ADJUSTABLE ROLLER SKATE

Abstract

An adjustable roller skate includes an adjustable sole assembly, a lock, a cover assembly and a wheel assembly. The adjustable sole assembly includes a rear sole and a front sole. The rear sole is formed with a transverse wall. The front sole includes a longitudinal bar extending from a rear end thereof and a transverse bar extending from the longitudinal bar. When the front sole is moved far enough from the rear sole, the transverse bar abuts the transverse wall to prevent excessive movement of the front sole from the rear sole. The lock is used to lock the front sole in a desired position relative to the rear sole. The cover assembly includes a heel cover formed on the rear sole and a toe cover formed on the front sole. The wheel assembly includes a chassis connected to the rear sole and wheels connected to the chassis.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a roller skate and, more particularly, to an adjustable roller skate.

2. Related Prior Art

A conventional roller skate includes a cover that includes a toe cup and a heel cup. The toe cup and the heel cup are formed separately and then joined together by an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a front sole secured to the toe cup and a rear sole secured to the heel cup. The front sole is movable relative to the rear sole. Thus, the toe cup is movable relative to the heel cup to adjust the effective length of the roller skate. The front sole can be kept in one of several positions relative to the rear sole. Thus, the effective length of the roller skate can be retained in one of several values. However, the front sole could be detached from the rear sole, i.e., the toe cup could be detached from the heel cup, and this is undesirable.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a convenient adjustable roller skate.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the adjustable roller skate includes an adjustable sole assembly, a lock, a cover assembly and a wheel assembly. The adjustable sole assembly includes a rear sole and a front sole. The rear sole is formed with a transverse wall. The front sole includes a longitudinal bar extending from a rear end thereof and a transverse bar extending from the longitudinal bar. When the front sole is moved far enough from the rear sole, the transverse bar abuts the transverse wall to prevent excessive movement of the front sole from the rear sole. The lock is used to lock the front sole in a desired position relative to the rear sole. The cover assembly includes a heel cover formed on the rear sole and a toe cover formed on the front sole. The wheel assembly includes a chassis connected to the rear sole and wheels connected to the chassis.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable quad roller skate according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the adjustable quad roller skate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another exploded view of the adjustable quad roller skate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable quad roller skate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the adjustable quad roller skate shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adjustable in-line roller skate according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, there is shown an adjustable quad roller skate according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The adjustable quad roller skate includes an adjustable sole assembly 10, a cover assembly 12 and a wheel assembly 14.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the adjustable sole assembly 10 includes a rear sole 16, a front sole 18 and a lock 20. The rear sole 16 and the front sole 18 are formed individually and then movably connected to each other. The lock 20 is used to lock the front sole 18 in a selected one of several positions relative to the rear sole 16.

The rear sole 16 includes a longitudinal wall 22, a transverse wall 24, a groove 26 and two pairs of fins 28. The longitudinal wall 22 and the transverse wall 24 extend on an upper face of the rear sole 16. The longitudinal wall 22 and the transverse wall 24 are made in one piece in the first embodiment. However, the longitudinal wall 22 may be separated from the transverse wall 24 in another embodiment. The groove 26 is transversely defined in the upper face of the rear sole 16. The groove 26 includes a closed end and an open end. The longitudinal wall 22 extends in the vicinity of the closed end of the groove 26. The transverse wall 24 extends along a bank of the groove 26. The pairs of fins 28 extend from a lower face of the rear sole 16. Each of the fins 28 includes an aperture 30 defined therein.

The front sole 18 includes a frame 32 extending from a rear end thereof. The frame 32 includes a first longitudinal bar 34, a second longitudinal bar 36 and a transverse bar 38. The first longitudinal bar 34 extends parallel to the second longitudinal bar 36. The transverse bar 38 extends to the first longitudinal bar 34 from the second longitudinal bar 36. The second longitudinal bar 36 includes four bores 40 for example.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the lock 20 includes a carrier 42, a peg 44 and a spring 46. The carrier 42 includes a block 48 formed at an end, a button 50 formed at another end, and a gap 52 defined between the block 48 and the button 50. The block 48 includes a tunnel 54 defined therein. The tunnel 54 includes a small section in communication with the gap 52, a large section, and a shoulder 56 between the small and large sections. The peg 44 includes a small section, a large section, and a shoulder 58 between the small and large sections thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover assembly 12 includes a heel cover 60 and a toe cover 62. The heel cover 60 is formed on the rear sole 16. The heel cover 60 and the rear sole 16 are made in one piece in the first embodiment; however, they may be formed separately and then joined together in another embodiment. The heel cover 60 includes a window 64 in communication with the groove 26. The toe cover 62 is formed on the front sole 18. The toe cover 62 and the front sole 18 are made in one piece in the first embodiment; however, they may be formed separately and then joined together in another embodiment. A buckle assembly 66 is provided on the heel cover 60. A buckle assembly 68 is provided on the toe cover 62. The buckle assemblies 66 and 68 will not be described in detail for not being the spirit of the present invention.

The wheel assembly 14 includes a chassis 70 and two pairs of wheels 72. The chassis 70 includes two apertures 74 defined therein. The pairs of wheels 72 are attached to the chassis 70.

In assembly, the chassis 70 is placed between the fins 28 of each pair. A screw (not shown) is inserted in each aperture 74 of the chassis 70 through the apertures 30 of the fins 28 of a corresponding pair. Thus, the chassis 70 is connected to the rear sole 16.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the small section of the peg 44 is substantially inserted in the small section of the tunnel 54. The small section of the peg 44 extends beyond the block 48 through the small section of the tunnel 54. The large section of the peg 44 is inserted in the large section of the tunnel 54. The shoulder 58 of the peg 44 is placed against the shoulder 56 of the block 48. The spring 46 is placed in the large section of the tunnel 54.

