Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HOCKEY SKATE BOOT INCLUDING A TONGUE WITH ONE OR MORE
COMFORT CHANNELS
BACKGROUND
[0001] Ice skating and inline skating are unique forms of human
locomotion.
There are a variety of sports that utilize ice skates, for example, such as
speed
skating, ice hockey, and figure skating. When laced tightly, skate boots
typically
restrict dorsiflexion, a movement that allows the tibia to lean forward when
skating.
Due to this restriction, superficial tendons, which protrude from the anterior
surface of
the foot during dorsiflexion, are subjected to increased pressure by the
tongue of the
skate boot during the skating motion. This increased pressure and restriction
of
movement can result in inflammation, soreness, and bruising, often referred to
as
"lace bite" or "skate bite." While the extensor hallucis longus tendon is most
commonly
affected by lace bite, other tendons, such as the extensor digitorum longus
and the
tibialis anterior, may also be affected.
[0002] Accordingly, a need exists for an improved skate boot that
can relieve
the pressure on the superficial tendons of the anterior foot region, while
still
providing the ability to lace the skates tightly enough to provide adequate
stability,
ankle support, and the control required for turning and stopping in sports
such as
hockey.
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SUMMARY
[0003] A skate boot includes a tongue configured to reduce or
relieve pressure
on the superficial tendons of the anterior region of a skater's foot. The
tongue has an
outer portion, an inner portion, and one or more channels, grooves, or
openings
formed in the inner portion or outer portion. The one or more channels,
grooves, or
openings are positioned to overlie one or more of the superficial tendons in
the
anterior region of a skater's foot. Other features and advantages will appear
hereinafter. The features described above can be used separately or together,
or in
various combinations of one or more of them.
[0004] According with one aspect, this disclosure relates to a
tongue for a
skate boot. The tongue for the skate boot comprises an outer portion; an inner
portion
configured to rest against an anterior region of a skater's foot; and a
plurality of
channels in the outer portion, wherein the channels are positioned to overlie
at least
one superficial tendon in the anterior region of the skater's foot.
[0005] According with another aspect, this disclosure relates to a
hockey skate.
The hockey skate comprises a body; a tongue attached to the body. The tongue
comprises an outer portion; an inner portion configured to rest against an
anterior
region of a skater's foot; and a plurality of channels in the outer portion,
wherein each
channel is positioned to overlie a superficial tendon in the anterior region
of the
skater's foot.
[0006] According with another aspect, this disclosure relates to a
hockey skate.
The hockey skate comprises a body; a tongue attached to the body. The tongue
comprises a first channel positioned to overlie the extensor hallucis longus
anterior
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tendon of the skater's foot; and a second channel positioned to overlie the
extensor
digitorum longus tendon of the skater's foot.
[0007]
According with another aspect, this disclosure relates to a tongue for a
skate boot. The tongue for a skate boot comprises an inner portion configured
to engage
a skater's foot; and an outer portion opposite to the inner portion of the
tongue; wherein
the tongue is configured differently where the tongue overlies a plurality of
superficial
tendons of the skater's foot than away from where the tongue overlies the
superficial
tendons of the skater's foot to alleviate pressure on each of the superficial
tendons of
the skater's foot.
[0007a]
According with another aspect, this disclosure relates to a skate boot.
The skate boot comprises a body configured to receive a skater's foot; and a
tongue
connected to the body. The tongue comprises an inner portion configured to
engage
the skater's foot; and an outer portion opposite to the inner portion of the
tongue;
wherein the tongue is configured differently where the tongue overlies a
plurality of
superficial tendons of the skater's foot than away from where the tongue
overlies the
superficial tendons of the skater's foot to alleviate pressure on each of the
superficial
tendons of the skater's foot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In
the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same
element throughout the several views:
[0009] FIG.
1 is a perspective view of a hockey skate according to one
embodiment.
[00010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hockey skate shown in FIG.
1.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-06
[00011] FIG. 3A is a top view of a tongue for a skate boot including
a central
channel in its inner portion, according to one embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the tongue shown in FIG. 3A.
[0013] FIG. 4 is perspective view of a skate boot including the
tongue shown in
FIGS. 3A and 3B. The inset drawing is a sectional view of the channel formed
in the
inner portion of the tongue.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-06
[0014] FIG. 5A is a top view of a tongue for a skate boot including
a medial
channel in its inner portion, according to one embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the tongue shown in FIG. 5A.
[0016] FIG. 6A is a top view of a tongue for a skate boot including
two channels
in its outer portion, according to one embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the tongue shown in FIG. 6A.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating how the channels in the
tongue shown in
FIGS. 6A and 6B align with the superficial tendons protruding from the
anterior portion
of a skater's foot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Various embodiments of the invention will now be described.
The
following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding
and
enabling decription of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will
understand,
however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details.
Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or
described
in detail so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of
the various
embodiments.
[0020] The terminology used in the description presented below is
intended to
be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used
in
conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the
invention. Certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any
terminology
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intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and
specifically
defined as such in this detailed description section.
[0021] Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also
include
the plural or singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word "or" is
expressly
limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in a list of
two or
more items, then the use. of "or" in such a list is to be interpreted as
including (a) any
single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any
combination of items in
the list.
[0022] The skate and skate boot described herein include, among
other
features, a tongue having one or more channels, grooves, or openings
(collectively
referred to herein as "channels" for ease of description) formed in the inner
or outer
portion of the tongue. The channels are configured to alleviate pressure
transferred to
one or more superficial tendons of a skater's foot when the skate boot is
laced during
a skating session. By alleviating this pressure, the skate boot helps to
prevent or
reduce the likelihood that a skater will develop "lace bite" or tendonitis as
a result of
tightly lacing the skate boot.
