Ice Skate Blade Guard

Abstract

A guard for ice skate blades constructed of a resilient material whereby the guard may be constructed of a single size or length and cut to shorter lengths in accordance with the ice skate blade with which the guard is to be utilized. The blade support surface within the guard is particularly designed and constructed for elevating the blade edge from the bottom of the blade-receiving recess to provide accumulation areas for debris and maintaining the debris out of engagement with the blade edge for added protection for the blade.

Description

This invention relates to improvements in guards for ice skate blades and more particularly but not by way of limitation to a skate blade guard having a blade-receiving portion particularly designed and constructed for protection of the blade edge.

Ice skate blade guards or scabbards are normally of an elongated configuration having a recess therein for snugly receiving the ice skate blade. The guard is normally disposed on the blade when the blade is not to be used on a skating surface, such as when the skater is walking off the ice while wearing the skates or when the skates are not in use. Of course, ice skate blades are of varying lengths depending upon the size of the skate shoe or style of the shoe as is well known. As a result it has been common practice to provide scabbards or blade guards of a number of different sizes to accommodate the demands of the various blade lengths. However, an ice skate blade scabbard adaptable to substantially any length blade has been developed as shown in the G. A. Coture U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,588, issued Aug. 29, 1967, and entitled "Scabbard for Ice Skates" whereby a single size scabbard may be stocked in lieu of the plurality of sizes heretofore necessary. However, this type of scabbard has certain disadvantages in that the lower edge of the ice skate blade rests on a substantially smooth inner surface of the blade-receiving recess and debris present on the blade tends to run into and accumulate along the flat surface beneath the edge of the blade. As the wearer of the skates walks with the guards in position on the blades, the blade edge frequently becomes damaged from the trapped particles in the scabbard beneath the blade.

The present invention contemplates a novel ice skate blade guard or scabbard particularly designed and constructed for overcoming the above disadvantages. The lower surface of the internal blade-receiving recess is provided with a blade-supporting surface having spaced recesses providing chambers for the accumulation of debris and for retaining the accumulated debris away from the supporting surface and out of contact with the blade. Thus, damage to the lower edge of the skate blade as the skater walks with the guard on the blade is greatly reduced. In addition, the internal blade receiving recess is provided with a cutaway portion particularly designed for the blade of a figure skate thus providing added protection for the figure skate blade and precluding undue damage to the scabbard from the figure skate blade. Of course, the guard is also constructed whereby a single size guard may be provided for substantially all ice skate blades and may be cut off to provide the most desirable length for the particular blade with which it is to be used.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an ice skate blade guard of a universal construction for use with substantially any type or size ice skate blade.

It is another object of this invention to provide an ice skate blade guard wherein the lower edge of the ice skate blade disposed therein is protected from undue damage from debris accumulated within the guard.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel ice skate blade guard which is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of an ice skate having a blade guard embodying the invention disposed thereon.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an ice skate blade guard embodying the invention.

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

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 generally indicates a scabbard or blade guard adapted for disposition on a blade 12 of an ice skate 14. The blade 12 depicted herein is of the type normally present on figure skates and is provided with a serrated portion 15 in the proximity of the leading edge thereof, as is well known. However, it is to be understood that the blade 12 may be of substantially any well-known construction, and is not limited to the figure skate blade.

The blade guard 10 comprises an elongated body portion 16 preferably molded or otherwise constructed from a suitable resilient material having physical properties or characteristics of high resistance to cutting, such as a rubber compound including suitable shoe-soling material such as sold under the trade name Geon-Vinyl, but not limited thereto, and is provided with a generally upwardly curved portion 18 at one end thereof whereby the guard surrounds substantially the entire or complete outer edge of the blade 12. A longitudinally extending centrally disposed recess 20 is provided in the body 16 and is preferably of a width complementary to the width of the blade 12 whereby the blade 12 will fit snugly therein. The snug engagement of the recess 20 with the blade 12 facilitates retaining of the guard in position thereon, as is well known. One end 22 of the recess 20 is open, and the opposite end thereof is closed by an upwardly extending wall portion 24 in the curved portion 18. The wall portion 24 is adapted for receiving the leading edge of the blade 12 in the proximity thereof, as is well known.

