Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: IMPROVED SKATE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to skates and in
particular to improvements that allow increased leg
flexion movement in the upper portion of the boot of the
skate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
My earlier US Patent 7,562,881 discloses a lace
extension arrangement secured at the upper portion of a
boot of a hockey skate that accommodates additional
bending or flexion about the ankle in a forward/rearward
direction. This increased flexion often provides
improved performance for the user.
In my earlier design, lace extensions are provided
at the upper edge of the hockey boot that allows the user
to thread the lace through one of several forwardly
extending eyelets appropriate to define a forward end
position of the top opening of the hockey skate (flexion
channel). The series of generally horizontal eyelets
allow the user to determine the amount of bending or leg
flexion that is accommodated. In my preferred
embodiment, the two extension arms are joined by a U-
shaped portion that extends behind the heel of the boot
and the arms are secured by securing mechanisms that
engage the top eyelets of the skate. Three forwardly
extending eyelets are provided and the user can select
which of these eyelets is best for his skating
preferences.
The present invention also allows adjustment of
the flexion channel and provides additional flexibility
for the user to customize the installation of a
combination boot and lace extender. The boot extender
according to the invention allows the user to modify the
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characteristics of the skate and determine their own
optimum or preferred position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A boot extension arrangement according to the
present invention is for use in association with the boot
of a skate. The skate boot includes two opposed series
of eyelets that cooperate with a tongue for adjustably
closing the front portion of the skate using a lace. The
boot extension arrangement comprises two extension
portions located on opposite sides of an upper portion of
the boot and cooperate to define an increased flexion
channel therebetween to accommodate a user's leg when in
a forward flex position. Each extension portion projects
forwardly of a rearward-most eyelet of the series of
eyelets for receiving laces at a position forward of a
conventional securement position and has at least two
vertically spaced apertures for selectively receiving a
lace at the forward position.
According to an aspect of the invention the boot
extension arrangement further includes two securement
means located on opposite sides of the boot for securing
the boot extension arrangements to the opposing series of
eyelets. Each securement is comprised of a first
securement aperture for mechanical securement of the boot
extension arrangement through said top eyelet and a
second securement aperture for securement to an eyelet
below said top eyelet in said series of eyelets for
receiving a lace.
According to yet a further aspect of the
invention, the boot extension member is mechanically
secured to the boot on an outside surface of the boot.
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According to yet a further aspect of the
invention, the boot extension member is mechanically
secured to the boot on an inside surface of the boot.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the boot
extension arrangement includes removable padding material
secured to an inside edge of the boot extension
arrangement.
In a preferred aspect of the invention the boot
extension arrangement is an integral component of the
boot.
A boot extension for securement to a skate
(preferably a hockey skate) comprises an extension
portion having at least two vertically spaced apertures
for selectively receiving laces at a forward position,
and a securement portion spaced rearwardly of the forward
portion for securement of said lace extension to the boot
of the skate. The securement portion comprises a first
securement aperture for mechanical securement to the boot
extension to an upper eyelet in one of said opposed
series of eyelets of the skate and a second securement
aperture for securement to an eyelet below said top
eyelet in said series of eyelets.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the
second securement aperture is elongated in the vertical
direction to accommodate different spacing between
eyelets from one skate to a different skate.
In a different aspect of the invention the lace
extension concept is integrated with a hockey skate. The
boot of the hockey skate has a bottom portion and an
upper portion having two sides. Each side of the upper
portion of the boot includes a boot extension portion
extending forwardly of the junction between the upper
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portion and the lower portion of the boot and defines a
flexion channel therebetween to accommodate a user's leg
when in a forward flexed position. The boot has a
securing set of two opposed series of eyelets for
receiving a lace and securing the user's foot in the
boot. A vertically spaced extension set of the two
opposed series of eyelets are located on each extension
portion of the boot. The top eyelet of the extension set
of the two opposed series of eyelets is substantially
forward of the rearmost eyelet of the securing set of the
two opposed series of eyelets. In this way, the lace is
passed through the eyelets, the user can utilize the
series of eyelets on the extension portion of the boot to
vary the length of the flexion channel.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the two
opposed series of eyelets are located across the bottom
portion of the boot and extend to where the upper portion
and the bottom portion of the boot meet.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the
securing set of two opposed series of eyelets is located
across the bottom portion of the boot and extends to part
way up the upper portion of the boot.
With the present invention the user can
selectively alter the length of the flexion channel and
can use the lace system to vary the length of the flexion
channel to optimize his performance. Significant
improvements in performance are typically realized with
respect to faster skating, more powerful acceleration per
push and enhanced agility and stability. This system
allows a user to experiment with different setups to find
a particular setup that provides him with the desired
performance and confidence.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown
in the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side view of a hockey skate with the
extension member secured to one side of the boot of the
skate;
Figure 2 is a side view of the extension member
designed to be secured to the hockey boot as an after-
market product or as an adjustable or optional part of
the hockey skate when originally sold;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the skate with
two extension members secured to the boot;
Figure 4 shows a portion of a user showing the
ability of the modified hockey skate to accommodate
extensive flexion of the leg within the upper portion of
the boot; and
Figure 5 is a side view of a boot, a person's foot
and a boot stock measurement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a side view of a hockey skate 2
having a boot 4 of the traditional type having a lower
boot portion 6 and an upper boot portion 8. A tongue 10
is positioned within an opening of the skate and the
skate is tightened about a user's foot using the two
series of eyelets provided either side of the skate and
tensioning the lace 12.
