ROLLER SKATE

A roller skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) comprising a flexible insole (11) and a plurality of rollers (16, 216) associated with said insole (11), means (18) being provided for the wearability of said insole (11).

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Description
FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention refers, in its most general aspect, to a roller skate.

In the present invention by the term rollers we mean any type of rolling members, in particular of substantially cylindrical shape (cylindrical rollers), which can rotate about a single rotation axis, or of spherical shape (spherical rollers), which can rotate about a single rotation axis or about infinite rotation axes, i.e. about any diameter of the spherical roller itself (multidirectional spherical rollers).

As an example, and not for limiting purposes, we refer to the case of a roller skate with multidirectional spherical rollers.

PRIOR ART

There are three categories of skates that are well-known and used: the conventional roller skates, where a footwear is associated with a support for a couple of front cylindrical rollers and for a couple of rear cylindrical rollers, the in-line roller skates, where a footwear is associated with a support for a plurality of substantially cylindrical rollers arranged along a longitudinal symmetry axis of the support itself, and the ice skates, where a footwear is associated with a support for a suitable blade for sliding on the ice.

Ice skates are extremely versatile: indeed the skater can both skate at high speed and perform “dance” maneuvers, like for example pirouettes and jumps with spin about himself/herself.

With the conventional roller skates, on the other hand, it is not possible to perform the aforementioned maneuvers, whereas with the in-line roller skates some types of maneuvers can be performed, although they are not comparable to those that can be obtained with the ice skates.

Nevertheless, for all of the aforementioned categories of skates it is not permitted to move sideways, i.e. it is not permitted a move which is perpendicular or oblique to the longitudinal symmetry axis of the respective supports.

In order to try to satisfy the aforementioned requirement, it has been thought to equip skates with multidirectional spherical rollers. Such an attempt is described in patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,074 that shows a roller skate in which a footwear is connected to a support of a plurality of multidirectional spherical rollers, arranged along two side-by-side alignments, parallel to the longitudinal symmetry axis of the support.

Such a skate, although it satisfies the aforementioned requirement, has a recognized drawback that indeed has prevented it from being used, i.e. the fact that it is not possible to satisfactorily and above all safely control the movements thereof. In practice, the skater that wears skates of the aforementioned type has great difficulty in keeping balanced even simply when standing still, since it only takes the slightest movement with respect to the balanced position to cause him to fall (i.e. the balanced position that can be obtained is of unstable type).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of devising and providing a roller skate that is able to provide the skater with a great flexibility of use, a good wearing comfort and a easy and safe maneuverability, so as to overcome the quoted limitations and drawbacks with reference to the prior art in a simple and effective manner.

This problem is solved, according to the present invention, by a roller skate characterized in that it comprises a flexible insole and a plurality of rollers associated with said insole, means being provided for the wearability of said insole.

Further characteristics and the advantages of the roller skate according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description of a preferred example embodiment thereof, given for indicating and not limiting purposes with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically represents a plan view from below of a first embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 schematically represents a front, side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 schematically represents a rear, side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 schematically represents an enlarged plan view of a detail of the roller skate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 schematically represents a section view of the detail of FIG. 5, taken according to the plane traced with the line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 schematically represents an enlarged plan view of a front portion of the roller skate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 schematically represents a section view of the portion of FIG. 7, taken according to the plane traced with the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 schematically represents a plan view from below of a second embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 schematically represents a plan view from below of a third embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 schematically represents a front, side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 schematically represents a rear, side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 schematically represents a plan view from below of a fourth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 schematically represents a plan view from below of a fifth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 schematically represents a plan view from below of a sixth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 21 and 22 schematically represent side elevation views, taken from opposite sides, of the roller skate of FIG. 1, in a moment of use of the skate itself by a skater.

FIG. 23 schematically represents a plan view from above of the roller skate of FIGS. 21 and 22.

FIG. 24 schematically represents a rear, side elevation view of the roller skate of FIGS. 21 and 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With initial reference to FIGS. 1-8, a first embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 10.

In particular, FIGS. 1-4 show a right roller skate, i.e. the one destined to be worn by a right foot. The left roller skate is specularly symmetrical.