The lower or internal surface of the recess 20 receives the lower edge of the blade 12 thereagainst, and is of a particular configuration to provide added protection therefor, as shown in detail in FIG. 3. A first supporting surface 26 is provided conterminous with the open end 22 and is spaced from a second supporting surface 28 by a recess 30. The surfaces 26 and 28 are in substantial alignment for supporting the substantially straight rear or trailing portion normally present on the blade 12. A plurality of arcuate supporting segments 32 having recesses 34 interposed therebetween extend from the support surface 28 to an additional support surface 36. The support surface 36 is spaced from the next succeeding support surface 38 by a recess 40. Another support surface 42 is spaced from the surface 38 by a recess 44, and still another support surface 46 is spaced from the surface 42 by a recess 48. The surfaces 26, 28, 32, 36, 38, 42 and 46 define a total linear configuration complementary to the normal linear configuration of the lower edge of the blade 12, thus the entire blade 12, is provided with support by the spaced support surfaces. In addition, a recess 50 is provided between the support surface 46 and the wall 24 to provide clearance for the serrations 15 of the figure skate-type blade 12.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced bores 52 are provided in the body 16 below the recess 20, and extend transversely therethrough. A spring member 54 having a connection member or hook 56 at each end thereof is provided for selective engagement with the bores 52 for facilitating securing of the guard 10 on the blade 12 as will be hereinafter set forth in detail.

In use the blade 12 is inserted within the recess 20 of the guard 10 in such a manner that the leading or front edge of the blade 12 is disposed in the proximity of the wall 24 and the lower edge thereof is adjacent the support surfaces 26, 28, 32, 36, 38, 42 and 46. In the event the guard 10 is considerably longer than the blade 12, it may be desirable to cut off the open end 22 thereof as required to render the length of the guard 10 more compatible with the length of the blade 12. Whereas the snug fit of the recess 20 over the blade 12 tends to retain the guard in position thereon, it is usually desirable to provide a more positive means of retaining the guard on the blade. Thus, one connection member 56 of the spring 54 may be engaged in one of the apertures 52 and the spring may be stretched upwardly over the blade 12 and the other connection member 56 of the spring 34 may be engaged in the opposite end of the same aperture 52 or in the opposite end of an adjacent aperture 52. The force of the spring 34 facilitates the securing of the guard 10 on the blade 12. Of course, the spring may be easily removed when it is desired to remove the guard from the blade.

When the wearer of the skate 14 walks with the guard 10 secured on the blade 12, the lowermost edge of the blade 12 will be supported by the support surfaces of the recess 20, as hereinbefore set forth. However, residue or debris which may be adhered to or lodged on the blade 12 will drop downwardly from the blade into the plurality of recesses provided in the recess 20. Thus, the debris will be trapped at a lower position than the support surfaces, and the blade will be protected from damage therefrom. In addition, the recess 50 provides sufficient clearance for the serrations 15 of a figure skate blade, thus substantially precluding damage to either the serrations or the guard. Of course, the open end 22 of the recess 20 facilitates cleaning of the recess 20 subsequent to use of the guard.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an ice skate blade guard particularly designed and constructed for additional protection for the lower edge of the ice skate blade. The blade-supporting surface is provided with a plurality of recesses for trapping residue and debris in a manner whereby damage to the edge of the blade from debris is greatly reduced or substantially eliminated. The novel guard is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A guard for ice skate blades comprising an elongated body portion having a centrally disposed longitudinally extending recess for receiving the blade therein, said recess being provided with a blade-supporting surface for receiving the blade thereagainst, said blade-supporting surface being provided with a plurality of transverse recess means for accumulation of debris away from the blade-supporting surface, said blade-supporting surface comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially flat surfaces and a plurality of substantially arcuate surfaces all cooperating to define a linear configuration complementary to the configuration of the lower edge of the blade for the support thereof.

2. A guard for ice skate blades as set forth in claim 1 wherein the longitudinally extending recess is provided with one open end and one closed end.

3. A guard for ice skate blades as set forth in claim 1 wherein the guard is constructed from a resilient material having characteristics of high resistance to cutting.

4. A guard for ice skate blades as set forth in claim 3 wherein the resilient material comprises a rubber compound including shoe-soling material and having sufficient rigidity to substantially retain the original configuration thereof during use.

5. A guard for ice skate blades as set forth in claim 1 wherein the longitudinally spaced substantially flat surfaces of the blade-supporting surface are disposed in the forward portion and in the rearward portion of the longitudinal recess, and said substantially arcuate surfaces are interposed between the forwardly and rearwardly disposed flat surfaces to facilitate support of the forward and rearward portions of the blade during walking thereon.