Patent Description:
Ice skates have blades which typically may be formed from metal and which have a specific shape designed to facilitate skating. In modern ice hockey skates typically a single ice blade is located under each foot of the skater. The ice blades are usually affixed longitudinally under the skate boot portion and may have a generally convex curve side profile from front to back as well as a concave or grooved bottom face. Typically, only a portion of the ice blade of the skate touches the ice at any one time and during skating the ice blade is angled from side to side as well as rocked back and forth by the skater against the ice surface to propel the skater along.

According to prevailing theories of the science behind ice skating, a skater is thus capable of skating on ice because: (a) the weight of the skater is focused in a narrow area of ice under the concave portion of the bottom, or ice contacting surface of the ice blade which creates enough pressure to form a thin film of water under the ice blade and a skater glides on this film of water with a greatly reduced amount of friction; and (b) ice has a natural "quasi-fluid" layered region at its surface which creates a naturally slippery surface. Although ice blades are made from metal and may be harder than the ice, the ice blades still exhibit wear over time. In addition, the ice blade shape may become modified over time by inexact sharpening processes, stepping on other hard surfaces, or by being bent, dented or damaged in collisions during play or even nicked when not being used. Such wear or modifications may change the ice blade shape and may result in a loss of performance. Consequently, there is a constant need for skate shaping and sharpening.

Ice blade shapes can vary according to activity, and an ice blade on a figure skate will have a different shape than an ice blade on a hockey skate, which will also be different from an ice blade on a speed skate. Further, even within one sport, at present the different manufacturers of ice blades may provide their own unique factory or OEM blade shape. Even further, within one sport, and with equipment from the same manufacturer, ice blade shapes may be customized by the user to try to optimize performance - for example, some hockey players prefer the ice blades to be sharpened and shaped in a particular way to suit their style of play or even to suit their specific position.

Sharpened ice blades are also used in other activities, such as luge, skeleton and bobsledding all of which may have specific ice blade shaping and sharpening requirements, which may vary according to the athlete, the design of their sleds, or even the set-up of the track or course.

Modification of the shape of ice blades, such as those on OEM hockey skates can be accomplished today using manually-operating grinding machines or automatic grinding machines. However, the determination of which shape to apply for any given skater is unscientific, typically using fixed jigs, templates, guides, and the like. For hockey players in particular, there may be recommendations for certain sharpening and shaping parameters based on whether the player plays a forward position, a defensive position or a goalie position. Further modifications to the ice blade may be suggested by the player based on their own experience with shaping or sharpening and the results provided.

Current skate sharpening systems have a major shortcoming in that there is no meaningful feedback to the user of how the ice blade sharpening affects their performance. Essentially the user either adapts to the sharpening shape selected for the ice blade, or makes a random change to another profile <NUM> hoping to find one that feels right. Ice blade shapes are often established using fixed jigs, templates or guides, which may not be readily customizable.

In the past, ice blade shaping and sharpening techniques have been developed on a largely trial and error basis. For example, at the highest levels of professional sports, a final edge for a specific ice blade may be put on by a special craftsman, such as a custom sharpener, who through repeated interactions with a user athlete gets to know the requirements and what configuration is preferred by the athlete. However, such custom hand crafted attention is both expensive and not very precise. Not only is it difficult for the user to determine if any particular shaping or sharpening was effective, because of the variation in shaping and sharpening from one instance to the next, even if it was effective it can be difficult to reliably repeat the results. The only feedback from the athlete as to whether any change in the shape or sharpening technique has been positive or negative to their performance is their own observations, which are impressions only and may be affected by confirmation bias. The vast majority of ice blade users therefore rely on a sharpener either a person or an automatic machine with a fixed guide to deliver a shaped and/or sharpened blade with little control over the final shaped and sharpened configuration. However, as in all sports, a small improvement can result in the difference between winning and losing, and an improved approach to customized blade shaping and sharpening is greatly desired.

<CIT> discloses a portable numerical control skate grinding machine comprises a machine case which consists of a computer function control operating system, a skate radian and roughness detecting system, a X Y Z three-dimensional motion control system, a grinding system, a power supply system, and a control circuit system. The skate grinding machine can automatically grind the skates for the speed skating and the short track speed skating. For the determination of the surface of the ice skate blade <CIT> relies on four different elements, namely a curvature sensor, a roughness sensing probe, a CCD image of magnification camera and a feeler piezoelectric switch.

<CIT> discloses a blade sharpening system comprising a blade sharpening device, a blade holding apparatus and a controller operatively coupled to the blade sharpening device and said blade holding apparatus to control sharpening of said blade, and methods of using the same.

What is desired, therefore, is an improved system for shaping and sharpening ice blades to overcome at least some of the limitations of the prior art. Preferably, the improvements will result in one or more of, more precise shaping and sharpening, more consistent results, more options for customizing the shaping and sharpening, ease of use for a user, and convenience to the user.

In this disclosure, the term ice blade means any blade which may be used as a runner, glide, or other contact point for traversing an ice surface and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes ice skate blades, including speed skate, hockey skate, leisure skate, and figure skate blades; luge, skeleton, and bobsled running blades; and any other blades which may be used to glide over an ice or snow surface. More particularly the ice contacting surface is that part of the ice blade which makes contact with an underlying surface, such as an ice surface, during use. An ice surface includes a natural ice surface, an artificial ice surface, and a synthetic ice surface (i.e. high density polyethylene, or the like). As such, an ice surface is any type of surface on which an ice blade may be used on and glide over.

The present invention is directed generally to ice blades used in ice related sports, and more specifically to methods and systems for precisely measuring a three-dimensional (3D) shape of ice blades.

One aspect of the invention provides an ice blade grinding system according to claim <NUM>.

Preferred features of the ice blade grinding system are set out in the dependent claims.

Reference will now be made to preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference, by way of example only, to the following drawings in which:.

The present invention is described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the appended drawings. While the present invention is described below including preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments which are within the scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed herein. In the figures, like elements are given like reference numbers. For the purposes of clarity, not every component is labelled in every figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. Orientative words such as "side", "bottom", "front", "back", "left", and "right" as used herein are used for clarity with reference to the orientation of elements in the figures and are not intended to be limiting.

In this description the following terms shall have the following meanings. The term ice blade means any blade which may be used as a runner, glide or other contact point for traversing an ice surface and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes ice skate blades, including speed skate, hockey skate, a leisure skate, and figure skate blades; luge, skeleton, and bobsled running blades; and any other blades which may be used to glide over an ice or snow surface. The ice blades may be made of metal or other materials suitable for shaping and sharpening by removing ice blade material via a grinding action. More particularly the ice contacting surface is that part of the ice blade which makes contact with an ice surface during use. An ice surface includes a natural ice surface, an artificial ice surface, and a synthetic ice surface (i.e. high density polyethylene, or the like). As such, an ice surface is any type of surface on which an ice blade may be used on and glide over.

<FIG> show a typical ice blade <NUM> on an ice skate <NUM> which is used a non-limiting example of the type of ice blade <NUM> to which the present invention may be applied. <FIG> shows a cross sectional-view looking straight down the length of the ice blade <NUM>, showing a constant hollow <NUM> running through the length of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>. Although the hollow <NUM> shown in <FIG> has a radiused, or concave-shaped hollow, other shapes may be used, including for example, a V-shaped hollow <NUM>, a square-shaped hollow <NUM>, or other-shaped hollows, including a convex shaped hollow. All such shaped hollows are comprehended by the present invention. The hollow <NUM> yields sharp edges <NUM>, <NUM> on each side of the hollow <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view of the ice blade <NUM> and shows three sections of importance for ice blades: the toe section <NUM>, the heel section, and the working section <NUM> which is located between the toe and heel sections <NUM>. Other ice blades may have other shapes in side view, but are still comprehended by the present invention. The toe section <NUM> in this example has a radius at the front <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> that arcs the ice blade <NUM> away from an ice surface <NUM> in use. The heel section has a radius at the back <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> that arcs the back of the ice blade <NUM> away from the ice surface <NUM> when in use. The working section <NUM> has a working radius between the toe section <NUM> and the heel section.

When ice skates <NUM> are purchased new, the ice blade <NUM> is fairly standard in shape, within the tolerance limits of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Brand new, ice blades usually come unsharpened so that the cross-section as shown in <FIG> has no functional hollow <NUM> or sharpened edges <NUM>, <NUM> and the longitudinal dimension has a set radius in the working section <NUM>. Although the length of an ice blade <NUM> may differ according to the size of the ice skate <NUM>, generally, each ice blade <NUM> has a pre-shaped working section <NUM> determined by the OEM. For instance, most skates made by Bauer® come with ice blades that have a working section <NUM> having either a <NUM> (<NUM>-foot) radius or a <NUM> (<NUM>-foot) radius, and those made by CCM® come with a working section <NUM> typically having a <NUM> (<NUM>-foot) working radius. Unfortunately, such pre-set working sections may only fit a small portion of users properly. It is well known that the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> can hinder the skater's performance and abilities if the shape is not properly suited to the skater's skating style, abilities, or tendencies.

Also, the choice of hollow <NUM> may affect the performance of the ice blade <NUM>. With reference to <FIG> a deeper hollow <NUM> may encourage better stopping and turning, whereas a shallower hollow <NUM> may encourage faster skating speeds. Additionally, the shape of the hollow <NUM> (i.e. concave-shaped hollow <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, V-shaped hollow <NUM>, square-shaped hollow <NUM>, or other-shaped hollow) may also have different effects on the performance of the ice blade <NUM>. For reference, an ice blade <NUM> with no functional hollow is also shown in <FIG> with numeral <NUM>.

Generally speaking, when viewing the ice blade shape from the side <NUM> as in <FIG>, it can be seen that a smaller radius in the working section <NUM> yields less contact area on the ice surface <NUM>, which allows the skater to be more agile on the ice surface <NUM> as pivots can be achieved more readily. On the other hand, a larger radius in the working section <NUM> yields more contact area on the ice surface <NUM>, which allows for greater acceleration, but less lateral mobility. The present invention can be applied to either new ice blades as provided by the OEM, or to already shaped or sharpened ice blades in which the OEM shape has already been altered by a user.

With reference now to <FIG> there is shown generally with numeral <NUM> automated apparatus for grinding an ice blade on an ice skate <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the apparatus <NUM> may have a housing <NUM> containing, among other things, a processor <NUM>, an input means <NUM>, a skate holder <NUM>, a measuring device <NUM>, and a grinding device <NUM>, while presenting a clean appearance. The skate holder <NUM> may be configured to releasably hold at least one ice skate <NUM> to the automated apparatus <NUM> in a fixed grinding position. However, the skate holder <NUM> may be configured to hold more than one ice skate <NUM>, including a pair of ice skates, according to other embodiments of the present invention. The input means <NUM> may also be in communication with the processor <NUM>, and configured to provide either a local, and/or a remote user interface <NUM> to permit the user to select an ice blade grinding option, which may sharpen the ice blade <NUM>, or change a shape of the ice blade <NUM> to a desired shape <NUM>. The measuring device <NUM> may also be in communication with the processor <NUM>, and configured to measure a shape of the ice blade <NUM>. The grinding device <NUM> may also be in communication with the processor <NUM>, and configured to perform a grinding action on the ice blade <NUM> held in the skate holder <NUM>, to sharpen the ice blade <NUM>, or change a shape of the ice blade <NUM> to a desired shape <NUM>, the grinding action being based on the ice blade grinding option selected by the user using the user interface <NUM>. By way of example, <FIG> illustrates diagrammatically two alternate types of grinding devices <NUM> for performing a grinding action on an ice blade <NUM> which removes material from the ice blade <NUM> to change the shape of the ice blade <NUM> from the measured shape <NUM> to a desired shape <NUM>. Preferably, the automated apparatus <NUM> may include one of the two types of grinding devices <NUM>. The grinding devices <NUM> are shown as capable of moving at least in the direction of the arrows <NUM>. In this example, the grinding action changes the side shape of the ice blade <NUM> (i.e. the shape of the ice blade <NUM> when viewed from the left or right side <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>). The left-most grinding device <NUM> is illustrated with a grinding wheel <NUM>, while the right-most grinding device is illustrated with a milling bit <NUM>. The left-most and right-most grinding devices <NUM> are illustrated as having spin axes that are perpendicular to one another. The measuring device <NUM> and the grinding device <NUM> are discussed in more detail below.

Preferably, the automated apparatus <NUM> will be sized, and shaped in the form of a self-serve kiosk, as shown in <FIG>. The front <NUM> of the automated apparatus <NUM> may include an opening <NUM> to permit the user to place the ice skate <NUM> into the skate holder <NUM>. Preferably, the opening <NUM> will be covered by a shield <NUM> adapted to block flying dust and debris formed during operation of the grinding device <NUM> from hitting the user, or to prevent the user from reaching into the automated apparatus <NUM> through the opening <NUM> with his or her fingers, hands, or arms during certain sequences in the operation of the automated apparatus <NUM>, thereby helping to prevent injury to the user. Most preferably, the shield <NUM> may be transparent, to allow the user to look through the shield <NUM> into the opening <NUM> and see the action of the measuring device <NUM> and the grinding device <NUM> during certain sequences in the operation of the automated apparatus <NUM>. The shield <NUM> may be removably, or hingedly attached to the housing <NUM> to allow the shield <NUM> to be moved out of the way to permit the user to access the inside of the housing <NUM> through the opening <NUM>, for example, to facilitate placing the ice skate <NUM> into the skate holder <NUM>, to permit cleaning the inside of the housing <NUM>, or to permit repair or adjustment of the measuring device <NUM>, the grinding device <NUM>, or other components of the automated apparatus <NUM> located inside of the housing <NUM>. To increase safety, the automated apparatus <NUM> may be fitted with sensors in communication with the processor <NUM> and configured to ensure that certain sequences of operation of the automated apparatus <NUM>, such as for example the grinding device <NUM> performing a grinding action, will not start, or if started, will stop, when the sensors detect that the shield <NUM> is not in a closed position.

