TRAINING DEVICE FOR USE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SKATES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention generally relates to training devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a weighted training device. Specifically, the invention relates to a training device for use in association with skates that allows the athlete to vary the amount of weight they train with.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Athletes are always looking for a competitive edge. They therefore utilize different methods of training and use various training aids and devices to increase their speed, strength and endurance and thereby enhance their performance.

It is known in the prior art for athletes to train with weights added to either their limbs or their equipment to build up specific muscle groups used in their sport and to enhance the athlete's strength and endurance. Runners and swimmers are known to strap small weights onto their wrists and ankles, while tennis players and baseball players add weights to their racquets and bats. Not only do these weights and weighted devices build up the athlete's muscles, but they provide the added benefit of a sensation of increased freedom and strength when the weights are removed, and

this gives the athlete a psychologic boost and thereby enhances their performance.

Weighted devices have been proposed in the prior art for use in the training regimes of ice hockey players, figure skaters and speed and roller skaters. One of the more important considerations when using a weighted device on a skate is how to secure the weighted device to the skate. If the securing mechanism is inadequate then in ice hockey skates, for example, the fast movements involved in the sport and the constant impact of the skate blade on the ice surface can increase the risk of the weight becoming detached from the skate and being turned into a projectile. Several different mechanisms have been proposed in the art for attaching some sort of weight to a skate. U.S. Patent No. 3,582,067 issued to Rucks, shows an exercising weight that is enclosed in a sheath and is positioned beneath the boot portion of a skate. Straps are wrapped around the top of the boot to secure the weighted sheath in place. Canadian Patent No. CA2456414, issued to Bjugstad et al, shows a weighted strap that is securable to the boot portion of a skate with the weight being positioned under the boot and the strap wrapping around the top and leg portion of the boot. Callahan et al discloses a weighted cover in Canadian Patent No. CA2217759. In the Callahan device the weighted cover is positioned around the top of the boot and a fastener extends under the bottom of the boot to hold the cover in place. A non-strap type of weighted device is disclosed in Canadian Patent No. CA982623, issued

to Ouellette. Ouellette discloses a weighted device that is positioned between the blade mounting posts that extend between the blade and the boot. A spring-biased weight is inserted between the posts and is locked into place by a wing nut. Finally, it is also known in the art to simply snap- fit a specially designed weight onto the top of the blade on an ice skate.

A second consideration when using weighted training devices is that, over time, the athlete grows accustomed to the additional weight on their equipment and therefore accrues little additional benefit from using the weight. This has also been partially addressed in the prior art, in references such as Canadian Patent No. CA2088617, issued to Corey. Corey shows a strap that is secured around the boot portion of the skate and includes a plurality of pockets which can hold small weights therein. The skater can select how much weight he wishes to utilize by adding small weights to the pockets or removing weights from the pockets. However, inserting these small weights into the pockets and removing them from the pockets can be finicky and time consuming because of the small size of the pockets involved.

Still a further consideration in the design of a weighted device is that ice hockey players, in particular, like to use weighted devices during the warm up period before a game. However, weights are not permitted on the skates during the playing time of an actual hockey game. Consequently, it is essential that the weighted device be quick and easy to both install and remove as players want to maximize their warm-up time

and may therefore need to remove the weighted device in a hurry.

There is therefore a need in the art for an improved weighted device that can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from a skate; that can be attached in a manner that will prevent the weight from being accidentally dislodged and that will allow the skater to vary the amount of weight that he/she uses for training purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device of the present invention includes a base that is receivable within an aperture formed between the blade supports or wheel supports on the skate. The base includes first and second ends that are shaped to engage the blade or wheel supports. The first and second ends are preferably C-shaped and each includes a cushioning pad to help hold the device in place between the supports and to dampen any impacts on either the skate or the training device. The training device includes a base having an interior cavity into which one or more weighted members can selectively be inserted. A latched cover is selectively positionable over the interior cavity to secure the weighted members therein. The base is held between the supports by a spring-biased extendable arm that can be locked in substantially any position by a locking mechanism disposed on the base. The training device can be used with any type of ice, roller or inline skate that includes a pair of mounting supports for attaching a blade or wheels to a boot portion of the skate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a partial side view of an ice hockey skate having a weighted training device in accordance with the present invention installed thereon; Fig. 2 is a side view of the weighted training device in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional top view of the weighted training device taken through line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section top view of the highlighted area shown in Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is an exploded rear perspective rear view of the weighted training device; and

Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the weighted training device showing the addition/removal of a weight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown an ice hockey skate 10 comprising a boot 12, a blade 14 and a blade support 16 connecting blade

14 and boot 12 to each other. Blade support 16 defines an aperture 18 therethrough and a training weight in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at 20, is retained within that aperture 18.

Training weight 20 is more clearly shown in Figs. 2-5. Training weight 20 comprises a housing 22 having an adjustable arm 24 extending outwardly therefrom. Arm 24 comprises a C-shaped portion 26 and a shaft 28. As may be most easily seen from Fig. 2, C-shaped portion 26 is tapered when viewed from the side so that a wider end 26a is disposed proximate housing 22 and a narrower end 26b is disposed remote from housing 22. C-shaped housing 26 is shaped to engage with one of a front part 16a and rear part 16b of blade support 16. A resilient, compressible rubber pad 23 is secured within the C-shaped portion 26 that assists the training weight 20 to conform to differently shaped blade supports 16 on different skates. Pad 23 also assists in keeping training weight 20 snug and securely fitted to skate 10. Shaft 28 includes a plurality of spaced apart teeth 30 thereon and terminates in an end 32.

Housing 22 includes a base portion 34 and a cover portion 36. As may be most easily seen from Fig. 5, base portion 34 preferably is manufactured from two side sections 34a, 34b and a C-shaped end section 34c. End section 34c is again provided with a resilient, compressible rubber pad 35 which once again helps training weight 10 to fit on a variety of differently shaped and sized blade supports 16 on different skates 10. Side sections 34a, 34b and end section 34c preferably

include a plurality of interlocking legs 38 which, when the components are connected together, ensure that the base 34 may be easily assembled. Side sections 34a, 34b also define an internal slot 40 into which arm 28 is received. A spring 42 is also retained within slot 40 between end 32 of arm 24 and an interior wall 44 (Fig. 3) of end section 34c.

Referring to Figs. 4-6, a sliding lock 46 is positioned proximate a front end of base 34 and is disposed within a channel 72 in base 34. As may be best seen from Fig. 3, channel 70 is disposed substantially at right angles to slot 40. Lock 46 includes an aperture 48 through which arm 24 is received. Arm 24 includes a flange 50 (Fig. 5) that engages lock 46 to prevent arm 24 from being pulled out of slot 40 in housing 22. Lock 46 includes a plurality of teeth 49 that are spaced to interlock with teeth 30 on arm 24 when lock 46 is engaged. As may be most easily seen from Fig. 6, ends of lock 46 are recessed within channel 72. The opening to channel 72 is shaped so as to receive a fingertip therethrough. The recessed access to lock ends 46a prevents lock 46 from being accidentally engaged if the player falls or is hit by a stick or puck for example.

When side sections 34a, 34b and end section 34c are connected together with spring 42 and arm 24 being positioned within slot 40, then a plurality of fasteners 52 are used to secure the side sections 34a, 34b together. It may be seen from Fig. 3, when side sections 34a, 34b are so assembled, the front end 22a of housing 22 is complementary in shape to C-shaped section 26 and is sized to receive the same therein when spring

42 is fully compressed and arm 24 is fully received within slot 40. Furthermore, when base portion 34 is fully assembled and cover 36 is disposed thereover, an interior cavity is formed between an interior upper surface 36a of cover 36 and the top walls 54 of side sections 34a, 34b. In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, one or more saddle-type weights 56, 58, 60 are selectively insertable into the interior cavity between upper surface 36a of cover 36 and top walls 54. Weights 56, 58 and 60 are generally U-shaped in cross-section and are complementary sized and shaped to be interlockingly received over top walls 54. Weights 56, 58 and 60 preferably are all substantially equal in size and weight, although it is to be understood that the weights can weight different amounts without departing from the spirit of the present invention. When weights 56, 58 and 60 are received within the interior cavity, then a bottom surface 56a, 58a and 60a thereof abuts a ledge 62 in each side section 34a, 34b. The top surfaces 56b, 58b and 60b of weights 56, 58, 60 each include a central indentation 64 that allows for a latch 66 (Fig. 6) on the underside of cover 36 to slide thereover as cover 36 is moved back and forward over base 34. Weights 56, 58 & 60 preferably are made from any suitable metal and preferably have a weight range of between c pound and a pound.

