Automatic sharpening system for ice-skates

1. A method of using a skate grinding device, comprising:

provide an automatic sharpening system ( 10 ) having grip members ( 14 , 16 ) and a grinding wheel ( 28 );

inserting a blade ( 18 ) of a skate ( 20 ) into a groove ( 19 );

automatically centering the grip members above the grinding wheel by turning a handle ( 46 ) so that the blade is aligned with the grinding wheel when adjusting a width of the groove with the handle;

connecting the handle ( 46 ) to a first bar ( 45 ) and a second bar ( 47 ), the first bar being connected to the grip member ( 14 ) and the second bar being connected to the grip member ( 16 ), the first bar being parallel to the second bar, the grip member ( 14 ) being attached by eccentrically mounted fasteners ( 48 , 50 ), the grip member ( 16 ) being eccentrically mounted to fasteners ( 56 , 58 );

a motor ( 44 ) simultaneously and automatically rotating the grinding wheel ( 28 ) and moving the grinding wheel ( 28 ) within the groove along the blade from a first end ( 32 ) of the blade to a second end ( 34 ) of the blade to grind the blade ( 18 );

an electronic unit ( 86 ) measuring a time the system ( 10 ) is used;

move the handle to a locked position to push the grip member ( 14 ) away from the handle to rotate the fasteners ( 48 , 50 ) about eccentric rotors ( 52 , 54 ) in a first rotational direction ( 55 ) and to push the grip member ( 16 ) away from the handle to simultaneously rotate the fasteners ( 56 , 58 ) about eccentric rotors 60 , 62 ) in a second rotational direction ( 57 ) to symmetrically narrow a gap ( 15 ) formed between the grip member ( 14 ) and the grip member ( 16 ), the first rotational direction ( 55 ) being opposite the second rotational direction ( 57 );

moving the handle from the locked position to a released position to pull the grip member ( 14 ) towards the handle to rotate the fasteners ( 48 , 50 ) about the eccentric rotors ( 52 , 54 ) in the second rotational direction and to pull the grip member ( 16 ) towards the handle to simultaneously rotate the fasteners ( 56 , 58 ) about the eccentric rotors ( 60 , 62 ) in the first rotational direction to symmetrically widen the gap ( 15 ); and

the system sending an activation signal to a remote communication device to indicate that the system is being used by a user.

2. The method according to the claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the grip members centering the blade within the groove.

3. The method according to the claim 1 wherein the method further comprises turning a handle to center the grip members and to exert a clamping pressure on the blade.

4. The method according to the claim 1 wherein the method further comprises a sharpening device ( 36 ) grinding a convex shape of a peripheral surface ( 38 ) of the grinding wheel ( 28 ).

5. The method according to the claim 1 wherein the method further comprises centering the sharpening device ( 36 ) within a gap ( 76 ).

6. The method according to the claim 4 wherein the method further comprises moving the sharpening device ( 36 ) along a peripheral path ( 82 ).

7. The method according to the claim 1 wherein the method further comprises rotating a counter-weight device ( 64 ) eccentrically mounted on the grinding wheel ( 28 ).

8. The method according to the claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the grinding wheel ( 28 ) automatically following a curved shape of rounded ends ( 32 , 34 ) of the blade ( 18 ) while providing a constant grinding pressure.

9. The method according to the claim 1 wherein the method further comprises remotely controlling the system 10 with a mobile telephone.

10. The method according to the claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the handle ( 46 ) rotating eccentrically mounted fasteners ( 48 , 50 , 56 , 58 ).