A blade holder for an ice skate (e.g., for playing hockey). The ice skate comprises a skate boot for receiving a foot of a skater. The blade holder comprises a blade-retaining base to retain a blade. The blade-retaining base comprises a first material (e.g., a non-composite polymeric material). The blade holder comprises a support extending upwardly from the blade-retaining base to interconnect the blade holder and the skate boot. The support comprises a second material (e.g., a composite material) different from (e.g., stiffer than) the first material.

A skate with a stowable and/or removable roller, blade, ski, or track assembly. A skate has: a shoe; a guiding part mounted to the shoe; a roller, blade, ski, or track assembly mounted to move along the guiding part between a deployed position and a stowed position adjacent a calf or ankle part of the shoe; and a handle connected to move the roller, blade, ski, or track assembly between the deployed position and the stowed position. Related methods include moving the roller, blade, ski, or track assembly between the positions, and locking or unlocking the assembly in either position, for example using a handle.

A skate (e.g., an ice skate) for a skater (e.g., a hockey player). The skate comprises a skate boot for receiving a foot of the skater and a skating device (e.g., a blade and a blade holder) disposed beneath the skate boot to engage a skating surface (e.g., ice). At least part of the skate boot 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. Other articles of footwear are also provided.

A skate (e.g., an ice skate) for a skater (e.g., a hockey player). The skate comprises a skate boot for receiving a foot of the skater and a skating device (e.g., a blade and a blade holder) disposed beneath the skate boot to engage a skating surface (e.g., ice). At least part of the skate boot 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. Other articles of footwear are also provided.

A skate blade bending apparatus (35) may feature a unitary body (1) with a securement structure (10, 15) which holds a skate blade on its side, parallel to the ground, and a means for exerting downward force (8) on the side of the skate blade. The securement structure may feature movable anvils 15 which will change the imparted radius of curvature imparted upon the blade. Indicia (29) may be utilized to position said anvils (15) to ensure the process is repeatable on different blades. A handle (14) used with the means for exerting downward force (8) may be adjustable. The means for exerting downward force (8) and anvils (15) may be interchangeable with other shapes of similar structures for greater versatility.

A blade holder for an ice skate (e.g., for playing hockey). The ice skate comprises a skate boot for receiving a foot of a skater. The blade holder comprises a blade-retaining base to retain a blade. The blade-retaining base comprises a first material (e.g., a non-composite polymeric material). The blade holder comprises a support extending upwardly from the blade-retaining base to interconnect the blade holder and the skate boot. The support comprises a second material (e.g., a composite material) different from (e.g., stiffer than) the first material.

A blade holder for an ice skate (e.g., for playing hockey). The ice skate comprises a skate boot for receiving a foot of a skater. The blade holder comprises a blade-retaining base to retain a blade. The blade-retaining base comprises a first material (e.g., a non-composite polymeric material). The blade holder comprises a support extending upwardly from the blade-retaining base to interconnect the blade holder and the skate boot. The support comprises a second material (e.g., a composite material) different from (e.g., stiffer than) the first material.

An ice skate comprising a blade holder having U-shaped inner and outer members that are spaced apart to define a hollow space therebetween. The U-shaped outer member has an elongated blade-supporting base and front and rear pillars that are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the blade holder. At least part of the elongated blade-supporting base, front pillar and rear pillar is made of a composite material such as a fiber-matrix composite material. The ice skate also has a blade comprising a runner and a body made of composite material with a matrix and a plurality of fibers embedded in the matrix.

An ice skate comprising a blade holder having U-shaped inner and outer members that are spaced apart to define a hollow space therebetween. The U-shaped outer member has an elongated blade-supporting base and front and rear pillars that are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the blade holder. At least part of the elongated blade-supporting base, front pillar and rear pillar is made of a composite material such as a fiber-matrix composite material. The ice skate also has a blade comprising a runner and a body made of composite material with a matrix and a plurality of fibers embedded in the matrix.

A blade holder for an ice skate (e.g., for playing hockey). The ice skate comprises a skate boot for receiving a foot of a skater. The blade holder comprises a blade-retaining base to retain a blade and a support extending upwardly from the blade-retaining base to interconnect the blade holder and the skate boot. Visual characteristics of the blade holder may enhance its aesthetics and/or other aspects related to its visual appearance (e.g., an effect on the skater, elaborateness and/or customization of its visual appearance, etc.). The blade holder may be lightweight and/or provide other performance benefits to the skater.