US20040207164A1 - In-line roller skate - Google Patents

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 wheels. At least a portion of the flexible shoe portion that is adjacent the sole is exposed, and free from blockage by the support structure, thereby promoting the circulation of air through the breathable shoe portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/426,177, filed Apr. 28, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/261,224, filed Sep. 30, 2002, which is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/068,595, filed Feb. 6, 2002, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/877,544, filed Jun. 8, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,818), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/587,374, filed Jun. 1, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,110), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/379,461, filed Aug. 23, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,030), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/209,321, filed Dec. 9, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,459), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/811,134, filed Mar. 3, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,796), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/484,467 filed Jun. 7, 1995 (abandoned), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/094,576, filed Jul. 19, 1993, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,466.[0001]
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention generally relates to in-line roller skates having an upper shoe portion for securely holding the skater's foot connected by an appropriate fastening means to a lower frame portion that may include an in-line wheel brake or speed control system and means for quickly and easily replacing worn wheels.[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• In-line roller skates generally include a plurality of wheels, mounted in-line, one behind the other, rotatable in a common, longitudinally extending, plane of rotation. The wheels are typically carried and supported by a lower frame portion attached to an in-line roller skate shoe or boot. A conventional in-line roller skate also includes an upper shoe (or boot) portion that is securely attached to the lower frame portion. The upper shoe portion provides the support for the skater's foot, while the lower frame portion provides the rigid substructure or undercarriage for the in-line roller skate wheels.[0003]
• In-line roller skates are very maneuverable and are capable of higher speeds than those customarily associated with conventional paired wheel roller skates. In-line roller skating is generally considered to require higher levels of skill, coordination, and strength than conventional paired wheel roller skating because of the narrow, lateral support base associated with in-line roller skates. Specifically, while balancing in the forward and rear direction is relatively easy for even inexperienced skaters, balancing in the sideward or lateral direction is difficult because of the narrow support base and is heavily dependent upon the skater's balancing and coordination skills. Proper ankle and foot supports within the upper shoe portion of the in-line roller skate aid in lateral balancing.[0004]
• To obtain the optimum performance from an in-line roller skate, it is important that the in-line roller skate be maintained in a substantially vertical position. The upper shoe portion of the in-line roller skate serves competing purposes of providing support and comfort; comfort in a shoe not usually being associated with a high degree of support. In other words, the incorporation of rigid support structures in the upper shoe portion of the in-line roller skate tends to add stiffness and bulk and, considering the warm weather environments conducive to in-line roller skating, tends to make the skates heavy, hot, and uncomfortable. Because serious ankle and other injuries can result if comfort is favored over support, proper support in an in-line roller skate has been the dominant design criteria in the past.[0005]
• In prior designs, the conventional upper shoe portion of the in-line roller skate is usually formed of rigid, nonbreathable, plastic materials having an inner liner. The plastic material generally forms the outer structure of the upper shoe portion, thereby requiring that a soft inner liner of sponge rubber or other like material be included to provide a modicum of comfort to the user. Since such soft materials combined with the rigid plastic shell are good insulators and do not readily transmit heat or air away from the user's foot, the result is a hot upper shoe portion.[0006]
• To provide lateral stability, conventional alpine ski boot designs have readily been adapted to in-line roller skates. These boots provide support and durability characteristics necessary for in-line roller skates. U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,537 (“the '537 Patent”) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,033 (“the '033 Patent”) are both exemplary examples of rigid, injection-molded boots adapted to winter sports, such as ice skating and alpine skiing, which have been modified for in-line roller skating applications. These patents disclose an upper boot portion that comprises a hard plastic outer shell with a soft inner liner. While this type of boot design is well suited for cold weather sports, the upper shoe portion tends to be hot and uncomfortable when used in warm weather sports such as in-line roller skating. The '033 Patent suggests that by including “primarily unobstructed ventilation ports” in the rigid synthetic outer shell of the upper shoe portion, air can circulate around the skater's foot, thereby eliminating some of the heat associated with the hard plastic outer shell. While this patent seeks to address the issue of comfort, the disclosed upper shoe portion is still configured of two parts, including a hard plastic outer shell and a soft inner liner, which can be uncomfortable in warm weather conditions, compared to conventional walking and/or running shoes, due to excessive heat buildup. The result is that the skater's feet are often hot, damp, and uncomfortable.[0007]
• Another problem with the adoption of injection-molded ski-type boots to in-line roller skating is that, while providing excellent lateral stiffness and rigidity for lateral ankle support, these boots also create unnecessary and unwanted forward/rearward stiffness and rigidity. Ski-type boots detract from the performance characteristics of the skate because they limit the range of motion of the skater's legs and feet and, therefore, the ability of the skater to utilize the full extent of his or her strength and agility.[0008]
