Patent ID: 12257489

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1, a frame for an ice skate boot (not shown) is indicated generally at10. The frame or support frame10is made up of an elongate body (i.e. a frame body)12and a platform14for supporting an ice skate boot. A blade runner16is mounted to the support frame10for engaging an ice surface to glide therealong. The platform14is intended to be uppermost on the support frame10so as to be capable of supporting an ice skate boot. The blade runner16is intended to be lowermost on the support frame10for engaging the ice surface.

The platform14includes a first support18, commonly referred to as a sole plate or sole support, for supporting a forward, or sole, portion of an ice skate boot. The platform14also includes a second support20, commonly referred to as a heel plate or heel support, for supporting a rearward, or heel, portion of an ice skate boot.

Put another way, the platform includes a front portion18and a rear portion20for supporting sole and heel portions of an ice skate boot, respectively.

It will be appreciated that the first and second supports18,20may be configured (e.g. by the size and shape thereof) to provide a sufficient contact area with the outsole of an ice skate boot (i.e. a bottom surface of an ice skate boot), so the ice skate boot can be attached to the support frame10. Typically, the first and second supports18,20include a plurality of holes (not shown) for receiving fasteners therethrough to secure an ice skate boot to the support frame10.

The first and second supports18,20are connected to each other via the frame body12such that the body12and first and second supports18,20form a unitary body/component. Put another way, the first and second supports18,20are provided as separate and discrete supports (i.e. the first and second supports are only connected via the elongate body) that are each connected to, and integrally formed with, the frame body12.

The frame body12includes an elongate body portion24. The elongate body portion24defines an elongate length of the support frame10. Put another way, the elongate body portion24extends from the front to the rear of the length of the support frame10. The elongate body portion24is connected to the first and second supports18,20by first and second arms26,28, respectively. In the illustrated arrangement, the first support18is connected to the elongate body portion24by two arms26. It will be appreciated that the first and second arms26,28are provided as stanchions so as to support the first and second supports18,20.

The platform14(i.e. the first and second supports18,20) and the frame body12are integrally formed from a composite material. Put another way, the platform14(i.e. the first and second supports18,20) and the frame body12are provided as a unitary body formed from a composite material. This arrangement enables the weight of the support frame10to be reduced, whilst providing the same structural strength require for use in ice skating, such as figure skating. In some embodiments of the support frame10, this has been found to result in a reduction in weight of up to almost 50% compared to a traditional metal support frame. It will be appreciated that the platform14and frame body12are integrally formed through injection moulding and/or compression moulding.

In the present arrangement, the composite material may include reinforcing fibres within a thermoset resin such as an epoxy. The composite material may be a carbon fibre reinforced composite material, for example a carbon fibre reinforced epoxy. The use of carbon fibre reinforced composite materials can provide the equivalent stiffness and strength as the traditional steel structure at a much lighter weight. Thus, a strong support frame10, and so a strong ice skate, can be obtained. Composite materials such as carbon fibre reinforced materials are known to dampen vibrations more effectively than metals, and so the resulting support frame10of the present invention is able to provide improved performance, when compared to traditional metal, e.g. steel and/or aluminium, frames. Composite materials such as carbon fibre reinforced materials are also known to provide better thermal insulation when compared to traditional metal materials, which helps to insulate a wearer's foot from the cold ice below.

In order to be able to mount the blade runner16to the support frame10, the elongate body portion24is provided with a mounting arrangement for mounting said blade runner16. It will be appreciated that the blade runner16may be formed from a metal material, such as steel. The mounting arrangement is provided along an edge30of the elongate body24that is distal to the platform14. Put another way, the mounting arrangement is provided along a bottom edge30of the elongate body24.

The blade runner16may be removably mounted to the mounting arrangement. This enables the blade runner16to be manufactured as a separate component to frame body12, and so to be manufactured from different materials.

The blade runner16is mounted to the mounting arrangement via an adhesive, e.g. a structural adhesive. As is illustrated, the blade runner16is mounted to the mounting arrangement via one or more fasteners32. The blade runner16and the elongate body portion24each include one or more apertures (corresponding to the number of fasteners32), and each aperture of the elongate body portion24is arranged to align with a corresponding aperture of the blade runner16to enable a fastener32to extend therethrough. In the arrangement shown, three fasteners32are provide, but any suitable number of fasteners32may be used. In some arrangements, no fasteners32may be provided and the blade runner16may be mounted to the mounting arrangement only by an adhesive.

The blade runner16includes a substantially straight rear portion34and a front portion36. The front portion36is angled upwardly so as to define an angled front surface. This front portion36is typically angled at approximately 45° to the substantially straight rear portion34. The front portion36is provided with a plurality of teeth38projecting therefrom. The teeth38are provided so as to form a toe pick which may be used to engage the ice.

Referring now toFIG.2, the support frame10is substantially T-shaped in cross-section. Put another way, the frame body12extends substantially perpendicularly from the platform14such that the platform and elongate body are substantially T-shaped in cross-section.

The platform14(i.e. the first and second supports18,20) is curved so as to conform to an underside of an ice skate boot. The upper surface22of the platform14defines a convexly curved surface. Put another way, the upper surface22of the platform14is curved such that the lateral sides of said platform14are raised above a central region of said platform14. In alternative arrangements, it will be appreciated that the upper surface22of the platform14may be substantially flat

The frame body12defines a width in cross-section, and the width of the frame body12decreases from a maximum adjacent to the platform14to a minimum adjacent to the bottom edge30of the elongate body portion24. Put another way, the width of the frame body12decreases in a direction away from the platform14. Providing a maximum width of the frame body12at or near to the junction with the platform14increases the strength provided at this junction, which is exposed to very high levels of stress during ice skating.

