Adjustable skate

Abstract

A skate having a base adapted to support a user's boot, a frame equipped with a plurality of wheels and having a transverse arch in its central portion, at least one rear quarter capable of sliding on the base and adapted to surround the heel zone and the lower leg of the boot. The base has two edges that project upwardly and surround the lower portion of the rear quarter, each of the vertical edges having a longitudinal groove capable of receiving a platform provided on the outer sides of the rear quarter, and attaching mechanism allowing the attachment of the rear quarter to the base in various positions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based upon French Patent Application No. 03.06617, filed Jun. 2, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to skates, particularly inline roller skates, specifically those provided to perform acrobatic figures, called “aggressive” skates, and which are provided to be used with independent sports boots.

[0004] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

[0005] One of the figures commonly executed with skates of the aforementioned type involves performing a transverse sliding maneuver by using the central zone of the skate as a sliding surface.

[0006] It is known to equip the frame of a skate with a transverse arch that defines the central sliding surface of the skate. Indeed, since transverse slidings, or grinds, mostly occur on rails or edges, the latter get nested in the arch and thus wedge the skate in a defined longitudinal position. Current skates do not permit the skater to vary the position of the skater's heel with respect to the transverse arch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to make it possible to vary the relative position of the user's heel and the transverse arch of the skate.

[0008] An additional object of the invention is to allow the skater to use different boots/shoes with the same aggressive skate while allowing him/her to maintain the same adjustment of relative positioning between his/her heel and the transverse arch of the skate.

[0009] An object of the present invention also is to improve the skater's comfort and protection when engaged in aggressive skating.

[0010] An object of the present invention is also to improve the lateral stability of the skater's heel on a skate having an independent boot.

[0011] An object of the present invention is also to improve the lateral stability of the adjustable elements in the direction of the length of the skate.

[0012] These various objects are achieved by providing a skate according to the limitations presented in the claims below.

[0013] In particular, these various objects are achieved by providing a skate adapted to receive the user's boot, which boot has a sole and a heel zone, which skate has a base adapted to support the boot, which base has a lateral edge and a medial edge, each of these edges extending vertically upward and having a longitudinal groove provided in the inner surface of the edge; a rear quarter capable of sliding on the base and adapted to surround the heel zone of the boot, which rear quarter has a base the base having on each of its lateral and medial sides a platform; and a mechanism to permit the attachment of the rear quarter to the base in various positions. In the skate according to the invention, the medial and lateral edges surround the base of the rear quarter and the platforms slide in the grooves.

[0014] The skate according to the invention is capable of receiving an independent sports boot, i.e., not specifically designed for the skate. Regardless of the type of sole on the boot, i.e., for instance, a substantially overlapping sole or a recessed sole, the user can adjust the position of the rear quarter with respect to the central arch. Likewise, the same skate base according to the invention can be used by persons having different shoe sizes.

[0015] In the skate according to the invention, the rear quarter that is adjustable in length has two platforms that project from the widest part of the lower portion of the rear quarter. These platforms are maintained inside grooves provided in the vertical edges of the base, which has the effect of optimizing the lateral and longitudinal stability of the rear quarter on the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention will be better understood and other characteristics thereof will become apparent from reading the following description and from the attached drawing, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a skate according to the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the base and of the rear quarter in the disassembled position;

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a view of the skate in a longitudinal cross-section;

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a transverse cross-section;

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the skate according to the invention, with the boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the roller skate according to the invention. The skate includes a frame 1 to which the wheels 2 are attached. The frame 1 has a substantially longitudinal structure, at the two ends of which two wheels 2a, 2b are attached. The choice of a two-wheel frame, as shown, is not limiting to the invention. Therefore, the invention encompasses a frame having three, four, or more wheels, inline or not. Between the two wheels 2a, 2b, the frame 1 has the form of an arch 3, whose concavity faces downwardly. This arch is used as a sliding surface for transverse slidings or grinds. Because of its amplitude, between the two wheels and its substantial radius of curvature, the arch allows sliding in multiple directions. Reference is always made to transverse sliding although, with the longitudinal axis of the skate, the direction of sliding can be described as making an angle less than 45°. A base 4 is attached to the frame by means of two screws positioned in the median plane of the frame and separated from each other by a distance of 167 millimeters (mm).

[0023] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the upper surface of the frame 1 on which the base 4 rests has two recesses 24. Each of these recesses is centered on the holes for the passage of the two screws and are adapted to receive corresponding bosses originating from the base 4. The connection between the frame 1 and the base is in conformance with the UFS standard, such standard being described in French Patent Publication No. 2 804 878 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,346, the disclosure of the latter of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.

[0024] The base 4 is equipped with two sliding shoes. The front sliding shoe 5 and the rear sliding shoe 6 are made from a material that promotes sliding, such as, for instance, a DELRIN® type polyacetal. This choice is not limiting to the invention and any other material can be used, depending on the sliding properties sought. For example, one can choose a material whose sliding properties are better than those of the materials used for the base and/or for the frame.

