Power straps for skaters

Abstract

While ice skating or in-line roller skating, a big effort is imparted on our ankles to support our body weight. Therefore, hockey players for example, will apply a plastic tape around the ankles for additional support. Tape however, doesn't provide a uniform and constant support, it hampers flexibility and it greatly pollutes the environment. Practically, it is a chore to install and remove the tape every time you want to go skating. Finally, even more tape is needed to hold the shin pad in place. The invention is composed of an elongated elastomeric strip of a minimal thickness and an important width. To each end is affixed quick-release fasteners. Hence, the practical inconveniences mentioned earlier are resolved by the simplicity of the invention. One advantage is the quick and simple one step application. The width of the invention allows hockey players to hold the bottom of the shin pad at the same time. Finally, the elastomeric strip's thinness will allow the invention to mold to the exterior of the equipment it is in contact with, providing a good tension and a uniform and constant support, without compromising flexibility.

Description

[0001] Not applicable.STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002] Not applicable.REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003] Not applicable.[0004] The present invention is in relation to ice and in-line roller skating, and their derived sports.[0005] While ice skating or in-line roller skating, a big effort is imparted on our ankles to support our body weight. Presently, hockey players seem to have a solution to this problem, which is to apply plastic tape around the ankles. Therefore, the tension created by the stretched tape allows the ankle to be reinforced. However, applying tape around the ankles includes many difficulties and inconveniences. First of all, the tape itself is rather weak and to obtain the desired tension, it needs to be stretched which sometimes causes the tape to break under to much strain. Besides, to obtain good results, many layers of tape must be applied, therefore neglecting the uniformity of the applied tension which is noticeable by various tension poin...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, applying tape around the ankles includes many difficulties and inconveniences.

First of all, the tape itself is rather weak and to obtain the desired tension, it needs to be stretched which sometimes causes the tape to break under to much strain.

Besides, to obtain good results, many layers of tape must be applied, therefore neglecting the uniformity of the applied tension which is noticeable by various tension points around the ankle.

Applying tape will provide some ankle support but, because it is made of plastic, it will severely hamper ankle flexibility, resulting in a loss of performance.

Therefore, the additional imposed elongation cycles, induces in the tape irreversible plastic deformations, which results in less support for the skater through failure of the tape.

Furthermore, removing the tape after use is an unpleasant task.

Finally, used tape has no other use and the non-recyclable product is thrown in the garbage.

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