In-line roller skate

• US 5,437,466 A
• Filed: 07/19/1993
• Issued: 08/01/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Meibock, Antonin A., Svensson, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Mitchell J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mattix, Carla
• Application Number:
  US08/094,576
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.22, 280/11.19, 280/11.2, 280/11.27, 280/11.3, 280/11.23, 280/11.25, 280/811, 36/62, 36/115, 36/3 A, 36/3 R, 36/117, 36/120, D 2/276, D 2/265, D 2/275, D21/225, D21/226
• US Class Current: 280/11.202
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0401 Snowboard boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0466 Adjustment of the side inclination of the boot leg; Canting
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1625 made from materials with different rigidities
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/165 with ventilation means in the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1666 characterised by the upper
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1691 characterised by the higher part of the upper, e.g. surrounding the ankle, by the quarter or cuff
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/28 Adapting the inner sole or the side of the upper of the shoe to the sole of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/067 with adjustable position of the foot plate or shoe relative to the chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/1418 with radial movement against the roll surface of the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/226 Wheel mounting, i.e. arrangement connecting wheel and axle mount
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2017/1472 Hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2017/149 Stick operated
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/42 Details of chassis of ice or roller skates, of decks of skateboards

Abstract

An in-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel and ankle areas. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic which may be heat moldable to conform to the user'"'"'s foot. The sole of the shoe may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the user'"'"'s foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

Claims

1. In an in-line roller skate having an upper shoe portion and a lower frame portion, said upper shoe portion being adapted to support a skater'"'"'s foot, and said upper shoe portion being positioned upwardly adjacent said lower frame portion, and said lower frame portion including a plurality of wheels rotatable in a common, longitudinally extending plane of rotation, the improvement wherein said upper shoe portion comprises:

a non-rigid shoe portion adapted to receive a skater'"'"'s foot, said non-rigid shoe portion formed of a substantially soft, pliable material, said material adapted to allow air to circulate around the skater'"'"'s foot, said non-rigid shoe portion including a vamp and a vamp fastener coupled to said vamp to secure said non-rigid shoe portion over the top of the skater'"'"'s foot;

support means positioned adjacent selected areas of said non-rigid shoe portion for provide support to aid the skater in maintaining said in-line roller skate in a substantially vertical position, said support means including an ankle support cuff for surrounding an ankle portion of said non-rigid shoe portion, said support means further including a heel counter for cupping the heel of the skater'"'"'s foot wherein said heel counter and said ankle support cuff are pivotally interconnected, said support means being positioned adjacent only portions of said non-rigid shoe position, said vamp not being substantially covered by said support means such that air circulates through said non-rigid shoe portion to cool the skater'"'"'s foot while skating; and

a base portion, said base portion having an upper surface for receiving the skater'"'"'s foot and a lower surface for providing a connecting interface between said lower portion and said upper shoe portion, said ankle support cuff and said heel counter vertically extending said support means upward from said base portion, said non-rigid shoe portion being permanently affixed to said base portion, wherein at least a portion of said non-rigid shoe portion extends continuously from said base portion to at least the top of said ankle support cuff.

2. The in-line roller skate of claim 1 wherein said heel counter is an integral part of said base portion, and further comprising fastening means for securing said non-rigid shoe portion to said heel counter and said base portion, said heel counter and said base portion aiding the skater in maintaining said in-line roller skate in a substantially vertical position, said heel counter and said base portion being conformed to the shape of the skater'"'"'s foot.

3. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein said lower frame portion is an integrally molded part of said base portion.

4. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein said non-rigid shoe portion substantially comprises an exterior woven fabric material and an interior open cell foam padding, and wherein said non-rigid shoe portion also comprises an open mesh material that allows air to circulate around the skater'"'"'s foot, said non-rigid shoe portion extending continuously from said base portion to above said support means.

5. In an in-line roller skate having an upper shoe portion and a lower frame portion, said upper shoe portion adapted to support a skater'"'"'s foot and positioned upwardly adjacent said lower frame portion, said lower frame portion including a plurality of rotatable wheels rotatable in a common, longitudinally extending plane of rotation, the improvement wherein said upper shoe portion comprises:

a base portion having an upper surface adapted to receive a skater'"'"'s foot and a lower surface providing an interface between said lower frame portion and said upper shoe portion, said upper surface of said base portion including means for contouring said surface to the shape of the skater'"'"'s foot and including integral heel counter means, said lower surface having attachment means for securing said upper shoe portion to said lower frame portion, said attachment means including means for adjusting the position of said upper shoe portion with respect to said lower frame portion;

a non-rigid soft, pliable shoe portion permanently interconnected with said base portion and including means for permitting air to freely circulate around the skater'"'"'s foot, said non-rigid shoe portion including an outer durable portion and an inner soft portion for providing comfort to the skater, said shoe portion having a vamp and a vamp fastener for securing the skater'"'"'s foot to said base portion; and

an ankle support cuff extending upwardly from said heel counter means, said ankle support cuff adapted to aid the skater in maintaining said in-line roller skate in an upright position while skating, wherein said non-rigid, soft, pliable shoe portion is formed of an external woven fabric material and an internal open cell foam padding, wherein said external woven fabric material and said internal open cell foam padding allow air circulate therethrough around the skater'"'"'s foot, said shoe portion extending continuously from said base portion to above said ankle support cuff.

6. An in-line roller skate for receiving a foot of a skater, the skate comprising:

(a) a frame having means for securing wheels thereto;

(b) a rigid base securely attached to said frame, said base adapted to support the bottom of the skater'"'"'s foot, said base including a heel portion and a toe portion adapted to support areas beneath the heel, ball, and toes of the skater'"'"'s foot;

(c) a substantially non-rigid upper portion adapted to receive the skater'"'"'s foot, said non-rigid upper portion being formed of a substantially pliable, breathable material, said non-rigid upper portion adapted to substantially cover the instep and the ankle of the skater'"'"'s foot, said non-rigid upper portion being non-removably affixed to said rigid base adjacent both said heel and toe portions of said base, said non-rigid upper portion further including a releasable fastener adapted for securing said non-rigid upper portion around the foot of the skater, including the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot; and

(d) a substantially rigid upper portion coupled to said non-rigid upper portion and affixed to said rigid base, said rigid upper portion including a heel counter affixed to said base and an ankle support cuff attached to said heel counter, said rigid upper portion providing lateral support for said non-rigid upper portion, wherein said rigid upper portion leaves a substantial portion of said non-rigid upper portion exposed, including a substantial portion of the instep of the skaters foot, wherein said non-rigid upper portion extends continuously from said base to the top of said ankle support cuff, the portion of said non-rigid upper portion that extends through said ankle support cuff being slidably coupled within said ankle support cuff.