In-line racing skate propulsion device

• US 20020008359A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verducci USA Inc.
• Original Assignee: Verducci USA Inc.
• Inventors: Glass, Douglas, Daughtridge, Ty Bennett, Kaiser, Albert Merrell
• Granted Patent: US 6,513,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/11.221
• 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

An in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising a lever and a wheel frame having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, a pivot means near the top for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame, and a means for connecting a resilient member. The pivot means is located forward of the center of the lever. As the lever rotates around its pivotal connection to the wheel frame, the resilient member is stretched. Upon release of the rotating force, the resilient member returns the lever to a point of contact with the wheel frame or a stopping piece attached thereto. This action allows a skater to achieve greater speeds than with regular in-line roller skates while exerting the same amount of energy.

Claims

1. An in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising:

a wheel frame having a left side plate and a right side plate;

each of the left and right side plates having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, and a pivot means near the top for pivotally connecting a lever to the wheel frame;

the wheel frame also having a means for connecting a resilient member;

a lever having a pivot means for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame located forward of the center of the lever, a means for connecting a resilient member to the lever, and a means for connecting a boot to the lever;

a resilient member; and

the device having a zero position;

the resilient member always being under tension so as to maintain the device in the zero position or return the device from a rotated position to the zero position.

2. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the wheel frame'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient member is more rearward of the device than the lever'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient member when the device is in the zero position.

3. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 2, wherein the lever'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient member is near the center of the lever.

4. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the lever has both a right and left side means for connecting a resilient member;

wherein the right and left side plates of the wheel frame each have a means for connecting a resilient member;

wherein the resilient means comprises a left side resilient member and a right side resilient member.

5. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 4, wherein the left and right side resilient members are coils springs, leaf springs, or rubber bands.

6. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a coil spring, a leaf spring, or a rubber band.

7. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the zero position is determined by the contacting of the lever, or an extension thereof, with upwardly extended surfaces of the left and right side plates of the wheel frame, or a stopping means attached thereto.

8. The-in line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the lever'"'"'s means for connecting a resilient member is a shaft.

9. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the wheel frame'"'"'s means for connecting a resilient member comprises holes through which a shaft extends.

10. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the left and right side plate'"'"'s pivot means for pivotally connecting to the lever are pivot holes;

wherein the lever'"'"'s pivot means for pivotally connecting to the wheel frame are holes that approximately match the pivot holes of the left and right side plates, through which a shaft extends.

11. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a boot, having a heel, an arch, and a ball, is fastened to the lever, wherein the lever has a front, a center, and a rear;

the lever'"'"'s boot connection means having a ball engagement hole near the front and a two heel engagement holes near the rear.

12. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of wheels are mounted to the device by wheel axles that extend through the plurality of wheel axle holes.

13. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 11, wherein the number of wheels mounted to the device and the number of wheel axle holes is five.

14. The in-line roller skate propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a boot is attached to the lever by a ball engagement hole and two heel engagement holes;

five wheels are mounted to the device by wheels axles that extend through the wheel axle holes;

the lever'"'"'s pivot means for connecting to the wheel frame are holes that match up with the pivot holes of the left and right side plates and are connected by a shaft;

the resilient member comprises left and right coil springs, the lever'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient members is a shaft located near the center of the lever;

the right and left side plates'"'"' means for connecting the resilient members are located more rearward of the device than the lever'"'"'s means for connecting the resilient members; and

the right and left side plates'"'"' means for connecting the resilient members are pivot holes through which a shaft extends.

15. An in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising:

a wheel frame having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, a pivot means near the top for pivotally connecting a lever to the wheel frame, and means for connecting a resilient member;

a lever adapted to receive a boot which has a heel, toe, and ball, the lever having a pivot means for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame located forward of the center of the lever, a means for connecting a resilient member to the lever, and a means for connecting a boot to the lever;

a resilient member; and

the device having a zero position;

the resilient member always being under tension so as to maintain the device in the zero position or return the device from a rotated position to the zero position.

16. Device of claim 15 wherein the means for connecting the resiliant member to the lever is forward of the means for connecting the resiliant member to the frame so that the resiliant member is aligned on an upward angle from back to front.

17. Device of claim 16 wherein the resiliant member comprises one or two coil springs.

18. Device of claim 15 wherein the lever is counter-rotated so as to have rear section which is angled down, the rear section adapted to receive the heal of the boot.

19. Device of claim 15 wherein the pivot is located so that when the lever is engaged with a boot, the pivot means is under the sole of the boot.

20. Device of claim 15 wherein the frame is one piece and is extruded or machined.