US20050280222A1 - In-line roller skate with internal support and external ankle cuff - Google Patents

Abstract

A roller skate includes an upper, including a substantially nonrigid upper portion secured to a base. A frame secured to the base carries a plurality of wheels. The substantially nonrigid upper portion is reinforced by a substantially rigid internal heel counter. An ankle support cuff assembly is pivotally secured to the internal heel counter. The ankle support cuff assembly includes a substantially rigid ankle support cuff that is pivotally secured on lateral and medial sides to the internal heel counter. Ankle pad lines the interior of the ankle support cuff. Ankle support cuff is fastened by a selectively securable fastener about the skater's ankle. The ankle support cuff assembly pivots freely in the forward and aft direction relative to the internal heel counter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/617,317, filed Jul. 9, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/753,750, filed Jan. 2, 2001, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/668,278, filed Jun. 21, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,172, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/484,467, filed Jun. 7, 1995, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/094,576, filed Jul. 19, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,466.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to in-line roller skate constructions and, more particularly, to pivoting ankle support structures for in-line roller skates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• In-line roller skates typically include a plurality of aligned wheels with parallel axles secured to a skate frame. A skate boot or shoe is attached to the top of the frame. Most skate manufacturers currently construct the boots and shoes (“the skate upper”) with a base, a plastic shell extending upwardly from the base, and a removable liner. The shell may include a cuff portion pivotally attached to a lower portion of the shell to ease fore and aft movement of the skater's leg while providing medial and lateral support. Alternatively, the plastic shell may extend upwardly to the top of the skate above the ankle without the cuff being pivotally secured to the lower portion. Rigid hockey skates are also in the prior art. These skates typically do not have a plastic outer shell. Hockey skates may have a leather or leather/nylon outer shell with internal stiffening/support members. While hockey skate constructions provide necessary support for this sport, they do not easily flex forwardly and rearwardly.
• Most 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.
• 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.
• As discussed briefly above, 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 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.
• 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. Nos. 4,351,537 and 5,171,033 (“the '033 patent) are both exemplary 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, that in warm weather conditions can be uncomfortable 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.
• 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 strength and agility.
• 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 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.
• 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 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.
• The outer plastic shells of previous in-line roller skates have created difficulty in styling the skates, such as has been done with hiking boots and other footwear that have not had rigid outer shells. However, the rigid outer shells were thought to be necessary to provide adequate medial and lateral support while allowing ease of fore and aft movement of the leg of the skater relative to the skater's foot during skating. A recreational skater may not have the required strength and ability to utilize a low-cut skate that provides ease of movement. The skate would not provide enough lateral and medial support. Skates that do provide lateral and medial support and that do not include the rigid plastic outer shell construction include hockey skates. Hockey skates do provide adequate lateral and medial support for the skater's ankle. However, fore and aft movement of the lower leg of the skater relative to the skater's foot is also limited. The hockey skate uppers are generally quite rigid and unforgiving. Therefore, a need exists to provide a skate that includes an upper structural support member for medial and lateral support while providing for ease of fore and aft movement without totally encompassing the skater's foot in a rigid plastic shell.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In accordance with the present invention, a skate for receiving a foot of a skater is disclosed. The skate includes a frame, a rigid base, a substantially nonrigid upper portion, and a substantially rigid upper portion. The frame has a means for riding on a surface. The rigid base is securely attached to the frame. The base is adapted to support the bottom of the skater's foot and includes a heel portion and a toe portion adapted to support the areas beneath the heel, ball, and toes of the skater's foot. The substantially nonrigid upper portion is adapted to receive the skater's foot. It substantially covers the top and ankle of the skater's foot and is permanently affixed to the rigid base. The substantially rigid upper portion is coupled to the nonrigid upper portion and to the rigid base. The rigid upper portion includes an ankle support cuff extending above the skater's ankle when wearing the skate. The rigid upper portion is adjacent only to portions of the nonrigid upper portion, leaving a substantial portion of the vamp of the skate without rigid support directly adjacent thereto. The nonrigid upper portion extends to above the cuff.
