In-line roller skate

• US 5,848,796 A
• Filed: 03/03/1997
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• 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): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/811,134
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.19, 280/11.2, 280/11.22, 280/11.23, 280/11.25, 280/11.27, 280/811, 280/11.12, 36/62, 36/115, 36/3 A, 36/3 R, 36/117, 36/120, D 2/276, D21/225, D21/226
• US Class Current: 280/11.215
• 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. 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 base securely and rigidly 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 material adapted for air circulation about the skater'"'"'s foot, 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 secured to said rigid base adjacent both said heel and toe portions of said base to fix said non-rigid upper portion to said base and to prevent lateral movement of said non-rigid upper portion relative to 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 secured to said rigid base, said rigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to said base and an ankle support member coupled to said heel counter, said rigid upper portion including an ankle cuff fastened about the skater'"'"'s leg for substantial lateral rigidity, while leaving a substantial portion of said non-rigid upper portion exposed during use, including a majority portion over the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot.

2. 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 ankle, and said upper shoe portion being positioned upwardly adjacent said lower frame portion, 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 and having a lower surface underlying the received 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 with a fastener coupled thereto for securing said non-rigid shoe portion around the foot of the skater;

a base extending beneath and interconnected to said lower surface of said non-rigid shoe portion adjacent heel and toe portions of said base to fix said non-rigid shoe portion to said base and to prevent lateral movement of said non-rigid upper portion relative to said base, said base including a lower interface for connection to said lower frame portion; and

a support structure extending upwardly from said base adjacent portions of said non-rigid shoe portion for providing support for said non-rigid shoe portion and the skater'"'"'s ankle to aid the skater in maintaining said in-line roller skate in a substantially vertical position, said support structure including an ankle support cuff fastened about the skater'"'"'s leg for substantial lateral rigidity while also leaving a majority of the vamp of the non-rigid shoe portion exposed during use.

3. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein said support structure of said upper shoe portion further includes a heel counter for cupping the heel of the skater'"'"'s foot wherein said heel counter and said ankle support cuff are connected by a fastener, said heel counter and said ankle support cuff vertically extending said support means upwardly from said base to a position above the skater'"'"'s ankle to aid the skater in maintaining said in-line roller skate in a substantially vertical position.

4. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein said support structure comprises:

strap for securing said ankle support cuff to the skater'"'"'s foot; and

a heel counter for cupping the heel of the skater'"'"'s foot, wherein said heel counter and said ankle support cuff are connected by fastening means; and

wherein said base comprises;

an upper surface for receiving the skater'"'"'s foot and a lower surface for providing an interface between said lower frame portion and said upper shoe portion, said ankle support cuff and said heel counter vertically extending said support structure upward from said base to a position above the skater'"'"'s ankle to aid the skater in maintaining said in-line roller skate in a substantially vertical position and wherein said ankle support cuff and said heel counter are attached to said base.

5. The in-line roller skate of claim 4, 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.

6. The in-line roller skate of claim 5, wherein said lower frame portion is an integral part of said base portion.

7. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, 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.

8. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein said support structure is positioned adjacent only portions of the skater'"'"'s foot and said non-rigid shoe portions alone cover the remaining portions of the skater'"'"'s foot so that circulation of air around the skater'"'"'s foot is facilitated.

9. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, further comprising a speed control, said speed control comprising a speed control plate and biasing means for biasing said speed control plate away from said plurality of rotatable wheels, said biasing means being overcome in response to the application of force by the skater to move said speed control plate between opposing sides of at least two of said plurality of the rotatable wheels to create friction between said speed control plate and said rotatable wheels to create drag to control a speed of the skater.

10. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein said base interface includes means for adjusting the location of said upper shoe portion with respect to said lower frame portion.

11. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein said ankle support cuff is connected to the remainder of said support structure with fastening means for connecting said ankle support cuff, said fastening means including longitudinal canting means for adjusting the longitudinal cant of said ankle support cuff with respect to said lower frame portion.

12. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein said ankle support cuff is connected to the remainder of said support structure with fastening means for connecting said ankle support cuff, said fastening means including lateral canting means for adjusting the lateral cant of said ankle support cuff with respect to said lower frame portion.

13. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein said support structure aids the skater in maintaining said in-line roller skate in a substantially vertical position, said support structure being conformable to the shape of the skater'"'"'s foot and said base including a horizontal base portion having an upper surface for receiving the skater'"'"'s foot and a lower surface for providing an upper interface between said lower frame portion and said upper shoe portion, said upper surface of said base portion being substantially contoured to the shape of the skater'"'"'s foot in contact therewith, said lower surface of said base portion including attachment means for securing said base portion to said lower frame portion, said attachment means allowing for lateral and longitudinal adjustment of said upper shoe portion with respect to said lower frame portion.

