초록 ▼

A runner for an ice skate. The runner extends along a longitudinal axis between a front end and an opposed rear end. The runner is entirely metal and has a height extending between an ice-contacting portion for engaging an ice surface and an opposed upper portion. The runner has a datum runner thick

A runner for an ice skate. The runner extends along a longitudinal axis between a front end and an opposed rear end. The runner is entirely metal and has a height extending between an ice-contacting portion for engaging an ice surface and an opposed upper portion. The runner has a datum runner thickness defined between outer and inner side surfaces of the runner. The runner has one or more regions of reduced thickness that are recessed inwardly from one or both of the outer and inner surfaces. The regions have a local thickness being less than the datum runner thickness. An ice skate and method of making a runner for an ice skate are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ice skate comprising: a boot adapted for receiving therein a foot of a wearer of the skate;a holder mounted to a sole of the boot and having at least one attachment point thereon; anda runner mounted to the holder and secured in place thereon via the at least one attachment point, the runner b

1. An ice skate comprising: a boot adapted for receiving therein a foot of a wearer of the skate;a holder mounted to a sole of the boot and having at least one attachment point thereon; anda runner mounted to the holder and secured in place thereon via the at least one attachment point, the runner being entirely metal and extending a length along a longitudinal axis between a front end and an opposed rear end of the runner, the runner having a height extending between an ice-contacting portion for engaging an ice surface and an opposed upper portion of the runner, opposed outer and inner side surfaces of the runner defining a datum runner thickness extending therebetween, and one or more regions of reduced thickness in the runner that are recessed inwardly from at least one of the outer and inner side surfaces thereof, the one or more regions having a local thickness less than the datum runner thickness, at least one of the one or more regions of reduced thickness having a closed periphery being entirely surrounded by regions having a thickness greater than the local thickness. 2. The ice skate as defined in claim 1, wherein cross-sectional profiles of the runner are each defined in a plane being transverse to the longitudinal axis, at least one of the cross-sectional profiles being different from another one of the cross-sectional profiles. 3. The ice skate as defined claim 1, wherein the one or more regions of reduced thickness include a plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions, the local thickness of one of said plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions being different from the local thickness of at least another one of said plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions. 4. The ice skate as defined claim 1, wherein the one or more regions of reduced thickness include a plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions, the local thickness of each of the plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions being the same. 5. The ice skate as defined in claim 4, wherein the plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions includes a front region and a rear region, the front region extending along the upper portion of the runner between the front end and a longitudinal midpoint region being substantially equidistantly spaced from the front and rear ends of the runner, the rear region extending along the upper portion between the midpoint region and the rear end of the runner, the datum runner thickness at the midpoint region of the runner being greater than the local thickness of the front and rear regions. 6. The ice skate as defined in claim 4, wherein the plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions includes two inner regions disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal midpoint region being substantially equidistantly spaced from the front and rear ends of the runner. 7. The ice skate as defined in claim 6, wherein each inner region has a substantially triangular shape, a height of each inner region increasing in a direction away from the midpoint region and toward the front and rear ends. 8. The ice skate as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more regions are disposed along only the upper portion of the runner above a sharpening limit of the runner, the datum runner thickness along the ice-contacting portion of the runner being greater than the local thickness of the regions disposed along the upper portion. 9. The ice skate as defined in claim 1, wherein the runner is removably secured to the holder. 10. A runner for an ice skate, comprising: a body being entirely metal and extending a length along a longitudinal axis between a front end and an opposed rear end, the body having a height extending between an ice-contacting portion for engaging an ice surface and an opposed upper portion of the body, the body having opposed outer and inner side surfaces defining a datum runner thickness extending therebetween, the body having one or more regions of reduced thickness that are recessed inwardly from at least one of the outer and inner side surfaces, the one or more regions having a local thickness being less than the datum runner thickness, at least one of the one or more regions of reduced thickness having a closed periphery being entirely surrounded by regions having a thickness greater than the local thickness. 11. The runner as defined in claim 10, wherein cross-sectional profiles of the body are each defined in a plane being transverse to the longitudinal axis, at least one of the cross-sectional profiles being different from another one of the cross-sectional profiles. 12. The runner as defined claim 10, wherein the one or more regions include a plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions, the local thickness of each of the plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions being the same. 13. The runner as defined in claim 12, wherein the plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions includes a front region and a rear region, the front region extending along the upper portion of the body between the front end and a longitudinal midpoint region being substantially equidistantly spaced from the front and rear ends of the body, the rear region extending along the upper portion between the midpoint region and the rear end of the body, the datum runner thickness at the midpoint region of the body being greater than the local thickness of the front and rear regions. 14. The runner as defined in claim 10, wherein the one or more regions are disposed along only the upper portion of the body above a sharpening limit of the body, the datum runner thickness along the ice-contacting portion of the body being greater than the local thickness of the regions disposed along the upper portion. 15. The runner as defined in claim 10, wherein the entirely metal body is forged. 16. A runner for an ice skate, comprising: a body being entirely metal and extending a length along a longitudinal axis between a front end and an opposed rear end, the body having a height extending between an ice-contacting portion for engaging an ice surface and an opposed upper portion of the body, the body having opposed outer and inner side surfaces defining a datum runner thickness extending therebetween, the body having one or more regions of reduced thickness that are recessed inwardly from at least one of the outer and inner side surfaces, the one or more regions having a local thickness being less than the datum runner thickness, the one or more regions of reduced thickness including a plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions, the local thickness of each of the plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions being the same, the plurality of longitudinally discontinuous regions including two inner regions disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal midpoint region being substantially equidistantly spaced from the front and rear ends of the runner, at least the two inner regions having a closed periphery entirely surrounded by regions of the body having the datum runner thickness that is greater than the local thickness, a height of each inner region increasing in a direction away from the midpoint region and toward the front and rear ends. 17. The runner as defined in claim 16, wherein each of the two inner regions has a substantially triangular shape.