• In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the substantially nonrigid upper portion includes an outer shell. The ankle support cuff is disposed beneath the outer shell. In one aspect of the invention, the substantially nonrigid upper portion also includes billows in a front portion and a rear portion of the ankle area of the upper portion. The billows are adapted to allow flexible movement of the substantially nonrigid upper portion.
• In another preferred aspect of the invention, the substantially rigid upper portion further includes an internal heel counter beneath the outer shell. The ankle support cuff is pivotally connected to the internal heel counter. An external heel counter may also extend upwardly from the base around the heel portion of the upper portion on the outside of the outer shell.
• In one embodiment of the invention, the internal heel counter and the ankle support cuff are pivotally interconnected with a reduced section of heel counter material, the heel counter and ankle support cuff being integrally formed.
• In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the heel counter includes two sides with recesses along the inner portion of the tops thereof. The ankle support cuff includes lower edges disposed at least partially within the recesses. Preferably, the recesses include grooves extending downwardly therein. The cuff includes downwardly-projecting tongues on either side thereof disposed within the grooves. The recesses in the sides of the heel counter are preferably arcuate in shape and complementary arcuately-shaped tongues exist on the sides of the cuff. The recesses are preferably disposed on the inner sides of the heel counter with the lower portion of the cuff overlapping the heel counter on the inner sides thereof.
• A further aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes substantially rigid support panels disposed on the sides of the interface between the heel counter and the ankle support cuff. The support panels are fixed to the heel counter such that the ankle support cuff is movable relative to the panels.
• One aspect of an alternate embodiment of the invention includes arcuate slots within the arcuate portions of the heel counter. In this embodiment, the cuff further includes pins through the bottom arcuate portions thereof. The pins extend through the slots in the heel counter.
• In another alternate embodiment of the invention, the arcuate portions of the heel counter and the arcuate portions of the cuff are interconnected with arms attached therebetween. These arcuate portions of the heel counter preferably include recesses for receiving the arcuate portions of the cuff.
• The preferred embodiment of the invention may also be described as a skate for receiving a foot of the skater that includes a frame, a rigid base, an external heel counter, an upper having an outer shell, a substantially rigid internal heel counter, and a substantially rigid ankle support cuff. The frame has wheels or a blade for riding on a surface. The rigid base is securely attached to the frame. The external heel counter extends upwardly from the base around the heel portion of the skate. The outer shell is constructed of substantially soft pliable material. The internal heel counter is disposed beneath the outer shell and extends around the heel area of the skate above the top of the external heel counter. The ankle support cuff is pivotally coupled to the internal heel counter and disposed beneath the outer shell. Preferably, the internal heel counter also includes at least one groove along at least a portion thereof for receiving the lower edge of the cuff in substantially sliding engagement therewith.
• The above-described skate construction provides a skate that has great aesthetic appeal without substantial plastic material on the external body of the skate. The skate also provides superior lateral and medial support while allowing fore and aft movement of the lower leg of the skater relative to the skater's foot, with the cuff being pivotally secured within the upper.
• A further embodiment of the present invention includes a substantially rigid internal heel counter and an external substantially rigid ankle cuff. The skate includes a base defining an undersurface, an upper surface, a toe end, and a heel end. A frame is secured to the undersurface of the base for mounting a plurality of wheels or other ground engaging member. A substantially nonrigid upper portion is secured to the upper surface of the base. A substantially rigid internal heel counter is secured to and extends upwardly from the heel end of the base and is received within and covered by the substantially nonrigid upper portion. The substantially rigid ankle cuff, fastenable about a skater's ankle, is pivotally secured to an upper portion of the heel counter. The substantially rigid ankle cuff is able to pivot forwardly freely relative to the internal heel counter, substantially without resistance from the nonrigid upper portion.
