Quick release goalie pad attachment

Abstract

Quick and reliable attachment of a goalie leg pad to a goalie skate is achieved by providing a fastener semi-permanently attached to the pad and releasably secured to an attachment point on the goalie skate. The fastener is suitable for use by goalies of all ages and abilities.

1 . A goalie skate comprising:
 (a) a boot;   (b) a cowling covering a portion of the boot and having a toe portion;   (c) a blade having a front portion; and   (d) an attachment point located at either the toe portion of the cowling or the front portion of the blade.   
   
   
       2 . The goalie skate of  claim 1  wherein the attachment point comprises a hole through the front portion of the blade. 
   
   
       3 . The goalie skate of  claim 1  wherein said attachment point is integrally molded with the cowling. 
   
   
       4 . The goalie skate of  claim 1  wherein said attachment point comprises an orifice in the toe portion of the cowling and a bar extending across said opening. 
   
   
       5 . The goalie skate of  claim 1  wherein said attachment point comprises a structure integrally formed with the toe portion of the cowling and a channel extending through said structure. 
   
   
       6 . Protective equipment worn by a hockey goalie comprising:
 (a) a goalie leg pad having at least one eyelet;   (b) a skate comprising a boot, a cowling covering a portion of the boot and having a toe portion, a blade having a front portion, and an attachment point located at either the toe portion of the cowling or the front portion of the blade, and   (c) a removable fastening element comprising (i) an elongated element extending through said at least one eyelet and semi-permanently coupled to said goalie leg pad, and (ii) a clip coupled to the elongated element and releasably fastened to said attachment point to join said goalie leg pad to said skate.   
   
   
       7 . The protective equipment of  claim 6  wherein said clip includes a swivel. 
   
   
       8 . The protective equipment of  claim 6  wherein said clip comprises a hook and a pressure locking mechanism. 
   
   
       9 . The protective equipment of  claim 6  wherein said attachment point comprises a hole through the front portion of the blade. 
   
   
       10 . The protective equipment of  claim 6  wherein said attachment point is integrally molded with the cowling. 
   
   
       11 . The protective equipment of  claim 6  wherein the attachment point comprises an orifice in the toe portion of the cowling and a bar extending across said opening. 
   
   
       12 . The protective equipment of  claim 6  wherein said attachment point comprises a structure integrally formed with the toe portion of the cowling and a channel extending through said structure.