Ice skate
11547924 · 2023-01-10
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
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.
Claims
1. A blade holder for holding a blade of an ice skate, the ice skate comprising a skate boot for receiving a foot of a skater, the blade holder comprising: a wall comprising a first polymeric material and defining at least part of a shape of the blade holder; and a filler configured to achieve at least one of contributing to an impact resistance of the blade holder and absorbing vibrations during skating, the filler comprising a second polymeric material different from the first polymeric material; wherein: the blade holder comprises an upper structure comprising a front member, a rear member and an inner member extending between the front member and the rear member; the inner member defines an upper void; the blade holder comprises a lower structure comprising a front pillar, a rear pillar spaced from the front pillar in a longitudinal direction of the blade holder and an elongated blade-supporting base for supporting the blade between the front pillar and the rear pillar; and the inner member, the front pillar, the rear pillar and the elongated blade-supporting base define a lower void.
2. The blade holder of claim 1, wherein the wall and the filler are affixed to one another by molding of at least one of the wall and the filler.
3. The blade holder of claim 2, wherein the wall of the blade holder is molded over the filler of the blade holder.
4. The blade holder of claim 1, wherein the first polymeric material is a composite material.
5. The blade holder of claim 4, wherein the composite material is a fiber-reinforced polymeric material comprising fibers in a polymeric matrix.
6. The blade holder of claim 5, wherein the fiber-reinforced polymeric material comprises a pre-impregnated fiber layer including respective ones of the fibers.
7. The blade holder of claim 6, wherein: the pre-impregnated fiber layer is a first pre-impregnated fiber layer; and the fiber-reinforced polymeric material comprises a second pre-impregnated fiber layer including respective ones of the fibers distinct from the respective ones of the fibers of the first pre-impregnated fiber layer.
8. The blade holder of claim 5, wherein the fibers comprise carbon fibers.
9. The blade holder of claim 5, wherein the fibers comprise at least one of graphite fibers, carbon graphite fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, silicon carbide fibers, ceramic fibers, metallic fibers, glass fibers, and polypropylene fibers.
10. The blade holder of claim 1, wherein the second polymeric material is a foam.
11. The blade holder of claim 1, wherein: the wall defines a cavity; and at least part of the filler of the blade holder is disposed in the cavity.
12. The blade holder of claim 1, wherein at least part of the wall is part of at least one of the front pillar, the rear pillar and the elongated blade-supporting base.
13. The blade holder of claim 12, wherein the wall of the blade holder includes at least part of the front pillar and at least part of the rear pillar.
14. The blade holder of claim 13, wherein the wall of the blade holder includes at least part of the elongated blade-supporting base.
15. The blade holder of claim 13, wherein the filler of the blade holder includes at least part of the front pillar and at least part of the rear pillar.
16. The blade holder of claim 15, wherein the wall of the blade holder includes at least part of the elongated blade-supporting base and the filler of the blade holder includes at least part of the elongated blade-supporting base.
17. The blade holder of claim 12, wherein the lower structure comprises a U-shaped member including the front pillar, the rear pillar and the elongated blade-supporting base.
18. The blade holder of claim 1, wherein the inner member of the upper structure is a U-shaped member, wherein the wall of the blade holder includes at least part of the U-shaped member.
19. An ice skate comprising the blade holder of claim 1.
20. The blade holder of claim 1, wherein the front pillar extends upwardly towards the front portion of the upper structure, and the rear pillar extends upwardly towards the rear portion of the upper structure.
21. A blade holder for holding a blade of an ice skate, the ice skate comprising a skate boot for receiving a foot of a skater, the blade holder comprising: a wall comprising a composite material and defining at least part of a shape of the blade holder; and a filler configured to achieve at least one of contributing to an impact resistance of the blade holder and absorbing vibrations during skating, the filler comprising a polymeric material different from the composite material; wherein: the blade holder comprises an upper structure comprising a front member, a rear member and an inner member extending between the front member and the rear member; the inner member comprises a first arm extending upwardly towards the front member and a second arm extending upwardly towards the rear member; the inner member defines an upper void; the blade holder comprises a lower structure comprising a front pillar, a rear pillar spaced from the front pillar in a longitudinal direction of the blade holder and an elongated blade-supporting base for supporting the blade between the front pillar and the rear pillar; and the upper structure and the lower structure define a lower void.
22. A blade holder for holding a blade of an ice skate, the ice skate comprising a skate boot for receiving a foot of a skater, the blade holder comprising: a wall comprising a first polymeric material and defining at least part of a shape of the blade holder; and a filler configured to achieve at least one of contributing to an impact resistance of the blade holder and absorbing vibrations during skating, the filler comprising a second polymeric material different from the first polymeric material; wherein: the wall and the filler of the blade holder are affixed to one another by molding of at least one of the wall and the filler of the blade holder; the blade holder comprises an upper structure comprising a front member, a rear member and an inner member extending between the front member and the rear member; the inner member defines an upper void; the blade holder comprises a lower structure comprising a front pillar, a rear pillar spaced from the front pillar in a longitudinal direction of the blade holder and an elongated blade-supporting base for supporting the blade between the front pillar and the rear pillar; and the inner member, the front pillar, the rear pillar and the elongated blade-supporting base define a lower void.
23. The blade holder of claim 22, wherein the first polymeric material is a composite material.
24. The blade holder of claim 23, wherein the composite material comprises a matrix.
25. The blade holder of claim 24, wherein the matrix comprises a resin.
26. The blade holder of claim 25, wherein the resin comprises a thermosetting polymeric material.
27. The blade holder of claim 25, wherein the resin comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material.
28. The blade holder of claim 25, wherein the resin comprises a hybrid thermosetting-thermoplastic polymeric material.
29. The blade holder of claim 23, wherein the composite material comprises fibers.
30. The blade holder of claim 29, wherein the fibers comprise carbon fibers.
31. The blade holder of claim 29, wherein the fibers comprise graphite fibers.
32. The blade holder of claim 29, wherein the fibers comprise carbon graphite fibers.
33. The blade holder of claim 29, wherein the fibers are oriented to be in tension when the ice skate is deflected in a widthwise direction of the blade holder.
34. The blade holder of claim 22, wherein the first polymeric material is molded.
35. The blade holder of claim 22, wherein the first polymeric material is molded over the second material.
36. The blade holder of claim 22, wherein the second polymeric material comprises foam.
37. The blade holder of claim 22, wherein the first polymeric material comprises fiber-matrix composite material comprising fibers.
