Patent Publication Number: US-8534680-B1

Title: Ice skate blade assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/013,278 filed on Jan. 25, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an ice skate blade assembly comprising a skate blade attachment system that allows to a user to quickly secure the ice skate blade to the blade holder and to quickly release the ice skate blade from the blade holder. The attachment system is easy for the user to use and does not require the assistance of hand tools. Moreover, the attachment system allows the user to replace ice skate blades without first having to remove the skate from his/her foot. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Forming ice skate assemblies with a provision for the replacement of the ice skate blade is well known in the art. 
     Commonly, such assemblies comprise a blade holder molded from a thermoplastic material with a longitudinal groove extending therealong and within which the ice skate blade is received. 
     In accordance with a first prior assembly, the ice skate blade is locked to the blade holder by two or more threaded fastener means (such as a nut and bolt assembly) that pass transversely through the blade and blade holder at intervals which are longitudinally spaced apart. This arrangement permits the rapid replacement of the blade through the use of two simple tools. 
     In accordance with a second prior assembly, the ice skate blade is locked to the blade holder by two or more threaded fastener means that pass upwardly through the blade holder. This second means of locking the blade to the blade holder permits the blade to be strongly biased in contact with the blade holder. However, a deficiency in this second prior assembly is that the replacement of the blade usually requires demounting the blade holder from the skate boot in order to gain access to the threaded fastening means so that the blade may be released from the blade holder. 
     Another deficiency in the first and second prior assemblies described above is the need to use two or more fastener means. The use of these fastener means renders the process of changing the ice skate blade both cumbersome and time-consuming for the user. 
     In accordance with a third prior assembly, the ice skate blade comprises a hooked portion at the front and a projection with a fastener aperture at the rear. The blade holder has a recess for receiving the front hooked portion and a bore hole for receiving a fastener having a threaded portion and a head that registers within the rear fastener aperture. A nut is screwed on the threaded portion of the fastener for retaining the blade in place. However, a known deficiency in the third prior assembly is that the replacement of the blade requires passing a tool through a hole provided in the sole of the skate boot to access the nut screwed on the threaded portion of the fastener in order to disengage the head of the fastener means from the bore hole and thus release the blade from the blade holder. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,664 shows a skate blade assembly wherein the front end of the ice skate blade is pivotably coupled to the blade holder via a slot and pin arrangement. The rear end of the skate blade is then pivoted into snap-locking engagement with a locking mechanism located at the rear end of the blade holder, which locking mechanism comprises several pieces including springs, slide bar, latching tongue, ejection rod, rod and pin. A known deficiency of this assembly is that it comprises several pieces, thereby increasing the complexity of its construction and operation. 
     U.S. Publication No. 2010/0109312 shows a replaceable ice skate blade wherein the skate blade is attached to a removable blade assembly. The blade assembly comprises a first hook and pivotable rocker at its front end, as well as a second hook towards its rear end. The blade assembly is designed to be interlocked with an attachment system contained in the front and rear cavities of the holder, where the front cavity comprises a fixed retention hook for engaging the first hook of the blade assembly and the rear cavity comprises an attachment device that includes a pivotable retention hook at one end shaped to receive and engage the rearward hook of the blade assembly, a pawl that is attached to the pivotable retention hook, a releasing means (e.g., a button) and a spring that provides tension to the different components of the device. 
     To attach the skate blade and blade assembly to the holder, the user first presses the releasing means in order to overcome the force of the spring on the pawl, thus allowing the pivotable retention hook to move into a position that would allow the entry of the rearward second hook of the blade assembly. Next, the user engages the first hook with the fixed retention hook in the front cavity of the attachment system and rotates the blade assembly via the pivotable rocker so as to make the second hook enter the attachment device at the rear of the holder. The second hook makes contacts with and applies pressure to the pivotable retention hook within the attachment device. Once sufficient pressure is applied by the second hook of the blade assembly on the pivotable retention hook, the retention hook (and attached pawl) pivots, which subsequently releases the tension stored the spring and forces the pivotable retention hook into a position where it is physically engaged with the second hook of the blade assembly. However, a known deficiency of this assembly is that it comprises several separate pieces, thereby increasing the complexity of its construction and operation. 