• In a preferred embodiment, a substantially rigid ankle cuff is secured to the heel counter and substantially nonrigid upper portion only by the pivotal connection to the internal heel counter and is otherwise separate from the nonrigid upper portion. An ankle pad lines an interior surface of the ankle cuff and extends downwardly, terminating at a free lower end within the internal heel counter. This embodiment of the invention allows the ankle cuff to pivot substantially freely from resistance due to the lower portion of the skate to follow the natural motion of the lower leg of a skater.
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:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention illustrating a soft boot skate with a rigid heel counter and cuff pivotally interconnected within the outer shell of the skate;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the skate ofFIG. 1 showing the soft portion of the upper and the toe cap in phantom view;
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the skate illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 with sections of the interior of the skate cut away to show the cuff/counter interface;
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view cut vertically through the skate and extending through the pivot locations of the cuff;
• FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention including a pivot neck between the heel counter and internal cuff;
• FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention illustrating flex arms used between the internal cuff and heel counter;
• FIG. 7 illustrates another alternate embodiment with a single flex arm to secure the internal cuff to the heel counter;
• FIG. 8 illustrates another alternate embodiment with a flex cross at the interface between the heel counter and cuff;
• FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment with the arcuate interconnection between the internal cuff and heel counter being reversed from previous embodiments;
• FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternate embodiment without substantial interconnection between the internal cuff and heel counter other than a tongue and groove arrangement;
• FIG. 11 illustrates another alternate embodiment utilizing a pin and slot arrangement between the internal cuff and heel counter;
• FIG. 12 illustrates another alternate embodiment with a pin and slot arrangement;
• FIG. 13 is an illustration of flex billows that may be used on the external shell of the skate to provide for movement of the cuff portion of the skate relative to the lower portion;
• FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the internal support structure of the skate showing inner and outer supports covering the joints between the internal cuff and heel counter;
• FIG. 15 provides a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, including an internal heel counter (shown in phantom) and an external ankle support cuff pivotally secured thereto;
• FIG. 16 provides a perspective view of the skate ofFIG. 15 with a portion of the ankle support cuff assembly broken away for clarity; and
• FIG. 17 provides a cross-sectional view of the skate ofFIG. 15, taken through a transverse plane passing through the pivot axis of the ankle cuff.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring toFIG. 1, an in-line roller skate10 made according to the present invention is disclosed. In-line skate10 includes an upper12 connected to aframe14 that secureswheels16.Upper12 includes arigid base18 for interconnection to frame14. Preferably,rigid base18 extends beneath upper12 substantially from heel to toe. Anexternal heel counter20 is preferably integrally formed withbase18. Alternatively,external heel counter20 could be omitted or formed separately, unattached tobase18. Atoe cap22 is also separately formed and attached to base18 to protect the toe end of the skate from scuffs and wear. Atoe cap22 also protects the skater's foot from impacts with hard surfaces.
• Most of the rest of upper12 is constructed of soft, breathable, pliable material of the type commonly used in shoes or hiking boots. Thus, synthetic or natural leathers and meshes or other fabrics may be used to construct the soft portions of upper12. These portions include aforefoot portion24 generally below the ankle area of the skate and anankle portion26 at and above the ankle portion of the skate.Laces28 are preferably used to secure upper12 tightly around the foot of the skater in a conventional fashion. However, buckles, straps, Velcro™-type hook-and-loop fasteners, or other fasteners may alternatively be used. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, forward billows32 and aft billows30 are secured within cutout portions of upper12 just over the heel and between the ankle andforefoot portions26 and24 of upper12. Forward andaft billows32 and30 allow ease of flexing ofankle portion26 relative to forefootportion24.
• Much of the construction of the upper of the skate is similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,466, incorporated herein by reference. The skate disclosed in the parent application (U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,466) (“the '466 patent) includes a soft pliable upper. The upper disclosed in the '466 patent provides medial and lateral support as well as fore and aft flexibility with a rigid external heel counter pivotally interconnected with a rigid external cuff. The same concept is employed in the present invention. However, the present application provides further details and constructions with a rigid heel counter and cuff placed inside the relatively softouter shell44 of upper12. Aninternal heel counter34 is preferably attached tobase18 by connection to anouter shell44 and a last board52 (illustrated inFIG. 3). Internal heel counter34 rises frombase18 beginning at approximately the middle of the sides ofbase18 upwardly towardankle portion26 of upper12. Internal heel counter34 then gradually descends to a position below aft billows30 at the rear of the heel portion of upper12 and aboveexternal heel counter20. Thus,internal heel counter34 is cantilevered upwardly fromexternal heel counter20 except that it hasouter shell44 placed therebetween in the preferred embodiment.
