TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to improvement in, and in relation to, ice speed skates. Speed skaters often skate on slightly curved blades, which in the past they bent themselves. The invention relates to an improved technique where the blade is inserted into a support tube located on the soles of a pair of ice skating boots, where each blade is fitted into a slightly curved slot that has been pre-formed in the support tube.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Speed skating competitions are normally held on an oval track where, by convention, participants race in an anticlockwise direction. Skaters can experience difficulties in cornering during these events due to the tightness of the tracks corners and the rapid speed of travel.

[0003] To improve cornering performance, some skaters mount their blades to their boots with a leftward bias; offset on the left side of the skate boot. Other skaters have found that even better cornering performance can be provided by curving the skate blade and its associated mounting support tube. The degree of curvature applied to the blade is usually determined by the preferences of the user. For example, US patent number 5320368 discloses a method for calculating various dimensions to be applied to a curved ice speed skate to maximize the blade contact area at a maximum blade lean angle.

[0004] Speed skate blade bending machines have been developed which consistently and evenly apply a bending forced to a blade mounting support tube which is used to enclose the upper face and sides of the blade. Alternatively, bench vices and mallets can been used so as to apply a bending forced to both the skate blade and its mounting support tube.

[0005] However, for performance reasons aluminium is generally used to form the speed skate's mounting support tube. Bending forces applied to these aluminium tubes are resisted by this material, and over time and with use the tube will eventually begin to straighten out and remove the bend applied to the blade. Because of this action speed skaters need to repeatedly bend the same skate blade if they wish to increase their cornering performance.

[0006] It would therefore be of advantage to have an improved speed skate which addressed any or all of the above issues or at least provided users with an alternative choice. More particularly it would be of advantage to have improvements to the blade where skaters do not need to constantly bend their blades.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention a speed skate blade assembly is provided for attachment to a skate boot, the assembly comprising an elongate blade holder having a front mounting means for attachment underneath the toe area of the boot and a rear mounting means for attachment underneath the heel area of the boot, the blade holder having a downward facing longitudinal slot adapted for receiving and retaining at least part of the upper portion of a blade or runner body, wherein the slot has a slight curve in the horizontal direction, when oriented for skating on ice, and is adapted to receive a correspondingly curved blade body

[0008] This assembly generally includes a blade body which defines an ice contact edge, and a support structure adapted to at least partially enclose at least a portion of an upper face of the blade body and upper sides of the blade body, the support structure forming a pair of side walls which define a curved locating channel adapted to locate the upper face and side of the blade body, wherein the receiving channel of the support structure is adapted to receive at least a portion of a curved blade body.

[0009] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an ice speed skate which includes a speed skate blade assembly substantially as described above.

[0010] The present invention relates to improvements in ice speed skates and the blades used within these skates. Reference in general will be made throughout this specification to the invention being embodied within a speed skate blade assembly. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that speed skates, in addition to support structures for speed skate blade bodies substantially as described below, are also within the ambit of the invention. Reference to the provision of blade assemblies in isolation should in no way be seen as limiting.

[0011] Generally, the speed skate assembly utilizes existing components, such as the blade body, and its support structure for affixing the blade body below the sole of a skating boot.

[0012] The present invention employs a blade body which defines an ice contact edge, and an opposite upper face. The invention preferably may employ existing speed skate blades as the blade body used.

[0013] The present invention employs a support structure to at least partially enclose the upper face and the upper regions of the sides of the blade body. The support structure is provided as an intervening support element mounted directly to the underside of a skate boot.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment a support structure may be provided by a tubular form of intervening support element well known in the field, and commonly known as a "tube". The use of existing components provides for flexibility and inter-operability within the invention implemented. The use of the word "tubular" also does not imply the support element is round or hollow. Generally a solid aluminium support in the form of an unsymmetrical rail will comprise the "tube" and the tubular support. The blades may be solid or as conventionally provided.

