Protective cover for hockey skate boot

Abstract

A protective cover fits over the top of a hockey skate boot. The cover has a vertically-split heel that is contiguous with an open bottom, and includes enough flexibility and tension that the cover can be flexed open diagonally from the split heel to fit over the top of the hockey skate boot, and then released to substantially conform to the instep, sides, ankles, and a portion of the heel in a tensioned fit. The preferred material for the cover is a high grade polycarbonate. The high grade polycarbonate is advantageous over other materials known in the art of covers based on the specific strength, impact resistance and elongation characteristics of high grade polycarbonates. The temperature ranges that the cover may be used in vary significantly and the high grade polycarbonate provides for optimal protection and performance in the wide temperature ranges.

1 . A protective cover for a hockey skate boot having a top, sides extending downward from the top to a sole, ankles and a heel, the protective cover comprising;
 a shell portion having side portions for covering portions of at least one of the ankles and sides of the hockey skate boot, said side portions connected by an instep portion for placement over the top of the hockey skate boot; and   wherein said shell portion is molded from a high grade polycarbonate for providing for a light weight protective cover with improved durability and impact dissipation.   
     
     
         2 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said high grade polycarbonate has a tensile strength at break between 55.0 MPa and 59.0 MPa for indicating the strength of said shell portion. 
     
     
         3 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said high grade polycarbonate has an elongation at break between 108.5% and 123.9% for indicating the elongation of said shell portion. 
     
     
         4 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said high grade polycarbonate has a Charpy impact between 6.0 J/cm 2  and 7.0 J/cm 2  for indicating the impact resistance of said shell portion. 
     
     
         5 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said high grade polycarbonate is SABIC Innovative Plastics Lexan® EXL1414T PC Copolymer. 
     
     
         6 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said shell portion has a thickness less than 0.125 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said shell portion is a one-piece molded shell portion. 
     
     
         8 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said shell portion includes a plurality of ribbed portions for providing dissipation protection and for improving deflection of said shell portion. 
     
     
         9 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  further including a split heel portion and wherein said shell portion is adapted to partially wrap around opposite sides of the heel portion of the hockey skate boot and said split heel portion is capable of being flexed apart by a user to fit said shell portion diagonally over said instep portion of the hockey skate boot. 
     
     
         10 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 9  further including at least one supplemental fastener disposed on said split heel portion for securing said shell portion to the hockey skate boot at said split heel portion. 
     
     
         11 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  further including at least one fastener for securing said shell portion to the hockey skate boot. 
     
     
         12 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said at least one fastener is a strap. 
     
     
         13 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 11  further including a hockey skate boot for receiving said shell portion, said hockey skate boot having a top, sides extending downward from said top to a sole, ankles and a heel and wherein said at least one fastener is disposed over said heel for securing said shell portion to said hockey skate boot. 
     
     
         14 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 1  further including a hockey skate boot for receiving said shell portion, said hockey skate boot having a top, sides extending downward from said top to a sole, ankles, a toe portion, and a heel and wherein said side portions of said shell portion covers said ankles of said hockey skate boot and said instep portion of said shell portion covers a portion of said top of said hockey skate boot. 
     
     
         15 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 14  further including an instep slot defined in said instep portion of said shell portion and wherein said instep slot receives a supplemental fastener for securing said shell portion to said hockey skate boot at said instep portion. 
     
     
         16 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said side portions of said shell portion further covers said sides of said hockey skate boot and said instep portion of said shell portion extends toward said toe portion of said hockey skate boot for covering a larger portion of said top of said hockey skate boot. 
     
     
         17 . The protective cover as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said at least one fastener is disposed under said sole for securing said shell portion to said hockey skate boot.