Claims
- 1. A roller skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region, the forefoot region having a metatarsal head portion; and a frame secured to an underside of the base at least below the forefoot region of the base such that the base can flex intermediate of the forefoot region and heel region during skating to permit elevation of the skater's heel, the frame extending below the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels, with at least one forward wheel disposed below the forefoot region of the base and at least one rearward wheel disposed below the heel region of the base, wherein the metatarsal head portion of the base defines a stress concentrating contour that focuses flexure of the base at the metatarsal head portion.
- 2. The skate of claim 1, wherein the frame mounts at least first and second forward wheels below the forefoot region of the base, the second forward wheel being disposed between the first forward wheel and the rearward wheel, an axis of rotation of the second forward wheel being directly below or rearward of the stress concentrating contour of the metatarsal head portion of the base.
- 3. The skate of claim 1, wherein the stress concentrating contour comprises a reduced thickness section of the base extending transversely substantially across the metatarsal head portion of the base.
- 4. The skate of claim 3, wherein the stress concentrating contour further comprises an aperture defined through the metatarsal head portion of the base.
- 5. The skate of claim 1, wherein the stress concentrating contour of the base comprises an aperture defined through the metatarsal head portion of the base.
- 6. The skate of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base to a lower position, in which the heel region of the base bears on the frame, the rearward wheel and the ground.
- 7. The skate of claim 6, wherein the biasing member is incorporated into the forefoot region of the base.
- 8. The skate of claim 7, wherein the base is constructed of a resilient material and integrally defines the biasing member.
- 9. The skate of claim 6, wherein the biasing member comprises a strip of resilient material secured along the base.
- 10. The skate of claim 9, wherein the biasing member is removable from the base for interchangeability.
- 11. The skate of claim 6, wherein the biasing member exerts a downward preload on the heel region of the base when the heel region is in the lower position.
- 12. The skate of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a rigid frame extending below the base from the toe region to the heel region, and flexure of the base during skating results in elevation of the skater's heel between a lower position in which the heel region of the base bears on the frame, and an upper position in which the heel region of the base is elevated relative to the frame.
- 13. The skate of claim 12, further comprising a guide secured to one of the frame and the heel region of the base and projecting toward and slidably engaging the other of the frame and the heel region of the base during flexure of the base.
- 14. The skate of claim 13, wherein the guide depends downwardly from the base.
- 15. The skate of claim 14, wherein the guide is slidably received within an aperture defined in the frame.
- 16. The skate of claim 15, wherein the aperture defines a slot, further comprising an elastomeric cushion surrounding a perimeter of the slot and projecting upwardly above a surface of the frame for contacting the base when the base is in the lower position.
- 17. The skate of claim 14, wherein the guide comprises first and second flanges projecting downwardly from the base on opposing first and second sides of the frame.
- 18. The skate of claim 12, further comprising a shock absorption member secured to one of the frame or base to absorb shock between the frame and base when the heel region of the base is moved to the lower position.
- 19. The skate of claim 18, wherein the shock absorption member comprises an elastomeric material.
- 20. The skate of claim 12, further comprising a brake arm carrying a brake pad for selectively engaging against the ground or a wheel, wherein the brake arm is secured to the shoe portion or the base and is carried with the shoe portion or the base during flexure of the base.
- 21. The skate of claim 12, further comprising a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base to the lower position and against the frame.
- 22. The skate of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises an elongate frame having a forward segment secured to the underside of the base below the forefoot region of the base, and a rearward segment secured to the underside of the base below the heel region, the forward and rearward segments of the frame mounting the forward and rearward wheels, respectively, flexing of the base resulting in elevation of the heel region on the base and the rearward frame segment relative to the forefoot region of the base.
- 23. The skate of claim 22, further comprising a longitudinal projection extending from one of the forward or rearward frame segments toward and slidably engaging the other of the forward and rearward frame segments when the heel region of the base is lowered and the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the forward and rearward frame segments freely sliding and pivoting relative to each other during flexure of the base.
- 24. The skate of claim 23, wherein the longitudinal projection comprises first and second stabilizing flanges projecting from one of the forward or rearward frame segments toward and overlapping opposing first and second sides of the other of the forward and rearward frame segments.
- 25. The skate of claim 24, further comprising a low friction bearing surface defined on an exterior of each of the overlapped opposing first and second sides of the forward or rearward frame segment, or on an interior of the first and second stabilizing flanges.
- 26. The skate of claim 24, further comprising a transverse reinforcement spanning between and secured to the first and second stabilizing flanges.
- 27. The skate of claim 26, wherein the overlapped first and second sides of one of the forward or rearward frame segments each define a recess that accommodates the transverse reinforcement of the stabilizing flanges when the forward and rearward frame segments are longitudinally aligned.
- 28. The skate of claim 24, further comprising a locking element selectively engageable with the forward and rearward frame segments when the forward and rearward frame segments are substantially longitudinally aligned to prevent flexure of the base.
- 29. The skate of claim 22, wherein at least one of the forward and rearward segments of the frame are mounted to the base for adjustable positioning in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.