• FIG. 2 further illustrates the heel counter/internal cuff construction. The right and left sides ofinternal heel counter34 are substantially the same except for variations due to differences in the anatomical shapes and movements between the medial and lateral sides of the skater's feet. The uppermost portion of both sides ofinternal heel counter34 includes recesses with arcuate lower boundaries. The bottom of the recesses preferably includesgrooves40 into which anankle cuff36 is engaged with a tongue and groove configuration. Pivot pins38 are secured at the radial centers of the arcuate portions and extend betweenankle cuff36 andinternal heel counter34. Preferably, pivot pins38 are rivets. Pivot pins38 allow fore and aft movement ofankle cuff36 relative tointernal heel counter34. Pivot pins38 restrict lateral and medial flex ofankle cuff36.Ankle cuff36 is constructed of a rigid material such as plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic. The material is rigid relative to the softer portions of upper12 that surround most of the rest of the foot of the skater.Ankle cuff36 is preferably U-shaped as viewed from above such that it surrounds the lower leg of the skater and ankle of the skater from behind toward the front of the skate.Ankle cuff36 preferably does not entirely surround the ankle or lower leg of the skater but preferably extends in front of the ankle bones. Thus,ankle cuff36 provides medial and lateral support to the skater's ankle while allowing fore and aft flex aboutpivot pin38.Ankle portion26 of upper12 is able to flex fore and aft withankle cuff36 since it is secured therearound and is of a softer, more flexible material thanankle cuff36. Thereby, with the above described construction, a skate is provided that has the pleasing aesthetic appearance of a sport shoe or hiking boot with superior medial and lateral support and fore and aft flexibility that are required for in-line skating.
• The arrangement ofpivot pin38 andgroove40 with a cuff tongue42 (as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4) provides a strong and supportive interconnection betweenankle cuff36 andinternal heel counter34. Both medial and lateral flex are restricted by both sides ofankle cuff36 with this arrangement since there is a vertical space betweenpivot pin38 and the tongue and groove arrangement.
• FIG. 3 further illustrates the details of the layering of upper12. As discussed above, acuff tongue42 extends downwardly fromcuff36 to interface withgroove40 ofheel counter34. Thus, a sliding arrangement exists betweencuff36 andheel counter34 at the interface between the two with a semicircular tongue and groove interface. The portion ofinternal heel counter34 that extends abovepivot pin38 is preferably on the outside ofankle cuff36 to provide additional support when any portion ofcuff36 is pushed outwardly in a medial or lateral direction.
• As seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, upper12 includes theouter shell44 mentioned above substantially encompassing the majority of upper12. Outer layer orshell44 is preferably constructed of a leather or flexible man-made materials.Outer shell44 is secured tobase18,toe cap22, andexternal heel counter20.Outer shell44 extends to the top of upper12 where it is preferably joined to aninner lining46.Inner lining46 lines the interior walls of upper12.Inner lining46 is preferably a breathable material such as a tricot or other conventional breathable lining. Asoft padding48 is secured betweeninner lining46 andankle cuff36 andinternal heel counter36 and34.Padding48 also preferably extends betweeninner lining46 andouter shell44 in areas that do not includeheel counter34 andankle cuff36.Padding48 is preferably a conventional padding such as an open-cell foam material.
• FIG. 3 also illustratesskate tongue50 extending in a conventional manner in front portion of upper12.
• Alast board52 permanently secures the above-described portions of upper12 tobase18. Preferably, rivets or other fasteners extend throughframe14,base18, andlast board52. Adhesives are also used.Outer shell44 as well asinternal heel counter34 extend at least partially beneathlast board52 to be sandwiched securely betweenlast board52 andbase18. The secure connection of upper12 tobase18 provides a skate that is superior in performance to any skates that include removable liners since the foot of the skater can be more securely held within the skate and to the base and frame. Aninsole54 is placed overlast board52 within skate upper12.
• Turning now toFIGS. 5-13, alternate embodiments of the invention will now be discussed. In the figures, most details of the uppers are not illustrated to more clearly depict the arrangement of the cuffs and heel counters. Also note that the last two digits of each numbered element correspond to like-numbered elements in previous embodiments.
• FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Note that like reference numbers are used throughoutFIG. 5 except that the number100 has been added to each.Internal heel counter134 is connected tointernal cuff136 by apivot neck138.Pivot neck138 is small enough so as to create a “live hinge” betweencuff136 andheel counter134. In this embodiment,cuff136 may either be in the form of side panels within the sides of upper112 or may extend around the back of the skate in a generally U-shaped configuration. The details of most of upper112 are not illustrated inFIG. 5 so as to more clearly representinternal heel counter134,pivot neck138, andinternal cuff136. The remaining details are similar to those disclosed above in connection withFIGS. 1 through 4. Movement ofinternal cuff136 is also shown in phantom lines inFIG. 5. Withcuff136 having a U-shaped configuration, the structural integrity to provide medial and lateral support to the ankle of the skater is provided in a simple, low-cost, integral construction withinternal heel counter134 while fore and aft pivoting motion is still allowed.
• Referring now toFIG. 6, an embodiment of the present invention with aninternal cuff236 interfacing with aninternal heel counter234 does not include a pivot pin at the center of the radius of curvature of the interface. In this embodiment,internal cuff236 is interconnected withinternal heel counter234 by a tongue and groove arrangement as discussed above. However, forward andrearward arms258 and260bias cuff236 to a neutral position and holdcuff236 withingroove240. Forward andrearward arms258 and260 form a “V” shape with the bottoms of the arms being connected to a heel counter pin secured between the arms andinternal heel counter234 beneath the lowest portion ofgroove240. Alternatively, groove240 may simply be a recess on the sides ofinternal heel counter234. The upper ends ofarms258 and260 are secured to guideholes262 withinheel counter234 by guide pins264. Guide pins264 slide within arcuate guide holes262 and hold the sides ofcuff236 againstheel counter234.Arms258 and260 may be on the interior or exterior ofinternal heel counter234.Arms258 and260 are preferably constructed from a tough elastomeric material. The remaining details of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6 are similar to the embodiments discussed above.
• Referring now toFIG. 7, another alternate embodiment similar to that ofFIG. 6 will be described. In this embodiment, a singleelastomeric arm358 is fixedly secured on both ends in a horizontal fashion tointernal heel counter334.Arm358 is secured across the lower portion of the recess ininternal heel counter334 with the lowermost part ofcuff336 disposed betweenarm358 andheel counter334.Arm358 is elastic in nature and flexible to permit fore and aft movement ofcuff336 relative tointernal heel counter334. Depending on the elasticity ofarm358, the lower arcuate edge ofheel counter336 may rocker inside the recess created within the top ofheel counter334, thus pulling somewhat upwardly withguide pin364 onarm358. The recess within the top ofheel counter334 may have a greater radius of curvature so as to permit such rockering.
• Another embodiment will now be discussed in connection withFIG. 8. This embodiment is similar to that ofFIGS. 6 and 7 discussed above. In this embodiment, aflex cross438 is interconnected betweencuff436 andinternal heel counter434. Theupper arm462 offlex cross438 is secured to cuff436 although, alternatively, multiple arms may be connected to cuff436 with one or more multiple arms connected tointernal heel counter434. Again,cuff arm462 andheel counter458 are connected at their ends tocuff436 andheel counter434, respectively. Thus, the elastic nature offlex cross438 allows movement ofcuff436 relative to heel counter434 with either rockering or pivoting sliding action between the arcuate portions of each.
• Referring now toFIG. 9, another alternate embodiment, includes reversed arcuate portions of theheel counter534 andcuff536 such thatcuff536 includes a concave portion whileheel counter534 contains convex portions. In this case,heel counter534 may extend upwardly to just above the ankle bones of the skater. Cuff536 permits movement of the lower leg of the skater relative tointernal heel counter534. Either a recess or agroove540 with acuff tongue542 interfaces between the two elements.
• Referring now toFIG. 10, an embodiment is shown wherein no positive pivotal or linkage connection is created between a cuff636 and aheel counter634 other than a tongue and recess or tongue and groove arrangement. The fact that cuff636 andinternal heel counter634 are held withinouter shell44 of upper612 provides enough retention of the elements such that no rivet or other fastening means is necessary.
• FIG. 11 illustrates another alternate embodiment of the invention wherein arecess740 in the top of theinternal heel counter734 is provided to overlapcuff736. However, in this embodiment, aguide hole762 in the form of an elongate arcuate slot is provided in the bottom ofcuff736 adjacent a recessedportion740 ofinternal heel counter734. Aheel counter pin756 extends throughrecess portion740 and throughguide hole762 to restrict the movement ofcuff736 and provide additional strength thereto.
• A slight rearrangement of this construction is shown inFIG. 12. InFIG. 12, the same guide pin/guide hole arrangement is utilized except that agroove840 is provided in the bottom of the recess into which acuff tongue842 extends. In this embodiment,cuff836 is further restricted and strengthened from medial and lateral movement sincecuff tongue842 cannot move laterally or medially but only slide withingroove840. Note that the actual pivot axis ofcuff836 may be aboveheel counter pin856 due to guidehole862 being arcuate and providing room for movement. Thus, the pivot axis may be at the ankle bones (malleoli) of the skater without having a rivet or pin projecting inwardly at that same location.