     Consequently, there is a need in the industry to provide a simple attachment system having a single component that allows the ice skate blade to easily be locked to and removed from the blade holder by the user without the need of tools. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a broad aspect, the invention provides an ice skate blade assembly for a skate, the ice skate blade assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising: (a) an ice skate blade comprising first and second ends, an ice-contacting surface and an upper edge opposite to the ice-contacting surface, the upper edge comprising first and second hooks projecting upwardly proximate to one of the first and second ends respectively; (b) a blade holder having first and second pedestals and a bridge portion connecting the first and second pedestals, the blade holder further comprising a bottom portion having a longitudinal groove extending therealong for receiving the upper edge of the ice skate blade, the bottom portion further defining a recess extending upwardly from the longitudinal groove for receiving the first hook of the ice skate blade and wherein the second pedestal has an inner surface defining a cavity with a bottom aperture that opens to the longitudinal groove; and (c) a single actuator for selectively locking the ice skate blade into the blade holder and releasing the ice skate blade from the blade holder, the single actuator being at least partially mounted within the cavity of the second pedestal and comprising a finger-engaging surface accessible by at least one finger of a user from an exterior of the blade holder and a hook-receiving portion for receiving the second hook of the ice skate blade, the hook-receiving portion being movable between (i) a lock position, in which the hook-receiving portion engages the second hook of the ice skate blade to lock the ice skate blade in the longitudinal groove of the blade holder, and (ii) a release position, in which the hook-receiving portion disengages the second hook of the ice skate blade to release the ice skate blade from the blade holder, and wherein the hook-receiving portion is movable in response to the at least one finger of the user acting on the finger-engaging surface for imparting translation movement of the single actuator from the lock position to the release position. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to the persons skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A detailed description of examples of implementation of the present invention is provided hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an ice skate blade assembly in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of the ice skate blade assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 4 to 6  are cross-sectional views showing the process of inserting the ice skate blade within the blade holder; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the ice skate blade in its locked position within the blade holder; and 
         FIGS. 8 to 11  are cross-sectional views showing the process of detaching the ice skate blade from the blade holder. 
     
    
    
     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 
     To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in one figure will designate the same element if used in any other figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology is 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. 
     Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, “radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure. Similarly, the terms “inwardly,” “outwardly” and “radially” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4  to  11  show an ice skate blade assembly  10  constructed in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention. The ice skate blade assembly  10  extends along a longitudinal axis A and has an ice skate blade  12  and a blade holder  14 . 
     The ice skate blade  12  can be made of a stainless steel material that is durable and can maintain a sharp edge. In another embodiment, the ice skate blade can also comprise an upper section made of aluminium or plastic and a bottom section made of stainless steel. In a further embodiment, the ice skate blade can comprise a plurality of apertures for reducing its weight. 
     The blade holder  14  can be made of a lightweight, strong material such as NYLON™. The holder  14  can also be made from a transparent or translucent material capable of being seen through. The transparent or translucent material may be a polymeric material such as, ACRYLIC™, XYLAC™ or any type of translucent or transparent polycarbonate or other polymer. 
     The blade holder  14  can be manufactured using known processes, including but not limited to an injection molding process. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the ice skate blade  12  comprises a first end  16  and a second end  18 , an ice contacting surface  20  and an upper edge  22  that is opposed to the ice contacting surface  20 . The upper edge  22  comprises a first hook  24  that is upwardly projecting and proximate to the first end  16  of the ice skate blade  12 . The upper edge  22  also comprises a second hook  26  that is upwardly projecting and which is generally located proximate to the second end  18  of the ice skate blade  12 . The second hook  26  has an upper surface  26 A, an end  26 B and a bottom surface  26 C. 
