Ice Skate Blade

Abstract

Ice skate blades represent the sole interface between a skater and the ice, a thin line of contact that must generate sufficient friction to melt the ice to allow gliding but not add drag under one state of usage and in another generate sufficient traction to support sharp turns and stopping. Today's skate blades have a single hollow of predetermined profile across their width terminating in sharp edges at the outer limits of the skate blade. However, improved performance at both the competitive and recreational levels of skating and hockey in terms of the athletes and their sporting equipment has not followed through into the ice skate blade despite significant innovations in the skate boots. Accordingly it would be beneficial to provide increased design flexibility by allowing multiple hollows per blade such that the performance can be adjusted between inner and outer edges as well as across the entire width.

1 . An ice skate blade comprising:
 a first profile formed longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade designed primarily for gliding upon an ice surface, the first profile having an edge at each end of the profile; and   a second profile formed longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade designed primarily for edging into the surface, the second profile having an edge at each end of the profile; wherein   the first and second profiles share a common edge.   
     
     
         2 . An ice skate blade according to  claim 1  wherein,
 the lowermost points of the edges of the first and second profiles lie on a predetermined plane. 
 
     
     
         3 . An ice skate blade according to  claim 1  wherein,
 at least one of the first and second profiles is selected from the group comprising circular arc, flat bottom circular arc and flat bottom vee (V). 
 
     
     
         4 . An ice skate blade according to  claim 1  wherein,
 the ice skate blade is formed by mating a first blade with the first profile and a second blade with the second profile. 
 
     
     
         5 . An ice skate blade according to  claim 1  further comprising;
 a third profile formed longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade designed primarily for edging into the surface, the third profile having an edge at each end of the profile and sharing a common edge with the first profile. 
 
     
     
         6 . An ice skate blade according to  claim 5  wherein,
 the lowermost points of the edges of the first, second, and third profiles lie on a predetermined plane. 
 
     
     
         7 . An ice skate blade according to  claim 1  further comprising;
 a third profile formed longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade designed primarily for edging into a surface, the third profile having an edge at each end of the profile and sharing a common edge with the second profile. 
 
     
     
         8 . An ice skate blade according to  claim 7  wherein,
 the lowermost point of the non-common edge of the third profiles lies in a different place to the plane of the first and second profiles. 
 
     
     
         9 . An ice skate blade according to  claim 1  wherein,
 the first profile is selected from the group comprising circular arc, flat bottom circular arc and flat bottom vee (V); and 
 the second profile is selected from the group comprising circular arc, flat bottom circular arc and flat bottom vee (V) omitting the profile selected for the first profile. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising
 providing an ice skate blade formed from a predetermined composition of materials;   forming a first profile longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade primarily for gliding upon an ice surface, the first profile having an edge at each end of the profile; and   forming a second profile formed longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade primarily for edging into the surface, the second profile having an edge at each end of the profile; wherein   the first and second profiles share a common edge.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein,
 the lowermost points of the edges of the first and second profiles lie on a predetermined plane. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein,
 at least one of the first and second profiles is selected from the group comprising circular arc, flat bottom circular arc and flat bottom vee (V). 
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein,
 the ice skate blade is formed by mating a first blade with the first profile and a second blade with the second profile. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10  further comprising;
 providing a third profile formed longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade primarily for edging into a surface, the third profile having an edge at each end of the profile and sharing a common edge with the first profile. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein,
 the lowermost points of the edges of the first, second, and third profiles lie on a predetermined plane. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10  further comprising;
 a third profile formed longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade designed primarily for edging into the surface, the third profile having an edge at each end of the profile and sharing a common edge with the second profile. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein,
 the lowermost point of the non-common edge of the third profiles lies in a different place to the plane of the first and second profiles. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein,
 the first profile is selected from the group comprising circular arc, flat bottom circular arc and flat bottom vee (V); and 
 the second profile is selected from the group comprising circular arc, flat bottom circular arc and flat bottom vee (V) omitting the profile selected for the first profile. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 providing an ice skate blade formed from a predetermined composition of materials;   grinding a first profile longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade primarily for gliding upon an ice surface, the first profile having an edge at each end of the profile and ground with a first tool having width substantially less than that of the lateral width of the first profile; and   forming a second profile formed longitudinally along a predetermined portion of the ice skate blade primarily for edging into the surface, the second profile having an edge at each end of the profile and ground with a second tool having width substantially less than that of the lateral width of the first profile; wherein   the first and second profiles share a common edge.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein;
 the first profile is selected from the group comprising circular arc, flat bottom circular arc and flat bottom vee (V); and 
 the second profile is selected from the group comprising circular arc, flat bottom circular arc and flat bottom vee (V) omitting the profile selected for the first profile.