INSERTABLE SKATE OUTSOLE SHIM FOR INCREASED ATTACK ANGLE

Abstract

An insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle is installable between the outsole heel of a skate and the rear post of a blade or wheel holder. The outsole shim raises the heel of the skater and postures the skater with weight forward decreasing dorsiflexion of the ankle and accommodating deeper knee bend. The outsole shim dampens vibrations and absorbs forces applied during skating. The outsole shim is producible at different sizes adapted for different skating performance. The outsole shim may be produced with an angled surface to correct for overpronation or oversupination.

Claims

1. An insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle installable to an existing ice skate comprising: an outsole shim having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis sized and shaped to seat substantially flush to the boot profile beneath a heel of the ice skate boot and atop at least a rear post of the ice skate blade holder, said outsole shim comprising: a polymeric, generally rigid crown member molded perimetrically surrounding an open center; a generally elastomeric polymeric crest member, said crest member comprising: a central plug disposed to seat flush into the open center of the crown member; and a skirt member disposed to overlie the crown member; wherein the crest member nests into the crown member such that the crown member presents a relatively rigid perimeter surrounding a relatively compressible, elastomeric center, installable underlying the heel of the skate boot and wherein the thickness of the shim along the vertical axis is associated with a corresponding angle of attack.

2. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 1 wherein the shim dampens vibrations and absorbs forces applied through the shim during skating.

3. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 2 wherein the open center and the central plug are generally ellipsoidal and wherein the crown member is sized and shaped such that the crown member perimetrically bounds the area atop the rear post of the blade holder underneath the heel of the skate boot.

4. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 3 wherein the crest member further comprises a series of nested concentric rings molded vertically oriented interior to the central plug.

5. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 4 wherein the crown member includes a plurality of apertures disposed therein whereby the crown member is positionable for securement between the rear post of the blade holder and the heel of the boot by engagement with extant fasteners provided with the blade holder and boot.

6. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 5 wherein the extant fasteners pierce the skirt of the crest member to tautly engage therethrough when the shim is installed under the boot heel and the blade holder is reattached thereto.

7. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of apertures is ellipsoidal whereby some lateral play enables precise positioning of the shim between the boot heel and the rear post.

8. An insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle installable to an existing ice skate, said outsole shim comprising: a generally ellipsoidal shim sized and shaped to seat flush between the heal of an existing ice skate boot and a rear post of the skate's blade holder, said shim having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis, said shim comprising: a polymeric, generally rigid crown member, said crown member molded perimetrically surrounding an open generally ellipsoidal center, said crown member sized and shaped such that the crown member perimetrically bounds the area atop the rear post of the blade holder underneath the heal of the skate boot; a generally elastomeric polymeric crest member, said crest member comprising: a generally ellipsoidal central plug disposed to seat flush into the ellipsoidal center of the crown member; and a flexible skirt member disposed to overlie the crown member; wherein the crest member nests into the crown member such that the crown member presents a relatively rigid perimeter surrounding a relatively compressible, elastomeric center, installable underlying the heel of the skate boot whereby installation of the shim to the ice skate increases the angle of attack of a skater wearing the boot.

9. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 8 wherein the crest member further comprises a series of nested concentric rings molded transversely oriented interior to the central plug.

10. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 9 wherein the crown member includes a plurality of apertures disposed therein whereby the crown member is positionable for securement between the rear post of the blade holder and the heel of the boot by engagement with extant fasteners provided with the blade holder and boot.

11. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 10 wherein the extant fasteners pierce the skirt of the crest member to tautly engage therethrough when the shim is installed under the boot heel and the blade holder is reattached thereto.

12. The insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle of claim 11 wherein the plurality of apertures are ellipsoidal whereby some lateral play enables precise positioning of the shim between the boot heel and the rear post.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures

[0016] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an example embodiment of the insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle showing a crown member and crest member in exploded view.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of an example embodiment of the insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle in exploded view in relation to the outsole or a ii skate boot and the rear post of a skate blade holder.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view of an example embodiment of the insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle installed to a skate shown in relation to the same skate without the shim installed to illustrate the increased attack angle engendered by the is shim.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section view of the example embodiment of the insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the flush nesting of a central plug of the crest member into the open center of the crown member.

[0020] FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an example embodiment of the outsole shim with crown member and crest member assembled together.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a transverse section view of an example embodiment of the rest member with the outermost layer of the central plug removed to show a plurality of concentric rings interior to the plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, example of the instant insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle employing the principles and concepts of the present insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6 a preferred embodiment of the present insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle 10 is illustrated.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of the insertable skate outsole shim for increased attack angle 10 in elevation and exploded view. In the example embodiment illustrated, insertable skate outsole shim 10 is generally ellipsoidal having transverse axis x and longitudinal axis y. Outsole shim 10 includes generally rigid crown member 20 and generally elastomeric, rubberlike, or compressible crest member 50.

