Wheeled Skate Patents (Class 280/11.19)
  • Publication number: 20030127811
    Abstract: An external wheeled heeling apparatus for walking and running and transitioning to rolling on a surface is provided. The apparatus includes a sole having a forefoot, an arch and a heel portion provided with a first side of the heel portion and a second side of the heel portion. The forefoot operable to engage the surface for walking and running. The apparatus further includes a first wheel operably coupled to rotate adjacent the first side of the heel portion and a second wheel operably coupled to rotate adjacent the second side of the heel portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Roger R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20030127830
    Abstract: The sports shoe in accordance with the present invention mainly comprises a pivotal means, a blocking plate and a latch means. The pivotal means is adapted to pivotally connect the sports shoes to a detachable ice/roller skate and the latch means is adapted to securely lock therebetween. The blocking plate is arranged in spaced relationship with the pivotal means and a space provided therebetween is adapted to receive a pivotal hook seat of the pivotal means. The latch means includes an elastic member and a plurality of guiding studs which are used to increase the sports shoe in assembled reliability for operating the detachable ice/roller skate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: Chun-Cheng Chang
    Inventors: Chun-Cheng Chang, Hong-Young Chiu
  • Publication number: 20030102650
    Abstract: A composite material for use as a skateboard deck or other sports board is disclosed. The composite skateboard deck of the preferred embodiment is comprised of two structural layers bonded to and on either side of a light, flexible core. The structural layers made of a strong, resilient material comprised of a natural fiber-embedded-matrix, this class of materials including grasses such as bamboo, hemp and kanaf. The composite skateboard deck of the present invention is strong, light, durable, resilient, environmentally friendly, and derived from a more renewable resource with no loss of pop or memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Shale Gordon
  • Patent number: 6557861
    Abstract: A three-wheeled roller skate and method therefore, comprising a substantially shoe-shaped foot receptacle, two heel end wheels rotatably coupled to an axis, and a toe end wheel smaller in diameter than the two heel end wheels and positioned in front of and spaced apart from the toe end of the skater's foot, allowing a user to maximize both stability as well as speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Dean P. Saylor
  • Publication number: 20030062697
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifunctional shoe which includes a shoe, a locating part, a sliding device and a locking device. The shoe has a sole provided with at least an accommodation. The locating part is fixed by a fixing member inside the accommodation and is a hollow body with the opening thereof is directed downward, thereby forming a mounting opening at the bottom of the sole. The sliding device contains a wheel and a wheel base. The wheel base corresponds to the locating part in form so that it can be received in the locating part. The locking device is located at the side of the locating part. A lock pin is disposed inside the locking device and is controllable from the outside of the sole to be axially moved. The sliding device is fixed inside the locking device while the small part of the wheel projects from the sole for sliding purpose; moreover, the sliding device can be stored or disassembled without projection on the sole for walking purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Wei-Yen Chu
  • Patent number: 6536785
    Abstract: A roller skate shoe includes a shoe base having two receiving cavities provided thereunder at a front portion and a rear portion of the shoe base respectively, a roller arrangement fittedly received in each receiving cavity including a supporting frame securely mounted on a ceiling of the receiving cavity having a supporting member extended downwardly, a T-shaped wheel frame including a vertical wheel arm rotatably mounted on the supporting member and a horizontal wheel axle for rotatably supporting two wheels at two ends thereof, and a resilient element for applying an urging pressure against the wheel frame so as to normally retain the wheel frame slid out of the receiving cavity, and a locker means for securely locking the wheel frame in a rotatably movable manner selectively between a folded position and an unfolded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Billy Lee
  • Publication number: 20030025286
    Abstract: In-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel, and ankle. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic that may be heat moldable to conform to the user's foot. The shoe sole may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: K-2 Corporation
    Inventors: Antonin A. Meibock, John E. Svensson
  • Publication number: 20030020244
    Abstract: A wheeled skate device has a pair of large primary wheels coupled to a platform. The primary wheels rotate about primary axes of rotation in both forward and rearward directions. A binding can be disposed on the platform to secure the user's feet. The primary axes are located at a height above the platform or binding. The skate device can have a universal wheel coupled to the platform which rotates about a secondary axis of rotation. The universal wheel also pivots about a vertical pivot axis such that the universal wheel turns with the platform without sliding on the support surface. The wheels cooperatively operate in a travel mode and spinning mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Chien-Min Sung
