Ice skate holder

Abstract

A holder and carrier for ice skates is provided that includes means for supporting a pair of ice skates therein. The device can be mounted in a suitable rack for the convenience of storage or for use in a convenient merchandising system.

Description

This invention relates to ice skates, and more particularly to a holder and carrier for a pair of ice skates.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice skate holder and carrier that will automatically adjust to different sizes of ice skates, and wherein the device also provides a convenient storage and display unit.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a holder and carrier for ice skates that will receive or accommodate various types of ice skates such as figure skates, hockey skates and the like and wherein the device will hold skates of different sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a holder and carrier for ice skates that is ruggedly constructed and efficient in use and which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ice skate holder and carrier of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and showing the skate holder expanded on one side and showing an ice skate in phantom lines.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating one form of rack that can be used for supporting a plurality of the holders of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates the holder and carrier for ice skates of the present invention that is shown to comprise a frame that is indicated generally by the numeral 21, FIG. 1. A base 22 is suitably connected to or mounted on one end of the frame 21, and the numeral 23 indicates an intermediate flat portion in the frame 21, and the intermediate portion 23 is adapted to have a plurality of spaced apart openings 24 therein.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the frame 21 is provided with spaced parallel elongated grooves or channels 25 that are partially defined by flanges 26 for a purpose to be later described.

The numeral 27 indicates a handle or hand grip that is connected to the frame 21 at the opposite end from the base 22.

As shown in the drawings, platforms 28 are fixedly mounted in one end of the frame 21 adjacent the handle 27. The numeral 29 indicates movable body pieces that are mounted for movement toward and away from the stationary platforms 28. In FIG. 2, the numeral 30 indicates a portion of a conventional ice skate that has the usual blade 31. In FIG. 6 the numeral 32 indicates a suitable rack that can be used for supporting or displaying a plurality of the devices 20. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular type of rack since various types of such racks can be used if needed or desired.

As shown in FIG. 2, the platforms 28 are provided with lugs or projections 33 that engage lugs 34 on the portions 23 so that the interfitting or interengaging lugs 33 and 34 provide a means for helping to retain or maintain the platforms 28 in their stationary or fixed position. The platforms 28 are provided with outwardly disposed projections 35 that snuggly fit in the grooves 25. Formed integral with each of the platforms 28 or secured thereto is a support portion 37 that has a recessed area 38 therein. The platforms 28 each have the slot 36 therein, and the slots 36 and recesses 38 are adapted to snuggly receive therein a corresponding portion of the ice skate blade 31, as shown in FIG. 2.

Each of the body pieces 29 includes a flat section 39 that has a support piece or retainer 40 secured thereto or formed integral therewith, and the support piece 40 has a recess 42 that is aligned with a slot 41 in the body piece 29, and the slot 41 and recess 42 are adapted to receive therein an end portion of the ice skate 31 as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the body pieces 29 includes side sections 43 that have spaced apart lugs or projections 44 extending therefrom, and the lugs 44 are slidably mounted in the grooves or channels 25.

There is further provided a means for biasing or urging the body pieces 29 towards the platforms 28 so that the ice skates 30 will be effectively clamped in place. This biasing means comprises resilient means such as elongated rubber bands 47. The resilient bands 47 engage projections or elements 45 and 46, and the projections 45 and 46 are formed integral with the respective platforms 28 and body pieces 29.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a holder and carrier for ice skates, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, a pair of ice skates such as the ice skates 30 are adapted to be conveniently carried or mounted in the device 20 of the present invention. In use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, when the ice skates such as the ice skates 30 are not being used, the toe portion 48 of the blade 31 can be inserted in the recessed retainer 40 so that the toe portion 48 engages the recess 42. The slot 41 snuggly receives a lower portion of the ice skate blade. Then, by applying slight manual pressure to the ice skate, the rubber band 47 will be extended so that as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the body piece 29 can move away from the platform 28 so that the heel portion 49 of the ice skate blade can be received in the recess 38 of the cradle or retainer 37. The slot 36 in the platform 28 snuggly receives a lower edge portion of the ice skate blade. Then, when manual pressure is released on the ice skate, the resilient band 47 will have a tendency to urge or bias the body piece 29 back towards the platform 28 so that the ice skate will be firmly clamped in place on the platform 28 and body piece 29.

Similarly, when it is desired to remove the ice skates from the device, it is only necessary to apply slight manual pressure on the ice skate so as to move the body piece 29 a sufficient distance away from the platform 28 whereby the end portions 48 and 49 of the ice skate blade can readily clear or come free of the recesses 42 and 38 in the support portions 40 and 37.

It will also be seen that the device 20 of the present invention includes the convenient carrying handle 27. Further, the ice skate holder and carrier includes the base 22 which is suitably connected to an end of the frame 21. The base 22 serves several purposes. Namely, when desired, the base 22 can be used as a convenient support to permit the device to be mounted or supported on any suitable structure as, for example, when a pair of ice skates are arranged therein. Or, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of the carriers or holders 20 can be detachably connected to a suitable rack 32 for display or merchandising or storage purposes. In this instance, the base 22 is detachably connected to suitable portions of the rack so that by properly moving the devices 20 the devices can be readily moved into or out of engagement with the rack as desired or needed. The rack 32 may have any desired construction and may consist of a rotary rack or it may be in the form of a stationary rack affixed to a suitable wall structure or the like.

