Adjustable fit in-line skate

• US 6,588,771 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Benetton Sportsystem USA Inc.
• Original Assignee: Benetton Sportsystem USA Inc.
• Inventors: Spaulding, Thomas Lee, Doop, Alan Eugene, Olson, Todd Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/167,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20020153679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.221, 280/11.231, 280/11.224, 280/11.26, 280/11.3, 280/11.19, 280/11.27, 280/11.28, 280/841, 36/97, 361/02, 361/15
• US Class Current: 280/11.221
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1608 size adjustable skates with special foot-plates for the boot divided into two parts permitting adjustment to the size of the foot A63C1/26
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1616 Inner boots
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/0086 Roller skates adjustable in length to fit the size of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/06 single-track type
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/42 Details of chassis of ice or roller skates, of decks of skateboards

Abstract

An adjustable fit in-line skate is disclosed having a rigid frame carrying a plurality of skate wheels. A boot is secured to the frame with the boot having a toe portion and a heel portion. The heel portion has a sole plate which is carried over the length of the frame. The toe portion receives the sole plate and is slidably attached to the heel portion.

Claims

1. An adjustable fit in-line skate comprising:

a frame having two spaced-apart, substantially parallel rails;

a plurality of in-line skate wheels secured between the rails of the frame, the in-line skate wheels including a front wheel mounted on a first axle, a front intermediate wheel trailing the front wheel and mounted on a second axle, a rear intermediate wheel trailing the front intermediate wheel and a rear wheel trailing the rear intermediate wheel;

a boot including a heel portion and a toe portion;

the toe portion being slidable relative to the heel portion along a line of travel generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the skate;

the heel portion being attached at a longitudinal position relative to the frame; and

a single fastening member releasably securing the toe portion to the frame in a desired longitudinal position relative to the heel portion.

2. The skate of claim 1, wherein the single fastening member is positioned at a location that trails the first axle and leads the second axle.

3. The adjustable fit in-line skate of claim 1, wherein the single fastening member extends through a frame opening defined by the frame at a location between the rails of the frame.

4. The adjustable fit in-line skate of claim 3, wherein the fastening member extends through an elongated opening defined by a base of the toe portion, the elongated opening being elongated in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the skate.

5. The adjustable fit in-line skate of claim 1, wherein the fastening member is a bolt.

6. The adjustable fit in-line skate of claim 1, wherein the boot further includes a cuff portion pivotally connected to the heel portion.

7. The adjustable fit in-line skate of claim 1, wherein the heel portion includes a sole and side walls that are integrally connected as a single piece.

8. The skate of claim 1 wherein said fastening member is vertically oriented.

9. The skate of claim 1, wherein the heel portion is generally fixed longitudinally relative to the frame.

10. An adjustable fit in-line skate comprising:

a frame having substantially parallel rails;

a plurality of in-line skate wheels mounted between the rails, all said wheels of said skate being mounted on said frame;

a boot including a heel portion and a toe portion;

the toe portion being slidable relative to the heel portion along a line of travel generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the skate, said toe portion being separate from said frame;

the heel portion being attached at a longitudinal position relative to the frame;

a fastening member releasably securing the toe portion in a desired longitudinal position to said frame relative to the heel portion; and

said toe portion including a guide track for guiding the toe portion with respect to said frame as the toe portion is moved along the line of travel, wherein the guide track is spaced from the fastening member.

11. The adjustable fit in-line skate of claim 10, wherein the guide track is spaced from the fastening member.

12. The skate of claim 10, wherein the heel portion is generally fixed longitudinally relative to the frame.

13. An adjustable fit in-line skate comprising:

a frame having substantially parallel rails;

a plurality of in-line skate wheels mounted between the rails;

a boot including a heel portion and a toe portion, the heel portion including a sole;

the toe portion being slidable relative to the heel portion along a line of travel generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the skate, said toe portion including a base, a top wall and sidewalls extending between the base and the top wall defining a partially enclosed region for receiving a user'"'"'s toe;

the heel portion being attached at a longitudinal position relative to the frame;

a fastening member releasably securing the toe portion in a desired longitudinal position relative to the heel portion; and

the sole of the heel portion extending into said partially enclosed region of said toe portion and being arranged and configured to resist lateral movement of the toe portion as the toe portion is slid relative to the heel portion.

14. The skate of claim 13, wherein the heel portion is generally fixed longitudinally relative to the frame.

15. An in-line roller skate comprising:

a boot having a boot toe section having a base, a top wall and sidewalls extending between the base and the top wall and a boot heel section, said boot toe section being slidable relative to said boot heel section along a longitudinal axis;

a first surface that is fixed in position with respect to said heel section;

a second surface that is fixed in position with respect to and moveable with said toe section as said toe section slides relative to said heel section, said second surface being in slidable contact with said first surface, said first and second surfaces being arranged so that said lateral forces exerted on said toe section are transmitted to said heel section through contact between said first and second surfaces; and

at least one fastening member for securing said toe section relative to said heel section;

wherein each of said first surface and second surface is spaced from said at least one fastening member.

16. The in-line skate of claim 15, wherein there is a single fastening member.

17. The in-line skate of claim 16, wherein the fastening member is a bolt.

18. The in-line skate of claim 17, wherein said boot further comprises a generally horizontal footbed and said second surface extends vertically relative to said footbed.

19. The in-line skate of claim 18, wherein said second surface is defined by a contour member that is connected to said toe section.

20. The in-line skate of claim 18, wherein said first surface extends vertically relative to said footbed.

21. The skate of claim 15 wherein said fastening member is located on the toe portion.