Abstract:
A weighted training device for use with a skate and more specifically with an ice skate. The weighted training device includes a base that is receivable within an aperture formed between the blade or wheel supports. The base includes first and second ends that are shaped to engage the blade or wheel supports. The base defines an interior cavity into which one or more weighted members can selectively be inserted. A latched cover is positionable over the interior cavity to secure the weighted members therein. The training device includes a mechanism for locking the base in position so that it cannot be accidentally dislodged.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     This invention generally relates to training devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a weighted training device. Specifically, the invention relates to a training device for use in association with skates that allows the athlete to vary the amount of weight they train with.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Athletes are always looking for a competitive edge. They therefore utilize different methods of training and use various training aids. and devices to increase their speed, strength and endurance and thereby enhance their performance.  
         [0005]     It is known in the prior art for athletes to train with weights added to either their limbs or their equipment to build up specific muscle groups used in their sport and to enhance the athlete&#39;s strength and endurance. Runners and swimmers are known to strap small weights onto their wrists and ankles, while tennis players and baseball players add weights to their racquets and bats. Not only do these weights and weighted devices build up the athlete&#39;s muscles, but they provide the added benefit of a sensation of increased freedom and strength when the weights are removed, and this gives the athlete a psychologic boost and thereby enhances their performance.  
         [0006]     Weighted devices have been proposed in the prior art for use in the training regimes of ice hockey players, figure skaters and speed and roller skaters. One of the more important considerations when using a weighted device on a skate is how to secure the weighted device to the skate. If the securing mechanism is inadequate then in ice hockey skates, for example, the fast movements involved in the sport and the constant impact of the skate blade on the ice surface can increase the risk of the weight becoming detached from the skate and being turned into a projectile. Several different mechanisms have been proposed in the art for attaching some sort of weight to a skate. U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,067 issued to Rucks, shows an exercising weight that is enclosed in a sheath and is positioned beneath the boot portion of a skate. Straps are wrapped around the top of the boot to secure the weighted sheath in place. Canadian Patent No. CA2456414, issued to Bjugstad et al, shows a weighted strap that is securable to the boot portion of a skate with the weight being positioned under the boot and the strap wrapping around the top and leg portion of the boot. Callahan et al discloses a weighted cover in Canadian Patent No. CA2217759. In the Callahan device the weighted cover is positioned around the top of the boot and a fastener extends under the bottom of the boot to hold the cover in place. A non-strap type of weighted device is disclosed in Canadian Patent No. CA982623, issued to Ouellette. Ouellette discloses a weighted device that is positioned between the blade mounting posts that extend between the blade and the boot. A spring-biased weight is inserted between the posts and is locked into place by a wing nut. Finally, it is also known in the art to simply snap-fit a specially designed weight onto the top of the blade on an ice skate.  
         [0007]     A second consideration when using weighted training devices is that, over time, the athlete grows accustomed to the additional weight on their equipment and therefore accrues little additional benefit from using the weight. This has also been partially addressed in the prior art, in references such as Canadian Patent No. CA2088617, issued to Corey. Corey shows a strap that is secured around the boot portion of the skate and includes a plurality of pockets which can hold small weights therein. The skater can select how much weight he wishes to utilize by adding small weights to the pockets or removing weights from the pockets. However, inserting these small weights into the pockets and removing them from the pockets can be finicky and time consuming because of the small size of the pockets involved.  
         [0008]     Still a further consideration in the design of a weighted device is that ice hockey players, in particular, like to use weighted devices during the warm up period before a game. However, weights are not permitted on the skates during the playing time of an actual hockey game. Consequently, it is essential that the weighted device be quick and easy to both install and remove as players want to maximize their warm-up time and may therefore need to remove the weighted device in a hurry.  
