CZ20003452A3 - A set of chassis and knife blade holder for ice skating - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly includes an elongated blade holder (4) (79) having a front attachment portion (5) for attachment under the toe region (40) of a skate boot (3), a rear attachment portion (7) for attachment under the heel region (42) of the skate boot (3), and a neck portion (9) extending between the two attachment portions (5, 7). The blade holder (4) (79) has a longitudinal slot (11) for receiving the blade (79). The assembly also includes a rigid stiffening member (15) which is disposed outside the neck portion (9) and which connects the front attachment portion (5) to the rear attachment portion (7). The stiffening member (15) has a rearwardly extending end connected to the rear attachment portion (7) at a location directly below the upper surface of the heel attachment foot (8) and a forward end attached to the lower end of the front attachment portion (5). An opening is located between the stiffening member (15) and the neck portion (9). By attaching this assembly (1) of blade (79) of skate (2) to the sole of a skating boot (3), an ice skate is created.

Description

Ice skating skate chassis and blade holder set

Technical area

The invention relates to ice skates and, in particular, to an improved ice skate blade holder.

State of the art

In conventional ice skating blade holder assemblies, the blade holder is attached to the skate boot and has a longitudinal slot into which a replaceable blade or blade is installed. The blade holder is typically attached or molded as one piece with a toe and heel portion that attach to the bottom of the skate boot.

This type of knife holder assembly has been extremely successful, particularly because the knife can be easily removed and replaced without having to replace the entire knife holder assembly, but it is often difficult to maintain rigidity along the central portion of the knife and knife holder, i.e. along the neck portion between the tip and heel portions, due to the design of the knife holder itself, especially for large and/or heavy individuals. Greater rigidity of the knife holder would tend to reduce the stress in the neck portion of the knife holder. This is desirable because the plastic of the knife holder can sometimes become brittle and break under excessive stress. In addition, greater rigidity of the knife holder assembly would reduce the tendency of the knife to bend under increased load.

One way to increase the rigidity of the knife holder assembly is to incorporate reinforcing • · · · into the rear of the plastic knife holder.

- 2 strips. See for example US 5,484,148, which describes a longitudinally extending reinforcing plastic composite or metal strip located in the neck portion of a knife holder. The reinforcing strip is intended to strengthen and stiffen the neck portion, thereby reducing the stress on the plastic knife holder. According to US 5,484,148, the resulting greater stiffness of the knife holder provides better force transfer between the ice and the skate boot through the connection of the ski boot to the front and rear portions of the knife holder assembly.

However, the reinforced knife holder assembly of US 5,484,148 is insufficiently rigid for some applications, such as aggressive skating, especially for tall and heavy individuals. It also suffers from other significant disadvantages due to the increase in cross-sectional area and weight of the knife holder resulting from the incorporation of the internal reinforcing strip.

In standard skate blade sharpening machines, the arms carrying the sharpening and grinding surfaces are positioned very close together and the clearance between the arms is extremely limited. In order to sharpen a skate blade located in a skate blade assembly, the skate blade assembly must be narrow enough to fit into the limited space of the arm so that the skate blade is in contact with the sharpening and grinding surfaces. If the skate blade assembly does not fit, the skate blade must either be sharpened by hand or removed from the skate blade assembly, sharpened and then reattached to the skate blade assembly, or sharpened on a specially designed sharpening machine.

In the case of a reinforced blade holder constructed as described in US 5,484,148, the increased width of the blade holder will not fit into many standard sharpening machines. A person who wants to sharpen such a skate blade must therefore spend extra time and effort to sharpen the skate or must purchase a sharpening machine.

- 3 machine that is specially designed to fit the reinforced knife holder set.

Reinforcing the blade assembly of the skate as described in US 5,484,148 also adds significantly to the weight. As described in US 5,484,148, the reinforcing strip is approximately half the size of the blade of the skate. Even if this strip were composed of a plastic composite, it would add significantly to the weight of the blade assembly of the skate. Where the strip is made of metal, as proposed in US 5,484,148, the increase in weight of the skate is substantial. The author of US 5,484,148 is aware that the increased weight of the skate may be a disadvantage of adding the described reinforcing member. To compensate for this increased weight, US 5,484,148 proposes to remove the wedges of material from the blade assembly of the skate and from the blade itself. However, this would significantly increase the complexity and cost of manufacturing such a reinforced blade assembly of the skate and could reduce the integrity of the blade.

Therefore, there remains a need in the art for a skate blade assembly that has increased torsional and longitudinal rigidity without significantly increasing the weight or manufacturing complexity of the skate blade assembly. Additionally, there is a need for a skate blade assembly in which the skate blade can be easily and conveniently sharpened using standard skate sharpening equipment.