Cover 36 is further provided with knurling 68 to enable an athlete to engage cover 36 and depress the same slightly inwardly and rearwardly to release latch 66 and slide cover 36 back toward end 34c of base so as to

gain access to the interior cavity for the insertion or removal of weights 56, 58 and 60. Cover 36 further has side grooves 70 which act as grip portions for an athlete to more easily grasp and handle training weight 20. It can also be seen from Figs. 5 & 6, that cover 36 has lips 74 that engage with similarly shaped portions on side sections 34a, 34b to interlocking hold cover 36 on base 34.

Referring to Figs. 1-6, the training weight 20 in accordance with the present invention is used in the following manner. The athlete decides how much weight to include in training weight device 20 and then selects the relevant number of weights 56, 58 and/or 60. If, for example, they decide they need to incorporate two weights, 56, 58 for example, in training device 20, then they slide cover 36 open toward end section 34c of device 20. Weights 56 and 58 are then dropped into the interior cavity and straddle a ridge 54 formed by side sections 34a, 34b. Cover 36 is then grasped and slid forward toward C-shaped portion 26. The training device 20 then needs to be installed in the aperture 18 in skate 10. In order to insert device 20 into aperture 18, arm 24 is ideally forced inwardly into slot 40 until rear wall 26a of C-shaped portion 26 abuts front end 22a of housing 22. This is achieved by sliding lock 46 in a first direction, indicated by the arrow "A" in Figs. 3, 4 & 6. This sliding movement causes teeth 49 to disengage from teeth 30 on arm 24. The arm 24 is then free to slide inwardly into slot 40. The arm 24 is pushed inwardly to compress spring 42 and then lock 46 is slid in the opposite direction to arrow "A" to

engage teeth 49 with teeth 30. The interlocking of teeth 49, 47 prevents arm 24 from sliding back out of slot 40.

The athlete then inserts device 10 into aperture 18 so that C- shaped portion 26 is positioned proximate front end 16a of blade support 16 and end section 34c is positioned proximate back end 16b of blade support 16. The athlete then slides lock 46 back in the direction of arrow "A", causing teeth 49 on lock 46 to disengage from teeth 30 on arm 24. As soon as the teeth 49, 30 disengage, spring 42 expands and urges arm 24 to slide outwardly from slot 40 in the direction of arrow "B" (Fig. 3). The outward movement of arm 24 stops when C-shaped portion 26 engages front end 16a of blade support 16 and end section 34c engages back end 16b of blade support 16. When this occurs, pads 23 and 35 are slightly compressed. Training device 20 is then secured in position by sliding lock 46 back in the opposite direction to arrow "A", thereby causing teeth 49 and teeth 30 to interlock and thereby locking arm 24 in place. With device 20 secured in place between front end 16a and rear end 16b of blade support 16, the athlete can then skate as he/she normally would.

If at some point the athlete decides that they wish to add to remove weight to device 20, they simply unlock lock 46 as previously described so that arm 24 is free to move, move arm 24 back toward housing 22 and then pull device 20 out of aperture 18. The cover 36 is then slid backwardly toward end section 34c and weight can be added or removed by inserting one or more weights 56, 58, 60; or by removing one or more

weights 56, 58, 60. Cover 36 is slid back over base 34 toward C-shaped portion 26 and the device 20 is reinstalled in aperture 18 in the manner previously described.

It will be understood that training device 20 can be used with any type of skate that has an aperture defined between the blade supports. When the training device of the present invention is to be used on a roller skate or inline skate, for example, then the aperture into which the device is inserted lies between the wheel mounting supports.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.