         [0009]     There is therefore a need in the art for an improved weighted device that can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from a skate; that can be attached in a manner that will prevent the weight from being accidentally dislodged and that will allow the skater to vary the amount of weight that he/she uses for training purposes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The device of the present invention includes a base that is receivable within an aperture formed between the blade supports or wheel supports on the skate. The base includes first and second ends that are shaped to engage the blade or wheel supports. The first and second ends are preferably C-shaped and each includes a cushioning pad to help hold the device in place between the supports and to dampen any impacts on either the skate or the training device. The training device includes a base having an interior cavity into which one or more weighted members can selectively be inserted. A latched cover is selectively positionable over the interior cavity to secure the weighted members therein. The base is held between the supports by a spring-biased extendable arm that can be locked in substantially any position by a locking mechanism disposed on the base. The training device can be used with any type of ice, roller or inline skate that includes a pair of mounting supports for attaching a blade or wheels to a boot portion of the skate.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a partial side view of an ice hockey skate having a weighted training device in accordance with the present invention installed thereon;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the weighted training device in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional top view of the weighted training device taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-section top view of the highlighted area shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is an exploded rear perspective rear view of the weighted training device; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the weighted training device showing the addition/removal of a weight. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown an ice hockey skate  10  comprising a boot  12 , a blade  14  and a blade support  16  connecting blade  14  and boot  12  to each other. Blade support  16  defines an aperture  18  therethrough and a training weight in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at  20 , is retained within that aperture  18 .  
         [0019]     Training weight  20  is more clearly shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . Training weight  20  comprises a housing  22  having an adjustable arm  24  extending outwardly therefrom. Arm  24  comprises a C-shaped portion  26  and a shaft  28 . As may be most easily seen from  FIG. 2 , C-shaped portion  26  is tapered when viewed from the side so that a wider end  26   a  is disposed proximate housing  22  and a narrower end  26   b  is disposed remote from housing  22 . C-shaped housing  26  is shaped to engage with one of a front part  16   a  and rear part  16   b  of blade support  16 . A resilient, compressible rubber pad  23  is secured within the C-shaped portion  26  that assists the training weight  20  to conform to differently shaped blade supports  16  on different skates. Pad  23  also assists in keeping training weight  20  snug and securely fitted to skate  10 . Shaft  28  includes a plurality of spaced apart teeth  30  thereon and terminates in an end  32 .  
         [0020]     Housing  22  includes a base portion  34  and a cover portion  36 . As may be most easily seen from  FIG. 5 , base portion  34  preferably is manufactured from two side sections  34   a ,  34   b  and a C-shaped end section  34   c . End section  34   c  is again provided with a resilient, compressible rubber pad  35  which once again helps training weight  10  to fit on a variety of differently shaped and sized blade supports  16  on different skates  10 . Side sections  34   a ,  34   b  and end section  34   c  preferably include a plurality of interlocking legs  38  which, when the components are connected together, ensure that the base  34  may be easily assembled. Side sections  34   a ,  34   b  also define an internal slot  40  into which arm  28  is received. A spring  42  is also retained within slot  40  between end  32  of arm  24  and an interior wall  44  ( FIG. 3 ) of end section  34   c.    
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , a sliding lock  46  is positioned proximate a front end of base  34  and is disposed within a channel  72  in base  34 . As may be best seen from  FIG. 3 , channel  70  is disposed substantially at right angles to slot  40 . Lock  46  includes an aperture  48  through which arm  24  is received. Arm  24  includes a flange  50  ( FIG. 5 ) that engages lock  46  to prevent arm  24  from being pulled out of slot  40  in housing  22 . Lock  46  includes a plurality of teeth  49  that are spaced to interlock with teeth  30  on arm  24  when lock  46  is engaged. As may be most easily seen from  FIG. 6 , ends of lock  46  are recessed within channel  72 . The opening to channel  72  is shaped so as to receive a fingertip therethrough. The recessed access to lock ends  46   a  prevents lock  46  from being accidentally engaged if the player falls or is hit by a stick or puck for example.  
         [0022]     When side sections  34   a ,  34   b  and end section  34   c  are connected together with spring  42  and arm  24  being positioned within slot  40 , then a plurality of fasteners  52  are used to secure the side sections  34   a ,  34   b  together. It may be seen from  FIG. 3 , when side sections  34   a ,  34   b  are so assembled, the front end  22   a  of housing  22  is complementary in shape to C-shaped section  26  and is sized to receive the same therein when spring  42  is fully compressed and arm  24  is fully received within slot  40 . Furthermore, when base portion  34  is fully assembled and cover  36  is disposed thereover, an interior cavity is formed between an interior upper surface  36   a  of cover  36  and the top walls  54  of side sections  34   a ,  34   b.    
