Skate with in-line wheels

• US 6,375,198 B1
• Filed: 04/05/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nordica SpA (Tecnica Group S.P.A.)
• Original Assignee: Nordica SpA (Tecnica Group S.P.A.)
• Inventors: Serafin, Renato, Caeran, Francesco, Gonella, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US09/285,789
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.19, 280/11.2, 280/11.22, 280/11.26, 280/11.27, 280/11.15, 280/11.16, 280/11.34
• US Class Current: 280/11.221
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/28 Pivotally-mounted plates
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/1436 contacting the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2017/1481 Leg or ankle operated

Abstract

A skate with in-line wheels, including a first front body, for supporting and locking the front part of the foot, and a second rear body, for supporting and locking at least the heel, the bodies having a first frame and a second frame for supporting a plurality of wheels. The first and second bodies and the first and second supporting frames are rotatably associated to each other to allow better transmission of lateral forces during sports practice.

Claims

1. Skate with in-line wheels comprising:

an upper for accommodating a user'"'"'s foot, said upper having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion pivoting with respect to said second portion during a pivoting use configuration of the skate;

a wheel supporting frame downwardly connected to said upper;

a plurality of in-line wheels rotatably supported by said wheel supporting frame;

said wheel supporting frame comprising a first frame member and a second frame member, said first frame member being downwardly connected to said first portion of said upper and said second frame member being downwardly connected to said second portion of said upper such that said first frame member pivots with respect to said second frame member when said first portion and said second portion of said upper mutually pivot with respect to one another during said pivoting use configuration of the skate;

a slot extending through said first frame member, and a transverse element connected to and moveable with said second frame member, a portion of said transverse element being positioned within said slot so that said portion slides within said slot as said first and second frame members move relative to each other;

a first lock surface provided on said first frame member and a second lock surface provided on said second frame member, said first and second lock surfaces being mutually aligned in a locking configuration of said first and second frame members each of said lock surfaces being spaced from said slot; and

a lock element removably and selectively engageable with said first and second lock surfaces when said first and second frame members are in said locking configuration for selectively preventing mutual pivoting between said first and second frame members and for selectively preventing mutual pivoting between said front and rear portions of said upper.

2. The skate of claim 1 wherein said first and second frame members are U-shaped and respectively have first and second wings protruding downwardly from said upper and between which said plurality of wheels are pivotably supported, portions of said first wings being arranged in overlapping contact with portions of said second wings for providing lateral force transmission of said frame members.

3. The skate of claim 1 comprising guiding and mutual sliding means for slidingly guiding said first frame member with respect to said second frame member when said first and second frame members pivot with respect to each other during said pivoting use configuration of the skate.

4. The skate of claim 1, wherein said slot is curved.

5. The skate of claim 1 wherein said upper comprises a monolithic shell.

6. The roller skate of claim 1 wherein said first lock surface is defined by a first locking hole provided on said first frame member, and said second lock surface is defined by a second locking hole provided on said second frame member.

7. The skate of claim 1 wherein said upper comprises a monolithic shell forming said first portion and said second portion and having, proximate to a sole of tie skate and it a front foot region, at least on;

articulation which pivotably connects said first portion and said second portion of said upper such that said first portion pivots with respect to said second portion during a pivoting use configuration of the skate.

8. The skate of claim 7 wherein said first portion is adapted for securing a front part of a user'"'"'s foot and said second portion is adapted for securing at least a heel of a user'"'"'s foot.

9. The skate of claim 8 wherein said first and second portions have, respectively, a first flap and a second flap being, shaped to partially overlap in an inactive configuration of the skate and in said pivoting use configuration of he skate.

10. The roller skate of claim 1 wherein said slot is curved.

11. The roller skate of claim 10 wherein said slot has an upwardly directed concavity.

12. A roller skate comprising:

a boot with a flexible sole;

first and second wheel-supporting frames attached to said sale, each of said wheel-supporting frames having a plurality of substantially parallel wings, at least out of said wings of said first frame partially overlapping and slidably contacting one of said wings of said second frame;

a transverse element connected to and moveable with said first frame, said transverse element being moveable in a curved path relative to said second frame as said sole flexes, said transverse element being slidable relative to said second frame;

a plurality of lock surfaces defined by said wings of said first and second frames, said lock surfaces being aligned when said sole is in a non-flexed position; and

a lock element moveable between a first position in which said lock element is engaged with said lock surfaces, thus preventing said front and rear wings from sliding relative to each other and preventing said sole from flexing, and a second position in which said lock element is disengaged sufficiently to permit said sliding and flexing.

13. The roller skate of claim 12, wherein said lock surfaces are defined by a plurality of holes defined by said wings of said first and second frames, said holes being aligned when said sole is in said non-flexed position;

and said lock element moveable between said first position in which said lock element is disposed through said holes, thus preventing said first and second wings from sliding relative to each other and preventing said sole from flexing, and said second position in which said lock element is withdrawn sufficiently to permit said sliding and flexing.

