TECHNICAL FIELD
The disclosed subject matter relates to devices for re-edging a blade of an ice skate.
BACKGROUND
It is well known in the ice skating community that the edges of ice skates become dull and damaged with use. In order to address this, various techniques are used to re-sharpen ice skate edges. For example, files can be used to sharpen an ice skate edge and remove damage. However, properly using a file to sharpen an ice skate edge can be difficult for some users. For example, it can be difficult to know at what angles to hold a file and it can be difficult to hold the file at those angles.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide new devices for re-edging a blade of an ice skate.
SUMMARY
Devices for re-edging a blade of an ice skate are provided. In some embodiments, these devices include: a handle body; a pair of prongs that is arranged with a V shape at one end of the handle body and that is configured to sharpen the blade; and a honing stone attached to the handle body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a first view of a device for re-edging an ice skate in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 2 is a second view of a device for re-edging an ice skate in accordance with some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Devices for re-edging a blade of an ice skate are provided.
In some embodiments, such devices can be used to sharpen a blade of an ice skate. In some embodiments, such devices can additionally or alternatively be used to remove nicks or abrasions in the blade of an ice skate.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, devices for sharpening and repairing ice skate edges are provided. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment 100 of such a device. As shown, device 100 includes a handle body 108 having two prongs 102 and 104 that are arranged in a V shape as illustrated by 106 and that are attached to the handle body. The prongs may be attached to the handle body using any suitable mechanism. For example, the prongs may be attached to the handle body using an adhesive, the prongs may be molded in to the handle body, the prongs may be welded to the handle body, the prongs may be a continuous structure with the handle body, etc. The prongs may be made of any suitable material. For example, the prongs may be made of ceramic steel. The prongs may be resistant to wear and rust in some embodiments. The V shape 106 in which the prongs are arranged may be any suitable shape for sharpening the edge of an ice skate. For example, the V shape 106 may be selected so that as an ice skate edge is passed between the prongs and the prongs are moved along the length of the edge with applied force, the edge will become sharpened to match the angle of the V shape. The angle of the V shape can be 15.6 degrees (or about 15.6 degrees), or any other suitable angle, in some embodiments.
As also shown in FIG. 1, handle body 108 may include a honing stone 110 located at another end of the handle body in some embodiments. This honing stone may be used to remove nicks and abrasions that occur to an ice skate blade. This honing stone may be made of any suitable material in some embodiments. For example, the honing stone may be made of any suitable sharpening stone, with any suitable grit. The honing stone may have any suitable shape in some embodiments. For example, as illustrated the honing stone may be rectangular, or the honing stone may be square, round, triangular, etc. As another example, the honing stone may have the shape of a pyramid or cone. The honing stone may be attached to the handle body using any suitable attachment mechanism 114 in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the honing stone may be attached to the handle body so that the honing stone can be removed when desired. For example, the honing stone may be removed in some embodiments so that it can be replaced with a new honing stone. To facilitate removal, the honing stone may be attached to the handle body, for example, by double-sided tape, by a non-permanent adhesive, by Velcro, by a screw, etc. In some embodiments, the honing stone may be partially embedded in a recess 112 in handle body 108. By partially embedding the honing stone in this recess, lateral forces applied to the honing stone when being applied to an ice skate edge may be mechanically supported by the handle body, rather than be entirely supported by attachment mechanism 114.
Although the honing stone is illustrated as being located at an opposite end from the prongs, in some embodiments the honing stone can be located at the same end.
Handle body 108 may be made of any suitable material in some embodiments. For example, handle body 108 may be made from plastic, fiberglass, wood, metal, etc. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, handle body 108 may include two recesses 116 and 118 into which a user's fingers can be placed to securely hold the handle body. As also shown in FIG. 1, handle body 108 may include a bump 120 also for ensuring a secure grip of the handle body by the user. This bump can be positioned to be located in the palm of a user's hand when the hand is holding the handle body. As further shown in FIG. 2, handle body may be bent as represented by 122 to provide an improved working angle over a straight body.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is only limited by the claims which follow. Features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined and rearranged in various ways.
Patent Application
20110203416