• Referring now toFIG. 13, an additional element will be described relating to the external portion of upper912. In this embodiment,full billows966 are provided betweenankle portion926 andforefoot portion924 to allow the two portions as well ascuff936 andinternal heel counter934 to move relative to each other.Billows966 is an elastic rubbery material that is easily flexible without breaking down. In this embodiment,full billows966 extends from the front of the boot down below the ankle bone to above the heel behind the ankle bone in an arcuate fashion.Billows966 would then extend around the rear of the skate to a substantially mirror configuration on the other side of the skate.
• Referring toFIG. 14, additional support structures preferably added to the basic structure described above relative toFIGS. 1 through 4 will now be discussed. InFIG. 14, the entire soft portion of upper12 has been removed to exposelast board1052,internal heel counter1034, andinternal cuff1036. The construction of these three elements and arrangement inFIG. 14 are substantially similar to that discussed above with regard toFIGS. 1 through 4. However,outer supports1068 andinner supports1070 have also been added to provide a smooth transition between these elements and for greater support and comfort. Outer supports1068 are constructed of a plastic material and overlay the cuff and heel counter intersection of the skate and extend slightly forwardly therefrom. This provides additional rigidity to the pivotal and tongue and groove arrangement of the support structure and wraps around the foot of the skater to provide additional support. Likewise,inner supports1070 cover the intersection betweencuff1036 andheel counter1034 on the inside of these elements and also cover the inside ofpivot pin1038, which may be a rivet or other fastener. Thus,inner supports1070 not only provide additional structural support for the foot of the skater to help maintain the proper orientation of the in-line skate, but also provide smooth transition between the elements for maximum comfort.Supports1068 and1070 are fixedly secured tointernal heel counter1034.Supports1068 and1070 are slidably secured tointernal cuff1036 such that they nest againstcuff1036 so as to not hinder the movement thereof in the fore and aft directions. However, supports1068 and1070 further strengthencuff1036 in the lateral and medial directions and provide further support around the foot of the skater beyond that provided byheel counter1034.
• While the preferred embodiments of the invention have 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. The basic concepts and constructions disclosed could be modified such as by placing them on the exterior of the skate on the outside ofouter shell44 or by changing the arrangement in any number of ways while still maintaining basic concepts of having the rigid cuff interconnected to the heel counter in a pivotal fashion.
• A further embodiment of the present invention showing one such alternate construction is illustrated inFIGS. 15-18. Theskate1110 illustrated inFIG. 15 is constructed similarly to theskate10 ofFIG. 1, with the exception of the construction and mounting of the pivotal ankle support cuff. Thus, those details of the embodiment ofFIGS. 15-18 in common with those ofFIG. 1 will not be described in great detail. Generally, theskate1110 includes an upper1112 that is connected to aframe1114 between the sidewalls of which are rotatably secured a plurality ofwheels1116. The upper1112 includes arigid base1118, the underside of which is secured theframe1114. Securement of the base1118 to theframe1114 may be by riveting, threaded fasteners, adhesion, or other manners, as previously described, or thebase1118 and theframe1114 may be integrally formed. In the embodiment illustrated, thebase1118 is rigid the full length of the upper1112 from the forward toe end to the rear heel end of the base. However, it should be understood that the present invention also applies equally well to a skate that may include aflexing base1118 having either a heel end that is unsecured to and able to lift away from the rear end of the frame, or including a split frame having front and rear segments.
• The upper1112 also includes a substantially nonrigidupper portion1120 that receives and surrounds the foot of a skater. The nonrigidupper portion1120 runs from a forward,toe end1122 of the base1118 to a rear,heel end1124 of thebase1118. The nonrigidupper portion1120 is formed from flexible materials, as previously described, such as leather, canvas, nylon fabric, or flexible plastic. The forward end of the nonrigid upper1120 is protected by atoe guard1126 formed of a rigid or substantially rigid plastic material. The toe guard is secured to the edge of thetoe end1122 of thebase1118, and rises outwardly therefrom to wrap the sides and upper edge of the toe portion of the substantially nonrigidupper portion1120. The nonrigidupper portion1120 also includes avamp opening1128 that overlaps atongue1130 secured at the forwardmost end of thevamp opening1128, and selectively closed by a fastener such as alace1132.
• The nonrigidupper portion1120 is internally reinforced by aninternal heel counter1134. Referring toFIGS. 15 and 16, theinternal heel counter1134 has a generally U-shaped configuration and is secured about a lower U-shaped edge thereof to the perimeter of theheel end1124 of thebase1118. Theinternal heel counter1134 rises upwardly from thebase1118, and wraps the rear and lateral and medial sides of the heel of a skater. Theheel counter1134 terminates below the malleoli, or ankle bones, of the skater, and extends forwardly to the beginning of the instep of the skater's foot. While theinternal heel counter1134 is received within and covered by the substantially nonrigid upper1120, portions of theinternal heel counter1134 may be exposed for aesthetic reasons. In the illustrated embodiment, lateral and medial (not shown)apertures1136 are defined in the nonrigidupper portion1120, to expose an underlying portion of theinternal heel counter1134.