- 30. The skate of claim 29, wherein the other of the forward and rearward segments of the frame is also mounted to the base for adjustable positioning in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.
- 31. The skate of claim 22, further comprising:
at least one intermediate wheel mounted on one of the rearward and forward frame segments between the forward and rearward wheels; and a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base downwardly such that when the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the intermediate wheel is slightly elevated relative to the forward and rearward wheels before a skater's weight is applied to the base.
- 32. A roller skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels for traversing the ground, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region, the forefoot region having a metatarsal head portion; a frame secured to an underside of the base at least below the forefoot region of the base, the frame extending below the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels with at least one forward wheel disposed below the forefoot region of the base and at least one rearward wheel disposed below the heel region of the base, wherein the frame is secured to the base such that the base can flex intermediate of the forefoot region and heel region during skating to permit elevation of the skater's heel between a lower position in which the heel region of the base bears on the frame, the rearward wheel and the ground, and an upper position in which the heel region of the base is elevated relative to the forefoot region of the base; and a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base to the lower position and that exerts a downward preload on the heel region of the base when the heel region is in the lower position.
- 33. A roller skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region, the forefoot region having a metatarsal head portion; a frame secured to an underside of the base at least below the forefoot region of the base, the frame extending below the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels with at least one forward wheel disposed below the forefoot region of the base and at least one rearward wheel disposed below the heel region of the base, wherein the frame is secured to the base such that the base flexes at the metatarsal head portion during skating to permit elevation of the skater's heel between a lower position in which the heel region of the base bears on the frame, the rearward wheel and the ground, and an upper position in which the heel region of the base is elevated relative to the forefoot region of the base; and a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base to the lower position.
- 34. A skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region, and being adapted to flex intermediate of the heel region and forefoot region to permit elevation of the heel region relative to the forefoot region during skating; and a frame having a forward segment secured to an underside of the base below the forefoot region of the base, and a rearward segment secured to the underside of the base below the heel region, the forward frame segment mounting at least one forward wheel below the forefoot region of the base and the rearward segment mounting at least one rearward wheel below the heel region of the base, wherein one of the forward or rearward frame segments includes first and second stabilizing flanges that extend toward and slidably overlap opposing first and second sides of the other of the forward and rearward frame segments, the forward and rearward frame segments freely sliding and pivoting relative to each other during flexure of the base.
- 35. The skate of claim 34, wherein the one of the forward or rearward frame segments that includes the first and second stabilizing flanges includes first and second sidewalls, each sidewall having a first portion in which one or more wheels are journalled and a second portion extending laterally outward and then parallel to the first portion for overlapping the other of the forward or rearward frame segments.
- 36. The skate of claim 34, further comprising a low friction bearing surface defined on an exterior of each of the overlapped opposing first and second sides of the forward or rearward frame segment, or on an interior of the first and second stabilizing flanges.
- 37. The skate of claim 34, further comprising a transverse reinforcement spanning between and secured to the first and second stabilizing flanges.
- 38. The skate of claim 37, wherein the overlapped first and second sides of the one of the forward or rearward frame segments each define a recess that accommodates the transverse reinforcement of the stabilizing flanges when the forward and rearward frame segments are longitudinally aligned.
- 39. The skate of claim 34, further comprising a locking element selectively engageable with the forward and rearward frame segments when the forward and rearward frame segments are substantially longitudinally aligned to prevent flexure of the base.
- 40. The skate of claim 34, further comprising:
at least one intermediate wheel mounted on one of the rearward and forward frame segments between the forward and rearward wheels; and a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base downwardly such that when the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the intermediate wheel is slightly elevated relative to the forward and rearward wheels before a skater's weight is applied to the base.
- 41. The skate of claim 34, wherein the forefoot region of the base includes a metatarsal head portion defining a stress concentrating contour that focuses flexure of the base at the metatarsal head portion.
- 42. The skate of claim 41, wherein the forward frame segment mounts at least first and second forward wheels below the forefoot region of the base, the second forward wheel being disposed between the first forward wheel and the rearward wheel, an axis of rotation of the second forward wheel being directly below or rearward of the stress concentrating contour of the metatarsal head portion of the base.
- 43. The skate of claim 34, wherein at least one of the forward and rearward segments of the frame are mounted to the base for adjustable positioning in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.
- 44. The skate of claim 43, wherein the other of the forward and rearward segments of the frame is also mounted to the base for adjustable positioning in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.
- 45. A skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region, and being adapted to flex intermediate of the heel region and forefoot region to permit elevation of the heel region relative to the forefoot region during skating; and an elongate frame having a forward segment secured to an underside of the base below the forefoot region of the base, and a rearward segment secured to the underside of the base below the heel region, the forward frame segment mounting at least one forward wheel below the forefoot region of the base and the rearward segment mounting at least one rearward wheel below the heel region of the base, wherein one of the forward or rearward frame segments includes a longitudinal projection extending toward and slidably engaging the other of the forward and rearward frame segments when the heel region of the base is lowered and the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the forward and rearward frame segments freely sliding and pivoting relative to each other during flexure of the base.
