Ice skate blade measuring apparatus

Abstract

A blade measuring apparatus (21) to measure the radius and bend of skate blades along the longitudinal plane of the skate blade runner features a one-piece frame (1), thermally non-conductive handles (5), and adjustable, replaceable, and interchangeable magnetic force application components (9, 10) and assemblies.

Claims

1. A skate blade measurement apparatus for the measurement of both radius of curvature and bend of a skate blade, the measurement device comprising: a. a one-piece main body structure; b. a thermally non-conductive handle assembly; c. with at least one removable source for a magnetic field attached to the main body structure for the purpose of exerting magnetic retention force on a skate blade; d. a means for measuring height, generally located in a center of the apparatus; e. A means for locating the main body of the apparatus on the skate blade such that is easily verified and repeatable; and f. at least one pair of contact points for the skate blade, one of the pair residing on each side of the means for locating the main body of the apparatus on the skate blade.

2. A skate blade measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a generally concave area horizontally adjacent to the blade contact points integrated into the surface of the main body, to prevent contact and damage to the skate blade.

3. A skate blade measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1, the at least one source for a magnetic field is selectable from various magnets configured, sized, and of variable magnetic strength, and said magnets are positioned to be able to impart said magnetic force in a centered orientation at the contact points along the longitudinal axis of the said skate blade.

4. A skate blade measuring apparatus as recited in claim 3, the magnets being easily interchangeable with optimally conforming strength magnetic component parts for contacting, holding, and measuring the said skate blade without changing the perceptible bend characteristics of the blade being measured.

5. A skate blade measuring apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising a precise position indicator such that measurements are then able to be repeatable at various locations along a blade's longitudinal axis.

6. A skate blade measuring apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the magnets are attached to the main body structure by an easy to operate means of insertion and removal into the main body structure.

7. A skate blade measuring apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the magnets may be adjusted within the installation location to increase or decrease the magnetic force applied to the blade's longitudinal axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of a short track speed skate.

(2) FIG. 2A is a side view of a long track speed skate illustrating the hinged clap arm mechanism which is affixed to the forefoot area of the boot.

(3) FIG. 2B is a side view of a long track speed skate illustrating the movement of the hinged clap arm mechanism.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front of a fully assembled skate blade measuring apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective view of a skate blade measuring apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a fully assembled skate blade measuring apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of a fully assembled skate blade measuring apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a left elevation of a fully assembled skate blade measuring apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(9) FIG. 8 is a right elevation of a fully assembled skate blade measuring apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(10) FIG. 9 is a top view of a fully assembled skate blade measuring apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(11) FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a fully assembled skate blade measuring apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(12) The various embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments described. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all possible alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DRAWINGSLIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(13) The following reference numerals are employed in the figures to indicate the associated elements of the embodiments depicted:

(14) 1. Main Body

(15) 2. Main Body Set Screw

(16) 3. Main Body Set Screw Hole

(17) 4. Main Body Handle Fastener Hole

(18) 5. Main Body Handle

(19) 6. Main Body Handle Fastener

(20) 7. Main Body Handle Hole

(21) 8. Blade Contact Point

(22) 9. Radius Magnet

(23) 10. Bend Magnet

(24) 11. Blade Contact Point Hole

(25) 12. Dial Indicator Mount Hole

(26) 13. Radius Magnet Alignment Slot

(27) 14. Bend Magnet Alignment Slot

(28) 15. Main Body Dial Indicator Centerline Marks

(29) 16. Main Body Recessed Area

(30) 17. Dial Indicator

(31) 18. Short Track Skate Blade

(32) 19. Long Track Skate Blade

(33) 20. Clap Skate Arm

(34) 21. Blade Measuring Apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(35) In FIG. 3, a front perspective view is shown of an embodiment of a blade measuring apparatus, with an associated dial indicator (17). The measuring apparatus can be used for measuring a short track skate blade (18) or a long track skate blade (19), examples of which are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A. The skate blades (18) and (19) are generally configured as an elongated rail-type support, which is typically a cylindrical tube shape with appendages to facilitate mounting of a blade runner component and mounting points for affixing boots, commonly referred to as a blade tube. The blade tube generally has a slot adapted to hold and retain the upper portion of the blade or runner on one side of the blade tube, and mounting platform(s) referred to as cups or arms attached on the opposite side of the blade tube for attaching the blade assembly to boots. The short track blade (18) and long track blade (19) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A exemplify one possible embodiment of each type of skate blade bendable with the blade bending apparatus. Various other types of skate blades, including blades of various configurations, may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Additionally, blade attachment sections with and without the associated runner or attachment components installed can also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(36) The preferred skate blade measuring apparatus (21) is shown in perspective view fully assembled in FIGS. 3 and 5-10 and exploded in FIG. 4. A main body set screw (2) is inserted into main body set screw hole (3) in a main body (1). Four blade contact points (8) are inserted into the main body (1) at blade contact point holes (11). Radius magnets (9) are inserted into radius magnet alignment slots (13). Bend magnets (10) are inserted into bend magnet alignment slots (14). Main body handles (5) are installed onto main body (1). Main body handle fasteners (6) are installed through main body handle holes (7) and into main body handle fastener hole (4).