38. The blade holder of claim 37, wherein the fibers comprise carbon fibers.
39. The blade holder of claim 37, wherein the fibers comprises glass fibers.
40. The blade holder of claim 37, wherein the fibers comprises polypropylene fibers.
41. The blade holder of claim 22, wherein the second polymeric material is pre-molded.
42. The blade holder of claim 22, wherein the second polymeric material comprises polyurethane.
43. An ice skate comprising a skate boot for receiving a foot of a skater, a blade, and the blade holder of claim 22.
44. The blade holder of claim 22, wherein the front pillar extends upwardly towards the front portion of the upper structure, and the rear pillar extends upwardly towards the rear portion of the upper structure.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) A detailed description of embodiments of the invention is provided below, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
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(58) In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for purposes of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
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(60) The skate boot 11 defines a cavity for receiving the skater's foot. With additional reference to
(61) In this embodiment, the skate boot 11 comprises a front portion 17 for receiving the toes T of the skater's foot, a rear portion 19 for receiving the heel H of the skater's foot, and an intermediate portion 21 between the front portion 17 and the rear portion 19.
(62) More particularly, in this embodiment, the skate boot 11 comprises an outer shell 12, a toe cap 14 for facing the toes T, a tongue 16 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the toe cap 14 for covering the top surface TS of the skater's foot, a rigid insert 18 for providing more rigidity around the ankle A and the heel H of the skater's foot, an inner lining 20, a footbed 22, and an insole 24. The skate boot 11 also comprises lace members 38 and eyelets 42 punched into the lace members 38, the outer shell 12 and the inner lining 20 vis-à-vis apertures 40 in order to receive laces for tying on the skate 10.
(63) The inner lining 20 is affixed to an inner surface of the outer shell 12 and comprises an inner surface 32 intended for contact with the heel H and medial and lateral sides MS, LS of the skater's foot and the skater's ankle A in use. The inner lining 20 is made of a soft material (e.g., a fabric made of NYLON® fibers or any other suitable fabric). The rigid insert 18 is sandwiched between the outer shell 12 and the inner lining 20 and may be affixed in any suitable way (e.g., glued to the inner surface of the outer shell 12 and stitched along its periphery to the outer shell 12). The footbed 22 is mounted inside the outer shell 12 and comprises an upper surface 34 for receiving the plantar surface PS of the skater's foot and a wall 36 projecting upwardly from the upper surface 34 to partially cup the heel H and extend up to a medial line of the skater's foot. The insole 24 has an upper surface 25 for facing the plantar surface PS of the skater's foot and a lower surface 23 on which the outer shell 12 may be affixed.
(64) The outer shell 12 is thermoformed such that it comprises a heel portion 44 for receiving the heel H, an ankle portion 46 for receiving the ankle A, and medial and lateral side portions 50, 60 for facing the medial and lateral sides MS, LS of the skater's foot, respectively. The medial and lateral side portions 50, 60 include upper edges 51, 61 which connect to the lace members 38. The heel portion 44 may be thermoformed such that it is substantially cup shaped for following the contour of the heel H. The ankle portion 46 comprises medial and lateral ankle sides 52, 54. The medial ankle side 52 has a medial cup-shaped depression 56 for receiving the medial malleolus MM and the lateral ankle side 54 has a lateral cup-shaped depression 58 for receiving the lateral malleolus LM of the skater. The lateral depression 58 is located slightly lower than the medial depression 56, for conforming to the morphology of the skater's foot. The ankle portion 46 further comprises a rear portion 47 facing the lower part LP of the Achilles tendon AT. The rear portion 47 may be thermoformed such that it follows the lower part LP of the Achilles tendon AT. Furthermore, the skate boot 11 also includes a tendon guard 43 affixed to the rear portion 47 of the ankle portion 46 and extending upwardly therefrom.
(65) The skate boot 11 may be constructed in any other suitable way in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, various components of the skate boot 11 mentioned above may be configured differently or omitted and/or the skate boot 11 may comprise any other components that may be made of any other suitable materials and/or using any other suitable processes.
(66) With additional reference to
(67) The blade holder 28 has a longitudinal axis A-A extending from a front portion 129 of the blade holder 28 to a rear portion 130 of the blade holder 28. The front portion 129 of the blade holder 28 defines a frontmost point 128′ of the blade holder 28 and extends beneath and along the skater's forefoot in use, while the rear portion 130 of the blade holder 28 defines a rearmost point 128″ of the blade holder 28 and extends beneath and along the skater's hindfoot in use. A central portion 137 of the blade holder 28 is between the front and rear portions 129, 130 of the blade holder 28 and extends beneath and along the skater's midfoot in use. A length L of the blade holder 28 can be measured from the frontmost point 128′ to the rearmost point 128″. The longitudinal axis A-A of the blade holder 28 defines a longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28 (i.e., a direction generally parallel to its longitudinal axis) and transversal directions of the blade holder 28 (i.e., directions transverse to its longitudinal axis), including a widthwise direction of the blade holder 28 (i.e., a lateral direction generally perpendicular to its longitudinal axis). The blade holder 28 also has a height direction normal to its longitudinal and widthwise directions.
(68) In this embodiment, the upper structure 132 and the lower structure 136 of the blade holder 28 form an outer member 156 and an inner member 148 which is disposed between the outer member 156 and the skate boot 11. A lower void 161 of the hollow space 160 extends between the inner member 148 and the outer member 156, while an upper void 163 of the hollow space 160 extends between the inner member 148 and the skate boot 11. In this example, each of the outer member 156 and the inner member 148 is a U-shaped member (e.g., a cradle-shaped member). The inner and outer members 148, 156 may have any other suitable shape in other examples of implementation.
(69) More particularly, in this embodiment, the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 comprises the U-shaped inner member 148 as well as a front member 140, a rear member 142, and an intermediate member 182 that are configured to be affixed to the skate boot 11. The front member 140 is connected to the front portion 17 of the skate boot 11 for supporting the ball B and toes T of the skater's foot, the rear member 142 is connected to the rear portion 19 of the skate boot 11 for supporting the heel H of the skater's foot, and the intermediate member 182 interconnects the front and rear members 140, 142 and extends below the arch ARC of the skater's foot.
(70) The front, rear and intermediate members 140, 142, 182 of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 form an upper surface of the blade holder 28 that faces the skate boot 11. More particularly, in this embodiment, the front, rear and intermediate members 140, 142, 182 form a single pedestal 180 which extends across substantially an entirety of the plantar surface PS of the skater's foot. In this example, the pedestal 180 formed by the front, rear and intermediate members 140, 142, 182 includes an outsole 126 to be affixed to the skate boot 11.
