In-line racing skate propulsion device

• US 6,513,815 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verducci USA Inc.
• Original Assignee: Verducci USA Inc.
• Inventors: Glass, Douglas, Daughtridge, Ty Bennett, Kaiser, Albert Merrell
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/742,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20020008359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.12, 280/11.14, 280/11.15, 280/11.19, 280/11.221, 280/11.223, 280/11.224, 280/11.225, 280/11.231, 280/11.233, 280/11.27, 280/11.28, 280/842
• US Class Current: 280/11.224
• 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 in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising a lever and a wheel frame having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, a pivot connection near the top for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame, and a hole and shaft combination for connecting a resilient member. The lever'"'"'s pivot connection is located forward of the center of the lever. As the lever rotates around its pivotal connection to the wheel frame, the resilient member is stretched. Upon release of the rotating force, the resilient member returns the lever to a point of contact with the wheel frame or a stopping piece attached thereto. This action allows a skater to achieve greater speeds than with regular in-line roller skates while exerting the same amount of energy.

Claims

1. An in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising:

a wheel frame having a left side plate and a right side plate;

each of the left and right side plates having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, and a pivot means near the top for pivotally connecting a lever to the wheel frame;

the wheel frame also having a means for connecting a resilient member;

a lever having a pivot means for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame located forward of the center of the lever, a means for connecting a resilient member to the lever, and a means for connecting a boot to the lever;

wherein the pivot means of the left and right side plates pivotally connect the lever to the wheel frame in a fixed translation position with respect to the wheel frame;

a resilient member;

the device having a zero position;

the resilient member always being under tension so as to maintain the device in the zero position or return the device from a rotated position to the zero position; and

wherein the wheel frame'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient member is more rearward of the device than the lever'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient member when the device is in the zero position.

2. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the lever'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient member is near the center of the lever.

3. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a coil spring, a leaf spring, or a rubber band.

4. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the zero position is determined by the contacting of the lever, or an extension thereof, with upwardly extended surfaces of the left and right side plates of the wheel frame, or a stopping means attached to the upwardly extended surfaces of the left and right side plates of the wheel frame.

5. The-in line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the lever'"'"'s means for connecting a resilient member is a shaft.

6. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the wheel frame'"'"'s means for connecting a resilient member comprises holes through which a shaft extends.

7. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the left and right side plate'"'"'s pivot means for pivotally connecting to the lever are pivot holes;

wherein the lever'"'"'s pivot means for pivotally connecting to the wheel frame are holes that approximately match the pivot holes of the left and right side plates, through which a shaft extends.

8. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a boot, having a heel, an arch, and a ball, is fastened to the lever, wherein the lever has a front, a center, and a rear;

the lever'"'"'s boot connection means having a ball engagement hole near the front and a two heel engagement holes near the rear.

9. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of wheels are mounted to the device by wheel axles that extend through the plurality of wheel axle holes.

10. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 9, wherein the number of wheels mounted to the device and the number of wheel axle holes is five.

11. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a boot is attached to the lever by a ball engagement hole and two heel engagement holes;

five wheels are mounted to the device by wheel axles that extend through the wheel axle holes;

the lever'"'"'s pivot means for connecting to the wheel frame are holes that match up with pivot holes of the left and right side plates, the lever and wheel frame pivotally connected by means of a shaft extending through the holes of the lever and the pivot holes of the left and right side plates;

the resilient member comprises left and right coil springs, the lever'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient members is a shaft located near the center of the lever; and

the right and left side plates'"'"' means for connecting the resilient members are pivot holes through which a shaft extends.

12. An in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising:

a wheel frame having a left side plate and a right side plate;

each of the left and right side plates having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, and a pivot means near the top for pivotally connecting a lever to the wheel frame;

the wheel frame also having a means for connecting two resilient members;

a lever having a pivot means for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame located forward of the center of the lever, means for connecting two resilient members, and means for connecting a boot to the lever;

wherein the pivot means of the left and right side plates pivotally connect the lever to the wheel frame in a fixed translation position with respect to the wheel frame;

two resilient members connected directly to the lever'"'"'s means for connecting two resilient members; and

the device having a zero position;

the resilient members always being under tension so as to maintain the device in the zero position or return the device from a rotated position to the zero position.

13. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 12 comprising a left and right side resilient member, wherein the left and right side resilient members are coil springs, leaf springs, or rubber bands.

14. An in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising:

a wheel frame having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, a pivot means near the top for pivotally connecting a lever to the wheel frame, and means for connecting a resilient member;

a lever adapted to receive a boot which has a heel, toe, and ball, the lever having a pivot means for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame located forward of the center of the lever, a means for connecting a resilient member to the lever, and a means for connecting a boot to the lever;

wherein the pivot means of the wheel frame pivotally connect the lever to the wheel frame in a fixed translation position with respect to the wheel frame;

a resilient member;

the device having a zero position;

the resilient member always being under tension so as to maintain the device in the zero position or return the device from a rotated position to the zero position; and

wherein the wheel frame'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient member is more rearward of the device than the lever'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient member when the device is in the zero position.

15. Device of claim 14 wherein the resilient member comprises one or two coil springs.

16. Device of claim 14 wherein the lever is counter-rotated so as to have a rear section which is angled down, the rear section adapted to receive the heel of the boot.

17. Device of claim 14 wherein the pivot is located so that when the lever is engaged with a boot, the pivot means is under the sole of the boot.

18. Device of claim 14 wherein the frame is one piece and is extruded or machined.

19. An in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising:

a wheel frame having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, a pivot means near the top for pivotally connecting a lever to the wheel frame, and means for connecting two resilient members;

a lever adapted to receive a boot which has a heel, toe, and ball, the lever having a pivot means for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame located forward of the center of the lever, a means for connecting two resilient members to the lever, and a means for connecting a boot to the lever;

wherein the pivot means of the wheel frame pivotally connects the lever to the wheel frame in a fixed translation position with respect to the wheel frame;

two resilient members connected directly to the lever'"'"'s means for connecting two resilient members; and

the device having a zero position;

the resilient member always being under tension so as to maintain the device in the zero position or return the device from a rotated position to the zero position.

20. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 19 comprising a left and right side resilient member, wherein the left and right side resilient members are coil springs, leaf springs, or rubber bands.