Roller skate

• US 6,517,091 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Sky, Outlaw Design Company
• Original Assignee: Blue Sky, Outlaw Design Company
• Inventors: Fisher, Robert, LeBlanc, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler, Anne Marie
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROYAL, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/723,604
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.19, 280/11-2-
• US Class Current: 280/11.26
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/26 divided into two parts permitting adjustment to the size of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/0086 Roller skates adjustable in length to fit the size of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/02 with wheels arranged in two pairs A63C17/01 takes precedence

Abstract

A roller skate comprising a shoe portion having a sole with front and rear regions and a cantilevered member having a free end proximate the front region of the skate and a fixed end opposite the free end. A supporting member is located between and contacting the cantilevered member and the sole. A plurality of front wheels are coupled to each other by a front axle. The front axle biases the free end of the cantilevered member. The skate further includes means for adjusting the position of the supporting member relative to the front axle. The position of the supporting member defines the sizes of the fixed end and the free end of the cantilevered member such that, when the adjusting means moves the supporting member away from the front region of the shoe portion, the size of the free end of the cantilevered member increases, permitting an increased amount of vertical movement of the free end of the cantilevered member and the front axle.

Claims

1. A roller skate, comprising:

a first region;

a second region adjustably connected to the first region;

a cantilevered member having a free end proximate the front region of the skate and a fixed end opposite the free end; and

a supporting member located between and contacting the cantilevered member;

a first wheel;

a second wheel;

a first axle coupled to the first and second wheels and biasing the free end of the cantilevered member; and

means for adjusting the position of the supporting member relative to the first axle; and

wherein the position of the supporting member defines the sizes of the fixed end and the free end of the cantilevered member such that, when the adjusting means moves the supporting member away from the first region, the size of the free end of the cantilevered member increases, permitting an increased amount of vertical movement of the free end of the cantilevered member and the first axle.

2. The roller skate of claim 1, further comprising:

a second axle substantially parallel to the first axle and coupled to the second region; and

at least one wheel coupled to the second axle.

3. The roller skate of claim 2, further comprising:

ratcheting means for selectively engaging the second axle, whereby the ratcheting means, upon engaging the second axle, inhibits the rearward rotation of the at least one wheel coupled to the second axle.

4. The roller skate of claim 3, further comprising:

means for moving the ratcheting means into and out of an engagement position with the second axle.

5. The roller skate of claim 1, further comprising:

a connecting member coupling the first region and the second region to each other.

6. The roller skate of claim 5, further comprising:

means for adjusting the distance between the first region and the second region.

7. A skate, comprising:

a skate body;

a plurality of front wheels;

a plurality of rear wheels;

a front axle coupling the front wheels to each other;

a spring coupled to the skate body and biased by the front axle;

a tension adjuster;

the tension adjuster acting against the support member for adjusting the amount that the axle biases the spring;

the tension adjuster and support member each including a plurality of mating tension adjuster and support member notches, the movement of the tension adjuster causing the tension adjuster notches to act against the support member notches, thereby adjusting position of the support member relative to the spring; and

a support member for adjusting the amount of force that the front axle biases the spring.

8. The skate of claim 7, wherein the spring includes a cantilevered member with a free end biasing the first axle and a fixed end opposite the free end.

9. The skate of claim 7, wherein the front axle comprises:

a cross member;

a first transverse member substantially perpendicular and coupled to the cross member, the first transverse member coupled to a first front wheel; and

a second transverse member substantially perpendicular and coupled to the cross member, the second transverse member coupled to a second front wheel.

10. The skate of claim 9, wherein the first and second front wheels rotate about an axis translationally offset from the axis including the cross member, the front wheels capable of adjusting their position relative to the skate while biasing the spring.

11. The skate of claim 7, further comprising:

a rear axle coupling the rear wheels to each other;

a ratchet wheel coupled to the rear axle; and

a pawl located proximate to the ratchet wheel, the pawl capable of engaging the ratchet wheel to prevent the rearward rotation of the rear wheels.

12. The skate of claim 11, further comprising means for moving the pawl into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

13. The skate of claim 7, further comprising means for adjusting the length of the skate body.

14. A roller skate, comprising:

a skate body;

a plurality of wheels coupled to the skate body;

an axle coupled to at least one of the wheels;

a spring for biasing the axle, said spring including means such that when a force is imparted upon the skate in the vicinity of the axle, the spring biases the axle to inhibit at least one wheel'"'"'s vertical motion relative to a surface upon which the skate placed;

a support member coupled to the skate body;

a tension adjuster coupled to the skate body, wherein the tension adjuster acts against the support member to alter the degree to which the spring biases the axle; and

means for inhibiting the rearward motion of the roller skate.

15. The roller skate of claim 14, wherein the spring comprises a cantilevered member having a free end contacting the axle and a fixed end opposite the free end.