The automated apparatus <NUM> may include a raised base portion <NUM> to raise the opening <NUM> above the floor to a height that is comfortable for use while the user is standing. Alternately, the automated apparatus <NUM> may be provided without the raised base portion <NUM>, for example, if the automated apparatus <NUM> is designed to sit on a table, or a counter top.

As shown in <FIG>, the input means <NUM> may be incorporated into the housing <NUM>, to provide a local user interface <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> may have a display <NUM> and/or an input device engageable by the user, such as buttons <NUM>. However, the present invention comprehends other input means <NUM>, including other user interfaces, as well as user interfaces having other configurations of displays <NUM> and/or input devices. By way of example, other forms of input devices comprehended by the present invention include a touch screen, a touch pad, a keyboard, a keypad, a trackball, a joystick, and the like. Furthermore, the user interface <NUM> may be provided only locally in association with the automated apparatus <NUM>, only remotely, or both locally and remotely, as shown in <FIG>.

To provide a remote user interface <NUM>, the input means <NUM> may be configured with a communication link <NUM> to a user's mobile device <NUM>, permitting data to be sent by the input means <NUM> and received by the mobile device <NUM>, and vice versa. The mobile device <NUM> may include a software application <NUM> configured to send and receive data to and from the input means <NUM> via the communication link <NUM>, and provide a user interface <NUM> on the mobile device <NUM>. In this way, the user may use the software application <NUM> on the mobile device <NUM> to operate the automated apparatus <NUM>, thereby eliminating the need for incorporating a user interface <NUM> into the automated apparatus <NUM> itself. In other words, the user may use the mobile device <NUM> to operate the automated apparatus <NUM> remote from but in close proximity to the automated apparatus <NUM>, or from a remote location that may be a great distance from the automated apparatus <NUM>. Of course, the present invention also comprehends embodiments in which the user interface <NUM> is provided both on the automated apparatus <NUM>, as well as on a mobile device <NUM>.

The communication link <NUM> may be enabled by any of a number of known ways, including a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, an NFC connection, an internet connection, and an SMS connection between the input means <NUM> and the user's mobile device <NUM>, or the like. Furthermore, the communication link <NUM> may be indirect and involve servers in the cloud <NUM>, or accessible through the cloud <NUM>, as will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art. Such cloud based, or cloud accessible servers may contain the user accounts <NUM>.

Furthermore, the software application <NUM> may be web-based, such that the user can access the user interface <NUM> via a web browser on the mobile device <NUM>, or a web-browser on any other internet enabled device, including a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a tablet, a netbook, a notebook, etc. Thus, while in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the user may communicate with the automated apparatus <NUM> using the software application <NUM> on the mobile device <NUM>, in other embodiments of the invention, the user may accomplish the same by accessing the software application <NUM> on a website on a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a tablet, a netbook, a notebook, etc. To gain access to the website, the user may log in to the website in a known manner, entering a login and password, sending an e-mail, through social media (i.e. using a Facebook account, a Twitter account, a Google account, etc.) or through a mobile app.

As will be appreciated, the user interface <NUM> allows the user to interact with, and communicate with the automated apparatus <NUM>. In this regard, the user interface <NUM> may be used to obtain information from the user, as well as provide information to the user. Preferably, the user interface <NUM> may prompt the user to select, or enter an option which the automated apparatus <NUM> is capable of carrying out, such as an ice blade grinding option. The ice blade grinding option may include changing a shape of the whole of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>, or only a portion thereof. Furthermore, the ice blade grinding option may include varying the change to the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> along the length of the ice blade <NUM>. Additionally, the ice blade grinding option may include changing the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> by changing the side shape at one or more of a toe section <NUM>, a working section <NUM>, and a heel section of the ice contacting surface <NUM>. As well, the ice blade grinding option includes changing the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> in cross-section, by forming a hollow <NUM> or changing the shape of an existing hollow <NUM>. In some embodiments the ice blade grinding options also include removing an existing hollow <NUM>, and smoothening an existing hollow <NUM>. As mentioned above, the hollow <NUM> may be a concave-shaped hollow <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, a V-shaped hollow <NUM>, a square-shaped hollow <NUM>, or other-shaped hollow, including a convex shaped hollow. Additionally, a different hollow <NUM> may be placed at different points of the ice blade <NUM>. In other words, the grinding action may create a new hollow <NUM> or change the shape of an existing hollow <NUM>, which varies along the length of the ice blade <NUM>. By way of example, an ice blade <NUM> with no hollow is shown in <FIG> at <NUM>. As yet another example, the ice blade grinding option may include raising either the left blade edge <NUM> relative to the right blade edge <NUM>, or vice versa. Similarly, the ice blade grinding option may include making the left and right blade edges <NUM>, <NUM> the same height. Furthermore, the ice blade grinding option may simply include sharpening the ice blade <NUM>.

A particularly advantageous ice blade grinding option includes changing the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> to a desired shape <NUM> that is based on a model ice blade. For example, the model ice blade may be based on an ice blade used by a professional hockey player, a professional figure skater, or the like. As another example, the model ice blade may be based on an actual ice blade having a particular skating characteristic, or a theoretical ice blade having a particular estimated skating characteristic. The automated apparatus <NUM> may include a memory <NUM> in communication with the processor <NUM>, and the memory <NUM> may be used to store one or more model ice blade datasets <NUM> corresponding to the shape of a model ice blade, or a portion thereof. Accordingly, an ice blade grinding option may include changing the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of an ice blade <NUM> to a desired shape <NUM> that is at least partly based on a model ice blade dataset <NUM> corresponding to the model ice blade, or portion thereof, which is stored in the memory <NUM>. It is also contemplated that the model ice blade datasets <NUM> may be located remote from the automated apparatus <NUM> and accessible to the processor <NUM>. For example, the model ice blade dataset <NUM> may be stored in the cloud <NUM> or a cloud accessible server <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> may also be used to store a user profile <NUM>. For example, the user profile <NUM> may include historical data, such as, shapes of ice blades previously used with the automated apparatus <NUM> (both before and after performing the grinding action), and ice blade grinding options previously selected by the user, including desired ice blade shapes applied to the user's ice blade(s). Additionally, the user profile <NUM> may include other data such as one or more biometric or other parameters of the skater associated with an ice blade <NUM>. By way of example, the user profile <NUM> may include the skater's height, weight, maximum bent knee angle while performing a skating motion, and spinal forward tilt while performing a skating motion. The other parameters may include, for example, a skater's skill level, age, experience, playing position in an ice-related activity such as the game of hockey, subjective preferences, skate make and model, etc. Other such parameters of the skater will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, and are comprehended by the present invention.