  • Patent number: 6497421
    Abstract: A training roller skate has rollers or wheels and wheel mounts, at least one wheel mount being movable, preferably in a direction transverse to the wheel axis, to permit contact between a wheel associated surface and a motion inhibitor that inhibits rotary motion of the wheel. The skate has a front shoe part defining a forward platform portion to support a skater's foot and further defining a toe cap support with which a separately formed toe cap is snap-fittedly attached to permit toe caps of alternative shapes and forms to be selectively attached to the toe cap support. The forward platform portion may have an attached brake pad of frictional material that is engageable by a roller, the brake pad being provided integrally with a projection frictionally to engage the ground when the platform is tilted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Innovo International Limited
    Inventors: David Edgerley, Etienne Iliffe-Moon
  • Patent number: 6474661
    Abstract: A base structure for a roller skate includes a base having at least two compartments, a bottom plate secured to the base, and a number of wheel assemblies each of which is mounted in an associated compartment. The bottom plate includes a number of blocks formed on the underside thereof, each block being received in an associated compartment. Each wheel assembly includes a pivotal seat having a first end secured to the underside of the bottom plate, a wheel seat having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the pivotal seat, and a wheel rotatably mounted to a second end of the wheel seat. Each wheel seat may be pivoted to a storage position in the associated compartment when not in use. When skating is required, each wheel seat is pivoted to an operative position, in which each wheel seat bears against an underside of an associated block while the wheel rotatably attached to each wheel seat extends beyond the base for skating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Chun-Cheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20020145263
    Abstract: A skate with foldable wheels, comprising a shoe body, a sole, a folding device and a plurality of wheels, the shoe body is for insertion therein a foot of a user, the sole is provided on the bottom of the shoe body, and is combined with the folding device, the wheels are provided beneath the sole; a pressing mechanism which can be pressed for operation at both lateral sides of the skate is provided to allow the folding device to be collapsed/stretched quickly and o allow the wheels to be stored in a plurality of recesses provided in the sole. The skate is structurally firm, and is convenient for operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Lien-Chuan Yang
  • Patent number: 6460864
    Abstract: A shoe device. The device includes a shoe body such as a sports shoe and a coupling plate removably mounted on the shoe body. The coupling plate has a lower side mounted with a sporting device suitably used for various sports, such as a skate, an in-line skate, a roller skate or the like. The shoe body has a coupling hole and an engaging groove formed on a base portion of the shoe body, whereas the coupling plate has an upper side formed with a coupling protrusion and an engaging groove. The shoe body and the coupling plate are strongly coupled by engaging the coupling protrusion of the coupling plate with the coupling hole of the shoe body, and by inserting a fixing member between the engaging groove of the shoe body and the engaging groove of the coupling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Gary Shieh
  • Publication number: 20020135143
    Abstract: An actuating wheel assembly for inline roller skates includes a wheel frame, a plurality of pivot axles in turn mounted on the wheel frame and arranged in a successive manner, and a plurality of rollers each rotatably mounted on a corresponding one of the pivot axles. In practice, at least one roller is adjustably positioned on the respective pivot axle so that the rollers are located on one motional line or located on multiple different motional lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventor: Joshua Andrew Deetz
  • Patent number: 6450659
    Abstract: A roller skate has a light housed in a forward tip recess of a slab of synthetic material interposed between a boot and the roller truck. A lighted toggling push-button switch that espouses the back contour of the heel, can be activated by taping the back of the heel against the floor or any other stationary structure. The light comprises a battery compartment occupying the deepest area of the recess. A lens contoured to blend with the outline of the sole tip can be releasably snapped against the frontal opening of the battery compartment. A bulb-mounting assembly is held sandwiched between the lens and the battery compartment. The lights in the contoured tip lens and heel switch can be seen from either side of the skate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Brian J. Salatino
  • Publication number: 20020125655
    Abstract: A simply structured bi-functional roller skate has a pair of shoe embodiments. Each shoe embodiment is provided with a front securing seat which is a tubular device with a forwardly extended board, a rear securing seat which is a tubular device with a backwardly extended board. Both the front and rear securing seats are embedded at the front end and the rear end of each shoe embodiment respectively. Each tubular device of the front and rear securing seats is in alignment with an engagement hole so as to permit a first and a second wheel axle each having a proper length to be led therethrough at the front and rear end of a shoe embodiment. Each wheel axle has a knob-ended locking screw at one end and an internally threaded section at the other end so as to permit the knob ended locking screw to be secured to the end of each wheel axle after roller wheels are mounted to the wheel axles respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Chun-Chung Hsiao, Hung-Lung Huang, Jong-Ming Lee
