Skate suspension system and method of assembly

Abstract

A skate includes a boot and a housing having a top portion coupled with a sole of the boot. A ground engagement apparatus is displaceably coupled with a bottom portion of the housing. A suspension assembly is coupled between the ground engagement apparatus and the housing. The suspension assembly includes an aperture extending down from the top portion of the housing. The suspension assembly also includes a spring disposed within the aperture, such that a lower portion of the spring engages the ground engagement apparatus. A retention member spans over the aperture and couples with the top portion of the housing, whereby an upper portion of the spring engages the retention member for retaining the spring within the aperture and biasing the ground engagement apparatus downward.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A skate, comprising:
 a boot having a sole;   a housing having a top portion coupled with the sole;   a ground engagement apparatus displaceably coupled with a bottom portion of the housing; and   a suspension assembly coupled between the ground engagement apparatus and the housing, comprising:
 an aperture extending down from the top portion of the housing; 
 a spring disposed within the aperture and having a lower portion engaging the ground engagement apparatus; and 
 a retention member spanning over the aperture and coupled with the top portion of the housing, wherein an upper portion of the spring engages the retention member for retaining the spring within the aperture and biasing the ground engagement apparatus downward. 
   
     
     
         2 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the ground engagement apparatus is displaceable vertically with respect to the housing between a first position and a second position, and wherein the spring compresses when the ground engagement apparatus moves upward from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the ground engagement apparatus comprises a metal blade extending longitudinally on the housing and adapted to interface with an ice surface. 
     
     
         4 . The skate of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a channel extending longitudinally on the bottom portion of the housing for slidably receiving the metal blade and preventing the metal blade from lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the housing.   
     
     
         5 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a projection extending upward from the ground engagement apparatus within the housing and having a slide stop for preventing the ground engagement apparatus from disengaging from the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The skate of  claim 5 , wherein the slide stop abuts the housing when the ground engagement apparatus moves down to a bottom position, and wherein the slide stop is vertically adjustable relative to the projection for altering the bottom position. 
     
     
         7 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a channel extending longitudinally on the bottom portion of the housing, wherein the ground engagement apparatus includes a metal blade slidably coupled with the channel;   a vertical post projecting upward from the metal blade and having a threaded end; and   a slide stop threadably coupled with the threaded end of the vertical post, wherein the slide stop extends laterally beyond a width of the channel for preventing the metal blade from disengaging from the channel.   
     
     
         8 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spacer positioned between the retention member and the upper portion of the spring for compressing the spring and increasing a force needed to move the ground engagement apparatus upward relative to the housing.   
     
     
         9 . The skate of  claim 8 , wherein the spacer is vertically adjustable down from the retention member to further compress the spring and increase the force needed to move the ground engagement apparatus upward relative to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A base assembly for a skate boot, comprising:
 a housing adapted to removably engage the skate boot and comprising:
 an aperture extending down from a top portion of the housing; 
 a channel extending up from a bottom portion of the housing; 
   a ground engagement apparatus displaceably coupled within the channel and movable between upper and lower positions therein;   a retention member coupled over the aperture; and   a spring disposed within the aperture and compressed between the retention member and the ground engagement apparatus to bias the ground engagement apparatus downward in the lower position.   
     
     
         11 . The base assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one spacer disposed between the retention member and the spring for further compressing the spring and increasing a force needed to move the ground engagement apparatus to the upper position.   
     
     
         12 . The base assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a spacer disposed between the retention member and the spring and adjustable vertically between a first position and a second position lower than the first position, wherein the second position compresses the spring more than the first position.   
     
     
         13 . The base assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a threaded shaft extending between the spacer and the retention member, wherein rotation of the threaded shaft moves the spacer between the first and second positions.   
     
     
         14 . The base assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the threaded shaft includes a body portion that is threadably coupled with the spacer and a head portion that is rotatably coupled with the retention member. 
     
     
         15 . The base assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the aperture includes a cylindrical shape and the spring includes a helical shape that is coaxially aligned within the aperture, and wherein the retention member includes a plate shape spanning over the aperture and coupled with the top portion of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The base assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the upper portion of the housing includes a cavity extending down into the housing and a flange bordering the cavity for engaging the skate boot, wherein the retention member spans over the aperture and couples within the cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The base assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the ground engagement apparatus includes a metal blade adapted to interface with an ice surface, and wherein the channel includes opposing parallel sidewalls extending longitudinally on the lower portion of the housing for slidably receiving the metal blade. 
     
     
         18 . A method for assembling a skate with a suspension assembly, comprising
 providing a housing that includes an upper portion having an aperture extending downward into the housing;   coupling a ground engagement apparatus with a lower portion of the housing in a vertically displaceable arrangement;   inserting a spring into the aperture, wherein a bottom portion of the spring engages the ground engagement apparatus;   compressing the spring in the aperture between the retainer plate and the ground engagement apparatus;   coupling a retention member with the upper portion of the housing to span over the aperture and to secure the spring within the aperture in a compressed state; and   coupling the top portion of the housing with a boot of the skate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the lower portion of the housing includes a longitudinal groove, and wherein the ground engagement apparatus includes a metal blade that displaceably coupled within the longitudinal groove for moving between an upper position and a lower position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 inserting at least one spacer between the retention member and the spring before compressing the spring for increasing a compression force needed to move the metal blade upward against the spring to the upper position; and   rotating the at least one spacer disposed between to adjustably move the at least one spacer vertically from a first position to a second position lower than the first position, wherein the compression force is increased when the at least one spacer is moved from the first position to the second position.