Preferably, the processor <NUM> may be configured to access the memory <NUM> and analyze the user profile <NUM> to determine one or both of an ice blade wear pattern, and a skating style of a skater associated with the ice skate. Furthermore, the processor <NUM> may be configured to select or recommend a desired ice blade shape <NUM>, at least partly based on the analysis. For example, if the user profile <NUM> includes the selected ice blade grinding option for one of a matched pair of ice skates <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may select or recommend a desired shape <NUM> for the other of the matched pair of ice skates <NUM>, based at least partly on the data of the first ice skate <NUM> stored in the historical data, to ensure that the ice contacting surfaces <NUM> of the pair of ice skates <NUM> will match. As another example, the processor <NUM> may be configured to alert the user of a "problem" in the gait of a skater associated with an ice skate <NUM>, based on an analysis of a plurality of stored user profiles <NUM> containing information associated with a plurality of skaters. It is contemplated that such analysis from a plurality of ice skate <NUM> shaping and sharpening sessions may reveal trends that may be used to identify such potential gait problems. The memory <NUM> may be incorporated into the automated apparatus <NUM>, and located inside the housing <NUM>. It is also contemplated that the user profile <NUM> may be located remote from the automated apparatus <NUM> and accessible to the processor <NUM>. For example, the user profile <NUM> may be stored in the cloud <NUM>, or a cloud accessible server <NUM>.

Other ice blade grinding options will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, including simple sharpening or smoothening of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of automated apparatuses <NUM> may be operatively connected to the cloud <NUM>, and cloud accessible servers <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A mobile device <NUM> is shown with possible connections to automated apparatuses <NUM> which are direct <NUM>, such as for example Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC, or indirect <NUM> via the cloud <NUM>. As will be appreciated, the indirect connections via the cloud may be established via an internet connection using Wi-Fi, a cellular network, or the like. A cloud accessible main server <NUM> may be set up to allow an operator to control and maintain the network of automated apparatuses <NUM>. Accordingly, the main server <NUM> may be configured to store, maintain and updated user accounts <NUM>, and user profiles <NUM>, including historical data, and biometric parameters of the skater associated with an ice blade <NUM>. The main server <NUM> may also be configured to store model ice blade datasets <NUM>, and control their distribution to automated apparatuses <NUM> in the network. For example, the main server <NUM> may allow the automated apparatus <NUM> to download, or use a model ice blade dataset <NUM> only if requested by a user or operator of the automated apparatus <NUM>, and/or a fee is paid for the use or download of the model ice blade dataset <NUM>. The model ice blade datasets <NUM> may be made available for purchase, or lease (i.e. made available for a limited time period). The main server <NUM> may also be configured to process payments made by the user and update user accounts <NUM>. It is also contemplated that a cloud accessible club server <NUM> may be set up to allow, for example, a hockey club or arena to control access to an automated apparatus <NUM> operated by the hockey club or arena. Preferably, the club server <NUM> may be configured to store, maintain and updated user profiles <NUM>.

<FIG> shows details of the skate holder <NUM>, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, the measuring device <NUM> and the grinding device <NUM> are operationally positioned relative to the skate holder <NUM>. The skate holder <NUM> has a body <NUM> having a first skate contacting surface <NUM>, and a second skate contacting surface <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first skate contacting surface <NUM> is movable toward the second skate contacting surface <NUM> to permit the hockey skate <NUM> to be clamped between the first and second skate contacting surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>. The second skate contacting surface <NUM> is fixed in position in this example. However, the opposite, in which the first skate contacting surface <NUM> is fixed in position, and the second skate contacting surface <NUM> is movable towards the first skate contacting surface <NUM>, is also comprehended by the present invention. Furthermore, both the first and second skate contacting surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured to be movable towards each other, preferably at the same rate so that the ice blade <NUM> of the hockey skate <NUM> will be automatically centered in the body <NUM> of the skate holder <NUM>. Movement of the first skate contacting surface <NUM> and/or the second skate contacting surface <NUM> may be accomplished by a cam <NUM> and handle <NUM> arrangement which is manually operable by the user, as will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art. However, the movement of the first skate contacting surface <NUM> and/or the second skate contacting surface <NUM> may be accomplished by other mechanisms, such as for example, an actuator, which may also be controlled by the processor <NUM>. What such skate holders <NUM> may have in common is the ability to accurately hold the ice blade <NUM> in position, against the grinding action performed by the grinding device <NUM>.

The measuring device <NUM> is operationally positioned relative to the skate holder <NUM> to measure a shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>. The measuring device <NUM> is positioned and configured to measure a shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> to create a dataset which corresponds to the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the measurements taken by the measuring device <NUM> are merged together, either by the measuring device <NUM> or the processor <NUM>, to construct a 3D measured dataset corresponding to the 3D shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>. The 3D measured dataset may then be stored in memory <NUM>. Thus, the measuring device <NUM> according to the present invention provides a means for the automated apparatus <NUM> to make precise measurements of the physical dimensions of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>, which is recorded into a measured dataset.

The measuring device <NUM> is a non-contact 3D scanner. Examples of non-contact type 3D scanners <NUM> include, laser scanners, camera vision devices, and optical scanners. Examples of contact type measuring devices, which may be used in arrangements not embodying the invention, include depth gauges, and micrometers. Thus, while the preferred method of measuring and/or inspecting the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of an ice blade <NUM> is an automated noninvasive process, such as a high precision laser scanning system or other optical means, the method may include other mechanical devices such as depth gauges, micrometers, and the like, to either perform or complement the measurements taken with the laser scanning system. One example of a noninvasive laser scanner is currently manufactured by MICRO-EPSILON Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG (Raleigh, North Carolina, U. Alternatively, optical based scanners with 3D functionality can also be used to perform these measurements, one example of such an optical scanner is the METRASCAN 3D™ manufactured by Creaform Inc. (Levis, Quebec, Canada). The measurements may be sufficiently accurate and sufficiently detailed to create an accurate 3D numerical representation of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>. In one embodiment, the invention may include a laser measurement device, as shown in <FIG> as <NUM> with a scanner beam <NUM>, which is able to read the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> to at least <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM>-inch) accuracy and most preferably to within about <NUM> to <NUM> microns accuracy. Preferably, the laser measurement device may have a resolution of <NUM> microns or less. Most preferably the laser measurement device is one that uses triangulation to measure the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>. The preferred laser scanner may have a sample rate of at least <NUM> hertz, and may also be a low power laser scanner having a power of less than <NUM> watts. Such a 3D scanner which can take measurements across the hollow <NUM> and all along the length of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> is used in accordance with the invention. As will be understood, for the present invention to provide adequate results, preferably the accuracy of the measurement for the dataset may be greater than, or equal to, the accuracy of the dimensional changes which may be made to the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> through the grinding action performed by the particular grinding device <NUM> included in the automated apparatus <NUM>.

