Abstract:
An ice skate comprising a blade and a chassis, the chassis being associated with the blade along one side of it, to support and apply the blade to the sole of a shoe for ice skates, wherein the chassis has a box structure, substantially a shell, made by at least one layer of prefixed material and including the blade at said one side, with a hard clamping of the blade between the sides of the shell structure so as to substantially realize a keel for the blade.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates, in its more general terms, to a ice skate of the type which comprises a blade and a chassis for supporting said blade and for removably applying the blade to the sole of a corresponding shoe. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In ice skating sports, it is well known that the functionality of the used skates, the maintenance over time of such functionality according to the original levels, as well as the quality of the performance that are achieved and achievable thanks to them, largely depend on the hardness being intrinsic and/or provided to the blades of the considered ice skates. 
         [0005]    In fact, just the hardness of the blades, generally understood as their resistance to scratching, abrasion and penetration, is responsible of the grip on ice and, thus, of the balance, safety, reliability of performance of particularly challenging exercises, as well the execution of sudden, sharp and sometimes violent movement, such as braking, scraping and jumping, which may occur during those exercises. A process to manufacture ice skate blades having a high hardness is described for instance in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,700 issued on Jul. 7, 2009 in the name of Boisvert. 
         [0006]    It is also known, however, that the hardness of an element, such as a blade for ice skates, is strictly associated with its fragility and that is almost always a really negative feature, as in particular in case of ice skate blades. 
         [0007]    In fact, during sudden movements of the above mentioned type, cracks or even fractures of the blades may occur, not only compromising the exercise under execution, but also jeopardizing the skater safety. 
         [0008]    It is therefore usual in ice skating, providing skates with blades being as hard as possible, always duly taking into account a reduction of the dangerous consequences of their corresponding fragility. 
         [0009]    The technical experts in the field have constantly worked on the material composing the blades, always proposing trade-offs between flexibility and hardness. However, all these efforts have lead to substantially not satisfactory results, as is typical of any compromise. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0010]    An embodiment is directed to an ice skate using a blade having the optimum hardness more in tune with the sport exercises being performed, without taking into account the effects due to mechanical stress that may occur on it, and to protect the blade against the effects of this stress, with the same structure of the skate. 
         [0011]    In particular, this embodiment provides an ice skate comprising a blade and a chassis, the chassis being associated with the blade along one side of it, to support and apply the blade to the sole of a shoe for ice skates, wherein the chassis has a box structure, substantially a shell, made by at least one layer of prefixed material and including the blade at said one side, with a hard clamping of the blade between the sides of the shell structure so as to substantially realize the blade as a keel. 
         [0012]    More in particular, the embodiments comprise the following supplemental and optional features, taken alone or in combination when needed. 
         [0013]    According to an aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may be made by at least three layers, with the formation of a multilayer composite which realizes the box structure. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, according to an aspect of the disclosure, the multilayer composite may include an inner layer and an outer layer which are made of resin reinforced with carbon fibers and an intermediate layer comprising Kevlar or the like. 
         [0015]    According to this aspect of the disclosure, the intermediate layer may be made by Kevlar and a resin reinforced with carbon fibers. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, the materials of the layers may be woven. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, according to an aspect of the disclosure, the multilayer composite may comprise different layers and a resin, the resin acting as an adhesive. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, the blade may comprise at least one recess in correspondence with said one side, the recess defining an undercut surface being engaged with the multilayer composite to positively hold the blade. 
         [0019]    According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, the blade may comprise at least two recesses in correspondence with said one side, the recesses being symmetrically placed at the front and rear ends of the blade and defining respective undercut surfaces being engaged with the multilayer composite to positively hold the blade. 
         [0020]    Moreover, according to an aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may comprise a front portion and a rear portion having respective free edges being bordered with respective flanges to their fixing to the sole of the shoe. 
         [0021]    Also according to another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may comprise an intermediate portion between the front and rear portions, the intermediate portion having a zone intended for receiving a visual communication. 
         [0022]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may comprise a lowered intermediate portion between the front and rear portions, the lowered intermediate portion defining an air zone between the chassis and the sole of the shoe. 
         [0023]    According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may further comprise a closing element between the front and rear portions, the closing element having a matching profile with respect to the perimeter of the air zone. 
         [0024]    Moreover, according to a further aspect of the disclosure, the multilayer composite may comprise at least a thermoplastic or elastomeric material. 