     The upper edge  22  further comprises a tooth  28  located between the first and second hooks  24 ,  26 . The tooth  28  has first and second walls  28 A,  28 B extending upwardly and a top wall  28 C. The second wall  28 B may be an inclined wall projecting upwardly from the upper edge  22 . As shown, the first and second hooks  24 ,  26  are the front and rear hooks of the ice skate blade  12  respectively, and the tooth  28  is closer to the second hook  26 ; but it will be understood that the first and second hooks  24 ,  26  may otherwise be the rear and front hooks of the ice skate blade and that the tooth  28  may rather be closer to the front hook in such an embodiment. 
     Moreover, in the ice skate blade  12 , the first hook  24  projects forwardly towards the front of the blade holder  14 , while the second hook  26  projects rearwardly towards the rear of the blade holder  14 . 
     The blade holder  14  has first and second pedestals  30 ,  32  with respective top first and second top portions  34 ,  36  for attachment to a bottom surface of a skate boot (not shown). The blade holder  14  also has a bridge portion  58  connecting the first and second pedestals  30 ,  32 . As is well known in the art, a skate boot (not shown) can comprise a rigid outsole glued to the bottom surface of the insole and the top portions  34 ,  36  of the blade holder  14  can be riveted to the outsole and insole. The blade holder  14  also comprises a bottom portion  38  having a longitudinal groove  40  extending therealong, and along the longitudinal axis A. 
       FIG. 3  shows that the longitudinal groove  40  is formed by laterally spaced walls  42 ,  44  extending downwardly from a bottom surface  46 . As is best seen in  FIG. 7 , when the ice skate blade  12  is locked in place within the holder  14 , the upper edge  22  of the ice skate blade  12  abuts the bottom surface  46 . The longitudinal groove  40  is designed to receive the upper edge  22  of the ice skate blade  12 . The width of the longitudinal groove  40  is almost identical to the one of the upper edge  22  and the depth of the groove  40  is sufficient in order that the upper edge  22  of the ice skate blade  12  can be tightly received within the longitudinal groove  40 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the first pedestal  30  has an inner surface  48  defining a first cavity  50  and the second pedestal  32  has an inner surface  52  defining a second cavity  54  communicating with a bottom aperture  56  provided in the bottom portion  38  between first and second base walls  56 A,  56 B such that the bottom aperture  56  opens on to the longitudinal groove  40 . The second pedestal  32  also comprises a protrusion  53  that extends rearwardly from a section of the inner surface  52  into the second cavity  54 . As shown, the first and second pedestals  30 ,  32  are front and rear pedestal of the blade holder, but it may be understood that the first and second pedestals  30 ,  32  may otherwise be the rear and front pedestals of the blade holder. 
     The bridge portion  58  has first, second, third and fourth apertures  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  for reducing the weight of the blade holder  14 . 
     The bottom portion  38  also defines a recess  68  extending upwardly from the longitudinal groove  40  for receiving the first hook  24 . The inner front wall of the recess  68  has a profile that generally matches the profile of the external front wall of the first hook  24 , such that the first hook  24  can be tightly mounted within the recess  68  when the ice skate blade  12  is locked in place. 
     In the ice skate blade  12 , the first hook  24  projects upwardly and forwardly and this first hook  24  is a front hook. Those skilled in the art will understand that the first hook would otherwise project upwardly and rearwardly in an embodiment wherein the first recess  68  is rather provided on the rear pedestal. 