(37) Dial indicator (17) is installed into main body (1) through main body dial indicator mount hole (12) and retained by tightening main body set screw (2). Main body dial indicator centerline marks (15) are placed on both sides of main body (1), adjacent to Dial indicator mount hole (12), to assist with locating the center line of the dial indicator tip when main body (1) is installed on a skate blade. A recessed area (16) on the bottom of the main body aids in preventing contact between the skate blade runner surface and the main body (1).

(38) It is contemplated that the main body (1) of this embodiment be made of aluminum and Computerized Numerical Control machined from a solid block of material, but other materials and methods are also suitable including, but not limited, to alloys, plastics, composites such as carbon fiber, etc.

(39) Likewise, it is contemplated that the handles (5) be made of plastic and solid in design, but other materials are suitable including carbon fiber, ceramic, etc. It is also contemplated that a threaded set screw (2) and threaded fastener (6) be made of steel, but other materials and fastening mechanisms also suitable.

(40) The radius and bend magnets (9) and (10) contemplated may be made of rare earth magnets of various strengths, and shaped as squares and cylinders respectively, but other magnetic materials are also suitable, as are other shapes and magnetic strengths.

(41) The contact points (8) contemplated may be made of carbide rod, but other materials including steel balls, gem stones, etc. are also suitable.

(42) The width of main body (1) is contemplated to allow for contact points (8) to be spaced at 4 to allow the user to view industry standard measurements. However, a narrower width main body and contact point distance is also possible and may be desirable in some instances. Such alternate embodiments are possible and intended.

(43) Alignment marks (15) may be etched into the aluminum surface of main body (1), but these marks can also be included by CNC machining, screen printing, surface labeling, etc., or other suitable means. Further, the alignment marks are purely for the purpose of making the process repeatable and they can be designated by other symbols as appropriate. The alignment marks may also be of any general shape or designation and may even be omitted.

(44) In use, the blade measuring apparatus achieves its results in the following manner:

(45) The user first calibrates the dial indicator (which may be digital or analog) (17) to read zero by placing a known flat surface against the blade contact points (8). The user then applies graduation marks to the skate blade surface to be measured to allow for alignment with main body dial indicator centerline marks (15) on main body (1).

(46) Graduation marks on the blade surface are used to choose repeatable positions for taking measurements on the skate blade[M] and adjusting blade radius and bend using tools that are not part of the blade measuring apparatus, to achieve the user's desired result. After positioning the main body (1) onto a skate blade surface, the radius and bend can be obtained for the area located at alignment mark (15).

(47) The user of the blade measuring apparatus can increase or decrease the magnetic attachment power of the assembled measurement apparatus by changing the strength of the installed magnets (9) and (10). The magnetic attachment power can also be adjusted by installing non-magnetic shims between the magnet (9) and/or (10) and main body (1) inside magnet alignment slots (13) and (14) to move the magnets further away from the blade surface.

(48) Accordingly, the reader will see that the blade measuring apparatus of the various embodiments can be used to provide an easy, precise, convenient, and repeatable method to measure skate blades of various shapes and configurations, over as much, or as little, of the blades length as the user desires, that does not damage the skate blades, that is easily adjusted for measuring operation and user configuration preferences, that is easily transported, and that has an attractive appearance.

(49) From the description above, many advantages of some embodiments of our blade measurement apparatus become evident: (a) The construction of the main body (1) with thermally non-conductive main body handles (5) allows for reduced weight and substantially reduced possibility that extended use of the apparatus will result in the main body (1) changing shape because of the difference in temperature between the users' hand and the temperature of main body (1). As with any hand-held measurement device in the preferred environment in which this device is used, any change in the shape of main body (1) due to thermal expansion or contraction will result in inaccurate measurements. (b) The design of main body (1) is such that the width of main body (1) and distance between blade contact points (8) can be reduced without limiting function. Such an alternate embodiment could potentially increase the accuracy of measurements taken in such a reduced size embodiment because the measurements obtained will be the result of reduced average distance between the contact points (8). (c) The removable and replaceable magnets (9) and (10) are in positions that eliminate the possibility of blade deflection and resultant errant measurements being obtained by the dial indicator (17). (d) The removable and replaceable magnets (9) and (10) with different magnetic strength possibilities, allow the apparatus to be tuned to the desired strength of the user without requiring the replacement of the apparatus. (e) The removable and replaceable magnets (9) and (10), allow the apparatus to be fully disassembled and cleaned by the user, without the need for special tools. (f) The graduation marks allow for easily repeatable bending operations. (g) The open design of main body (1) combined with recessed area (16) allows users to work on blades easily and quickly without risk of damage to the blades surface. (h) The shape of main body (1) and handles (5) allow for the use of a much smaller dial indicator (17) which allows for a lower center of gravity than existing designs. This allows for simpler and more precise operation as well as easier transport and less risk of damage during use. The dial is also reversible, depending upon the preferences of the operator

(50) Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. For example, the main body can have other shapes, such as circular, trapezoidal, triangular, etc.; the handles and recesses can likewise have other shapes, etc. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(51) The present invention has industrial applicability in that it may be made by industry and has use in the skating industry.