Abstract:
An ice skate having a low profile, dual blade assembly. The blade assembly is affixed to the sole of a boot, and each blade is positioned symmetrically about the center line of the boot, and separated by a lateral distance which is sufficient to avoid a build up of ice/snow between the blades. The blade assembly has a short vertical profile in order to provide a low center of gravity, for example, in the range of forty to sixty percent of the conventional vertical profile.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to the construction of an ice skate, and in particular, a unique construction having a double blade assembly that is useful for training beginning ice skaters. 
         [0002]    A problem for beginning ice skaters is a lack of balance and stability while learning how to skate using a conventional single-bladed ice skate, whether for figure skating or for ice hockey. Others have recognized this problem and offered solutions. 
         [0003]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,764,417 discloses several embodiments of ice skates with multiple blades to provide increased stabilization. Each embodiment includes a main central blade, with a pair of stabilizing blades disposed on both sides of the central blade. U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,897 discloses an adjustable attachment to provide auxiliary runners on both sides of the central blade, and likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,397 discloses an attachment to provide auxiliary runners on both sides of the central blade. U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,445 discloses an attachment to provide a single auxiliary runner disposed to the inside of the central blade (i.e. under the inside portion of the foot). 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,883 discloses a double bladed skate, wherein each blade is attached to the boot by a complicated bracket assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,522 discloses a double-bladed attachment device that is clamped onto an existing boot to provide auxiliary runners on either side of the main blade. 
         [0005]    Despite these various solutions, it remains desirable to find a simple design that provides a blade arrangement that is comfortable and easy to use for the beginning ice skater. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an ice skating boot having two blades. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the blade assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom plan view of the blade assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side plan view of the blade assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side plan view of an integrally molded blade assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    This disclosure describes a unique blade construction for an ice skating boot, wherein a pair of blades is affixed to the boot in a manner that provides a low center of gravity. This double blade arrangement is particularly useful to provide increased stability for the beginning skater and thereby ease the process of learning to skate. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a figure skating boot  10  having a skate blade assembly  20  affixed to the boot. The skate blade assembly  20  uses a unique double blade arrangement, as further described below. The boot  10  is of conventional construction, having a sole  11  affixed to a shoe portion  12 , for example, by stitching. Since the heel portion  13  of the boot  10  is generally higher than the toe portion  14 , a heel post  15  is affixed to the heel portion  13  of the boot, for example, by an adhesive. All of the boot portions are preferably made from leather, although other materials may be used for some or all portions. Further, although the first embodiment is a figure skating boot with a distinct blade attachment, the teachings disclosed herein are applicable to any type or style of skating boot. For example, a hockey style boot having an integrally molded blade attachment can also be made, as further described below with regard to  FIG. 5 . However, since the objective is to provide a training skate for beginners, it is preferred that such a training skate be implemented as a simple and economical ice skate, and unlikely that the teachings disclosed herein would find practical application to the specialty skates, such as speed skates or dancing skates. 
         [0013]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate one embodiment of the skate blade assembly  20  as used with skate boot  10 . The skate blade assembly  20  includes a pair of tempered steel blades  21 , coated with chrome, and affixed at stanchion  22   a  to a heel platform  24 , and at stanchions  22   b,    22   c  to a toe platform  26 , for example, by welding the stanchions to the platforms at weldment spots  28 . The blades  21  are disposed symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal center line of the boot and are separated by lateral distance W. The blades  21  are not flat, but curved slightly, forming an arc having a radius of about 180-220 centimeters. Further, each of the blades  21  has a width of about 0.32 cm. Figure skates typically include a toe pick  23 , but such a feature is optional and probably not necessary for training the beginning skater, as intended here. 
         [0014]    The heel platform  24  is preferably a rigid flat piece of steel having mounting holes  25 , and similarly, the toe platform  26  is a rigid flat piece of steel having mounting holes  27 . The mounting holes  25 ,  27  are provided so that the blade assembly  20  can be fastened by screws (not shown) into the bottom of boot  10 . Other known attachment methods could also be used, for example, pop rivets, or alternatively, the platforms  24 ,  26  could be integrally molded as part of the boot, like a hockey style boot, as further discussed below. 
         [0015]    Note that the heel platform  24  and toe platform  26  are welded between the stanchions  22  of blades  21 , rather than on top of the stanchions, in order to minimize the vertical profile of the blades. In fact, when compared to a conventional skate, rather than changing the vertical geometry of the blade itself, the present embodiment achieves a lower profile by having shorter stanchions. 
         [0016]    In  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the measure H 1  is the vertical distance from the bottom edge of the blades  21  to the top of the heel platform  24  at the rear stanchion  22   a;  the measure H 2  is the vertical distance from the bottom edge of the blades  21  to the top of the toe platform  26  at the middle stanchion  22   b;  and the measure H 3  is the vertical distance from the bottom edge of the blades  21  to the top of the toe platform  24  at the front stanchion  22   c.  In accord with this disclosure, these vertical measures H 1 , H 2 , H 3  are minimized in order to provide a lower center of gravity than conventional blades. As a practical matter, this is achieved by reducing the height of the stanchions  22 . For example, in conventional figure skates, H 1  measures approximately 5.5 centimeters, H 2  measures approximately 5.6 centimeters, and H 3  measures approximately 5.4 centimeters. In the present embodiment, however, those measures are reduced significantly, for example, on the order of 40% to 60%. In one embodiment, those measures are approximately as follows: H 1 =2.8 centimeters; H 2 =3.0 centimeters; and H 3 =2.5 centimeters. Thus, it can be appreciated that by providing a shorter vertical profile of the blade portion, the skater has a lower center of gravity and therefore better balance while skating. 
         [0017]    In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the measure W is the lateral distance between the blades  21 . This measure W should be optimized in order to provide a stable platform to go with the lower center of gravity dictated by the measure H. As a minimum requirement, the blades  21  should be separated enough to prevent a buildup of ice/snow between the blades. In one preferred embodiment, the measure W is approximately 3.6 centimeters. 
         [0018]    Different boot sizes will generally not require different values of H and W. However, it is possible that a very small child&#39;s size could benefit from a slight reduction in the value of W, and likewise, that a very large adult size could benefit from a slight increase in the value of W, which would also lead to larger heel and toe platforms. 
         [0019]    An alternative embodiment is shown in  FIG. 5 , wherein a side profile of a blade assembly  100  for a hockey style boot is illustrated. The basic principles are the same, and the preferred values for H and W remain the same. However, since hockey skates are now made exclusively as an integrally molded assembly, the blade assembly  100  must be formed differently than one used for a standard figure skating boot, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , and one illustrative embodiment for such a molded assembly is described. Thus, the blade assembly  100  includes a blade holder  102  having a groove  104  (shown in dashed lines) formed in the underside of the blade holder to receive blade  106 . The blade holder  102  is preferably made from a fiber reinforced composite material. Further, one or more elastic non-rigid support members (not shown), including elastomer thermoplastics such as urethane or rubber, may be placed into the groove  104  in order to absorb and cushion the flexing of blade  106  when in use. The blade holder  102  includes flanges  108  to facilitate coupling to the boot, either by conventional means, such as screws or rivets, or by being integrally molded with the boot (not shown). 
         [0020]    In general, those skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize that many changes in construction and materials as well as widely differing embodiments will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of this disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative only, and not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the claims.