Klop skate having pushing and pulling capabilities

• US 6,736,412 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Krah, Drew
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/679,035
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 280/600, 280/11.14, 280/11.15, 280/11.16, 280/11.224, 280/11.225, 280/615, 280/11.27, 280/11.28, 280/842, 280/11.12
• US Class Current: 280/11.224
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/28 Pivotally-mounted plates
• 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

A klop skate with pushing and pulling capabilities. In one alternate, the skate includes a glide member (110) for traversing a surface. The skate includes a shoe portion (112) for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot. The skate has a base secured to the shoe portion (112) and underlying the received foot. The skate has a base lever (114) secured to the shoe portion base. The base lever (114) has a forward end portion and a forward base attachment structure (124) defined by the forward end portion. The base lever (114) has a longitudinal base lever axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of the received foot. The skate also includes an elongate frame (116) for mounting the glide member (110). The frame has a longitudinal axis, a forward end portion, and a forward frame attachment structure (136). The skate has a canted hinge (126) for connecting the forward end portion of the base lever (114) to the forward end portion of the frame (116). Upon pivoting of the base lever (114) with respect to the frame (116), a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the base lever (114) defines an angle of canting with respect to a frame plane that extends vertically upward through the longitudinal frame axis. In another alternate, the skate includes a flexible connector (422) coupled to a cuff (420) and the forward end of the frame (406). The cuff (420) is attached to the lower leg of the skate wearer and the forward end attachment point is forward of the frame pivoting axis (410). Tensioning the connector (422) by flexing the foot distally causes the frame (406) to open relative to the base (402) which allows the skate-wearer to selectively hold the frame (406) in the open position. In another alternate, the skate includes a base (502) having a forefoot region (504) with an integral spring having a flex region (520) of zero bias strength, which allows the skate-wearer to hold the skate frame (508) open. In another alternate, the skate can include a biasing device 612 to bias the frame 604 away from the base 602.

Claims

1. A skate including a glide member for traversing a surface, comprising:

a shoe portion for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot and including a base underlying the received foot;

a base lever defined on an undersurface of the base, the base lever defining a forward end portion, a forward base lever attachment structure defined by the forward end portion, and a longitudinal base lever axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of the received foot;

an elongate frame for mounting the glide member, the frame defining a longitudinal frame axis, a forward end portion, and a forward frame attachment structure; and

a hinge, defining a pivot axis, pivotably connecting the forward end portion of the base lever to the forward end portion of the frame, wherein upon pivoting of the base lever with respect to the frame, the longitudinal base lever axis, projected onto a horizontal plane passing through the longitudinal frame axis, defines a first angle of canting with respect to the longitudinal frame axis.

2. A skate including a glide member for traversing a surface, comprising:

a shoe portion for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot and including a base underlying the received foot;

a base lever defined on an undersurface of the base, the base lever defining a forward end portion, a forward base lever attachment structure defined by the forward end portion, and a longitudinal base lever axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of the received foot; and

an elongate frame for mounting the glide member, the frame defining a longitudinal frame axis, a forward end portion and a forward frame attachment structure, wherein the forward base lever attachment structure is pivotally connected to the forward frame attachment structure, the base lever being pivotable with respect to the frame such that the longitudinal base axis passes through a base lever plane that defines a first angle of canting with respect to a frame plane defined by and extending vertically upward through the longitudinal frame axis.

3. The skate of claim 2, wherein the pivotal connection between the base lever forward attachment structure and the frame forward end defines a hinge having a pivot axis that is vertically canted, with the pivot axis of the hinge defining a second angle of canting with respect to a horizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the frame.

4. The skate of claim 3, wherein the frame forward attachment structure further comprises:

the forward end portion of the frame having a medial and lateral side with their respective inner surfaces defining a space therebetween, the respective inner surfaces defining an angle with respect to a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the frame, the medial and lateral sides each defining an aperture for mounting the hinge.

5. The skate of claim 4, wherein the base lever forward attachment structure further comprises:

the forward end portion of the base lever having angled side surfaces to mount in the space between the medial side and the lateral side of the forward end portion of the frame, the base lever forward attachment structure defining a passage for mounting the hinge throughbetween.

6. The skate of claim 5, wherein the hinge further comprises:

an elongate pin mounted through the apertures defined in the medial and lateral sides of the frame, such that the ends of the pin are at varying vertical heights at their respective side of the frame and the pin traverses through the passage defined by the base lever forward attachment structure.

7. The skate of claim 6, wherein the frame heels to the side relative to the base, upon pivoting of the base lever with respect to the frame.

8. The skate of claim 7, wherein the glide member comprises:

a plurality of wheels, having their axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame, wherein the wheels are attached to a lower portion of the frame substantially in an in-line fashion.

9. The skate of claim 3, wherein the frame forward attachment structure further comprises:

the forward end portion of the frame having a planar shaped tab projecting substantially vertically upward, wherein the tab is mounted medially or laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame, the planar shape of the tab defining an angle of canting with respect to a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the frame, the tab defining an aperture for mounting the hinge therethrough.

10. The skate of claim 9, wherein the base lever forward attachment structure further comprises:

the forward end portion of the base lever having two angled planar shaped ears projecting substantially vertically downward, each of the ears being mounted medially and laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base, such that the two ears define a space for placement of the tab therein, the two of the ears each defining an aperture for mounting the hinge.

11. The skate of claim 10, wherein the hinge further comprises:

an elongate pin mounted within the apertures defined on the medial and lateral ears, such that the pin traverses through the aperture defined by the tab.

12. The skate of claim 11, wherein the frame heels to the side relative to the base, upon pivoting of the base with respect to the frame.

13. The skate of claim 12, wherein the glide member comprises:

an ice skating blade aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame, and mounted on a lower portion thereof.

14. The skate of claim 3, wherein the hinge is adjustable, such that the second angle of canting may be varied vertically.

15. The skate of claim 2, wherein the pivotal connection between the base lever forward attachment structure and the frame forward attachment structure, defines a hinge having a pivot axis that is horizontally canted, the pivot axis of the hinge defining a third angle of canting with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

16. The skate of claim 15, wherein the hinge is adjustable, such that the third angle of canting may varied horizontally.

17. The skate of claim 16, wherein the frame forward attachment structure further comprises:

a planar shaped mounting member attached proximate the forward portion of the frame, the mounting member defining medial and lateral sides, the medial side and the lateral side of the mounting member defining at least one passage for mounting the hinge, the planar shape lying substantially horizontally; and

at least one fastener to securely hold the mounting member.

18. The skate of claim 17, wherein the base lever forward attachment structure further comprises:

the forward end portion of the base lever having two planar shaped ears projecting substantially vertically downward, the two of the ears being mounted medially and laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base lever, such that the two ears define a space for placement of the mounting member therein, the two of the ears each defining an aperture for mounting the hinge.

19. The skate of claim 18, wherein the hinge further comprises:

at least one elongate pin defining a longitudinal axis, and mounted on at least one of the medial or lateral sides of the mounting member at the respective aperture defined on the medial and lateral side of the mounting member, such that the pin is received at least partially within the aperture.

20. The skate of claim 19, wherein the glide member comprises:

an ice skating blade aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame, and mounted on a lower portion thereof.

21. The skate of claim 2, wherein the base lever forward attachment structure is pivotably connected to the frame forward attachment structure, such that a pivot axis of a hinge, defined thereby is vertically and horizontally canted, the hinge being adjustable vertically and horizontally.