Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6308965
-
Patent Number
6,308,965
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, August 17, 199925 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, October 30, 200122 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 280 1119
- 280 1122
- 280 11221
- 280 11223
- 280 11224
- 280 11231
- 280 1125
- 280 1126
- 280 1127
- 280 113
- 292 25667
- 292 257
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International Classifications
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Abstract
An adjustable in-line skate structure includes a frame and a boot including a toe section, a heel section and a cuff section. Adjustable means are provided for adjusting the toe portion with respect to the heel section and the cuff section. The adjustable means includes cooperating transverse teeth portions belonging to the toe section and the heel section, an insertion cavity and an insertion block, and an adjustment fastener assembly. The adjustment fastener assembly is provided for urging the insertion block to move upward along walls of the insertion cavity so as to loosen the transverse teeth portion of the toe section from the transverse teeth of the heel portion. A latch assembly is also provided to permit adjustment at a connection point of the toe section, heel section and cuff section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-line skate structure, and more particularly, to a skate for children which is securely adjustable to accommodate a variety of shoe sizes. Normally, an adult in-line skate has a fixed foot structure. For children, however, there is a need to provide an adjustable skate since, as children grow, their feet expand. By accommodating the growth in foot size, an adjustable childrens' in-line skate provides a more comfortable skate and allows for longer use.
Various techniques have been provided to accommodate a foot size change in in-line skates. One technique is to accommodate the growth by having an oversized molded boot containing a replaceable boot liner. Liners of various sizes can be provided according to child's foot size. Another technique is to permit the boot of the skate to adjust. The heel portion has a sole plate which is carried over the length of the frame and is slidably attached to the toe portion so as to be adjustable in length. Often however, such an approach results in an insecure structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved, adjustable in-line skate.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an in-line skate structure includes a frame and a boot composed of a toe section, a heel section and a cuff section. The sole of the toe portion is attached to the heel portion and an insertion block disposed in an insertion block cavity formed by the frame. The toe portion is arranged to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the skate and releasably secured at fixed positions so as to permit an adjustment of the toe and heel portions.
Another element of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a latch assembly that is used to adjust tightness of the connection of the toe section, the heel section and the cuff section. The toe portion is slidable relative to the heel section and the cuff section upon a loosening of the latch assembly and is fixed at a position upon tightening the latch assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective exploded view of the present invention;
FIG. 1A
is a perspective view from below of a heel portion of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a sectional view of a part of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a transverse cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the skate showing a loosened adjustment fastener assembly;
FIG. 4
is a transverse cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the skate showing a tightened adjustment fastener;
FIG. 5
is a top view showing the maximum size of the interior of the boot of the skate in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 6
is atop view showing the minimum size of the interior of the boot of the skate in
FIG.1
;
FIG. 7
is a side view of the skate in
FIG. 1
showing the maximum size of the boot;
FIG. 8
is a side view of the skate in
FIG. 1
showing the minimum size of the boot; and
FIG. 9
shows the operation of the latch section of the skate in FIG.
1
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The in-line skate of the present invention shown in
FIG. 1
includes a frame
10
and a boot
30
. The frame
10
includes two identical frame halves, A, B. The frame halves, A, B are slidably joined at the rear with complementary tongues
12
,
14
and adjustable at the front with an adjustment fastener assembly
16
,
17
,
170
.
According to the examples shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the frame halves A, B each have a portion near the front end that includes an insertion cavity
11
having acute slope surfaces
11
B. An insertion block
19
having surfaces
21
complementary to the insertion cavity acute slope surfaces
11
B cooperates with the acute slope surfaces
11
B.
The adjustment fastener assembly comprises an adjustment fastener
16
, a spring
17
, and an elongated nut
170
. The adjustment faster
16
extends transversely through one of the frame halves A, B and is received by the elongated nut
170
extending through another of the frame halves A, B. The spring
17
is coaxially mounted to the elongated nut
170
and the adjustment fastener
16
, and interposed between the two frame halves A, B so as to exert a constant pressure against the inner surfaces of the frame halves A, B. Upon tightening the adjustment fastener
16
, its action brings the frame halves A, B closer together by exerting a wedging effect between the surfaces
21
of the insertion block
19
and the acute slope surfaces of the insertion cavity
11
B.
