2014 Sochi Olympic has started finally with
worldwide excitements and expectations. I am sure that many fans awaited this winter festival for long time, and Korean fans are not exceptions.
Speed skating and Short track skating are one of the most popular winter sports in Korea,
and yesterday Korean player Lee
Sang-Hwa won the gold medal in ladies 500M short track
with Olympic record, whole
Korea fans were thrown into sleepless exultation.
Skating in Olympic has speed skating, short
track, figure staking, hockey, and many other sports.
As its types are various,
shapes of each skate have all different characteristics as well.
And of course,
patents related to them are plenty too!
Let’s take a look now. :)
<wipsglobal.com, KR patent 2009-0108754>
Above is KR patent, filed in 2009, and
granted in 2012. This patent technology is about manufacturing skate blade with
stainless material, helps reducing weight and also prevents rusting. This
technology enables assembling of skate without welding, increased manufacturing
convenience largely.
<wipsglobal.com, KR patent 2011-0038481>
This patent is filed in 2008, granted in
2013, equipped with ankle area buffering enforcement material. External
buffering enforcement material is attached in order to prevent leather bending symptom
from the power inflicted on ankle area, so this device can prevent ankle from being
bent or sprained,
helps players to enhance their performances.
<wipsglobal.com, KR patent granted 1106264>
Above is KR patent as well, filed in 2009,
granted in 2012.
This skate can adjust the length of skate blade. Flexible length adjustment or replacement is possible according to the need of
user’s height and preference, thus this technology successfully combined convenience and economical advantage
together. When skate blade is damaged or gets rusted,
immediate replacement is
possible as well.
<wipsglobal.com, PCT 2009-011586>
Last patent seems complicated a little bit, this
technology is on clap skate.
Clap skate was introduced in 1997 for the first
time, and now almost every speed skating players are wearing it. Unlike other
ordinary skate in the past, rear part of blade can be separated from the boots.
This separation enables blade to cling to the ice even when players lift their
heels during gliding,
has effect of reducing friction and increasing the speed,
which leads to a better record.
This patent was originally from Netherland company,
no surprise that many world top speed skating players
are from Netherland!
Many patent technologies are hidden in skating, I guess this is a good reflection of people’s continuous struggle and efforts for faster record. As fast
as the world record gets shortened,
technologies behind it are evolving even
faster. :)