Multi-hinged skate and methods for construction of the same

Abstract

An improved hinge system for pivotally coupling a skate lower portion to a skate upper cuff. The multi-hinge design incorporates a four link chain mechanism that greatly increases the number of design options for a hinged boot. The pivot axis defined by the four link chain can be designed to shift through a path of travel that generally coincides with the path of travel of the anatomical pivot axis defined by the user's foot and leg. The upper cuff and boot lower portion account for two of the four links of the four link mechanism. The other two links are either rigid bars with pin connections on both the upper cuff and the lower portion, or roller links with a pin connection to the upper and a slot like sliding surface on the lower portion. A slider link can be substituted for the roller and a slide surface can be substituted for the slot.

1 . A method of designing a boot for a skate having an upper portion, a lower portion and a multi-hinged linkage assembly, the method comprising: 
 determining how said skate will be used;    determining design constraints for said boot based on how said skate will be used;    measuring anatomical and kinematic ranges of motion of at least one user;    selecting prescribed design positions and design angles;    creating planar data by using said design positions and design angles;    selecting at least one link size and at least one link type;    kinematically synthesizing locations of pins and slots in said upper portion and said lower portion;    surveying linkage solutions;    adding upper portion and lower portion constraints;    choosing a specific multi-hinge linkage;    performing a structural analysis;    designing said boot, thereby developing a prototype design; and    manufacturing a prototype of said boot using said prototype design.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising testing said prototype.  
   
   
       3 . A method of designing a boot for a skate, the boot comprising a lower portion, an upper portion, and a multi-link hinge assembly, the method comprising: 
 determining user needs;    selecting a range of user functional needs;    determining user constraints;    measuring anatomical ranges in at least one user;    selecting an initial set of design positions and design angles;    selecting a link type or a joint type;    kinematically synthesizing a set of design positions;    selecting boot characteristics;    surveying linkage solutions;    adding cuff and lower boot constraints;    choosing a default linkage configuration;    choosing alternate linkage configurations;    designing a prototype of said boot, and testing said prototype.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further including modifying said prototype.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising measuring a specific customer's motions.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including customizing the multi-link hinge assembly for said specific customer based on said measurements of said specific customer's motions.