ROLLING DEVICE STEERED USING THE TILTING ANGLE AND COMPRISING OFFSET ROLLERS

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to improve inline skates so as to provide stability during skating, good acceleration, and added skating fun by having the skates turn more or less in accordance with the tilting angle. Said aim is achieved by a rolling device in which the rollers that are arranged largely one behind another are rotatably mounted in individual roller supports, the roller supports are pivotally attached to the chassis by means of inclined shafts, and the rollers are disposed in a laterally offset manner relative to the center line. In a simple embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4a and b, the steering unit is composed of two respective rollers (2) which are mounted in a rocker-type roller support (3″) in an offset manner relative to one another by a distance (9). The roller support (3″) is pivotally attached to the chassis (not depicted) by means of a shaft (8) which extends at an angle α relative to the horizontal line. The rolling device generally comprises two steering units encompassing a total of four rollers.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to rolling devices like roller skates, inline skates, Skateboards, rollers and skis on rollers. In particular, the invention deals with steered rolling devices, which are able to tilt sideways, their rollers tilting sideways as well.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Steering mechanisms which have the steering property depending on the tilting angle possess the advantage of true carving as compared to free steering mechanisms. An inherent stability is felt by the skater due to the erecting centripetal force when skating along a curved track. Such rolling devices mainly have rollers, where two of them are oriented beside one another. Their tilting angle is narrowly limited (e.g. Skateboard, Quad roller skate), but the comfort of the movement is little. Inline skates have no limitation to the tilting angle. They use conventional cheap inline skate rollers, are cheaply manufactured, but do not function to steer.

Tilt-steered rolling devices incorporating rollers arranged one aside another, where the rollers tilt as well, are known from DE 19803412 A1 and from EP 1213043 A1. But their technical complexity is comparably high.

DE 10256680 A1 describes a roller support mechanism, where the single roller supports are allowed to pivot about an axis which is inclined, or declined respectively. This is disadvantageous, because the steering angle is independent from the tilting angle.

DE20305190U1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,997A describe supports, which are pivotally attached to the chassis, the pivot axes being oriented vertically. The use of rollers of alternating slim and wide profile design results in a steering property which depends on the angle of tilt. Unfortunately, differently profiled rollers must be applied.

WO 2005/039710 A1 describes an inline skate which incorporates two roller supports, each support, containing a pair of rollers arranged one behind another, is pivotally attached to the chassis. The pivot axes are inclined or declined, respectively. However, the steering effect is unpleasantly strong.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,252A describes an arrangement of cylindrically profiled rollers. Each single roller is suspended and arranged in-line at a chassis. This arrangement has no coordinated steering function due to the undefined kinematics.

DE29619755U1 describes a roller skate incorporating rollers arranged in-line, each roller support being pivotally attached to the chassis, where the pivot axes are horizontal and where biased suspension springs regulate the rollers' position. A steering function was neither intended nor achieved.

WO2005/097273 A1 describes an embodiment, where four rollers are rotatably mounted in-line at a bendable flat spring rod. The spring rod is at its middle attached to the shoe. It allows bending to the inwards-up direction or to the outwards-down direction, respectively. The outer curving skate is steered, according to the bending of the rod, whereas only the two non-steering inner rollers of the inner curving skate have contact with the ground. The two inner rollers of this skate have a wider profile than that of the front and end rollers, which have a narrow profile thus assuming an offset position upon bending of the spring rod. The skate is disadvantageous as the rollers require different profiling, the load is unequally distributed across the rollers and the inner curving skate has poor tracking capability.

WO97/18017 A1 describes a seesaw-type twin-roller support, where the shaft is oriented horizontally. DE19715706 A1 describes again a seesaw with a horizontal pivot axis using elastic damping elements. Additionally, a pivotally attached single roller support is disclosed, where differently profiled rollers are claimed to provide better steering capabilities. However, a true steering function cannot result, as all roller axes are oriented in parallel.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

The purpose of the invention was to describe a steering rolling device where the steering effect is coupled to the angle of tilt, which incorporates rollers essentially oriented in-line, which allows a rather large angle of tilt, which provides a comfortable carving capability, and which uses conventional inline skate rollers.