     The bottom portion  38  further defines an indent  70  extending upwardly from the longitudinal groove  40  for receiving the tooth  28  of the ice skate blade  12 . The indent  70  has first and second walls  70 A,  70 B extending downwardly and a top wall  70 C. The second wall  70 B may be an inclined wall. The indent  70  has an internal profile that generally matches the external profile of the tooth  28  such that one of the first and second walls  28 A,  28 B of the tooth  28  abuts against one of the first and second walls  70 A,  70 B of the indent  70  when the ice skate blade  12  is locked in place. In the embodiment where the first hook  24  is the front hook, the second (rear) wall  28 B of the tooth  28  abuts against the second (rear) wall  70 B of the indent  70  when the ice skate blade  12  is locked in place. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the ice skate blade assembly  10  also comprises a single actuator  72  having a wall  74  accessible by a finger of the user, a resilient portion  76  having an end wall  78  facing a section of the inner surface  52  of the second pedestal  32 , an upper surface  77  and a bottom portion  80  with an inner wall  83  and a bottom wall  84  comprising an upper surface  84 A, an end  84 B and a bottom surface  84 C where the inner wall  83  and the bottom wall  84  define therebetween a channel  82  for receiving the second hook  26 . In the embodiment shown in the figures, the end wall  78  is a rear end wall that faces a rear section of the inner surface  52  of the second pedestal. 
     In one embodiment, the single actuator  72  may be made of an integrated part. In another embodiment, the single actuator may be made of two parts where the part comprising the resilient portion  76  can be compressed and inserted in the second cavity  54  after the other part in order to ease mounting of the single actuator  72  within the second cavity  54 . 
     While the single actuator  72  may be made of one, two or more parts, in use, when it is mounted within the second cavity  54 , all its movable components such as the finger accessible wall  74 , channel  82 , bottom wall  84  and resilient portion  76  are interdependent such that translation movement of any one of these components imparts corresponding translation movement of all the other components of the single actuator  72 . 
     The part comprising the resilient portion may be made of a material that is slightly more flexible than the material of the other part, which may be made of more rigid material. One of the parts may be made of thermoplastic overmolded over a skeleton or frame made of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. One of the parts (e.g. the one comprising the finger accessible wall) may be made of aluminum or stainless steel while the other part comprising the resilient portion can be made of a flexible resilient material. The finger accessible wall may be made of aluminium, stainless steel or thermoplastic with an overmolded region made of tactile material such as polyurethane. 
     The single actuator  72  may be made of thermoplastic material, such materials sold under the names ABS™, NYLON™, DELRIN™ (grades 900P, 500P, 500CL or 100ST) or ORGALLOY™ (grades LT5050 or RS600). The single actuator  72  may be molded or otherwise formed using techniques known in the art (e.g., plastic or metal injection molding). 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2A , the end wall  78  may have a vertical projection  78 A and the second pedestal  32  may have a vertical groove  78 B provided on the inner surface  52  such that, after insertion of the single actuator  72  within the second cavity  54 , the vertical projection  78 A registers within the vertical groove  78 B and the single actuator  72  is aligned within the second cavity  54 . It is understood that the vertical projection  78 A may be replaced by a vertical groove and the vertical groove  78 B may be replaced by a corresponding vertical projection. It is also understood that the end wall  78  may be devoid of any vertical projection or groove and the inner surface  52  may be devoid of any vertical groove or projection such that the external surface of the end wall  78  abuts directly against a rear section of the inner surface  52 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the resilient portion  76  may comprise two resilient flaps  76 A and two internal arms  76 B that add rigidity to the resilient portion  76  for avoiding rotational or pivotal movement of the resilient portion  76  when pressure is applied upon it. It is understood that a resilient portion  76  with a number of flaps or inner arms greater than or less than two would also fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     In addition, the functionality of the resilient portion  76  could be provided by resilient components other than flaps. For example, a set of one or more resilient coil springs could be used for the resilient portion  76  and would likely provide similar, if not identical, functionality to the resilient portion  76  as do the resilient flaps of the present embodiment. In another alternate embodiment, the resilient portion  76  could be comprised of some combination of resilient flaps and resilient springs that provide equivalent functionality. The resilient portion  76  could also be made of external walls made of a resilient material and defining an internal cavity with a material such as foam in it. 