The essence of the invention

The present invention provides an improved blade holder assembly including, in one embodiment, a substantially rigid reinforcing member or shaft extending generally longitudinally between the front and rear attachment portions of the blade holder assembly, thereby increasing rigidity, reducing stress, and improving force transfer between the skater and the ice.

• · ·· · · ·

More specifically, a skate blade holder assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention has a longitudinal blade holder having a mounting portion for connection between the toe portion of the skate boot and a rear mounting portion for connection between the heel portion of the skate boot and an integral neck bridge between the front and rear portions. The blade holder has a longitudinal slot extending along its lower portion to receive a blade or driving portion which is at least partially mounted in the slot. Separate from the rear portion, at least one rigid tubular reinforcement member provides reliable reinforcement from the front mounting portion to the rear mounting portion. The reinforcement member is preferably made of a reinforced plastic composite material, although metal or other materials may also be used. This stiffening member serves to prevent deflection of the front portion or significant movement relative to the rear portion and vice versa, thereby increasing both the longitudinal and torsional rigidity of the knife holder assembly, resulting in a lightweight knife holder assembly that is less prone to deflection under high load conditions.

Because the blade assembly of the above-mentioned embodiment of the invention substantially resists longitudinal and torsional deformation, a greater portion of the force exerted by the skater is transferred directly to the blade and ice rather than being absorbed or dissipated by the bending of the blade assembly. Not only does this increase in the overall force transfer from the skater's foot to the ice allow for more efficient and economical skating, it also provides for a faster, more efficient transfer of force, allowing the skater to accelerate, decelerate, and/or maneuver much more quickly than is possible with a conventional blade assembly and skate.

Additionally, by utilizing the front center and rear attachment points to attach the skate blade to the blade-skate assembly, the skate blade is less likely to become permanently deformed and/or • · • ·

• · » · • · · · · • · · · · • · · · ·

- 5 twisted as a result of increased load, which significantly extends the life of the skate blade compared to the skate blade of a conventional skate blade set.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be described or will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Overview of images on the drawingegf^

The invention will be further illustrated by the following example of a detailed description of a particularly preferred embodiment with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a skating boot and skate blade holder assembly constructed according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the skating boot being indicated only in dashed lines,

fig. 2 is exploded spatial view from the side to file holder knives skates according to Fig. 1, fig. 3 is front view of the file knife holder skates according to fig. b fig. 4 is back view of the file knife holder skates according to fig. 1, fig. 5 is top view of the file knife holder skates according to fig. X fig. 6 is bottom view of the file knife holder skates according to fig. 1 and fig. 7 is 3D exploded view from the side especially in advantageous

design of the screw and nut part of the connector.

Examples of embodiments of the invention

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a blade holder assembly 1 4 of a skate 2 is part of a typical skate 2 which also includes a skating boot 3. The blade holder assembly 79 of the skate 2 includes an elongated blade holder 79 having a front attachment portion 5 with a front lug 6 for attachment under the toe area 40 of the boot, a rear attachment portion 11 with a rear lug 13 for attachment under the heel area of the skate boot, and a neck portion 9 connecting the front and rear attachment portions. The blade 79 or a stainless steel or carbon steel slide is attached to a longitudinal slot 11 extending along the bottom of the blade holder 79 by means of connectors 65 (see FIG. 7) which pass through the holes, i.e. the front hole 70, the rear hole 71 and the central hole 72 in the blade 7 9 of the skate 2 and the corresponding front fastening hole 50, the rear fastening hole 51 and the central fastening hole 52 in the blade holder 4 79 of the skate 2, thereby fastening the blade 7 9 of the skate 2 to the assembly 1 of the blade holder 4 7 9.

As shown in FIG. 7, each connector 65 consists of a screw portion 54 and a nut portion 58 which fit together in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The screw portion 54 of the connector 65 has a circular head 55 or anchorage and a threaded shank 56 and a screw hex opening 57 for receiving a hex key or hexagon (not shown). The female portion 58 of the connector 65 has an anchorage 59, an internally threaded hollow cylindrical shank 60 and a corresponding nut hex opening 61 shaped like the opening 57, which is obscured in the illustrated view. Alternatively, other suitable connectors well known to those skilled in the art may be used.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, to attach the blade 79 of the skate 2 to the blade holder assembly 1 of the blade holder 79 of the skate 2, the blade 79 of the skate 2 is inserted into the longitudinal slot 11 and positioned so that the front hole 70, the rear hole 71 and the center hole 72 in the blade 79 of the skate 2 are aligned with the front mounting hole 55, the rear mounting hole 51 and the center mounting hole 52 of the blade holder assembly 1 of the blade holder 79.

