In-line roller skate

• US 6,139,030 A
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• 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): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/379,461
• Time in Patent Office: 435 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, 36/116, 36/120, 36/89, 36/87, 36/92, D 2/276, D21/225, D21/226
• US Class Current: 280/11.221
• 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 a skater'"'"'s foot, the skate comprising:

(a) a flexible upper shoe for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot and having a nondurable underside, lateral, toe end, heel end and instep portions, at least the instep portion being formed from a substantially non-rigid material;

(b) a base constructed from a substantially rigid material, the base having a durable lower surface, an upper surface that receives and supports the nondurable underside of the upper shoe, a toe rim that extends upwardly from the upper surface to surround and protect the toe end at least portions of the lateral sides of the upper shoe, and a heel support that extends upwardly from the upper surface to surround and protect the heel end of the upper shoe, the base leaving at least the instep portion of the upper shoe exposed, the upper shoe being mounted to the base with the toe end and heel end of the upper shoe being laterally stationary with respect to the toe rim and heel support, respectively, of the base during use;

(c) an ankle cuff pivotally connected on lateral and medial sides to the base and extending upwardly therefrom above the heel support to provide lateral and medial support to the upper shoe;

(d) an at least semi-rigid fastener for securing the ankle cuff about the lower leg of the skater; and

(e) a frame mounted on the lower surface of the base for mounting a plurality of wheels thereto.

2. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein the base is of unitary construction.

3. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein the upper shoe is fixed to the base adjacent the toe and heel ends.

4. 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 nondurable lower surface underlying the received skater'"'"'s foot, said non-rigid shoe portion formed of a fastener coupled thereto for securing said non-rigid shoe portion around the foot of the skater;

a durable base extending beneath and interconnected to said nondurable lower surface of said! non-rigid shoe portion adjacent at least a toe or heel portion of said base to fix said non-rigid shoe portion to said base 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 substantially rigid 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 pivotally coupled on lateral and medial sides thereof to said base, said ankle support cuff including an at least semi-rigid portion 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.