     Once the single actuator  72  is mounted in place, the user can insert one or two fingers in the fourth aperture  66  in order to press on the finger-accessible wall  74 . It is understood that the rear surface of the end wall  78  and/or vertical projection  78 A may be coated with glue or another adhesive substance before the single actuator  72  is inserted. This substance may permit a certain amount of movement to the end wall  78  during assembly, but after a certain period may permanently affix the end wall  78  to the rear section of the inner surface  52 . Alternatively, glue or another adhesive substance (e.g. adhesive sold under the name LOCTITE™) or any locking means such as a screw can be applied or affixed at the top surface region between the end wall  78  (and/or vertical projection  78 A) and the rear inner surface of the rear pedestal  32  (and/or the vertical groove  78 B) once the single actuator  72  is mounted in the second cavity  54  in order to ensure proper mounting of the single actuator  72  in the second cavity  54 . It is conceivable that the single actuator  72  could be removed after the assembly of the skate, such as in the case where a replacement actuator must be installed. 
     It will be appreciated that when the single actuator  72  is correctly aligned and placed within the second cavity  54  and there is no blade to be inserted or removed from the blade holder  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 , a top portion of the finger-accessible wall  74  exerts pressure against a bottom portion of the protrusion  53 , a bottom portion of the finger-accessible wall  74  exerts pressure against the end of the base wall  56 A and the end wall  78  exerts pressure against the inner surface  52 , such that the pressure exerted by these portions helps keep the single actuator  72  seated properly within the second cavity  54 . However, when the ice skate blade  12  is locked in place by the wedging action of the bottom wall  84  on the second hook  26  as shown in  FIG. 7 , there is no contact between the finger-accessible wall  74  and any portion of the second pedestal  32  and an upward force (see single large arrow in  FIG. 7 ) is applied by the bottom wall  84  on the second hook  26  due to the remaining tension contained in the resilient portion  76  (see opposing large arrows in  FIG. 7 ). 
     The operation of the single actuator  72  will now be described with regards to dismounting and mounting (or remounting) the ice skate blade  12 . Since most ice skates are typically sold with a skate blade already installed within the blade holder, the steps of dismounting the ice skate blade  12  will be presented before the steps of remounting the ice skate blade  12  within the holder  14 .  FIGS. 8 to 11  show the steps by which a skate blade is dismounted while  FIGS. 4 to 6  show the steps by which a blade is mounted. 
     To dismount or release the ice skate blade  12  from the blade holder  14 , the user first inserts one or two fingers into the fourth aperture  66  for contacting the finger-accessible wall  74 . The user then applies pressure (see large arrow in  FIG. 8 ) to the finger-accessible wall  74 , pressing it inwards (i.e., in the direction towards the rear of the holder  14 ) in order to effect the release of the ice skate blade  12  from the holder  14 . In  FIG. 8 , the large arrow shows the pressure applied by the user. 
     When the user presses the finger-accessible wall  74  inwards, he is applying force that is transferred to the resilient portion  76  that is interdependent with the wall  74 . Because the resilient portion  76  is elastic, it can physically deform (e.g., bend and/or compress) so as to store this additional force. In particular, when the pressure applied by the user via the finger-accessible wall  74  is greater than the tension stored within the resilient portion  76  in its equilibrium state, the resilient portion  76  is forced to compress (or bend) further such that its compression allows movement of the single actuator  72  in the direction of the end wall  78  (i.e., in the direction towards the rear of the blade holder  14 ) as shown by the black arrows in  FIG. 8  showing translation movement of the single actuator  72 . 
