Ice Skate Blade Cleaner

Abstract

An ice skate blade maintenance device is provided for removing built-up ice from the surfaces of a skate blade without requiring a skater's hands. The device comprises a backing member, a blade-receiving block having one or a plurality of blade grooves, and a plurality of mounting holes. The backing member may be a surface, block or wedge shape that may be removably secured to a backing structure via fasteners inserted through member mounting holes. The blade-receiving block is secured to the upper surface of the backing member. The blade grooves comprise “Y” shaped channels disposed in parallel alignment along the block for a user to remove ice from a skate blade by sliding the blade therethrough, whereby the walls of the groove contact the blade and remove ice therefrom. The device is preferably comprised of a soft, durable material to prevent damage or dulling of a blade during its use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 381,682 filed on Sep. 10, 2010, entitled “Skate Mate.”BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an ice skate maintenance accessory, and more specifically to a device mountable to the boards or floor of an ice rink for providing a tool for removing ice from the blade of an ice skate without manually touching the blade.[0004]The activity of ice skating is enjoyed by many people. It is an essential skill for the sports of hockey, figure skating, and speed skating. When a person skates on ice, a double-edged blade attached to the bottom of a skate boot cuts into the ice to provide traction and prevent the skater from falling. Cutting of the ice results in small bits of shaved ice that build up on the skate blades during use. If too much ice accumulates on a user's skate blades, then it may reduce the ability of the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a new skate cleaning tool that can be used to maintain skate blades after exiting an ice rink. The tool is mountable to a floor or the boards of an ice rink and is designed to be convenient for users. It includes a durable, flexible, and non-metallic material for cleaning blades without dulling or scratching them. The tool has a blade-receiving block with parallel blade grooves that can hold a skate blade and act as a surface to run the blade against for removal of snow and ice accumulation. The tool can be easily replaced without replacing the entire assembly and is designed to be used by more than one user at one time or consecutive. It reduces the risk of laceration to a user's hands and fingers, and is durable and resilient."

Problems solved by technology

These devices have familiar design and structural elements for the purposes of maintaining and protecting skate blades; however they are not adapted for the task of providing ice removal from a skate blade while mounted to the boards or floor of an ice rink so that skaters getting off the ice can clean their skates.

Mixdorf does not disclose a blade cleaning device that is mountable to ice rink boards or to the floor.

These skate blade guards are meant to be placed on individual skates and transported while secured to the same, they are not securable to ice rink boards or to a floor for use by several users.

These sharpeners cannot be mounted to the boards or floor of an ice rink.

The devices disclosed by the prior art do not address the need for ice removal near the entrance to an ice rink or one that can service several skates in a row or simultaneously.

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