Skate and method of manufacture

1. A skate comprising:

a tridimensional skate boot shell including a heel portion, an ankle portion connected to the heel portion, two opposed side portions extending from the heel and ankle portions, and a sole portion connected to the heel, ankle and side portions;

a sole insert embedded in or received in the skate boot shell such that at least part of a thickness of the sole portion is defined under the sole insert wherein the sole insert includes a perimeter and a plurality of ribs extending across the perimeter, the perimeter and ribs framing a plurality of zones of adjacent openings; and

a holder under the skate boot shell configured for retaining a ground-engaging skate element, the holder connected to the sole insert by at least one fastener extending through the at least part of the thickness of the sole portion.

2. The skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein the holder is connected to the skate boot shell only by the at least one fastener engaged to the sole insert.

3. The skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein the sole insert is received over an inner surface of the skate boot shell.

4. The skate as defined in claim 3 , wherein the sole insert includes a sole-shaped body having an opening defined therethrough bordered by a perimeter surface facing away from the inner surface of the skate boot shell, and a connector received over the perimeter surface, the connector connected to the sole portion of the skate boot shell independently of the holder by at least one additional fastener.

5. The skate as defined in claim 4 , wherein the at least one fastener connected to the holder includes a first fastener engaged to the connector and a plurality of fasteners engaged to the sole-shaped body.

6. The skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein the skate boot shell includes at least a first sub-shell received in and connected to a second sub-shell, the sole insert being received over an inner surface of one of the first and second sub-shells.

7. The skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein the skate boot shell includes at least a first sub-shell received in and connected to a second sub-shell, the sole insert being embedded in the first sub-shell.

8. The skate as defined in claim 1 , wherein the sole insert is made of plastic.

9. The skate as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a toe cap connected to the skate boot shell and engaged to front ends of the opposed side portions and of the sole portion, the sole insert extending forwardly out of the skate boot shell and into the toe cap, a front end of the insert being connected to the toe cap.

10. The skate as defined in claim 9 , wherein the front ends of the opposed side portions and of the sole portion are received inside the toe cap.

11. The skate as defined in claim 9 , wherein the toe cap is connected to the front ends of the opposed side portions by rivets.

12. A method of manufacturing a skate boot, the method comprising:

providing a tridimensional skate boot shell having a heel portion, an ankle portion connected to the heel portion, two opposed side portions extending from the heel and ankle portions and a sole portion, the skate boot shell having a sole insert embedded therein or received therein such that at least part of a thickness of the sole portion is defined under the sole insert;

engaging a toe cap to front ends of the opposed side portions and of the sole portion, including receiving a front end of the sole insert inside the toe cap;

connecting the toe cap to the skate boot shell and to the front end of the sole insert; and

attaching a holder configured for retaining at least one ground-engaging skate element under the skate boot shell by connecting the holder to the sole insert with at least one fastener extending through the at least part of the thickness of the sole portion.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein providing the tridimensional skate boot shell comprises:

shaping a tridimensional outer sub-shell;

shaping a tridimensional inner sub-shell having an outer surface complementary to an inner surface of the outer sub-shell;

bonding the inner sub-shell inside the outer sub-shell; and

placing the sole insert over an inner surface of the skate boot shell.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 , wherein bonding the inner sub-shell inside the outer sub-shell is performed through lamination after the outer and inner sub-shells are shaped.

15. The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein providing the tridimensional skate boot shell comprises:

shaping a tridimensional outer sub-shell;

shaping a tridimensional inner sub-shell having an outer surface complementary to an inner surface of the outer sub-shell, including embedding the sole insert within the inner sub-shell; and

bonding the inner sub-shell inside the outer sub-shell.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein engaging the toe cap to the front ends of the opposed side portions and of the sole portion includes inserting the front ends of the opposed side portions and of the sole portion within the toe cap.

17. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein connecting the toe cap to the skate boot shell includes connecting the toe cap to the front ends of the opposed side portions with rivets.

18. The method as defined in claim 15 , further comprising, prior to engaging the toe cap, selecting the toe cap from at least two toe caps engageable to the skate boot shell, the two toe caps having different sizes.

19. A skate comprising:

a tridimensional skate boot shell including a heel portion, an ankle portion connected to the heel portion, two opposed side portions extending from the heel and ankle portions, and a sole portion connected to the heel, ankle and side portions;

a sole insert embedded in or received in the skate boot shell such that at least part of a thickness of the sole portion is defined under the sole insert; and

a holder under the skate boot shell configured for retaining a ground-engaging skate element, the holder connected to the sole insert by at least one fastener extending through the at least part of the thickness of the sole portion;

wherein the sole insert includes a body having an opening defined therethrough bordered by a perimeter surface facing away from the inner surface of the skate boot shell, and a connector received over the perimeter surface, the connector connected to the sole portion of the skate boot shell independently of the holder by at least one additional fastener.

20. The skate as defined in claim 19 , wherein the holder is connected to the skate boot shell only by the at least one fastener engaged to the sole insert.

21. The skate as defined in claim 19 , wherein the sole insert is received over an inner surface of the skate boot shell.

22. The skate as defined in claim 19 , wherein the at least one fastener connected to the holder includes a first fastener engaged to the connector and a plurality of fasteners engaged to the body.

23. The skate as defined in claim 19 , wherein the skate boot shell includes at least a first sub-shell received in and connected to a second sub-shell, the sole insert being received over an inner surface of one of the first and second sub-shells.

24. The skate as defined in claim 19 , wherein the sole insert is made of plastic.

25. The skate as defined in claim 19 , wherein the body of the sole insert includes a perimeter and a plurality of ribs extending across the perimeter, the perimeter and ribs framing a plurality of zones of adjacent openings.

26. A skate comprising:

a tridimensional skate boot shell including a heel portion, an ankle portion connected to the heel portion, two opposed side portions extending from the heel and ankle portions, and a sole portion connected to the heel, ankle and side portions;

a sole insert embedded in or received in the skate boot shell such that at least part of a thickness of the sole portion is defined under the sole insert;

a toe cap connected to the skate boot shell and engaged to front ends of the opposed side portions and of the sole portion, the sole insert extending forwardly out of the skate boot shell and into the toe cap, a front end of the insert being connected to the toe cap; and

a holder under the skate boot shell configured for retaining a ground-engaging skate element, the holder connected to the sole insert by at least one fastener extending through the at least part of the thickness of the sole portion.

27. The skate as defined in claim 26 , wherein the front ends of the opposed side portions and of the sole portion are received inside the toe cap.

28. The skate as defined in claim 26 , wherein the toe cap is connected to the front ends of the opposed side portions by rivets.

29. The skate as defined in claim 26 , wherein the holder is connected to the skate boot shell only by the at least one fastener engaged to the sole insert.

30. The skate as defined in claim 26 , wherein the sole insert is received over an inner surface of the skate boot shell.

31. The skate as defined in claim 26 , wherein the skate boot shell includes at least a first sub-shell received in and connected to a second sub-shell, the sole insert being received over an inner surface of one of the first and second sub-shells.

32. The skate as defined in claim 26 , wherein the sole insert is made of plastic.