초록 ▼

A replaceable blade ice skate (9) comprising a holder (2), a blade system having at least one blade engagement portion (11) and a blade (4, 52), at least one attachment device (5) mounted to the holder for movement between a blade securing position and a blade releasing position. The attachment devi

A replaceable blade ice skate (9) comprising a holder (2), a blade system having at least one blade engagement portion (11) and a blade (4, 52), at least one attachment device (5) mounted to the holder for movement between a blade securing position and a blade releasing position. The attachment device having an attachment engagement portion (6), wherein the blade system is retained in the holder via the blade engagement portion detachably mating with the attachment engagement portion when the attachment device is in the blade securing position. The blade system further comprising a downward facing rocker (3) and a flexible replaceable blade (4) which conforms to the first defined curvature of the rocker when mounted thereon.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ice skate comprising: a) a holder;b) the holder having an integral, downward facing rocker with a lower surface of a first defined curvature;c) the downward facing rocker having a fixed front end and rear end adapted to rotate between an open position and a closed position;d) a flexible replac

1. An ice skate comprising: a) a holder;b) the holder having an integral, downward facing rocker with a lower surface of a first defined curvature;c) the downward facing rocker having a fixed front end and rear end adapted to rotate between an open position and a closed position;d) a flexible replaceable blade having a second curvature when not attached to the rocker;e) the flexible replaceable blade having an upper surface, a lower ice-contacting surface, a front end and a rear end and being adapted to be removably mounted to the rocker;f) front securing means for attaching the front end of the flexible replaceable blade to the fixed front end of the rocker;g) rear securing means for attaching the rear end of the flexible replaceable blade to the rotatable rear end of the rocker;h) a retention latch adapted to be pivotally mounted to the holder and configured with a pawl feature;wherein rotation of the rear end of the rocker between an open position and a closed position creates a tension along a length of the flexible replaceable blade without exerting a major component of tensioning force around a small radius in the region of the front and rear securing means and wherein the flexible replaceable blade conforms to the curvature of the lower surface of the rocker when mounted thereon, and the pawl feature of the retention latch retains the rotatable rear end of the rocker in the closed position. 2. An ice skate as defined in claim 1, wherein the pawl feature of the retention latch is biased via a spring into contact with a striker feature incorporated in the rear end of the rocker so that the rear end of the rocker is positively retained in the closed position, and the retention latch also incorporates a button feature that is adapted to release the pawl feature from the striker feature when manually operated. 3. An ice skate as defined in claim 2, wherein the flexible replaceable blade has a groove along the length of its upper surface that mates with a corresponding ridge along the lower surface of the rocker. 4. An ice skate as defined in claim 3, wherein the flexible replaceable blade is adapted to be mounted on a rocker having any of a variety of first curvatures. 5. An ice skate as defined in claim 4, wherein the blade is curved more than 90° at both the front end and the rear end thereof for placement and attachment into the front and rear securing means. 6. An ice skate as defined in claim 3, wherein the blade is curved more than 90° at both the front end and the rear end thereof for placement and attachment into the front and rear securing means. 7. An ice skate as defined in claim 2, wherein the flexible replaceable blade is adapted to be mounted on a rocker having any of a variety of first curvatures. 8. An ice skate as defined in claim 7, wherein the blade is curved more than 90° at both the front end and the rear end thereof for placement and attachment into the front and rear securing means. 9. An ice skate as defined in claim 2, wherein the blade is curved more than 90° at both the front end and the rear end thereof for placement and attachment into the front and rear securing means. 10. An ice skate as defined in claim 1, wherein the flexible replaceable blade has a groove along the length of its upper surface that mates with a corresponding ridge along the lower surface of the rocker. 11. An ice skate as defined in claim 10, wherein the flexible replaceable blade is adapted to be mounted on a rocker having any of a variety of first curvatures. 12. An ice skate as defined in claim 1, wherein the blade is curved more than 90° at both the front end and the rear end thereof for placement and attachment into the front and rear securing means. 13. An ice skate as defined in claim 10, wherein the blade is curved more than 90° at both the front end and the rear end thereof for placement and attachment into the front and rear securing means. 14. An ice skate as defined in claim 1, wherein the flexible replaceable blade is adapted to be mounted on a rocker having any of a variety of first curvatures. 15. An ice skate as defined in claim 14, wherein the blade is curved more than 90° at both the front end and the rear end thereof for placement and attachment into the front and rear securing means. 16. An ice skate as defined in claim 1, wherein the blade is curved more than 90° at both the front end and the rear end thereof for placement and attachment into the front and rear securing means. 17. An ice skate comprising: a) a holder;b) the holder having a front end, a rear end and a front securing means;c) a retention latch adapted to be pivotally mounted to the holder and configured with a pawl feature;d) a blade system comprising an integral blade and a front retention hook, wherein the integral blade comprises a lower ice-contacting surface;wherein a rear end of the blade system is adapted to rotate between an open position and a closed position, around a pivot point created when the front retention hook of the blade system engages the front securing means of the holder; andwherein the pawl feature of the retention latch retains the rear end of the blade system in the closed position. 18. An ice skate as defined in claim 17, wherein the pawl feature of the retention latch is biased via a spring into contact with a striker feature incorporated in the rear end of the blade system so the blade system is positively retained in the closed position. 19. An ice skate as defined in claim 18, wherein the retention latch further comprises a retention peg and the spring is a coiled steel wire with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the coiled steel wire abuts a surface of the holder and the second end of the coiled steel wire imparts a torque force upon the retention peg to bias the pawl feature against the striker feature. 20. An ice skate as defined in claim 19, wherein the retention latch further comprises a latch releasing feature that is adapted to release the pawl feature from the striker features when manually operated. 21. An ice skate as defined in claim 20, wherein the retention latch is pivotally mounted within the holder and the latch releasing feature comprises a button that is accessible through an aperture in the holder, wherein manually operating the button overcomes the torque force upon the retention peg. 22. An ice skate as defined in claim 17, wherein the holder further comprises a compliant retention surface and the blade system further comprises a biasing surface and wherein while the rear end of the blade system is in the closed position, the biasing surface engages the compliant retention surface generating a compressive load between the holder and the blade system. 23. An ice skate as defined in claim 17, wherein the ice-contacting surface has a first defined curvature. 24. An ice skate as defined in claim 17, wherein the blade system is made of steel selected from the group consisting of heat treatable steel, through-hardened steel that is hardened at least to a “C” scale on the Rockwell scale, and hardenable stainless steel. 25. An ice skate as defined in claim 17, wherein the blade system further comprises a width compensator.