In accordance with the present invention, the roller skate 10 comprises a flexible insole 11.

Preferably, the insole 11 is also elastically deformable.

The insole 11 is advantageously made from plastic material or rubber.

Preferably, the insole 11 is anatomical, by this meaning an insole that is shaped so as to substantially reflect the morphology of the sole of the foot.

In particular, in the anatomical insole 11 a toe portion 11a, a substantially plantar vault-shaped intermediate portion 11b and a heel portion 11c are defined.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of rollers 16 is associated with said insole 10.

Preferably, the rollers 16 are associated with the toe portion 11a and with the heel portion 11c. The intermediate portion 11b, which is the area of the insole 11 subject to the greatest torsion during the use of the roller skate 10 by a skater, is advantageously without rollers 16.

In the example of FIGS. 1-4, four rollers 16 are associated with the insole 10: three of them are associated with the toe portion 11a and one is associated with the heel portion 11c.

The roller skate 10 also comprises means 18 for the wearability of said insole 11, i.e. means that make it possible for a skater to wear said insole 11.

In the example of FIGS. 1-4, the means 18 comprise an upper 12 that is perimetrically connected to said insole 11, so that a footwear 13 is constituted. Preferably, the upper 12 is flexible.

Each roller 16 is carried by a support 14, a portion of the roller 16 itself projecting from one part of said support 14. In general, each support 14 can carry more than one roller 16, as shown in the example of FIGS. 1-4, where a support 14 associated with the toe portion 11a of the insole 11, carries three rollers 16. In general, the aforementioned plurality of rollers 16 is carried by at least two distinct supports 14.

Preferably, said supports 14 are flexible and elastically deformable. The supports 14 are advantageously made from plastic material or rubber.

The association of the rollers 16 with the insole 11 takes place by connecting an end of the support 14, opposite the part where the roller 16 projects or where the rollers 16 project, below the insole 11, with per se conventional means like glues.

In the example of FIGS. 1-4 two supports 14 are provided, to be precise a front-of-foot support 14 is associated with the toe portion 11a of the insole 11, and a back-of-foot support 14 is associated with the heel portion 11c of the insole 11.

The back-of-foot support 14 carries a roller 16, advantageously arranged substantially at a lower end of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.

The front-of-foot support 14 carries three rollers 16. Alternatively, just two rollers 16 can be provided, which are advantageously arranged substantially at a front end of the first metatarsus and substantially at a front end of the fifth metatarsus of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.

In general, the roller 16 of the back-of-foot support 14 and the two aforementioned rollers 16 of the front-of-foot support 14 are arranged at the vertices of a triangle, with one side extending transversally to the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11 substantially at the toe portion 11a thereof and vertex opposite said side substantially at the heel portion 11c thereof.

It should be specified that the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11 substantially coincides with the functional longitudinal axis of the foot destined to wear said insole 11, an axis that substantially passes from a lower end of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone and between the second and third toe of the foot, the physiological supination and pronation movements of the foot being performed about said axis, said flexible insole 11 following the aforementioned movements of the foot in torsion.

In the example of FIGS. 1-4, the third roller 16 of the front-of-foot support 14 is advantageously arranged substantially at a central area of the aforementioned triangle to constitute a further point of support on the ground for the roller skate 10.

In particular, the aforementioned third roller 16 of the front-of-foot support 14 is positioned substantially on the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11, which is also the bisector of the angle of the aforementioned triangle arranged at the heel portion 11c.

More specifically, the aforementioned third roller 16 is positioned in such a way that the incenter of the triangle having the three rollers 16 of the front-of-foot support 14 for vertices, is substantially on the aforementioned bisector.

In the example of FIGS. 1-4 the rollers 16 are per se conventional multidirectional spherical rollers. In FIGS. 5 and 6 one of these rollers is shown, comprising a bearing sphere 17 (for example made from plastic material such as polyamide-imide, from ceramic or from steel) and a housing case 19 (for example made from steel) for said bearing sphere 17, said bearing sphere 17 partially emerging from said housing case 19 and being supported by a plurality of support spheres 21 (for example made from plastic material such as polyamide-imide, from ceramic or from steel, and with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the bearing sphere), substantially placed side by side one another and arranged at a substantially hemispherical seat 23 provided in said housing case 19, in such a way that the bearing sphere 17 is allowed to rotate in every direction with minimum friction.