  • Publication number: 20020125660
    Abstract: An in-line skate apparatus has a frame for attachment to the sole of a shoe with a pair of outer, substantially flat side faces, a front end, a rear end, and a lower edge. A plurality of wheels are rotatably mounted on the frame in a line from the front end to the rear end of the frame, and a cut out extends upwardly from the lower edge between an adjacent pair of wheels. A separate H-block is releasably mounted in the cut-out so as to substantially fill the cut-out, and has a width at least equal to the width of the frame, so that its outer side faces are substantially flush with the outer side faces of the frame. The H-block has an arcuate, downwardly directed sliding region extending across its width and along at least part of the height of each side face, whereby the sliding region of the H-block comprises the only sliding surface of the apparatus during sliding maneuvers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Andreas C. Wegener
  • Patent number: 6443463
    Abstract: An in-line roller skate assembly having at least three running rollers that are substantially equal in diameter and disposed one behind the other in a running direction of the skate assembly. Each running roller has a convex shaped rolling surface with a pair of laterally spaced curved shoulder portions having a common radius of curvature as defined in a plane intersecting a rotational axis of the respective roller. The radius of curvature of the curved shoulder portions of the front and rear rollers are greater than a radius of curvature of each curved shoulder portion of the intermediate roller or rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Mark Handels, AG
    Inventor: Axel Kubelka
  • Publication number: 20020109312
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a set of wheels for both walking and skating which includes a wheel with ball-bearing; a spindle; a turning bar; a composite turning gear; a base frame; a pinboard; a plug pin; a torsion bar spring; a spring and a button. The wheel of the present invention is located accurately by using a plug pin. As the button is connected with the spindle, the wheel can be turned self-actively to the position for operating by return force of torsion bar spring while pressing the button. Therefore, the operation for placing a set of wheels from walking to skating is simplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Chongyuan Zheng
  • Patent number: 6431559
    Abstract: An in-line skate with a main skate frame, a skate boot, a carriage frame pivotally coupled to the main skate frame, a plurality of wheels forming a pivoting wheel group, and at least one wheel forming a fixed wheel group. A pivot axis of the carriage frame can be horizontally located anterior to a reference point that is three-tenths of the length of the open inner volume of the skate boot from the anterior end of the open inner volume, and the pivot axis could be aligned with or anterior to the anterior end of the skate boot. The pivot axis can be vertically located immediately adjacent to the skate boot sole or coincident with or distal to the sole. A pivoting mechanism can enable the carriage frame to pivot above an effective pivot axis that is physically displaced from the pivoting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Juraj George Tlucko
  • Patent number: 6431558
    Abstract: A hinge system for pivotally coupling a skate lower portion to a skate upper cuff. The multi-hinge design incorporates a four link chain mechanism. The pivot axis defined by the four link chain can be designed to shift through a path of travel that generally coincides with the path of travel of the anatomical pivot axis defined by the user's foot and leg. The upper cuff and boot lower portion account for two of the four links of the four link mechanism. The other two links are either rigid bars with pin connections on both the upper cuff and the lower portion, or roller links with a pin connection to the upper and a slot sliding surface on the lower portion. A slider link can be substituted for the roller and a slide surface can be substituted for the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Arthur G. Erdman
  • Patent number: 6428050
    Abstract: A motorized skate employing an electric motor with rotor being a drive wheel. A boot or clamp for holding the foot of a user is attached to a rail that supports the boot or clamp. The drive wheel has one or more permanent magnets attached to said drive wheel with opposite magnetic poles adjacent to one another. One or more electromagnets are attached to the rail to which the drive wheel is rotatably connected. A sensor determines the location of the permanent magnets. This information is utilized to assure that the electromagnets are energized only when the resultant magnetic fields will interact with the magnetic fields of the permanent magnet to produce a force on the drive wheel that will cause rotation in the desired direction. Three principal embodiments are employed. In a first embodiment, a computer periodically activates a switch to send pulsed voltage to the electromagnets; the percentage of the period of each pulse during which the voltage is non-zero determines the speed of the drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventors: Adam K. Brandley, John R. Irwin
