Tool Press for Shaping Boot of an Ice Skate

Abstract

A tool for shaping an ice skate boot includes a ram member and a corresponding receiver member. The ram member is placed against a selected area of a first surface of the ice skate boot that causes a user discomfort, and is pressed against the selected area so as to flatten or shape the selected area. The receiver member, which includes a cavity and a rim, is placed against an opposing second surface of the boot. One or more arcuate notches formed in the rim of the receiver member receive a part of the second surface of the ice skate boot when the ram member presses against the first surface of the ice skate boot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool for shaping an ice skate boot, the tool comprising:
 first and second opposing arms, each arm comprising a terminal end configured to move towards and away from each other;   a ram coupled to the terminal end of the first arm, and configured to press against a first surface of an ice skate boot when the terminal end of the first arm moves towards the terminal end of the second arm; and   a receiver coupled to the terminal end of the second arm and comprising:
 a cavity defined by a sidewall having a rim, wherein the rim is configured to press against a surface of an ice skate boot when the ram presses against an opposing surface of the ice skate boot; and 
 one or more arcuate notches formed in the rim, and configured to receive the surface of the ice skate boot when the ram presses against the opposing surface of the ice skate boot. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the ram and the receiver are each elongated, and wherein the cavity is sized to receive the ram. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 2  wherein the one or more arcuate notches comprise a first arcuate notch formed at one end of the elongated receiver, and a second arcuate notch formed at an opposite end of the elongated receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall comprises an interior surface that defines the cavity and an opposing exterior surface, and wherein a portion of the rim overhangs the exterior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 4  wherein the receiver further comprises a base extending between a peripheral edge of the exterior surface of the sidewall, and wherein an interior surface of the base forms a floor surface of the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the ram and the receiver each comprise a coupling member configured to releasably couple the ram and the receiver to the terminal ends of the first and second arms, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . A tool for shaping an ice skate boot, the tool comprising:
 a receiver configured to couple to the tool opposite a ram and comprising:
 a cavity defined by a sidewall having a rim, wherein the rim is configured to press against a surface of an ice skate boot when the ram presses against an opposing surface of the ice skate boot; and 
 one or more arcuate notches formed in the rim to receive the surface of the ice skate boot when the ram presses against the opposing surface of the ice skate boot. 
   
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 7  wherein the sidewall comprises an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, and wherein the rim is shaped to overhang the exterior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 7  wherein the rim surrounds an opening into the cavity, and wherein the surface of the ice skate boot extends through the opening and into the cavity when the ram presses against the opposing surface of the ice skate boot. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 7  wherein the receiver comprises an elongated receiver sized to receive a correspondingly elongated ram. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the one or more arcuate notches formed in the rim comprise first and second arcuate notches respectively formed in opposing first and second ends of the rim. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the rim comprises a pair of opposing longitudinal contact surfaces that press against the surface of the ice skate boot when the ram presses against the opposing surface of the ice skate boot. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 12  wherein the pair of opposing longitudinal contact surfaces extend between the opposing first and second ends of the rim and are substantially flat. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 7  wherein the receiver further comprises a base extending between a peripheral edge of an exterior surface of the sidewall such that a surface of the base forms an interior floor surface of the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 14  wherein the receiver further comprises a coupling member extending substantially perpendicularly and away from the base, the coupling member configured to releasably couple the receiver to the tool. 
     
     
         16 . A tool for shaping an ice skate boot, the tool comprising:
 a ram configured to press against a first surface of an ice skate boot; and   a receiver disposed opposite the ram and comprising:
 a cavity defined by a sidewall having a rim; and 
 an arcuate notch formed in the rim, wherein the cavity and the arcuate notch are configured to receive a second surface of the ice skate boot when the ram presses against the first surface of the ice skate boot. 
   
     
     
         17 . The tool of  claim 16  wherein the ram comprises an elongated member that is formed to fit within the cavity of the receiver. 
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 16  wherein the sidewall comprises an interior surface that forms the cavity, and an exterior surface, and wherein the rim is formed to overhang the exterior surface. 
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 16  further comprising a base that forms a floor surface of the cavity. 
     
     
         20 . A method for shaping an ice skate boot using a boot shaping tool, the method comprising:
 placing a selected area of a first surface of an ice skate boot against a first member of the boot shaping tool;   placing a second member of the boot shaping tool against a second surface of the ice skate boot, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface; and   pressing the first member of the boot shaping tool against the selected area of the first surface such that one or more arcuate notches formed in a rim of the second member receive at least a portion of the second surface of the ice skate boot.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein one of the first and second surfaces comprises an interior surface of the ice skate boot, and wherein the other of the first and second surfaces comprises an exterior surface of the ice skate boot.