Skate Boot Insert

This invention relates generally to sock liner inserts for ice skates or the like.

This invention represents a further development in and is related to the art disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 316,721, filed Oct. 30, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,430.

For an ice skater, the secure alignment of the foot directly over and along the blade of the skate is integral to performance. When viewed from front or aft, optimum alignment is to have the plane of the blade directly coincide with the sagittal plane of the foot and further directly align with the long axis of the superimposed lower leg. In skating any time the ankle joint and subtalar joint complex is abnormally inverted or everted the alignment must be corrected by direct muscle effort or change in the body position so that the forces related to the thrust of the blade can be readily transmitted from the leg and upper torso as well as forces from the upper torso and leg to the foot to create forward motion. Constant correction and/or the failure to correct the alignment of the ankle and subtalar joint complex relative to the leg reduces the skating efficiency and increases both medial and lateral stress to the ankle. Medial and lateral stress on the ankle and the subtalar joint complex and the required correction associated therewith overwork the muscles employed to correct the alignment which results in reduced efficiency, fatigue, and possible injury. Therefore, the goal is to eliminate lateral stress by maintaining the correct alignment of the subtalar joint in a neutral position relative to the tibia and fibula.

The boot of a skate attempts to capture the ankle in the beneficial alignment described above. In the past, in order for the skate boot to firmly grasp the foot and ankle associated therewith, the boot laces were drawn as tight as possible. This may result in grasping the ankle, but is also causes poor blood circulation in the foot, muscle cramping, fatigue, and general discomfort. In essence, overtighting of the laces is an attempt to make the plantar surface of the foot conform to the topography of the bottom of the skate boot. This overstresses the skeletal structure of the foot and deforms the plantar contour of the foot in an attempt to fit the foot to the boot. Instead, the contours of the skate boot, especially along the interior sole, should be made to conform to an individual's foot and not vice versa. Furthermore, the process of weighting and unweighting changes the contour of the foot as the muscles flex and the stresses are distributed. Prior art devices have attempted to address these problems by providing a sock liner insert constructed of foam to conform to an individual's foot and furnish mild shock absorption qualities.

The following patents represent the state of the art of which applicant is aware insofar so these references appear to be germane to the patent process: U.S. Pat. No. 2,660,814, Ritchey, U.S. Pat. No. 2,680,919, Riggs, U.S. Pat. No. 3,118,153, Hood, U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,336, Silverman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,801, Zente, U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,602, Ogden, U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,656, Lasman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,699, Hsiung, U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,621, Cohen, French Pat. No. 1,240,066, U.K. Pat. No. 465,940.

The above-mentioned references can be characterized as orthopedic appliances for general use, therefore their configuration is likewise general in nature.

By way of contrast, the instant invention is an insert specifically designed for an ice skate and the unique requirements associated therewith. As discussed above, foot alignment relative to the blade and ankle alignment relative to the leg is crucial in determining the relative efficiency and power that can be generated by an ice skater. The foot must directly overlie and remain balanced in relation with the blade, and furthermore the ankle and the subtalar joint complex must remain in a neutral position in relation to the leg. The instant application is distinguished from prior art devices in that a two-stage recess appearing on a bottom surface of the insert causes a controlled deformation of the insert so that in a weighted position the edges of the insert curl up and cup the calcaneal area of the foot and in an unweighted position the memory of the material returns the insert to its original configuration. The controlled deformation of the insert due to the recess aids in the beneficial alignment of the foot relative to the blade and the ankle relative to the leg.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel skate boot insert which promotes a beneficial alignment of the foot relative to the blade, as well as the ankle and the subtarsal joint complex relative to the leg to increase skating efficiency and power and to decrease fatigue and incidence of injury.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel insert for a skate boot which adjusts to the varying contours of the foot in both the weighted and unweighted position so that free space inside the skate boot is eliminated without requiring overtightening of the boot laces.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel skate boot insert which contours to the general configuration of an individual's foot by a process of controlled self deformation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel skate boot insert which is easy to manufacture and lends itself well to mass production techniques.

These and other objects will be made manifest when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the insert.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side cutaway view of a skate boot with the insert in place.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, reference numeral 10 refers generally to the insert.