  • Publication number: 20020093165
    Abstract: A human powered skateboard roller coaster used by skateboarders having various degrees of skateboarding skills. The skateboard roller coaster broadly includes a skateboard having wheels attached to a first and second rail of a roller coaster like track. The roller coaster like track can have various curved and up and down track configurations. The skateboard includes a foot platform with a removable upwardly extending adjustable hand grip support with a hand grip attached to the top of the support. The hand grip provides a convenient safety grip for helping balance during practice. The foot platform includes a first end portion with first pivot bolt and a second end portion with second pivot bolt. The first and second pivot bolts are attached to wheel pivot blocks mounted under the end portions of the foot platform. The pivot blocks include wheel bearing supports. A plurality of upper and lower first wheels and upper and lower second wheels are rotatably mounted on the wheel bearing supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Dan Greene
  • Publication number: 20020089131
    Abstract: In-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel, and ankle. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic that may be heat moldable to conform to the user's foot. The shoe sole may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: K-2 Corporation
    Inventors: Antonin A. Meibock, John E. Svensson
  • Publication number: 20020084600
    Abstract: A shoe with ball wheels (10) having a shoe (12) securely attached to a sole (14) with a plurality of wheels (16) rotatably mounted in a bottom of the sole (14) partially extending outwardly therefrom. Each wheel (16) has a wheel ball (16A) rotatably mounted within a round cup-shaped wheel shroud (16B) which is securely mounted within the bottom of the sole (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Filmore Bouldes
  • Patent number: 6412791
    Abstract: A roller skate includes a sole plate holding two wheel holders and a stop holder in front and rear receiving chambers in an outsole, two wheel assemblies respectively pivoted to the wheel holders and turned between an extended position extended out of the outsole for skating and a received position received inside the outsole for enabling the roller skate to function as a normal shoe for walking, lock control means adapted to lock the wheel assemblies between the extended position and the received position, and a stop alternatively set in a stop holder at the back side of one wheel holder between the working position and the non-working position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Wei-Yen Chu
  • Patent number: 6409183
    Abstract: An elongate metal body, for instance an aluminium rod, with a chosen cross-sectional form manufactured by extrusion. It is a first object of the invention to make an elongate metal body stiffer and stronger without this entailing an increase in weight. In respect of this objective the metal body according to the invention has the feature that the body has at least one cavity extending at least to a considerable degree in longitudinal direction, in which cavity is received a pre-manufactured elongate reinforcing rod, of which at least the ends are coupled to the body in force-transmitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Geert Wemmenhove
  • Publication number: 20020074751
    Abstract: A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Roger R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20020074748
    Abstract: A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Roger R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20020074750
    Abstract: A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Roger R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20020074749
    Abstract: A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Roger R. Adams
  • Patent number: 6406037
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a roller skate includes a pivotal seat having a first end secured to a base of the roller skate, a wheel seat having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the pivotal seat by a pin, and a wheel rotatably mounted to a second end of the wheel seat. A first elastic member has a first end attached to the pivotal seat and a second end attached to a mounting member on the wheel seat for biasing the wheel seat to a storage position in the base. A stopping member includes a first end mounted to the pin and a second end through which the mounting member is extended. A second elastic member is mounted around the pin for biasing a stop of the stopping member to a position for releasably engaging with the wheel seat to prevent the wheel seat from moving into the storage position in the base when the wheel seat and the wheel are extended beyond the base for skating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Chun-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 6406039
    Abstract: A three-wheel roller skate comprises a sole plate and a connecting member mounted in the sole plate. An inner rod is extended through the connecting member. A wheel rod is integrally formed with an end of the inner end and provides an axle for mounting a rear wheel. The connecting member comprises a longitudinal through-slot and a groove in an end face thereof. A pin extends through a transverse hole in an end of the inner rod that extends through a longitudinal hole of the connecting member. The pin is turned through an angle so as to place the pin into the groove of the connecting member. A nut engaged on a threaded section of the inner rod is then turned to move the rear wheel away from the sole plate to a locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Jung-Hong Chen