The carrier 42, which carries the peg 44 and the spring 46, is placed in the groove 26. The spring 46 includes an end in contact with the large section of the peg 44 and another end in contact with the closed end of the groove 26. Thus, the spring 46 is compressed between the large section of the peg 44 and the closed end of the groove 26. That is, the peg 44 is biased by the spring 46 so that the small section of the spring 46 tends to extend beyond the block 48. The button 50 extends beyond the heel cover 60 via the window 64.

The front sole 18 is movably placed on the rear sole 16. The frame 32 is placed around the longitudinal wall 22, the transverse wall 24 and the block 48. The first longitudinal bar 34 is placed against the longitudinal wall 22 to render smooth the movement of the front sole 18 on the rear sole 16. The second longitudinal bar 36 extends throughout the gap 52. The lock 20 is kept on the rear sole 16 by a plate 76 that is attached to the rear sole 16 by three screws 78 for example.

In use, by pressing the button 50, the small section of the peg 44 is moved from the second longitudinal bar 36 to allow the front sole 18 to move relative to the rear sole 16, i.e., to allow the toe cover 62 to move relative to the heel cover 60 to adjust the effective length of the quad roller skate. Then, the button 50 is released to allow the insertion of the small section of the peg 44 in a selected one of the bores 40 to retain the front sole 18 in a selected one of four positions relative to the rear sole 16. Therefore, the effective length of the quad roller skate is retained in one of four values.

Referring to FIG. 5, the transverse bar 38 will be abutted against the transverse wall 24 if the front sole 18 is moved far enough from the rear sole 16. The contact of the transverse bar 38 with the transverse wall 24 avoids excessive movement of the front sole 18 from the rear sole 16, i.e., keeps the front sole 18 on the rear sole 16. Advantageously, the front sole 18 is kept on the rear sole 16 for the use of the transverse wall 24 of the rear sole 16, the transverse bar 38 of the frame 32 of the front sole 18 and the plate 76.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an in-line roller skate according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except including a wheel assembly 80 instead of the wheel assembly 14. The wheel assembly 80 is like the wheel assembly 14 except including four in-line wheels 82 instead of the two pairs of wheels 72.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the carrier 42 is made of plastics to reduce weight, and the peg 44 is made of metal to increase strength, and the peg 44 is inserted in the carrier 42. However, in another embodiment, the peg 44, which is made of metal, may be embedded in the carrier 42, which is made of plastics by molding. In another embodiment, the carrier 42 and the peg 44 are made of a proper material in one piece.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the adjustable sole assembly 10 is used on a quad or in-line roller skate. However, in another embodiment, the adjustable sole assembly 10 may be used on a snow board, ski or water ski. In such an embodiment, the front sole 18 is movably connected to the rear sole 16 that is secured to such a snow board, ski or water ski.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An adjustable roller skate including: an adjustable sole assembly including a rear sole formed with a transverse wall and a front sole with a first longitudinal bar extending from a rear end thereof and a transverse bar extending from the first longitudinal bar, wherein when the front sole is moved far enough from the rear sole, the transverse bar abuts the transverse wall to prevent excessive movement of the front sole from the rear sole;a lock for locking the front sole in a desired position relative to the rear sole;a cover assembly including a heel cover formed on the rear sole and a toe cover formed on the front sole; anda wheel assembly including a chassis connected to the rear sole and wheels connected to the chassis.

2. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 1, wherein the rear sole includes a longitudinal wall placed against the first longitudinal bar to render smooth the movement of the front sole relative to the rear sole.

3. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 1, wherein the front sole includes a second longitudinal bar extending parallel to the first longitudinal bar and including bores defined therein, wherein the lock includes a peg for insertion in a selected one of the bores to lock the front sole in a selected one of several positions relative to the rear sole.

4. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 3, wherein the lock includes a carrier movably connected to the rear sole, wherein the peg is connected to the carrier.

5. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 4, wherein the rear sole includes a groove for receiving the carrier.

6. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 5, wherein the lock includes a spring compressed between the closed end of the groove and the carrier so that the moveable element is biased by the spring.

7. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 4, wherein the carrier includes a block formed at an end, a button formed at another end, and a gap defined between the block and the button, wherein the peg is connected to the block.

8. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 7, wherein the block includes a tunnel defined therein, wherein the peg is partially inserted in the tunnel.

9. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 8, wherein the block includes a shoulder formed on the wall of the tunnel, wherein the peg includes a shoulder placed against the shoulder of the block.

10. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 7, wherein the lock includes a spring for biasing the block.

11. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 7, wherein the rear sole includes a groove for receiving the carrier, wherein the groove includes a closed end and an open end through which the button extends beyond the rear sole.

12. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 11, wherein the lock includes a spring compressed between the closed end of the groove and the carrier so that the moveable element is biased by the spring.

13. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 1, wherein the wheels are arraigned in two pairs.

14. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 1, wherein the wheels are arranged in a line.

15. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 1, wherein the rear sole includes at least two fins extending from a lower face, wherein the chassis is placed between and connected to the fins.

16. The adjustable roller skate according to claim 15, wherein each of the fins includes an aperture defined therein, wherein the chassis includes an aperture defined therein, wherein the lock includes a screw driven into the aperture of the chassis through the apertures of the fins.