Skate

• US 6,158,748 A
• Filed: 03/22/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Benetton Group SPA (Benetton Family)
• Original Assignee: Benetton Group SPA (Benetton Family)
• Inventors: Caeran, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/273,315
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.19, 280/11.22, 280/11.23, 280/11.27, 280/11.28, 280/841, 280/11.12, 36/115, 36/125, 36/102, 36/118.2, 36/118.9
• US Class Current: 280/11.231
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/062 with a pivotal frame or cradle around transversal axis for relative movements of the wheels
• 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

An improved skate with in-line wheels or with an ice-skating blade, includes a shoe which is articulated in the metatarsal region so as to form a sole which is divided into a front part and a rear part. The front part is rigidly associated with a first supporting frame for the wheels or for a blade, while the rear part is slidingly associated with a second supporting frame for the wheels or for a blade. The first and second frames are mutually articulated approximately in the region below the metatarsus, allowing to improve the adaptation of the skate to the natural movement of the foot.

Claims

1. An improved skate, comprising a shoe which is articulated in the metatarsal region so as to form a sole which is divided into a front part and a rear part, said front part being rigidly associated with a first frame for supporting wheels, said rear part being slidingly associated with a second frame for supporting wheels, said first frame and said second frame being mutually articulated approximately in the region below the metatarsus, said first and second frames being U-shaped, the front ends of said second frame being pivoted so as to be able to rotate freely at the respective rear ends of said first frame by means of one of the pivots of said wheels.

2. The skate according to claim 1, wherein said shoe comprises a containment shell for a soft innerboot, said shell having flaps which can be mutually fastened by fastening means, wherein said articulation in the metatarsal region is achieved by fully or partially dividing said shoe at said region, the rotary connection being achieved by using a pair of pivots or studs.

3. The skate according to claim 1, wherein said sliding connection between said rear part of said sole and said second frame occurs by means of a pair of screws, each having a shank that passes at holes formed at a flat base which constitutes said second frame for supporting said rear part of said sole.

4. The skate according to claim 3, wherein said screws have a head which has a disk-like shape, said shank acting at a pair of slots formed at said rear part of said sole adjacent to said holes.

5. The skate according to claim 4, wherein said head of each one of said screws, which are arranged at a same axis arranged transversely to said second frame, are arranged at a recess formed on the surface of said rear part of said sole which is adjacent to said soft innerboot.

6. The skate according to claim 5, wherein said recess and said slots are formed at a single insert which is T-shaped in transverse cross-section and can be accommodated within a complementarily shaped seat formed at said rear part of said sole.

7. The skate according to claim 6, wherein said slots are arranged along an axis lying longitudinally to said second frame and allow, if said second frame is lifted with respect to the ground, the sliding therein of said shanks of said screws, said screws being lockable by means of nuts which can be associated with the tips of said shanks which protrude beyond a lower surface of said flat base of said second frame.