• Further, it is desirable for an in-line roller skate upper shoe portion to be lightweight. Boots that are well suited to skiing applications wherein it is not necessary to raise and lower the boot with every movement of the foot (because the skier relies on gravity to provide the forward or downward motion) prove to be heavy and bulky when adapted to in-line roller skating. When skating on a flat surface, the in-line roller skater must lift the boot with every stride to provide a forward impetus, and a heavy upper shoe portion causes fatigue and reduces skating enjoyment.[0009]
• Alternative modes of providing both comfort and adequate support for in-line roller skating have been suggested. Specifically, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,963,252, 4,418,929, and No. 5,069,462 show roller skate frames that include a platform adapted to allow the skater to wear a conventional street shoe that is inserted into a series of braces and supports. These skates offer alternative shoe and frame designs to the rigid plastic outer shell and inner liner of the conventional in-line roller skate. However, significant problems exist with such designs in that the adjustable braces and supports of these designs, while needed to accommodate numerous shoe sizes and shapes, are bulky and uncomfortable. Additionally, there is a limited range of shoe types that the skates will accommodate, and thus, there is the additional requirement that the skater have the proper shoe type to properly utilize the skate.[0010]
• Because speed beyond that of conventional skating is associated with in-line roller skating, there is a further need for speed control systems on in-line roller skates. Prior solutions to speed control include the placement of bumpers or friction pads on the front or rear of at least one of the skates, allowing the skater to tip or lift his or her foot, either forward or rearward, to bring the bumper into contact with the skating surface. Accordingly, the skater drags the bumper along until he or she has slowed to a desired speed. While this system has proven satisfactory for paired wheel roller skates using pairs of wheels in a side-by-side configuration as the support base, the narrow lateral support base of in-line roller skates makes this breaking maneuver difficult. Accordingly, speed control on in-line roller skates employing this type of drag brake requires a high level of skill and coordination to be performed properly. Higher speeds make it difficult for the skater to raise or remove the weight from one foot to properly position the bumper for contact with the skating surface.[0011]
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,736 shows a conventional brake adapted for use in in-line roller skating. A pad is retained in a brake housing, the housing being securely fastened to the lower frame portion of the in-line roller skate. Other patents, specifically U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,701 and No. 5,028,058, disclose similar braking pads having different configurations mounted on the rear of in-line roller skates. However, in all of these designs, it is necessary for the skater to maneuver or reposition at least one of his or her feet to properly apply the brake.[0012]
• Some alternative braking methods have been proposed that apply friction plates or pads to the wheels of the in-line roller skate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,032 suggests a method of braking by horizontally forcing one or more plates against the in-line roller skate wheel(s). The plates are actuated by a hand control[0013]80, causingbrake pads40 to move substantially horizontally toward in-line roller skate wheel(s)98.
• Braking apparatus used on in-line roller skates must be configured to minimize possible damage to the braking system caused by the user falling or bringing the skate into contact with fixed objects. The design must further avoid debris from becoming jammed in the brake, causing the brake to fail to function and thereby failing to control the skater's speed. More importantly, the brake must be designed to avoid inadvertently jamming against the wheel(s) during skating. It is thus important to position the braking apparatus within the lower frame portion of the in-line roller skate to protect the moving parts of the brake from debris or from being damaged due to impacts.[0014]
• Another problem with prior art designs for in-line skates involves the need to be able to quickly and easily replace wheels as they become worn. Most current systems require major disassembly of either the lower frame portion or the wheel and mounting axle structure in order to replace a wheel. In this regard, there is a long-felt need for a method of readily replacing or interchanging in-line roller wheels.[0015]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In accordance with the present invention, an in-line roller skate is disclosed having a comfortable and soft, pliable, breathable shoe portion including a base and an ankle support cuff. The shoe portion may incorporate strategically-placed rigid and semirigid structures to provide needed support for the skater's foot. The structures may comprise a heel counter integral with the soft, pliable, breathable shoe portion or be attached to the base portion for connection to the soft, upper portion of the shoe. Further included in the preferred embodiment of the invention is an ankle support cuff hingedly attached to the internal or external heel counter. Arch, heel, and ball supports for the foot may also be provided within the shoe portion, specifically the base portion, to improve the support and comfort of the in-line roller skate.[0016]
• In an embodiment of the invention, an inline roller skate includes a frame rotatably supporting the longitudinally aligned wheels, a substantially rigid base including a sole portion and support members such as a heel cup, an ankle support cup and/or a toe cup, that extend upwardly from the sole portion, a breathable shoe upper that is attached at a lower edge to the sole portion of the base, and wherein at least some of the lower edge of the shoe portion is not blocked by the foot support members such that air circulation through the lower edge of the shoe portion is promoted.[0017]
• The ankle support cuff is adjustably attached to the heel counter to provide both lateral and longitudinal adjustment of the ankle support cuff with respect to the base portion. The base portion may be provided with means for attachment to a lower frame portion, generally supporting a plurality of wheels rotatable in a common plane of rotation. The attachment means of the base to the lower frame portion may allow both lateral and longitudinal movement of the upper shoe portion with respect to the lower frame portion. Alternatively the base and lower frame portion may be a single molded unit.[0018]
