In-line roller skate

• US 6,367,818 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US09/877,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11-21-, 280/11.3, 280/11.231, 280/11.211, 280/11.215, 361/15--186
• 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 receiving the foot of a skater, the skate comprising:

a frame having wheels rotatably secured thereto;

a base securely attached to the frame, the base adapted to support the bottom of the skater'"'"'s foot, the base including a substantially horizontal heel portion and a substantially horizontal toe portion adapted to support areas beneath the heel, ball, and toes of the skater'"'"'s foot;

a substantially non-rigid upper portion adapted to receive the skater'"'"'s foot, the non-rigid upper portion being formed of a substantially pliable material adapted for air circulation about the skater'"'"'s foot, the non-rigid upper portion adapted to substantially cover the instep and ankle of the skater'"'"'s foot, the non-rigid upper portion being permanently affixed directly to the base, the non-rigid upper portion further including a releasable fastener adapted for securing the non-rigid upper portion around the foot of the skater, including the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot; and

a substantially rigid upper portion coupled to the non-rigid upper portion and secured to the base, the rigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter on lateral and medial sides thereof, the rigid upper portion providing lateral support for the non-rigid upper portion and leaving a substantial portion of the non-rigid upper portion exposed during use, including a majority portion over the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot.

2. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein the substantially pliable material of the non-rigid upper is in contact with the base.

3. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein the ankle support cuff is slidably coupled to the non-rigid upper portion.

4. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein the ankle support cuff is non-permanently coupled to the non-rigid upper portion.

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

a frame having wheels rotatably secured thereto;

a base having an upper surface adapted to support the bottom of the skater'"'"'s foot, including a heel portion and a toe portion adapted to support areas beneath the heel, ball, and toes of the skater'"'"'s foot, the base further having a lower surface securely attached to the frame;

a substantially non-rigid upper portion adapted to receive the skater'"'"'s foot, the non-rigid upper portion being formed of a substantially pliable material adapted to substantially cover the instep and ankle of the skater'"'"'s foot and to extend at least partially beneath the skater'"'"'s foot, at least a portion of the substantially pliable material extending beneath the skater'"'"'s foot being secured to the upper surface of the base, the non-rigid upper portion further including a releasable fastener adapted for securing the non-rigid upper portion around the foot of the skater, including the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot; and

a substantially rigid upper portion coupled to the non-rigid upper portion and secured to the base, the rigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter on lateral and medial sides thereof, the rigid upper portion providing lateral support for the non-rigid upper portion and leaving a substantial portion of the non-rigid upper portion exposed during use, including a majority portion over the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot.

6. The in-line roller skate of claim 5, wherein the non-rigid upper portion is permanently affixed to the base.

7. The in-line roller skate of claim 6, wherein the non-rigid upper portion is formed of a material adapted for air circulation about the skater'"'"'s foot.

8. The in-line roller skate of claim 7, wherein the ankle support cuff is slidably coupled to the non-rigid upper portion.

9. The in-line roller skate of claim 7, wherein the ankle support cuff is non-permanently coupled to the non-rigid upper portion.

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

a frame having wheels rotatably secured thereto;

a base having an upper surface adapted to support the bottom of the skater'"'"'s foot, including a heel portion and a toe portion adapted to support areas beneath the heel, ball, and toes of the skater'"'"'s foot, the base further having a lower surface securely attached to the frame;

a substantially non-rigid upper portion adapted to receive the skater'"'"'s foot, the non-rigid upper portion being formed of substantially pliable material adapted to substantially cover the instep and ankle of the skater'"'"'s foot for air circulation about the skater'"'"'s foot, the non-rigid upper further being formed of a non-rigid material extending beneath the skater'"'"'s foot, the non-rigid upper being secured to the base at the interface between the non-rigid material and the upper surface of the base, the non-rigid upper portion further including a releasable fastener adapted for securing the non-rigid upper portion around the foot of the skater, including the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot; and

a substantially rigid upper portion coupled to the non-rigid upper portion and secured to the base, the rigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter on lateral and medial sides thereof, the rigid upper portion providing lateral support for the non-rigid upper portion and leaving a substantial portion of the non-rigid upper portion exposed during use, including a majority portion over the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot.

11. The in-line roller skate of claim 10, wherein the non-rigid upper portion is secured to the base substantially along the entire interface between the base and the non-rigid upper portion.

12. The in-line roller skate of claim 10, wherein the non-rigid upper portion is permanently affixed to the base.

13. The in-line roller skate of claim 12, wherein the non-rigid upper portion is formed of a material adapted for air circulation about the skater'"'"'s foot.

14. The in-line roller skate of claim 13, wherein the ankle support cuff is slidably coupled to the non-rigid upper portion.

15. The in-line roller skate of claim 14, wherein the ankle support cuff is non-permanently coupled to the non-rigid upper portion.