The present invention relates, in general, to recreational devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to a slide which is applied to the feet of the participant for sliding on carpet for recreational use.
Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, there are various recreational devices available commercially which will enable a person to slide of certain type surfaces for recreational purposes.
As is also generally well known in the art, these devices all require either a hill, rollers/wheels, or at least a slippery surface, such as, snow in order to enable these prior art devices to work effectively.
Additionally, prior to the present invention, there were no devices known to applicant which are designed specifically for use indoors on carpeted surfaces.
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a recreational device for use indoors on carpeted floors which will enable the user to slide on such carpeted floor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on carpeted floors which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on carpeted floors which is easy to use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on carpeted floors which will not damage the carpet during use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on carpeted floors which is relatively light weight.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on carpeted floors which can be designed to enable relatively easy turning in predetermined directions.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on carpeted floors which can fit a variety of different size feet.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on carpeted floors which will exhibit a relatively long useful life.
In addition to the above described objects and advantages of the present invention, various additional objects and advantages of the recreational slides according to the instant invention will become more readily apparent to those persons skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.
The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a carpet slide for use as a recreational entertainment device. Such carpet slide includes a first member, having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size. The first member is formed from a flexible sheet of material having an upper surface and a bottom surface. There is at least one strap like member having a first end and a second end. A first means, having a first aperture formed therethrough, is disposed substantially lengthwise along the upper surface of such first member adjacent a first outer edge portion thereof between a front portion of the first member and a back portion of such first member for receiving a first end of the at least one strap like member through this first aperture. Finally, there is a second means, having a second aperture formed therethrough, disposed substantially lengthwise along such upper surface adjacent a substantially radially opposed second outer edge portion thereof between such front portion of the first member and the back portion of such first member for receiving a second end of the at least one strap like member through such second aperture.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a recreational shoe for use in sliding on carpeted surfaces. The recreational shoe comprises a foot supporting sole portion having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size. The foot supporting sole portion is formed from a sheet of flexible material having an upper surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of such foot supporting sole portion has a coefficient of friction which is at least sufficiently low enough to enable easy sliding on such carpeted surface. A foot retaining upper portion is secured to such top surface of the foot supporting sole portion. The final essential element of the recreational shoe is a securing means disposed on such foot retaining upper portion for securing such recreational shoe to a wearer of the recreational shoe.
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that identical components having identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings for the sake of clarity in understanding the invention.
Now refer more particularly to drawing
There is at least one strap like member which forms at least a portion of a means 15 for retaining such recreational shoe on a wearer's foot. Such at least one strap like member (not shown) includes a first end and a second end.
As illustrated best in
In similar fashion, the under surface 22 of terminating end 23 of strap 16 may be provided with hoop material to engage loop material 20 after terminating end 23 of strap 16 has been passed through aperture 25 of upturn perimeter edge 14.
Strap 17 connects to the perimeter edge 14 in the same fashion, except that the hook and loop surfaces may be reversed. Additionally, as shown in
It is presently preferred that the bottom surface 13 of first member 11 is made to be convex in order to provide minimal surface contact with the carpet surface over which the carpet slide 10 is to be used. This provides minimal contact area and less friction and a more enjoyable sliding experience.
The upper surface 12 of the first member 11 is also provided, in the presently preferred embodiment, with a nonslip surface 26 which may be in the form of a foam pad to help prevent ones foot, as indicated by dashed outline 27, from slipping on the upper surface 12. Other non-skid surfaces may be substituted.
Referring next to
Thus, as the participant moves forward by walking or running when playing an athletic event, such as hockey, the sawtooth ribs 30 or 40 will dig into the carpet surface and provide enhanced traction. Yet by reason of the fact that the ridges 32 face rearward, this permits the participant to easily slide forward or to the side, when desired, on the carpeted surface.
Referring next to
A presently preferable material for the carpet slide's first member 11 is a slippery flexible plastic, such as manufactured under the trademark Teflon.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to
It can be seen, in summary, that the carpet slide 10 of the present invention is comprised of a sheet of material, preferably plastic, having top and bottom faces and an upturn perimeter edge to prevent catching of the edges on carpet surfaces. A mechanism is provided for easily securing a foot to the upper surface of each sheet.
In one embodiment, this means for securing the sheet or slide to the foot includes a two piece strap secured at opposite ends to the upturned perimeter edge of the sheet. This two piece Strap has an adjustable securing mechanism, such as a buckle, or more preferably a hook and loop fastener arrangement, for adjustably securing the two strap pieces together over ones foot for tight securement.
The top face is preferably provided with a non-slip surface.
The bottom face of the sheet is also preferably convex for more efficient and faster sliding contact with the carpet surface over which the participant intends to slide.
In another embodiment, the means provided for securing the carpet slide to one's foot may take on the form of a shoe, such as an athletic shoe, wherein the sole of the shoe itself is the sheet of material utilized as the carpet slide.
Also, in order to ensure good traction on an underlying carpet surface when the carpet slides are in use for playing such games as carpet hockey, transverse saw tooth ribs are provided on the forward toe portion of the bottom surface of the slide sheet for providing walking or running traction. These ribs have saw tooth ridges which face toward the rearward heel portion of the slide on the bottom surface of the slide for thereby providing a gripping action as the player moves forward, yet the saw tooth configuration permits the player to slide forward and sideways on the carpet. This gives the participant more control, particularly when playing a game such as hockey on a carpeted surface.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above it should be understood that various other embodiments of the invention can be envisioned by those persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/233,366 filed Sep. 3, 2002 which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/086,282 filed Mar. 4, 2002, both applications now abandoned.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1783833 | Elsner | Dec 1930 | A |
1886650 | Davies et al. | Nov 1932 | A |
2810213 | Jonas | Oct 1957 | A |
3269037 | Massicotte | Aug 1966 | A |
3416626 | Nagamatsu | Dec 1968 | A |
3965586 | Roosli | Jun 1976 | A |
4004355 | Koblick | Jan 1977 | A |
4674764 | Miesen | Jun 1987 | A |
5341582 | Liautaud | Aug 1994 | A |
5398957 | Leighton et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
6206424 | Edwards et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6367173 | Lancon | Apr 2002 | B2 |
6401367 | Lancon | Jun 2002 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040068832 A1 | Apr 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10233366 | Sep 2002 | US |
Child | 10669815 | US | |
Parent | 10086282 | Mar 2002 | US |
Child | 10233366 | US |