Skate assembly with external mounting blocks

Abstract

A skate assembly includes a boot having an upper portion and a sole portion, a frame that supports ground engagement members such as wheels or an ice skate blade, and external mounting blocks. A plurality of attachment members such as nut plates are embedded in a toe end of the sole portion and a second plurality of attachment members embedded in a heel end of the sole portion. The external mounting blocks are removably attachable to the sole through the embedded attachment members. The frame attaches to the boot through the external mounting blocks. The boot is attachable to different frames having different mount configurations by adjusting or interchanging the external mounting blocks.

1 . A skate assembly comprising:
 a boot having a sole portion and an upper portion, wherein the sole portion further comprises a first plurality of attachment members embedded in a toe end of the sole portion, and a second plurality of attachment members embedded in a heel end of the sole portion;   a frame supporting a ground engaging member, the frame having a toe platform and a heel platform;   a forward external mounting block removably attached to the sole portion with fasteners that engage the first plurality of attachment members, the forward external mounting block further comprising a nut and bolt configured to attach the forward external mounting block to the toe platform; and   a first rearward external mounting block removably attached to the sole portion with fasteners that engage the second plurality of attachment members, the first rearward external mounting block further comprising a nut and bolt configured to attach the first rearward external mounting block to the heel platform.   
     
     
         2 . The skate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises one of an inline skate frame, an ice skate frame, and a quad skate frame. 
     
     
         3 . The skate assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a third plurality of attachment members embedded in the sole portion, and wherein at least one of the forward external mounting blocks and the first rearward external mounting block is removably attachable to the sole portion with fasteners that engage the third plurality of attachment members. 
     
     
         4 . The skate assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of attachment members are approximately 195 mm from the second plurality of attachment members. 
     
     
         5 . The skate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of attachment members are approximately 165 mm from the third plurality of attachment members. 
     
     
         6 . The skate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of attachment members comprise nut plates. 
     
     
         7 . The skate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the forward and first rearward mounting blocks comprise one of nylon and aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . The skate assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second rearward external mounting block that is thicker than the first rearward external mounting block and is interchangeable with the first external mounting block. 
     
     
         9 . The skate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of attachment members extend out from the sole portion and are slidably disposed in the sole portion. 
     
     
         10 . The skate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sole portion comprises a first recessed portion disposed adjacent the first plurality of attachment members, and further wherein the forward external mounting block is shaped to fit in the first recessed portion. 
     
     
         11 . The skate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the skate assembly comprises an inline skate. 
     
     
         12 . The skate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sole portion comprises a contoured foot bed encased by upper and lower composite panels. 
     
     
         13 . The skate assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the foot bed is molded and has variable thickness. 
     
     
         14 . A skate assembly comprising:
 a boot having a sole portion and an upper portion, wherein the sole portion further comprises a first attachment member embedded in a toe end of the sole portion, and a second attachment member embedded in a heel end of the sole portion;   a first frame having a front attachment platform spaced a first distance from a back attachment platform;   a forward external mounting block removably attached to the first attachment member, the forward external mounting block further comprising hardware configured to attach the forward external mounting block to the front attachment platform of the first frame; and   a rearward external mounting block removably attached to the second attachment member, the rearward external mounting block further comprising hardware configured to attach the rearward external mounting block to the back attachment platform of the first frame.   
     
     
         15 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a second frame having a front attachment platform spaced a second distance from a back attachment platform, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance. 
     
     
         16 . The skate assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the sole portion further comprises a third attachment member embedded in the sole portion at a location between the first attachment member and the second attachment member, and further wherein the forward external mounting block hardware is configured to attach the forward external mounting block to the front attachment platform of the second frame and the rearward external mounting block hardware is configured to attach the rearward external mounting block to the back attachment platform of the second frame. 
     
     
         17 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first frame comprises one of an inline skate frame, an ice skate frame, and a quad skate frame. 
     
     
         18 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a third attachment member embedded in the sole portion, and wherein at least one of the forward external mounting block and the rearward external mounting block is removably attachable to the sole portion with a fastener that engage the third attachment member. 
     
     
         19 . The skate assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first distance is 195 mm and the second distance is 165 mm from the third plurality of attachment members. 
     
     
         20 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second attachment members comprise nut plates. 
     
     
         21 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the forward and first rearward mounting blocks comprise one of nylon and aluminum. 
     
     
         22 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a second rearward external mounting block that is thicker than the first rearward external mounting block and is interchangeable with the first external mounting block. 
     
     
         23 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the sole portion comprises a first recessed portion disposed adjacent the first attachment member, and further wherein the forward external mounting block is shaped to fit in the first recessed portion. 
     
     
         24 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the skate assembly comprises an inline skate. 
     
     
         25 . The skate assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the sole portion comprises a contoured foot bed encased by upper and lower composite panels.