[0015] Reference in general will be made to a support structure use with the invention being a tubular aluminium form that is known in this field. Again however, those skilled in the art should appreciate that customised forms, or arrangements of other support structures, may also be utilised in conjunction with the invention, and so reference to the use of tubular aluminium forms should in no way be seen as limiting. Other materials to aluminium may also be utilized, particularly those used conventionally for speed skating.

[0016] In the invention, a slot is formed or cut in the tube on a slight curve, instead of as a straight cut, thereby biasing the blade which is inserted into the slot to itself be curved. In the prior art, the tube itself and thus the blade it holds, is bent so as to bias the blade to be curved. Preferably, the slot is curved to provide a bias for the blade when skating in an anti-clockwise direction .

[0017] A support tube provided by the invention incorporates two sidewalls which define a locating channel used to receive at least a portion of the blade body. The pair of side walls are gently curved to provide a curved locating channel. This curved receiving channel is able to receive and locate at least a portion of a curved blade body. As the channel is formed on a curve, use of the blade assembly will not over time act to force the blade body back into a straight unbent form. As such, this is a significant improvement over the prior art. Furthermore, existing forms of mounting systems used to attach the support structure to the bottom of a skate boot can still be used.

[0018] Additionally, by providing a preformed structure with a pre-defined and consistent amount of curvature, the user will experience a standard level of curvature when using the boots to skate. In the past, the amount of curvature was often inconsistent, due to the users having to make the bend themselves, because they may have applied a differing amount of bending in each instance. Furthermore, as the bent rail and blade tended to revert to its straight arrangement with use, the skater might experience a different level of bending with each use of the skates, making each racing experience slightly different. With the present invention, the skater will experience a consistent level of curvature with each skating use, allowing the skater to better acclimatise to the feel of the skates, and so tending to provide a better skating performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

Figure 1 shows a bender used previously to bend speed skate blades;

Figure 2 shows an ice skate boot having an assembly and blade attached;

Figures 3a, and 3b show enlarged sections of the circled regions that are illustrated in Figure4;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a speed skate blade assembly's locating structure provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

Figure 5 shows an end view of a prototype of a blade assembly in accordance with the invention, having a blade attached; and Figure 6 shows an overview of a prototype of a blade assembly in accordance with the invention, showing the curved blade being held in the assembly support.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates the provision of equipment specifically designed to bend ice skating speed skate blades, as was used in the past. This equipment was arranged to apply a variety of degrees of curvature to a speed skate support and blade depending on the preferences of the user.

[0021] Figure 2 shows a traditional speed skate boot (10) having a shoe portion (11), a support assembly (12) for the blade, and also showing a blade (13) attached.

[0022] Figures 3a, 3b and 4, together illustrate a plan underside view a speed skate blade assembly's locating structure (1) for the curved blade (not to scale), provided as a preferred embodiment, which involves an elongate rail-type support, with a slot adapted to hold and retain the upper portion of blade or runner. The blade or runner has a lower ice contact edge, but its upper portion is retained within a channel or slot (2) formed within the support structure.

[0023] These figures show the provision of a curved locating channel or slot

(2) in the support structure. In the embodiment shown, the support structure (1) is formed by an aluminium rail or solid tube assembly as is known in the skating field. The support structure is a commonly known as a "tube", into which the skate runner or blade is affixed, and the tube also holds the heel and toe cups to which a boot is attached, normally by screws via screw holes in the boot. The blade is fixed and held rigidly within its support tube by fixing means as is known in the field, such as by screws or the like. The support can be removed from the boot, and the blade can be removed and replaced from its support. The straight centre line (3) of the support structure is shown in Figures 4, 3a and 3b, against which the curve of the channel is apparent.