  • Patent number: 6406038
    Abstract: A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Heeling Sports Limited
    Inventor: Roger R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20020070511
    Abstract: A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Roger R. Adams
  • Patent number: 6402162
    Abstract: A dual-purpose roller skate includes a sole provided with front and rear open-bottomed cavities and two wheel units separately fixedly mounted in the two cavities. Each of the wheel units mainly includes a base fixedly mounted to a top of the cavity, a wheel support pivotally connected to the base and being normally pushed downward by a first torsion spring, a wheel rotatably connected to the wheel support, and a stop arm pivotally connected at an end to one side of the base and having a bent free end normally pushed by a second torsion spring into engagement with a slot provided on the base. The bent end of the stop arm projected into the slot is also adapted to detachably engage with either a top or a lateral notch provided on the wheel support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Chun-Pao Chiang
  • Patent number: 6398229
    Abstract: A three-wheeled roller skate and method therefore, including a substantially shoe-shaped foot receptacle, two heel end wheels rotatably coupled to an axis, and a toe end wheel smaller in diameter than the two heel end wheels positioned in front of and spaced apart from the toe end of the skater's foot, allowing a user to maximize both stability as well as speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Dean Saylor
  • Publication number: 20020060433
    Abstract: A convertible wheel apparatus for a skating device including a pair of wheels, a pair of wheel supports, and a connector. Each pair of wheels has an axle and defines a coplanar virtual center and rotational plane, which are perpendicular to the axle. Each wheel support engages a respective wheel and includes a pivotal member defining a pivotal axis with at least one pivotal axis of the pivotal members located at a measurable non-zero distance from a respective virtual axis. The connector is attached to one of the pivotal members of each wheel support and concurrently positions the pivotal members. Control of the orientation of the rotational planes of the wheels is achieved by positioning features attached to a base element or by a biasing mechanism. Various skate configurations can be obtained by a choice selection and combination of connectors and axis constraints that characterize the convertible wheel apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventor: Jimmy Cochimin
  • Patent number: 6386555
    Abstract: Roller skate structure including a locating seat assembly composed of a locating seat, two nuts, a linking plate, a stop body, a compression spring, a torque spring, a pivot shaft and a C-shaped retainer ring. Two pivot plates downward extend from the locating seat. A lateral end of each pivot plate is formed with a stop through hole. A middle portion of each pivot plate is formed with a pivot hole. One side of one pivot plate is provided with a projecting post having a slide through hole. Two ends of the linking plate are respectively formed with a driving hole and a driven hole. The stop body includes a stop head and a small diameter driven post extending from the end face of the stop head. The pivot shaft is a two-step cylindrical member. The circumference of the large diameter section of the pivot shaft is formed with a spring hooking hole. The circumference of the small diameter section thereof is cut with a plane linking face. An inner end of the pivot shaft being formed with an annular retainer groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Phoebe & George Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang-Fu Kao
  • Patent number: 6371494
    Abstract: A sports boot, particularly for gliding sports, of the type including a rigid sole, an external upper, and a removal liner, the external upper including a first portion made of a rigid and substantially non-flexible material including at least one heel stiffener; a second portion, attached to the first portion and/or to the sole, made of a substantially rigid and flexible material; a third portion attached to the second portion and made of a flexible material. The second portion includes a collar adapted to at least partially surround the user's ankle, and a vamp. The third portion includes a saddle attached to the vamp, and on which a device for tightening the forefoot is arranged. The third portion can also include two flaps attached to the collar, and on which a tightening device is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventors: Laurent Bonaventure, Laurent Marechal, Gabriel Portaud
  • Patent number: 6354609
    Abstract: A skate with shoe feature comprises two springs, two pairs of wheels each having a bore, two axles each having a length conformed to the distance between the pair of wheels, an axially groove, and an elongate pivot member hinged to the axially groove at one end, and a shoe body having two transverse tubes in the front and rear of the sole, and at least two curved fastening members on two sides in the axial direction of the pair of wheels. Whereby the compressed spring sleeved on the axle, one wheel sleeved on the axle, the axle through the bore, and the other wheel sleeved on the axle are secured together by pulling pivot member upwardly to make it perpendicular to axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventors: Tzu-Nan Chen, Wen-Suei Chen
  • Publication number: 20010040351
    Abstract: A skate chassis formed from one piece of metal by a stamping process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Cheatham, James F.