(71) The U-shaped inner member 148 of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 includes an elongated base 147 and a front arm 148.sub.1 and a rear arm 148.sub.2 which extend upwardly from the elongated base 147. The front arm 148.sub.1 of the U-shaped inner member 148 extends upwardly towards a rear portion 140″ of the front member 140 and the rear arm 148.sub.2 of the U-shaped inner member 148 extends upwardly towards a front portion 142′ of the rear member 142. The elongated base 147 extends between the front and rear arms 148.sub.1, 148.sub.2 and, in this example, is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28.
(72) The upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 may be affixed to the skate boot 11 in any suitable way. For example, in this embodiment, the front, rear and intermediate members 140, 142, 182 of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 may be fastened to the skate boot 11 by mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets, screws, bolts) extending through openings 177 of these members, by an adhesive, and/or by any other fastening means.
(73) The upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 may be configured in various other ways in other embodiments.
(74) The lower structure 136 of the blade holder 28 comprises an elongated blade-supporting base 157 for supporting the ice skate blade 52. The elongated blade-supporting base 157 is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28. More particularly, in this embodiment, the lower structure 136 comprises the U-shaped outer member 156 which includes the elongated blade-supporting base 157 and a front pillar 156.sub.1 and a rear pillar 1562 which extend upwardly from the elongated blade-supporting base 157. The front pillar 156.sub.1 extends towards the front portion 17 of the skate boot 11 and the rear pillar 156.sub.2 extends towards the rear portion 19 of the skate boot 11. More specifically, in this embodiment, the front pillar 156.sub.1 extends upwardly towards a front portion 140′ of the front member 140 and the rear pillar 156.sub.2 extends upwardly towards a rear portion 142″ of the rear member 142. The elongated blade-supporting base 157 extends between the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2.
(75) The front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 of the U-shaped outer member 156 support the skate boot 11 and transmit forces exerted while the skater skates to the ice skate blade 52. In this embodiment, the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 allow controlled flexions of certain parts of the blade holder 28 while the skater skates that may be beneficial for the skater.
(76) Notably, in this embodiment, with additional reference to
(77) Also, in this embodiment, the blade holder 28 allows an elastic flexion of a central portion of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 located between the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, which in this example includes the U-shaped inner member 148 and the intermediate member 182, in the height direction of the blade holder 28 while the skater skates. That would manifest itself as a deflection of the central portion of the upper structure 132 in the height direction of the blade holder 28 and may also be beneficial. For instance, it may create a kickback in the height direction of the blade holder 28, which may help with skating dynamics. For example, during a pushing action, the elongated base 147 of the U-shaped inner member 148 can approach the elongated blade-supporting base 157 of the U-shaped outer member 156, causing the hollow space 160 to temporarily change shape during compression of the blade holder 28. When the skater's pushing action ends, the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 move away from one another and return to their initial position.
(78) More particularly, in this embodiment, the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 are significantly spaced apart and relatively short in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28. That is, a longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 (i.e., a maximal distance between the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28) is relatively large and a minimal longitudinal dimension D of a cross-section of either of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 (i.e., a minimal dimension in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28 of either of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2) is relatively small.
(79) For example, in this embodiment, the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 is greater than a sum of the minimal longitudinal dimension D of each of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2. For instance, in some embodiments, the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 may be at least three times greater, in some cases at least four times greater, in some cases at least five times greater, and in some cases at least six times greater than the sum of the minimal longitudinal dimension D of each of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, or may be even greater. In this example, the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 is about eight times greater than the sum of the minimal longitudinal dimension D of each of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2.
(80) As another example, in some embodiments, a ratio S/L of the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 over the length L of the blade holder 28 may be at least 0.6, in some cases at least 0.7, in some cases at least 0.8, in some cases at least 0.9, and in some cases even greater (e.g., 0.95 or more). The ratio S/L may have any other value in other embodiments.
(81) As yet another example, in some embodiments, a ratio S/D of the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 over the minimal longitudinal dimension D of one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 may be at least 4, in some cases at least 6, in some cases at least 8, in some cases at least 10, in some cases at least 12, in some cases at least 14, in some cases at least 16, in some cases at least 18, and in some cases even greater (e.g., 20 or more). The ratio S/D may have any other value in other embodiments.
(82) For instance, in this embodiment, the length L of the blade holder 28 may be about 300 mm, the minimal longitudinal dimension D of each of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 may be about 15 mm, and the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 may be about 270 mm. The length L of the blade holder 28, the minimal longitudinal dimension D of each of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, and the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 may have any other values in other embodiments.
(83) In addition to the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 being significantly spaced apart and relatively short in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28, in this embodiment, at least a significant part of the blade holder 28 is free of any inter-pillar structure comparable to at least one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, i.e., any structure (i) between the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, (ii) extending downwardly to and secured at the elongated blade-supporting base 157, (iii) having a material composition corresponding to that of (i.e., made of a same material or combination of materials as) a given one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, and (iv) having a minimal cross-sectional area (in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28) corresponding to at least half of that of the given one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2. For example, in this embodiment, at least a front quarter and a rear quarter of the blade holder 28 (i.e., a front quarter and a rear quarter of the length L of the blade holder 28) are free of any inter-pillar structure comparable to at least one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2. More particularly, in this embodiment, at least one of (in this case both of) a front third and a rear third of the blade holder 28 are free of any inter-pillar structure comparable to at least one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2. Specifically, in this embodiment, the blade holder 28 (i.e., an entirety of the length L of the blade holder 28) is free of any inter-pillar structure comparable to at least one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2.
(84) Another way of viewing the blade holder 28 is that, in this embodiment, at least a significant part of the blade holder 28 is free of any inter-pillar structure substantially limiting the widthwise flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 157, i.e., any structure (i) between the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, (ii) extending downwardly to and secured at the elongated blade-supporting base 157, (iii) having a material composition corresponding to that of (i.e., made of a same material or combination of materials as) a given one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, and (iv) reducing the widthwise deflection of the elongated blade-supporting base 157 in response to a given load by at least 10%. For example, in this embodiment, at least a front quarter and a rear quarter of the blade holder 28 (i.e., a front quarter and a rear quarter of the length L of the blade holder 28) are free of any inter-pillar structure substantially limiting the widthwise flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 157. More particularly, in this embodiment, at least one of (in this case both of) a front third and a rear third of the blade holder 28 are free of any inter-pillar structure substantially limiting the widthwise flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 157. Specifically, in this embodiment, the blade holder 28 (i.e., an entirety of the length L of the blade holder 28) is free of any inter-pillar structure substantially limiting the widthwise flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 157.
