Ice skate pitch adjustment shim   

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus for adjusting a forward pitch of an ice skate includes a shim. The shim has a top surface configured to contact a heel portion of a boot and a bottom surface configured to contact a heel plate of a blade holder. The thickness of the shim creates a distance between the heel portion of the boot and the heel plate of the blade holder. The shim thickness increases the steepness of the forward pitch of the ice skate boot. As an example the shim thickness may be between 5 mm and 20 mm. As another example, the shim may include a material such as styrene. As yet another example, the shim has an outer border that substantially matches the outer border of the heel plate.

[Not Applicable]

[Not Applicable]

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present application relates to ice skates. Particularly, the present application relates to a shim that can adjust the forward pitch of a boot of an ice skate.

Ice skate boots, such as ice hockey skate boots, may have a forward pitch. Specifically, the heel may be positioned at an elevation above the toe. The degree or steepness of the forward pitch may be a matter of personal preference for a skater.

One way for a skater to obtain the preferred steepness of the forward pitch is to use a particular manufacturers skate. For example, some ice skates are known to have boots with steeper or shallower pitches. However, a skater may prefer to choose an ice skate based on other factors besides pitch of the boot (e.g., comfort, weight, etc.). Consequently, choosing a skate based on boot pitch alone may result in the skater making undesirable sacrifices.

Another way for a skater to obtain the preferred steepness of the forward pitch is to change the shape of the blade. The blade can be sharpened, ground, or otherwise altered to cause the desired steepness. Such a procedure may be referred to as rockering, profiling, or putting a radius on the blade. Such techniques, however, may comprise the longevity of the blade. They may also compromise the speed of the skater by lessening the size of the blade surface that touches the ice when skating. Such techniques are also permanent or require the skater to purchase a new blade if the steepness is not desirable.

Consequently, a solution is needed that allows a skater to adjust the steepness of the forward pitch of an ice skate boot while avoiding the problems discussed above.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus for adjusting a forward pitch of an ice skate includes a heel shim. The heel shim has a top surface configured to contact a heel portion of a boot and a bottom surface configured to contact a heel plate of a blade holder. The thickness of the heel shim creates a distance between the heel portion of the boot and the heel plate of the blade holder. The heel shim thickness increases the steepness of the forward pitch of the ice skate boot. As an example, the heel shim may include a material such as styrene. The styrene thickness may be between 5 mm and 20 mm when the heel shim is not compressed. As yet another example, the heel shim has an outer border that substantially matches the outer border of the heel plate. Additionally, a toe shim may be provided with a top surface configured to contact a toe portion of a boot, a bottom surface configured to contact a toe plate of a blade holder, and a thickness. The thickness of the toe shim is selected to create a distance between the toe portion of the boot and the toe plate of the blade holder to decrease the steepness of the forward pitch of the ice skate boot.

In an embodiment the heel shim and/or the toe shim have a plurality of apertures (e.g., four apertures) arranged to accommodate a corresponding plurality of fasteners. This allows the plurality of fasteners to secure the heel or toe portion of the boot to the heel or toe plate of the blade holder.

According to embodiments of the present invention, an ice skate includes a boot having a bottom surface with a heel portion and a toe portion. The ice skate also has a blade holder, which includes a heel plate secured to the heel portion of the boot and a toe plate secured to the toe portion of the boot. The ice skate also has a heel shim interposed between the heel portion of the boot and the heel plate of the blade holder. The thickness of the heel shim (e.g., uncompressed styrene 5-20 mm thick) is selected to create a distance between the heel of the boot and the heel plate of the blade holder to increase the steepness of the forward pitch of the ice skate boot. In an embodiment, the heel shim has a plurality of apertures (e.g., four apertures) arranged to accommodate a plurality of fasteners which secure the heel plate to the heel portion of the boot. As another example, the heel shim may include a material such as styrene. As yet another example, the heel shim has an outer border that substantially matches the outer border of the heel plate.

According to embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus for adjusting a forward pitch of an ice skate includes a toe shim. The toe shim has a top surface configured to contact a toe portion of a boot and a bottom surface configured to contact a toe plate of a blade holder. The thickness of the toe shim creates a distance between the toe portion of the boot and the toe plate of the blade holder. The toe shim thickness decreases the steepness of the forward pitch of the ice skate boot. As an example, the toe shim may include a material such as styrene. As another example, the toe shim has an outer border that substantially matches the outer border of the toe plate.

