Skate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a unitary runner for an ice skate (such as a figure skate) and to a method for manufacturing the unitary runner including an extrusion step.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A runner for a skate comprising: 
 a runner body;    a toe plate attachable to a fore part of an item of footwear; and    a heel plate attachable to a rear part of an item of footwear, wherein the toe plate and/or heel plate are unitary with the runner body.    
     
     
         2 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  for a figure skate.  
     
     
         3 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  obtained by a manufacturing method including an extrusion step.  
     
     
         4 . A runner as claimed in  claim 3  obtained by a manufacturing method including an extrusion step using a substantially T-shaped extrusion die.  
     
     
         5 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the heel and/or toe plate curve upwardly to conform to the general shape of the footwear to which the runner is to be attached.  
     
     
         6 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the heel plate slopes downwardly from the rear to the front.  
     
     
         7 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the toe plate slopes upwardly from the rear to the front.  
     
     
         8 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  comprising at least one toe support element towards a front end of the runner body which morphs into the toe plate.  
     
     
         9 . A runner as claimed in  claim 8  comprising a first toe support element which morphs into the toe plate and a second toe support element which morphs into the toe plate.  
     
     
         10 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  comprising at least one heel support element towards a rear end of the runner body which morphs into the heel plate.  
     
     
         11 . A runner as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the morphing region where the runner body morphs into the plate can be thicker than the thickness of the runner body and/or plate adjacent the morphing region.  
     
     
         12 . A runner as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the morphing region has a maximum thickness in a region substantially bisecting the angle defined by the planes of the plate and the runner body.  
     
     
         13 . A runner as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the (or each) toe and/or heel support element adopts a mushroom-like configuration.  
     
     
         14 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  including a reinforcing member extending partially or wholly along the longitudinal axis of the runner body.  
     
     
         15 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the runner body and plates are composed of a lightweight, relatively high strength material selected from the group consisting of: aluminium, titanium and magnesium or an alloy thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A runner as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the runner body and plates are composed of aluminium or an alloy thereof.  
     
     
         17 . A runner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the runner body is composed of a first material and has a contact edge extending along its lower edge, wherein the contact edge is composed of a second material harder than the first material.  
     
     
         18 . A runner as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the contact edge is a blade.  
     
     
         19 . A runner as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the contact edge includes an integral toe pick at or near to the front end of the contact edge.  
     
     
         20 . A runner as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the toe pick comprises a plurality of teeth in a non-uniform sawtooth configuration, wherein the teeth in the non-uniform sawtooth configuration are of a diminishing size from rear to front.  
     
     
         21 . A runner as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the contact edge is non-uniformly curved and the radius of the curve increases progressively from the rear to the front.  
     
     
         22 . A method for manufacturing a runner for an ice skate comprising: 
 (A) extruding a heated extrudable material into an extrudate in a substantially T-shaped extrusion die.    
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein from at least one detailed region of the substantially T-shaped extrusion die is obtained at least one portion of the profile of an extrudate corresponding to at least one part of the runner.  
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the portion of the profile of the extrudate corresponds to one of the group selected from the heel plate, the toe plate, the runner body, the reinforcing rib and the groove for inserting a blade.  
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the substantially T-shaped extrusion die comprises: four detailed regions from which are respectively obtained portions of the profile of an extrudate corresponding to the heel plate, the toe plate, the runner body and the groove for inserting a blade.  
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 22  further comprising the steps of: 
 (B) cutting the extrudate into a plurality of extrudate lengths; and  
 (C) machining an extrudate length into a runner.  
 
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: (D) forming a contact edge of a second material which is harder than the runner; and 
 (E) joining the contact edge to a lower edge of the runner body.