A skate boot includes a boot shell having first and second opposite side portions cooperating to define a foot receiving opening therebetween. The first and second side portions have a facing portion extending from the foot receiving opening. A band having a first end portion is received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through an opening defined in the first side portion so as to have a second end portion of the band extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion of the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace.

A blade holder for use with an ice skate having an removable and replaceable blade to allow the ice skate to be used during separation of the blade from the blade holder. The blade holder includes a blade-retaining base that includes a lower edge and an internal recess that receives the blade. A contact nub is mounted to the blade-retaining base and remains mounted to the base when the blade becomes separated from the base. The contact nub extends below the lower edge of the base such that when the blade becomes separated from the base, the skater can use the contact nub to contact an ice surface. The contact nub is above the blade so as not to affect the normal use of the ice skate. The contact nub can include a pick portion that is used to engage the ice surface to help move the skater when the blade becomes detached.

A boot includes a boot shell having first and second side portions each including eyelets defined in an instep region thereof and a respective opening through at least one the first side portion in proximity of the eyelets. The boot also includes a band having a first end portion received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through the opening defined in the first side portion so as to have an opposed second end portion extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace. An opposed second band may be provided, with the bands crossing each other. The boot may be a skate boot. A method of manufacturing a boot is also discussed.

A boot includes a boot shell having first and second side portions each including eyelets defined in an instep region thereof and a respective opening through at least one the first side portion in proximity of the eyelets. The boot also includes a band having a first end portion received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through the opening defined in the first side portion so as to have an opposed second end portion extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace. An opposed second band may be provided, with the bands crossing each other. The boot may be a skate boot. A method of manufacturing a boot is also discussed.

Methods for manufacturing a panel for a ball, in particular for a soccer ball, as well as panels manufactured by these methods and balls with such panels. A method comprises the following steps: providing a carrier material having an outer side and an inner side within a mold having at least one first and at least one second mold part. Three-dimensionally molding an outer layer of the panel on the outer side of the carrier material within the mold. Three-dimensionally molding an inner layer of the panel on the inner side of the carrier material using at least the first mold part.

An interchangeable boot attachment is provided. An interchangeable boot attachment comprising a buckle strap affixed to a baseplate around a heel of the baseplate and an insert. The baseplate having an insert channel along a bottom of the baseplate that tapers from an opening at the heel towards a toe end of the baseplate. The insert having a tapered projection that tapers in an identical formation to the insert channel and is coupled to the insert channel during assembly such that a dovetail joint is formed between the opening, the insert channel and the tapered projection. The opening providing access to the insert channel for the insert. The buckle rotated and snapped to apply tension along the strap to secure the insert. The buckle decoupled and released from the strap to remove the strap from the opening to allow for removing the insert.

An interchangeable boot attachment is provided. An interchangeable boot attachment comprising a buckle strap affixed to a baseplate around a heel of the baseplate and an insert. The baseplate having an insert channel along a bottom of the baseplate that tapers from an opening at the heel towards a toe end of the baseplate. The insert having a tapered projection that tapers in an identical formation to the insert channel and is coupled to the insert channel during assembly such that a dovetail joint is formed between the opening, the insert channel and the tapered projection. The opening providing access to the insert channel for the insert. The buckle rotated and snapped to apply tension along the strap to secure the insert. The buckle decoupled and released from the strap to remove the strap from the opening to allow for removing the insert.

A boot form for a hockey skate is made of multiple plastic materials having different hardness properties, or different flexural moduli, and is formed via an injection-molding process or another similar process. One or more of the plastic materials may be reinforced with fibers of glass, carbon, aramid, or another stiffening material to strengthen one or more regions of the boot form. For example, pellets of a first plastic material having a flexural modulus of approximately 190 MPa (e.g., a polyamide elastomer block amide) may be injected into a mold to form a softer upper region of the boot form. And pellets of a second plastic having a flexural modulus of approximately 20,000 MPa (e.g., a Nylon 12 with long glass fibers) may be injected into the mold to form a stiffer lower region of the boot form. Additional skate components may then be attached to the boot form.

A boot form for a hockey skate is made of multiple plastic materials having different hardness properties, or different flexural moduli, and is formed via an injection-molding process or another similar process. One or more of the plastic materials may be reinforced with fibers of glass, carbon, aramid, or another stiffening material to strengthen one or more regions of the boot form. For example, pellets of a first plastic material having a flexural modulus of approximately 190 MPa (e.g., a polyamide elastomer block amide) may be injected into a mold to form a softer upper region of the boot form. And pellets of a second plastic having a flexural modulus of approximately 20,000 MPa (e.g., a Nylon 12 with long glass fibers) may be injected into the mold to form a stiffer lower region of the boot form. Additional skate components may then be attached to the boot form.

Methods for manufacturing a panel for a ball, in particular for a soccer ball, as well as panels manufactured by these methods and balls with such panels. A method comprises the following steps: providing a carrier material having an outer side and an inner side within a mold having at least one first and at least one second mold part. Three-dimensionally molding an outer layer of the panel on the outer side of the carrier material within the mold. Three-dimensionally molding an inner layer of the panel on the inner side of the carrier material using at least the first mold part.