[0025] The base 4, shown in perspective in FIG. 2, has two vertical, or substantially vertical, edges. The medial edge 8 originates from the lateral side of the base 4 over the entire length thereof, or substantially the entire length thereof. The central portion of the medial edge 8 is higher than the ends and, on its inner surface, has a support structure 34 in the form of stiffening ribs and, on its outer surface, a concave medial sliding surface 30 that can be used as a sliding surface in the extension of the arch of the frame. The support structure 34 can take a form other than that of the stiffening rib, such as, for instance, that of a thickening or of a convex arch overlapping inward of the base and providing plantar arch support. In the rear portion of the medial edge 8, a longitudinal rib 9 is provided at the base of its inner surface. This rib 9 is parallel to the base such that a groove 10 is thus defined between the rib and the bottom of the base. The front portion of the lateral edge 7 is equipped with fastening device 27 for attaching the front attachment for attaching the boot to the skate.

[0026] The lateral edge 7 is similar to the medial edge 8, with support structure positioned in the central portion thereof, at the rear of a concave lateral sliding surface 31. It also has a longitudinal rib defining a groove. The concave lateral sliding surface 31 provided on its outer surface is substantially less recessed than the one provided on the lateral edge. The central zone of the lateral edge and of the medial edge has a more substantial elevation than the front and rear zones thereof, respectively.

[0027] The front and rear sliding shoes 5, 6 have vertical or upstanding portions that cover the front and rear portions of the lateral and medial edges. In this way, they promote the longitudinal sliding not only on surfaces on which the lower surface of the base is supported, but also along vertical edges and surfaces.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows the cross-section of the rear sliding shoe 6 and of the vertical upstanding portions, or risers, 32 that cover the lateral and medial edges of the base 4. The sliding shoes 5, 6 further have a beveled surface 33, in the area of the edge, separating their horizontal sliding surface from the substantially vertical sliding surfaces. This beveled surface 33 is on each of the front and rear shoes, and on each of the lateral and medial sides, and it defines new gliding planes that, together with the usual horizontal sliding planes, form an angle between 30° and 60°, or between approximately 30° and approximately 60°.

[0029] The rear quarter 11 has a base 12 supported on the rear portion of the base 4. Originating from this base are an upstanding lateral member 13 and an upstanding medial member 14. These upstanding members serve to anchor the mechanisms for attaching the instep girth of the boot to the skate on both sides. To the rear of these upstanding members 13 and 14, the rear quarter has a wide opening 26. This wide opening 26 promotes the positioning of independent boots in the skate without the possible overlaps of the sole or the heel stiffener of the latter preventing the optimal positioning of the user's foot and lower leg. Above these upstanding members 13, 14 the rear quarter is extended by a sleeve 15 adapted to envelop and maintain the user's lower leg. The sleeve 15 covers the lateral, medial, and anterior surfaces of the lower leg, whereas the posterior surface is maintained by the upper portion of the strap/tongue. The strap/tongue 16 is composed of a lower portion, the strap 17, whose function is to distribute the stresses of tightening the instep girth. It is connected to the medial rise 14 by means of an adjustable strap (not seen in FIG. 1) and to the lateral upstanding member 13 by means of a notched strap allowing the tightening at will due to a ratchet mechanism 18. The upper portion of the strap/tongue 16 constitutes a tongue 19 whose rigid element is connected to the reinforcement of the strap 17.

[0030] The base 12 of the rear quarter 11 is provided, on each of its lateral and medial outer surfaces, with longitudinal platforms 20 provided to slide inside of the grooves 10. The platforms project outwardly from the base in the area where the latter is the widest. In this way, the lateral stability of the base 12 on the base is optimized and, as a result, the inclinations to the sides of the skater's lower leg do not risk causing the edges of the rear quarter to come unglued. The stability in flexion either forwardly or rearwardly of the base 12 is also optimized by the longitudinal extension of the platforms 20.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a skate according to the invention. The base 12 of the rear quarter 11 is maintained in the base 4 by the platforms 20, which are capable of sliding in the grooves 10 provided in the edges of the base. A slit 21 traverses the bottom of the base 12 of the rear quarter 11. This slit 21 receives a nut washer 22. The nut washer can slide in the slit but it is blocked in rotation. The rear shoe envelops the major portion of the rear portion of the base, and the boss 23, adapted to cooperate with the recess 24 provided in the upper surface of the frame, is made from the shoe. Also made in the rear shoe is a portion of the groove whose edges are in contact with the upper sides of the frame.

[0032] The adjustment of the rear quarter to the desired position occurs by simply unscrewing the screw 25, then by sliding the rear quarter, and finally by retightening the screw. Means for locating the relative positions of the rear quarter and of the base are provided on one of the vertical edges and on the base of the rear quarter. Advantageously, the rear screw 25 that attaches the frame to the base according to the UFS standard is also used to block the translation of the rear quarter.

