Skate quick release

Abstract

A skate riser system with static offset capability includes a riser extending between a boot adapter mount end and a skate runner mount end. The riser is non-adjustable and connects to a boot adapter mount configured to attach to the sole of a skate boot. A quick release shaft extends through a riser aperture and includes a keyed portion that secures a skate runner mount to the riser in a first orientation but allows removal in a second orientation. This static design enables quick swapping of skate blades with different configurations or replacements without adjusting the riser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice skate riser system comprising:
 a riser defined between a boot adapter mount end and a skate runner mount end;   a boot adapter mount connected to the boot adapter mount end and configured to attach to a skate boot;   a retaining block disposed at the skate runner mount end of the riser;   a quick release shaft extending through the retaining block and at least a portion of the riser,   the retaining block comprising a shaft retention channel that aligns with a riser channel formed in the riser,   wherein the quick release shaft is configured to pass through the shaft retention channel and the riser channel to removably secure a skate runner mount to the riser.   
     
     
         2 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the quick release shaft comprises a keyed portion configured to retain the skate runner mount in a first rotational orientation and permit removal in a second rotational orientation. 
     
     
         3 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining block comprises a pair of channel overhangs sized to accommodate the keyed portion but not a non-keyed portion of the quick release shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft retention channel is formed as a bore extending transversely through the retaining block. 
     
     
         5 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the riser is a side offset riser that shifts a skate blade to the left or right of a sole midplane that extends vertically along a neutral axis of the boot sole. 
     
     
         6 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is captured in the riser. 
     
     
         7 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the quick release shaft includes an ergonomic grip portion for manual rotation between the first and second orientations. 
     
     
         8 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the riser channel and the shaft retention channel define a colinear axis oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the skate runner mount. 
     
     
         9 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining block is configured to nest within a complementary recess in the riser. 
     
     
         10 . The ice skate riser system of  claim 1 , wherein the quick release shaft comprises a flattened key portion configured to pass through a non-circular aperture in the riser channel only when aligned in a predetermined rotational orientation. 
     
     
         11 . An ice skate riser arrangement comprising:
 a retaining block extending from a skate runner mount of a skate runner, wherein the retaining block includes a shaft retention channel with a pair of channel overhangs sized to accommodate a narrowed keyed portion of a quick release shaft,   the retaining block configured to engage a riser extending from a skate boot with the shaft retention channel capturing the quick release shaft in the riser via the narrowed key portion.   
     
     
         12 . The ice skate riser arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of channel overhangs are formed as opposing inward flanges that constrain vertical movement of the quick release shaft when the narrowed keyed portion is engaged. 
     
     
         13 . The ice skate riser arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the quick release shaft includes an enlarged shoulder adjacent to the narrowed keyed portion, the shoulder configured to abut the channel overhangs to prevent axial displacement when in a locked orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The ice skate riser arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the riser is a side offset riser that shifts a skate blade to the left or right of a sole midplane that extends vertically along a neutral axis of the boot sole. 
     
     
         15 . The ice skate riser arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the quick release shaft includes a manually rotatable grip portion configured to selectively align the narrowed keyed portion with the channel overhangs. 
     
     
         16 . A method for securing a skate runner mount to a riser of a skate assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a retaining block extending from the skate runner mount, the retaining block comprising a shaft retention channel with a pair of channel overhangs defining a key accommodating passageway into the shaft retention channel;   connecting the retaining block of the skate runner mount in an overlapping relationship with the riser while a narrowed key portion of a shaft extending through the riser is aligned with the key accommodating passageway;   rotating the shaft inside of the shaft retention channel with the narrowed key portion misaligned with the key accommodating passageway.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising sliding the retaining block into the riser along a complementary mounting region of the riser. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the shaft is rotated approximately 90 degrees during the rotating step. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising sliding the shaft beneath the flanges prior to the rotating step. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the rotating step is accomplished with a wrench that mates with a shaft end of the shaft.