A goalie skate having a skate boot comprising a thermoformed outer shell with a sole and an ankle portion for receiving the ankle of the foot, the ankle portion comprising medial and lateral sides for facing the medial and lateral malleoli respectively, the medial side comprising an upper edge that is a first distance away from the sole and the lateral side comprising an upper edge that is a second distance away from the sole, the first distance being greater than the second distance. By having a goalie skate boot that has the lateral upper edge located below the medial upper edge, the lateral outward flexion of the foot is eased when the goalie skate is in an angled position. The invention also relates to a goalie skate with a skate boot comprising an outer shell that is thermoformed such that it comprises an integrated toe portion, thereby eliminating the traditional toe cap.
1. A goalie ice skate comprising:
(a) a boot having an outer shell for receiving a human foot, the foot having a heel, an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, medial and lateral sides, a plantar surface and toes, said outer shell being made of a composite sheet comprising a layer of a thermoformable material, wherein said composite sheet is thermoformed such that said outer shell forms: i) a sole for facing the plantar surface of the foot; ii) a heel portion for receiving the heel of the foot; iii) medial and lateral side portions for receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively; and iv) an ankle portion for receiving the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus of the ankle of the foot, said ankle portion comprising a medial side having a medial upper edge extending along a first straight line that is a first distance away from said sole and a lateral side having a lateral upper edge extending along a second straight line that is a second distance away from said sole, wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance and wherein said lateral upper edge is entirely located below said medial upper edge; and
(b) a cowling comprising a toe portion for protecting the toes, a base, medial and lateral walls and a heel portion extending upwardly from said base, and a bottom portion for receiving an ice skate blade, wherein said medial and lateral walls, heel portion, toe portion and base define a cavity for receiving at least partially said boot.
2. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said composite sheet is thermoformed such that said medial and lateral sides comprise respective medial and lateral cup-shaped depressions for receiving the medial and lateral malleoili respectively.
3. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 2 , wherein said lateral cup-shaped depression is below said medial cup-shaped depression.
4. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said ice skate blade receiving portion comprises a longitudinal slot for receiving said ice skate blade.
5. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said base of said cowling is affixed to said sole of said outer shell.
6. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said second distance is at least 5 mm greater than said first distance.
7. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said composite sheet is thermoformed such that said heel portion is substantially cup shaped for following the contour of the heel of the foot.
8. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said bottom portion of said cowling comprises an ice skate blade receiving portion and at least one pedestal connecting said base and said ice skate blade receiving portion.
9. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said boot comprises a toe cap and a tongue, said toe cap being affixed to each of said medial and lateral side portions of said outer shell.
10. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said composite sheet is thermoformed such that said medial and lateral side portions comprise foldable skirt portions projecting therefrom for forming said sole of said outer shell.
11. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said boot is a lasted boot.
12. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said layer is a layer of thermoformable foam.
13. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said boot comprises an inner lining having a surface intended for contact with the heel, ankle and lateral and medial sides of the foot, said inner lining being affixed to an inner surface of said outer shell.
14. A goalie ice skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein said boot comprises a footbed adapted for being inserted within said skate boot.