Preferably, the 3D scanner may be a profile sensor which creates a point cloud measurement dataset, which may be reconstructed into a 3D model of the ice blade by the processor <NUM>. Most preferably, the 3D scanner may be configured to make more than one scan of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> to create multiple point cloud sets which in turn are aligned in a common reference system by the processor <NUM> to generate the measured dataset. Preferably, the 3D scanner may be housed in a transparent protective housing <NUM> (as best seen in <FIG>). Most preferably, this active scanner will scan multiple times to create a number of datasets of the same ice blade <NUM> which datasets can then be merged for greater accuracy. Such a 3D scanner will be able to measure off center issues like bent blades, damage in the form of nicks and the like, and excessive wear. The present invention comprehends measuring the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> to measure the 3D shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> held in the holder <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the measuring device <NUM> is positioned adjacent to the grinding device <NUM> and sharing a common carriage assembly <NUM>, which may be controlled by the processor <NUM>, to move the measuring device <NUM> and the grinding device <NUM> in at least two dimensions relative to the ice blade <NUM> held in the skate holder <NUM>. One of the two dimensions may be defined by a first axis <NUM> generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ice blade <NUM>, and the other dimension may be defined by a second axis <NUM> generally perpendicular to the first axis <NUM> and oriented in a plane parallel to the side surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>. Preferably, the grinding device <NUM> is adapted to move in three dimensions, such that the third dimension is along third axis <NUM>, which is perpendicular to both of the above mentioned first axis <NUM> and second axis <NUM>. Accordingly, the grinding device <NUM> may comprise a grinding head <NUM> attached to a carriage assembly <NUM> that is configured to move the grinding head <NUM> along at least two dimensions relative to the ice blade <NUM> held in the skate holder <NUM>, and most preferably along all three dimensions. By way of example, the carriage assembly <NUM> may comprise linear controlled slide mechanisms, or rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> oriented to permit the grinding head <NUM> to move along each of the three dimensions. Suitable results have been obtained with ball rail tables available from Bosch-Rexroth Corporation (Charlotte, North Carolina, U. Preferably, the carriage assembly <NUM> may move the measuring device <NUM> and the grinding device <NUM> in a computer numerical controlled manner along three axes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> relative to the ice blade, to an accuracy of at least <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM>-inch), and more preferably between <NUM> and <NUM> microns. The carriage assembly <NUM> will be understood by persons skilled in the art and so its details will not be described further herein.

While providing the measuring device <NUM> and the grinding device <NUM> on a common carriage assembly <NUM> is convenient, and efficient and cost effective, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the measuring and grinding devices <NUM>, <NUM> may be provided on separate carriage assemblies such that they can be moved independently relative to the ice blade <NUM> held in the skate holder <NUM>. Additionally, although the measuring and grinding devices <NUM>, <NUM> are moved by the carriage assembly <NUM> relative to the ice blade <NUM> held in a fixed grinding position in the skate holder <NUM>, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the opposite arrangement may be used, according to other embodiments of the present invention. For example, the skate holder <NUM> may be configured to be moved by a carriage assembly in at least one, preferably three dimensions, relative to measuring and grinding devices <NUM>, <NUM> which may be fixed in position in the housing <NUM>. Furthermore, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the measuring and grinding devices <NUM>, <NUM> and the skate holder <NUM> may each be movable relative to one another, by separate carriage assemblies under independent control of the processor <NUM>, to accomplish their respective measuring, scanning and grinding functions.

Preferably, the grinding head <NUM> may include one or more rotary grinding tools driven by an electric motor <NUM>. By way of example, the grinding tool may be a grinding wheel, grinding stone, abrasive point, cutting bit, router bit, milling bit, sanding band, or the like. Thus the grinding tool may be adapted to grind, cut, drill, or mill the material of the ice blade <NUM>. However, the term grinding comprehends any means for removing material from the ice blade <NUM> to shape the ice blade <NUM>, including grinding, cutting, drilling, milling, laser ablation, water ablation, and the like. In the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the grinding tool comprises three grinding wheels <NUM> attached to the same shaft <NUM> and driven by the same motor <NUM>. Preferably, each of the grinding wheels <NUM> has a different grinding characteristic. Examples of different grinding characteristics may include one or both of a difference in coarseness, and a difference in the shape of the grinding surface <NUM> of the grinding wheel <NUM>. The shape of the grinding surface <NUM> may be selected from a flat shape, a <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, a <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, a <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, a <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, a <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, a <NUM> (<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, a V-shape, a square shape, as well as any other shape that may be deemed suitable by the person skilled in the art. The <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius convex shape, <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius shape, and <NUM> (<NUM> inch) radius convex shape grinding surface shapes are suitable for applying <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch), <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch), <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch), <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch), <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch), and <NUM> (<NUM> inch) concave hollows <NUM>, which are commonly applied to ice blades. However, as will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the shape of the grinding surface <NUM> may be any shape and size required to shape the ice contacting surface <NUM> to the desired shape. Accordingly, the present invention comprehends all such shapes of grinding surfaces <NUM>, including convex, concave, and other custom shapes. Preferably, the grinding head may further include a deburring tool attached to the shaft <NUM>. For example, a deburring wheel in substitution with one of the three grinding wheels <NUM>, or in addition to the three grinding wheels <NUM> in the above example.

Thus the preferred grinding device <NUM> is configured to move relative to the ice blade <NUM> held in the holder <NUM> to bring the rotary grinding tool into contact with the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> along the length of the ice blade and perform a grinding action on the ice blade based on the ice blade grinding option selected by the user, to change the shape of the ice bade to a desired shape <NUM>. However, as noted above, according to other embodiments of the present invention, holder <NUM> may also be movable relative to a stationary, or independently movable grinding device, to bring the rotary grinding tool into contact with the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> along the length of the ice blade and perform a grinding action on the ice blade.

