Roller skating device

• US 6,688,613 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1998
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John C Malloy
• Original Assignee: John C Malloy
• Inventors: Malloy, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US09/175,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.14, 280/11.115, 280/11.13, 280/11.16, 280/11.19, 280/11.204, 280/11.221, 280/11.21, 280/11.231, 280/11.27, 280/11.28, 280/7.13, 280/610, 280/609
• US Class Current: 280/11.221
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/06 single-track type
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/1436 contacting the ground

Abstract

A roller skating device combining advantages of conventional roller and in-line skates, and skateboards is presented. A “boot” (as defined herein) for snugly encasing a selected foot of a user has an undercarriage, i.e. a frame, connected to it in fixed relation. A rigid member having a planar top is affixed to the undercarriage, preferably behind the heel of the boot, for engaging the free foot of the user, i.e., the foot not wearing this invention. A plurality of rollers, connected to the undercarriage, rollingly support the undercarriage, and all connected to it, on a skatable surface. The free foot engages the planar top by resting on and, at selected times, pressing forcefully against the planar top to help control the device during operation. Two exemplary embodiments are described herein: an embodiment having a rectangular pattern of rollers and an embodiment having a single line of rollers. As described herein the planar top can be declined toward the boot to help prevent the free foot from slipping off. The top can also be frictionally enhanced by, for example, having a non-smooth surface or having a gritty film affixed thereto. The planar top can also be curviplanar.

Claims

1. A single skate for use by both feet of a user, comprising:

(a) a boot for being worn on one foot of a user, said boot having an underside,

(b) an undercarriage affixed to the underside of the boot,

(c) a plurality of rollers, connected to the undercarriage, for rolling support of the skate on a surface,

(d) a rigid extension of the undercarriage projecting rearwardly of the boot, the extension being a platform engagable by the user'"'"'s other foot for selective application of directional maneuvering force to the skate, the platform having a longitudinal length which is at least one third the longitudinal length of the boot.

2. The skate according to claim 1 further comprising means, affixed to the platform, for increasing static friction between the user'"'"'s other foot and the platform.

3. The skate according to claim 2 wherein the means for increasing friction comprises a non-smooth platform sop surface.

4. The skate according to claim 2 wherein the means for increasing friction comprises a gritty film affixed to a platform top surface.

5. The skate according to claim 1 wherein the platform declines at an angle towards the boot to enhance engagement of the user'"'"'s other foot with the platform.

6. The skate according to claim 1 further comprising means, disposed beneath the platform, for frictionally dragging on the surface when the skate is tilted backward onto said means.

7. The skate according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of rollers are all in-line.

8. The skate according to claim 7 wherein the rearmost roller is disposed behind the heel of the boot.

9. The skate according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of rollers comprises four rollers in a rectangular pattern.

10. The skate according to claim 9 wherein the rectangular pattern comprises:

(a) a pair of spacedly juxtaposed rollers disposed beneath a front portion of the boot, and

(b) a pair of spacedly juxtaposed rollers disposed beneath and behind the heel of the boot.

11. The skate according to claim 1 wherein the platform is curviplanar.

12. The skate according to claim 11 further comprising means, affixed to the platform top surface, for increasing static friction between the user'"'"'s other foot and the platform.

13. The skate according to claim 11 further comprising means, disposed beneath the platform, for frictionally dragging on the surface when the skate is tilted backward onto said means.

14. The skate according to claim 1 further comprising a brake pad disposed beneath, and affixed to, the platform for frictionally dragging against the surface to brake movement of the skate.

15. The skate according to claim 1 wherein the extension curves upwardly away from the boot.

16. An improved in-line skate having an undercarriage to which are connected a plurality of tandem rollers, wherein the improvement comprises a control platform cantilevered from the undercarriage and projecting rearwardly from the skate, the platform curving upwardly away from the boot and being large enough in surface area to be engaged by a user'"'"'s free foot for selective application of control force thereupon.

17. The skate according to claim 16 further comprising means for increasing static friction between the user'"'"'s other foot and the platform.

18. The skate according to claim 16 further comprising means, disposed beneath the platform, for frictionally dragging on the surface when the skate is tilted backward onto said means.

19. The skate according to claim 16 wherein the rearmost roller is disposed behind the heel of the boot.

20. An improved in-line skate having a boot with an undercarriage to which are connected a plurality of tandem rollers, wherein the improvement comprises a control platform cantilevered from the undercarriage and projecting rearwardly from the skate, the platform declining at an angle towards the boot and being large enough in surface area to be engaged by a user'"'"'s free foot for selective application of control force thereupon, and means for increasing static friction between the user'"'"'s other foot and the platform.

21. An improved in-line skate having a boot with an undercarriage to which are connected a plurality of tandem rollers, wherein the improvement comprises a control platform cantilevered from the undercarriage and projecting rearwardly from the skate, the platform declining at an angle towards the boot and being large enough in surface area to be engaged by a user'"'"'s free foot for selective application of control force thereupon, and wherein the rearmost roller is disposed behind the heel of the boot.