US 8,574,030 B2 · Method of making an ice skate blade

Abstract

A sharpening machine generally includes a grinding wheel having a perimeter that is rotatable about a first axis. The sharpening machine includes an adjustment device adapted to be coupled to a structure of the sharpening machine. A shaft, mounted to the adjustment device, defines a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis when the adjustment device is coupled to the structure and is movable along a predetermined feed axis toward the grinding wheel. A carousel is rotatably connected to the shaft of the adjustment device. A contouring tool having a counter surface is rotatably connected to the carousel. Movement of the shaft of the adjustment device along the feed axis is configured to translate the carousel and move the contouring tool into and out of engagement with the grinding wheel to facilitate dressing of the perimeter of the grinding wheel to a grinding wheel contour.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of sharpening a single ice skate blade having a length adapted to be attached to an ice skate and an ice engaging surface adapted to contact ice, comprising:

engaging a contouring tool with a grinding wheel to form a grinding wheel contour on a periphery of the grinding wheel;
and
engaging the grinding wheel contour with the ice skate blade to form a contoured ice skate blade, the contoured ice skate blade having:
(i) a single profile extending along at least a portion of the length, the profile having a width between a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein at least one of the side edges ends at a bottom end at the ice engaging surface,
(ii) a vee defined by one of the side edges and a flat meeting at the bottom end, wherein a first acute edge angle is formed between the one of the side edges and the flat, and
(iii) a flat angle formed between the flat and a bottom, wherein the bottom has a bottom distance which extends from the flat to one of a second flat and a second one of the side edges.

3 more elements

A method of contouring a single ice skate blade, comprising:

engaging a contouring tool with a grinding wheel to form a grinding wheel contour on a periphery of the grinding wheel;
and
engaging the grinding wheel contour with the ice skate blade to form a contoured ice skate blade, the contoured ice skate blade having:
(i) a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall,
(ii) a flat bottom disposed between the first side wall and the second side wall,
(iii) a first flat formed between the flat bottom and the first side wall, the first flat forming a first flat angle with the flat bottom,
(iv) a second flat formed between the flat bottom and the second side wall, the second flat forming a second flat angle with the flat bottom, the second flat angle being about equal to the first flat angle,
(v) a first bottom edge formed at a junction of the first side wall and the first flat,
(vi) a second bottom edge formed at a junction of the second side wall and the second flat,
(vii) a first vee formed from the first side edge, the first bottom edge, and the first flat, the first vee defining a first edge angle between the first flat and the first side edge, and
(viii) a second vee formed from the second side edge, the second bottom edge, and the second flat, the second vee defining a second edge angle between the second flat and the second side edge, the second edge angle being about equal to the first edge angle,
wherein the flat bottom, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first vee, and the second vee are a unitary structure.

9 more elements

A method of sharpening a single ice skate blade having a length adapted to be attached to an ice skate and an ice engaging surface adapted to contact ice, comprising:

engaging a contouring tool with a grinding wheel to form a grinding wheel contour on a periphery of the grinding wheel;
and
engaging the grinding wheel contour with the ice skate blade to form a contoured ice skate blade, the contoured ice skate blade having:
a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall;
a flat bottom disposed between the first side wall and the second side wall;
a first flat formed between the flat bottom and the first side wall, the first flat forming a first flat angle with the flat bottom;
a second flat formed between the flat bottom and the second side wall, the second flat formed adjacent the flat bottom on an opposite side of a center line from the first flat, the second flat forming a second flat angle with the flat bottom;
a first bottom edge formed at a junction of the first side wall and the first flat;
a second bottom edge formed at a junction of the second side wall and the second flat;
a first vee formed from the first side wall, the first bottom edge, and the first flat, the first vee defines a first edge angle between the first flat and the first side wall;
and
a second vee formed from the second side wall, the second bottom edge, and the second flat, the second vee defines a second edge angle between the second flat and the second side wall, wherein a first line that extends parallel to the first flat intersects with a second line that extends parallel to the second flat, the first line intersects the second line at an intersection that is spaced from the center line.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of making an ice skate blade

Life of this patent

Method of making an ice skate blade

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20