         [0023]     In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, one or more saddle-type weights  56 ,  58 ,  60  are selectively insertable into the interior cavity between upper surface  36   a  of cover  36  and top walls  54 . Weights  56 ,  58  and  60  are generally U-shaped in cross-section and are complementary sized and shaped to be interlockingly received over top walls  54 . Weights  56 ,  58  and  60  preferably are all substantially equal in size and weight, although it is to be understood that the weights can weight different amounts without departing from the spirit of the present invention. When weights  56 ,  58  and  60  are received within the interior cavity, then a bottom surface  56   a ,  58   a  and  60   a  thereof abuts a ledge  62  in each side section  34   a ,  34   b . The top surfaces  56   b ,  58   b  and  60   b  of weights  56 ,  58 ,  60  each include a central indentation  64  that allows for a latch  66  ( FIG. 6 ) on the underside of cover  36  to slide thereover as cover  36  is moved back and forward over base  34 . Weights  56 ,  58  &amp;  60  preferably are made from any suitable metal and preferably have a weight range of between ⅛ pound and ⅓ pound.  
         [0024]     Cover  36  is further provided with knurling  68  to enable an athlete to engage cover  36  and depress the same slightly inwardly and rearwardly to release latch  66  and slide cover  36  back toward end  34   c  of base so as to gain access to the interior cavity for the insertion or removal of weights  56 ,  58  and  60 . Cover  36  further has side grooves  70  which act as grip portions for an athlete to more easily grasp and handle training weight  20 . It can also be seen from  FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 , that cover  36  has lips  74  that engage with similarly shaped portions on side sections  34   a ,  34   b  to interlocking hold cover  36  on base  34 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the training weight  20  in accordance with the present invention is used in the following manner. The athlete decides how much weight to include in training weight device  20  and then selects the relevant number of weights  56 ,  58  and/or  60 . If, for example, they decide they need to incorporate two weights,  56 ,  58  for example, in training device  20 , then they slide cover  36  open toward end section  34   c  of device  20 . Weights  56  and  58  are then dropped into the interior cavity and straddle a ridge  54  formed by side sections  34   a ,  34   b . Cover  36  is then grasped and slid forward toward C-shaped portion  26 . The training device  20  then needs to be installed in the aperture  18  in skate  10 . In order to insert device  20  into aperture  18 , arm  24  is ideally forced inwardly into slot  40  until rear wall  26   a  of C-shaped portion  26  abuts front end  22   a  of housing  22 . This is achieved by sliding lock  46  in a first direction, indicated by the arrow “A” in  FIGS. 3, 4  &amp;  6 . This sliding movement causes teeth  49  to disengage from teeth  30  on arm  24 . The arm  24  is then free to slide inwardly into slot  40 . The arm  24  is pushed inwardly to compress spring  42  and then lock  46  is slid in the opposite direction to arrow “A” to engage teeth  49  with teeth  30 . The interlocking of teeth  49 ,  47  prevents arm  24  from sliding back out of slot  40 .  
         [0026]     The athlete then inserts device  10  into aperture  18  so that C-shaped portion  26  is positioned proximate front end  16   a  of blade support  16  and end section  34   c  is positioned proximate back end  16   b  of blade support  16 . The athlete then slides lock  46  back in the direction of arrow “A”, causing teeth  49  on lock  46  to disengage from teeth  30  on arm  24 . As soon as the teeth  49 ,  30  disengage, spring  42  expands and urges arm  24  to slide outwardly from slot  40  in the direction of arrow “B” ( FIG. 3 ). The outward movement of arm  24  stops when C-shaped portion  26  engages front end  16   a  of blade support  16  and end section  34   c  engages back end  16   b  of blade support  16 . When this occurs, pads  23  and  35  are slightly compressed. Training device  20  is then secured in position by sliding lock  46  back in the opposite direction to arrow “A”, thereby causing teeth  49  and teeth  30  to interlock and thereby locking arm  24  in place. With device  20  secured in place between front end  16   a  and rear end  16   b  of blade support  16 , the athlete can then skate as he/she normally would.  
         [0027]     If at some point the athlete decides that they wish to add to remove weight to device  20 , they simply unlock lock  46  as previously described so that arm  24  is free to move, move arm  24  back toward housing  22  and then pull device  20  out of aperture  18 . The cover  36  is then slid backwardly toward end section  34   c  and weight can be added or removed by inserting one or more weights  56 ,  58 ,  60 ; or by removing one or more weights  56 ,  58 ,  60 . Cover  36  is slid back over base  34  toward C-shaped portion  26  and the device  20  is reinstalled in aperture  18  in the manner previously described.  
         [0028]     It will be understood that training device  20  can be used with any type of skate that has an aperture defined between the blade supports. When the training device of the present invention is to be used on a roller skate or inline skate, for example, then the aperture into which the device is inserted lies between the wheel mounting supports.  
         [0029]     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0030]     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.