Patent Publication Number: US-2009224494-A1

Title: Ice skate blade and assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an ice skate blade assembly, more particularly to a blade comprising a upper portion and a lower portion thereof, wherein the lower portion of the blade includes highly wear-resistant and rigid material, and the upper portion of the blade composed with lighter aluminum material, so as to contribute to a blade with lighter material and better wear-resistance. 
     2. Description of Related Invention 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  of the drawing, a conventional skate blade which is initially in the module of one embodiment increases the weight of the blade and inflexibility for the user. As for  FIG. 4  of the drawing, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,363 issued on Jul. 13, 2004 to Richard J. Fask et al, an improvement structure of the blade is described, wherein the structure comprises a blade with replacing part of the rigid material with lighter plastic material in order to reduce the weight of the blade and keep the rigidity of the lower part of the blade. However, the method of material replacement still suffers from some disadvantages as follows. 
     Firstly, the lighter plastic material referring to polymeric resin with worse wear-resistance contributes to less practicability of the blade because the surface of the plastic material of the blade is more brittle when under artificial process of maintenance, more particularly, under high speed friction against the ground surface. 
     Secondly, with the characteristic of stiffness but brittle, the polymeric-resin plastic material directly or indirectly effects the practicability of the blade when under strong impact against the ground because of the large movement made by the user during competition or performance. 
     Thirdly, the plastic material is easily affected by the extremely cold or hot weather so as to destroy the particle structure and shorten the life span of the blade. 
     Fourthly, the nature of the plastic material doesn&#39;t fit the eco-awareness issue for its non-recyclable property which is not composed of natural chemical material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages, the present invention relates to an ice skate and skate blade assembly, wherein the blade of the preferred embodiment is divided into an upper and a lower portion. More particularly, the lower portion of the blade is manufactured with greater wear-resistant and rigid material, and the upper portion of the blade is composed of lighter aluminum material. With such improvement, the blade would permit the overall weight reduction and maintain the highly wear-resistance as well. Preferably, by providing the upper portion of the blade with lighter and rigider aluminum material, it contributes to the advantages as follows. 
     Firstly, the upper portion of the blade could be reduced in weight and probability of damage when under friction stress accordingly. Secondly, the flexibility and the tractility nature of the aluminum material protect the blade from being easily damaged when under powerful impact against the ground surface and extremely weather change. Thirdly, the recyclable aluminum provided by metal material is totally in accordance with the eco-awareness concept so as to reduce the waste of social costs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the ice skate and skate blade assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the skate blade of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2-1  is a perspective side view of the blade of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the blade, showing the conventional embodiment of the blade. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the blade, showing the embodiment of the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,363. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  2 - 1  of the drawings, the present invention includes a blade holder ( 10 ), a blade ( 20 ), wherein the blade holder ( 10 ) is secured with the blade ( 20 ) by pins ( 30 ) and nuts ( 31 ) extending through the holes positioned respectively at the bottom of the front and rear portion of the blade holder ( 10 ). The blade ( 20 ) includes an upper portion of the blade ( 21 ) and a lower portion of the blade ( 22 ) adhered to each other by glue which is tolerant to heat and cold, preferably not easily falling apart. The lower portion of the blade ( 22 ) is able to accommodate to the friction stress by providing it with the wear-resistant and great rigid material. An elongated protrusion ( 221 ) which is thinner extends along upside the lower portion of the blade ( 22 ). The purpose of reducing the overall weight is permitted by providing the upper portion of the blade ( 21 ) with lighter aluminum material. At the bottom of the upper portion of the blade ( 21 ) is positioned with an accommodated slot ( 211 ). The head of the pins ( 30 ) suitably fit into round slots ( 212 ) which are respectively equipped on two upsides of the upper portion of the blade ( 21 ). 
     The accommodated slot ( 211 ) positioned along the bottom of the upper portion of the blade ( 21 ) is engaged with the elongated protrusion ( 221 ) extending along upside the lower portion of the blade ( 21 ) so as to provide a lighter and greater wear-resistant blade ( 20 ). The blade holder ( 10 ) is secured with the blade ( 20 ) by the head of pins ( 30 ) suitably fitting into the round slot ( 212 ) and locked with the nuts ( 31 ).