• · · ·

- Ί The nut portion 58 of the connector 65 is then inserted into the front hole 50, the rear hole 51 and the center hole 52, located coaxially with the front hole 70, the rear hole 71 and the center hole 72 in the blade 79 of the skate 2. and the screw portion 54 of the connectors 65 is screwed into each of the said nut portions 58 of the connectors 65. The connectors 65 are then tightened by hand or tightened with a hex wrench which is inserted into each pair of the screw hex holes 57 and the corresponding nut hex hole 58 and the tightening is done by a reverse rotational movement of both wrenches.

By using a connector consisting of a screw and nut portion to attach the skate blade to the blade holder assembly, the present invention minimizes the possibility of the protrusions on the connector catching on something in the vicinity of the skate blade holder, which could be the other skater's shoe, clothing, or other skaters catching on something. Other types of connectors may be used to attach the skate blade to the blade holder assembly, including nut, screw, and anchor connectors. In addition, other means of applying torque to the connectors may be used, such as incorporating a Phillips head or hex head for anchoring, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one stiffening member 15 extends from the front portion _5 to the rear portion ]_. The ends of this stiffening member pass through the rear opening 16 and the front opening 17 and are secured to the front attachment portion 5 and the rear attachment portion 7_ by means of a nylon-based resin or other such means well known to those skilled in the art. The stiffening member may also be secured to the outer surface of the attachment portions. In an alternative solution, the stiffening member could be formed as an integral part of the skate blade assembly, if desired, as is the case with simultaneous injection molding. Two or more such • · ·

- 8 reinforcing members, which for example extend longitudinally above the neck portion of the skate blade assembly, if desired.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the reinforcing member 15 comprises a cylindrical tubular body formed from carbon fibers suspended in a polymer matrix, which matrix is typically a thermosetting epoxy. Alternatively, a woven injected plastic composite material such as Zytel, which is nylon T801 manufactured by DuPont, could be used. Of course, a wide variety of other materials such as plastics, fiberglass, or metal could also be used.

In order to optimize the strength to weight ratio, the reinforcing member is desirably formed into a hollow cylindrical shape of substantially constant diameter, which provides significant strength against axial and bending loads. The reinforcing member could of course also be formed into substantially any shape, including, for example, an oval, triangular or square cross-section with constant or varying dimensions. The flattened oval shape is particularly advantageous for optimizing the structure with respect to both axial and bending loads.

Because the stiffener structurally connects the front attachment portion to the rear attachment portion, the attachment portions and the stiffener essentially form a space frame or hull that prevents twisting under lateral loading. In addition, the stiffener essentially limits the deformation of the attachment portions along the longitudinal axis of the blade holder, thereby increasing the overall stiffness of the blade holder assembly of the skate under various loading conditions. This increased stiffness reduces blade twisting and provides for better and more efficient transfer of force and energy between the ice and the skate boot.

• · • ·

- 9 For example, during normal skating, the skater's weight is entirely supported by the skate blade or blades on the bottom of the skate boots, and the skate blade is subjected to a substantially purely vertical compressive force, but during acceleration, deceleration, and/or maneuvering of the skater, the skate blade is also subjected to significant transverse or shear forces along the transverse axis of the skate blade. This transverse force is particularly pronounced during the skater's acceleration when the skater is leaning against the ice while using only the front or tip of the skate blade in a running motion. These compressive and transverse forces tend to deform the skate blade holder assembly along the longitudinal axis of the blade holder, deform the skate blade holder assembly along the transverse axis of the blade holder, and torsionally twist the front and/or rear blade mounting portions.

In a traditional skate blade holder assembly, where the front and rear attachment parts were connected only by a neck, the compressive and transverse forces acted predominantly on the attachment part, while minimally affecting the others. This led to very high stresses in the heavily loaded attachment part and often significantly deformed this part of the skate blade holder assembly.

However, in the skate blade holder assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, the reinforcing member helps transfer the load from the more heavily loaded attachment portion to the less heavily loaded portion, thereby distributing the load more evenly between the front and rear attachment portions and limiting the maximum load to which each attachment portion is subjected. This significantly reduces the amount of deformation experienced in each portion of the skate blade holder assembly.

Furthermore, in the described embodiment according to Fig. 1, it is apparent that the reinforcing member 15, the rear fastening part and the neck part 9 of the assembly 1 of the holder 4 of the blade 79 of the skate 2 form a triangular frame. The second triangular frame is formed by the reinforcing • ·

- 10 member 15, front attachment portion 5 and skate boot 3 (see Fig. 1). These triangular frames increase the structural integrity and strength of the skate blade holder assembly along the longitudinal axis of the skate, greatly increasing the overall stiffness and strength of the skate blade holder assembly compared to an open frame support as is the case with traditional skate blade holder assemblies.

In resisting transverse shear forces, the walls 45 of the slot 11 extend along a substantial portion of each side of the skate blade and help to stiffen the skate blade against plastic deformation and/or failure. When the skate blade is subjected to shear forces and begins to elastically deform, the deforming skate blade pushes against the slot wall and begins to deform the slot wall material, but since the slot wall material is typically a relatively hard plastic composite material, the slot wall will resist such deformation and will assist the skate blade in resisting further deformation of the skate blade.

