K-2 Corporation

Kor Hockey, Ltd

Antonin A Meibock

John Erik Svensson

Dodd H Grande

Christopher J Rench

James T Sener

Brent H Turner

Todd Allinger

Skate boot apparatuses, a skate, and a method are provided. A base including an upper face configured to receive a wearer's foot and a lower face configured to structurally support a skate mechanism is provided. An integral upper support is provided, the integral upper support extending upwardly from the base to a point above an ankle of the wearer, the integral support having a varying rigidity decreasing from a high rigidity near the base to a low rigidity near the point above the ankle of the wearer.

Apparatus, system, and method for unibody skate boot

Apparatuses and methods for securing a foot in a footwear item and a footwear item using the apparatus are provided. Pivot members are disposed on opposing sides of a closure configured to secure an opening in an upper of the footwear item, the pivot members being positioned on a surface of the footwear item between the opposing sides of the closure and a heel section of the footwear item. A securing including end sections and a force member is provided. Each of the end sections includes a fastener-receiving opening configured for a fastener to pass therethrough. The force member extends from the end sections and curves around the pivot members to engage the closure. Tension applied to the fastener applies force to the end sections resulting in tension in the force member causing a securing force being applied against the closure.

Apparatus, system, and method for securing a foot in footwear

Skate

Apparatuses, a system, and a method for engaging a wearer's toes within an interior of a footwear item are provided. A panel is configured to extend at least partially across a toebox of the interior of the footwear item. An attachment mechanism is configured to position the panel in the interior of the footwear item so that the panel is positioned inside the toebox to engage an edge of at least one of the wearer's toes. The panel includes a flexible or stretchable material such as neoprene. The attachment mechanism includes at least one of stitching, adhesive bonding, and thermal welding. The attachment mechanism joins the panel to the interior of the footwear item at a plurality of points along at least one of a lower edge of the panel and side edges of the panel, such as by joining the panel to an insole.

Apparatus, system, and method for engaging toes in footwear

A flexing base skate () includes an upper shoe portion () mounted on a base (). The base includes a forefoot region () secured to a forward frame segment () carrying forward wheels (). A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment () that carries rearward wheels (). A second embodiment () provides a rigid full length frame () and a base () mounted at the forefoot region () to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal portion (), and forms an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide () for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment () provides a forward frame segment () carrying forward wheels () and a rearward frame segment () carrying rearward wheel ().

Flexing base skate

In-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel, and ankle. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semirigid plastic that may be heat-moldable to conform to the user's foot. The shoe sole may also include heat-moldable materials so it can be anatomically formed to the foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

In-line roller skate

A first embodiment of a flexing base skate ( ) includes an upper shoe portion ( ) mounted on a base ( ). The base includes a forefoot region ( ) secured to a forward frame segment ( ) carrying forward wheels ( ). A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment ( ) that carries rearward wheels ( ). The base defines and flexes at a reduced thickness metatarsal head portion ( ), with the skater's heel and the rearward frame segment elevating freely relative to the forward frame segment. A spring plate ( ) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward frame segment overlaps the rearward frame segment for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment ( ) provides a rigid full length frame ( ) and a flexible base ( ) mounted only at the forefoot region ( ) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal head portion ( ), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide ( ) for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment ( ) provides a forward frame segment ( ) carrying three forward wheels ( ) and a rearward frame segment ( ) carrying a single rearward wheel ( ), the rearward frame segment being freely pivotably but longitudinally coupled to the forward frame segment. A fourth embodiment ( ) provides a forward frame segment ( ) that carries three forward wheels ( ) and a rearward frame segment ( ) that carries two rearward wheels ( ).

In-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel, and ankle. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic that may be heat moldable to conform to the user's foot. The shoe sole may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

An in-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel and ankle areas. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic which may be heat moldable to conform to the user's foot. The sole of the shoe may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the user's foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

A first embodiment of a flexing base skate (,) includes an upper shoe portion (,) mounted on a base (,). The base includes a forefoot region (,) secured to a forward frame segment (,) carrying forward wheels (,). A heel region (,) of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (,) that carries rearward wheels (,). The base defines and flexes at a reduced thickness metatarsal head portion (,), with the skater's heel and the rearward frame segment elevating freely relative to the forward frame segment. A spring (,) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward frame section overlaps the rearward frame section for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment provides a rigid full length frame (,) and a flexible base (,) mounted only at the forefoot region (,) to the frame. The base (,) flexes at a metatarsal head portion (,), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide (,) for lateral alignment of the heel region (,) with the frame.

A skate for receiving a foot of a skater includes a frame holding in-line wheels. A rigid base is securely attached to the frame. An external heel counter extends upwardly from the base around the heel portion of the skate. An upper having an outer shell of substantially soft pliable material extends upwardly from the base. A substantially rigid internal heel counter is disposed beneath the outer shell. The internal heel counter extends around the heel area of the skate above the top of said external heel counter. A substantially rigid ankle support cuff is pivotally coupled to the internal heel counter and disposed beneath the outer shell.

An in-line roller skate including a soft pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel and ankle areas. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic which may be heat moldable to conform to the user's foot. The sole of the shoe may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the user's foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

Growing community of inventors

Calgary, Canada

Antonin A Meibock