For example, the grinding action may remove material from the ice blade <NUM> to change the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> in cross-section. The change to the ice contacting surface <NUM> in cross-section may include forming a hollow <NUM> in the ice contacting surface <NUM>, changing the shape of an existing hollow <NUM> in the ice contacting surface <NUM>, removing an existing hollow <NUM> from the ice contacting surface <NUM>, smoothening an existing hollow <NUM> in the ice contacting surface <NUM>, or combinations thereof. As mentioned above, the hollow <NUM> may be a concave-shaped hollow <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, a V-shaped hollow <NUM>, a square-shaped hollow <NUM>, or other-shaped hollow, including a convex-shaped hollow. By way of example, an ice blade <NUM> with no hollow is shown in <FIG> at <NUM>. Furthermore, the change to the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> may vary along the length of the ice blade <NUM>.

As another example, the grinding action may remove material from the ice blade <NUM> to change the side shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> (i.e. the shape of the ice contacting surface as viewed from the left or right side <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>). The change to the side shape of the ice blade <NUM> may include a change at a toe section <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>, a heel section of the ice blade <NUM>, a working section <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>, or combinations thereof. As yet another example, the grinding action may remove material from the ice blade <NUM> to raise either the left blade edge <NUM> relative to the right blade edge <NUM>, or vice versa. Similarly, the grinding action may remove material from the ice blade to make the left and right blade edges <NUM>, <NUM> the same height. Furthermore, the grinding action may simply sharpen the ice blade <NUM>.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, after the grinding device <NUM> performs the grinding action on the ice blade <NUM>, the processor may be configured to cause the measuring device <NUM> to re-measure the shape of the ice blade <NUM>. Then the processor <NUM> may calculate a difference between the re-measured shape and the desired shape <NUM>, and if the difference is greater than a predetermined acceptable value, the automated apparatus <NUM> may alert the user, and or repeat the grinding action.

The processor <NUM> is configured to determine if the ice blade <NUM> is unsuitable for the selected ice blade grinding option, prior to the grinding device performing the grinding action. If the processor determines that the ice blade <NUM> is unsuitable for the selected ice blade grinding option, the apparatus may provide an alert to the user, for example with an indication on the user interface <NUM>. Furthermore, the processor <NUM> may be configured to render ice blade grinding options unavailable for selection by a user if the ice blade <NUM> is unsuitable. Alternately, the processor <NUM> may be configured to simply not act on a selected ice blade grinding option if the ice blade <NUM> is unsuitable. By way of example, the ice blade <NUM> may be unsuitable for the selected ice blade grinding option if the ice blade <NUM> is too warped, too worn, lacks sufficient material for the grinding action to change the shape of the ice blade <NUM> to the desired shape <NUM>, or the grinding action would result in the ice blade <NUM> being out of manufacturer defined tolerance limits.

As can be expected, the grinding action performed on an ice blade <NUM> by the grinding device <NUM> will remove material from the ice blade <NUM> creating dust and debris. To assist with containing the dust and debris, the automated apparatus <NUM> may be provided with a vacuum device <NUM>, as shown by way of example in <FIG>, configured to capture and contain the dust and debris. Preferably, the vacuum device <NUM> may also be in communication with, and controlled by the processor <NUM>. Alternately, the vacuum device <NUM> may be set to turn on at a predetermined time, such as when the grinding device <NUM> is active, and turn off at a predetermined time, for example, when the grinding device <NUM> is not activated. By way of example, the vacuum device <NUM> has a vacuum head <NUM> positioned relative to the grinding device <NUM> to suck up the dust and debris as it is formed by the grinding action. The vacuum head <NUM> may be operatively connected to a suction device (not shown) contained in housing <NUM> via a hose <NUM>.

Preferably, the automated apparatus <NUM> may further include a means to dress or shape the grinding surface <NUM> of the rotary grinding tool (i.e. grinding wheel <NUM>). According to one embodiment of the present invention, the grinding wheel <NUM> is constantly dressed with a diamond cutter in the grinding head <NUM> of the grinding device <NUM>, which constantly adjusts the grinding surface <NUM> to ensure that when performing a grinding action, the hollow radius will be the correct dimension. Additionally, the grinding wheels <NUM> may be provided in the grinding device <NUM> with the grinding surface154 already dressed to the desired shape. However, since the grinding head <NUM> of the present invention is movable within the housing <NUM> along at least two dimensions, it is contemplated that the dressing means may include a diamond cutter, or other any other known dressing tool positioned within the housing <NUM> at a position where the grinding head <NUM> can move to and engage the dressing means and cause the grinding surface to be dressed. Most preferably, as shown in <FIG>, the dressing tool may be a single point diamond dressing pen <NUM> positioned within the housing <NUM>, and the processor <NUM> is configured to move the grinding head <NUM> to engage the dressing pen and draw the grinding surface <NUM> across the dressing pen in a computer numerically controlled manner to dress the grinding surface <NUM> or even to change the shape of the grinding surface <NUM>. Accordingly, it will now be understood that the present invention comprehends an automated apparatus <NUM> in which the grinding device <NUM> can change the shape of the grinding surface <NUM> of one or more of the grinding wheels <NUM> in the grinding head <NUM>. For example, a grinding wheel <NUM> that initially has a grinding surface <NUM> adapted to perform a grinding action on an ice blade <NUM> to grind a <NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) radius concave hollow into the ice contacting surface <NUM>, may be changed so that it will instead grind a <NUM> (<NUM> inch) radius concave hollow, a V-shaped hollow, a square-shaped hollow, or other-shaped hollow, including a convex-shaped hollow, and other custom or proprietary hollow shapes.

Preferably, the automated apparatus <NUM> may also include a printer <NUM> in communication with the processor <NUM> and configured to print a report <NUM>. As will be appreciated, the report <NUM> may include a summary of the user's session with the automated apparatus <NUM>, a receipt for payment, an analysis of the ice blade <NUM> before and after performing the grinding action, including problems detected, tracking information (i.e. number of times the blade was sharpened on the automated apparatus <NUM> or other automated apparatuses in a network), estimated life remaining (i.e. estimated number of sharpenings and/or shapings that can still be performed on the ice blade <NUM> before the ice blade <NUM> will be out of tolerance), etc. As can be appreciated, the printer <NUM> may be configured to print a report including any information stored in the memory <NUM>, the cloud <NUM>, or cloud accessible servers <NUM>, as well as secondary information derived from the stored information, for example results of analysis by the processor <NUM>, and recommendations to the user based on such analysis, etc. The report may also be sent to the user via electronic message or medium such as e-mail or posted to the user's account.