Technical Solution

Using a tilt-steered rolling device comprising an optional application part, e.g. shoe, rolling ski binding or board, a chassis and at least one steering group, wherein the steering group consists of two steering units, which may also be combined in one piece, wherein the steering unit consists of one roller support and at least one roller which is rotatably mounted to the roller support, and wherein the roller support has a pivot shaft attached to the chassis, this purpose is achieved by an embodiment characterized in that the pivot axis extends at an acute angle a relative to the horizontal line 5 and the trace 6 of the at least one roller 2 is disposed in a lateral offset manner relative to the longitudinal mid-line 7 of the rolling device.

Beneficial Effects

Disposing the trace 6 of the roller 2 in a laterally offset manner relative to the mid-line 7 of the rolling device combined with the skew angled pivot axis 4 lead to a steering angle which is almost proportional to the angle of tilt. The known conventional in-line skate rollers can be incorporated. The true carving property is now realized, including the beneficial effect which result from a steering effect which is proportional to the angle of the sideways tilt.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a-1c show a section of the chassis 1, a roller support 3 and a roller 2. They show the pivot axis 4 which extends at an acute angle a with respect to the horizontal line 5, the pivot shaft 8, the mid-line 7 and the track 6 of the roller at the ground, viewed in perspective (FIG. 1a), viewed from behind (FIG. 1b) and viewed from below (FIG. 1c).

FIGS. 2 a-2c show a section of the chassis 1, two roller supports 3, 3′ including rollers 2 and pivot shafts 8, the coupler 11 which connects the two supports 3, 3′, and the lateral offset distance 9 between the two traces. FIG. 2c shows the arrangement viewed longitudinally, including the pivot axes 4, 4′ of the two supports 3, 3′.

FIGS. 3 a, 3b show an embodiment of a whole rolling device, any application part (e.g. shoe) not depicted, consisting of a chassis 1, two steering groups, each consisting of two roller supports 3, 3′ including rollers 2, in tilted position, as viewed from the side, FIG. 3a, and viewed from below, FIG. 3b, depicting the respective steering angles.

FIGS. 4 a, 4b show a different embodiment of a roller support 3″ with two rollers 2, as seen in a perspective view in FIG. 4a. The tracks of the two rollers 2 which are disposed in a laterally offset manner relative to one another by a distance 9, the pivot shaft 8 and the angle α between its axis 4 and the horizontal line 5 are seen from behind in FIG. 4b.

FIGS. 5 a, 5b show an entire embodiment (not depicting the shoe), consisting of a chassis 1 and two twin-roller steering groups with roller supports 3″ and rollers 2, seen in perspective view, FIG. 5a, and seen from behind, FIG. 5b. FIG. 5b shows the orientation 4, 4′ of the pivot axes, the horizontal line 5 and the angles α, α′ between them.

FIG. 5 c shows a perspective view of an advanced embodiment including the chassis 1, two twin-roller supports 3″ and four rollers.

FIGS. 6 a-6c exemplify three embodiments of bearings which provide the pivoting of the roller supports 3, 3′, 3″ around the pivot axis 4, attached to the chassis 1.

FIG. 6 a: using a skew drilled hole along axis 4 to accommodate the shaft.

FIG. 6 b: using two shafts 13, positioned off-axis relative to one another, and using two universal joints 10.

FIG. 6 c: using two shafts 13 and using two bearings 11 made from plastic or rubber, optionally connected to two flanged bushings 12.

FIG. 7 shows sections of two twin-roller steering groups and as an example a spring 14 which causes the steering units to re-assume their neutral position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The steering unit, as shown in FIGS. 1a-1c incorporates all features which are necessary to accomplish the steering effect of the roller. With an increasing angle of the sideways inclination (or tilt) against the vertical line, the off-midline mounted roller moves upwards with respect to the chassis (or downwards, when tilting to the other side). This up- respectively down-movement is converted to a frontal inclination angle respectively a rearward declination angle of the roller support 3, 3′, 3″. Due to the skew orientation of the pivot axis 4 the mentioned inclination angle is inherently transformed into a steering angle. The steering angle is proportional to the product from the off-midline distance 9 multiplied with the angle which extends between the pivot axis 4 and the horizontal line 5, and multiplied with the tilting angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention claims that the rollers roll along tracks 6, which are disposed in an offset distance relative to the (mid-line) axis of tilt 7. The axis of tilt 7 is defined by the line (axis) around which the skate turns upon tilting sideways. The axis of tilt 7 is represented by the cut of the longitudinal vertical mid-plane of the chassis 1 with the ground plane herein called mid-line. The lateral offset distance between the track 6 and the axis of tilt 7 can be realized by different embodiments. One is using rollers which have non-symmetrically shaped tires, which have the largest circumference placed off the roller's mid-plane. In another technical embodiment the two rollers which belong together have a camber angle between them. As seen from the front the two rollers would then appear like an ‘X’. Both embodiments are straight-forward solutions, they needed not be depicted. Any combination of the three embodiments may be used. The preferred embodiment is by disposing the rollers in a laterally offset manner relative to one another. This embodiment has the advantage that the steering property can be varied by changing the lateral distance between the trace 6 and the axis of tilt (which is the midline) 7 for instance by choosing differently sized washers during assembly of the roller.