The bearing sphere 17 and the support spheres 21 are kept in the seat 23 in their correct mutual position by a collar 19a for closing the housing case 19, which is in the shape of a spherical annulus and from which emerges the aforementioned portion of bearing sphere 17. In the housing case 19, in a totally conventional way, an annular recess is also provided that supports a felt, destined to prevent the entry of impurities between the bearing sphere 17 and the support spheres 21. The housing case 19 is fixed to the support 14 through per se conventional fastening means such as glues and/or screws.

Advantageously, the rollers 16 can be replaced by quick coupling means to the roller skate 10, which are per se conventional and for this reason not illustrated (like for example a threaded coupling or a bayonet coupling). In this way, the rollers 16 are easily replaced when they are worn out.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, said supports 14 are equipped with one or more braking and/or thrusting portions, which project laterally with respect to the profile, in plan view, of the insole 11. Preferably, the braking and/or thrusting portions are preferably made from plastic material or rubber.

Moreover, the aforementioned braking and/or thrusting portions also project below the profile, in side elevation view, of the supports 14. More specifically, they project below the part of the supports 14 where the portion of the roller 16 projects. In order to ensure the possibility of inclining the insole 11 with respect to the ground, the projection of the braking and/or thrusting portions is smaller than the projection of the portion of roller 16.

In the example of FIGS. 1-4, a first braking and/or thrusting portion 22 is arranged in front of the front-of-foot support 14 and a second braking and/or thrusting portion 24 is arranged behind the back-of-foot support 14.

In FIG. 8 a cross section of the first braking and/or thrusting portion 22 is shown, in which it can be seen that the lower surface 22a of the first braking and/or thrusting portion 22 has concave shape. More specifically, the lower surface 22a is substantially a portion of cylindrical surface, having generatrices substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11.

This conformation of the portion 22 is particularly advantageous because, on the one hand, the portion 22 has a lower surface 22a with a minimum possibility of obstacle during the rolling step of the skate, and on the other hand, it ensures a sufficient “active” surface of thrusting when the skater thrusts himself using such a portion 22, since, thanks to the flexibility of the material from which it is made, the concave surface 22a tends to flatten out, with the consequent increase in contact surface with the ground.

It has surprisingly been found that excellent thrusting results are obtained when the aforementioned cylindrical surface of the first braking and/or thrusting portion 22 has generatrices having a predetermined inclination, for example up to about 10°, with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11, towards the outer side of the insole 11 (by outer side meaning the side that is located by the part of the fifth toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11).

Moreover, again in the example of FIGS. 1-4, a third braking and/or thrusting portion 26 is arranged on the inner side of the front-of-foot support 14, by inner side of the front-of-foot support 14 meaning the side located by the part of the big toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.

More specifically, the third braking and/or thrusting portion 26 is situated in an area near both the aforementioned third roller 16, and the roller 16 arranged near the big toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.

Furthermore, a fourth braking and/or thrusting portion 28 is arranged on the outer side of the front-of-foot support 14, by outer side of the front-of-foot support 14 meaning the side that is located by the part of the fifth toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.

More specifically, the fourth braking and/or thrusting portion 28 arranged on the outer side of the footwear, is located near the roller 16 arranged near to the fifth toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.

Advantageously, the aforementioned braking and/or thrusting portions 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be replaced by quick coupling means to the respective supports 14 with which they are associated, which are per se conventional and for this reason not illustrated (like for example a coupling through screws or a coupling through a suitable insertion/release groove, provided on the supports 14 themselves). In this way, the portions 22, 24, 26 and 28 are easily replaced when they are worn out.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 a second embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 110. In FIGS. 9 and 10, structural elements that are identical or equivalent from the functional point of view to those of the roller skate 10 of FIGS. 1-4 described above, shall be attributed the same reference numerals and they shall not be described any further.

The roller skate 110 differs from the roller skate 10 in that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of-foot support 14 a connection portion 130 is provided, which is associated with the intermediate portion 11b of the insole 11.