As shown in
FIG. 1A
, frame half A includes a U-shaped tongue
12
located near the rear end of frame half A and protrudes transversely to the longitudinal direction of the skate. The U-shaped tongue
12
forms a hole
13
centrally located thereon and a stopping protrusion
120
located at an end of the U-shaped tongue
12
near frame half A. Frame half B also includes a U-shaped tongue
14
that cooperates with the complementary-shaped U-shaped tongue
12
. U-shaped tongue
14
also forms a hole
15
centrally located thereon and a stopping protrusion
140
located at an end of the Ushaped tongue
14
near frame half B. The U-shaped tongue
14
has two oppositely opposed sides that are each bent inwards to form two bending walls. The U-shaped tongue
12
cooperates with U-shaped tongue
14
to form a platform that defines a rectangular socket. As shown in
FIG. 1A
, a rectangular nut
99
is inserted into the rectangular socket and surrounded by the walls of U-shaped tongue
14
. Movement of the rectangular nut
99
is limited by the stopping protrusions
120
,
140
.
The boot
30
includes a toe section
31
, a heel section
36
and a cuff section
42
detachably associated by a latch assembly
50
. The toe section
31
is a sheath-like body having a shape that complements the toe portion morphology of a foot. The upper edges of the two sides of the rear end of the toe portion
31
are disposed with upward extending wing sections
320
,
330
. The bottom of the toe section
31
and the two lateral wing portions
320
,
330
are respectively formed with elongated slots
32
,
33
,
34
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, on the top side of the base of the front end of the toe section
31
, the elongated slot
34
is provided with a transverse teeth portion
35
located around the periphery of the elongated slot
34
and extending parallel to the direction of the extension of the skate.
The heel section
36
includes a sole
172
and side walls
40
that each have holes
41
. The sole includes a locating hole
38
centrally located at the rear end and a locating hole
37
centrally located at the front end. The sole is provided, around the periphery of the locating hole
37
on the bottom side of the sole
172
, with a transverse teeth portion
39
that extends parallel to the direction of the extension ofthe skate. The transverse teeth portion
39
engages with the transverse teeth portion
35
.
A latch assembly
50
is provided for connecting the toe section
31
, the heel section
36
and the cuff section
42
. The attachment of the toe section
31
, the heel section
36
and the cuff section
42
is identical for both sides of the skate. The latch assembly
50
comprises a handle
53
adapted for pivotal rotation, a threaded shaft
52
pivotally engaging the handle
53
, a bushing
51
centrally forming a through hole
510
and defining a recessed area complementing the shape of the handle
53
and surrounding the bushing through hole
510
, and a lug
54
having an inner threaded hole
541
. The heel portion is provided with a recess around the periphery of hole
41
complementing the shape of the lug
54
. the threaded shaft
52
passes through the bushing
51
, the cuff section
42
at through hole
45
, the toe section
31
at the elongated slot
33
and the heel section
40
at through hole
41
, and is received by the inner threaded hole
541
of the lug
54
. The lug
54
is riveted in the hole
41
. The latching assembly
50
is manipulable and permits loosening and tightening to slidably adjust the toe portion
31
relative to the heel portion
40
and cuff portion
42
, thus increasing or decreasing the size of the boot portion.
A bolt
62
and washer
63
are used to fixedly attach the rear end of the heel section
36
to the frame
10
. The bolt
62
passes through the washer
63
, the through hole
38
of the heel section
36
, through hole
13
of the U-shaped tongue
13
and is received by the rectangular nut
99
.