         [0025]    Finally, according to a further aspect of the disclosure, the multilayer composite may comprise an inner layer made by a thermoplastic or elastomeric material and the closing element may be thermowelded to the inner layer. 
         [0026]    Embodiments of the disclosure also provide an ice skate shoe comprising a sole, a blade and a chassis, the chassis being associated with the blade along one side of it, to support and apply the blade to the sole, wherein the chassis has a box structure, essentially a shell, made by at least one layer of prefixed material and including the blade at said one side, with a hard clamping of the blade between the sides of the shell structure so as to substantially realize the blade as a keel. 
         [0027]    According to an aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may be made by at least three layers, with the formation of a multilayer composite which realizes the box structure. 
         [0028]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, the multilayer composite may include an inner layer and an outer layer which are realized of resin reinforced with carbon fibers and an intermediate layer comprising Kevlar or the like. 
         [0029]    According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, the blade may comprise at least one recess in correspondence with said one side, the recess defining an undercut surface being engaged with the multilayer composite to positively hold the blade. 
         [0030]    Moreover, according to another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may comprise a front portion and a rear portion having respective free edges being bordered with respective flanges to their fixing to the sole. 
         [0031]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may comprise a lowered intermediate portion between the front and rear portions, the lowered intermediate portion defining an air zone between the chassis and the sole of the shoe. 
         [0032]    Finally, according to yet another aspect of the disclosure, the chassis may further comprise a closing element between the front and rear portions, the closing element having a matching profile with respect to the perimeter of the air zone. 
         [0033]    The features and advantages of an ice skate according to the disclosure will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of an ice skate according to an embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the ice skate of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0036]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are transversal sectional views of the ice skate of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an ice skate according to an alternative embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    With reference to the figures,  1  globally indicates an ice skate, in particular a hockey ice skate. 
         [0039]    The ice skate  1  comprises a shoe  2  having a sole  3 , extending between a tip portion  4  and heel portion  5 , with an intermediate portion  6  being at the arc of the foot. 
         [0040]    The ice skate  1  comprises a blade  7 , with a top side  8  and a bottom side  9 , the blade extending between a front end  10  and a rear end  11 . In correspondence of the top side  8  and near the ends  10  and  11 , the blade  7  includes respective projections  12  and  13 , which define respective recesses  14  and  15 , symmetrically arranged at said ends  10 ,  11 , and hence respective undercut surfaces, being all marked with u, as schematically shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0041]    The ice skate  1  also comprises a chassis  16  for supporting the blade  7  and for fixing the blade to the shoe  2 . 
         [0042]    In particular, the chassis  16  has a box structure, substantially a shell with a V-shaped section, long as the sole  3  of the shoe  2 . The chassis  16  has a seat  17  for retaining the blade  7  which extends all along the chassis  16 , in correspondence of the upper side  8  of the blade  7 , as a keel of the shell, and has a top free side  18  which abuts against the sole  3 , along its perimeter. In its front portion  19 , the free side  18  of the chassis  16  is bordered with a flange  20 , while, in a similar manner, in its rear portion  21  the free side  18  of the chassis  16  is bordered with a flange  22 . The flanges are provided with holes, all indicated with  23 , for fastening the chassis  16  to the sole  3  of the shoe  2  with screws, not represented. An intermediate portion  24  is determined in the chassis  16  between the front portion  19  and the rear portion  21 , the intermediate portion  24  being positioned in proximity to the arc of the foot and acting as the link between front and rear portions,  19  and  21 , so as to realize a substantial stiffening thereof. 
         [0043]    The intermediate portion  24 , and in particular its free side, abuts in a pressing contact against the sole  3 , so as to substantially seal it and prevent infiltration of water or ice within the chassis  16 , for example. Suitably, the sole  3  is equipped with a slot, not shown in the figure, for the acceptance of this free side of the intermediate portion  24 . 
         [0044]    According to an alternative embodiment, the intermediate portion  24  is closed at its top side, for instance with a sealing sleeve. 
         [0045]    It should be noted that the intermediate portion  24  advantageously has, on both sides of the V-shaped shell and on the outside of them, a flat open space  1 , due to receive visual communications, such as suitable wording, having a technical, commercial or advertising content and/or suitable visual representations, such as trademarks or photography of people being famous in sports, entertainment and the like, in a word of a testimonial. 
         [0046]    The box structure is formed by three layers of suitable materials, as described below, which realize a multilayer composite ml. In particular, the box structure is obtained by forming these layers, using heat and pressure. The multilayer composite ml includes the blade  7  inside the seat  17 , in correspondence of its upper side  8 , so as to obtain its positive holding with no clearance. In addition, the multilayer composite ml engages the recesses  14  and  15 , with the consequence of a positive holding of the blade  7  in said seat  17  following the engagement of the undercut surfaces u of the multilayer composite ml itself, as schematically shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0047]    The three layers composing the multilayer composite ml are indicated with  25 ,  26  and  27 . In particular, the layer  25  is the inner layer, the layer  26  is the outer layer and the layer  27  is the intermediate layer. 
         [0048]    The inner layer  25  and the outer layer  26  are obtained starting from a sheet of a resin reinforced with carbon fibers, preferably a laminated fabric. 
         [0049]    The intermediate layer  27  is a laminate of Kevlar fabric or the like, possibly combined with a resin reinforced with carbon fibers. 
         [0050]    Preferably, the outer layer  26  is made of an aesthetics fabric. 
         [0051]    More preferably, a biding resin is provided as an adhesive between the layers  25 ,  26  and  27  of the multilayer composite material ml, not shown in the figure. 
         [0052]    It is worth noting that the materials composing these three layers, i.e. the inner layer  25 , the outer layer  26  and the intermediate layer  27 , may be woven, in other words they may be obtained from a warp and a weft made in these materials. 
         [0053]    It is obviously possible to use a different number of layers and in a different sequence. In addition, according to a further embodiment of the disclosure, the chassis  16  includes a different number of layers in correspondence of different portions thereof, and in particular a greater number of layers at its intermediate portion  24  acting as a further stiffening. 
         [0054]    It is also possible to realize the multilayer composite material by using thermoplastic or elastomeric layers, being associated with layers of a composite material. In particular, in this case, the multilayer composite can be made by overinjection of a thermoplastic or elastomeric material on a composite material layer and subsequent molding of the chassis  16 . 
         [0055]    Additionally, according to another aspect of the disclosure, as schematically shown in  FIG. 5 , the chassis  16  includes a lowered intermediate portion  28 , which would leave an air zone  29  between the chassis  16  and the intermediate portion  6  of the sole  3  of the shoe  2 . 
         [0056]    In this case, a closing element  30  is provided, having a substantially C-shaped profile being conjugated to the perimeter of the air zone  29 , to close the hollows or spaces defined by the chassis  16  in correspondence of its front and rear portions,  19  and  21 . In particular, the closing element  30  acts as a seal, for example against the infiltration of water or ice within the chassis  16 . 
         [0057]    According to an aspect of the disclosure, when the chassis  16  includes at least one layer made of a thermoplastic or elastomeric material, in particular realizing the inner layer  25 , the closing element  30  may be thermowelded to this inner layer  25 . 
         [0058]    Alternatively, the chassis  19  can be filled with a foam which is also able to provide the desired sealing function against infiltration of water or ice within the chassis  16 . Also, a suitable tape may be used to close the spaces of the chassis  16 . 
         [0059]    The main advantage of the ice skate according to the disclosure is the ability to withstand an unusual stress when working, for instance due to a sudden movement of the skater, in a word an extreme stress, made possible by using a blade having a maximum hardness. 
         [0060]    This advantage may be explained by the fact that the blade turns out to be held in a viselike grip by the multilayered composite of the chassis that ensures the necessary stiffening to prevent the breakage or damage of the blade. At the same time, the blade is integrated into the chassis structure which realizes an armor for the blade. 
         [0061]    In other words, the protection of the blade against stress being more or less strong, sharp and sudden, as well as against stress for exertion, is surprisingly assured by the recognized high rigidity of the multilayer composite material being used as well as by the box shape of the support chassis of the blade itself. 
         [0062]    A long working life is also expected from the ice skate according to the disclosure due to the fact that the blade and the chassis form a whole, the one being positively retained by the other, any slack and any clearance being a priori excluded, the blade being hold in a viselike grip for its entire length within the box structure of the chassis. 
         [0063]    Another important advantage of the ice skate according to the disclosure is a never previously obtained light weight, thanks to the use of the multilayer composite material and the hull-shaped chassis. 
         [0064]    A further advantage of particular importance for an article to be built in large or very large series is that it may be produced by automated means. 
         [0065]    Last but not least advantage is the possibility to realize the ice skate according to the disclosure with an aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing design. 
         [0066]    The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent application, foreign patents, foreign patent application and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, application and publications to provide yet further embodiments. 
         [0067]    These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.