US3765108A

US3765108A - Skate

Info

Publication number: US3765108A
Application number: US00275705A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Scott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-27
Filing date: 1972-07-27
Publication date: 1973-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-16

Abstract

The lower extent of skate boot lacing is replaced by elastic material.

Description

1111c States Ket [11 BJSJ Scott Get. 16, 1973 [54] SKATE 799,814 9/1905 Welch 36 51 1,595,630 8 1926 St kt [76] Inventor: William H.'Sc0tt, 2663 Midland 2,222,832 1940 gj gi 74 i 3,037,303 6/1962 Stever 36/51 Canada Filed: J y 27, 1972 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson 2 AppL Na: 275 705 Att0rneyR0bert L. WESICZH et al.

[52] [1.8. CI. 36/51 51 1m. (:1 A43 11/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 36/50, 5l The lower extent of Skate boot lacing is replaced by elastic material. [56] References Ciaed UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2,108,631 2/1938 Wagner 36/51 SKATE This invention relates to a skate.

A skate, as presently made, is secured to the foot and maintained thereon, by lacing of the two opposed members forming the upper, to a point near the toe cap. It has been found, however, in connection with the development of this invention, that the lower onefourth or one-third of the lace flights through the corresponding fraction of the lace holes, do not add materially to the control by the skater of the skate or the security of the skater on the skate. The control or support between the skater and the skate is determined by the upper three-fourth to two-third of the lacing. On the other hand, the presence of these laces causes material discomfort over this lower one-third or one-fourth extent, if the laces are tightly laced (since the foot tends to change form in this area during skating). The lower one-third or one-fourth of the lacing corresponds to an extent measured forward and rearward relative to the skate extending from'a location in front of to a location behind the location corresonding to the large inward bulge of the joint of the big toe meta-tarsal bone. Tight lacing in the forward and rearward extent of this bone reduces blood circulation in the foot and flexure in its joint resulting in reduced skating area and comfort.

On the other hand if the laces are left loose, they are of no effect on the skaters control and during wear slackness extends, during use, to the upper extent of the skaters skate dangerously reducing support and control.

One alternative to' the dilemma above discussed, is not to lace the lower one-third or one-fourth of the lacing extent. However, this reduces very slightly the control achieved by the skater, and has a very deleterious psychological effect during skating, making the skater feel that he is insecure and not able to control his movement.

This invention provides a new form of boot, peculiarly suited for skating, wherein the skate boot is designed with the same'two upper members as in a conventional skate; which two members are normally laced to draw the two members toward each other as far as the skate will permit. However, the lacing is eliminated (as are the lace holesor grommets) from approximately the lower one-third or one-fourth of the normal extent. In this extent, the two members which would be joined by lacing in a conventional skate, are joined by a stretchable elastic material. The modulus of elasticity is selected having regard to the skate size and para meters of the skate boot construction, but will be designed to have a low enough modulus to allow flexing of the foot bones and muscles and a high enough modulus to provide a feeling of snugness to the wearer and the small amount of control required. The elasticity in the lower one-third to one-fourth of the normal extent, allows full articulation and flexure of the foot bones, particularly the meta-tarsals.

In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a skate in accord with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-section along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the skate of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, the skate is conventional and attached to boot (with which the invention is concerned) in a conventional manner. The skate normally includes a toe cap 14 to protect the skaters toe and mutually opposite upper portions joined at the bottom by a sole and at the rear by the portion shaped about the heel and the ankle. The two upper portions define mutually opposite edges 30, which in the conventional skate, are provided with lace holes 29 (usually accompanied by grommets 32) along the entire extent, so that the upper portions may be laced toward each other to produce a fit, as far as possible, of the boot on the wearers foot. In the inventive skate boot, as shown, the upper extent of the lace holes are retained, but the lower extent of the lace holes are replaced by an elastic material 36 firmly attached to the upper portions at a seam 34.

The elastic material will be of low enough elastic modulus to conform to variations in contour of the wearer's foot. Although the extent of the upper portions along which the elastic extends, contributes in only a small degree to the control and guidance of the skate, such control and guidance is achieved, with the inventive design, by providing that the elastic modulus of the material is high enough to allow such guidance and control. The elasticity of the material selected will -vary with the size and style of the skate boot. The elastic material may be of any desired variety such as the types used for stretchable trouser waists, elastic bandages, girdles etc.

The proportion of -the total lace plus elastic extent taken by the elastic will also vary with the skate size and style. The fraction of the total skate plus elastic extent taken by the elastic is about one-third to onefourth. However, the criterion for the location of the elastic extent, is that it extends, in a forward and rearward direction relative to the-skate from in front of, to behind the location corresponding to the large bulge B of the foot caused by the joint of the meta-tarsal joint for the big toe. (This is best shown in FIG. 3). In this way freedom of flexure and freedom of circulation are assured.

I claim:

1. In a skate boot including a laced portion comprising two upper members defining opposite sides of a skate upper, and a toe covering portion, wherein the two upper members are joined by an upper extent of lacing, and are, between the laced portion and the toe portion, joined by material permitting elastic spreading of the two members joined by the laced portion, wherein said material'permitting elastic spreading extends, in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate in front of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge of the joint for the metatarsal bone for the big toe.

2. In a skate boot having two members normally joined by lacing wherein the extent in the direction from the ankle to the toe portion, which is normally joined by lacing, is comprised of an upper laced extent and a lower extent, wherein the two members are joined at the lower extent by elastic permitting spreading of the two members, wherein said elastic extends, in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate, in front of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge of the joint for the meta-tarsal bone for the big toe.

3. In a skate boot having a toe cap and two upper members defining opposite sides of a skate upper and having mutually opposed edges extending from the vipermitting elastic spreading extends in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate, in front of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge of the joint for the meta-tarsal bone for the big toe.

* 1k 1! i I?

Claims

1. In a skate boot including a laced portion comprising two upper members defining opposite sides of a skate upper, and a toe covering portion, wherein the two upper members are joined by an upper extent of lacing, and are, between the laced portion and the toe portion, joined by material permitting elastic spreading of the two members joined by the laced portion, wherein said material permitting elastic spreading extends, in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate in front of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge of the joint for the meta-tarsal bone for the big toe.

3. In a skate boot having a toe cap and two upper members defining opposite sides of a skate upper and having mutually opposed edges extending from the vicinity of the toe cap to the vicinity of the ankle, wherein said two upper members are joined along a lower portion of said extent by material permitting elastic spreading of the two members and are designed to be laced along an upper extent, wherein said material permitting elastic spreading extends in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate, in front of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge of the joint for the meta-tarsal bone for the big toe.