasing appearance for the skates.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations or changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. For use with a shoe skate having a runner spaced from the shoe and a plurality of stanchions on the runner secured to the shoe to define at least one shaped aperture therebetween, cover means for spanning across at least a substantial portion of said aperture, said cover means comprising two planar members disposed on opposite outer sides of said stanchions and runner and extending along at least a portion of the upper marginal sides of said runner adjacent said aperture, means disposed intermediate said members to space said members apart a distance substantially equal to the width of said runner, and means extending through said members and spacing means to connect said members together, so that when skating, the cover means may prevent a skater from inadvertently catching the runner of one skate in the aperture in the other skate to thereby reduce the possibility of his falling.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a thin metallic sheet carried by at least one of said planar members.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said metallic sheet is bonded to the outer surface of said planar member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cover means is translucent and said metallic sheet is disposed between said spacing means and said planar member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said connectingmeans includes complementary threaded headed elements respectively engaging the members and threadedly engaged to retain said members in place.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the threaded elements comprise a bolt and an internally threaded member, the planar member engaging said bolt being counterbored to dispose the head of the bolt below the plane of its surface and said planar member engaging said internally threaded member being counterbored to dispose said threaded member below the plane of its surface.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said internally threaded member comprises a ferrule having a head engaging in said counterbore and a body portion threaded onto said bolt and projecting from said head toward said engaging member.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said members has a lower margin disposed above the bottom of the runner and below the aperture and said margin has a chamfered surface tapering inwardly'and downwardly toward the runner.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of said stanchions is secured to the sole of said shoe and another of said stanchions is secured to the heel of said shoe, said runner extending rearwardly of said heel stanchion, the improvement wherein said cover members extend rearwardly of said heel stanchion and have terminal edges sloping rearwardly and downwardly from said heel toward said runner.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said shaped aperture extends between said sole and heel stanchions and said runner has a stanchion disposed forwardly of said sole stanchion to form therebetween another shaped aperture, the improvement wherein said spacing means is disposed in the plane of said runner in each aperture and conforms substantially to the shape of the aperture to thereby provide additional lateral support for the cover members. 7

11. Apparatus according to. claim 9 wherein said spacing means includes a portion disposed between said cover members behind said heel stanchion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said spacing means behind said heel stanchion has an edge sloping rearwardly and downwardly from said heel toward said runner and includes a metallic guard extending along said edge.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said skate has a plurality of apertures between said shoe and said runner and said spacing means is disposed in each aperture and is substantially equal in width to the width of the runner to thereby permit the cover members to engage against said upper marginal sides of said runner.

14. For use with a shoe skate having a runner secured by a plurality of stanchions to. its sole and heel respectively, the runner having an extension which projects rearwardly of the heel stanchion, the improvement comprising cam means over lying said extension and having an edge sloping rearwardly and downwardly toward the terminus of said extension from said heel stanchion, said cam means completely filling the space between the stanchion, the extension and the sloping edge so that in the event that a skater should tend to place the runner of one skate on the extension of his other skate, the cam means cooperates to cam the runner rearwardly past the extension of the other skate to thereby reduce the tendency for the skater to fall.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 including means to mount said cam means on said runner, said mounting means comprising: a pair of planar members disposed on opposite outer sides thereof and extending forwardly along said runner and engaging said stanchions, and fastener means extending through said cam means and said members overlying said extension and through said members intermediate said stanchions, so that the cam means is securely mounted on the 'runner extension.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said members terminate a spaced distance from the edge of said cam means to expose said edge to thereby preventthe runner of the other skate from engaging the mounting members and damaging them when the skater tends to place the other skate runner on the runner extension.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said edge of said cam means is metallic.