(85) As shown in
(86) Referring back to
(87) In this embodiment, therefore, the elongated blade-supporting base 157 is suspended only by the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2. The lower void 161 of the hollow space 160 extends from the front pillar 156.sub.1 to the rear pillar 156.sub.2. There is no structure extending upwardly from the U-shaped inner member 148 to the U-shaped outer member 156 between the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2. This may help to maximize an effect of the elastic flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 157 and the ice skate blade 52 in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28 while the skater skates, such as easier and/or faster turns and/or a transversal kickback, as discussed above. This may also help to maximize an effect of the elastic flexion of the central portion of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 located between the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, which in this example includes the U-shaped inner member 148 and the intermediate member 182, in the height direction of the blade holder 28 while the skater skates, such as a vertical kickback as previously mentioned.
(88) The hollow space 160 of the blade holder 28 may be configured in various ways. For example, in this embodiment, the lower void 161 of the hollow space 160, which extends between the U-shaped inner and outer member 148, 156, is U-shaped. That is, each of a front region 171 and a rear region 173 of the lower void 161 has a greater height than an intermediate region 175 of the void 161. In this example of implementation, the front region 171 of the lower void 161 occupies most of a length and a height of the front portion 129 of the blade holder 28, which generally extends beneath and along the skater's forefoot in use. Similarly, the rear region 173 of the lower void 161 occupies most of a length and a height of the rear portion 130 of the blade holder 28, which extends beneath and along the skater's hindfoot in use. Also, in this embodiment, the upper void 163 of the hollow space 160 tapers in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28. Specifically, in this example, the upper void 163 tapers towards the front portion of the blade holder 28. The hollow space 160 may have any other suitable configuration in other embodiments.
(89) A void of the hollow space 160 of the blade holder 28, such as the lower void 161 or the upper void 163, extends in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28 from a given one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 for at least a substantial portion of the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2. For example, in some embodiments, a void of the hollow space 160 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28 from a given one of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 for at least one-quarter of the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, in some cases at least one-third of the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, in some cases at least one half of the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2, and in some cases even more. In this embodiment, the lower void 161 of the hollow space 160 extends in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 28 from the front pillar 156.sub.1 to the rear pillar 156.sub.2, i.e., for an entirety of the longitudinal spacing S of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2.
(90) The hollow space 160 of the blade holder 28, which is substantial, thus helps to reduce the weight of the blade holder 28 and may facilitate the elastic widthwise flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 157 and the ice skate blade 52 and/or the elastic vertical flexion of the central portion of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 while the skater skates, as discussed above.
(91) The blade holder 28 can be made of any suitable material. In this embodiment, with additional reference to
(92) The matrix 187 may include any suitable substance. In this embodiment, the matrix 187 is a polymeric matrix. For example, the polymeric matrix 187 may include any other suitable polymeric resin, such as a thermosetting polymeric material (e.g., polyester, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, polyurethane, epoxy, cyanate ester, phenolic resin, etc.), a thermoplastic polymeric material (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, polyimide, polysulfone, polyamide-imide, self-reinforcing polyphenylene, etc.), or a hybrid thermosetting-thermoplastic polymeric material.
(93) The fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F may be made of any suitable material. In this embodiment, the fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F are carbon fibers. The composite material 186 is thus a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in this example of implementation. Any other suitable type of fibers may be used in other embodiments (e.g., polymeric fibers such as aramid fibers (e.g., Kevlar fibers), boron fibers, silicon carbide fibers, metallic fibers, glass fibers, ceramic fibers, etc.).
(94) In this embodiment, respective ones of the fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F that are located in the U-shaped outer member 156 are oriented to be in tension when the elongated blade-supporting base 157 and the ice skate blade 52 are deflected by the deflection δ in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28 due to the elastic flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 157 and the ice skate blade 52 in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28. This fiber tension tends to force the elongated blade-supporting base 157 and the ice skate blade 52 back into their normal (non-deflected) shape, thereby enhancing the kickback in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28.
(95) For example, in this embodiment, respective ones of the fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F that are located in the U-shaped outer member 156 extend in a direction having at least a component parallel to a longitudinal axis O-O of the U-shaped outer member 156. In other words, respective ones of the fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F that are located in the U-shaped outer member 156 extend parallel or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis O-O of the U-shaped outer member 156. For instance, in some embodiments, an angle β between a fiber 189.sub.x located in the U-shaped outer member 156 and the longitudinal axis O-O of the U-shaped outer member 156 may be from 0° (parallel) to 45°.
(96) More particularly, in this embodiment, at least a majority of the fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F that are located in the elongated blade-supporting base 157 of the U-shaped outer member 156 extend parallel or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis O-O of the U-shaped outer member 156 in the elongated blade-supporting base 157. In this example of implementation, a totality of the fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F that are located in the elongated blade-supporting base 157 of the U-shaped outer member 156 extend parallel or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis O-O of the U-shaped outer member 156 in the elongated blade-supporting base 157.
(97) The fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F may be arranged in any other suitable manner in other embodiments.
(98) In order to further reduce the weight of the blade holder 28, in this embodiment, each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 is hollow. That is, each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 comprises an external wall 190 defining a cavity 191 which is empty. More particularly, in this embodiment, each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 is a tubular member having an external surface 170 and an internal surface 172. The external wall 190 extends from the external surface 170 to the internal surface 172, while the cavity 191 is delimited by the internal surface 172. In this case, the cavity 191 of each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 opens into a cavity 194 of each of the front and rear members 140, 142 of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28.
(99) The U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape. For example, in this embodiment, the U-shaped inner member 148 has a cross-sectional shape that is oblong in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28. The U-shaped outer member 156 has a cross-sectional shape that is generally trapezoidal, tapering downwardly, and shorter than the cross-sectional shape of the U-shaped inner member 148 in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28. Also, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 is substantially uniform over that member's length.
(100) The blade holder 28 can be manufactured in any suitable manner using various processes. In this embodiment, the blade holder 28 is a one-piece molded blade holder made by a molding process. More particularly, in this embodiment, a plurality of layers of fibers, which are destined to provide the fibers 189.sub.1-189.sub.F of the blade holder 28, are layered onto one another on a support which is then placed in a mold to consolidate the composite material 186 of the blade holder 28. In this example, each of these layers of fibers is provided as a pre-preg (i.e., pre-impregnated) layer of fibers held together by an amount of matrix material, which is destined to provide a respective portion of the matrix 187 of the blade holder 28. Also, in this example, the support comprises one or more inflatable bladders (e.g., air bladders) on which the pre-preg layers are layered such that the one or more inflatable bladders can be inflated to define the external wall 190 and the cavity 191 of each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 during molding in the mold. The support may also comprise one or more other components (e.g., silicone mold parts) on which the pre-preg layers may be layered to form other parts of the blade holder 28 (e.g., the front and rear members 140, 142 of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28) during molding in the mold. Various other manufacturing methods may be used to make the blade holder 28 in other embodiments.