• Theinternal heel counter1134 has a substantially rigid construction and may be suitably formed of a rigid or substantially rigid plastic or metal. In the embodiment illustrated, theinternal heel counter1134 is formed from a fiber-reinforced resin such as a graphite fiber reinforced polyester resin composite. The nonrigidupper portion1120 extends to cover and protect the full height of theinternal heel counter1134, except for the exposed portion of the heel counter at theapertures1136. The nonrigidupper portion1120 terminates below the malleoli of the user, with the exception of thetongue1130, which extends upwardly along the front side of the ankle, as best shown inFIG. 16. The upper1112, formed of the nonrigidupper portion1120, reinforced by theinternal heel counter1134, and thebase1118 thus do not in any way restrict pivoting or flexing of the user's ankle.
• In order to support the user's ankle in the lateral and medial directions while enabling flexure of the ankle to a predetermined extent in the forward and rearward direction that is unrestricted by the nonrigid upper portion, the skate ofFIGS. 15-17 includes an independent anklesupport cuff assembly1140. The anklesupport cuff assembly1140 includes a substantially rigidankle support cuff1142, an internal ankle pad1144 (FIGS. 16 and 17), a partialexternal ankle shell1146, and a selectivelysecurable fastener1148.
• Theankle cuff1142 has a rigid or substantially rigid construction. Theexternal ankle cuff1142 has a generally U-shaped configuration defining lateral and medial sides that each terminates at a lower end inpivot extensions1152. Thecuff1142 is contoured so that it wraps around and supports the rear side of the ankle and extends over the malleoli, including concave portions to accommodate the malleoli protrusions of a skater's ankle. Thepivot extensions1152 extend downwardly below the malleoli, and are pivotally secured byrivets1150 to the lateral and medial sides of theheel counter1134. The pivotal connection provided at therivets1150 is horizontally aligned with but slightly below the pivot axis of the ankle. Theankle support cuff1142 can be constructed from similar materials as described above for theinternal heel counter1134.
• Theankle pad1144 wraps about the user's ankle and extends downwardly inside theankle support cuff1142. Theankle pad1144 is formed from a soft cushioning material, such as an elastomeric foam. Theankle pad1144 is larger than theankle support cuff1142, extending further upwardly, forwardly, and downwardly than theankle support cuff1142. When combined with thetongue1130, theankle pad1144 completely wraps the user's ankle. Thepad1144 projects downwardly into the interior of the upper1112, defining a lower edge that terminates just above aninsole1160. However, thepad1144 is not connected to or secured to theinternal heel counter1134 or the upper1120, but rather is independent thereof. Theankle pad1144 is lined with afabric sheet1162, which extends over the inner surface of thepad1144 and wraps downwardly and over the outer surface of thepad1144. In a preferred embodiment, thefabric sheet1162 extends further downwardly over an upper edge of theankle support cuff1142. Thefabric1162 forms a portion of theexterior shell1146 of the ankle cuff. Theexterior shell1146 is finished by the securable fastener, such as a strap with a hook-and-loop closure, that surrounds the forward side of the ankle, crossing in front of thetongue1130 to fasten the ankle cuff assembly about the user's lower leg, just above the ankle. Theankle cuff assembly1140, consisting of thecuff1142,pad1144,shell1146, andstrap1148, is coupled to the upper1112 only through pivotal connection of thecuff1142 to theinternal heel counter1134 at the pivot points defined by therivets1150, except that thetongue1130 extends upwardly into the cuff. This enables the user to freely flex the ankle, pivoting the anklesupport cuff assembly1110 relative to theheel counter1134 freely and without resistance, in the fore and aft direction.
• A gap is defined between thepartial ankle shell1146 and the nonrigid upper1120. While a lateral and medial rivet pivot is disclosed, other pivoting constructions, such as those described above, may be utilized, including a flexible linkage between the upper and lower portions of an integrated cuff and heel counter assembly, or a bellows linkage. The lower edge of theinternal heel counter1134 may be secured to thebase1118 by any of the methods disclosed above, such as sewing, adhesion, or riveting. Likewise, theankle pad1144 andpartial ankle shell1146 may be adhered to theankle cuff1142 by various methods known to those in shoe construction, such as by stitching, as is preferred, or by adhesion.
• These and various other alterations and variations to the disclosed embodiments may be made, all within the scope of the present invention. For example, while an in-line skate has been disclosed, ice skates are also within the scope of the present invention. It is thus intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims dependent hereto, and not by the disclosed embodiments.
• 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.