14. The in-line roller skate of claim 13, wherein said base portion further includes an integral heel counter for cupping the heel of the skater'"'"'s foot.

15. The in-line roller skate of claim 13, wherein said base portion further includes a raised support on either side of said base portion, adjacent the ball of the skater'"'"'s foot, for supporting the skater'"'"'s foot laterally on said base portion.

16. The in-line roller skate of claim 13, wherein said base portion further includes base support means integrally connected to said base portion, for providing support for the bottom of the skater'"'"'s foot.

17. The skate of claim 2, wherein said ankle support cuff is slidably connected to said non-rigid shoe portion.

18. In a skate having an upper shoe portion and a lower frame portion, said upper shoe portion adapted to support a skater'"'"'s foot and ankle and positioned upwardly adjacent said lower frame portion, 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 a heel counter, said lower surface having attachment means for securing said upper shoe portion to said lower frame portion;

a non-rigid soft, pliable shoe portion interconnected with said base portion to fix said non-rigid shoe portion to 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 member extending upwardly from said heel counter adjacent the skater'"'"'s ankle, said ankle support member adapted to aid the skater in maintaining said skate in an upright position while skating, said ankle support member being disposed within said outer durable portion of said non-rigid, soft, pliable shoe portion and being movable in fore and aft directions relative to said base portion.

19. The in-line roller skate of claim 18, wherein said base portion of said upper shoe portion and said heel counter are connected by fastening means.

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

(a) a frame having means for securing wheels rotatable in a common, longitudinally extending plane of rotation;

(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 having a vamp to cover the instep and an ankle portion to cover the ankle of the skater'"'"'s foot, said non-rigid upper portion being interconnected to said rigid base adjacent both said heel and toe portions of said base to fix said non-rigid upper portion to said rigid base; and

(d) a substantially rigid upper portion coupled to said non-rigid upper portion and coupled to said rigid base, said rigid upper portion including an ankle support member extending above and fastened about the skater'"'"'s ankle for substantial lateral rigidity when wearing the skate while said rigid upper portion also leaving a portion of said non-rigid upper portion exposed during use, including a majority of said vamp, said rigid upper portion providing lateral support for at least a portion of the heel portion and for the ankle portion of said non-rigid upper portion.

21. The skate of claim 20, wherein said substantially rigid upper portion includes a heel counter affixed to said base and, said ankle support and cuff being coupled to said heel counter.

22. The skate of claim 21, wherein said ankle support cuff is pivotally attached to said heel counter.

23. The skate of claim 21, wherein said heel counter is integrally molded with said rigid base.

24. The skater of claim 21, wherein said ankle support cuff includes a strap adapted for securing said cuff around the lower leg of the skater above the ankle.

25. The skate of claim 20, wherein said upper portion is formed of a substantially pliable, breathable material.

26. The skate of claim 25, wherein said non-rigid upper portion comprises an exterior woven fabric material adapted to allow air to circulate around the skater'"'"'s foot.

27. The skate of claim 20, further comprising a toe cap affixed to said toe portion of said base and covering a portion of said non-rigid upper portion.

28. The skate of claim 20, wherein said base portion further includes a raised support on either side of said base portion, adjacent the ball of the skater'"'"'s foot, for supporting said skater'"'"'s foot laterally on said base portion.

29. The skate of claim 20, wherein said non-rigid upper portion includes a releasable fastener adapted for securing said non-rigid portion around the foot of the skater, including the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot.

30. The skate of claim 29, wherein said fastener comprises laces.

31. The skate of claim 20, wherein said non-rigid upper portion is nonremovably affixed to said base adjacent substantially the entire perimeter of said base.

32. The skate of claim 22, wherein said ankle support cuff is attached to the inside of said heel counter to help secure the heel of the skater'"'"'s foot.

33. An in-line skate for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot and ankle comprising:

(a) a frame and a plurality of in-line wheels rotatably attached to said frame; and

(b) a unitary upper attached to said frame, said unitary upper including;

(i) a rigid base configured for extending beneath the skater'"'"'s foot, said rigid base including heel and toe portions;

(ii) a non-rigid shell configured for surrounding the skater'"'"'s foot and ankle, said shell being interconnected to said base adjacent both said heel and toe portions of said base to fix said shell to said base and having a vamp and vamp fastener coupled to said vamp for securing the skater'"'"'s foot from movement relative to said frame; and

(iii) a rigid support attached to said base and coupled to said shell, said rigid support including an ankle support member extending above and being fastened about the ankle of the skater'"'"'s foot, said rigid support not extending across a majority of said vamp during use.

34. The skate of claim 33, wherein said rigid support includes a heel counter attached to said base, and wherein said ankle support member being pivotally attached to the inside of said heel counter between said heel counter and said shell.