(101) With additional reference to
(102) The runner 125 and the blade body may be retained together in various ways. For example, the runner 125′ may be adhesively affixed. Any suitable adhesive may be used to affix the runner 125 (e.g., an epoxy-based adhesive, a polyurethane-based adhesive, etc.). As another example, in addition to or instead of being adhesively fastened, the runner 125 may be fastened using one or more mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets, screws, etc.). In other embodiments, the runner 125 and the blade body may be mechanically interlocked via a plurality of interlocking portions of one of the runner and the blade body that extend in a plurality of interlocking openings of the other one of the runner and the blade body (e.g., the blade body may be overmolded onto the runner 125).
(103) The ice skate 10, including the blade holder 28, may be constructed in various other ways in other embodiments.
(104) For instance, in other embodiments, the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 may be shaped in various other ways. For example, the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 may have any other desired cross-sectional shape.
(105) While in this embodiment the minimal longitudinal dimension D of each of the front and rear pillars 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 of the U-shaped outer member 156 is substantially identical, the minimal longitudinal dimension D the front pillar 156.sub.1 may be substantially different from (i.e., larger or smaller than) the minimal longitudinal dimension D of the rear pillar 156.sub.2.
(106) Instead of being empty as in embodiments considered above, in other embodiments, as shown in
(107) More particularly, in this embodiment, the internal material 181 includes a filler 120 that fills at least part of the cavity 191. In this example of implementation, the filler 120 is foam. This may help to improve impact resistance and/or absorb vibrations while the skater skates. For instance, the foam 120 may be polystyrene (PS) foam, polyurethane (PU) foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, polypropylene (PP) foam, polyethylene (PE) foam, vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, or any other suitable foam. In some examples of implementation, the foam 120 may have been pre-molded to form an internal frame of the blade holder 28 over which the composite material 186 may subsequently be molded. For instance, in some cases, instead of using an inflatable bladder as discussed above, the internal frame formed by the pre-molded foam 120 may constitute at least part of the support onto which the pre-preg layers of fibers are layered to mold the composite material 186. In other examples of implementation, the foam 120 may be injected into the cavity 191 after the composite material 186 has been molded.
(108) In some embodiments, as shown in
(109) Instead of being provided only in the cavity 191 of each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156, in other embodiments, the internal material 181 may also occupy the cavity 194 of each of the front and rear members 140, 142 of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 such that it substantially occupies an entirety of a hollow space defined by the composite material 186 of the blade holder 28. For example, in some cases, as shown in
(110) In some embodiments, at least part (e.g., some or all) of the internal material 181 may be removed after the composite material 186 has been molded to leave empty at least part of the cavity 191 of each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 and/or of the cavity 194 of each of the front and rear members 140, 142 of the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28. For example, in some embodiments, at least part of the internal material 181 may be dissolved by a solvent. For instance, in this embodiment in which the internal material 181 includes foam, the solvent may be acetone. Any other suitable solvent may be used in other embodiments.
(111) In other embodiments, the ice skate blade 52 can be attached to the blade holder 28 in various other manners. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in
(112) While in some embodiments the ice skate blade 52 may be permanently attached to the blade holder 28, in other embodiments, as shown in
(113) In some embodiments, as shown in
(114) In this embodiment, the resilient element 150 extends upwardly from the U-shaped outer member 156. More particularly, in this embodiment, the resilient element 150 extends from the U-shaped outer member 156 to the U-shaped inner member 148. The resilient element 150 is positioned between the elongated blade-supporting base 157 of the U-shaped outer member 156 and the elongated base 147 of the U-shaped inner member 148. More specifically, the resilient element 150 is positioned in the central arch-underlying portion 166 of the blade holder 28 and engages with the external surfaces 170 of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156. As such, in addition to its vibration absorption capability, the resilient element 150 may also be used to adjust a degree of movement permitted between the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156, in the widthwise direction and/or the height direction of the blade holder 28.
(115) The resilient element 150 can be implemented in any suitable way. For example, in this embodiment, the resilient element 150 comprises a cushion 151 (i.e., an elastic body) for reducing vibrations. More particularly, in this embodiment, the cushion 151 is made of an elastic material (i.e., a material capable of recovering size and shape after deformation) different from the composite material 186 of the blade holder 28. The elastic material of the cushion 151 may be relatively soft. For instance, in this embodiment, the elastic material of the cushion 151 may have a hardness of no more than 95 durometers Shore A. The hardness of the elastic material of the cushion 151 may have any other suitable value in other embodiments. In this example of implementation, the elastic material of the cushion 151 is polyurethane. Any other suitable elastic material may be used for the cushion 151 in other examples of implementation (e.g., rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, foam, etc.)
(116) The resilient element 150 can be secured between the upper structure 132 and the lower structure 136 of the blade holder 28 in any suitable way. For example, in this embodiment, the resilient element 150 is adhesively secured to each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 by an adhesive at these members' respective interfaces. In other embodiments, the resilient element 150 may be secured to one or both of the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 by one or more mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets, screws, bolts, etc.).
(117) In this embodiment, the resilient element 150 is shaped as a graphical element that conveys information to an observer. For example, in this embodiment, the resilient element 150 is configured as a word (i.e. a combination of characters, in this case “ABCD”) which may be associated with a brand of the blade holder 28 and/or the ice skate 10. In other embodiments, the resilient element 150 may be shaped as a logo or any other graphical element associated with a team of the skater or a brand of the blade holder 28 and/or the ice skate 10, or as any other desired graphical element.
(118) The resilient element 150 can be constructed in various other manners in other embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in
(119) While in embodiments considered above the resilient element 150 is permanently secured to the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156, in other embodiments, as shown in
(120) In some embodiments, as shown in
(121) The inter-pillar structure 162 may be implemented in any other suitable way in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the inter-pillar structure 162 may comprise a different number of ribs similar to ribs 149.sub.1, 149.sub.2 to connect the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 (i.e., a single rib or more than two ribs). As another example, while the ribs 149.sub.1, 149.sub.2 are shown to extend in a direction almost perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A of the blade holder 28, a rib similar to ribs 149.sub.1, 149.sub.2 may extend in any direction in other embodiments. As yet another example, in other embodiments, the ribs 149.sub.1, 149.sub.2 may be made of a different material than the U-shaped inner and outer members 148, 156 and/or may be full.