• The present invention may also include a speed control, including a pressure plate above a minimum of one, but preferably two, of the in-line roller wheels. The pressure plate is biased away from the in-line roller wheels in a substantially vertical direction. Upon actuation of the speed control, the pressure plate is forced substantially downward until it contacts at least one in-line roller wheel. Actuation of the speed control can be accomplished using either a lever or, alternatively, by a cable actuating means.[0019]
• Further included in the frame portion of the present invention are means for quickly releasing and replacing the in-line wheels, such as when worn or damaged.[0020]
• The present invention departs from the teachings of the prior art by forming a substantial part of the upper shoe portion out of soft, pliable, breathable materials capable of transmitting air and heat directly therethrough, while also properly supporting the user's foot. The support is provided in a few critical areas, such as the ankle and heel of the user's foot, using rigid materials. Semirigid materials may also be used in some support portions. In particular, the upper shoe portion of the present invention comprises a soft, pliable, breathable shoe material in combination with a rigid or semirigid base portion and ankle support cuff. As a result, the body of the upper shoe portion is comfortable for a skater to wear, while the base portion and ankle support cuff of the upper shoe portion provide the support needed to allow a skater to easily maintain the in-line roller skate wheels oriented vertically on their roller surfaces while skating.[0021]
• The term “rigid” with respect to the present invention means a plastic material highly resistant to bending or flexing, while “semirigid” means that the material, while capable of resisting a substantial deforming force, is also able to bend or be temporarily deformed by a force somewhat greater than the normal force encountered in use. “Heat moldable” refers to both rigid and semirigid plastic materials that become reasonably pliable and formable at a higher temperature than would customarily be associated with in-line roller skating.[0022]
• In general, a combination of heat moldable “rigid” and “semirigid” plastic materials is used in combination with soft, pliable, breathable materials, in an in-line roller skate, to provide greater comfort, without foregoing the support that has previously been achieved using “rigid” materials. It will be understood that the terms “rigid” and “semirigid” may thus refer not only to the type or hardness of material used in the in-line roller skate, but also to the thickness of the material. Similarly, the terms “non-rigid,” “soft,” and “pliable” describe materials such as leather, cloth, or mesh fabrics of various densities that have a certain flexibility and “give” to them, as compared to a rigid or semirigid material, and thus are more comfortable for a skater when placed adjacent a skater's foot. The term “breathable” refers to a material through which air can readily pass and is distinguished from molded plastic materials of either the rigid or semirigid type that are substantially impervious to air transmission or which simply provide ventilation ports for air circulation.[0023]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:[0024]
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the soft, pliable, breathable shoe portion and semirigid ankle support cuff attached to the lower frame portion of the present invention;[0025]
• FIG. 2A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the footbed portion of the present invention, illustrating the lip supports and the heel counter;[0026]
• FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the footbed portion of the present invention, illustrating a modified toe portion;[0027]
• FIG. 3A is a sectional side view of the footbed portion of FIG. 2A of the present invention, including the heel counter, raised support lips, and the frame mounting means;[0028]
• FIG. 3B is a sectional side view of the footbed portion of FIG. 3A of the present invention, including the heel counter, toe portion, and frame mounting means;[0029]
• FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the present invention, illustrating the ankle support cuff, the ankle support cuff canting means in section, and alternate longitudinal canting positions of the ankle support cuff;[0030]
• FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the present invention, illustrating the ankle support cuff and ankle support cuff adjustment means in section, and alternative lateral canting positions of the ankle support cuff;[0031]
• FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the ankle support cuff adjustment means;[0032]
• FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the ankle support cuff adjustment means;[0033]
• FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the lower frame portion of the present invention, including a speed control means;[0034]
• FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic partial side sectional views illustrating a speed control means made in accordance with the present invention and showing the speed control means in its nonbraking and braking modes, respectively;[0035]
• FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic partial side sectional views of a second embodiment of the speed control means of the present invention, illustrating a cable actuating means for the speed control;[0036]
• FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the lower frame portion of one embodiment of the present invention;[0037]
• FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the speed control means of the present invention, wherein braking is applied to three of the four in-line roller wheels of the in-line roller skate;[0038]
• FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of still another alternate embodiment of the speed control means of the present invention, wherein braking is applied to all of the in-line roller wheels of an in-line roller skate;[0039]
• FIG. 16A is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the soft, pliable, breathable shoe portion, an external lace cover, and the semirigid ankle support cuff and securing strap attached to a lower frame portion;[0040]
• FIG. 16B is a partial perspective view of the present invention illustrating an alternative embodiment having the footbed portion and lower frame portion combined as a single injection-molded unit; and[0041]
