Ice hockey skate

Abstract

An ice hockey skate includes a boot, a blade housing, a blade, and a plurality of projections. The boot includes a sole. The blade housing includes a mounting portion attached to the sole and a blade receptacle portion. The blade is removably connected to the blade receptacle portion. The projections project from the blade receptacle portion adjacent the blade and are designed to provide traction on an ice surface upon disconnection of the blade.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An ice hockey skate comprising:
 a boot comprising a sole;   a blade housing comprising a mounting portion attached to said sole and a blade receptacle portion;   a blade removably connected to said blade receptacle portion; and   a plurality of projections projecting from said blade receptacle portion adjacent said blade and configured to provide traction on an ice surface upon disconnection of said blade.   
     
     
         2 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 1 , wherein each of said projections comprises a tip portion configured to dig into an ice surface. 
     
     
         3 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 2 , wherein said tip portion is essentially triangular and tapers to a point. 
     
     
         4 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 1 , wherein said projections are permanently attached to said blade housing. 
     
     
         5 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 1 , wherein said projections are removably attached to said blade housing. 
     
     
         6 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 1 , wherein said projections comprise metal. 
     
     
         7 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 1 , wherein said projections comprise elastomer. 
     
     
         8 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 1 , wherein said projections comprise plastic integrally formed with said blade housing. 
     
     
         9 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 1 , wherein said blade receptacle portion comprises two side surfaces and said projections are divided into two rows, one projecting from each of said two side surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . An ice hockey skate comprising:
 a boot comprising a sole;   a blade housing comprising a mounting portion attached to said sole and a blade receptacle portion;   a blade removably connected to said blade receptacle portion; and   a plurality of projections projecting from said blade receptacle portion adjacent said blade and configured to provide traction on an ice surface upon disconnection of said blade, wherein each of said projections comprises a tip portion configured to dig into an ice surface, wherein said tip portion is essentially triangular and tapers to a point.   
     
     
         11 . The ice hockey skate of claim  11 , wherein said projections are permanently attached to said blade housing. 
     
     
         12 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 11 , wherein said projections are removably attached to said blade housing. 
     
     
         13 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 12 , wherein said blade receptacle portion comprises two side surfaces and said projections are divided into two rows, one projecting from each of said two side surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 13 , wherein said projections comprise metal. 
     
     
         15 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 13 , wherein said projections comprise elastomer. 
     
     
         16 . The ice hockey skate of  claim 13 , wherein said projections comprise plastic integrally formed with said blade housing. 
     
     
         17 . An ice hockey skate blade housing comprising:
 a mounting portion configured to be attached to a sole of a boot;   a blade receptacle portion configured to be detachably connected to a blade;   a plurality of projections projecting from said blade receptacle portion to provide traction on an ice surface upon disconnection of a blade detachably connected to said blade receptacle portion.   
     
     
         18 . The ice hockey skate blade housing of  claim 17 , wherein each of said projections comprises a tip portion configured to dig into an ice surface, wherein said tip portion is essentially triangular and tapers to a point. 
     
     
         19 . The ice hockey skate blade housing of  claim 18 , wherein said projections comprise plastic integrally formed with said blade housing. 
     
     
         20 . The ice hockey skate blade housing of  claim 19 , said blade receptacle portion comprises two side surfaces and said projections are divided into two rows, one projecting from each of said two side surfaces.