Preferably, the automated apparatus <NUM> may also be provided with a payment device <NUM> in communication with the processor <NUM> and configured to receive user account identification information, or payment, from the user. The processor <NUM> may correlate the user account identification information to a user account maintained locally, for example in memory <NUM>, or remotely in the cloud <NUM>, or in a cloud accessible server <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may then credit the user account, or require a payment from the user before proceeding with a particular user selected option. By way of example, the payment device <NUM> may be an optical card reader, a magnetic strip reader, a chip reader, a credit card reader, a near field communication (NFC) reader, or a currency validator and collector device. Thus, the payment device <NUM> may be of the type that receives and collects physical currency, as is known in the art. The payment device <NUM> may also be of the type that reads bank issued cards or other devices to process debit or credit card payment transactions, as is known in the art. Preferably, the payment device <NUM> may also read and process pre-paid cards, account cards, discount cards, tokens, coupons, or the like, which may be issued by the operator of the automated apparatus <NUM>, and which may or may not be linked to a user account <NUM>. The payment device <NUM> may also be configured with a communication link <NUM> to the user's mobile device <NUM> permitting data to be sent by the payment device <NUM> and received by the mobile device <NUM>, and vice versa, to enable the user to transmit account information, or make a payment to the payment device <NUM>. Furthermore, the communication link <NUM> between the payment device <NUM> and the mobile device <NUM> may be indirect and involve servers in the cloud <NUM>, or accessible through the cloud <NUM>, as will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art. As mentioned above, the user accounts <NUM> may be contained in the cloud <NUM>, or in a cloud accessible server <NUM>, but preferably in the main server <NUM>.

As will be appreciated, the automated apparatus <NUM> may include more than one payment device <NUM> to enable the automated apparatus <NUM> to provide a wide variety of payment options to the user.

Preferably, the automated apparatus <NUM> may include an ice blade marking system <NUM> adapted to mark the ice blade <NUM>, when the ice skate <NUM> is held in the skate holder <NUM>. By way of example, <FIG> shows an ice blade marking system <NUM> attached to the carriage assembly <NUM> adjacent to the grinding device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the marking system <NUM> may also be in communication with, and controlled by, the processor <NUM>. The marking system <NUM> may be configured to print a mark <NUM> on, adhere the mark on, or etch the mark into, the ice blade <NUM>. For example, the marking system may comprise an inkjet printer, or CO<NUM> laser configured to print or etch, respectively, the surface of the side <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> held in the holder <NUM>. Accordingly, the mark <NUM> may be one or more of a symbol, a UPC code, a QR code, an alpha-numeric code, a bar code, an RFID tag, and the like. Furthermore, the marking system <NUM> may be further adapted to read the marks <NUM> on the ice blade <NUM>. In this way, the marking system <NUM> may collect information on the particular ice blade <NUM> held in the skate holder <NUM>, and the processor <NUM> may be configured to use the information to recommend an ice blade grinding option to the user. Furthermore, the processor <NUM> may associate the information collected by the ice blade marking system with a user account <NUM>, and use the information to update historical data in a user profile <NUM>.

Preferably, the automated apparatus <NUM> may also include a coating system <NUM> in communication with the processor <NUM> adapted to apply a coating to the ice blade <NUM> held in the skate holder <NUM>. By way of example, <FIG> shows a coating system <NUM> attached to the carriage assembly <NUM> adjacent to the grinding device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Examples of coatings that may be applied to the ice blade <NUM> by the coating system include a plastic coating, a wax coating, a ceramic coating, and a thin layer material coating. For example, the marking system may comprise an inkjet printer, or CO<NUM> laser configured to print or etch, respectively, the surface of the side <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> held in the holder <NUM>. By way of example, the coating system <NUM> may comprise a liquid reservoir and an applicator configured to apply the liquid from the reservoir to coat the surface of the side <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> held in the holder <NUM>. As another example, the coating system <NUM> may comprise a coating wheel (not shown) on the grinding head <NUM> in place of one of the grinding wheels <NUM>, which is configured to hold a coating material, and release the coating material onto the ice blade <NUM> as when the grinding head <NUM> is moved by the carriage assembly <NUM> relative to the ice blade <NUM>.

Having described preferred embodiments of the automated apparatus <NUM>, it will now be understood how the apparatus <NUM> may work. For example, with reference to <FIG>, the user may begin at <NUM> by bringing an ice skate <NUM> to the automated apparatus <NUM>. Next at <NUM>, the user may place the ice skate <NUM> into the skate holder <NUM> and secure it by moving handle <NUM> to hold the skate <NUM> in the skate holder <NUM> in a fixed grinding position. Next at <NUM>, the automated apparatus <NUM> may scan and measure the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> on the ice skate <NUM>. When the automated apparatus <NUM> finishes the scanning and measuring step <NUM>, it may provide a current condition report on the display <NUM> and/or printer <NUM> at <NUM>, and the automated apparatus <NUM> may proceed to make a determination at <NUM> on whether the ice blade <NUM> is in good condition, and suitable for performing a grinding action thereon. If the determination is that the ice blade <NUM> is not suitable, the automated apparatus <NUM> may provide a suggestion on the display <NUM> that the user replace the ice blade <NUM>, or repair the ice blade at <NUM>. Otherwise, at <NUM>, the automated apparatus <NUM> may allow the user to select an ice blade grinding option and/or download user preferences from a user profile <NUM>. Next at <NUM>, the automated apparatus <NUM> may dress the grinding wheel <NUM> of the grinding device <NUM>, or load a rotary grinding tool into the grinding device <NUM>. Next at <NUM> the grinding device <NUM> may perform a grinding action on the ice blade <NUM> based on the selected ice blade grinding option, to change the shape of the ice blade <NUM> to a desired shape <NUM>. In this step, the measured shape <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> may be compared to a desired shape <NUM> for the ice blade <NUM> to identify differences between the measured shape <NUM> and the desired shape <NUM>. The ice blade <NUM> may then be sharpened to remove from the measured shape <NUM> the differences with the desired shape <NUM>. Optionally, the grinding action step may involve determining which one of a plurality of grinding wheels <NUM> co-axially mounted in a grinding device <NUM> is suitable for performing the grinding action on the ice blade <NUM> to remove the difference. Performing the grinding action preferably involves moving the grinding device <NUM> to contact the ice blade <NUM> with the determined grinding wheel <NUM> and performing the grinding action to remove the difference from the ice blade <NUM>. Next at <NUM>, the automated apparatus <NUM> may scan and measure the shape of the ice blade <NUM> once more after the grinding action being performed by the grinding device <NUM>. Then at <NUM> the automated apparatus <NUM> may proceed to make a determination of whether the shape of the ice blade <NUM> after the grinding operation matches the desired shape <NUM>, or whether the difference is not greater than a predetermined acceptable value, meaning that the grinding action was successful. It the determination is that the grinding action was not successful, then at <NUM>, the automated apparatus <NUM> may repeat steps <NUM> to <NUM>. Otherwise, at <NUM>, the automated apparatus may provide a final report on the display <NUM> and/or printer <NUM> and store data in the user profile <NUM>. Operation of the automated apparatus <NUM> then ends at <NUM>.

