EP0848971A1 - Skate with in-line wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

A skate with in-line wheels, including a U-shaped framewhich forms a base, above which a shoe is associated, andtwo lateral wings protruding towards the ground; a separatetruck for supporting the wheels is slidingly associated withthe frame in contrast with at least one flexible andinterchangeable element. This solution allows independentshock-absorbing of each wheel and the quick and easycustomization of the shock-absorbing properties of eachwheel by the user.

Description

The present invention relates to a skate with in-linewheels.

Conventional skates with in-line wheels generally comprise aframe, supporting a plurality of in-line wheels and which issubstantially U-shaped so as to form at least one supportingbase for all or part of the sole of a rigid or semirigidshoe.

Two lateral wings protrude downwards from the base of theframe,and a plurality of wheels are pivoted thereto by meansof fixed pivots between said wings and are thus arranged in-linewith respect to each other.

These conventional skates entail a drawback: during skatingall the vibrations and forces caused by the impactsaffecting the wheels on rough ground or stones, or on anyother object on the ground, are transmitted to the foot andtherefore to the entire bone structure of the user.

DE-451,163 discloses a partial solution to this drawback; aroller skate has two wheels articulated by means of leversconstituted by pairs of brackets which surround the wheels.The brackets are articulated, through their open ends, to aflat plate constituting the frame of the skate. At the sametime, each bracket has a plurality of fixing points forselecting and setting the preloading of the springs, so asto match the different forces applied by the user, and ofthe stroke limits for limiting the deflections of thespring-loaded levers.

However, this solution is not very practical because it does not allow the optimum transmission of forces from the footto the skate and therefore entails considerable problems inuse.

US-920,848 illustrates a skate with in-line wheels andhaving a supporting plate for a shoe which can be lockedthereat by means of adapted tensioning straps. Lateral barsprotrude from the plate and are connected by a first strapfor supporting the rear part of the user's leg and by asecond strap which surrounds the calf and can be securedthereto.

Two arms are pivoted below the plate at one end and havesupports for a wheel, said arms interacting, at the otherend, with a spring interposed between said arms and theplate that constitutes the frame.

Even this arrangement, however, entails the same drawbacksmentioned above as regards skate control, because thestructure use shock-absorbers for the wheels which are notideal, since there is in any case an articulation pointrigidly connected to the plate that constitutes the frame.

EP-545,250 relates to a braking device for skates with in-linewheels wherein a supporting frame for a shoe isprovided, in a downward region and centrally, with a tabwhereto the ends of two pairs of bars are pivoted. Wheelsare pivoted to the bars and a flexible element isinterposed in the interspace between two adjacent wheels ofeach pair of bars, said element being connected below theoverlying frame at its other end.

This arrangement only partially solves the describedproblems, because the pairs of bars are still rigidlycoupled, at one of their ends, to an articulation pointrigidly connected to the shoe supporting frame.

WO96/26775 discloses a skate with in-line wheels providedwith a frame whereto two curved trucks are pivoted at theregions below the toe and the heel. The wheels are pivotedto the ends of the trucks and the trucks can thus oscillatewith respect to the frame and can be provided with spring-loadedor rubber-pad shock-absorbers, for shock-absorbingthe truck particularly when, by oscillating about the framepivot, it abuts against said frame with one end.

However, also this arrangement does not solve the above-mentionedproblems, because in any case each truck ispivoted at an articulation point rigidly connected to theframe, whereto it therefore transmits part of the vibrationsor stresses affecting the wheels.

An aim of the present invention is therefore to overcome theabove-described drawbacks and to solve the above problems byproviding a skate with in-line wheels comprising asubstantially U-shaped frame supporting, in an upwardregion, a rigid or semirigid shoe and allowing to achieveoptimum shock-absorbing of the wheels, thus allowing tooptimally cushion the vibrations and/or stresses affectingthe wheels.

An important object of the present invention is also toprovide a skate with in-line wheels wherein the user canselect the degree of shock-absorbing according to individual specific requirements or according to the course to befollowed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide askate with in-line wheels which at the same time allows toachieve optimum transmission of forces from the shoe to thewheels.

A further object of the present invention is to provide askate with in-line wheels wherein it is possible toselectively vary the position of the rotation axis of atleast one wheel.

A further object is to provide a skate with in-line wheelshaving a simple constructive structure and which is easy toindustrialize.

A further object is to provide a skate with in-line wheelswherein the user can immediately perceive the intended andselected degree of shock-absorbing applied to the wheels.

This aim, these objects, and others which will becomeapparent hereinafter are achieved by a skate with in-linewheels, comprising a substantially U-shaped frame whichforms at least one base, above which a shoe is associated,and two lateral wings protruding downwards the ground,characterized in that at least one separate truck forsupporting at least one wheel is slidingly associated withsaid frame in contrast with at least one flexible andinterchangeable element.