Referring to
FIGS. 2
,
3
and
4
, the locating hole
37
with the transverse teeth portion
39
of the heel section
36
engages with the slide slot
34
having the transverse teeth portion
35
of the toe section
31
. A pin
60
passes through a washer
61
to loosely attach the front end of the boot
30
to the insertion block
19
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, when the adjustment fastener
16
is loosened, a gap
174
is defined between the toe section
31
and the frame
10
. It follows that the spring
17
exerts an outward force onto the frame and the insertion block
19
is loosened from the insertion cavity
11
to facilitate adjustment between the transverse teeth portions
35
,
39
. As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, adjustment of the transverse teeth portions
35
,
39
permits either lengthening or decreasing the size of the foot length portion of the boot
30
. As shown in
FIG. 4
, upon tightening the adjustment fastener
16
, the insertion block
19
slides downward along the acute slope surfaces
11
B to firmly associate the toe section
31
to the frame
10
.
According to the above arrangement, the in-line skate of the present invention is adjustable in size and is provided with double tightening effect.
Having thus described the invention, changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. An extendable in-line skate structure comprising:a frame having a first half and a second half; a boot having a toe section, a heel section and a cuff section; said toe section having a base and a longitudinal slot being centrally located at a mid-section of the base and provided with a first transverse teeth portion being located around the periphery of said longitudinal slot and extending parallel to a direction of the extension of said skate and; said heel section having a sole and a first hole located at a front end of said sole and being provided with a second transverse teeth portion being located around the periphery of said first hole and extending parallel to the direction of the extension of the skate, said first transverse teeth portion cooperates with said second transverse teeth portion, wherein a pin passes through said longitudinal slot, said first hole, and is received by an insertion block disposed in an insertion cavity formed in the front end of the frame so as to connect said toe portion, said heel portion and said frame; said heel section connecting to a rear end of said frame, said cuff section being attached to a top portion of said heel section; said insertion cavity having inner acute slope surfaces provided at an upper portion of said frame; said insertion block having a shape complementary to said insertion cavity; an adjustment fastener being inserted through a third hole formed at the front end of a first frame half and being received by an elongated nut that is inserted through a fourth hole formed at a second frame half; a spring coaxially surrounding said adjustment fastener and said elongated nut, and interposed between the frame halves so as to exert constant pressure against inner surfaces of said frame halves; wherein said adjustment fastener, when rotated in a tightening direction, exerts a wedging effect between the surfaces of said insertion block and said insertion cavity walls so as to engage said first transverse teeth portion and said second transverse teeth portion and obtain a linkage effect between said boot and said frame while urging said spring to compress, said adjustment fastener, when rotated in a loosening direction, expanding said spring which urges movement of the insertion block so as to permit adjustment of said first transverse teeth portion and said second transverse teeth portion so as to increase or decrease the length of said boot.
- 2. An in-line skate structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a latch assembly for fastening sidewalls of said cuff portion to sidewalls of said toe portion that are secured to opposite sides of said heel portion, said latch assembly comprising:a handle adapted for pivotal rotation; a threaded shaft pivotally engaging said handle; a bushing centrally forming a fifth hole and defining a recess area complementing the shape of the handle and surrounding said fifth hole; a lug having an inner threaded hole; wherein said threaded shaft passes through said bushing through a hole formed by said cuff portion located at a lower end, an elongated slot formed by said toe portion near an end of a sidewall portion, a hole formed by said heel portion at an end of a sidewall portion, and received by the inner threaded hole of said lug, said latching assembly releasably securing said toe portion slidable relative to said heel portion and said cuff portion along a line of travel generally parallel to a longitudinal dimension of said skate so as to be optionally tightened or loosened.
- 3. An in-line skate structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lug is riveted in the hole of said heel portion.
- 4. An in-line skate structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first frame half includes a first U-shaped tongue located near the rear end of said first frame half, said first U-shaped tongue forming a hole centrally located thereon and having a first stopping protrusion located at an end near said first frame half, said first U-shaped tongue being insertable into a complementary second U-shaped tongue having second stopper located at an end near said second frame half and forming a hole centrally located thereon, said first U-shaped tongue and said second U-shaped tongue forming a platform that defines a rectangular socket, a rectangular nut being disposed in said rectangular socket and interposed between said first stopper and said second stopper.
US Referenced Citations (7)