Foam core in-line skate frame

• US 20040113314A1
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Grande, Dodd H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,214,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/263
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/068 Production or mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/42 Details of chassis of ice or roller skates, of decks of skateboards

Abstract

A skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having a shoe portion (22) and a plurality of wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density. The structural member having first and second sidewalls (62 and 68), each having an upper end and a lower end. The structural member also includes a shoe mounting portion (50) spanning between at least a portion of the upper ends of the sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls having a wheel load introduction portion (58), wherein loads associated with the wheels are transferred to the structural member. The shoe mounting portion having a shoe load introduction portion, wherein loads associated with the shoe portion are transferred to the structural member.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a skate frame for an in-line skate having a shoe portion and a plurality of longitudinally aligned wheels capable of traversing a surface, the method comprising:

(a) forming a first skin on a mold;

(b) positioning core material at a predetermined location on the first skin;

(c) forming a second skin over the first skin such that the core material is positioned and sealed between the first and second skins; and

(d) curing the frame.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the core material is an unreinforced material having an average density that is less than the density of the first and second skins by a predetermined amount.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprises disposing a plug of filler material between the first and second skins before curing to absorb at least a portion of loads associated with the wheels.

4. A method of constructing a skate frame for an in-line skate having a shoe portion and a plurality of longitudinally aligned wheels capable of traversing a surface, the method comprising:

(a) forming a first skin on a mold;

(b) positioning core material at a predetermined location on the first skin;

(c) layering a decorative sheet over the core material to seal the core material between the first skin and the decorative sheet; and

(d) curing the frame.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of forming a second skin over the core material before layering the decorative sheet, such that the second skin is positioned between the core material and the decorative sheet.