• FIG. 17 is a sectional rear view of the upper shoe portion, showing the heel counter and ankle support cuff.[0042]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring to FIG. 1, an in-[0043]line roller skate21 made according to the present invention is disclosed. The in-line roller skate21 includes a soft, pliable,breathable shoe portion22, which is preferably made of breathable materials of the type commonly used in running shoes. Leather or leather-like man-made materials may be used, as may cloth fabrics and mesh fabric materials. Since the principal physical support for the skater's foot in the present invention is provided by strategically positioned support members, including an exteriorankle support cuff23 and abase portion39 to be described hereafter, the materials used to construct theshoe portion22 are chosen for comfort, breathability, and heat transmissibility to cool the skater's foot. For purposes of describing the present invention, theshoe portion22, thebase portion39, and theankle support cuff23 together form what is referred to as the entire upper shoe portion.
• The in-[0044]line roller skate21 of the present invention includes abase portion39, aheel counter41, a soft, pliable,breathable shoe portion22, which in one embodiment includes a rigid orsemirigid toe portion24 and anankle support cuff23 having aconventional securing strap26. While the preferred embodiments will be discussed in detail below, it is understood that theshoe portion22 may integrally include both thetoe portion24 and theheel counter41. Theheel counter41 and/or thetoe portion24 may be laminated externally of theshoe portion22 or be integrally contained within theshoe portion22. Alternatively, theheel counter41 and/or thetoe portion24 may both be an integral part of thebase portion39 or one or the other may be attached to thebase portion39 while the other is attached to theshoe portion22. The material comprising theheel counter41 and thetoe portion24 may be rigid or semirigid materials, depending on the intended use of the in-line roller skate21 and the desired degree of support.
• In-[0045]line roller skate21 further includes an externalankle support cuff23 having aconventional securing strap26. Theankle support cuff23 is shown hingedly mounted on theheel counter41. Although it will be understood that theankle support cuff23, which is made of either rigid or semirigid material, can likewise be an integral part of the soft, pliable,breathable shoe portion22, the preferred embodiment of the present invention mounts theankle support cuff23 internally and hingedly to theheel counter41. Theankle support cuff23 can, alternatively, be externally mounted to theheel counter41. It will also be understood thatheel counter41 can itself be an integral part of the soft boot or an external counter bonded to the soft boot. Theankle support cuff23 can include both longitudinal canting means25 and lateral canting means27, which will be described in detail hereafter.
• FIG. 1 discloses an[0046]external lace cover29, which may be integrally connected to the soft, pliable,breathable shoe portion22 at itsbase26 so that the lace cover can be pivoted forwardly to allow easy access to the shoe laces and the interior of the shoe. Referring also to FIG. 16A, conventional shoe laces28 may be provided inward of thelace cover29.Internal tongue29ais provided to prevent thelaces28 from bearing directly on the skater's foot.
• Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is a[0047]lower frame portion31 which is typically formed of injection-molded plastic or metal and aspeed control33, which will be described in detail hereafter. Thelower frame portion31 may alternatively be made of fiberglass with an epoxy resin or graphite with an epoxy resin. A plurality of in-line roller wheels35 is mounted on axle means36 that will also be described in detail hereafter. The in-line roller wheels35 are mounted for rotation in a common longitudinal plane. Axle means36 are shown fitted in upwardly extendingnotches37 inlower frame portion31 in a manner such thatwheels35 can be easily replaced or interchanged when worn. While thenotches37 are shown for purposes of describing the present invention, it will be understood that a variety of methods of mounting the in-line roller wheels35 can be used, including mounting methods that allow variation in the vertical positioning of the axes of rotation of the in-line roller wheels35.
• FIGS. 2A and 3A illustrate the[0048]base portion39 made in accordance with the present invention. Thebase portion39 can be a relatively simple flat sole or a relatively complex contoured sole containing supports and attachment means. For purposes of the present description, thebase portion39 will be described in its more complex form, it being understood that not all of the supports or attachments described hereafter need be included in every embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 3A, thebase portion39 includes asole portion40, an integrallyconnected heel counter41 for cupping the back of the skater's heel, and raisedsupport lip43 on the sides of thebase portion39 in the area of the ball of the skater's foot. In a preferred embodiment, thesole portion40 has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper portion of thesole portion40 may be anatomically fitted to the user's foot by molding or other known techniques as described hereafter, to evenly distribute pressure along the bottom of the foot. Theheel counter41, and the raisedsupport lips43 provide support to aid the skater in maintaining the in-line roller skate in a substantially vertical position. The lower portion of thesole portion40 provides an interface for mounting the upper shoe portion onto the lower frame portion where the upper shoe portion and the lower frame portion are separate units. Because in this invention much of the upper shoe portion is formed of soft, pliable, breathable material, the footbed portion, and other supports, including primarily theankle support cuff23, provide substantially all of the needed support and stability for the skater's foot.
• The[0049]sole portion40 of thebase portion39 may include anarch support portion45, aheel support47, and aball support49. The supports45,47, and49 contour thebase portion39 to the user's foot and are preferably made of a heat-moldable plastic integrally mounted in thesole portion40 of thefootbed portion39. The use of heat-moldable plastic enables a skater to heat the moldable plastic supports45,47, and49 by conventional means, such as a hair dryer, to a temperature sufficient to cause them to become pliable. Thefootbed portion39 can then be anatomically fitted to the skater's foot by placing the foot therein and allowing the heat moldable plastic to cool and harden in a shape conforming to the skater's foot. The plastic supports45,47, and49 may be included as desired or required, depending on skate design criteria and the form of the mounting means contained within thebase portion39.