Thus, it will be seen that the present invention consists of a holder and carrier for ice skates which provides a convenient support or carrier for a pair of ice skates when the ice skates are not being used for worn. The device, therefore, permits the ice skates to be carried or stored in such a manner that damage to the blades will be prevented. In addition, the device provides a convenient means for carrying a pair of ice skates when the ice skates are not being worn since the handle 27 can be readily manually gripped to carry the pair of ice skates from place to place. When the ice skates are to be used, the ice skates can be readily removed from the device and placed on the user's feet.

It is to be understood that the parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes as desired or required.

The present invention is constructed so that it will take figure skates, hockey skates and the like of different sizes. The device is automatic in operation in that it automatically adjusts to the ice skate regardless of size of the ice skate. The unit 20 also acts as a convenient means for storing ice skates when the ice skates are not being used. In addition, when the device is standing upright on its base 22, the ice skates will be kept out of snow and the like. Further, the provision of the handle 27 assures that the device can be conveniently carried with the ice skates therein. In addition, the device is especially suitable for use with merchandising racks, such as that shown in FIG. 6 wherein the rack 32 can support a plurality of the devices 20 and wherein the devices 20 can be readily removed or replaced on the rack as needed. Thus, when using the devices in a merchandising system or with a rack, a plurality of ice skates can be conveniently displayed and merchandised.

In prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,210,787, there is shown a holder for accommodating and retaining shoes or ski boots therein. In the present invention, ice skates are adapted to be retained in place. With the present invention, the device automatically adjusts to the proper size of ice skate. Also, the devices can be conveniently arranged to stand or hang on a wall, or other support. The pressure of the resilient bands 47 provide sufficient pressure or tension to maintain the ice skates in their proper position. The devices can be conveniently used in ice skate rinks for supporting rental equipment, and in addition, the devices can be used in retail establishments where a plurality of the ice skates can be conveniently displayed or supported ready to be sold. Or, the devices can be used conveniently by individual users for supporting their own pair of ice skates. The present invention will protect the skate blades, and the device accommodates different sizes of ice skates without requiring any special adjustment of the mechanism. Also, the device can be used to accommodate ice skate blades of the type that are not permanently mounted on shoes or boots. A type of rack that can be used for supporting a plurality of the devices 20 is shown in prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,564. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to this particular type of rack since other racks or display units can be used.

In the drawings, the numeral 17 indicates a slot to allow the largest size figure skates to go in.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable holder for supporting a pair of ice skates by the blades comprising an elongated frame, a base affixed to one end of said frame, said frame including an intermediate flat portion having longitudinally extending channels therein, a handle connected to said frame at the end opposite said base, a pair of first platforms mounted on opposite sides of said frame adjacent said handle, interengaging stop means on said first platforms and said frame for maintaining said first platforms in fixed position relative to said frame, each of said first platforms having a longitudinally extending centrally disposed groove therein for selectively snugly receiving and restraining portions of an ice skate blade, a pair of second platforms having outwardly disposed projections slidably engaging the channels of said frame, each of said second platforms having a longitudinally extending groove therein for selectively receiving portions of the ice skate blades, outwardly extending support members rigidly connected to each of said platforms, said support members being arranged in alignment with respect to each other, each of said support members having a recessed portion that is aligned with said grooves for receiving and engaging end portions of the ice skate blades and restraining outward movement of the skate in a direction generally normal to said grooves, and resilient means carried by said platforms for normally urging the second platform on each side of said frame toward the first platforms, whereby an ice skate blade is selectively received and clamped in said grooves and the recessed portions of said support members and longitudinal and lateral movement and movement in a direction normal to said grooves is restrained.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said resilient means include rubber bands.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said grooves extend substantially through said platforms.

4. In an adjustable ice skate holder having an elongated frame with a base fixed to one end and a carrying handle at the other end, a pair of first platforms fixed to opposite sides of said frame adjacent to said other end, a pair of second platforms slidably mounted on opposite sides of said frame substantially in alignment with said first platforms, means for guiding each of said second platforms to maintain the same in axial alignment with said first platforms, resilient means connecting said first platforms to said second platforms and normally urging said second platforms into abutting relationship with said first platforms, the improvement comprising each of said first platforms having a first axially disposed ice skate blade receiving groove extending substantially the full length thereof, a first outwardly extending support member rigidly mounted on each of said first platforms adjacent to the end remote from said second platforms and generally in alignment with said first grooves, each of said second platforms having a second axially disposed ice skate blade receiving groove extending substantially the full length thereof, a second outwardly extending support member rigidly mounted on each of said second platforms adjacent to the end remote from said first platforms, said first and second support members on each side of said frame having recessed portions for receiving and engaging the opposite ends of a skate blade and restraining outward movement of the blade in a direction generally normal to said grooves whereby an ice skate blade is selectively received and clamped in said grooves and the recessed portions of said support members so that longitudinal and lateral movement and movement in a direction normal to said grooves is restrained.