- 46. The skate of claim 45, further comprising:
at least one intermediate wheel mounted on one of the rearward and forward frame segments between the forward and rearward wheels; and a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base downwardly such that when the forward and rearward segments of the frame are substantially longitudinally aligned, the intermediate wheel is slightly elevated relative to the forward and rearward wheels before a skater's weight is applied to the base.
- 47. The skate of claim 45, wherein the forefoot region of the base includes a metatarsal head portion defining a stress concentrating contour that focuses flexure of the base at the metatarsal head portion.
- 48. The skate of claim 47, wherein the forward frame segment mounts at least first and second forward wheels below the forefoot region of the base, the second forward wheel being disposed between the first forward wheel and the rearward wheel, an axis of rotation of the second forward wheel being directly below or rearward of the stress concentrating contour of the metatarsal head portion of the base.
- 49. A skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels for traversing the ground, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region; and an elongate frame having a forward segment secured to an underside of the base below the forefoot region of the base, and a rearward segment secured to the underside of the base below the heel region, the forward frame segment mounting at least one forward wheel below the forefoot region of the base and the rearward segment mounting at least one rearward wheel below the heel region of the base, and at least one of the rearward and forward frame segments mounting an intermediate wheel between the forward and rearward wheels, wherein the base is adapted to flex intermediate of the forefoot region and heel region during skating to permit elevation of the skater's heel between a lower position in which the heel region of the base bears on the rearward segment of the frame, the rearward wheel and the ground, and an upper position in which the heel region of the base and rearward segment of the frame is elevated relative to the forefoot region of the base; a longitudinal member coupling the forward frame segment to the rearward frame segment for increased torsional stiffness of the frame; and a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base to the lower position.
- 50. A skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region having a metatarsal head portion, the base being adapted to flex at the metatarsal head portion during skating; a frame secured to an underside of the base at the forefoot region of the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels, the heel region of the base bearing on the frame in a lower position and elevating away from the frame to an upper position upon flexure of the base during skating; and a guide secured to one of the frame and the heel region of the base and projecting toward and slidably engaging the other of the frame and the heel region of the base during flexure of the base.
- 51. The skate of claim 50, wherein the guide depends downwardly from the base.
- 52. The skate of claim 51, wherein the guide is slidably received within an aperture defined in the frame.
- 53. The skate of claim 52, wherein the aperture defines a slot, further comprising an elastomeric cushion surrounding a perimeter of the slot and projecting upwardly above a surface of the frame for contacting the base when the base is in the lower position.
- 54. The skate of claim 51, wherein the guide comprises first and second flanges projecting downwardly from the base on opposing first and second sides of the frame.
- 55. The skate of claim 50, further comprising a shock absorption member secured to one of the frame or base to absorb shock between the frame and base when the heel region of the base is moved to the lower position.
- 56. The skate of claim 55, wherein the shock absorption member comprises an elastomeric material.
- 57. The skate of claim 50, further comprising a brake arm carrying a brake pad for selectively engaging against the ground or a wheel, wherein the brake arm is secured to the shoe portion or the base and is carried with the shoe portion or the base during flexure of the base.
- 58. The skate of claim 50, further comprising a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base to the lower position and against the frame.
- 59. The skate of claim 50, wherein the forefoot region of the base includes a metatarsal head portion defining a stress concentrating contour that focuses flexure of the base at the metatarsal head portion.
- 60. A skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region having a metatarsal head portion, the base being adapted to flex at the metatarsal head portion during skating; a frame secured to an underside of the base at the forefoot region of the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels, the heel region of the base bearing on the frame in a lower position and elevating away from the frame to an upper position upon flexure of the base during skating; and a biasing member coupled to the base to bias the heel region of the base to the lower position and that preloads the heel region of the base against the frame when the heel region is in the lower position.
- 61. A skate including a plurality of wheels for traversing the ground, comprising:
a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot; a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region having a metatarsal head portion, the base being adapted to flex at the metatarsal head portion during skating; a frame secured to an underside of the base at the forefoot region of the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels, the heel region of the base bearing on the frame in a lower position and elevating away from the frame to an upper position upon flexure of the base during skating; and a brake arm carrying a brake pad for selectively engaging against the ground or a wheel, wherein the brake arm is secured to the shoe portion or the base and is carried with the shoe portion or the base during flexure of the base.
- 62. A skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:
a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region and a forefoot region having a metatarsal head portion, the base being adapted to flex at the metatarsal head portion during skating; a frame secured to an underside of the base at the forefoot region of the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels, the heel region of the base bearing on the frame in a lower position and elevating away from the frame to an upper position upon flexure of the base during skating; and a shock absorption member secured to one of the frame or base to absorb shock between the frame and base when the heel region of the base is moved to the lower position.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/957,436 filed Oct. 24, 1997, priority of the filing date of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09094425 |
Jun 1998 |
US |
Child |
09589864 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09589864 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
09978533 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08957436 |
Oct 1997 |
US |
Child |
09094425 |
Jun 1998 |
US |