Flexing base skate
First Claim
1. An in-line skate comprising:
- a flexible upper;
a base attached to the upper, the base having a toe portion, a flexible metatarsal head portion extending rearwardly from the toe portion, and a heel portion extending rearwardly from the metatarsal head portion, the heel portion having a proximal end adjacent the flexible metatarsal head portion, wherein flexure of the metatarsal head portion allows the heel portion to move between a lower position and an upper position with respect to the toe portion;
a plurality of wheels;
a forward frame member having a pair of spaced sidewalls that rotatably supports at least two of the plurality of wheels, and a transverse section connecting the pair of sidewalls, the transverse section being attached to the toe portion of the base, wherein the forward frame member includes a support portion that extends rearwardly from the transverse section and underlies the proximal end of the heel portion of the base; and
a rearward frame segment having a pair of spaced sidewalls that rotatably supports at least one of the plurality of wheels, and a transverse section connecting the pair of sidewalls, the transverse section being attached to the heel portion of the base;
wherein the heel portion of the base engages the support portion of the forward frame member when the base is in the lower position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexing base skate (100) includes an upper shoe portion (12) mounted on a base (14). The base includes a forefoot region (20) secured to a forward frame segment (26) carrying forward wheels (18a, 18b). A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (28) that carries rearward wheels (18c, 18d). A second embodiment (100) provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a base (104) mounted at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal portion (108), and forms an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide (118) for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment (210) provides a forward frame segment (226) carrying forward wheels (218) and a rearward frame segment (228) carrying rearward wheel (218).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An in-line skate comprising:
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a flexible upper;
a base attached to the upper, the base having a toe portion, a flexible metatarsal head portion extending rearwardly from the toe portion, and a heel portion extending rearwardly from the metatarsal head portion, the heel portion having a proximal end adjacent the flexible metatarsal head portion, wherein flexure of the metatarsal head portion allows the heel portion to move between a lower position and an upper position with respect to the toe portion;
a plurality of wheels;
a forward frame member having a pair of spaced sidewalls that rotatably supports at least two of the plurality of wheels, and a transverse section connecting the pair of sidewalls, the transverse section being attached to the toe portion of the base, wherein the forward frame member includes a support portion that extends rearwardly from the transverse section and underlies the proximal end of the heel portion of the base; and
a rearward frame segment having a pair of spaced sidewalls that rotatably supports at least one of the plurality of wheels, and a transverse section connecting the pair of sidewalls, the transverse section being attached to the heel portion of the base;
wherein the heel portion of the base engages the support portion of the forward frame member when the base is in the lower position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A skate comprising:
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a shoe portion for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot;
a plurality of wheels;
a base fixedly attached to the shoe portion, the base including a rigid toe portion and a rigid a heel portion interconnected with a flexible metatarsal head portion such that the heel portion is movable between an upper position and a lower position with respect to the toe portion to permit elevation of the heel portion during skating; and
a frame rotatably supporting the plurality of wheels, the frame having a forward segment secured to an underside of the toe portion of the base and including a pair of sidewalls having a back end that extends rearwardly to underlie the heel portion of the base, and a rearward segment secured to the heel portion of the base, wherein the forward frame segments include first and second stabilizing flanges that slidably overlap the rearward frame segments;
wherein the heel portion of the base contacts the back end of the forward segment sidewalls when the base is in the lower position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification