Skate having simplified accelerating device

• US 5,842,706 A
• Filed: 05/22/1997
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chang, Sreter
• Original Assignee: Chang, Sreter
• Inventors: Chang, Sreter
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US08/861,788
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.22, 280/11.26, 280/11.27, 280/11.3, 280/11.31, 280/11.33, 280/11.34, 280/11.23, 280/11.24, 280/614, 280/615, 280/842, 280/636, 280/607 , 280/11.15, 280/11.115
• US Class Current: 280/11.28
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/065 with movements during use of the foot plate or shoe relative to the chassis, e.g. inline clap skate

Abstract

A skate having simplified accelerating device generally includes a truck having a plurality of rollers rotationally mounted thereunder. A boot is pivotally installed to the front portion of the truck by means of a shaft pin. The rear portion of the truck is provided with a mounting socket which has an opening at the top and a threaded portion at bottom. The threaded portion can be readily sealed by a plug having a dowel thereof. The boot is provided with a mounting boss corresponding to the mounting socket of the truck. A circular guiding post having a bottom flange is slidably inserted into the mounting socket of the truck. The top of the circular guiding post is fixedly connected to the mounting boss of the boot. The outer diameter of the flange of the circular guiding post is larger than the upper opening of the socket such that the circular guiding post is limited within the socket. A spring member having a longer length than the circular guiding post is disposed and inserted within the circular guiding post and both ends of the spring member are biased by the mounting boss and the plug disposed at bottom the socket of the truck. By this arrangement, the boot is biased upward respect to the truck by the extension of the compressed spring member. When the user lifts his/her leg, the truck is still contacted with the ground without floating above the ground, accordingly, the weight of the truck will not become a heavy load to the user when the leg is lifted while the tip of the truck may still be used to kick back to push the body forward. As a result, the in-line skate can be quickly accelerated with less energy while the speed is increased.

Claims

1. A skate, comprising:

a boot having a mounting boss on an underside of a rear portion thereof;

a truck pivotally coupled with said boot at front portions thereof, respectively, such that a pivot axis is defined thereby, said truck including a mounting socket positioned in correspondence with said mounting boss, said mounting socket having a first flanged end and a second end;

a plug engaged at said second end of said mounting socket;

a guide post having a curved shape and including a first end and a second end, said first end having a chamber a guide post flange extending peripherally therefrom and said second end being coupled with said mounting boss, said guide post flange being slidably received in said mounting socket and slidable movement of said guide post relative to said mounting socket being limited by contact between said guide post flange and said first flanged end of said mounting socket and by contact between said guide post flange and said plug engaged at said second end of said mounting socket; and

a spring disposed in compression inside a chamber of said guide post, said spring being biased between said mounting boss of said boot and said plug engaged in said second end of said mounting socket.

2. The skate defined in claim 1, wherein:

said curved shape of said guide post corresponds to a radius of curvature associated with a distance between said pivot axis and said guide post.