Additionally, at the point of the front connection hole 50 and the point of the rear connection hole 51, the interaction between the connectors (not shown) and the deforming walls of the slot will create an even greater force resisting the transverse deformation of the skate blade. This is because the connectors connect both walls of the slot to the skate blade and therefore both walls of the slot will resist the deformation of the skate blade in the connection area, thereby increasing the force resisting the deformation of the skate blade.

However, at the midpoint of a typical blade holder, the blade of the skate is only minimally reinforced. Not only is there traditionally no connector in this area, but the blade holder is typically thinnest along the neck. As a result, for a given transverse force, the blade of the skate deforms most in this area. In order to prevent or reduce this deformation of the blade of the skate, the present invention includes *· ·♦ • · · « 4» · ·· • ·

- 11 a third connector that secures the center section of the blade 7 9 of the skate 2 by means of a center mounting hole 52 that is located near the center of the blade 7 9 of the skate 2. This connector connects both walls 45 of the slot 11 to the blade 7 9 of the skate 2 (not shown) along the neck portion 9 of the blade assembly JL of the blade 79 of the skate 2, thereby further reinforcing the blade 7 9 of the skate 2 against transverse deformation at or near the most vulnerable point.

The invention has been described with particular reference to a particularly preferred embodiment, but it will be appreciated that various obvious modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended that such modifications be within the scope of the following claims, either directly or by the theory of equivalents, whether or not expressly described above or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Industrial applicability

The invention is applicable to skates subjected to increased stress.

Claims (16)

PATENT CLAIMS 1. An ice skate blade assembly for attachment to a skating boot, comprising: an elongated blade holder (4) having a front attachment portion (5) for attachment under the toe region (40) of the skating boot (3), a rear attachment portion (7) for attachment under the heel region (42) of the skating boot (3), and a neck portion (9) extending between said front attachment portion (5) and said rear attachment portion (7), said elongated blade holder (4) (79) having a longitudinal slot (11) for receiving said blade (79) and a rigid stiffening member (15) connecting said front attachment portion (5) to said rear attachment portion (7), said stiffening member (15) being disposed outside said neck portion (9), said stiffening member (15) having a rearwardly directed end connected to said rear attachment portion (7) at a location directly below the upper surface of the heel of the mounting foot (8) and the front end attached to the lower end of the front mounting portion (5) and the opening defined between the stiffening member (15) and the neck portion (9) 2. A skate blade assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening extends along the entire length of the reinforcing member (15). 3. A skate blade assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing member (15) is formed integrally with the blade holder (4) (79). 4. A skate blade assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing member (15) is formed separately from the blade holder (4) (79). ··· · - 13 5. The skate blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member (15) is formed integrally with the blade holder (4) (79). 6. The skate blade assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing member (15) is formed separately from the blade holder (4) (7-9). 7. The skate blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member (15) has a round or oval cross-section. 8. The skate blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member (15) comprises a hollow tubular member. 9. The skate blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member (15) is formed separately and attachable in place. 10. The skate blade assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the front attachment portion (5), the rear attachment portion (7) and the neck portion (9) are injection molded. 11. File knives skates according to claim 1, in y from n a c u j í c í with e t I know that rigid reinforcement member (15) is from reinforced plastic composite material. 12. File knives skates according to claim 1, in y from n a c u j í c í with e t I know that rigid the reinforcing member includes metallic member. 13. File knives skates according to claim 1, in y from n a c u j í c í with e in that the knife (79) is attached to the slot (11) by a connector (65) located in the central part of the knife (79). 14. The skate blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the rigid reinforcing member (15) and the front attachment portion (5) form part of a skeleton forming member in the skate blade assembly (1) (79) (2). 15. The skate blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the rigid reinforcement member (15), the rear attachment portion (7) and the integral neck portion (9) form a skeleton forming member in the skate blade assembly (1) (79) (2). *· · · I · · » » · · · » · · · I · · · · · · - 14 16. The skate blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated blade holder (4) (79) has at least three holes (70, 71, 72) formed therein for corresponding connectors (65) positioned along the neck portion (9), including at least one central connector (65) securing the blade (79) to the blade holder (4) (79). 17. An ice skate, characterized in that it comprises a combination of an assembly (1) of a blade (79) of a skate (2) according to claim 1 attached to the sole of a skating boot (3). 18. Skates according to claim 17, characterized in that the reinforcing member (15), the front fastening part (5) of the sole of the shoe (3) form a skeleton forming member. 19. Skates according to claim 17, characterized in that the reinforcing member (15), the rear fastening part (7) of the sole of the shoe (3) form a skeleton forming member. that rigid and part that rigid and part