If the boot extension arrangement 20 was not
present, two additional eyelets of the one series of
eyelets would be visible at the upper portion of the
upper boot. These eyelets are presently covered by the
boot extension arrangement 20 which extends forwardly of
the conventional securement position 19 of the lace and
provides a series of forward eyelets 40 adjacent the
front edge of the boot extension arrangement. These
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forward eyelets 40 as shown have three eyelets and the
eyelets are vertically spaced. The vertical separation
of these eyelets allows the user to select the number of
eyelets he wishes to use to customize the flexion channel
30 defined between the Achilles tendon guard 60 and the
tongue 10. The flexion channel 30 includes a length
between the Achilles guard 60 and the tongue 10 indicated
as 32.
With the boot extension arrangement as shown in
Figure 1 a user can modify conventional skates to
customize the length of the flexion channel 30 and this
has been found to significantly impact the skating
characteristics of the user. The boot extension
arrangement is shown as mechanically secured to the upper
two eyelets of the conventional series of eyelets of a
hockey skate and each extension member at the forward
portion 26 thereof includes the series of forward eyelets
40 where adjacent eyelets of the series are vertically
spaced. The vertical separation allows the mouth of the
flexion channel 30 to vary lowering a front edge thereof
if desired. Also the eyelets can be used in combination.
As perhaps best shown in Figure 4 the boot
extenders 22 are mechanically fastened to the upper boot
8 and extend the boot forward while still allowing inward
curvature or deflection of boot narrowing and eventually
determining a closed from of the flexion channel 30.
These extenders are not merely lace extenders as they
cooperate and extend the upper boot portion and assist in
providing lateral stability or stiffness.
For example, a user may choose to only use the
bottom pair of eyelets, or the bottom pair in combination
with the middle eyelets, or all three pairs of eyelets.
A user may also experiment using only the middle or upper
eyelets. If the user only uses the lower pair of eyelets
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the length of the flexion channel 30 is generally
lengthened and thus he can bend his leg farther forward
before encountering the forward end of the flexion
channel 30. It has been found that the upper portion 8
of the conventional hockey skate is quite stiff and
provides excellent side to side rigidity and stability
for the skater. The boot extension members 22 are also
of a relatively stiff material (i.e. similar to that of
the boot) and thus form an extension of the boot and do
not readily bend towards each other but rather deflect
towards each other under the influence of the lace as the
boot would deflect. This arrangement generally keeps the
flexion channel 30 open until restricted by the laces.
There is some deflection of the boot extension members
towards each other at the forward edge and depending upon
the tension applied to the laces, this adjustment is also
variable by the user.
As perhaps best shown in Figure 4 the boot
extenders 22 are mechanically fastened to the upper boot
8 and extend the boot forward while still allowing inward
curvature or deflection of boot narrowing and eventually
determining a closed front of the flexion channel 30.
These extenders are not merely lace extenders as they
cooperate and extend the upper boot portion and assist in
providing lateral stability or stiffness. The extending
members 22 can be secured on the outside of the boot
(fig. 1, 2 and 3) or on the inside surface of the upper
portion of the boot (fig. 4).
The boot extension members preferably are of a
plastic that can be heated to allow some bending or
curvature and then cooled. This provides for further
customization by a supplier or the end user. A preferred
material for the boot extension members is supplied by
Dupont under the mark Delrin 100 STTm.
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The particular placement of the eyelets in a
conventional boot at the upper portion of the boot (i.e.
the top two or three eyelets) does vary from hockey skate
to hockey skate. To accommodate this, the extension
members 22 include at a rear edge of the extension member
a single port, namely the upper port, for receiving a
mechanical fastener 54 and a lower slot type aperture 55
for receiving a second mechanical fastener. In this way
the slot 55 provides flexibility to accommodate the
different spacing and positioning of the eyelets that is
encountered from skate to skate. The slot is also
helpful with respect to the angle of the upper eyelets.
The preferred length of the extension members 22
is approximately 1.5 inches and this provides a very
significant modification of the flexion channel 30. We
have also found that these extension members can be sold
in a shorter length (i.e. approximately 1 inch) and this
will provide approximately 15 degrees of additional
flexion whereas the longer member provides approximately
degrees of flexion forward. The distance between the
top edge and the bottom edge of the boot extenders 22 is
preferably about 1.25 to 1.5 inches. The extenders 22
when secured are stiff in the vertical direction
25 partially due to the overlapping and securement of the
extenders to the upper portion 8 of the boot 4. The
extenders are preferably about one eighth of an inch
thick.