• The[0050]heel counter41 and the raisedsupport lips43 may also be fabricated from heat moldable plastics. As with thesupports45,47, and49, theheel counter41 and the raisedsupport lip43 can be anatomically fitted to the user's foot using a conventional hot air heat source. Thebase portion39 of the present invention can thus be formed to fit the user's foot, thereby minimizing unwanted movement of the skater's foot within the upper shoe portion while simultaneously improving the overall comfort of the upper shoe portion.
• While FIGS. 2A and 3A show the[0051]heel counter41 as an integral part of thebase portion39, other embodiments of the present invention may integrally mount theheel counter41 in thesoft shoe portion22, while thebase portion39 would primarily comprisesole portion40. Alternatively, thebase portion39 could contain an additional heel counter portion such that theshoe portion22 and theintegral heel counter41 are laminated thereto in a known fashion.
• Again referring to FIGS. 2A and 3A, the[0052]sole portion40 ofbase portion39 is shown to include a pair of front mounting means51 a and at least one identical rear mounting means51b.Mounting means51aand51bare adapted to allow the upper shoe portion to be mounted to thelower frame portion31 in a manner such that the upper shoe portion may be moved both laterally and longitudinally with respect to thelower frame31, as desired by the user. In particular, mounting means51aand51beach include aplate53 having a threadedopening54aformed therein and adapted to receive a complementary threaded fastener, such as54b(FIG. 3A), which is sized to extend upwardly through a portion of thelower frame portion31. Eachplate53 is mounted in anoversize cavity54cformed in thesole portion40 such that theplate53 can move both laterally and longitudinally within thecavity54cwhen the fastener54bis loosened in the threadedopening54a.When the skater adjusts the position of the upper shoe portion to its desired location with respect to thelower frame portion31, the fasteners54bare tightened to hold the upper shoe portion in position. While it is preferred that the upper shoe portion be both laterally and longitudinally adjustable with respect to thelower frame portion31, it will be understood that thebase portion39 can be permanently fastened to thelower frame portion31 using conventional fastening means, such as rivets. In addition, thebase portion39 and thelower frame portion31 can be integrally combined in a single injection-molded unit such as shown in FIG. 16B. This embodiment would not allow adjustment of the upper shoe portion with respect to thelower frame portion31, but would provide substantial desired rigidity and strength between the upper shoe portion and thelower frame portion31.
• Referring to FIGS. 2B and 3B, an alternate form of[0053]base portion39aof the present invention is disclosed, without the raisedsupport lips43, but including atoe portion24. In this embodiment, the soft, pliable,breathable shoe portion22 may be laminated to thebase portion39 as such thattoe portion24 provides additional laminating surface adding support and strength to theshoe portion22. In addition, thetoe portion24 can be extended rearward sufficiently to provide the earlier described support function oflips43. The durable,semirigid toe portion24 further prevents the soft pliable material comprising theshoe portion22 from damage caused by scuffing the toe, or by the toe of the in-line roller skate21 bumping or scraping the road surface or other objects.
• FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an[0054]ankle support cuff23 made according to the present invention. Theankle support cuff23 is secured to theheel counter41 throughlateral support apertures55 and longitudinal support aperture56 (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) in a manner to be described hereafter. In one embodiment, theankle support cuff23 can be rigidly fixed to theheel counter41, allowing very limited flex of theankle support cuff23 with respect to thefootbed portion39 and thelower frame portion31. In this mode, the in-line roller skate becomes a substantially rigid unit with no longitudinal or lateral adjustment and flexibility is limited to that produced by the flex of the materials comprising theankle support cuff23, theheel counter41, andbase portion39. As a means of controlling flexibility, the material used in the fabrication of theankle support cuff23 can be selected for its characteristic flexibility, which may range from very rigid to a pliable, but semirigid material.
• In an alternative embodiment,[0055]ankle support cuff23 can be hingedly attached to theheel counter41 throughlateral support apertures55, thus allowing forward and rearward pivotal movement of theankle support cuff23. As discussed earlier, theheel counter41 can either be an integral part of thebase portion39 or of theshoe portion22. Hinging of the cuff allows the skater to flex his ankle forward and rearward with ease, while providing considerable rigidity in the lateral direction. In still another embodiment of the present invention, theankle support cuff23 is adjustable both longitudinally (FIG. 4) and laterally (FIG. 5), as described more fully hereafter.
• The[0056]ankle support cuff23, in combination with thebase portion39 and theheel counter41, support the skater's ankle and foot and assist the skater in maintaining a substantially upright ankle position. Theankle support cuff23 is preferably made of a semirigid plastic and may be made of a heat moldable plastic similar to the heat moldable plastics described above with respect to the footbed supports45,47, and49. As with the heat moldable plastics in thebase portion39, the heat moldable plasticankle support cuff23 can also be heated with hot air and formed for a better fit.
• In-line roller skating requires substantial shoe support in combination with the strength, coordination, and agility of the skater to maintain the in-line roller skate in a near vertical position. The various support components of the present invention described heretofore, including the[0057]ankle support cuff23, theheel counter41, and thebase portion39, provide the needed support, thus allowing soft, pliable,breathable shoe portion22 to be made of material such as leather, mesh fabric, or the like, to enhance the comfort of the in-line roller skate. It will be understood that any of the known materials commonly used in running shoes to provide comfort and to dissipate heat by allowing air circulation about the user's foot can be used in the present invention to accomplish the goal of providing a comfortable, cool, in-line roller skate whose principal foot support comes from strategically placed support structures rather than from a rigid molded boot.