(122) The blade holder 28 may have any other desirable configuration in other embodiments.
(123) For example, in some embodiments, as shown in
(124) As another example, in some embodiments, as shown in
(125) While in certain embodiments considered above the upper structure 132 of the blade holder 28 includes the outsole 126 to be affixed to the skate boot 11, in other embodiments, as shown in
(126) The blade holder 28 may be made using any other suitable manufacturing process in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the blade holder 28 may be formed as a single piece via compression molding or injection molding. In other embodiments, the blade holder 28 may be formed of two separate pieces that are pressed onto either side of the ice skate blade 52 and affixed to one another via any appropriate fastening means (e.g., rivets, screws, adhesive, heat-melt welding, etc.).
(127) In some embodiments, certain parts of the skate boot 11 may be integrally molded with the blade holder 28. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in
(128) As another example, in some embodiments, as shown in
(129) Referring to
(130) The blade holder 500 also comprises a front member 508 defining a front peripheral wall 510 with an upper surface 512 for facing a bottom portion of the front portion 17 of the skate boot 11 and a rear member 514 defining a rear peripheral wall 516 with an upper surface 518 for facing a bottom portion of the rear portion 19 of the skate boot 11. As best seen in
(131) The blade holder 500 also comprises an intermediate member 520 extending between the front and rear members 508, 514, the intermediate member 520 having an upper surface 522 for facing a bottom portion of the skate boot 11 between the front and rear portions 17, 19. The front and rear peripheral walls 510, 516 of the front and rear members 508, 514 and the intermediate member 520 define a pedestal for facing the bottom portion of the skate boot 11. Instead of being integrally formed with the front and rear members 508, 514 of the blade holder 500, in another embodiment, the intermediate member may be a separate component that is affixed to the bottom portion of the skate boot.
(132) The U-shaped inner member 502 comprises an elongated portion 524, a front portion 526 extending upwardly from the elongated portion 524 and having an upper end 528 integrally formed with the front member 508 and a rear portion 530 extending upwardly from the elongated portion 524 and having an upper end 532 integrally formed with the rear member 514.
(133) The U-shaped outer member 504 comprises an elongated blade-supporting base 534, a front pillar 536 and a rear pillar 538. The front and rear pillars 536, 538 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 500. The front pillar 536 extends from the elongated blade-supporting base 534 towards the front portion 17 of the skate boot 11 (towards the front portion of the front member 508) and the rear pillar 538 extends from the elongated blade-supporting base 534 towards the rear portion 19 of the skate boot 11 (towards the rear portion of the rear member 514). The front pillar 536 has an upper end 540 integrally formed with the front member 508 and the rear pillar 538 has an upper end 542 integrally formed with the rear member 514. The elongated blade-supporting base 534 extends from the front pillar 536 to the rear pillar 538.
(134) The elongated portion 524 of the U-shaped inner member 502 overlaps a portion of the elongated blade-supporting base 534 and is spaced apart from the elongated blade-supporting base 534. In another embodiment, the elongated portion of the U-shaped inner member may rather contact the elongated blade-supporting base 534.
(135) The hollow space 506 of the blade holder 500 may be configured in various ways. For example, the hollow space 506 may be defined by a front hollow region 540, an intermediate hollow region 542 and a rear hollow region 544, which together extend between the U-shaped inner member 502 and the U-shaped outer member 504 and define the U-shaped hollow region or space 506. That is, each of the front hollow region 540 and the rear hollow region 544 of the hollow space 506 has a greater height than the intermediate hollow region 542 of the hollow space 506.
(136) In this embodiment, the front hollow region 540 of the hollow space 506 occupies most of a length and a height of the front portion of the blade holder 500, which generally extends beneath and along the skater's forefoot in use. Similarly, the rear hollow region 544 of the hollow space 506 occupies most of a length and a height of the rear portion of the blade holder 500, which extends beneath and along the skater's hindfoot in use. The hollow space 506 may have any other suitable configuration in other embodiments.
(137) The blade holder 500 may also comprise a resilient element 546 disposed between the elongated portion 524 of the U-shaped inner member 502 and the elongated blade-supporting base 534 of the U-shaped outer member 504. The resilient element 546 is configured to deform (i.e., configured to change in shape under load and subsequently recover its original shape) when the U-shaped inner member 502 and the U-shaped outer member 504 move relative to each other while the skater skates.
(138) The resilient element 546 may be a damper to dampen vibrations in the blade holder 500 while the skater skates. Notably, in this example, the resilient element 546 dampens vibrations due to the elastic flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 534 of the U-shaped outer member 504 while the skater skates. This absorption of vibrations may also help to reduce noise generated by the blade holder 500 while the skater skates.
(139) In addition to its vibration absorption capability, because the resilient element 546 is disposed between the elongated portion 524 of the U-shaped inner member 502 and the elongated blade-supporting base 534, it may also be used to adjust a degree of movement permitted between the U-shaped inner and outer members 502, 504, in the widthwise direction and/or the height direction of the blade holder 500.
(140) The resilient element 546 may comprise a cushion (i.e., an elastic body) for reducing vibrations. The resilient element 546 may be made of an elastic material (i.e., a material capable of recovering size and shape after deformation) different from the fiber-matrix composite material of the blade holder 500. The elastic material of the resilient element 546 may be relatively soft. For instance, the elastic material of the resilient element 546 may have a hardness of no more than 95 durometers Shore A.
(141) The hardness of the elastic material of the resilient element 546 may have any other suitable value in other embodiments. The resilient element 546 may be made of polyurethane. Any other suitable elastic material may be used in other examples of implementation (e.g., rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, foam, etc.)
(142) The resilient element 546 may be associated with a brand of the blade holder 546 and/or the ice skate 10. In other embodiments, the resilient element 546 may be shaped as a logo or any other graphical element associated with a team of the skater or a brand of the blade holder 500 and/or the ice skate 10, or as any other desired graphical element.
(143) The resilient element 546 can be secured between the elongated portion 524 of the U-shaped inner member 502 and the elongated blade-supporting base 534 in any suitable way. For example, the resilient element 546 may be permanently secured to the elongated portion 524 of the U-shaped inner member 502 and the elongated blade-supporting base 534. In other embodiments, the resilient element 546 may be attachable to and detachable from the blade holder 500. More particularly, as best seen in
(144) The elongated blade-supporting base 534 also comprises a bottom blade portion 556 extending downwardly therefrom and the blade holder 500 also comprises an ice skate blade 558 having a top portion mounted or affixed to the bottom blade portion 556 and a bottom portion defining an ice-contacting surface 560. The ice skate blade 558 may be made of a strip that is at least partially made of metal (e.g. stainless steel, carbon steel, tungsten carbide or titanium), of a strip of engineering plastic or a strip that is at least partially made of ceramic material (e.g. aluminum titanate, aluminum zirconate, sialon, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, zirconia and partially stabilized zirconia or a combination of two or more of these materials).