It is noted that it is advantageously possible to selectively interpose, between the base of the frame and thetruck, a means adapted to vary the position of the wheelrotation axis.

Further characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription, and the accompanying drawings, whereinparticular embodiments thereof are illustrated by way ofnon-limitative example and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectional side view of the frame, withtwo separate supporting trucks applied thereto, each trucksupporting two wheels;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken at the plane II-II of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, of a second embodimentof the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, of a third embodimentof the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken at the plane VI-VI of Fig.5.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1designates a frame of a skate with in-line wheels, saidframe being substantially U-shaped in transverse cross-section, so as to form at least afirst base 2 forsupporting a shoe and two first lateral wings, designated bythereference numerals 3a and 3b, which are parallel to eachother and directed towards the ground 4.

Afirst truck 5 and a second truck 6 are slidinglyassociated with the frame 1. Each truck is U-shaped andcomprises a second base 7 which is approximately as wide asthe interspace between the inner lateral surfaces 8 of thefastlateral wings 3a and 3b. Two second side wings 9a, 9bprotrude from the second base 7 and are parallel to eachother.

Thefirst truck 5 and the second truck 6 can therefore beinserted at the frame 1 and the second lateral wings 9a and9b can slide with respect to the firstlateral wings 3a and3b.

The second lateral wings 9a and 9b protrude beyond the lowerperimetric edge 10a and 10b of the firstlateral wings 3aand 3b, and a pair offirst pivots 12 for pivotingwheels 13is transversely associated along parallel axes proximate tothe free ends 11a, 11b of the second lateral wings 9a and9b.

The wheels have of course such dimensions that they can becontained in the interspace between the second lateral wings9a and 9b without interacting with the second base 7 of eachtruck.

Each one of said first and second trucks has a means forguiding it during its sliding inside the frame 1, said means being constituted by asecond pivot 14 transversely pivotedto each second base 7 in the interspace between the twoadjacent wheels 13, the ends or said second pivot beingaccommodated in, and interacting with, a pair of adaptedfirst seats 15a and 15b formed at the firstlateral wings 3aand 3b of the frame 1 along an axis approximatelyperpendicular to the ground 4.

The first and second trucks slide with respect to the frame1 in contrast with first and second flexible elementsinterposed between the second base 7 and thefirst base 2.

The first flexible elements are constituted, for each truck,by afirst pair 16a, 16b and by asecond pair 17a, 17b ofcylindrical helical compression springs arrangedtransversely to the second base 7, respectively proximate tothe front andrear ends 18 and 19 of each second base 7.

Said first and second pairs of springs are interchangeableand are accommodated at adapted pairs ofsecond seats 20 andthird seats 21 formed at the firstlateral wings 3a and 3b.

Said first and second pairs of springs are alsoadvantageously used to cushion part of the load andtherefore interact both with part of the second base of thefirst and second trucks and optionally with part of thefirstlateral wings 3a and 3b, as shown in figure 2.

The second flexible elements interposed between the secondbase of each truck and the first base of the frame areconstituted by a third pair of Belleville spring washers orrubber pads, designated by thereference numerals 22a and 22b, which are arranged at the longitudinal median axis ofthe second base 7, in the interspace between thesecondpivot 14 and the front andrear ends 18 and 19.

Advantageously, said third pair of Belleville spring washersor rubber pads is meant to cushion the remaining part of theload.

Both the first flexible elements and the second flexibleelements may of course be replaced with others having adifferent load or a different compressive strength.

It is thus evident that the illustrated solution allows tofully solve the above-stated aim and objects, since it ispossible to achieve independent shock-absorbing of eachwheel and to provide independent customization for eachwheel, the user being able to preselect the first and/orsecond flexible elements which have the intended flexibilitycharacteristics according to the user's own build or to thesport to be practiced or to the particular configuration ornature of the ground.

The present invention is of course susceptible of numerousmodifications and variations, all of which are within thescope of the present inventive concept.

Thus, for example, Fig. 3 illustrates aframe 101 whereinthe first pair ofsprings 116 and the second pair ofsprings117 are again interposed between thesecond base 107 of eachfirst andsecond truck 105 and 106 and thefirst base 102 oftheframe 101; the axis of said first and second pairs ofsprings, however, is inclined with respect to said first and second bases.

Accordingly, thefirst seats 115a and 115b formed on thefirstlateral wings 103a and 103b are inclined along thesame axis.