• The[0058]ankle support cuff23 of the present invention may include a canting system for lateral and longitudinal tilt adjustments. In general, the preferred embodiment of the canting system comprises two movable parts, each respectively associated with either theankle support cuff23 or theheel counter41 and capable of being securely locked together. As will be described hereafter, a skater wishing to tilt the ankle support cuff longitudinally or laterally loosens the longitudinal canting means25 or the lateral canting means27 and moves the two parts with respect to one another to position theankle support cuff23 according to the skater's preference. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the lateral canting means27 can be placed on either the inside or the outside of theankle supporting cuff23. Phantom views in FIG. 4 show thesupport cuff23 adjusted to various longitudinally canted positions, while in FIG. 5, the phantom views show theankle support cuff23 adjusted to various laterally canted positions as desired by the skater.
• As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 16A, the soft, pliable,[0059]breathable shoe portion22 that substantially surrounds the skater's foot and extends above theankle support cuff23. The extension of theshoe portion22 above theankle support cuff23 prevents the upper portion of the semirigidankle support cuff23 from uncomfortably binding against the skater's ankle or calf. In a similar fashion, theinternal tongue29aalso extends above theankle support cuff23 to prevent theankle support cuff23 from binding against the skater's shin when substantial longitudinal forward force is applied against theankle support cuff23 and securingstrap26.
• Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the longitudinal and lateral canting mechanisms of the present invention are disclosed in detail. In a preferred embodiment, the canting mechanism includes a[0060]cap nut101 mounted to or within theheel counter41 such that its internally threadedbarrel103 extends into aslot117 in theheel counter41. The outer surface of theheel counter41 in the region adjacent theslot117 includes a plurality ofsurface grooves109 arranged on opposite sides of the slot, so that the grooves on one side of the slot are angled relative to those on the opposite side in a chevron-like configuration. Theankle support cuff23 includes an opening104 outwardly adjacent the internally threadedbarrel103 into which is inserted a plug111 havingsurface grooves113 sized and configured to engage thesurface grooves109. The plug111 includes acentral opening112 into which is inserted acap screw114 threaded to engage the internally threadedbarrel103 of thecap nut101. It will be understood that tightening of thecap screw114 relative to thecap nut101 causes the cooperatinggrooves109 and113 on theheel counter41 and the plug111, respectively, to engage each other, to fix the position of theankle support cuff23 with respect to thebase portion39. When thecap screw114 is loosened, thegrooves109 and113 can be disengaged and thecap nut101 can be moved within theslot117 to allow theankle support cuff23 to be canted relative to thebase portion39.
• Referring now to FIG. 8, one embodiment of the[0061]lower frame portion31 of the present invention is disclosed. Thelower frame portion31 comprises aframe rail57b,which preferably includes notches37 (shown in FIG. 1) in which the axle means36 are held to allow in-line wheels35 to be easily interchanged or replaced. While thenotches37 are shown for purposes of describing the present invention, it will be understood that a variety of methods for mounting the in-line wheels35 can be used, including mounting methods that allow vertical adjustments of the axis of rotation of the plurality of in-line wheels35. The in-line wheels35 are mounted to be rotatable in a common longitudinal plane of rotation. Thelower frame portion31 further includes a brake orspeed control33 having an actuatinglever59. In use, a skater reaches down and pulls upward on theactuating lever59, forcing contouredspeed control plate61 to bear against the in-line roller wheels35. Alternatively, those skilled in the art will recognize that the actuatinglever59 may be arranged and configured such that, in use,speed control plate61 bears against the in-line roller wheels35 by pushing down on actuatinglever59. This mechanism is discussed in further detail hereafter. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contouredspeed control plate61 contacts a minimum of two wheels, typically the two rearmost wheels on the in-line roller skate. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the contouredspeed control plate61 may contact from as few as one in-line roller wheel35 to as many as all of the in-line wheels35 mounted on thelower frame portion31.
• FIGS. 9 and 10 show the speed control means[0062]33 of FIG. 8 in longitudinal cross section in its unactuated and actuated or braking positions respectively. The contouredspeed control plate61 is movable on avertical shaft62 in a substantially vertical direction, toward and away from the in-line roller wheels35. A biasingspring63 acts to bias the contouredspeed control plate61 away from the in-line roller wheels35. When a force overriding the biasingspring63 is applied to theactuating lever59, the contouredspeed control plate61 moves in a downward direction to contact the in-line wheels35. Contact between thespeed control plate61 and the in-line wheels35 creates friction sufficient to impose a drag on the in-line roller wheels35, thus slowing or stopping the rotation of the wheels thereby controlling the speed of the skater. Varying the force applied to theactuating lever59 varies the drag on the in-line roller wheels35. It will be understood that application of a selected force will slow but not necessarily stop the in-line roller wheels35 so that the skater's speed can be controlled, such as when descending a grade. The contouredspeed control plate61 can be made of any suitable material, including plastic or a metal such as aluminum.
• Referring now to FIG. 13, there is shown an exploded view of the[0063]lower frame portion31 of the present invention, including thespeed control33. The contouredspeed control plate61 is shown positioned between anupper mounting bracket65 and alower mounting bracket67. The mountingbrackets65 and67 are securely attached between frame rails57aand57busing appropriate fastening means, such as machine screws69. The contouredspeed control plate61 is movable in a substantially vertical direction within the mountingbrackets65 and67, from an uppermost position, such as that shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, to a lowermost position wherein the contouredspeed control plate61 contacts the in-line roller wheels35, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12.