The connection portion 130 has a concave lower surface 130a that is substantially shaped like a portion of cylindrical surface, having generatrices substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11.

The material of such a connection portion 130 is sufficiently soft to allow the insole 11 to be flexible and elastically deformable. It should be noted that a wide radius of curvature of the lower surface 130a facilitates the flexibility and the elastic flow of the connection portion 130, so that said connection portion 130 can follow the movement of the insole 11 during the use of the skate 110.

Advantageously, said lower surface 130a is coated with material suitable for sliding for example on a handrail of a banister, i.e. for the so-called “grinding”.

In FIGS. 11-14 a third embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 210. In FIGS. 11-14, structural elements that are identical or equivalent from the functional point of view to those of the roller skate 10 of FIGS. 1-4 described above, shall be attributed the same reference numerals and they shall not be described any further.

The roller skate 210 differs from the roller skate 10 substantially in that the rollers 216, associated with the insole 11, are of substantially cylindrical shape and can rotate about a single rotation axis. The rollers 216 are arranged along a alignment substantially parallel or coinciding with the longitudinal symmetry axis A-A of the insole 11.

In particular, in the non-limiting example of FIGS. 11-14, the rollers 216 are four.

A roller 216 is carried by a back-of-foot support 14, associated with the heel portion 11c of the insole 11. Preferably, the roller 216 of the back-of-foot support 14 is arranged substantially at a lower end of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.

Three rollers 216 are carried by a front-of-foot support 14, associated with the toe portion 11a of the insole 11. Alternatively, the three aforementioned rollers 216 associated with the toe portion 11c of the insole, can be carried by three independent supports 14.

Advantageously, the rollers 216 can be replaced by quick coupling means to the roller skate 210 that are per se conventional and for this reason not illustrated. In this way, the rollers 216 are easily replaced when they are worn out.

In FIGS. 15 and 16 a fourth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 310. In FIGS. 15 and 16, structural elements that are identical or equivalent from the functional point of view to those of the roller skate 210 of FIGS. 11-14 described above, shall be attributed the same reference numerals and they shall not be described any further.

The roller skate 310 differs from the roller skate 210 in that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of-foot support 14 a connection portion 330 is provided, which is associated with the intermediate portion 11b of the insole 11.

The connection portion 330 has a concave lower surface 330a, and has similar characteristics to those of the connection portion 130 of the roller skate 110 described above.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 a fifth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 410. In FIGS. 17 and 18, structural elements that are identical or equivalent from the functional point of view to those of the roller skate 210 of FIGS. 11-14 described above, shall be attributed the same reference numerals and they shall not be described any further.

The roller skate 410 differs from the roller skate 210 in that there are three rollers 216 in total. The front-of-foot support 14, associated with the toe portion 11a of the insole 11, carries two rollers 216. Alternatively, the two aforementioned rollers 216 associated with the toe portion 11c of the insole, can be carried by two independent supports 14.

In FIGS. 19 and 20 a sixth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 510. In FIGS. 19 and 20, structural elements that are identical or equivalent from the functional point of view to those of the roller skate 410 of FIGS. 17 and 18 described above, shall be attributed the same reference numerals and they shall not be described any further.

The roller skate 510 differs from the roller skate 410 in that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of-foot support 14 a connection portion 530 is provided, which is associated with the intermediate portion 11b of the insole 11.

The connection portion 530 has a concave lower surface 530a, and has similar characteristics to those of the connection portion 330 of the roller skate 310 described above.

From the above description it can clearly be seen that the roller skate according to the invention solves the technical problem and achieves numerous advantages, the first of which concerns the fact that it is unusually balanced and easy to maneuver.

Moreover, with the roller skates according to the first and second embodiment of the invention, i.e. those that use multidirectional spherical rollers, the skater can perform a large number of different maneuvers, even more than those that can be obtained with the ice skates.

Moreover, the skates according to the invention are unusually light, in particular if compared with the in-line roller skates of the prior art, and thus allow less effort and better performance by the skater.

Furthermore, it has been noted that the foot of the skater who uses the roller skates according to the first and second embodiment of the invention, is advantageously lifted from the ground by a lower height than the height which the foot of the same skater has, when he/she uses the in-line roller skates of the prior art.

