Roller skate

• US 6,491,308 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agora Investments AG
• Original Assignee: BALL-Skate AG
• Inventors: Bakx, Wilhelmus Stefanus Antonius Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/530,941
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5.3, 301/5.7, 280/11.19, 280/11.22, 280/11.221, 280/11.226, 280/11.231, 280/11.27, 280/11.217, 280/843, 16/21, 16/24, 16/26, 188/29, 188/25, 188/4.B, 188/4.R
• US Class Current: 280/11.226
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/24 with ball-shaped or spherical running surfaces

Abstract

A roller skate which includes a frame, a structure for fixing the frame to a person'"'"'s foot, and at least two balls, which are freely rotatably supported by concave rollers. Axes of rotation of the rollers extend in a horizontal direction, transversely to the longitudinal direction of the frame. A roller is located between the two balls which are arranged side by side. The roller bears against both balls during operation.

Claims

1. A roller skate comprising a frame, means for fixing said frame to a person'"'"'s foot, and at least two balls, which are supported against translation in the frame by concave rollers supported in the frame such that the balls are free to rotate in any direction, axes of rotation of the concave rollers extending in a horizontal direction, transversely to the longitudinal direction of the frame and in use parallel to a rolling surface, wherein a roller is present between two balls which are arranged side by side, which roller bears against both balls during operation.

2. A roller skate according to claim 1, wherein a spacing between the two balls arranged side by side is smaller than a diameter of the roller at a point of contact with the ball or balls.

3. A roller skate according to claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of a concave portion of the concave roller is larger than a radius of curvature of the balls.

4. A roller skate according to claim 1, wherein the ball abuts against the roller at two locations, which locations are positioned symmetrically with respect to the roller.

5. A roller skate according to claim 2, wherein the frame is provided with at least one detachable ball support on a side of the balls remote from the rollers.

6. A roller skate according to claim 1, wherein the number of rollers less the number of balls equals 1.

7. A roller skate according to claim 2, wherein a radius of curvature of a concave portion of the concave roller is larger than a radius of curvature of the balls.

8. A roller skate according to claim 2, wherein the ball abuts against the roller at two locations, which locations are positioned symmetrically with respect to the roller.

9. A roller skate according to claim 2, wherein the frame is provided with at least one detachable ball support on a side of the balls remote from the rollers.

10. A roller skate according to claim 3, wherein the frame is provided with at least one detachable ball support on a side of the balls remote from the rollers.

11. A roller skate according to claim 4, wherein the frame is provided with at least one detachable ball support on a side of the balls remote from the rollers.

12. A roller skate according to claim 2, wherein the number of rollers less the number of balls equals 1.

13. A roller skate according to claim 3, wherein the number of rollers less the number of balls equals 1.

14. A roller skate according to claim 4, wherein the number of rollers less the number of balls equals 1.

15. A roller skate according to claim 5, wherein the number of rollers less the number of balls equals 1.