• The[0064]actuating lever59 is mounted to pivot about afulcrum pin73, which is in turn mounted between the frame rails57aand57bby means of afastener69, and is attached at its inner end to apressure plate71. Accordingly, when the actuatinglever59 is raised, pressure is applied to thepressure plate71 in a downward direction. Thepressure plate71, being directly connected to the contouredspeed control plate61, causes the contouredspeed control plate61 to move in a downward direction toward thelower mounting bracket67. This downward movement results in contact of the contouredspeed control plate61 with the in-line roller wheels35. The downward motion of the contouredspeed control plate61 is limited first, and preferably, by its contact with the in-line roller wheels35. However, if the contouredspeed control plate61 continued to move in a downward direction, the biasingspring63 would eventually become fully collapsed before thepressure plate71 contacts the upper mountingbracket65, and before a lower portion66 of the contouredspeed control plate61 contacts thelower mounting bracket67.
• FIGS. 11 and 12 show a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the actuating[0065]lever59 is replaced with acable75. The biasingspring63 again biases the contouredspeed control plate61 away from in-line roller wheels35. When thecable75 is pulled in an upwardly direction, acable pressure housing77 applies a downward force against thepressure plate71, forcing the contouredspeed control plate61 to move in a downward direction toward the in-line roller wheels35. In this embodiment of the present invention, thecable75 uses as its anchoring member, thelower mounting bracket67. Shortening of thecable75 causes the distance between thepressure plate71 and thelower mounting plate67 to be reduced, thereby forcing the contouredspeed control plate61 downwardly. As with the earlier described embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, thecable75 can apply force to the in-line roller wheels35 as needed to control the speed of or bring the in-line wheels35 to a stop. It will be understood that thecable75 can run upwardly to the area of the skater's knee or belt where it can be easily grasped, or held in the skater's hands so that the skater can continuously apply speed control pressure as needed. A conventional handgrip can be attached to the cable to allow it to be more easily held and pressure applied by the skater. Alternatively, a cable or similar actuating means could be attached to the actuating lever59 (in FIGS. 8-10), so that the skater could pull up on the cable to cause the end of actuatinglever59 to move upwardly, forcing the contouredspeed control plate61 against the in-line roller wheels35.
• FIG. 13 shows a conventional system for mounting the in-[0066]line wheels35 within the frame rails57aand57b.In particular, an in-line roller wheel35 is mounted on abearing hub35ahaving a central opening. Theaxle36, which comprises an internally threadedcap nut36aand a cooperating threadedcap screw36b,extends through the frame rails57aand57b,spacer washers36cand36don opposite sides of the in-line roller wheel35, and through the opening in the bearinghub35a.The internally threadedcap nut36aand the cooperatingly threadedscrew36bare sized such that when the screw is fully threaded into the nut, an axle of uniform diameter is provided on which the in-line roller wheel35 can rotate. The caps of the screw and nut grip the outer surfaces of the frame railsadjacent frame notches37.
• Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, the contour[0067]speed control plate61 of the present invention is shown shaped to apply drag to more than two of the in-line roller wheels35. FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a contouredspeed control plate61aas applied to three in-line roller wheels35, and FIG. 15 shows an embodiment wherein the contourspeed control plate61 is applied to four in-line roller wheels35. Accordingly, a skater using theactuating lever59 can apply force to the in-line roller wheels35 in the manner heretofore described as needed to control the speed or stop the in-line roller wheels35. Alternatively, a cable such as75 can be used to apply drag force to the contouredspeed control plates61aor61b.It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that, with appropriate modification of the mounting structure, the contouredspeed control plate61 can be applied to as many wheels as desired for adequate speed control. While not illustrated, it is also possible and considered to be within the scope of this invention, using either the actuating lever, or the cable of the present invention to have more than onespeed control33 applying downward pressure to a single contourspeed control plate61 or multiple contour speed control plates in more than one position along the frame rails57aand57b.
• The preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the contoured[0068]speed control plate61 is housed substantially above the in-line roller wheels35 and securely maintained between the frame rails57aand57b,has advantages over the prior art in that thespeed control33 is substantially removed from debris including rocks, dirt, grass, etc., which could become entangled in a speed control positioned lower on the frame rails57aand57b.In addition, by maintaining thespeed control33 substantially between the frame rails57aand57b,the present invention protects the components of the speed control from damage due to thelower frame portion31 contacting rigid objects or being carelessly handled.
• Referring to FIG. 16A, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with the soft, pliable,[0069]breathable shoe portion22 laminated in place on thebase portion39aas described above with respect to FIGS. 2B and 3B.
• As discussed heretofore, FIG. 16B discloses the[0070]base portion39 having aframe portion31 molded integrally therewith. A soft upper shoe portion may be laminated therein in a known fashion, such as by applying glue along the base and lower sides of the shoe in the area of the heel and toe supports and then curing.
• While there are manufacturing cost advantages in having the upper shoe portion separable from the[0071]lower frame portion31, it is also desirable in some skate designs for thebase portion39 to be both laterally and longitudinally adjustable with respect to the lower frame portion. It is also advantageous to have thebase portion39 molded integrally with thelower frame portion31. More specifically, certain rigidity improvements can be obtained by eliminating the interface between thebase portion39 and thelower frame portion31, and eliminating the fastening means used to securely hold the two components together.
• Referring now to FIG. 17, there is shown a rear sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 16A of the present invention showing an[0072]ankle support cuff23, a soft, pliable,breathable shoe portion22, a lateral canting means27 and anexternal heel counter41. As discussed heretofore, adhesive may be applied atinterface48 to bond theshoe portion22 to theheel counter41 and thebase portion39.
• While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.[0073]