Claims (19)

1. An in-line skate comprising:

a frame rotatably supporting a plurality of in-line wheels;

a shoe portion comprising a base secured to the frame and a nonrigid upper portion secured to the base;

a rigid heel counter secured to the base and disposed between an outer layer of the nonrigid upper portion and an inner lining;

an ankle support assembly including a rigid ankle cuff covered by a flexible shell, the rigid ankle cuff having oppositely-disposed pivot extensions that are pivotably attached to the heel counter such that the ankle support assembly is pivotable about a transverse axis substantially independently of the shoe portion, and a U-shaped portion adapted to wrap about the skater's ankle; and

wherein the inner lining overlies an inner surface of the rigid ankle cuff.

2. The skate ofclaim 1, wherein the rigid ankle cuff includes concave portions adapted to accommodate the malleoli protrusions of a skater's ankle.

3. The skate ofclaim 1, wherein the inner lining is not secured to the rigid heel counter.

4. The skate ofclaim 1, wherein the inner lining is a lined foam pad.

5. The skate ofclaim 1, wherein the ankle support assembly further comprises a securable closure strap.

6. The skate ofclaim 1, wherein the shoe portion further comprises a tongue that extends upwardly from the upper portion and is engaged by the ankle support assembly.

7. The skate ofclaim 1, wherein a gap is defined between a lower rear edge of the ankle support assembly and an upper rear edge of the nonrigid upper portion.

8. The skate ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the rigid ankle cuff is exposed between the flexible shell and the nonrigid upper portion.

9. The skate ofclaim 1, further comprising a rigid toe guard secured to the base and overlying a toe portion of the nonrigid upper portion.

10. The skate ofclaim 1, wherein the nonrigid upper portion comprises a breathable fabric.

11. A skate comprising:

a frame rotatably supporting a plurality of wheels;

a base secured to the frame;

a nonrigid upper portion secured to the base and formed from flexible materials;

a rigid heel counter secured to the base and disposed between an outer layer of the nonrigid upper portion and an inner lining layer; and

an ankle support assembly comprising a rigid ankle cuff defining lateral and medial arms that pivotably attach to the rigid heel counter and a U-shaped portion extending above the nonrigid upper portion, and a securable nonrigid shell disposed over an outer surface of the rigid ankle cuff;

wherein the ankle support assembly is constrained to pivot about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis defined by the base.

12. The skate ofclaim 11, wherein the rigid ankle cuff includes concave portions adapted to accommodate the malleoli protrusions of a skater's ankle.

13. The skate ofclaim 11, wherein the inner lining layer is a lined foam pad.

14. The skate ofclaim 11, wherein the nonrigid upper portion further comprises a tongue portion that extends upwardly to engage the ankle support assembly.

15. The skate ofclaim 11, further comprising a rigid toe guard secured to the base and overlying a toe portion of the nonrigid upper portion.

16. The skate ofclaim 11, wherein the nonrigid upper portion comprises a breathable fabric.

17. A skate having a plurality of wheels, a base defining an upper surface, a lower surface and a longitudinal axis, a frame secured to the base for mounting the plurality of wheels, and a nonrigid upper portion adapted to receive a skater's foot and secured to the base, the nonrigid upper portion extending upwardly from the base and adapted to terminate below the ankle of the received skater's foot, the improvement comprising:

a rigid heel counter secured to the base and disposed between an outer layer of the nonrigid upper portion and an inner foam layer and an ankle support assembly pivotally connected to the internal heel counter, the rigid ankle support assembly comprising a rigid ankle cuff support and a nonrigid shell portion covering an outer surface of the rigid ankle cuff support.

18. The skate ofclaim 17, wherein the rigid ankle cuff includes a C-shaped portion and oppositely-disposed pivot extensions that are pivotably attached to the heel counter.

19. The skate ofclaim 18, wherein the oppositely-disposed pivot extensions include concave portions adapted to accommodate the malleoli protrusions of a skater's ankle.

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