14. The roller skate of claim 12 further comprising:

a first stop surface on said second frame and a second stop surface on said transverse element, said first and second stop surfaces being arranged so that they will approach and contact each other as said sole flexes, thereby limiting the extent to which said sole may flex.

15. A roller skate comprising:

a boot with a flexible sole having a toe area and a heel area;

a front wheel supporting frame connected to said toe area, said front frame having two downwardly-extending first wings;

a rear wheel-supporting frame connected to said heel area, said rear frame having two downwardly-extending second wings, one of said first wings and one of said second wings being in partially overlapping and slidable contact with each other;

a first stop surface on one of said frames and movable with said one of said frames as said sole flexes,

a transverse element connected to and movable with the other of said frames as said sole flexes, said transverse member having a second stop surface, said first and second stop surfaces being arranged so that they approach each other and can contact each other as said sole flexes, thereby limiting the extent to which said sole can flex and;

said first wings and said second wings further defining a plurality of lock surfaces, said lock surfaces being aligned when said sole in a non-flexed orientation, wherein each of said stop surfaces is spaced from both of said lock surfaces; and

a lock element moveable between a first position in which said lock element is engaged with said lock surfaces, so as to prevent the mutual sliding of said first and second wings and thereby restricting the flexibility of said sole, and a second position in which said lock element is disengaged sufficiently to permit the mutual sliding of said first and second wings and the flexibility of said sole.

16. The roller skate of claim 15 wherein said first wings and said second wings define a plurality of holes, said lock surfaces being on inner surfaces of said holes, said holes being aligned when said sole in said non-flexed orientation.

17. The roller skate of claim 15 wherein said transverse element moves in a curved path relative to the other of said frames when said sole flexes.

18. A roller skate comprising:

a boot with a flexible sole, said sole having toe and heel portions;

a first wheel-supporting frame connected to said toe portion of said sole, said front wheel-supporting frame including a first panel descending downwardly from said sole;

a second wheel supporting frame including a second panel descending downwardly from said sole, said first and second frames being capable of rotating relative to each other when said sole is flexed, said first panel being in slidable contact with said second panel;

a slot defined by said first frame, said slot having an inner surface;

a transverse element connected to and moveable with said second fame as said sole flexes, a portion of said transverse element being positioned within said slot so that said portion slides within said slot as said first and second panels move relative to each other;

said first and second panels further defining a plurality of lock surfaces, said lock surfaces being aligned when said sole in a non-flexed orientation wherein each of said lock surfaces is spaced from said inner surface of said slot; and

a lock element moveable between a first position in which said lock element is engaged with said plurality of lock surfaces, so as to prevent the mutual sliding of said first and second panels and thereby restricting the flexibility of said sole, and a second position in which said lock element is disengaged sufficiently to permit the mutual sliding of said first and second panels and the flexibility of said sole.

19. The roller skate of claim 18 wherein said lock surfaces are defined by a plurality of holes provided in said first and second panels.

20. A roller skate comprising:

a boot with a flexible sole, said sole having toe and heel portions;

a first wheel-supporting frame connected to said sole, said first wheel-supporting frame including two first panels descending downwardly from said sole; and

a second wheel-supporting frame connected to said sole, said second wheel-supporting frame including two second panels descending downwardly from said sole, said first and second frames capable of rotating relative to each other when said sole is flexed, one of said first panels being in slidable contact with one of said second panels;

a slot defined by one of said first panels;

a transverse element connected to and moveable with one of said second panels as said sole flexes, said transverse element being positioned with in said slot so that said transverse element slides in a curved path relative to said first wheel-supporting frame as said first and second panels move relative to each other;

wherein at least one of said first panels further defines a first lock surface and at least one of said second panels further defines a second lock surface, said first and second lock surfaces being aligned when said sole is not flexed; and

a lock element capable of being engaged with said first and second aligned lock surfaces, so that said lock element contacts said first and second lock surfaces, thereby inhibiting the relative sliding of said first and second panels and inhibiting the relative rotation of said front and rear frames.

21. The roller skate of claim 20 wherein each of said fist panels is in slidable contact with one of said second panels.

22. The roller skate of claim 20 wherein said at least one of said first panels defines a first hole having a first inner surface defining said first lock surface and said at least one of said second panels defines a second hole having a second inner surface defining said second lock surface, said first and second holes being aligned when said sole is not flexed;

and

said lock element capable of being inserted through said first and second aligned holes, so that said lock element contacts said first and second inner surfaces, thereby inhibiting the relative sliding of said first and second panels and inhibiting the relative rotation of said front and rear frames.

23. The roller skate of claim 22 wherein said lock element comprises a screw.

24. A roller skate comprising:

a boot with a flexible sole, said sole having a first end and a second end;

a first frame connected to said sole near said first end;

a second frame connected to said sole near said second end;

at least one first wheel rotatably connected to said first frame;

at least one second wheel rotatably connected to said second frame;

a transverse element connected to and moveable with said first frame, said transverse element being slidably moveable in a curved path relative to said second frame;

wherein said first frame further defines a first lock surface and said second frame further defines a second lock surface, said first lock surface capable of being aligned with said second lock surface; and

a lock element engageable with said aligned first and second lock surfaces, thereby fixing the relative positions of said first and second frames.

