Inline skate with side wheel assemblies

Abstract

An inline skate is provided with a boot including a sole; a frame; a closure member; wheels arranged in a straight line on a bottom of the frame; two opposite male sockets disposed on both sides of a rear portion of the frame respectively, each male socket including a rear aperture; two side wheel assemblies each including a wheel mount, a wheel member in the wheel mount, and a female socket extending out of the wheel mount to complimentarily dispose in the male socket and having a rear aperture member; and two spring depressible detents mounted in the female sockets respectively and each including a ball at an end. In a locked position, the ball protrudes out of the aperture member to partially pass through the aperture.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to inline skates and more particularly to an inline skate having two side wheel assemblies releasably mounted to frame for keeping a skater's balance and maintaining stability when skating.

2. Description of Related Art

Skating has been a popular exercise and sporting for a long period of time. In these few decades, inline skates become more and more popular that contains four or five wheels arranged in a straight line manner. The inline skate enables a skater to travel at high speed.

However, a skater, especially a child beginning to learn how to skate, tends to tip or even hurt in practice. In often times, this can frustrate the skater. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an inline skate comprising a boot including a sole; a frame mounted on an underside of the sole; a closure member releasably secured to a top of a rear end of the boot; a plurality of wheels arranged in a straight line on a bottom of the frame; two opposite male sockets disposed on both sides of a rear portion of the frame respectively, each of the male sockets including a rear aperture; two side wheel assemblies each including a wheel mount, a wheel member mounted in the wheel mount, and a female socket extending out of the wheel mount to complimentarily dispose in one of the male sockets and having a rear aperture member; and two spring depressible detents mounted in the female sockets respectively and each including a ball mounted at an end; wherein in a locked position, the ball protrudes out of the aperture member to partially pass through the aperture.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inline skate according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the inline skate;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the inline skate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an inline skate according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, an inline skate in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises following components as discussed in detail below.

A boot 1 includes a sole 11. A frame 2 is mounted on an underside of the sole 11. Two opposite male sockets 5 are provided on both sides of a rear portion of the frame 2 respectively. The male socket 5 has a hollow 10 and an aperture 50 on a rear surface. The hollow 10 of one male socket 5 is aligned with and communicates with the hollow 10 of the other male socket 5. A closure member 3 is releasably secured to a top of a heel portion of the boot 1. Four wheels 12 are arranged in a straight line on a bottom of the frame 2.

Two side wheel assemblies 4 are subject of the invention. The side wheel assembly 4 comprises a wheel mount 40, a female socket 400 extending out of one side of the wheel mount 40, and a wheel 43 rotatably mounted in the wheel mount 40. The female socket 400 has an aperture member 410 on a rear surface. The female socket 400 is complimentarily received in the male socket 5. An elastic member 41 and a steel ball 42 mounted on one end of the elastic member 41 are disposed in the female socket 400. In a locked position (i.e., a ready to skate state), the steel ball 42 protrudes out of the aperture member 410 of the female socket 400 to partially pass through the aperture 50 of the male socket 5 to be exposed.

It is envisaged by the invention that the side wheel assemblies 4 are releasably mounted to frame 2. Thus the side wheel assemblies 4 have the following advantages and characteristics. It can keep a skater's balance and maintain stability when skating, thereby reducing possibility of tipping or falling to a minimum. For detaching the side wheel assembly 4, an individual may press the steel ball 42 until the steel ball 42 clears out of the aperture 50 of the male socket 5. Next, the individual may remove the side wheel assembly 4 from the male socket 5 by pulling the wheel mount 40.

Referring to FIG. 6, an inline skate with side wheel assemblies in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except the following:

The male sockets 50 are eliminated with the hollows 10 formed in the frame 2. The aperture member 410 of the female socket 400 is eliminated. The female socket 400 is received in the hollow 10. A quick release skewer 6 comprises a lever and cam mechanism 61 at one end and internal threads 64 at the other end; and a separate shaft 60 including an enlargement 62 at an end and a threaded second end 63. The quick release skewer 6 is inserted through the wheel mount 40 and the female socket 400 of one side wheel assembly 4. The shaft 60 has its threaded second end 63 inserted through the wheel mount 40 and the female socket 400 of the other side wheel assembly 4. Further, the internal threads 64 are threadedly secured to the threaded second end 63. And in turn, a skater may actuate the level and cam mechanism 61 to cause the female sockets 400 to be clamped against the corresponding hollows 10. As a result, the side wheel assemblies 4 are mounted to the frame 2.

To the contrary, the skater may deactuate the level and cam mechanism 61 to remove the side wheel assemblies 4 from the frame 2.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An inline skate comprising:

a boot including a sole;

a frame mounted on an underside of the sole;

a closure member releasably secured to a top of a rear end of the boot;

a plurality of wheels arranged in a straight line on a bottom of the frame;

two opposite male sockets disposed on both sides of a rear portion of the frame respectively, each of the male sockets including a rear aperture;

two side wheel assemblies each including a wheel mount, a wheel member mounted in the wheel mount, and a female socket extending out of the wheel mount to complimentarily dispose in one of the male sockets and having a rear aperture member; and

two spring depressible detents mounted in the female sockets respectively and each including a ball mounted at an end;

wherein in a locked position, the ball protrudes out of the aperture member to partially pass through the aperture.

2. An inline skate comprising:

a boot including a sole;

a frame mounted on an underside of the sole;

a closure member releasably secured to a top of a rear end of the boot;

a plurality of wheels arranged in a straight line on a bottom of the frame;

two hollows disposed on both sides of a rear portion of the frame respectively;

two side wheel assemblies each including a wheel mount, a wheel member mounted in the wheel mount, and a female socket extending out of the wheel mount to complimentarily dispose in one of the hollows; and

a quick release skewer including a lever and cam mechanism disposed through both the wheel mount and the female socket of one side wheel assembly, and a shaft disposed through both the wheel mount and the female socket of the other side wheel assembly, the shaft being releasably secured to the lever and cam mechanism.