The ice skate insert 10 is essentially a three layered foot pad. The top layer 1 is formed from a cloth material or the like such as nylon, dacron, felt or a synthetic fabric, which is durable as well as sufficiently porous to absorb perspiration. The second layer 2 is a coextensive underlying resilient pad which is perferably formed from neoprene, rubber, sponge or the like. The third layer 3 is likewise coextensive and forms the bottom surface of the insert. This layer 3 is perferably formed from a foam material such as Freelen Tm, Plastizote Tm, or any of a number of open or closed celled foams characterized as being relatively resilient, having sufficient memory to return to its original state when unstressed, and capable of moderate shock absorption. The three layers 1, 2, and 3 are permanently affixed to one another by any suitable technique such as adhesion or fusion.

All three layers 1, 2 and 3 are used to form a peripheral lip 4 which is upwardly curved and defines the edge of the insert 10. The insert 10 is contoured in a configuration which generally resembles the contours of the bottom of a typical foot. Thus, the insert has a widened toe area 5 (FIG. 1), a raised arch area 6 (FIG. 3), and a calcaneal or heel cup 7 (FIG. 2). The foamed materials from which the insert 10 is constructed deform to fit the unique contours of the bottom of an individual's foot in the weighted position. In the unweighted position the insert 10 has a memory which returns it substantially to its original shape.

The toe area 5 or the area forward of the metatarsal area 15 is substantially of uniform thickness through the three layers 1, 2 and 3. With continued use this area 5 permanently deforms to a minor extent creating a ridge in the toe area 5 beneath the toes upon which the toes may grip. The upwardly curving lip 4 helps nest in position the forward portion of the foot.

A two stage recess, generally referred to by reference numeral 8 appears on the bottom of the third layer 3 running longitudinally from the metatarsal head area 15 to the calcaneal region 7. The recess 8 is symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal line 14. The blade B lies directly underneath the longitudinal line 14 and therefore the recess 8. The first stage 9 of the recess 8 is substantially a keyway shaped indentation defined by a sharp edge 11 developing into a curved trailing edge configuration in the calcaneal region 7 and a square forward portion configuration in the metatarsal head area 15. Similarly, the second stage 12 of the recess 8 is a further indentation symmetrically disposed within the first stage 9. The second stage 12 is substantially a smaller version of the first stage 9 and has a similar configuration. The recess 8 is used to influence the performance of the upwardly extending lip 4 as described hereinafter.

The recess 8 creates a heel gripping effect. When weight is applied to the upper layer 1, which directly overlies the recess 8, the insert 10 begins to deform under the load. Light loads cause slight deformation, greater loads result in greater deformation. The lateral portions of the third layer 3 directly surrounding the recess 8 are provided with an arcuate marginal portion 13 (FIG. 2) which rises to form the upwardly extending lip 4. Thus, when a load is applied to the insert 10, the recess 8 causes a controlled deformation forcing the lip 4 to migrate in the direction of the arrows I in FIG. 2. This results in a heel gripping effect in the calcaneal area 7 due to the beneficial migration of the upwardly extending lip 4 which surrounds the skater's heel. The greater the load, the greater the migration of the lip 4. In the unweighted position, the memory of the insert 10 and the recess 8 return the insert 10 to its original configuration.

The second stage 12 of the recess 8 disposed within the first stage 9 creates a preferred zone of primary deformation when weight is applied to the insert 10. The first stage 9 responds to the weight after the second stage 12 creating an extended zone of controlled deformation. Thus, as soon as weight is applied to the insert 10, deformation begins first in the area of the lip 4 which is longitudinally coextensive with the second stage 12. This locates the foot directly over the blade B. As more weight is applied to the insert 10 more of the lip 4 migrates creating the heel cupping effect previously described. Operating in combination, the first stage 9 and the second stage 12 of the recess 8 cause a deformation of the insert 10 which first locates the foot in a beneficial position and then securely grasps the heel helping to prevent any lateral destabilization of the sub-talar joint in the ankle. This results in a more efficient and powerful skating technique.

Furthermore, when the skate blade B is angulated in relation with the ice, which is normal during the thrust of a skate blade, the load applied to the insert varies. The load is greater on the medial side of the insert which causes increased insert deformation on that same side thereby offering greater support where needed most.

It should also be noted that different types of skating, such as figure skating, require different edging techniques, therefore it is contemplated in this invention to vary the size and position of the recess 8 to suit the requirements of different styles of skating.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.