Skates having instep protectors

Abstract

A skate includes an outer shell, an inner boot, an instep protector and a frame assembly. The outer shell includes a lower shell and an upper shell pivotally mounted on the lower shell. The lower shell includes an outsole with a front, a rear and a bottom, a toe protector integrally formed at the front and an ankle protector integrally formed at the rear of the outsole. The inner boot having a vamp is removably mounted in the outer shell. The instep protector made of thermoplastic elastomer is mounted on the lower shell of the outer shell corresponding to the vamp of the inner boot. The frame assembly is attached to the bottom of the outsole. Consequently, the instep protector imparts flexibility to the skate and protection to the foot so that the foot will feel comfortable and have precise control during skating.

1 . A skate having an instep protector, and the skate comprising: 
 an outer shell comprising 
 a lower shell comprising 
 an outsole with a front, a rear and a bottom;  
 a toe protector integrally formed at the front of the outsole; and  
 an ankle protector integrally formed at the rear of the outsole;  
 
 an upper shell pivotally mounted on the ankle protector; and  
 at least one buckle device mounted on the upper shell;  
   an inner boot having a vamp mounted in the outer shell;    an instep protector made of thermoplastic elastomer and mounted on the lower shell of the outer shell corresponding to the vamp of the inner boot; and    a frame assembly attached to the bottom of the outsole.    
   
   
       2 . The skate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the outer shell further comprises a front connection seat and a rear connection seat respectively formed on the bottom at the front and the rear of the outsole, and each of the front and the rear connection seats has multiple inner transverse through holes; and    the frame assembly comprises 
 a frame having multiple outer transverse holes aligned respectively with the inner transverse through holes in the connection seats;  
 multiple wheels rotatably mounted in the frame;  
 a rear stop attached to the frame at the rear of the outsole; and  
 multiple fasteners respectively held in each pair of aligned inner and outer transverse holes to unite the frame and the outsole through the connection seats.  
   
   
   
       3 . The skate as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fasteners are rivets.  
   
   
       4 . The skate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ankle protector has at least one through hole to achieve a lightweight outer shell.  
   
   
       5 . The skate as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ankle protector has at least one through hole to achieve a lightweight outer shell.  
   
   
       6 . The skate as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the instep protector comprises 
 two side half casings positioned alongside the vamp of the inner boot, and each of the side half casings has multiple eyelets arranged in pairs; and    a lace extended sequentially through the pairs of eyelets to draw together the side half casings.    
   
   
       7 . The skate as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each of the side half casings of the instep protector further has multiple ventilation through holes for ventilation and to achieve a lightweight instep protector.  
   
   
       8 . The skate as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is thermoplastic polyurethane.  
   
   
       9 . The skate as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the inner boot is removably mounted in the outer shell.