[0033] An adaptable shock absorbing wedge 28 is inserted inside of the rear quarter. It has a horizontal portion, with a thickness between 5 mm and 30 mm, or between about 5 mm and about 30 mm, and ensures the raising of the heel with respect to the user's forefoot. For this wedge, a sufficiently rigid foam type material is selected so that, throughout the use of the skate, there is no depression, and that the raising of the heel remains effective. The material is nonetheless shock absorbing in order to ensure a better comfort in jump landings. The periphery of the horizontal portion extends vertically so as to be a comfort lining for the lower portion of the rear quarter. In practice, the wedge 28 has two vertical wings 29 that cover the inside of the members 13 and 14. The members 13 and 14 are made from a rigid plastic material which can hinder the skater, even if he/she is already wearing an independent shoe and then inserts his/her foot into the skate according to the invention. Furthermore, the longitudinal extension of the wings is more substantial than that of these upstanding members, such that the latter extend beyond the members 13, 14. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the wings 29 extend forwardly and rearwardly beyond the members 13, 14. The portion of the wings that extends beyond the edges of the members 13, 14 prevents the edges from injuring the skater. In addition, the fact that these wings extend beyond the rises guarantees the skater a holding gradient between the zones in which his/her foot is firmly held by the rear quarter, and the zones in which the foot has no hold.

[0034] The vertical wings can be cut to accommodate the skate according to the invention to a boot having a wider sole. Similarly, when the skater would like to use the skate according to the invention with a boot whose upper is already provided with a padding material, the wings can be cut at their base.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows the skate before insertion of the boot 35. All of the tightening mechanisms are open, i.e., the strap/tongue 16, the lower leg strap 36 as well as the forefoot strap 37. The skater can then insert his/her foot fitted with the boot 35 into the skate, then close and tighten the tightening mechanisms.

[0036] The embodiment is described herein by way of example, and the invention is not limited only to this single embodiment but applies to all equivalent embodiments. For instance, the fitting portion (base and rear quarter) that constitutes the context of the invention can be mounted on a skate having three or more wheels, whether this is an inline skate or not, or on a skate that is not specifically provided for executing acrobatic figures. It can also be mounted with a blade for an ice skate.

List of References

[0037] 1 Frame

[0038] 2 a , 2b Wheels

[0039] 3 Arch

[0040] 4 Base

[0041] 5 Front sliding shoe

[0042] 6 Rear sliding shoe

[0043] 7 Lateral edge

[0044] 8 Medial edge

[0045] 9 Rib

[0046] 10 Groove

[0047] 11 Rear quarter

[0048] 12 Base

[0049] 13 Lateral upstanding member

[0050] 14 Medial upstanding member

[0051] 15 Sleeve

[0052] 16 Strap/tongue

[0053] 17 Strap

[0054] 18 Ratchet mechanism

[0055] 19 Tongue

[0056] 20 Platform

[0057] 21 Slit

[0058] 22 Nut washer

[0059] 23 Boss

[0060] 24 Recess

[0061] 25 Screw

[0062] 26 Opening

[0063] 27 Fastening mechanism

[0064] 28 Shock absorbing wedge

[0065] 29 Wing

[0066] 30 Medial concave sliding surface

[0067] 31 Lateral concave sliding surface

[0068] 32 Vertical rise

[0069] 33 Beveled surface

[0070] 34 Support structure

[0071] 35 Boot

[0072] 36 Lower leg strap

[0073] 37 Forefoot strap

Claims

1. A skate adapted to receive a user's boot, said boot having a sole and a heel zone, comprising: a base adapted to support said boot, said base having a lateral edge and a medial edge, each of said edges extending upwardly and including a longitudinal groove provided in the inner surface of said edge; a rear quarter adapted to slide on the base and adapted to surround the heel zone of said boot, said rear quarter including a base, said base comprising, on each of its lateral and medial sides, a platform; an attaching mechanism to attach the rear quarter to the base in various positions wherein: said medial and lateral edges surround the base of said rear quarter; said platforms slide in said grooves.

2. A skate according to claim 1, wherein: the medial edge and the lateral edge are equipped with a medial concave sliding surface and a lateral concave sliding surface, respectively, located in the extension of the arch of the frame.

3. A skate according to claim 2, wherein: the edges are equipped with support structures in the area of the medial concave sliding surface and the lateral concave sliding surface, respectively.

4. A skate according to claim 1, wherein: sliding shoes are attached under the base at the front and at the rear thereof.

5. A skate according to claim 1, wherein: the rear quarter has a shock absorbing wedge having a horizontal portion that ensures the raising of the heel with respect to the skater's forefoot, and a periphery that extends vertically so as to offer a lining of the vertical walls of said rear quarter.

6. A skate according to claim 5, wherein: said periphery of the shock absorbing wedge has two wings that extend beyond said vertical walls of said quarter.

7. A skate according to claim 4, wherein: the front and rear shoes have a beveled surface arranged in the area of the edge separating the horizontal sliding surface from the vertical sliding surface, and wherein this beveled surface, together with the horizontal plane, forms an angle comprised between 30° and 60°.

8. A skate according to claim 1, wherein: said attaching mechanism simultaneously ensures the attachment of the frame to the base.