Furthermore again, the roller skates according to the invention allow the foot and the ankle of the skater to have a great freedom in the compound physiological movements known as “eversion” (comprising the physiological movements of pronation, abduction and dorsiflexion) and “inversion” (comprising the physiological movements of supination, adduction and plantar flexion). In particular, the insole of the skate according to the invention, elastically deformable in flexion and torsion, allows a substantial adaptability to the flexional and torsional movements of the foot that is destined to wear it. This means that the roller skates according to the invention have a excellent versatility of use, i.e. the skater easily can also “walk” on the skates (without any risk of losing his/her balance), as well as thrust himself/herself and brake in an unusually balanced manner.

In FIGS. 21-24 it is shown how the insole of the skate according to the invention, during the use of the skate itself by a skater, can wring itself, substantially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the foot of the skater. In particular, in FIG. 24 it can be seen how a middle plane X-X of the front-of-foot support is rotated with respect to a middle plane Y-Y of the back-of-foot support.

It has also been noted that the arrangement of the four rollers described above in reference to the first and second embodiment of the invention, is surprisingly balanced with respect to the longitudinal axis of the skater's foot (which substantially passes from the lower supporting point of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone and between the second and third metatarsus), the axis about which the aforementioned eversion and inversion movements substantially take place.

Furthermore, the roller skates according to the invention are extremely soft and comfortable to wear. Indeed, the conformation of the flexible and elastically deformable insole adapts perfectly to the changes in curvature of the plantar vault of the skater's foot, which varies according to the conformation of the ground and the position at that time of the skater's body. In particular, when the skater picks up speed and bends himself/herself forwards, there is a “flattening” of the plantar vault of the foot, which is indeed helped by the flexibility of the insole.

Of course, a man skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations to the roller skate described above, in order to satisfy specific and contingent requirements, all of which are nevertheless covered by the scope of protection of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Roller skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) characterized in that it comprises a flexible insole (11) and a plurality of rollers (16, 216) associated with said insole (11), means (18) being provided for the wearability of said insole (11).

2. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 1, characterized in that said insole (11) is elastically deformable.

3. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said insole (11) is made from plastic material or rubber.

4. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said means (18) comprise an upper (12) that is perimetrically connected to said insole (11).

5. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 4, characterized in that said upper (12) is flexible.

6. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said insole (11) is anatomical and in it a toe portion (11a), a substantially plantar vault-shaped intermediate portion (11b) and a heel portion (11c) are defined.

7. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 6, characterized in that the rollers (16, 216) are associated with the toe portion (11a) and with the heel portion (11c) of the insole (11).

8. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said plurality of rollers (16, 216) is carried by at least two distinct supports (14), a portion of one or more rollers (16, 216) projecting from one part of each support (14), said supports (14) being connected below the insole (11).

9. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 8, characterized in that said supports (14) are flexible and elastically deformable.

10. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 8, characterized in that two supports (14) are provided, a front-of-foot support (14) being associated with a toe portion (11a) of the insole (11), a back-of-foot support (14) being associated with a heel portion (11c) of the insole (11).

11. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 10, characterized in that said back-of-foot support (14) carries a roller (16), arranged substantially at a lower end of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone of the foot destined to wear said insole (11).

12. Skate (10, 110) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said front-of-foot support (14) carries two rollers (16), which are advantageously arranged substantially at a front end of the first metatarsus and substantially at a front end of the fifth metatarsus of the foot destined to wear said insole (11).

13. Skate (10, 110) according to claim 10, characterized in that a roller (16) of the back-of-foot support (14) and two rollers (16) of the front-of-foot support (14) are arranged at the vertices of a triangle, with a side extending transversally to the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the insole (11) substantially at the toe portion (11a) thereof and vertex opposite said side substantially at the heel portion (11c) thereof.

14. Skate (10, 110) according to claim 13, characterized in that said front-of-foot support (14) carries a third roller (16), arranged substantially at a central area of said triangle to constitute a further point of support on the ground for the roller skate (10, 110).

15. Skate (10, 110) according to claim 14, characterized in that said third roller (16) of the front-of-foot support (14) is positioned substantially on the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the insole (11).

16. Skate (10, 110) according to claim 12, characterized in that said front-of-foot support (14) carries a third roller (16), positioned in such a way that the incenter of the triangle having the three rollers (16) of the front-of-foot support (14) for vertices, is substantially on the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the insole (11).

17. Skate (10, 110) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said rollers (16) are multidirectional spherical rollers.

18. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said rollers (16, 216) can be replaced by quick coupling means to the roller skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510).

19. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 8 or 9 or 10, characterized in that said supports (14) are equipped with one or more braking and/or thrusting portions (22, 24, 26, 28), which project laterally with respect to the profile, in plan view, of the insole (11).

20. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 19, characterized in that said braking and/or thrusting portions (22, 24, 26, 28) are made from plastic material or rubber.

21. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that said aforementioned braking and/or thrusting portions (22, 24, 26, 28) also project below the profile, in side elevation view, of the supports (14).

22. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claims 10 and 19, characterized in that a first braking and/or thrusting portion (22) is arranged in front of the front-of-foot support (14) and a second braking and/or thrusting portion (24) is arranged behind the back-of-foot support (14).

23. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 22, characterized in that the lower surface (22a) of the first braking and/or thrusting portion (22) has concave shape.

24. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 23, characterized in that said lower surface (22a) is substantially a portion of cylindrical surface, having generatrices substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the insole (11).

25. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 23, characterized in that said lower surface (22a) is substantially a portion of cylindrical surface with generatrices having an inclination up to about 10°, with respect to the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the insole (11), towards the outer side of the insole (11).

26. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 22, characterized in that a third braking and/or thrusting portion (26) is arranged on the inner side of the front-of-foot support (14).

27. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 26, characterized in that a fourth braking and/or thrusting portion (28) is arranged on the outer side of the front-of-foot support (14).

28. Skate (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 19, characterized in that said braking and/or thrusting portions (22, 24, 26, 28) can be replaced by quick coupling means to the respective supports (14).

29. Skate (110, 310, 510) according to claim 10, characterized in that between the front-of-foot support (14) and the back-of-foot support (14) a connection portion (130, 330, 530) is provided, which is associated with an intermediate portion (11b) of the insole (11).

30. Skate (110, 310, 510) according to claim 29, characterized in that said connection portion (130, 330, 530) has a concave lower surface (130a, 330a, 530a) that is substantially shaped like a portion of cylindrical surface, having generatrices substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the insole (11).

31. Skate (210, 310, 410, 510) according to claim 1, characterized in that said rollers (216) are of substantially cylindrical shape and can rotate about a single rotation axis, said rollers (216) being arranged along a alignment substantially parallel or coinciding with the longitudinal symmetry axis (A-A) of the insole (11).

32. Skate (210, 310) according to claims 8 and 31, characterized in that said rollers (216) are four, one roller (216) being carried by a back-of-foot support (14), associated with a heel portion (11c) of the insole (11), three rollers (216) being carried by a front-of-foot support (14), associated with a toe portion (11a) of the insole (11).

33. Skate (210, 310) according to claims 8 and 31, characterized in that said rollers (216) are four, one roller (216) being carried by a back-of-foot support (14), associated with a heel portion (11c) of the insole (11), three rollers (216) being carried by three independent front-of-foot supports (14), associated with a toe portion (11a) of the insole (11).

34. Skate (410, 510) according to claims 8 and 31, characterized in that said rollers (216) are three, one roller (216) being carried by a back-of-foot support (14), associated with a heel portion (11c) of the insole (11), two rollers (216) being carried by a front-of-foot support (14), associated with a toe portion (11a) of the insole (11).

35. Skate (410, 510) according to claims 8 and 31, characterized in that said rollers (216) are three, one roller (216) being carried by a back-of-foot support (14), associated with a heel portion (11c) of the insole (11), two rollers (216) being carried by two independent front-of-foot supports (14), associated with a toe portion (11a) of the insole (11).

Patent History
Publication number: 20090200788
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 13, 2009
Inventor: Filip Dudal (Varese)
Application Number: 12/299,401
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Ball Type Roller Skates (280/843); Wheeled Skate (280/11.19)
International Classification: A63C 17/24 (20060101); A63C 17/00 (20060101);