FIG. 1 shows an illustration of an ice skate, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a heel plate of a blade holder and a shim, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. Furthermore, the appearance shown in the drawings is one of many ornamental appearances that can be employed to achieve the stated functions of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an ice skate 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ice skate 100 may include a boot 110, a blade holder 120, a blade 130, a heel shim 140, and fasteners 150.

The boot 110 may include a bottom surface having a heel portion 112 and a toe portion 114. The blade holder 120 holds the blade 130 and may include a heel plate 122 and toe plate 124. The toe plate 124 may be secured to the toe portion 114 of the boot 110 with the assistance of one or more fasteners, such as rivets. The toe plate 124 may be secured directly to the toe portion 124 of the boot 110.

The heel plate 122 may be secured to the heel portion 112 of the boot 110 with the assistance of one or more fasteners 150, such as rivets. Note, FIG. 1 shows only the heads of the fasteners 150. The heel shim 140 may be interposed between the heel portion 112 of the boot 110 and the heel plate 122 of the blade holder 120. The heel shim 140 may have a thickness that creates a distance between the heel portion 112 of the boot 110 and the heel plate 122 of the blade holder 120. Note, as shown in FIG. 1, the thickness of heel shim 140 may be exaggerated.

By the addition of the heel shim 140, a skater can increase the forward pitch of the ice skate boot beyond what a given skate provides without the heel shim 140. By changing the thickness of the heel shim 140, the steepness of the forward pitch of the ice skate boot 110 will also be changed. Thus the steepness can be adjusted with certain precision through the appropriate selection of the thickness of the heel shim 140. Furthermore, this adjustment may be made without permanently altering the blade 130. Additionally, the heel shim 140 may be easily removed after removing the heel plate 122 from the heel portion 112 of the boot 110.

A shim may also be interposed between the toe portion 114 of the boot 110 and the toe plate 124 of the blade holder 120. Similar to the heel shim 140, the toe shim may have a thickness that creates a distance between the toe portion 114 of the boot 110 and the toe plate 124 of the blade holder 120.

By the addition of the toe shim, a skater can increase the forward pitch of the ice skate boot beyond what a given skate provides without the heel shim 140. By changing the thickness of the toe shim, the steepness of the forward pitch of the ice skate boot 110 will also be changed. Thus the steepness can be adjusted with certain precision through the appropriate selection of the thickness of the toe shim. Furthermore, this adjustment may be made without permanently altering the blade 130. Additionally, the toe shim may be easily removed after removing the toe plate 124 from the toe portion 114 of the boot 110.

FIG. 2 shows the heel shim 140 and a top view of the heel plate 122 of the blade holder 120, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The heel plate 122 has one or more apertures that accommodate fasteners 150 that are used to secure the heel plate 122 to the heel portion 112 of the boot 110.

The heel shim 140 may include a top surface 142, a bottom surface 144 and one or more apertures 146 (e.g., four or six apertures). The heel shim 140 may have an outer border that substantially matches the outer border of the heel plate 122.

The heel shim 140 has a thickness, indicated by an arrow and reference 148. The heel shim 140 may include a material such as styrene. As an example, the thickness 148 of the styrene heel shim may be between 5 mm and 20 mm when the styrene is uncompressed. The thickness of the heel shim 140 will vary when it is compressed between the heel portion 112 of the boot 110 and the heel plate 122. The thickness will be reduced as compression increases. Factors influencing compression include the tightness of the fasteners, the weight of the skater and equipment, the body position of the skater, or the like. Of course, other materials besides styrene can be used in the heel shim 140. Such materials may have different thicknesses and compression characteristics and are within the scope of the invention.

While the heel shim 140 is shown with a particular shape and configuration, it may be adapted for use with other types of blade holders 120 and/or heel plates 122. For example, the number and orientation of the apertures can be changed to match a particular configuration found on a blade holder 120 and/or heel plate 122. For example, the heel shim 140 may be adapted to fit the heel plates 122 of various blade holders 120, such as those made by Easton, Bauer, CCM/Reebok, Graf, etc. Furthermore, the outer border can be changed to match a particular heel plate 122.

FIG. 2 and the corresponding description herein may also be applicable to the toe shim in a similar fashion.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.