The roller support 3 needs a counter force, so that under load the resulting moment is counter acted. According to the state of the art an elastic bumper or a spring may be fixed at the chassis in order to bear the roller support. According to claim 2 and as shown in FIG. 2(a-c) the preferred embodiment comprises two complementary roller supports 3, 3′ which are each pivotally attached to the chassis 1, and which are interconnected by a connector 11 so that the pivot movement of the one roller support causes by means of the connector 11 the other roller support to pivot similarly and vice versa.

As seen from FIGS. 2(a-c) the weight lasting on the chassis 1 is equally distributed on both rollers. It is shown also that the two rollers preferably roll along traces which are laterally offset relative to one another by a distance 9. The axis of tilt uses to be located amidst the two traces.

Ideally, every roller should have its own steering angle, so that all rollers roll along a common circle at the ground. Preferably, this is achieved by making the angles α of the pivot axes 4 proportional to the distances of the respective roller axles from the middle of the Chassis.

According to claim 3, two steering groups as described above are arranged one behind another, as shown in FIG. 3. The angles α which extend between the pivot axes 4, 4′ (see FIG. 2c) and the horizontal line 5 are chosen so that the front steering group steers inward and the rear steering group steers outward.

The described steering group steers inherently asymmetrically when tilting right or left, as the steering effect is stronger to the one side in comparison to the other side. This asymmetry can be corrected, by arranging two steering groups one behind the other. Additionally, according to claim 5 the two front rollers 2 of the respective steering groups have traces 6 at the one side of the axis of tilt 7 and the two rear rollers 2 of the respective steering groups have their traces at the other side of the axis of tilt 7, and the angles α, α′ of the pivot axes 4, 4′ of the two front roller supports 3, 3′ are opposite to the angles α, α′ of the pivot axes 4, 4′ of the two rear roller supports 3, 3′. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. This embodiment combines the strong steering effect of the one steering group with the weak steering effect of the other steering group so that their sum remains the same in both cases, when tilting right and when tilting left, hence canceling the asymmetry of the steering.

The rolling device is less complex when the steering group is made of only one roller support 3″ and two rollers 2, where the two rollers 2 have traces which are disposed in a laterally offset manner relative to one another. This embodiment, as claimed by claim 4 is illustrated in FIGS. 4a, 4b. As compared to two separate roller supports which would need two separate pivot axes 4, 4′ this seesaw-like roller support 3″ has only one pivot shaft 8 oriented at an angle related to the horizontal line 5. This embodiment is disadvantageous in that the both rollers 2 do not steer independently, but have a common steering angle instead. Hence, there is friction during curved skating. However, the friction is only minor when the curving radius is large. The friction is affordable in view of the simpler design and the low weight.

The preferred embodiment is characterized in that two said steering groups are arranged one behind another at the chassis, as inherently claimed in claim 6.

The said embodiment steers asymmetrically. As claimed in claim 5 the asymmetry can be corrected in that the two front rollers of the two respective steering groups have their traces 6 at an offset distance from the axis of tilt 7, the two rear rollers of the respective steering groups have their traces 6 at an offset distance at the other side of the axis of tilt 7, and the angle a pertaining to the pivot axis 4 of the front roller support 3″ is opposite to the angle a pertaining to the pivot axis 4 of the rear roller support 3″.

