Flexing base skate

• US 6,120,040 A
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Meibock, Antonin A., Svensson, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US09/094,425
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.19, 280/11.22, 280/11.23, 280/11.27, 280/11.28, 280/11.15, 36/115, 36/117.3
• US Class Current: 280/11.224
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1641 characterised by the sole skates with special foot-plates for the boot A63C1/22; characterised by the attachment of the skate A43B5/1633 takes precedence; skates rigidly mounted to the sole of the boot A63C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/28 Pivotally-mounted plates
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/062 with a pivotal frame or cradle around transversal axis for relative movements of the wheels
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/067 with adjustable position of the foot plate or shoe relative to the chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/1436 contacting the ground

Abstract

A first embodiment of a flexing base skate (10) 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 (24) of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (28) that carries rearward wheels (18c, 18d). The base defines and flexes at a reduced thickness metatarsal head portion (22), with the skater'"'"'s heel and the rearward frame segment elevating freely relative to the forward frame segment. A spring (72) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward frame section overlaps the rearward frame section for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a flexible base (104) mounted only at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base (104) flexes at a metatarsal head portion (108), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide (118) for lateral alignment of the heel region (110) with the frame.

Claims

1. A roller skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:

a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater'"'"'s foot, the base including a heel region, a forefoot region, and a metatarsal head portion between the forefoot region and heel region; and

a frame secured to an underside of the base at least below the forefoot region of the base such that the base can flex at the metatarsal head portion during skating to permit elevation of the skater'"'"'s heel, the frame extending below the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels, with at least one forward wheel disposed below the forefoot region of the base and at least one rearward wheel disposed below the heel region of the base, wherein the forefoot region of the base is rigid and the metatarsal head portion of the base defines a stress concentrating contour formed by a reduced material section, relative to the forefoot region and heel region, extending transversely substantially across the base underlying the metatarsal head of the received skater'"'"'s foot that focuses flexure of the base at the metatarsal head portion.

2. The skate of claim 1, wherein the frame mounts at least first and second forward wheels below the forefoot region of the base, the second forward wheel being disposed between the first forward wheel and the rearward wheel, an axis of rotation of the second forward wheel being directly below or rearward of the stress concentrating contour of the metatarsal head portion of the base.

3. The skate of claim 1, wherein the stress concentrating contour comprises a reduced thickness section of the base extending transversely substantially across the metatarsal head portion of the base.

4. The skate of claim 3, wherein the stress concentrating contour further comprises an aperture defined through the metatarsal head portion of the base.

5. The skate of claim 1, wherein the stress concentrating contour of the base comprises an aperture defined through the metatarsal head portion of the base.

6. The skate of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base to a lower position, in which the heel region of the base bears on the frame, the rearward wheel and the ground.

7. The skate of claim 6, wherein the biasing member is incorporated into the forefoot region of the base.

8. The skate of claim 7, wherein the base is constructed of a resilient material and integrally defines the biasing member.

9. The skate of claim 6, wherein the biasing member comprises a strip of resilient material secured along the base.

10. The skate of claim 6, wherein the biasing member exerts a downward preload on the heel region of the base when the heel region is in the lower position.

11. The skate of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises an elongate frame having a forward segment secured to the underside of the base below the forefoot region of the base, and a rearward segment secured to the underside of the base below the heel region, the forward and rearward segments of the frame mounting the forward and rearward wheels, respectively, flexing of the base resulting in elevation of the heel region on the base and the rearward frame segment relative to the forefoot region of the base.

12. The skate of claim 11, further comprising a longitudinal projection extending from one of the forward or rearward frame segments toward and slidably engaging the other of the forward and rearward frame segments when the heel region of the base is lowered and the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the forward and rearward frame segments freely sliding and pivoting relative to each other during flexure of the base.

13. The skate of claim 12, wherein the longitudinal projection comprises first and second stabilizing flanges projecting from one of the forward or rearward frame segments toward and overlapping opposing first and second sides of the other of the forward and rearward frame segments.

14. The skate of claim 13, further comprising a low friction bearing surface defined on an exterior of each of the overlapped opposing first and second sides of the forward or rearward frame segment, or on an interior of the first and second stabilizing flanges.

15. The skate of claim 13, further comprising a transverse reinforcement spanning between and secured to the first and second stabilizing flanges.

16. The skate of claim 15, wherein the overlapped first and second sides of one of the forward or rearward frame segments each define a recess that accommodates the transverse reinforcement of the stabilizing flanges when the forward and rearward frame segments are longitudinally aligned.

17. The skate of claim 13, further comprising a locking element selectively engageable with the forward and rearward frame segments when the forward and rearward frame segments are substantially longitudinally aligned to prevent flexure of the base.

18. The skate of claim 11, wherein at least one of the forward and rearward segments of the frame are mounted to the base for adjustable positioning in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.

