Abstract:
An ice skate whose blade is disposed at an angle not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boot. The blade may be fixed in this position, or it may be switchable between the nonparallel orientation of the present invention and the parallel orientation typical of traditional ice skates. A pair of sideways-moving skates may be propelled by moving them in an oscillating motion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to ice skates. It also relates to sideways-moving foot devices, in particular those which are propelled by associating one device to each foot and moving the feet in an oscillating motion. This invention reapplies the concepts of said sideways-moving foot devices in the context of ice skating. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The blade of a traditional ice skate is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boot, and the skater moves forward or backward. The sideways ice skate of the present invention is an alternative to the traditional ice skate. The sideways ice skate comprises the same key elements as the traditional ice skate, but the blade is mounted so as to be substantially nonparallel to the longitudinal axis of the boot (for instance, the blade may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boot). The skater thus moves sideways. 
         [0003]    The device that bears the most similarity to the sideways-moving ice skate is a sideways-moving wheeled device intended primarily for use on pavement or other similar surfaces. The most relevant of these is the Personal Transportation Device for Supporting a User&#39;s Foot Having Multiple Transportation Attachments disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,613 B2. One of the possible transportation attachments mentioned in the &#39;613 patent is a blade for ice skating. Both with the ice skate embodiment of the &#39;613 patent and with the ice skate of the present invention, the user associates one unit with each foot, and then moves the feet in an oscillating motion for sideways propulsion. However, the transportation devices of the &#39;613 patent interface with the user by means of footboards that support the user&#39;s feet, whereas the ice skate of the present invention interfaces with the user by means of a boot, as is the case with most personal transportation devices used for traversing ice surfaces. The boot is functionally different from the footboards because it is conducive to a different range of maneuvers, including advanced and/or aggressive maneuvers that require a high degree of stability and support. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a sideways-moving ice skate in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  consists of two perspective views of another embodiment of a sideways-moving ice skate, wherein the blade can be converted between a parallel position and a nonparallel position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a sideways-moving ice skate with a biased pivoting blade. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sideways-moving ice skate, wherein the blade can be easily detached and reattached. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of one embodiment of a sideways-moving ice skate  100  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Blade  120  is coupled to boot  110 , and is oriented so as to be substantially nonparallel to the longitudinal axis of boot  110 . The optimal angles of displacement of blade  120  from the longitudinal axis of boot  110  are those between 30 and 150 degrees (in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the angle is 90 degrees). The user can propel a pair of skates sideways by moving the skates in an oscillating motion. 
         [0009]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of another embodiment of a sideways-moving ice skate  200  in accordance with the present invention is shown. In addition to the nonparallel orientation of skate  100  of  FIG. 1 , blade  220  can also occupy a parallel orientation, wherein the blade is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of boot  210  (i.e. the orientation typical of traditional ice skates). A means is provided for converting blade  220  between the parallel orientation and the nonparallel orientation. There are a variety of mechanisms by which the conversion may be achieved. The preferred embodiment comprises a pivoting plate  230 , which is rotatably coupled to the bottom surface of boot  210  and rigidly coupled to the top surface(s) of blade  220 . Rotation of pivoting plate  230  therefore causes pivoting of blade  220  from the parallel orientation to the nonparallel orientation, and vice versa. In another possible embodiment, the blade may be detached while in one of the two orientations and then reattached in the other orientation. In any embodiment of the mechanism for switching the orientation of blade  220 , a locking mechanism or mechanisms may be provided for selectively securing the blade in the two orientations. 
         [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of another embodiment of a sideways-moving ice skate  300  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Skate  300  comprises blade  320 , which may be rotatably coupled to boot  310  by means of pivot shaft  330 . The junction of pivot shaft  330  and blade  320  is located toward the leading end of blade  320  relative to the center of mass of blade  320 . This placement of the junction ensures that blade  320  changes angle according to the motion of skate  300  as follows: when skate  300  is moved forward, blade  320  changes angle so that its leading end is farther forward than its trailing end. Conversely, when skate  300  is moved backward, blade  320  changes angle so that its leading end is farther backward than its trailing end. (Note that “forward” refers to the direction of the toe of boot  310 , not the direction of travel, and “backward” refers to the direction of the heel.) Skate  300  may further comprise a pivot damping mechanism  340  which resists the pivoting of blade  320 . While skate  300  is being moved forward or backward, the resistance provided by pivot damping mechanism  340  tends to prevent blade  320  from becoming parallel to the velocity of skate  300 , thereby maintaining a propelling force. Pivot damping mechanism  340  may have a variety of different embodiments, including those wherein the resisting force is provided by springs or by gravity. The overall effect is to simplify the method of propulsion; since blade  320  can inherently change angle according to the motion of skate  300  and then tends to return to the neutral position, the user does not need to control the angle of the blade, and propulsion can be achieved by simply moving skates  300  forward and backward. 
         [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of another embodiment of a sideways-moving ice skate  400  in accordance with the present invention is shown. A means is provided for detaching (and reattaching) blade  420  from boot  410 . Preferably, the detachment and reattachment may be done quickly and without the use of tools. In one possible embodiment, skate  400  may further comprise an attaching member  440 , which may be received by a receiving cavity  430  on the bottom surface of boot  410 . Locking lever  450  may be provided, and may selectively occupy a locked position, wherein attaching member  440  cannot be removed from receiving cavity  430 ; and an unlocked position, wherein attaching member  440  can be removed from receiving cavity  430 . Detachment of the blade enables the user to walk more easily while still wearing boot  410 .