The upper region40of the frame body12(i.e. the region of the frame body adjacent to the platform14) is tapered in a direction away from the platform14.

Below this upper region40, the frame body12includes a clamping region42. The clamping region42is provided as a region of the frame body12where opposing sides/surfaces of the frame body12are arranged so as to be substantially parallel. The provision of parallel sides has been found to facilitate clamping onto the support frame10, e.g. to facilitate maintenance of the blade runner.

The clamping region42extends along the elongate length of the frame body12, e.g. along the entirety of the elongate length of the frame body12. This clamping area42is indicated by the hatching inFIG.1.

Below this clamping region42, the frame body12includes a lower region44. The lower region is tapered in a direction away from the platform (i.e. away from the clamping region42). A bottom, or distal, edge of the lower region defines the lower edge30of the frame body12.

As has been discussed above, the mounting arrangement is provided along the bottom edge30of the frame body12(i.e. of the elongate body24).

The mounting arrangement includes a longitudinal slot46extending along the length of the bottom edge30. The longitudinal slot46extends along substantially an entirety of the bottom edge30.

The longitudinal slot46defines a recess within the frame body12that extends upwardly from the bottom surface30of the elongate body portion24. As is illustrated, the recess is dimensioned so that it is able to locate at least a portion of the blade runner16therein.

The elongate slot46defines a height that is it extends up from said bottom surface30. In the present arrangement, the height of the elongate slot46may be in the range 5-15 mm, for example approximately 10 mm. Providing an elongate slot having these heights has been found to provide a large enough contact area between the frame body12and the blade runner16to produce a strong bond (e.g. via an adhesive) therebetween.

The elongate slot46defines a width. The blade runner16includes a first, or upper, region48having a first width. This first width of the blade runner16is arranged so as to be substantially the same as the width of the elongate slot46so as to provide a close fit therebetween.

The blade runner16includes a second, or lower region50, intended to be positioned below the first region48, in use. The second region50is arranged to have a greater width that the first region48. The arrangement of the first and second region48,50of the blade runner16forms a shoulder52therebetween. When the blade runner16is mounted to the mounting arrangement, the shoulder52abuts against the opposing sides of the slot46(i.e. against the bottom surface30).

Referring now toFIG.3, methods of manufacturing a support frame10for an ice skate boot will now be discussed.

As has been discussed above, the material used to form the support frame is a composite material. The composite material may include reinforcing fibres within a thermoset resin such as an epoxy. The composite material may be a carbon fibre reinforced composite material, for example a carbon fibre reinforced epoxy. Such an epoxy material is able to be readily cured with the application of heat and pressure.

Initially, at step100, a mould having a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional profile is produced. A composite material is poured/deposited into the mould and said material is then cured in the mould. It will be appreciated that the material may be cured via injection moulding, compression moulding or any other suitable moulding process.

Once cured, the material is removed from the mould and a substantially T-shaped body produced. The body produced includes a first plate and a second plate extending from said first plate so as to define the substantially T-shaped cross-section. It will be appreciated that the process of forming the T-shaped body integrally forms the first and second plates as a unitary body.

In some arrangements, it will be appreciated that the first plate may be curved so as to conform to an underside of an ice skate boot. The upper surface of the first plate may be provided as a convexly curved surface. Put another way, the first plate may be curved such that the lateral sides of said first plate are raised above a central region of said first plate. In alternative arrangements, the first plate may be substantially planar (i.e. flat).

In some arrangements, it will be appreciated that the second plate may be formed so as to define opposing side walls having a similar cross-sectional profile the profile of the frame body12discussed with reference toFIG.2. In alternative arrangements, the second plate may be substantially flat, and a desired cross-sectional profile may be machined into said first plate.

Following the formation of the T-shaped body, the method further includes at step102the step of milling/machining the first plate to form a platform14for supporting an ice skate boot. It will be appreciated that the process of milling the platform14may include the steps of milling a first support18for supporting a forward, or sole, portion of an ice skate boot and a second support20for supporting a rearward, or heel, portion of an ice skate boot.

The process may also include at step104the step of milling/machining the second plate to form a frame body12. The milling process may include forming a frame body12having an elongate body portion24defining an elongate length of the support frame12, and first and second arms26,28extending from said elongate body portion24and connected to the first and second supports18,20.

It will be appreciated that as a part of the manufacturing process, at step108a blade runner will be manufactured, for example from a metal material such as steel. The blade runner16may include a substantially straight rear portion34and a front portion36. The front portion36may angled upwardly so as to define an angled front surface. This front portion36may be typically angled at approximately 45° to the substantially straight rear portion34. The front portion36may be provided with a plurality of teeth38projecting therefrom. The teeth38may be provided so as to form a toe pick which may be used to engage the ice.

The manufacturing process also includes at step106forming of a mounting arrangement in the second plate (i.e. extending along an edge, such as a bottom edge, of the first plate). A blade runner will then be mounted to the mounting arrangement. In order to mount the blade runner16to the mounting arrangement, the process may include the step of coating one or more surfaces of the blade runner with an adhesive.

It will be appreciated that in some arrangements, the blade runner may be positioned within the mould during the moulding of the T-shaped body. In this way, the blade runner may, at step110be mounted to the resulting frame body during the moulding process. In alternative arrangements, it will be appreciated that the mounting formation may be milled/machined into the second plate of the T-shaped body after the moulding process. In exemplary arrangements, the second plate may also be then machined to produce one or more apertures to receive fasteners therethrough.

It will be appreciated that in an alternative method of manufacturing a support frame12for an ice skate, the mould may be designed to provide the structure of the platform14and frame body12without subsequent milling/machining.

Although the teachings have been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope as defined in the appended claims.