[0025] Crown member 20 is a generally ellipsoidal body comprising a polymeric, generally rigid perimeter surrounding open center 100. Plurality of apertures 22 are disposed along longitudinal sections of crown member 20, positioned to engage with plurality of fasteners 75, as will be discussed herein below. Each of the plurality of apertures 22 is shown in this example embodiment as ellipsoidal, allowing for some play in position upon the blade holder 80 rear post 82 (see, e.g., FIG. 2). Crown member 20 is generally unyielding, stiff, polymeric, and molded or additively printed to specific dimensions devised to superimpose atop an existing rear post 82 of blade holder 80, as will be discussed hereinbelow (see, e.g., FIG. 2).

[0026] Crest member 50 includes rubberlike, elastomeric and/or compressible central plug 52 and relatively thin, flexible skirt member 54. Central plug 52 is rubberlike and compressible and may dampen vibrations and absorb forces incurred during use to increase comfort and performance of a skater with outsole shim 10 installed. Height h of plug 52 is equal to thickness t of crown member 20 whereby crown member 20 seats flushly around plug 52. Crown member 20 secures to crest member 50 by perimetrically engaging around central plug 52 in close contact therewith. Inner surface 24 contacts outer surface 56 of central plug 52. Crown member width p is equal to or slightly lesser than the perimetric width q of skirt member 54. Thus crest member 50 seats into crown is member 20, with central plug 52 encircled therein.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of the outsole shim 10 in exploded view to illustrate the position of the shim 10 when installed upon rear post 82 of blade holder 80. Outsole shim 10 seats atop rear post 82 of blade holder 80 and maps to boot 500 outsole 502 heel 504. Fasteners 75 secure to the outsole 502 by passing through an associated one of plurality of apertures 22. Fasteners 75 may pierce through skirt member 54 to ensure taut engagement therethrough. Once installed, outsole shim 10 serves to raise heel 504 and increase attack angle α by at least height h (some additional height is contemplated by the overlying thickness of the thin skirt member of crest member). See, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of the outsole shim 10 installed to an existing skate 500. Skate 500 is shown with (right) and without (left) outsole shim 10 installed. Outsole shim 10 raises heel 504 by at least height h and increases attack angle α an equivalent amount. Wearing the skate 500 with outsole shim 10 installed therefore orients the skater with heel raised and weight postured forward, for more aggressive skating. Additionally, the outsole shim 10 dampens vibrations, provides an amount of give, and assists absorption of forces exerted thereon during skating; it may therefore increase the longevity of the blade holder 80 or prevent abrupt breakage of the rear post 82, for example.

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates a longitudinal section of the example embodiment of outsole shim 10 depicted in FIGS. 1-4, taken along medial longitudinal axis y. The flush seating of central plug 52 into open center 100 of a crown member 20 is evincible. Height i represents the height by which attack angle α is increased when the outsole shim 10 is is installed. It should be readily comprehended by persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art that variances are producible between the relevant parts such that variation in heights t, h, and i may be expressed between and across various embodiments, adapted to produce particular attack angles α for various sized skates 500 and producible to match preference of individual skaters. Thus ranges of sized shims 10 and even individualized shims 10 are contemplated as producible herein.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows the example embodiment of outsole shim 10 depicted in FIGS. 1-4 assembled and in elevation view. In this example embodiment depicted, skirt member 54 extends beyond outer surface 26 of crown member 20. Ellipsoidal apertures 22 in crown member 20 are positioned to accommodate sinking of extant fasteners 75 into outsole 502 of boot 500. The ellipsoidal shape as shown in this example embodiment may enable an amount of play in fitting the shim 10 in a particular position adapted to a particular boot, to map the shim 10 to the correct or desired position atop the rear post 82 and under the boot 500 heel 504. Note that skirt member 54 is thin and flexible, though durably rendered, and may be trimmed down if desired to fit the shim seamlessly into the boot 500 profile.

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of the crest member 50, with the outermost layer of the central plug 52 removed to show a plurality of concentric rings or bands 58 disposed therein. Each of the plurality of concentric rings or bands 58 comprises a vertically oriented rubberlike protrusion disposed encircling a void 60. The central plug 52 is enclosed and the arrangement of the concentric rings or bands 58 bounding voids 60 therein enables compressibility of the plug member 52 which may be varied by the relative size, thickness, and ratio of rings to voids, as case may be, whereby a single means of production (such as molding or additive printing, for example) may yield a range of properties for damping vibrations and absorbing forces applied when skating.