[0024] Figures 3a, and 3a show in detail the curvature of the locating channel provided when compared with the dashed centre line of the straight support (3). As can be seen from these figures this curved slot (2) can allow a curved blade body to be located and rigidly held in place by the straight support tube (1). [0025] Figures 5 and 6 show typical speed skate blade assembly in accordance with the invention. In Figure 4, the channel (2) is shown from one end, the back end, of the assembly (1), with a blade (4) inserted within the channel (2). An indicative shape of the support structure (1) can be seen. As can be seen, while the support rail is commonly known as a "tube", it is normally constructed of solid metal, especially aluminium . It is elongated and may be generally cylindrical, or it may be of any other suitable shape, an example of which is shown in the drawing. The channel starts from the back biased towards the left hand side. The channel continues along the support as a gentle bend, with the radius having the desired bend configuration for the blade (4). In the middle section of the tube, the channel and blade are biased to the right-hand side of the tube. At the front of the support, then the channel is biased back towards the left again .

[0026] In Figure 6, the same arrangement is shown as a perspective view, with the support and its attached blade upside down. The curve of the blade (4) is more clearly shown, and the curve is indicated as an exaggerated curve (5).

[0027] Preferably, the slot in the "tube" is curved so as to bias the blade to have a leftward bias, which improves the skaters' performance when travelling around the skate track in an anti-clockwise direction. The amount of bias is determined by the amount of curve desired by the skater. In addition, there may be a combination employed of utilising a curved slot to hold the blade, as well as applying some bending; but a lesser amount of bending as was previously applied when a straight slot was used.

[0028] A preferred bend shape is that of a segment of a circle. The actual shape of the curved slot provided in the support rail can therefore be determined as a circle segment with a radius of a specified length . If the blade has a curve that is defined by a long radius measure, which matches the curve on the bottom of the blade that is touching the ice, then the blades will need more bend to help the ends of the blade touch the ice when the skater is skating around the corner. The blades usually have a 30-40 metre radius bend for short track skating. When skating long track, then the blades need much less bend so they may have anywhere from 50-90 metre radius bend. Once you get over 50 metre radius values, you are dealing with what is essentially close to being a straight blade. There is very little difference between a 50 m and an 80 m radius bend. But, when you compare a 30 m or a 25 m bend, the difference is significant as the circle that the bend is based upon is becoming quite small. So, it is rare to skate on anything under 20 m. Therefore the curve is preferably a segment of a circle having a radius of 20 metres to 90 metres, preferably from 30 to 80 metres, and most preferably from 30 to 40 metres.

[0029] Other curves may be utilised apart from segments of circles. For example, a skater may prefer a blade that is more flat in the centre and more rounded at the ends. This shape is a curve with less bend in the middle and more at the ends. This shape is especially preferred with skaters at the higher levels of competition . It is possible to supply a blade assembly according to the invention, with a simple bend and radius, and the skater can then do their own customising by adding more or less bend and radius, to the ends and centre portion for example. Alternatively, the assembly can be provided with this more complex shape.

[0030] Preferably the support structure is straight and the slot created in it is bent. However the invention also encompasses the possibility that both the slot and the support are bent, in which case they are preferably bent in the same direction . Generally the support rail will have a lesser level of bending than the slot for the rail.

[0031] The invention arises from the discovery that aluminium does not like to be bent, and how this impacts of speed skating. Previously, with a normal straight blade, the skater bends it with a roller, but after about 3 months it will straighten out again. By cutting the bend into the tube, the skater then only needs a slight amount of bend on their own, or no extra bending may be necessary if they are happy with it as it is. This means that the tube will not be stressed and will not want to go revert to being straight.

[0032] In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term "comprising" has the non-exclusive meaning of the word, in the sense of "including at least" rather than the exclusive meaning in the sense of "consisting only of". The same applies with corresponding grammatical changes to other forms of the word such as "comprise", "comprises" and so on . [0033] It will be apparent that obvious variations or modifications may be made which are in accordance with the spirit of the invention and which are intended to be part of the invention, and any such obvious variations or modifications are therefore within the scope of the invention. Although the invention is described above with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not limited to those embodiments, but may be embodied in many other forms.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0034] This invention is applicable in the fields of skating and for the provision of skating equipment, particularly in skates for the sport and activity of speed skating.