A skater, during parallel curving with both legs at the ground may take advantage from an asymmetrical steering function, so that the both circles which are performed by the both legs have coinciding circle centers, thus avoiding that the two circles intersect. This feature can be achieved, according to claim 7, by an embodiment, where the respective two rollers of the two steering groups have traces which are disposed in a laterally offset manner relative to one another by different distances 9 and/or where the angles α, α′ of the pivot axes 4 of the roller supports 3″ which extend relative to the horizontal line 5 are not equal. This allows for the beneficial incompleteness of the compensation of the aforementioned steering asymmetry. Similarly, the asymmetry of the steering action may be achieved by an embodiment which contains e.g. four single-roller supports 3, 3′ (according to claim 3), where the respective two rollers of the roller supports have traces which are disposed in a laterally offset manner relative to one another by different distances and/or where the corresponding pivot shafts extend at different angles α relative to the horizontal line 5 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

I order to touch down with all 4 rollers simultaneously at the ground after finishing the accelerating step it is desirable that the steering groups, when free of load, re-assume the neutral straight position. This is achieved by using intermediate parts made from rubber-like plastic, by using steel spring elements or by using a spiral spring 4, as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention which is further artistically designed.

In order to provide bearings for the skew pivoting shafts to be attached to the chassis 1 three detailed embodiments are shown in FIG. 6. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6a is of simple design but causes more effort for the creation of moulds, and required that the design takes care of an axial weight component. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6b avoids the axial weight component but needs costly universal joints. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6c additionally is noise absorbent and is cheaply produced.

The left and the right skates use to by designed symmetrically. One of them, usually the right skate, should have a brake attached to it. Designs are known, where the brake holder including a rubber block is affixed to the chassis 1.

The above described rolling devices incorporate preferably four rollers. 5-wheelers may be designed, e.g. by incorporating a fifth roller rotatably mounted to the chassis in its middle. A 3-wheeler may have a roller rotatably mounted to one end of the chassis and a steering group arranged at its other end. In this case the rolling device steers rather strongly asymmetrically. This feature may be interesting for skaters who prefer divergent carving effects, e.g. slaloming skates, free-skates, fun-skates.

Economic Value of the Invention

Inline skates are a proven mass product. Similar skates which have carving capabilities may become a good selling innovative product.

Claims

1. A tilt-steered rolling device comprising an optional application part, e.g. shoe, rolling ski binding or board, a chassis and at least one steering group, wherein the steering group consists of two steering units, which may also be combined in one piece, wherein the steering unit consists of one roller support and at least one roller which is rotatably mounted to the roller support, and wherein the roller support has a pivot shaft attached to the chassis, characterized in that the frontal projection of the pivot axis 4 extends at an acute angle α relative to the horizontal line 5 and the trace 6 of the at least one roller 2 is disposed in a laterally offset manner parallel to the longitudinal midline 7 of the rolling device.

2. A rolling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering group comprises two roller supports 3, 3′ including two rollers, where each roller 2 is rotatably mounted to one roller support.

3. A rolling device as claimed in claims 1 and 2, which incorporates two steering groups.

4. A rolling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the steering group consists of one roller support 3″ and two rollers 2.

5. A rolling device as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the two front rollers 2 of the respective steering groups have traces 6 at the one side of the axis of tilt 7 and the two rear rollers 2 of the respective steering groups have their traces at the other side of the axis of tilt 7, and wherein the angles α, α′ which extend between the pivot axes 4, 4′ of the two front roller supports 3, 3′ and the horizontal line 5 are opposite to the angles α, α′ which extend between the pivot axes 4, 4′ of the two rear roller supports 3, 3′ and the horizontal line 5.

6. A rolling device as claimed in claims 1 and 4, wherein the two front rollers 2 of the respective twin-roller support 3″ have their traces 6 at the one side of the axis of tilt 7 and the two rear rollers 2 of the respective twin-roller support 3″ have their traces at the other side of the axis of tilt 7, and wherein the angle a which extends between the pivot axis 4 of the twin-roller support 3″ and the horizontal line 5 is opposite to the angle α which extends between the pivot axis 4 of the rear twin-roller support 3″ and the horizontal line 5.

7. A rolling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective two rollers of the two steering groups have traces which are disposed in a laterally offset manner relative to one another by different distances 9 and/or where the angles α, α′ of the pivot axes 4 of the roller supports 3″ which extend relative to the horizontal line 5 are not equal.

8. A rolling device as claimed by claim 1, wherein the roller supports 3, 3′, 3″ return to their straight steering neutral position by means of elastic elements 14.