     Continuing on  FIG. 8 , as the relative position of the channel  82  to the second hook  26  changes upon movement of the bottom wall  84  in the rearward direction, the inner wall  83  is brought into increasing contact with the upper surface  26 A of the second hook  26 . The increased contact between the inner wall  83  and the upper surface  26 A results in a downward force (see large arrow) being applied to the second hook  26  an in a downward movement of the ice skate blade (see black arrow). 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the upper surface  26 A may be an inclined upper surface extending along a line that defines an angle θ 4  relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A and the inner wall  83  may be an inclined inner wall extending along a line that defines an angle θ 3  relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A. The angle θ 4  may be between 35° and 75°. The angle θ 3  may be between 35° and 75°. It is understood that the angle θ 3  must be equal or slightly bigger than the angle θ 4  in order to allow the second hook  26  to be tightly mounted within the channel  82 . For example, the angle θ 3  may be approximately 45° while the θ 4  may be approximately 44°. 
       FIG. 8  also shows that as the bottom wall  84  moves generally rearward, it contacts and moves along the upper surface of the base wall  56 B. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show how the pre-tension created in the single actuator  72  via the resiliency of the resilient portion  76  is now used to assist with the dismounting of the ice skate blade  12  from the blade holder  14 .  FIG. 9  shows the point where the ends  26 B and  84 B come into contact and  FIG. 10  shows the point where the ends  26 B and  84 B are in full contact. As seen in  FIG. 2 , the end  26 B may be an inclined end extending along a line that defines an angle θ 1  relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A and the end  84 B may be an inclined end extending along a line that defines an angle θ 2  relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A. The angle θ 1  may be between 90° and 180°. The angle θ 2  may be between 0° and 90°. It is understood that the respective angles of the ends  26 B,  84 B must be designed such that the bottom wall  84  will allow introduction of the second hook  26  within the channel  82 . For example, the angle θ 1  may be approximately 121° while the θ 2  may be approximately 30°. 
     It is understood that the ends  26 B,  84 B may also be a rounded ends or any other shapes that create a downward force on the second hook  26  when the bottom wall  84  moves towards the front of the holder and contacts the second hook  26 . It is further understood that translation movement of the bottom end  84  and contact of the end  84 B on the end  26 B must create a downward force on the second hook  26  in a direction that is generally transversal relative to the longitudinal axis A (see large arrow in  FIG. 10 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , forward translation movement of the single actuator  72  towards the front of the blade holder  14  exerts a downward force (see large arrow) against the second hook  26  because of the increasing contact between the ends  26 B,  84 B and the downward force can be in a direction that is generally transversal relative to the longitudinal axis A. Hence, the portion of the force released by the resilient portion  76  via the end  84 B applies downward force to the end  26 B, with which it is currently in contact. 
     As the bottom wall  84  is driven forward by the force released by the resilient portion  76 , contact between the ends  84 B and  26 B decreases, which coincidentally concentrates the force expressed by the resilient portion  76  (via the end  84 B) into a smaller area that may help accelerate the exit of the second hook  26  from the channel  82  and/or bottom aperture  56 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the second hook  26  has exited the channel  82  and the ice skate blade  12  can simply fall down due to the gravity force (see large arrow) or the user can complete the removal of the ice skate blade  12  from the blade holder  14  by pulling down on the ice skate blade holder (see large arrow). It is understood the single actuator will return to its position shown in  FIG. 2  once there is no contact between the end  84 B and the end  26 B. 
     The process by which a user mounts the ice skate blade  12  into the ice skate blade holder  14  will now be described.  FIG. 4  shows that when the user wants to mount the ice skate blade  12  into the blade holder  14 , he first inserts the first hook  24  into the recess  68 . Once the first hook  24  has been inserted into the recess  68 , this recess acts as a pivot point for the rest of the ice skate blade  12 . The skate blade  12  may then be pivoted upwards in order that the second hook  26  can be inserted into the channel  82  of the single actuator  72 . 
     When the second hook  26  approaches the channel  82 , contact is first made between the end  26 B of the hook  26  and the end  84 B of the bottom wall  84  of the single actuator  72 . 
