Biomechanical articulating skate

Abstract

An ice skate in the foam of a boot that surrounds a foot, ankle and preferably the lower leg of a user. The boot has a heel portion and toe portion and a metatarsal hinge facilitating rotational movement of the heel portion with respect to the toe portion about this hinge. The anterior and posterior blades have substantially linear edges for selectively contacting an ice surface, the blades being biased by use of a spring extending from the heel of the skate to the holder of the anterior blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice skate comprising a boot, which when worn, surrounds a foot and ankle of a user, said boot further comprising a heel portion and a toe portion and a metatarsal hinge facilitating rotational movement of said heel portion with respect to said toe portion about said metatarsal hinge, a posterior blade affixed to said heel portion characterized as having a substantially linear edge for selectively contacting an ice surface when used and having terminal front and rear ends defining the length of said posterior blade, said front end having a first arc of curvature, an anterior blade affixed to said toe portion, said anterior blade having a substantially linear central portion and rearwardly extending curved portion having an arc of curvature substantially equal to the first arc of curvature of said posterior blade such that in use, upon flexion, said posterior blade rotates with respect to said anterior blade about said metatarsal hinge while maintaining a relatively fixed spacing between said front edge of said posterior blade and said rearwardly extending curved portion of said anterior blade. 
     
     
         2 . The ice skate of  claim 1  wherein said posterior blade is biased such that its substantially linear edge is urged to be aligned with said central portion of said anterior blade. 
     
     
         3 . The ice skate of  claim 1  wherein said boot further comprises a lower leg portion and an ankle portion, said lower leg portion and said ankle portion hinged with respect to one another to facilitate their relative movement. 
     
     
         4 . An ice skate comprising a boot, which when worn, surrounds a foot and ankle of a user, said boot further comprising a heel portion and a toe portion and a metatarsal hinge facilitating rotational movement of said heel portion with respect to said toe portion about said metatarsal hinge, a posterior blade affixed to a heel blade holder, said heel blade holder comprising a pair of side walls and a gap between said side walls and an anterior blade affixed to said toe portion whereupon flexion, said posterior and anterior blades rotate with respect to one another about said metatarsal hinge, said anterior blade being stabilized by its selected passage within said gap. 
     
     
         5 . The ice skate of  claim 4  wherein said posterior blade is biased such that said anterior blade is urged to pass within said gap. 
     
     
         6 . The ice skate of  claim 4  wherein said boot further comprises a lower leg portion and an ankle portion, said lower leg portion and said ankle portion hinged with respect to one another to facilitate their relative movement. 
     
     
         7 . An ice skate comprising a boot, which when worn, surrounds a foot and ankle of a user, said boot further comprising a heel portion and a toe portion and a metatarsal hinge facilitating rotational movement of said heel portion with respect to said toe portion about said metatarsal hinge, a posterior blade affixed to said heel portion characterized as having a substantially linear edge for selectively contacting an ice surface when used and having terminal front and rear ends defining the length of said posterior blade, said front end having a first arc of curvature, an anterior blade affixed to said toe portion, said anterior blade having a substantially linear central portion and rearwardly extending curved portion whereupon flexion, said posterior blade rotates with respect to said anterior blade about said metatarsal hinge while maintaining spacing between said front end of said posterior blade and said rearwardly extending curved portion of said anterior blade of less than approximately 55 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The ice skate of  claim 7  wherein said posterior blade is biased such that its substantially linear edge is urged to be aligned with said central portion of said anterior blade. 
     
     
         9 . The ice skate of  claim 7  wherein said boot further comprises a lower leg portion and an ankle portion, said lower leg portion and said ankle portion hinged with respect to one another to facilitate their relative movement. 
     
     
         10 . An ice skate comprising a boot, which when worn, surrounds a foot and ankle of a user, said boot further comprising a heel portion and a toe portion and a metatarsal hinge facilitating rotational movement of said heel portion with respect to said toe portion about said metatarsal hinge, a posterior blade affixed to a posterior blade holder and an anterior blade affixed to an anterior blade holder, said anterior blade holder comprising a pair of side walls and a gap between said side walls whereupon flexion, said posterior and anterior blades rotates with respect to one another about said metatarsal hinge, said posterior blade being stabilized by its selected passage within said gap. 
     
     
         11 . The ice skate of  claim 10  wherein said posterior blade is biased such that said anterior blade is urged to pass within said gap. 
     
     
         12 . The ice skate of  claim 10  wherein said boot further comprises a lower leg portion and an ankle portion, said lower leg portion and said ankle portion hinged with respect to one another to facilitate their relative movement.