A skate boot of the type commonly used with a lower mounting frame for supporting one of an ice skating blade or rollers thereon, has a monocoque skate boot body. The monocoque skate boot body further supports i) a toe cap of dissimilar material thereon, ii) a tendon guard of dissimilar material fastened to a rear of the monocoque skate boot body, and iii) an anchor body of dissimilar material on the sole portion of the monocoque skate boot body for assisting securement of the lower mounting frame to the monocoque skate boot body.

A method of manufacturing a skate boot shell, including shaping tridimensional outer and inner sub-shells, and bonding the shaped sub-shells together through lamination. The lamination is performed after the sub-shells are shaped and includes applying heat to the sub-shells and/or pressure on one of the sub-shells toward the other against a mold surface. A skate with three sub-shells is also discussed.

A skate boot comprising an outer shell including medial and lateral side portions for facing the medial and lateral sides of the foot. Each of the medial and lateral side portions has an upper edge. The skate boot also comprises a lace member mounted to either of the upper edges of the medial and lateral side portions. The lace member has at least one opening for receiving an insert. The lace member has a first flexion mode when no insert is received in the at least one opening and a second flexion mode when the insert is received in the at least one opening. The second flexion mode is different from the first flexion mode.

A skate shield for use with ice skates. The skate shield includes a rigid shell made at least of outer and inner layers of fiber reinforced plastic or polymer (FRP), and a fastener assembly for releasably securing the shell to a boot portion of the ice skate. The shell includes a medial side portion interconnected to a lateral side section via a top portion. A reinforced section formed by reinforcing layers laminated between the outer and inner layers is provided in at least one of the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the shell.

A goalie skate for a hockey goalkeeper. The goalie skate may comprise a skate boot for receiving a foot of the hockey goalkeeper, a blade for contacting ice, and a blade holder between the skate boot and the blade. The skate boot comprises an outer shell comprising a synthetic material. The goalie skate may be cowlingless.

A method of making a skate boot including manufacturing a rear element including a tendon guard for covering at least a rear portion of the ankle received within the boot, and forming a direct connection at a fixed position between contacting portions of the rear element and of a remainder of the skate boot separately from the quarters, the direct connection being formed such that the rear element is an external element of the boot and such that an upper portion of the rear element is displaceable relative to the quarters in a forward and rearward direction, the upper portion of the rear element being displaceable through flexing of the rear element about the connection.

A skate (e.g., an ice skate) or other footwear for a user. The skate or other footwear comprises a skate boot or other foot-receiving structure for receiving a foot of the user and possibly one or more other components, such as a skating device (e.g., a blade and a blade holder) disposed beneath the skate boot to engage a skating surface (e.g., ice). In some cases, at least part of the skate boot or other foot-receiving structure and optionally at least part of one or more other components (e.g., the skating device) may be constructed from one or more materials (e.g., foams) molded by flowing in molding equipment during a molding process (e.g., injection molding or casting). This may allow the skate or other footwear to have useful performance characteristics (e.g., reduced weight, proper fit and comfort, etc.) while being more cost-effectively manufactured.

A skate boot has (i) a unitary, molded boot body formed of plastic material defining a sole, side walls, a rear wall and an upper cuff to surround the foot and lower leg region of a user, and (ii) a cuff insert at least partially embedded within the upper cuff of the boot body by molding the plastic material of the boot body about the cuff insert. The insert includes a rear section and two side sections to align with corresponding portions of the upper cuff of the boot body. The insert is a unitary molded structure that is harder than the boot body material. The insert provides targeted stiffening to the upper cuff region of the boot body so that the upper cuff maintains its shape and securement relative to the lower leg of the user as the user flexes their ankle to optimize performance of the skate boot.

Footwear, such as a skate (e.g., a hockey skate), comprising a boot (e.g., a skate boot) or other foot-receiving structure configured to receive a user's foot, in which the boot or other foot-receiving structure is designed to enhance performance, including a range of motion of the user and energy transfer (e.g., to a skating surface while skating or otherwise moving on the skating surface), fit on the user's foot, and/or comfort of the user, such as by having articulated, thermoformable and/or removable parts that may have desired properties in selected regions.

A skate (e.g., an ice skate) or other footwear for a user. The skate or other footwear comprises a skate boot or other foot-receiving structure for receiving a foot of the user and possibly one or more other components, such as a skating device (e.g., a blade and a blade holder) disposed beneath the skate boot to engage a skating surface (e.g., ice). In some cases, at least part of the skate boot or other foot-receiving structure and optionally at least part of one or more other components (e.g., the skating device) may be constructed from one or more materials (e.g., foams) molded by flowing in molding equipment during a molding process (e.g., injection molding or casting). This may allow the skate or other footwear to have useful performance characteristics (e.g., reduced weight, proper fit and comfort, etc.) while being more cost-effectively manufactured.