Hockey skate shield

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9609906-B2
Application number	US-201414323056-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2014
Priority date	Jul 25, 2013
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A skate shield for use with ice skates. The skate shield includes a rigid shell made at least of outer and inner layers of fiber reinforced plastic or polymer (FRP), and a fastener assembly for releasably securing the shell to a boot portion of the ice skate. The shell includes a medial side portion interconnected to a lateral side section via a top portion. A reinforced section formed by reinforcing layers laminated between the outer and inner layers is provided in at least one of the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the shell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A skate shield for use with an ice skate, comprising:
a shell fabricated from inner and rigid outer layers of a fiber reinforced material, said shell configured to include a medial side portion interconnected to a lateral side portion, wherein said medial side portion and said lateral side portion are interconnected by a top portion defining a toe aperture, said top portion of said shell cooperates with said medial and lateral side portions to define an ankle aperture, said medial and lateral side portions each configured to define a bottom flange section which cooperate to define a bottom aperture, said bottom aperture communicating with and configured to substantially perpendicular to each of said toe aperture and a heel aperture, and said heel aperture communicating with said ankle aperture;
said shell having at least one reinforced section laminated between said inner and outer layers; and
a fastener assembly for releasably attaching said medial side portion to said lateral side portion for securing said skate shield to a boot portion of the ice skate.

2. The skate shield of claim 1 wherein the fastener assembly includes a strap having a first end portion rigidly affixed to one of said medial and lateral side portions of said shell, and wherein a second end portion of said strap is releasably secured to a fastener associated with the other one of said medial and lateral side portions of said shell.

3. The skate shield of claim 1 wherein said fastener assembly includes a pair of clip retainers rigidly affixed to each of said medial and lateral side portions of said shell and a resilient ring that can be releasably secured to said clip retainers.

4. The skate shield of claim 1 wherein said medial side portion is configured to define a medial side section a first heel flange section, wherein said lateral side portion is configured to define a lateral side section a second heel flange, wherein said bottom flange sections are spaced apart to define said bottom aperture therebetween, and wherein said first and second heel flanges are spaced apart to define said heel aperture.

5. The skate shield of claim 4 wherein a first reinforcement section is formed in said medial side section of said shell and a second reinforcement section is formed in said lateral side section of said shell, and wherein each of said first and second reinforcement sections include at least one reinforcing layer.

6. The skate shield of claim 5 wherein each one of said reinforcing layers is a preformed back plate laminated between said outer and inner layers of said shell.

7. The skate shield of claim 1 further comprising an inner liner of a resilient material bonded to an inwardly facing surface of said inner layer.

8. A skate shield for use with an ice skate, comprising:
a shell having an inner layer and a rigid outer layer of an impact resistant, fiber reinforced material, said shell configured to include a medial side portion interconnected to a lateral side portion, wherein said medial side portion and said lateral side portion are interconnected by top portion defining a toe aperture, said top portion cooperates with said medical and lateral side portions to define an ankle aperture, said medial and lateral side portions each configured to define a bottom flange section which cooperate to define a bottom aperture, said bottom aperture communicating with and configured to be substantially perpendicular to each of said toe aperture and a heel aperture, and said heel aperture communicating with said bottom aperture and said ankle aperture;
an inner liner of resilient material bonded to said inner layer, said inner liner bounding an internal cavity defined by said shell; and
a fastener assembly for releasably attaching said medial side portion to said lateral side portion for securing said skate shield to a boot portion of the ice skate.

9. The skate shield of claim 8 wherein the fastener assembly includes a strap having a first end portion rigidly affixed to one of said medial and lateral side portions of said shell, wherein a second end portion of said strap is releasably secured to a fastener associated with the other one of said medial and lateral side portions of said shell.

10. The skate shield of claim 8 wherein said fastener assembly includes a pair of clip retainers rigidly affixed to each of said medial and lateral side portions of said shell and a resilient ring that can be releasably secured to said clip retainers.

11. The skate shield of claim 8 wherein said medial side portion is configured to define a medial side section, a first heel flange section, wherein said lateral side portion is configured to define a lateral side section, and a second heel flange, wherein said bottom flange sections are spaced apart to define said bottom aperture therebetween, and wherein said first and second heel flanges are spaced apart to define said heel aperture.

12. A skate shield for use with an ice skate, comprising:
a shell having a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, and a top portion, wherein the medial side portion and the lateral side portion are interconnected by a top potion defining a toe aperture, the top portion and the medial and lateral side portions form an ankle aperture communication with a heel aperture, the medial and lateral side portions each configured to define a bottom flange section which cooperate to define a bottom aperture, said bottom aperture communicating with the toe aperture and the heel aperture and the ankle aperture, and the apertures are configured to receive the ice skate;
said bottom aperture configured to be substantially perpendicular to each of the toe aperture and the heel aperture;
a fastener assembly for releasably attaching the medial and lateral side portions for assembling the rigid shell to the ice skate,
wherein the shell is made of at least one rigid outer layer of fiber reinforced material to provide stiffness to the shell and provided protection to the ice skate.

13. The skate shield of claim 12 wherein the at least one lateral of reinforced material includes an inner layer and an outer layer.

14. The skate shield of claim 13 wherein the inner layer and the outer layer includes a reinforced section.

15. The skate shield of claim 14 wherein reinforced section includes at least one reinforcing layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer to provide stiffness to the rigid shell.

16. The skate shield of claim 12 wherein the medial side portion is configured to define a medial side section and a first heel flange section, wherein the lateral side portion is configured to define a lateral side section and a second heel flange, wherein the bottom flange sections are spaced apart to define the bottom aperture therebetween, and wherein the first and second heel flanges are spaced apart to define the heel aperture.

17. A skate shield for use with an ice skate, comprising:
a shell having a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, and a top portion connecting the medial and lateral side portions, wherein the top portion and the medial and lateral side portions together define a toe aperture and an ankle aperture, the medial side portion and lateral side portion each defining a bottom flange section which together define a bottom aperture, said bottom aperture communicating with and configured to be substantially perpendicular to the toe aperture and a heel aperture, and the heel aperture communicating with the ankle aperture; and
a fastener assembly for releasing connecting the medial and lateral side portions a

Assignees

• Magna Closures Inc

Inventors

• Schatz Kurt
• Mitchell J R Scott
• Smart Michael

Classifications

• A43C11/002

  Fastenings using stretchable material attached to cuts in the uppers · CPC title

• A43B23/0225

  Composite materials, e.g. material with a matrix · CPC title

• A43B5/16

  Skating boots · CPC title

• A43B5/18 Primary

  Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes · CPC title

• A43B5/1691

  characterised by the higher part of the upper, e.g. surrounding the ankle, by the quarter or cuff · CPC title