Ice hockey skate blade system

Abstract

An ice-hockey blade system; the system includes an improved blade design for use by goaltenders. The blade includes a flat blade with curved toe and heel portions. The toe portion includes a set of skate-blade pics of a unique radial design. The disclosed system enables enhanced lateral and other player movements.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . An ice-hockey blade system comprising:
 an elongated blade member having   an upper portion including at least one coupler receiver adapted to enable removable coupling of said upper portion to at least one ice-hockey skate boot, and   a lower portion having an ice contact edge, said ice contact edge including
 a curved toe portion, said curved toe portion having a set of blade picks projecting outwardly in a radial pattern defined by a common center point, 
 a flat mid portion, and 
 a heel portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 1 , wherein said set of blade picks includes at least four individual blade picks. 
     
     
         3 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each said blade pick includes a triangular member having opposing sidewalls arranged symmetrically about an axis of symmetry, said opposing sidewalls converging to form an apex point intersecting said axis of symmetry; and   said axis of symmetry of each said blade pick intersects said common center point.   
     
     
         4 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said curved toe portion includes an outer peripheral edge;   said outer peripheral edge is defined by an arc segment having a constant radius originating at said common center point; and   said apex point of each said blade pick is located within a region of said curved toe portion bounded by said arc segment.   
     
     
         5 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 4 , wherein said apex point of each said blade pick falls on said arc segment. 
     
     
         6 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 4 , wherein the radius of said arc segment is about 0.5 inch. 
     
     
         7 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 4 , wherein the length of each opposing sidewall of said blade pick is about 0.125 inch. 
     
     
         8 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 4 , wherein a distance of separation between adjacent said apex points is about 0.125 inch. 
     
     
         9 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 4 , wherein an angular separation between adjacent said lines of symmetry is about 14.36 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one coupler receiver is adapted to operate with at least one coupler of a commercially-available version of the at least one ice-hockey skate boot. 
     
     
         11 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said elongated blade member includes at least one existing commercially-available ice-hockey blade adapted to include said curved toe portion having said set of blade picks projecting outwardly in a radial pattern defined by said common center point.   
     
     
         12 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 1 , wherein said heel portion of said elongated blade member includes a curved shape. 
     
     
         13 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 1 , wherein the width of said elongated blade member is at least 0.10 inch. 
     
     
         14 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 1 , wherein said ice contact edge includes a linear concave hollow formed along a length of at least said flat mid portion of said elongated blade member. 
     
     
         15 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said ice contact edge further includes at least one curving transition portion smoothly joining said flat mid portion and said curved toe portion; and   said at least one curving transition portion defined by a set of radii, each one having lengths greater than said constant radius of said curved toe portion.   
     
     
         16 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 1 , further including the at least one ice-hockey skate boot. 
     
     
         17 . An ice-hockey blade system comprising:
 an elongated blade member having   an upper portion including at least one coupler receiver adapted to enable removable coupling of said upper portion to at least one ice-hockey skate boot, and   a lower portion having an ice contact edge, said ice contact edge including
 a curved toe portion, said curved toe portion having a set of blade picks projecting outwardly in a radial pattern defined by a common center point, 
 a flat mid portion, and 
 a curved heel portion; 
   wherein said set of blade picks includes at least four individual blade picks;   wherein each said blade pick includes a triangular member having opposing sidewalls arranged symmetrically about an axis of symmetry, said opposing sidewalls converging to form an apex point intersecting said line of symmetry; wherein said axis of symmetry of each said blade pick intersects said common center point; wherein said curved toe portion includes an outer peripheral edge;   wherein said outer peripheral edge is defined by an arc segment having a constant radius originating at said common center point;   wherein said apex point of each said blade pick is located within a region of said curved toe portion bounded by said arc segment;   wherein said apex point of each said blade pick falls on said arc segment;   wherein the radius of said arc segment is about 0.5 inch;   wherein the length of each opposing sidewall of said blade pick is about 0.125 inch;   wherein a distance of separation between adjacent said apex points is about 0.125 inch;   wherein an angular separation between adjacent said lines of symmetry is about 14.36 degrees;   wherein said at least one coupler receiver is adapted to operate with at least one coupler of a commercially-available version of the at least one ice-hockey skate boot;   wherein said elongated blade member is formed from at least one metallic composition;   wherein the wide of said elongated blade member is at least 0.10 inch; and   wherein said ice contact edge further includes at least one curving transition portion smoothly joining said flat mid portion and said curved toe portion; and   said at least one curving transition portion defined by a set of radii, each one having lengths greater than said constant radius of said curved toe portion.   
     
     
         18 . The ice-hockey blade system of  claim 17 , further comprising set of instructions; and
 wherein the ice-hockey blade system is arranged as a kit.   
     
     
         19 . A method for increasing the performance of an ice-hockey boot, the method comprising the steps of:
 identifying an existing commercially-available ice-hockey skate boot having a removable elongated blade member;   designing a new removable elongated blade member usable with the existing commercially-available ice-hockey skate boot, such new removable elongated blade member including
 an upper portion including at least one coupler receiver adapted to enable removable coupling of the upper portion to the existing commercially-available ice-hockey skate boot, and 
 a lower portion having an ice contact edge, the ice contact edge including
 a curved toe portion, the curved toe portion having a set of blade picks projecting outwardly in a radial pattern defined by a common center point, 
 a flat mid portion, and 
 a heel portion. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of providing the new removable elongated blade member by modifying an existing removable elongated blade member of the existing commercially-available ice-hockey skate boot.