Skate support

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting a skate includes a main body and a support arrangement. The apparatus supports the skate while the laces of the skate are being drawn by a seated user to secure the skate to a foot of the user. The main body has a surface against which the sole of the skate rests in use. The surface has a slot through which the blade passes in use. The support arrangement is connected to the main body to support the main body such that, in use, the sole of the skate is disposed in elevated relation to the floor surface with the heel of the skate below the toe.

1 . Apparatus for supporting a skate while the laces of the skate are being drawn by a user to secure the skate to a foot of the user, the user being seated in elevated relation to a floor surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a main body having a surface against which the sole of the skate rests in use, the surface having a slot through which the blade passes in use; and   a support arrangement connected to the main body to support the main body such that, in use, the sole of the skate is disposed in elevated relation to the floor surface with the heel of the skate below the toe.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support arrangement comprises a pair of supports, the supports each being pivotably connected to the main body for movement between   an operative configuration wherein, in use, the supports extend from opposite ends of the main body, one of the supports extending from the main body adjacent the heel of the skate and the other of the supports extending from the main body adjacent the toe; and   a storage configuration wherein the supports extend towards one another and are arranged in nested relation against the main body.   
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the supports are generally planar, the main body is generally planar and the support and main body are generally coplanar when the supports are in the storage configuration. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use:
 the surface of the main body is disposed at an angle to the floor surface, the angle being between 9 and 17°   
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use:
 the surface of the main body is disposed at an angle to the floor surface, the angle being about 13°.   
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use,
 that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate is positioned between 9″ and 13″ above the floor surface; and   that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate is 3″ to 11″ above the floor surface.   
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use,
 that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate is positioned about 11″ above the floor surface; and   that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate is positioned about 6.8″ above the floor surface.   
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 L 1  length of surface   L 2  overall length of apparatus in use   H 1  height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate in use   H 2  height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate in use   W width of apparatus   and   L 1 :L 2 :H 1 :H 2 : W is about 472:556:172:278:196