Although the measuring device <NUM> is described as a part of the automated apparatus <NUM>, it will be understood that the measuring device <NUM> may be used independently of the automated apparatus <NUM>, for example as a part of an independent ice blade measuring system not forming part of the present invention. For example, the ice blade <NUM> may be measured on a dedicated ice blade measuring system, and a dataset which corresponds to the 3D shape of the ice blade <NUM> may be created, without the ice blade <NUM> being shaped or sharpened. Then, at a later time, the ice blade <NUM> may be shaped or sharpened on a separate ice blade grinding system, based on the measured dataset constructed by the aforesaid measuring system. However, the measuring system also be incorporated into automated ice blade grinding systems. All such embodiments of the measuring device <NUM> are comprehended by the present invention. By way of example only, a preferred ice blade measuring system is described in more detail below.

Accordingly, there may be provided a means for making a precise measurement of the physical dimensions of the bottom surface and side surfaces of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>, which is recorded into a measured dataset. The measured dataset may be stored in a data storage means connected to the measurement means, such as for example memory <NUM>. The measurements may be sufficiently accurate and sufficiently detailed to create an accurate 3D numerical representation of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM>. In one embodiment, the invention may include a laser measurement device, as shown in <FIG> as <NUM> with a scanner beam <NUM>, which is able to read the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> to within about <NUM> microns accuracy and most preferably to within about <NUM> to <NUM> microns accuracy. Such a 3D scanner which can take measurements across the hollow <NUM> and all along the length of the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> is used in accordance with the invention. As will be understood, preferably the accuracy of the measurement for the dataset may be greater than, or equal to, the dimensional changes to the shape of the ice contacting surface <NUM> that are possible by the grinding action performed by the grinding device <NUM>, for the present invention to provide adequate results.

Although the measuring device <NUM> is described as a part of the automated apparatus <NUM>, it will be understood that the measuring device <NUM> may be used independently of the automated apparatus <NUM>, for example as a part of an independent ice blade measuring system not forming part of the present invention. For example, the ice blade <NUM> may be measured on a dedicated ice blade measuring system (i.e. having no means for shaping or sharpening the ice blade <NUM>), and a dataset which corresponds to the 3D shape of the ice blade <NUM> may be created, without the ice blade <NUM> being shaped or sharpened. Then, at a later time, the ice blade <NUM> may be shaped or sharpened on a separate ice blade grinding system (i.e. having no means for measuring a 3D shape of the ice blade <NUM>), based on the dataset created by the aforesaid measuring system. All such embodiments of the measuring device <NUM> are comprehended by the present invention.

It will be appreciated that an advantage of the present invention is the level of accuracy with which the automated apparatus <NUM> may measure a 3D shape of an ice blade <NUM> and apply a desired 3D shape <NUM> to an ice blade <NUM> in a computer numerically controlled manner. As mentioned above, the preferred measuring device <NUM> is able to read the ice contacting surface <NUM> of the ice blade <NUM> to within about <NUM> microns accuracy and most preferably to within about <NUM> to <NUM> microns accuracy. Similarly, the preferred grinding device <NUM> is able to shape and sharpen the ice blade <NUM> to an accuracy of at least <NUM> microns. The accuracy possible by the measuring device <NUM> and the grinding device <NUM> permit the automated apparatus <NUM> apply the desired ice blade shape <NUM> precisely to the ice blade <NUM>, with reliable, and repeatable results. This ability to obtain accurate 3D measurements of the ice blade <NUM> and accurately apply 3D desired ice blade shapes <NUM> to an ice blade <NUM> provides a user with a level of ice blade shaping and sharpening customizability, which is not possible with conventional skate sharpening systems. Furthermore, the level of accuracy of the measuring and grinding provided by the present invention allows model ice blade datasets to be obtained, and reliably applied to ice blades <NUM>, which is difficult, if not impossible using conventional skate sharpening systems.

The following provides further specifications of the invention, according to other embodiments of the present invention.

The present invention may be provided in a first configuration, designated as the "arena" model, which may be typically operated directly by the end user via a kiosk type interface. The present invention may also be provided in a second configuration, which may be typically operated by a trained skate sharpening technician and will vary in the options available to the technician for shaping and sharpening ice skates. The second configuration may range from, a "pro" model to be used in specialty skate shops, to a "club" model which may include more diagnostics options and ability to track athletes' biometrics associated to the ice skates to be used for high level applications such as professional and high performance hockey leagues.

The table below summarizes the <NUM> most common feature subsets that may address larger sections of the anticipated market for this invention.

Preferably, the Arena model, may have a machine add-on, such as a vending machine component that can dispense hockey tape, wax, laces, practice balls, pucks, tool kits (screws and screwdrivers for helmets, etc.) and other small items. Such a vending machine component may clip onto the side of the automated apparatus and be automatically integrated into the user account and payment systems.

In summary, the purpose of the preferred Arena, Pro, and Club models, differ in purpose as follow:.

In the foregoing description, certain details are set forth in conjunction with the described embodiments of the present invention to provide a sufficient understanding of the invention. One skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the invention may be practiced without these particular details.

Claim 1:
An ice blade (<NUM>) grinding system comprising:
a holder (<NUM>) for holding an ice blade (<NUM>) in a grinding position and in a measurement position;
a processor (<NUM>);
a memory associated with said processor (<NUM>), said memory containing at least one ideal dataset corresponding to a desired three-dimensional (3D) ice blade shape;
a measuring system to measure a 3D shape of said ice blade (<NUM>), and store a representation of said measured 3D shape in said memory as a measured dataset, the measuring system comprising:
a non-contact 3D scanner (<NUM>) operationally positioned relative to the holder (<NUM>) to measure at least a three-dimensional (3D) shape of an ice contacting surface (<NUM>) of said at least one ice blade (<NUM>) held in said holder (<NUM>), said non-contact 3D scanner (<NUM>) being configured to create a dataset which corresponds to said 3D shape; and
a data storage means operatively connected to said non-contact 3D scanner (<NUM>) to record said measured dataset;
a grinding device (<NUM>) operationally positioned relative to said holder (<NUM>), and controlled by said processor (<NUM>), to perform a grinding action on said ice blade (<NUM>) held in said holder (<NUM>), based on said at least one ideal dataset; and
an input means in communication with said processor (<NUM>) to permit a user to select an ice blade grinding option, wherein said processor (<NUM>) is configured to determine whether said ice blade (<NUM>) is unsuitable for said selected ice blade grinding option based on said measured 3D shape of said ice blade (<NUM>), prior to said grinding device (<NUM>) performing said grinding action on said ice blade (<NUM>), wherein the ice blade grinding options include forming a hollow, or changing the shape of an existing hollow, running through the length of an ice contacting surface of the ice blade (<NUM>),
wherein said processor (<NUM>) is further configured to compare said measured dataset to said ideal dataset and determine any differences therebetween, and to control said grinding device (<NUM>) to perform said grinding action based on said differences.