The rearward ports of the extension member provide
firm securement of the member to the upper portion of the
hockey boot and thus the extension members form extension
portions of the boot and have similar type
characteristics. The rear connection of the extenders to
the upper portion of the boot fixes the extension members
to the boot and extends the sides of the front of the
boot preferably in excess of an inch. The extenders as
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shown allow the extenders and upper portion of the boot
to function as a continuous piece while still allowing
curvature of the front portion of the upper portion of
the boot using the lace arrangement. This integration
allows the desired movement while providing lateral
stability and user comfort (fit).
The two securement points avoid pivoting of the
extension member and the series of forward eyelets
provide for significant adjustment by the end user to
accommodate different skates and experience the skate at
different adjustment points. The user can determine a
position that he finds both advantageous and acceptable.
As shown these members preferably extend the upper boot
position along essentially the full side height and
provide some lateral stability due to the significant top
to bottom dimension of the extenders and the positive
attachment at two or more points to function in the
manner of the forward section of the upper boot. The
thickness of the extenders is similar to the walls of the
upper boot and are not prone to buckling or folding.
Movement of the extenders towards one another during lace
tightening is transmitted back to the upper boot together
with some deflection of the extenders.
The particular material of the extension members
must react to relative cold conditions that may occur
playing hockey outside, for example, as well as much
warmer temperatures that are experienced in the later
part of the season. The Delrin 100 STTm material is quite
durable with respect to impact and will not crack during
normal use. Other similar materials can be used. The
materials used for existing stiff molded plastic hockey
skates may also be suitable.
In a preferred embodiment, the extension arms are
made to be integral with the hockey boot and can also be
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made such that the upper portion of the boot is of a
different material than the lower boot portion. It is
desirable that the particular type of plastic used can
also be adjusted or modified by the end user by heating
of the plastic by placing the extension member in boiling
water and/or providing low heat such as by a hair dryer
it is possible to bend the plastic, and the typical
modifications are to bend it slightly inwardly providing
a desired curvature, however it is also possible to
deflect it in the vertical plane perhaps to open up the
upper edge, for example. Once the member has been
appropriately adjusted by the user, it is cooled and set
and generally retains that shape unless it is reheated
and adjusted again. As shown in the drawings it is not
only lengthening the flexion channel but also providing
the same type of lateral support to the user at different
positions in the extended flexion channel. In contrast
the lower boot portion and the lace system is primarily
about securement and comfort.
Figure 3 shows a hockey boot with the two
extension members applied or secured either side of the
boot. It has been shown without the lace extending
through the eyelets for clarity. The end user would
select the appropriate eyelets he wishes to establish his
particular length of the flexion channel and typically
this is done merely by performance evaluation and/or
comfort evaluation by the user.
In Figure 5, an extension measurement 100 is shown
that is helpful in considering boot extenders to be used
with a particular boot. The boot stock measurement 104
is the measurement from the heel to the vertical line
that passes through the forward most extension point 106
where the user's shin is restrained by the laces.
Typically the 55 degree angle is a good base point. The
boot stock measurement varies by the user. The extender
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length is then determined by measuring from the top
eyelet 102 to point 106. In most cases this is about 1
inch. The spaced vertical eyelets allow the user to
adjust around this average setting to increase or
decrease the extension.
Modern skates are now very stiff and if tied in
the conventional manner the angle of flexion is
restricted due to the stiffness of the boots. Even with
a user applying considerable pressure against the tongue
of the skate the amount of movement is restricted and not
available without substantially opposition. The
extenders 22 allow additional pivoting movement of the
lower leg about the ankle in the forward and rearward
direction while also contributing to lateral stiffness in
the extended structure.
These extenders use the stiffness of the upper
portion of the boot to allow the extenders to pull the
sides of the upper portion inwardly (providing side
support) while extending the amount of flex. This can be
appreciated from a review of Figure 4. During skating a
constantly changing dynamic movement and deflection of
the upper portion of the boot can occur and the extenders
in combination with the boot maintaining lateral
stiffness throughout the flexion channel.
Building the extending members into a boot is
advantageous as separate connection members (possible
point of weakness) are not required and the product is
more efficient, lighter and comfortable.
With the present system the extenders still allow
variable wrapping of the extenders across the front of
the flexion channel and distribute the user's leg force
to a bigger area when restricted at the forward position.
This contributes to less shin issues such as shin bite
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and adjustment of the lace position can be helpful in
addressing any pressure points. The extenders extend the
sides of the upper portion of the boot such that the
conventional functions and desirable characteristics of
the upper portion of the boot can be maintained and
improved.
It has been found that skate performance can be
improved such as increased stride length, more power,
expanded mobility, enhanced ankle flexion, greater knee
bend and/or better balance. Figure 4 shows the lower
legs of a user with two skates and the extent that one
leg is significantly bent while the other one is more
vertical. These positions are constantly changing during
skating.
The present invention provides a simple and
effective approach for allowing a user to modify a
conventional stiff skate (such as a hockey skate) or to
modify the structure of a conventional stiff skate boot
in a new manner that is integrated with the upper portion
of the boot to provide a greater flexion channel and
lateral support relative to the non-modified skate. This
approach of extending the upper portion of a stiff skate
boot is also useful in figure skates, speed skates and
inline skates. The hockey skate boot application is
believed to be the most demanding and difficult
application.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail,
it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
appended claims.
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