In-line roller skate

• US 6,749,203 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Svensson, John E., Meibock, Antonin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/426,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11-21-, 280/11.3, 280/11.231, 280/11.215, 361/15--186
• US Class Current: 280/11.221
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0401 Snowboard boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0466 Adjustment of the side inclination of the boot leg; Canting
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1625 made from materials with different rigidities
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/165 with ventilation means in the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1666 characterised by the upper
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1691 characterised by the higher part of the upper, e.g. surrounding the ankle, by the quarter or cuff
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/28 Adapting the inner sole or the side of the upper of the shoe to the sole of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/067 with adjustable position of the foot plate or shoe relative to the chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/1418 with radial movement against the roll surface of the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/226 Wheel mounting, i.e. arrangement connecting wheel and axle mount
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2017/1472 Hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2017/149 Stick operated
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/42 Details of chassis of ice or roller skates, of decks of skateboards

Abstract

In-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel, and ankle. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semirigid plastic that may be heat-moldable to conform to the user'"'"'s foot. The shoe sole may also include heat-moldable materials so it can be anatomically formed to the foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

Claims

1. An in-line roller skate for receiving the foot of a skater, the skate comprising:

a frame having wheels rotatably secured thereto;

a base securely attached to the frame, the base adapted to support the bottom of the skater'"'"'s foot, the base including a substantially horizontal heel portion and a substantially horizontal toe portion adapted to support areas beneath the heel, ball, and toes of the skater'"'"'s foot;

a substantially nonrigid upper portion adapted to receive the skater'"'"'s foot, the nonrigid upper portion being formed of a substantially pliable material, the nonrigid upper portion adapted to substantially cover the instep and ankle of the skater'"'"'s foot, the nonrigid upper portion being permanently affixed directly to the base, the nonrigid upper portion further including a releasable fastener adapted for securing the non-rigid upper portion around the foot of the skater, including the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot; and

a substantially rigid upper portion coupled to the nonrigid upper portion and secured to the base, the rigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter on lateral and medial sides thereof, the rigid upper portion providing lateral support for the nonrigid upper portion and leaving a substantial portion of the nonrigid upper portion exposed during use, including a majority portion over the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot.

2. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein the substantially pliable material of the nonrigid upper is in contact with the base.

3. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein the ankle support cuff is slidably coupled to the nonrigid upper portion.

4. The in-line roller skate of claim 3, wherein the ankle support cuff is non-permanently coupled to the nonrigid upper portion.

6. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein the nonrigid upper portion is secured to the base substantially along the entire interface between the base and the nonrigid upper portion.

7. The in-line roller skate of claim 2, wherein the nonrigid upper portion is permanently affixed to the base.

8. The in-line roller skate of claim 3, wherein the nonrigid upper portion is formed of a material adapted for air circulation about the skater'"'"'s foot.

9. The in-line roller skate of claim 4, wherein the ankle support cuff is slidably coupled to the nonrigid upper portion.

12. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein the shoe portion is permanently affixed to the base.

13. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein the ankle support cuff is slidably coupled to the shoe portion.

14. The in-line roller skate of claim 1, wherein the ankle support cuff is nonpermanently coupled to the shoe portion.

5. An in-line roller skate for receiving the foot of a skater, the skate comprising:

a frame having wheels rotatably secured thereto;

a base having an upper surface adapted to support the bottom of the skater'"'"'s foot, including a heel portion and a toe portion adapted to support areas beneath the heel, ball, and toes of the skater'"'"'s foot, the base further having a lower surface securely attached to the frame;

a substantially nonrigid upper portion adapted to receive the skater'"'"'s foot, the nonrigid upper portion being formed of substantially pliable material adapted to substantially cover the instep and ankle of the skater'"'"'s foot, the nonrigid upper further being formed of a nonrigid material extending beneath the skater'"'"'s foot, the nonrigid upper being secured to the base at the interface between the nonrigid material and the upper surface of the base, the nonrigid upper portion further including a releasable fastener adapted for securing the nonrigid upper portion around the foot of the skater, including the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot; and

a substantially rigid upper portion coupled to the nonrigid upper portion and secured to the base, the rigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter on lateral and medial sides thereof, the rigid upper portion providing lateral support for the nonrigid upper portion and leaving a substantial portion of the nonrigid upper portion exposed during use, including a majority portion over the instep of the skater'"'"'s foot.

10. The in-line roller skate of claim 5, wherein the ankle support cuff is nonpermanently coupled to the nonrigid upper portion.

11. An in-line roller skate for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot, the skate comprising:

a frame having a plurality of longitudinally aligned wheels rotatably secured thereto;

a base securely attached to the frame, the base including a heel portion and a toe portion;

a flexible shoe portion adapted to receive the skater'"'"'s foot, wherein the shoe portion is attached to an upper portion of the base; and

a semirigid upper portion that is secured to the base, the semirigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter, the ankle support cuff further comprising a support strap, the semirigid upper portion providing lateral support for the shoe portion while leaving a part of the shoe portion exposed during use.