Composite Ice Skate Runner Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice skates with replaceable blades are heavy due to the use of standard planar steel blades, which hinders performance and requires special holders or fastening means, limiting the use of lighter blade designs on conventional skates.
Innovation Solution
A detachable ice skate runner with a metal blade and a polymeric upper portion, where the polymeric portion has a lower density and is shaped to fit within a standard holder, reducing the overall weight and allowing for standard plastic holders to be used without modifications, while maintaining strength and compatibility with various skate types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If standard planar steel blades are used, then the blade strength and durability are sufficient, but the weight of the skate increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a metal blade portion with a polymeric upper portion. The metal blade provides the necessary strength and durability for ice skating, while the polymeric portion reduces the overall weight of the blade assembly. This composite structure allows the blade to maintain structural integrity while significantly reducing the weight penalty of traditional all-steel blades.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is segmented into distinct functional portions: a metal blade portion that contacts the ice and provides cutting performance, and a polymeric upper portion that reduces weight. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function - the metal portion for strength and the polymeric portion for weight reduction - while maintaining overall blade integrity.
2Weight of moving object
If lighter blade designs are used, then the skate weight is reduced, but special holders or fastening means are required, limiting compatibility with conventional skates
Solution Approach 1:
The blade holder is designed with universal compatibility to work with both standard steel blades and the new composite blade design. The holder structure includes features that can accommodate different blade types, allowing skates to maintain versatility without requiring separate holders for different blade materials. This enables weight reduction through lighter blades while preserving compatibility with existing skate frameworks.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric upper portion acts as an intermediary element between the metal blade and the holder. It provides a standardized interface that facilitates attachment to conventional holders while supporting the reduced weight design. The polymeric portion includes features such as recesses or attachment points that interface with the holder structure, enabling seamless integration with existing skate designs.
3Strength
If the steel portion of the blade extends through the entire runner, then the blade strength is maximized, but the runner weight remains relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the polymeric material from the traditional all-steel blade design and places it in the upper portion of the blade assembly. By removing the steel portion from the upper runner area and replacing it with lightweight polymeric material, the design reduces weight while maintaining blade strength through the retained metal blade portion that contacts the ice.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the blade assembly have different material qualities optimized for their specific functions. The metal blade portion has high strength properties for ice contact and cutting, while the polymeric upper portion has low weight properties for structural support. This local quality differentiation allows each region to have the optimal material properties without compromising overall performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice skate runner for engagement in a blade holder of an ice skate, the blade holder having an opening defined along a bottom edge thereof and fastening means to retain the runner. The runner comprises an upper polymeric portion shaped to be partially received within the opening of the holder and defining a major part of the runner, a lower portion having a greater density than that of the upper portion and defining a lower blade surface for engaging the ice. At least one of the upper and lower portions is shaped to removably engage the fastening means.