25. The roller skate of claim 24 further comprising;

a first stop surface on said second frame and a second stop surface on said transverse element such that said first and second stop surfaces can approach and contact each other as said sole flexes, thereby limiting the extent to which said sole can flex.

26. The roller skate of claim 25 wherein said first stop surface is on the interior of a slot, said slot being defined by said second frame.

27. The roller skate of claim 26 wherein said slot is curved.

28. The roller skate of claim 24 wherein said first frame defines a first hole defining said first lock surface and said second frame defines a second hole defining said second lock surface, said first hole capable of being aligned with said second;

and

said lock element positionable through said aligned first and second holes, thereby fixing the relative positions of said first and second frames.

29. A roller skate comprising:

a flexible boot;

a flexible wheel-supporting frame connected to said boot, said frame comprising a first frame member and a second frame member, said first and second frame members capable of moving relative to each other as said boot flexes, said first frame member comprising a first lock surface and a first stop surface, said first stop surface being on an inner surface of a slot defined by said first frame member, and said second frame member comprising a second lock surface, said first and second lock surfaces being aligned when said boot is in a non-flexed position;

a transverse element connected to and moveable with said second frame member, said transverse element comprising a second stop surface, said first and second stop surfaces being positioned so that they can approach and contact each other as said first and second frame members move relative to each other, thereby limiting the relative movement of said first and second frame members, wherein each of said stop surfaces is spaced from both of said lock surfaces; and

a lock element moveable between a first position in which said lock element is set in contact with said aligned first and second lock surfaces, thus preventing said first and second frame members from moving relative to each other, and a second position in which said lock element is withdrawn sufficiently to permit said first and second frame members to move relative to each other.

30. The skate of claim 29 wherein said first frame member defines a first hole and said second frame member defines a second hole, said first and second lock surfaces being on inner surfaces of said first and second holes, respectively.

31. The skate of claim 29 wherein said lock surfaces are spaced vertically above said stop surfaces, so that said lock surfaces are between said stop surfaces and said boot.

32. The skate of claim 29 wherein said slot is curved.

33. A roller skate comprising:

a flexible boot,

a first same section connected to said boot and a second frame section connected to said boot, said first and second frame sections capable of moving relative to each other as said boot flexes, said first frame member comprising a first lock surface and said second frame member comprising a second lock surface, and first and second lock surface being aligned when said boot is in a non-flexed position;

a transverse element connected to and moveable with said first frame sections, so that said transverse element moves in a curved path relative to said second frame section and said transverse element is slidable relative to said second frame section; and

a lock element movable between a first position in which said lock element is set in contact with said aligned first and second lock surfaces, thus preventing said first and second frame sections from moving relative to each other, and a second position in which said lock element is withdrawn sufficiently to permit said first and second frame sections to move relative to each other.

34. The skate of claim 33 wherein said first frame section defines a first hole and said second frame section defines a second hole, said first and second lock surfaces being on inner surfaces of said first and second holes, respectively.

35. An in-line roller skate comprising;

a boot with a flexible sole;

a flexible-wheel supporting frame connected to said sole, said frame including a first frame member and a second frame member;

a first stop surface connected to said first frame member and a second stop surface connected to said second frame member, said first stop surface and said second stop surface being capable of approaching each other when said sole flexes, said first stop surface and said second stop surface being capable of contacting each other, thereby limiting the extent to which said sole can flex;

a first lock surface and a second lock surface connected to said flexible wheel-supporting frame, wherein each of said lock surfaces is spaced from both of said stop surfaces;

a lock element moveable between a first position in which said lock element is engaged with said lock surfaces, so as to limit the flexibility of the frame, and a second position in which said lock element is disengaged sufficiently, so as to not limit the flexibility of the frame.

36. The in-line roller skate of claim 35 wherein said first stop surface is an inner surface of a slot defined by said first frame member.

37. The in-line roller skate of claim 35 wherein said second stop surface is on a transverse member connected to said second frame member.

38. The in-line roller skate of claim 35 wherein said first lock surface is an inner surface of a hole defined by said first frame member.

39. The in-line roller skate of claim 35 wherein said first lock surface connected to said first frame member and said second lock surface connected to said second frame member.

40. The in-line roller skate of claim 35 wherein said boot further comprises toe and heel portions and said first frame member is connected to said toe portion of said boot and said second frame member is attached to said heel portion of said boot.

41. The in-line roller skate of claim 36 wherein said slot is curved.

42. The in-line roller skate of claim 36 wherein said second stop surface is on a transverse member connected to said second frame member, said transverse member being at least partially disposed within said slot.

43. The in-line roller skate of claim 38 wherein said second lock surface is an inner surface of a hole defined by said second frame member.