(145) At least part of the elongated blade-supporting base 534, front pillar 536, rear pillar 538, U-shaped inner member 502, front member 508, rear member 514 and intermediate member 520 is made of a composite material. For example, the composite material may be a fiber-matrix composite material that comprises a matrix 562 in which fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F are embedded.
(146) The matrix 562 may include any suitable substance. In this embodiment, the matrix 562 is a polymeric matrix. For example, the polymeric matrix 562 may include any other suitable polymeric resin, such as a thermosetting polymeric material (e.g., polyester, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, polyurethane, epoxy, cyanate ester, phenolic resin, etc.), a thermoplastic polymeric material (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, polyimide, polysulfone, polyamide-imide, self-reinforcing polyphenylene, etc.), or a hybrid thermosetting-thermoplastic polymeric material.
(147) The fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F may be made of any suitable material. In this embodiment, the fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F are carbon fibers. The composite material is thus a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in this example of implementation. Any other suitable type of fibers may be used in other embodiments (e.g., polymeric fibers such as graphite fibers, carbon graphite fibers, aramid fibers (e.g., Kevlar fibers), boron fibers, silicon carbide fibers, ceramic fibers, metallic fibers, glass fibers, polypropylene fibers, etc.).
(148) In one embodiment, respective ones of the fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F that are located in the elongated blade-supporting base 534 (and its bottom blade portion 556) are oriented to be in tension when the elongated blade-supporting base 534 and the ice skate blade 558 are deflected by the deflection in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 500 due to the elastic flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 534 (including its bottom blade portion 556) and the ice skate blade 558 in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 500. This fiber tension tends to force the elongated blade-supporting base 534 (including its bottom blade portion 556) and the ice skate blade 558 back into their normal (non-deflected) shape, thereby enhancing the kickback in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 500. The blade holder 500 may thus be responsive to the skating movement of the skater to undergo an elastic torsion of each of the front pillar and the rear pillar 536, 538 which induces an elastic flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 534 (and its bottom blade portion 556) and the ice skate blade 558 in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 500.
(149) For example, at least a majority of the fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F that are located in the elongated blade-supporting base 534 (and its bottom blade portion 556) may extend parallel or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongated blade-supporting base 534 (and its bottom blade portion 556) or a totality of the fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F that are located in the elongated blade-supporting base 534 (and its bottom blade portion 556) may extend parallel or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongated blade-supporting base 534 (and its bottom blade portion 556).
(150) The fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F may be arranged in any other suitable manner in other embodiments.
(151) The U-shaped inner member 502 may comprise fiber-matrix composite material that offers less resilience than the fiber-matrix composite material of the U-shaped outer member 504. For example, the fiber-matrix composite material of the U-shaped inner member 502 may comprise glass fibers or polypropylene fibers and the fiber-matrix composite material of the U-shaped outer member 504 may comprise carbon fibers, graphite fibers or carbon graphite fibers.
(152) Each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 502, 504 may be hollow. That is, the U-shaped inner member 502 comprises an external wall 566 defining a cavity 568 and the outer member 504 comprises an external wall 570 defining a cavity 572. The U-shaped inner member 502 may be a tubular member having an external surface 574 and an internal surface 576. The external wall 566 extends from the external surface 574 to the internal surface 576, while the cavity 568 is delimited by the internal surface 576. The elongated blade-supporting base 534 and front and rear pillars 536, 538 of the U-shaped outer member 504 may be a tubular member having an external surface 578 and an internal surface 580. The external wall 570 extends from the external surface 578 to the internal surface 580, while the cavity 578 is delimited by the internal surface 580. In this case, the cavities 568, 572 of the U-shaped inner and outer members 502, 504 opens into cavities 582, 584 of the front and rear members 508, 514 of the blade holder 500. It is understood that the external walls 566, 570 may be part of the external walls of the blade holder 500 and that the cavities 568, 572, 582, 584 may define a single empty cavity of the blade holder 500.
(153) The U-shaped inner and outer members 502, 504 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape. For example, as best seen in
(154) The blade holder 500 can be manufactured in any suitable manner using various processes. For example, a plurality of layers of fibers, which are destined to provide the fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F of the blade holder 500, are layered onto one another on a support which is then placed in a mold to consolidate the composite material of the blade holder 500. In this example, each of these layers of fibers is provided as a pre-preg (i.e., pre-impregnated) layer of fibers held together by an amount of matrix material, which is destined to provide a respective portion of the matrix 562 of the blade holder 500. The support may comprise one or more inflatable bladders (e.g., air bladders) on which the pre-preg layers are layered such that the one or more inflatable bladders can be inflated to define the external walls 566, 570 and the cavities 568, 572 of each of the U-shaped inner and outer members 502, 504 during molding in the mold. The support may also comprise one or more other components (e.g., silicone mold parts or foam parts) on which the pre-preg layers may be layered to form other parts of the blade holder 500 (e.g., the front and rear members 508, 514) during molding in the mold. Various other manufacturing methods may be used to make the blade holder 500 in other embodiments.
(155) Referring to
(156) In other embodiments, the bottom blade portion of the elongated blade-supporting base may define a recess and the top portion of the ice skate blade may comprise a projection affixed into the recess of the bottom blade portion of the elongated blade-supporting base. In a further embodiment, the bottom blade portion of the elongated blade-supporting base may define a projection and the top portion of the ice skate blade may comprise a recess in which the projection of the bottom blade portion of the elongated blade-supporting base is affixed.
(157) A blade holder in accordance with a further embodiment is shown in
(158) As best seen in
(159) The blade holder 600 also comprises an internal material 692. More particularly, the internal material 692 includes a filler that fills at least part of the cavities 568, 572, 582, 584. The filler may be made of foam. This may help to improve impact resistance and/or absorb vibrations while the skater skates. For instance, the foam may be polystyrene (PS) foam, polyurethane (PU) foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam, polypropylene (PP) foam, polyethylene (PE) foam, vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, ethylene polypropylene foam, polyisocyanurate foam or any other suitable foam. In some examples of implementation, the foam may have been pre-molded to form an internal frame of the blade holder 600 over which the composite material may subsequently be molded.