19. The skate of claim 18, wherein the other of the forward and rearward segments of the frame is also mounted to the base for adjustable positioning in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.

20. The skate of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one intermediate wheel mounted on one of the rearward and forward frame segments between the forward and rearward wheels; and

a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base downwardly such that when the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the intermediate wheel is slightly elevated relative to the forward and rearward wheels before a skater'"'"'s weight is applied to the base.

21. A skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:

a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater'"'"'s foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region, and being adapted to flex intermediate of the heel region and forefoot region to permit elevation of the heel region relative to the forefoot region during skating;

a frame having a forward segment secured to an underside of the base below the forefoot region of the base, and a rearward segment secured to the underside of the base below the heel region, the forward frame segment mounting at least one forward wheel below the forefoot region of the base and the rearward segment mounting at least one rearward wheel below the heel region of the base, wherein one of the forward or rearward frame segments includes first and second stabilizing flanges that extend toward and slidably overlap opposing first and second sides of the other of the forward and rearward frame segments, the forward and rearward frame segments freely sliding and pivoting relative to each other during flexure of the base; and

a transverse reinforcement spanning between and secured to the first and second stabilizing flanges and arranged so as to be uncoupled with the overlapped frame segment.

22. The skate of claim 21, wherein the one of the forward or rearward frame segments that includes the first and second stabilizing flanges includes first and second sidewalls, each sidewall having a first portion in which one or more wheels are journalled and a second portion extending laterally outward and then parallel to the first portion for overlapping the other of the forward or rearward frame segments.

23. The skate of claim 21, further comprising a low friction bearing surface defined on an exterior of each of the overlapped opposing first and second sides of the forward or rearward frame segment, or on an interior of the first and second stabilizing flanges.

24. The skate of claim 21, wherein the overlapped first and second sides of the one of the forward or rearward frame segments each define a recess that accommodates the transverse reinforcement of the stabilizing flanges when the forward and rearward frame segments are longitudinally aligned.

25. The skate of claim 21, further comprising a locking element selectively engageable with the forward and rearward frame segments when the forward and rearward frame segments are substantially longitudinally aligned to prevent flexure of the base.

26. The skate of claim 21, further comprising:

at least one intermediate wheel mounted on one of the rearward and forward frame segments between the forward and rearward wheels; and

a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base downwardly such that when the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the intermediate wheel is slightly elevated relative to the forward and rearward wheels before a skater'"'"'s weight is applied to the base.

27. The skate of claim 21, wherein the forefoot region of the base includes a metatarsal head portion defining a stress concentrating contour that focuses flexure of the base at the metatarsal head portion.

28. The skate of claim 27, wherein the forward frame segment mounts at least first and second forward wheels below the forefoot region of the base, the second forward wheel being disposed between the first forward wheel and the rearward wheel, an axis of rotation of the second forward wheel being directly below or rearward of the stress concentrating contour of the metatarsal head portion of the base.

29. The skate of claim 21, wherein at least one of the forward and rearward segments of the frame are mounted to the base for adjustable positioning in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.

30. The skate of claim 29, wherein the other of the forward and rearward segments of the frame is also mounted to the base for adjustable positioning in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.

31. A skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater'"'"'s foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:

a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater'"'"'s foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region, and being adapted to flex intermediate of the heel region and forefoot region to permit elevation of the heel region relative to the forefoot region during skating; and

an elongate frame having a forward segment secured to an underside of the base below the forefoot region of the base, and a rearward segment secured to the underside of the base below the heel region, the forward frame segment mounting at least one forward wheel below the forefoot region of the base and the rearward segment mounting at least one rearward wheel below the heel region of the base, wherein one of the forward or rearward frame segments includes a longitudinal projection extending toward and slidably engaging the other of the forward and rearward frame segments when the heel region of the base is lowered and the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the longitudinal projection and the engaged forward or rearward frame segment freely sliding and pivoting relative to each other during flexure of the base, wherein a reduced friction surface is attached to an engaged portion of at least one of the forward and rearward frame segments.

32. The skate of claim 31, further comprising:

at least one intermediate wheel mounted on one of the rearward and forward frame segments between the forward and rearward wheels; and

a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base downwardly such that when the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the intermediate wheel is slightly elevated relative to the forward and rearward wheels before a skater'"'"'s weight is applied to the base.

33. The skate of claim 31, wherein the forefoot region of the base includes a metatarsal head portion defining a stress concentrating contour that focuses flexure of the base at the metatarsal head portion.

34. The skate of claim 33, wherein the forward frame segment mounts at least first and second forward wheels below the forefoot region of the base, the second forward wheel being disposed between the first forward wheel and the rearward wheel, an axis of rotation of the second forward wheel being directly below or rearward of the stress concentrating contour of the metatarsal head portion of the base.