Technology patents behind Skating!

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. :)