Rigid shoe shell of a skate

Abstract

A rigid shoe shell of a skate has a heel portion, two quarter portions respectively extending from two opposite sides of the heel portion, and at least one resilient cushion region formed on an upper edge of the rigid shoe shell. In some embodiments each of the at least one resilient cushion region has multiple strips that have an upper distal end being a free end. Since the strips are bendable, the upper edge of the rigid shoe shell resiliently presses against a lower leg of a wearer of the skate without rubbing against the lower leg of the wearer, thereby providing good protection effect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rigid shoe shell of a skate comprising:
 a heel portion;   two quarter portions respectively formed on and extending from two opposite sides of the heel portion;   an upper edge; and   at least one resilient cushion region formed on the upper edge of the rigid shoe shell, each of the at least one resilient cushion region having multiple slits separately extending down from the upper edge of the rigid shoe shell and dividing the resilient cushion region into multiple strips, and each of the strips of the resilient cushion region having an upper distal end being a free end.   
     
     
         2 . The rigid shoe shell as in  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the quarter portions further has an upper edge; and   the rigid shoe shell has two resilient cushion regions which are quarter resilient cushion regions, and the quarter resilient cushion regions are respectively formed on the upper edges of the quarter portions adjacent to the heel portion.   
     
     
         3 . The rigid shoe shell as in  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the quarter resilient regions further has a border being arced and having
 two ends connected to the upper edge of a corresponding one of the quarter portions; and 
 a middle part spaced apart from the upper edge of the corresponding quarter portion by 3 millimeter (mm) to 15 mm; and 
   a thickness of each of the quarter resilient cushion regions is decreased from the arced border of the quarter resilient cushion region to the upper edge of the corresponding quarter portion, and the thickness of each of the quarter resilient cushion regions at the upper edge of the quarter portion is 0 lmm to 1 mm.   
     
     
         4 . The rigid shoe shell as in  claim 1 , wherein
 the heel portion further has an upper edge;   the rigid shoe shell further comprises a tendon guard formed on and extending from the upper edge of the heel portion, and having an upper edge; and   one of the at least one resilient cushion region is a rear resilient cushion region, and the rear resilient cushion region is formed on the upper edge of the tendon guard.   
     
     
         5 . The rigid shoe shell as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the quarter portions further has an upper edge and an eyelet portion disposed at an upper part of the quarter portion; and   the rigid shoe shell has two resilient cushion regions which are two eyelet resilient cushion regions, and the eyelet resilient cushion regions are respectively formed on the upper edges of the quarter portions and respectively correspond in position to the eyelet portions of the quarter portions.   
     
     
         6 . The rigid shoe shell as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein
 each of the quarter portions further has an upper edge and an eyelet portion disposed at an upper part of the quarter portion; and   the rigid shoe shell has two resilient cushion regions which are two quarter resilient cushion regions, the quarter resilient cushion regions are respectively formed on the upper edges of the quarter portions adjacent to the heel portion, and each of the quarter resilient cushion regions extends forward to correspond in position to the eyelet portion of a corresponding one of the quarter portions.   
     
     
         7 . A rigid shell for a skate, comprising:
 a heel portion;   two quarter portions respectively formed on and extending from two opposite sides of the heel portion, each quarter portion having an upper edge; and   a resilient cushion region formed in one of the quarter portions at and adjacent a portion of the upper edge, the resilient cushion region defined between a border and the upper edge, the border being arcuate and having first and second ends, the border intersecting the upper edge at the first and second ends;   wherein the resilient cushion region is more flexible than the portion of the quarter portion adjacent the resilient cushion region.   
     
     
         8 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 7 , wherein the cushion region comprises a middle part disposed between first and second end parts, the first and second end parts being nearer the first and second ends, respectively, than is the middle part, and wherein the cushion region is more flexible in the middle part than in the first and second end parts. 
     
     
         9 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 8 , wherein the quarter portion in the cushion region has a reduced thickness relative to the portion of the quarter portion adjacent the cushion region. 
     
     
         10 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 9 , wherein the quarter portion in the cushion region becomes progressively thinner moving from the border toward the upper edge. 
     
     
         11 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of slits extend from the border to the upper edge so as to define a plurality of strips that are attached at the border and have a free end at the upper edge. 
     
     
         12 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 11 , wherein a first slit on a first side of one of the strips is longer than a second slit on a second side of the one of the strips. 
     
     
         13 . A rigid shell for a skate, comprising:
 a heel portion;   two quarter portions respectively formed on and extending from two opposite sides of the heel portion, each quarter portion having a top portion, an upper eyelet portion, and a lower eyelet portion, an upper quarter edge extending through the top portion, upper eyelet portion, and lower eyelet portion, the upper quarter edge changing direction moving from the top portion to the upper eyelet portion so as to define a curve having an apex in the upper eyelet portion; and   a resilient quarter cushion region formed in one of the quarter portions at and adjacent the upper edge, the resilient quarter cushion region having a first end and a second end, the first end being in the top portion, the second end being in the upper eyelet portion, the apex being between the first and second ends;   wherein the upper edge has increased flexibility in the resilient quarter cushion region relative to the rest of the upper edge.   
     
     
         14 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 13  additionally comprising a tendon guard extending upwardly from the heel portion and having a tendon guard upper edge, a rear cushion region defined along a portion of the tendon guard upper edge, the tendon guard upper edge having increased flexibility in the rear cushion region relative to the rest of the tendon guard upper edge. 
     
     
         15 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 13  additionally comprising an arcuate border extending from the first end to the second end of the quarter cushion region, the border being spaced from the upper edge between the first and second ends, the quarter cushion region defined between the border and the upper edge. 
     
     
         16 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of slits extend from the border to the upper edge so as to define a plurality of strips that are attached at the border and have a free end at the upper edge. 
     
     
         17 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 16 , wherein a first one of the strips is longer than a second one of the strips. 
     
     
         18 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 17 , wherein the arcuate border has a generally upwardly concave part in the top portion and a generally upwardly convex part in the upper eyelet portion. 
     
     
         19 . The rigid shell for a skate of  claim 16 , wherein a thickness of the strips progressively decreases moving from the border to the free end.