[0023] Turning now in detail to the drawings, as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, a
skate 100, such as an ice-hockey skate or inline roller skate, includes a
skate boot
110 and a blade assembly 120. The blade assembly 120 includes a blade holder
130
and a skate blade 140. The skate blade 140 is secured to the blade holder 130
via
screws, bolts, or other suitable connectors.
[0024] A tongue 200 is permanently or removably attached to the toe
portion
150 of the shell structure 160 of the skate boot 110. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4
illustrate
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an exemplary tongue 200 for a skate boot 110. In this embodiment, the tongue
200
is removable and includes a tongue attachment point 210 that is removably
attachable to a toe attachment point at or near the toe portion 150 of the
shell
structure 160. In one embodiment, the tongue 200 may be removably attached to
the boot 110 via a screw, bolt, or other suitable connector that engages a
fastener,
such as a t-nut, housed in the toe portion 150 proximate to the toe attachment
point. Using a removable tongue 200 may simplify the manufacturing process
because the skate boot 110 and the tongue 200 may be manufactured separately
and attached during final 'assembly. In addition, the removable tongue 200 may
be
easily replaced should it become damaged or replaceable for any other reason.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the tongue 200 includes an
outer
portion 220 and an inner portion 230. The inner portion 230 includes a central
recessed channel 300 formed by a compression molding process or another
suitable foam-shaping method. The central channel may have any suitable width,
length, and depth to accommodate a variety of foot sizes and to allow the
channel
to be positioned to overlie one or more superficial tendons in the anterior
region of
a skater's foot. For example, in one embodiment, the channel 300 may have a
width of approximately 40-50 mm, a length of approximately 55-65 mm, and a
depth
of approximately 10-15 mm. The channels described in other embodiments below
may have the same or similar dimensions, as well.
[0026] In one embodiment, the tongue 200 may include multiple foam
layers. In
the illustrated embodiment, two foam layers 240a, 240b having different
densities or
hardness values are positioned in different regions of the tongue 200. For
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example, a softer layer 240b may be positioned around the channel 300 to
provide
additional comfort near a central region of a skater's foot; while a stiffer
layer 240a
may be positioned on or around the softer layer 240b to overlie less sensitive
regions
of a skater's foot. In one embodiment, the stiffer layer 240a may have a Shore
C
hardness of approximately 70 to 80, and the softer layer 240b may have a Shore
C
hardness of approximately 30 to 40. The central channel 300 may be formed in
the
softer foam layer 240b. This configuration provides additional comfort and
relief of
pressure on one or more of the superficial tendons in the anterior region of
the
skater's foot, thus reducing or preventing lace bite.
[0027] In one embodiment, the tongue 200 may optionally include one
or more
thermoplastic pieces that soften at or around 60 C for safe anatomical
shaping. The
thermoplastic pieces may be bonded to the tongue 200 in any suitable location.
In one
embodiment, the thermoplastic pieces may be bonded to the stiffer foam layer
240a,
for example. The thermoplastic pieces provide rigidity and support to the
tongue 200.
In addition, when heated, the tongue 200 may be custom-shaped to fit a
particular
skater's foot. The thermoplastic pieces, alone or in combination with the
stiffer and
softer foam layers 240a, 240b, may be covered with a thin piece of felt or
similar
material to provide added comfort.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the tongue 200 may include
a
channel 400 located on the medial side of a wearer's foot, such that it
corresponds
to the anatomical location of the extensor hallucis longus tendon 600 (as
shown in
FIG. 7). In certain embodiments, the inner portion 230 of the tongue 200 may
include more than one channel formed in the softer foam layer. For example, in
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addition to the medially positioned channel 400, a second channel may be
provided
lateral to the center of the tongue 200, such that it corresponds to the
anatomical
location of the extensor digitorum longus tendon 610 (as shown in FIG. 7).
These
medial and lateral channels provide relief of pressure on the superficial
tendons in the
anterior region of the skater's foot, reducing or preventing lace bite.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, the tongue 200 may
include one
or more channels 500a, 500b on its exterior or outer portion 220 ("outer
channels").
In one embodiment, the outer channels 500a, 500b are positioned on the medial
and/or lateral sides of the outer portion 220 of the tongue 200, such that
they
correspond to the anatomical locations of the extensor hallucis longus
anterior
tendon 600 and the extensor digitorum longus tendon 610, respectively. Because
the outer channel regions are thinner than the rest of the tongue, the tongue
material
is more pliable at these locations. This arrangement reduces the pressure
applied
on the superficial tendons, thereby reducing or preventing lace bite.
[0030] The configuration shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7 is also
advantageous
because the inner portion of the tongue 230 may have a continuous surface
without
any gaps, grooves, openings, edges, or inconsistent surfaces formed by
channels on
the inner portion 230. Having a continuous surface on the inner portion of the
tongue
230 provides a more traditional feeling on top of the skater's foot, while the
external
channels 500a, 500b reduce pressure on the superficial tendons.
[0031] The channels 500a, 500b may each have any suitable width,
length,
and depth to accommodate a variety of foot sizes and to allow the channel to
be
positioned to overlie one or more superficial tendons in the anterior region
of a
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skater's foot. For example, in one embodiment, each channel 500a, 500b may
have a
width of approximately 20-25 mm, a length of approximately 55-65 mm, and a
depth of
approximately 10-15 mm. The two channels 500a, 500b may have the same or
different dimensions.
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