Fast entry elastic vamp closure skate

Abstract

A skate ( 10 ) includes a substantially nonrigid upper ( 12 ) secured to a base ( 14 ). The skate includes a vamp portion ( 28 ) defining a vamp opening ( 30 ), and a tongue ( 32 ) disposed beneath the vamp opening. An elastic web ( 34 ) spans across the vamp opening to compress the upper about a skate's foot. The elastic web transmits compressive force to the underlying tongue for distribution over a greater area of the foot.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A skate having at least one ground engaging member, comprising: 
 a base having an undersurface to which the at least one ground engaging member can be mounted and an upper surface for supporting a skater's foot;    a substantially non-rigid upper shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot secured to the upper surface of the base and defining a toe end, a heel end and a vamp portion over the instep of the received foot, the vamp portion defining a vamp opening extending upwardly from the toe end to an upper edge of the non-rigid upper shoe portion;    a tongue disposed within the upper shoe portion and having a lower end fastened to the toe end of the upper shoe portion, extending upwardly along the vamp opening to at least adjacent the ankle of the skater's foot;    an elastic web fastened to the upper shoe portion on first and second sides of the vamp opening and spanning across at least a portion of the vamp opening over the instep of the skater's foot, compressing the tongue under the vamp portion; and    a substantially rigid support structure extending upwardly from the base and including an ankle cuff that provides lateral and medial support of the skater's ankle while permitting forward flexion of the skater's ankle.    
     
     
         2 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic web extends from the toe end of the upper portion to an upper end of the instep.  
     
     
         3 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising a selective fastening strap extending from a first side of the heel end, over the vamp opening, to a second side of the heel end.  
     
     
         4 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising an ankle cuff fastener selectively fastenable from a first side of the ankle cuff to a second side of the ankle cuff to secure the ankle cuff.  
     
     
         5 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid upper portion extends upwardly to an upper edge of the ankle cuff.  
     
     
         6 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic web is adapted and configured to exert sufficient compressive force to secure the non-rigid upper about the skater's foot for skating in the absence of additional fasteners.  
     
     
         7 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic web comprises an elastomeric foam and fabric laminate.  
     
     
         8 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising a lacing system threaded to the non-rigid upper portion to further secure the vamp opening.  
     
     
         9 . The skate of  claim 8 , wherein the lacing system comprises an elongate lace and a selective locking lace fastener.  
     
     
         10 . The skate of  claim 8 , wherein the lacing system overlies the elastic web.  
     
     
         11 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame secured to the undersurface of the base and a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the frame.  
     
     
         12 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid support structure is mounted externally of the non-rigid upper shoe portion.  
     
     
         13 . A skate having at least one ground engaging member, comprising: 
 a base having an undersurface to which the at least one ground engaging member can be mounted and an upper surface for supporting a skater's foot;    a substantially non-rigid upper shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot secured to the upper surface of the base and defining a toe end, a heel end and a vamp portion over the instep of the received foot, the vamp portion defining a vamp opening extending upwardly from the toe end to an upper edge of the non-rigid upper shoe portion;    a tongue disposed within the upper shoe portion and having a lower end fastened to the toe end of the upper shoe portion, extending upwardly along the vamp opening to at least adjacent the ankle of the skater's foot;    an elastic web fastened to the upper shoe portion on first and second sides of the vamp opening and spanning across at least a portion of the vamp opening over the instep of the skater's foot, extending from a lower end of the vamp opening to an upper point covering at least a majority of the instep, compressing the tongue under the vamp portion; and    a substantially rigid external support structure extending upwardly from the base and including an ankle cuff that provides lateral and medial support of the skater's ankle while permitting forward flexion of the skater's ankle.