(160) As for the blade holder 500, the blade holder 600 can be manufactured in any suitable manner using various processes. For example, a plurality of layers of fibers, which are destined to provide the fibers 564.sub.1-564.sub.F of the blade holder 600, are layered onto one another on a support which is then placed in a mold to consolidate the composite material of the blade holder 600. In this example, each of these layers of fibers is provided as a pre-preg (i.e., pre-impregnated) layer of fibers held together by an amount of matrix material, which is destined to provide a respective portion of the matrix 662 of the blade holder 600. The support may comprise a single support of foam or a plurality of support members of foam on which the pre-preg layers are layered. It is understood that one of the cavities may comprise a first foam member and another of the cavities may comprise a second foam member, the second foam member having properties (density) different from the first foam member. For example, the first foam member may be high-density foam and the second foam member may be low-density foam. It is also understood that one of the cavities may comprise a first foam member and another of the cavities may comprise a second foam member, the second foam member being different from the first foam member.
(161) For example, the first foam member may be ethylene vinyl acetate foam and the second foam member may be polyurethane foam. It is further understood that one of the cavities may not comprise any internal material. For, example, the cavities 582, 584 of the front and rear members 508, 514 may not comprise any internal material. In another embodiment, the cavity 568 of the U-shaped inner member 502 may comprise a foam material that has less resilience or rigidity that the foam material occupying the cavity 572 of the U-shaped outer member 504. It is further understood that the internal material may entirely occupy the cavities 568, 572, 582, 584 such that the internal surfaces of the U-shaped inner and outer members 502, 504 are entirely covered by the internal material or may partially occupy the cavities 568, 572, 582, 584 such that there are voids or hollow areas between the internal material and the internal surfaces of the U-shaped inner and outer members 502, 504. In a further embodiment, voids or hollows areas may be present in the internal material.
(162) As indicated previously, the blade holder may be responsive to the skating movement of the skater to undergo an elastic torsion of each of the front pillar and the rear pillar which induces an elastic flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base, its bottom blade portion and the ice skate blade in the widthwise direction of the blade holder.
(163) Reproduced below, is a chart representing lateral displacement in the middle of the ice skate blade of different holders (size 8) depending on the force applied in the middle of the blade/runner (pressure contact area on the blade/runner being 300 mm.sup.2):
(164) TABLE-US-00001 Lateral force Displace- Displace- Displace- Displace- Displace- Player's (Lbs) Lateral ment ment ment ment ment weight (75% of force (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (Lbs) weight) (N) Holder #1 Holder #2 Holder #3 Holder #4 Holder #5 240 180 801 2.93 4.86 6.16 5.51 7.72 200 150 667 2.55 4.11 5.25 4.73 6.61 175 131 584 2.30 3.68 4.63 4.13 5.75 150 113 500 2.04 3.25 4.05 3.61 5.00
(165) As indicated previously, the blade holder in accordance with the above embodiments is lightweight and may provide other performance benefits to the skater (e.g., may facilitate and/or allow faster turns). In this regard, the weight, volume and density of a prior BAUER LIGHTSPEED EDGE blade holder commercialized in 2013, with an ice skate blade LS3, was about 300.5 grams, 165 cm.sup.3 and 1.82 g/cm.sup.3 for a size 8. With the blade holder and ice skate blade according to the invention, the weight is significantly reduced. For example, for a size 8, the weight, volume and density of the blade holder 500 are about 160.4 grams, 149.2 cm.sup.3 and 1.08 g/cm.sup.3 for a weight reduction of almost 50%. In different samples/prototypes of the blade holders 500, 600, the density is about 1.05 g/cm.sup.3 to about 1.10 g/cm.sup.3 for a size 8.
(166)
(167) The blade body material 128′ is a fiber-matrix composite material that comprises a matrix 133′ in which fibers 134′.sub.1-134′.sub.B are embedded.
(168) The matrix 133 may include any suitable substance. In this embodiment, the matrix 133 is a polymeric matrix. For example, the polymeric matrix 133 may include any other suitable polymeric resin, such as a thermosetting polymeric material (e.g., polyester, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, polyurethane, epoxy, cyanate ester, phenolic resin, etc.), a thermoplastic polymeric material (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, polyimide, polysulfone, polyamide-imide, self-reinforcing polyphenylene, etc.), or a hybrid thermosetting-thermoplastic polymeric material.
(169) The fibers 134.sub.1-134.sub.F may be made of any suitable material. In this embodiment, the fibers 134.sub.1-134.sub.F are carbon fibers. The blade body material 128 is thus a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in this example of implementation. Any other suitable type of fibers may be used in other embodiments (e.g., polymeric fibers such as graphite fibers, carbon graphite fibers, aramid fibers (e.g., Kevlar fibers), boron fibers, silicon carbide fibers, ceramic fibers, metallic fibers, glass fibers, polypropylene fibers, etc.).
(170) In this embodiment, respective ones of the fibers 134.sub.1-134.sub.F are oriented to be in tension when the ice skate blade 52′ is deflected by the deflection in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28 due to the elastic flexion of the elongated blade-supporting base 157 and the ice skate blade 52′ in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28. This fiber tension tends to force the ice skate blade 52′ back into its normal (non-deflected) shape, thereby enhancing the kickback in the widthwise direction of the blade holder 28.
(171) For example, respective ones of the fibers 134.sub.1-134.sub.F extend in a direction having at least a component parallel to a longitudinal axis E-E of the ice skate blade 52′. In other words, respective ones of the fibers 134.sub.1-134.sub.F extend parallel or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis E-E of the ice skate blade 52′. For instance, an angle α between a fiber and the longitudinal axis E-E of the ice skate blade 52′ may be from 0° (parallel) to 45°.
(172) In one embodiment, at least a majority of the fibers 134.sub.1-134.sub.F extend parallel or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis E-E of the ice skate blade 52′. In another embodiment, a totality of the fibers 134.sub.1-134.sub.F extend parallel or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis E-E of the ice skate blade 52′.
(173) The fibers 134.sub.1-134.sub.F may be arranged in any other suitable manner in other embodiments.
(174) As seen in
(175)
(176)
(177) To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in one figure designates the same element if used in any other figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity but the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents. In some embodiments, any feature of any embodiment described herein may be used in combination with any feature of any other embodiment described herein. Certain additional elements that may be needed for operation of certain embodiments have not been described or illustrated as they are assumed to be within the purview of those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, certain embodiments may be free of, may lack and/or may function without any element that is not specifically disclosed herein. Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of this invention, which is defined more particularly by the attached claims.