Advantageously, the first and second pairs of springs areinterposed between first raisedportions 123 and secondraisedportions 124 which protrude, respectively from saidfirst base 102 and from saidsecond base 107, along planesinclined at right angles with respect to the plane ofarrangement of the ends of each one of said first and secondpairs of springs.

The inclination of the first and of the second pairs ofsprings and of the first seats allows, in case of collisionof the wheels with stones or other objects protruding fromthe ground, to cushion the main component of the impactforce. If the skater performs lateral thrusting in order toincrease his or her speed, the inclination allows totransmit a large extent of force to the wheels, wasting alimited amount of energy.

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment for aframe 201,wherein eachindividual wheel 213 is pivoted transversely atthe secondlateral wings 209a, 209b of a single truck,generally designated by thereference numeral 205, which isslidingly associated between the firstlateral wings 203aand 203b of theframe 201 along an axis which isperpendicular or, as shown in figure 4, at an angle withrespect to thefirst base 202 of theframe 201.

Eachwheel 213 is pivoted at a second pivot 214 the endswhereof are located at adaptedfirst seats 215a, 215barranged at an equal angle with respect to thetruck 205.

Advantageously, eachtruck 205 slides not only between saidfirst wings 203a, 203b but also between a pair of adaptedtabs 225a, 225b protruding below thefirst base 202 towardsthe ground along an axis which is parallel to the plane ofarrangement of the truck, the pair of tabs being arrangedtransversely to the firstlateral wings 203a, 203b, and thefront end 218 andrear end 219 of each truck interactingwith said pair of tabs.

The dimensions of the pair of tabs are of course such as toallow normal rolling of the wheels.

In this case, too, first flexible elements are interposedbetween thesecond base 207 of each truck and the overlyingfirst base 202 of the frame and are constituted by asinglespring 216 interposed between said second base and firstraisedportions 223 protruding from thefirst base 202.

This embodiment, too, therefore solves all of the intendedaim and objects, the customization of the obtainable degreeof cushioning for each individual wheel being even greater.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a further embodiment of the presentinvention for askate 326 comprising a shoe 327 the sole 328whereof is associated, preferably at two regions, on thefirst base 302 of theframe 301, said frame also comprisinga pair of firstlateral wings 303a and 303b which protrudetowards theground 304.

This embodiment, too, comprises afirst truck 305 and asecond truck 306 which are identical to each other, areslidingly associated with theframe 301, and have secondlateral wings 309a, 309b which can slide within the firstlateral wings 303a, 303b.

In this case, too, thewheels 313 are pivoted transversely,by means offirst pivots 312, proximate to the free end 311aand 311b of the secondlateral wings 309a and 309b.

Aflap 329a and 329b protrudes from both of the secondlateral wings 309a and 309b above the pivoting axis of thefirst pivots 312; said flaps arrange themselvesapproximately parallel to the overlying lowerperimetricedge 310 of thefirst wings 303a, 303b.

Adaptedsecond seats 320 for first flexible means,constituted by first pairs ofsprings 316a, 316b and by asecond pair ofsprings 317, are formed at the lowerperimetric edge 310a, 310b of thefirst wings 303a, 303bwhich are adjacent to theflaps 329a, 329b, proximate to thefront end 318 andrear end 319 of thefirst truck 305 and ofthesecond truck 306.

Thefirst truck 305 and thesecond truck 306 again have asecond pivot 314 transversely connecting thesecond wings309a, 309b; said ends are accommodated atfirst seats 315which are substantially slotted with an axis which isapproximately perpendicular to theground 304.

A second flexible element can be interposed in theinterspace between the second base 307 and thefirst base 302 and is constituted by a third pair of springs orpads322a, 322b which can be removed and have, in a longitudinalsectional view, substantially an isosceles-trapezoidconfiguration allowing to vary the rotation axis of one ormore wheels in an upward direction or in a downwarddirection.

The second pair of springs or pads can of course beaccommodated at the interspace between the first and thesecond bases by providing anopening 341 at one of saidsecond lateral wings, as shown in figure 6.

Thepads 322a, 322b can be replaced either by removing themthrough theopening 341 or after extracting thesecond pivot314 and then removing the truck from the frame.

These embodiments, too, achieve the stated aim and objects.The skate, according to the invention is susceptible ofnumerous modifications and variations, within the scope ofthe appended claims. The materials and the dimensionsconstituting the various individual components of the skatemay also vary according to particular requirements.