     As the user applies force (see large vertical arrow in  FIG. 5 ) to mount the ice skate blade  12  in the holder  14 , this upward force is transferred from the end  26 B to the end  84 B in a direction that is generally transversal relative to the longitudinal axis A because of the acute angle between the end  26 B and the end  84 B as shown in  FIG. 5 . As the surface of the end  26 B slides along the surface of the end  84 B, the upward force applied to the bottom wall  84  is transformed into force (see large inclined arrow in  FIG. 5 ) that creates translation movement of the single actuator  72  towards the rear end of the blade holder  14  (see black arrows in  FIG. 5 ). 
     It may be recalled that the bottom wall  84  is interdependent with the resilient portion  76 . As upward force is applied via the ends  26 B and  84 B, this force causes the bottom wall  84  to move rearward. Since the resilient portion  76  is elastic, it can physically deform (e.g., bend and/or compressed) to accommodate the rearward movement of the bottom wall  84 . 
       FIG. 5  shows that the finger-actuated wall  74  and the channel  82  are also moving rearward with the progress of the bottom wall  84 . As a result, the dimensions of the fourth aperture  66  appear to increase as a greater portion of the surface of the wall  74  is moved into the second pedestal  32 . 
     As the user continues to apply an upward force to mount the skate blade  12 , the end  26 B of the second hook  26  continues in to push the end  84 B such that translation movement of the single actuator  72  continues until the end  26 B has cleared the end  84 B and the second hook  26  entirely enters within the channel  82 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the point at which the second hook  26  is entirely received within the channel  82  and where translation movement of the single actuator  72  towards the front end of the blade holder  14  begins. At that point, the bottom surface  26 C of the second hook  26  comes into sliding contact with the upper surface  84 A of the bottom wall  84 , and because of the resiliency of the resilient portion  76 , translation movement of the single actuator  72  towards the front of the blade holder is possible (see black arrows in  FIG. 6 ). 
     Since the angle between the surfaces  26 A and  84 A is generally positive, the increase in sliding contact between these surfaces due to the release of force by the resilient portion  76  is transformed into an upward force that is applied by the upper surface  84 A of the bottom wall  84  to the bottom surface  26 C of the second hook  26  (see single large arrow in  FIG. 7 ). This upward force causes the second hook  26  to be moved further into the channel  82  until no further translation of the bottom wall  84  is possible and the bottom wall  84  wedges the second hook  26  for locking in place the ice skate blade  12  in the longitudinal groove  40  whereby an upward force (see single large arrow in  FIG. 7 ) is still applied by the bottom wall  84  on the second hook  26  due to the remaining tension in the resilient portion  76  (see opposing large arrows in  FIG. 7 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the upward force extends along a line that defines an angle θ 5  relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A. According to the inclinations of the upper surface  84 A of the bottom wall  84  and the bottom surface  26 C of the second hook  26 , the angle θ 5  may be between 1° and 89°, or between 25° and 65°, or approximately 45° such that a portion of this upward force pushes the ice skate blade  12  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A (i.e. vertical direction) and the other portion of this upward force pushes the ice skate blade  12  in a (forward) direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A (i.e. horizontal direction). In other words, the upward force has a first component extending along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A (i.e. vertical direction) and a second component extending along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A (i.e. horizontal direction). It is also understood that the upward force is generally perpendicular to the contacting region between the bottom wall  84  (upper surface  84 A) and second hook  26  (bottom surface  26 C). 
     In the above description, the user only applies upward force to the skate blade  12  during the mounting process. However, it is understood that the user may rather apply pressure to the finger-accessible wall  74  in order to compress the resilient portion  76 , thereby moving the single actuator  72  towards the rear of the blade holder  14  such that passage of the second hook  26  into the channel  82  is not obstructed by the bottom wall  84 . In an alternate way, the user may apply force to both the skate blade  12  and the finger-accessible wall  74  to mount the blade  12  within the holder  14 . 
     The present invention also relates to an ice skate comprising an ice skate blade assembly as described above. 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.