SKATE SUPPORT

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of skate supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Skating is a way to exercise, but skating can be uncomfortable with loose laces and the difficulty of tightening skate laces is widely known and appreciated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is apparatus for supporting a skate while the laces of the skate are being drawn by a user to secure the skate to a foot of the user, the user being seated in elevated relation to a floor surface. The apparatus comprises: a main body having a surface against which the sole of the skate rests in use, the surface having a slot through which the blade passes in use; and a support arrangement connected to the main body to support the main body such that, in use, the sole of the skate is disposed in elevated relation to the floor surface with the heel of the skate below the toe.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support arrangement can comprise a pair of supports, the supports each being pivotably connected to the main body for movement between an operative configuration and a storage configuration. In the operative configuration, in use, the supports extend from opposite ends of the main body, one of the supports extending from the main body adjacent the heel of the skate and the other of the supports extending from the main body adjacent the toe. In the storage configuration, in use, the supports extend towards one another and are arranged in nested relation against the main body.

According to another aspect of the invention, the supports can be generally planar, the main body can be generally planar and the support and main body can be generally coplanar when the supports are in the storage configuration.

According to another aspect of the invention, in use, the surface of the main body can be disposed at an angle to the floor surface between 9° and 17°

According to another aspect of the invention, in use, the surface of the main body can be disposed at an angle of about 13° to the floor surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, in use, that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate can be positioned between 9″ and 13″ above the floor surface; and that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate can be positioned 3″ to 11″ above the floor surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, in use, that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate can be positioned about 11″ above the floor surface; and that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate can be positioned about 6.8″ above the floor surface.

According to another aspect of the invention:

• • L1:L2:H1:H2:W can be about 472:556:172:278:196
  • wherein
  • L1 length of surface
  • L2 overall length of apparatus in use
  • H1 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate in use
  • H2 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate in use
  • W width of apparatus

The invention provides a stable inclined surface, suitable for use as a skate rest, that can reduce lower back pain, neck, shoulder and upper arm pain and lower leg pain all normally associated with skate tightening.

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be further explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the supports thereof in an operative configuration;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the structure of FIG. 2

FIG. 3 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, wherein the supports are in the storage configuration;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view of a person seated in elevated relation to a floor surface, in the position that person would assume while drawing the laces of a skate

FIG. 8 is a view of the structure of FIG. 1 in use by the person of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, of another person;

FIG. 10 is a view of the structure of FIG. 1 in use by the person of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, of another person; and

FIG. 12 is a view of the structure of FIG. 1 in use by the person of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-6 which show apparatus 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus 20 comprises a main body 22 and a support arrangement 24.

The main body 20 is a generally planar plastic structure and has a planar surface 26 in which a slot 28 is defined.

The support arrangement 24 comprises a pair of generally planar plastic supports 30,31 each having a pair of legs 32 formed in an arch and pivotably connected by rivets 34 to the main body 22 for movement between an operative configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and a storage configuration, as shown in FIG. 4.

In the operative configuration, the supports 31,30 extend from opposite ends 36,38 of the main body 22, to support the main body 22 with the surface 26 at an angle α to the floor surface of about 13°, with the uppermost portion of the surface 26 about 11″ above the floor surface, as indicated by H2 in FIG. 3, and the lowermost portion of the surface about 6.8″ above the floor surface, as indicated by H1. [For comprehensiveness, FIG. 3 also shows the overall length of the apparatus in use, indicated by L2, and the length of the surface, indicated by L1. B shows the angle between the main body and support 30; φ shows the angle between the main body and support 31. The width of the apparatus is indicated by W in FIG. 5.]

In the storage configuration of FIG. 4, the supports 30,31 extend towards one another and are arranged in nested relation against the main body 22 such that the supports 30,31 and main body 22 can be generally coplanar. This allows, inter alia, convenient transport, for example, in a hockey bag. The apparatus 20 is shown in use in FIGS. 8, 10 and 12. Herein, it will be seen that, in use:

• • the apparatus 20 supports a skate while the laces of the skate are being drawn by a user to secure the skate to a foot of the user, the user being seated in elevated relation to a floor surface.
  • one 30 of the supports extends from main body 22 adjacent the heel of the skate and the other 31 of the supports extends from the main body 22 adjacent the toe of the skate
  • the sole of the skate rests against the surface 26
  • the blade passes through the slot 28
  • the sole of the skate is disposed in elevated relation to the floor with the heel below the toe, that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe being positioned about 11″ above the floor and that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel being positioned about 6.8″ above the floor, thereby to create the relationship
  • L1:L2:H1:H2:W is about 472:556:172:278:196, wherein
  • L1 length of surface
  • L2 overall length of apparatus in use
  • H1 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the heel of the skate in use
  • H2 height of that portion of the surface at the end of the main body adjacent the toe of the skate in use
  • W width of apparatus

Use of the apparatus has been found to reduce lower back pain, neck, shoulder and upper arm pain and lower leg pain, all conditions being normally associated with skate tightening.

Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that these advantages flow from the geometry and stability of the apparatus, which provides a stable support surface at an appropriate height and orientation to reduce back strain.

In this regard, reference is now made to FIGS. 7, 9 and 11. Herein, the same persons as shown in FIGS. 8, 10 and 12 are shown carrying out the same activities and in the same positions as shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11, but without the benefit of the apparatus. It will be seen, from the geometry of the notional lines applied to the figures associated with predefined body locations, that use of the apparatus 20 results in less back movement:

• • in the case of the person of FIGS. 7,8, the apparatus reduces back motion by 2°
  • in the case of the person of FIGS. 9,10, the apparatus reduced back motion by 4°
  • in the case of the person of FIGS. 11,12, the apparatus reduced back motion by 7°

Whereas a specific embodiment is herein shown and described, variants are, of course, possible.

For example, whereas in the illustrated device, the surface of the main body is disposed at 13°, experiments with angles between 9° and 17° have also shown some usefulness.

As well, whereas in the illustrated device, the heel height is about 7″ and the toe height is about 11″, experiments with heel height between 3″ and 11″ have demonstrated some usefulness; the toe height will always be between about 2″ and 6″ higher.

Yet further variations are possible. Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.