Claims (22)

1. A skate with in-line wheels, comprising a substantiallyU-shaped frame forming at least one base, above which a shoeis associated, and two lateral wings protruding towards theground, characterized in that at least one separate truckfor supporting at least one wheel is slidingly associatedwith said frame in contrast with at least one flexible andinterchangeable element.
2. A skate according to claim 1, characterized in that itcomprises a means interposed between said at least one baseof the frame and said at least one truck, said means beingadapted to vary the position of the rotation axis of said atleast one wheel.
3. A skate according to claim 2, characterized in that itfurther comprises a second truck slidingly associated withsaid frame, said first and second trucks being U-shaped.
4. A skate according to claim 3, characterized in that saidfirst and said second trucks have a second base which isapproximately as wide as the interspace between the innerlateral surfaces of said first wings, a pair of secondparallel lateral wings protruding from said second base.
5. A skate according to claim 4, characterized in that saidsecond lateral wings, which can slide with respect to thefirst lateral wings, protrude beyond the lower perimetricedge of the first lateral wings, a pair of first pivots forwheels being transversely associated, along parallel axes,proximate to the free ends of the second lateral wings.
6. A skate according to claim 5, characterized in that eachone of said first and second trucks has means for guidingtheir sliding inside said frame, said means beingconstituted by a second pivot transversely pivoted to saidsecond base in the interspace between two adjacent wheels,the ends of the second pivot being accommodated and guidedat a pair of adapted first seats formed at the first lateralwings of the frame along an axis which is approximatelyperpendicular to the ground plane.
7. A skate according to claim 6, characterized in that thesliding of said first and second trucks with respect to saidframe occurs in contrast with first and/or second flexibleelements interposed between said second and first bases.
8. A skate according to claim 7, characterized in that saidfirst flexible elements are constituted by a first and by asecond pairs of cylindrical helical compression springsarranged transversely to said second base respectivelyproximate to the front and rear ends of each second base.
9. A skate according to claim 8, characterized in that saidfirst and second pairs of springs are interchangeable andare accommodated at adapted pairs of second and third seatsformed at said first lateral wings.
10. A skate according to claim 9, characterized in that saidfirst and second pairs of springs interact both with part ofsaid second base of the first or second truck and with partof said first lateral wings.
11. A skate according to claim 7, characterized in that said second flexible elements interposed between said second andfirst bases are constituted by a third pair of Bellevillespring washers or rubber pads arranged approximately at thelongitudinal median axis of the second base, in theinterspace between the second pivot and the front and rearends.
12. A skate according to claim 8, characterized in that theaxis of said first and second pairs of springs isperpendicular to the first and second bases.
13. A skate according to one or more of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the axis of said first andsecond pairs of springs is inclined with respect to theplane of arrangement of the first and second bases.
14. A skate according to claim 13, characterized in thatsaid first seats formed on the first lateral wings areinclined along the same axis as the first and second pairsof springs.
15. A skate according to claim 14, characterized in thatsaid first and second pairs of springs are interposedbetween first and second raised portions protrudingrespectively from said first and second bases along planeswhich are inclined at right angles to the plane ofarrangement of the ends of each first and second pairs ofsprings.
16. A skate according to one or more of the precedingclaims, characterized in that each individual wheel istransversely pivoted at second lateral wings of said truck slidingly associated between said first lateral wings ofsaid frame along an axis which is perpendicular or inclinedwith respect to said first base of said frame.
17. A skate according to claim 16, characterized in thateach wheel is pivoted at a second pivot the ends whereof arearranged at adapted first seats which are arranged at thesame angle with respect to said truck.
18. A skate according to claim 17, characterized in thateach one of said individual trucks slides between said firstwings and between a pair of adapted tabs protruding belowsaid first base towards the ground along an axis parallel tothe plane of arrangement of each individual truck, said pairof tabs being arranged transversely to said first lateralwings, the front and rear ends of each truck interactingwith said pair of tabs.
19. A skate according to one or more of the precedingclaims, characterized in that a flap protrudes outwards,above the pivoting axis of said first pivots, from bothsecond lateral wings, said flaps being arrangedapproximately parallel to said overlying lower perimetricedge of said first wings.
20. A skate according to claim 19, characterized in thatsecond seats for first flexible elements are formed at thelower perimetric edge of said first wings which are adjacentto said flaps, proximate to said front and rear ends of saidfirst and second trucks, said flexible means beingconstituted by first pairs of springs and by a second pairof springs.
21. A skate according to claim 20, characterized in that itis possible to interpose, in the interspace between saidsecond and first bases, at least one second flexible elementconstituted by a third pair of springs or pads which areremovable and have, in longitudinal cross-section,substantially an isosceles trapezoid shape, said shapeallowing to vary the rotation axis of one or more wheels inan upward direction or in a downward direction.
22. A skate according to claim 21, characterized in thatsaid third pair of springs or pads can be accommodated atthe interspace provided between said first and second basesby providing at least one opening at one of said secondlateral wings.

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