Claims (16)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. 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 substantially rigid base securely attached to the frame, the base including a sole portion and support members that extend upwardly from the sole portion; and

a flexible and breathable shoe portion adapted to receive a skater's foot, wherein the shoe portion is attached at a lower edge to the sole portion of the base, and wherein at least some of the lower edge of the shoe portion is not blocked by the support members such that air circulation through the lower edge of the shoe portion is promoted;

wherein the support members include a semirigid heel counter secured to the sole portion of the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter.

2. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the flexible and breathable shoe portion is permanently affixed to the base.

3. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the support members further include a toe cup secured to the sole portion of the base.

4. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the support members further include a pair of oppositely-disposed support lips disposed proximate the balls of the received skater's foot.

5. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the sole portion of the base is contoured to generally conform to the received skater's foot.

6. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the frame is made from a composite material.

7. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base is made of a heat-moldable plastic such that the sole portion of the base can be anatomically fitted to the received skater's foot.

8. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the base is made from a material selected from an injection-molded plastic, a fiberglass with an epoxy resin, or a graphite with an epoxy resin.

9. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the sole portion of the base is a substantially flat plate.

10. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein frame and base are integrally formed in a single injection-molded unit.

11. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, further comprising a canting system for longitudinal tilt adjustment of the ankle support cuff.

12. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 11, further comprising a canting system for lateral tilt adjustment of the ankle support cuff.

13. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the flexible and breathable shoe portion further comprises a vamp portion securable with a releasable fastener, and having an internal tongue and an external lace cover.

14. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein the flexible and breathable shoe portion is laminated to the base.

15. The in-line roller skate ofclaim 1, wherein at least portions of the flexible and breathable shoe portion comprise a mesh fabric material.

16. A roller skate for receiving a skater's foot, the skate comprising:

a frame having a plurality of wheels rotatably secured thereto;

a substantially rigid base securely attached to the frame, the base including a sole plate and supplemental support members that extend upwardly from the sole plate; and

a flexible and breathable shoe upper, wherein the shoe upper is attached to the sole plate along a lower periphery of the shoe upper, and wherein at least some of the lower periphery of the shoe upper is disposed away from the supplemental support members such that air circulation through the breathable shoe portion is promoted;

wherein the supplemental support members include an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter, the ankle support cuff further comprising a support strap.

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