    Inventors: JAMES F. CHEATHAM, FRED MILNE, ORVAL L. ENGLEBRECHT
  • Patent number: 6308964
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a roller skate includes a pivotal seat having a first end secured to a base of the roller skate, a wheel seat having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the pivotal seat by a pin, and a wheel rotatably mounted to a second end of the wheel seat. A first elastic member has a first end attached to the pivotal seat and a second end attached to a mounting member on the wheel seat for biasing the wheel seat to a storage position in the base. A stopping member includes a first end mounted to the pin and a second end through which the mounting member is extended. A second elastic member is mounted around the pin for biasing a stop of the stopping member to a position for releasably engaging with the wheel seat to prevent the wheel seat from moving into the storage position in the base when the wheel seat and the wheel are extended beyond the base for skating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Chun-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 6301771
    Abstract: The chassis includes at least one support surface capable of receiving a boot and at least one lateral flange to which the gliding member(s) is (are) attached, as well as at least one stiffening rib obtained on at least one of the flanges by pressing. The manufacturing method includes the steps of cutting in a metallic sheet a form corresponding substantially to the completed form of at least one portion of the chassis, and obtaining at least one stiffening rib by pressing in the portion of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Louis Benoit
  • Publication number: 20010026053
    Abstract: An in-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel and ankle areas. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic which may be heat moldable to conform to the user's foot. The sole of the shoe may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the user's foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: K-2 Corporation
    Inventors: Antonin A. Meibock, John E. Svensson
  • Publication number: 20010026054
    Abstract: An adjustable fit in-line skate is disclosed having a rigid frame carrying a plurality of skate wheels. A boot is secured to the frame with the boot having a toe portion and a heel portion. The heel portion has a sole plate which is carried over the length of the frame. The toe portion receives the sole plate and is slidably attached to the heel portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Todd Jack Olson
    Inventors: Todd Jack Olson, Thomas Lee Spaulding, Alan Eugene Doop
  • Publication number: 20010022433
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a roller skate includes a pivotal seat having a first end secured to a base of the roller skate, a wheel seat having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the pivotal seat by a pin, and a wheel rotatably mounted to a second end of the wheel seat. A first elastic member has a first end attached to the pivotal seat and a second end attached to a mounting member on the wheel seat for biasing the wheel seat to a storage position in the base. A stopping member includes a first end mounted to the pin and a second end through which the mounting member is extended. A second elastic member is mounted around the pin for biasing a stop of the stopping member to a position for releasably engaging with the wheel seat to prevent the wheel seat from moving into the storage position in the base when the wheel seat and the wheel are extended beyond the base for skating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventor: Chun-Cheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20010020772
    Abstract: At least one walking member is detachably connectable to an in-line skate to enable the wearer of the in-line skate to connect the walking member to the in-line skate, thus enabling the wearer to walk while wearing the in-line skate. Two walking members can be provided on alternative sides of the in-line skate wheels to provide a more stable platform for the wearer of the in-line skate. Since the two walking members are removable, the walking members do not detract from the aerodynamic and functional performance of the in-line skate, and can be manufactured together with the skate or, alternatively, can be added to the skate after purchase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventor: Richard S. Gaster
  • Patent number: 6270090
    Abstract: Roller skate comprising a chassis (2) equipped with rollers (3) and a boot (1) attached removably to the chassis at four points by catching and locking. Catching and locking are achieved automatically and simultaneously at all of the attachment points using a common element (8) subject to the action of an elastic means (16). Unlocking is achieved using a lever (19) articulated to the rear of the chassis and which can be used as a handle when putting the chassis on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Skis Rossignol S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Gignoux
  • Patent number: 6267394
    Abstract: A novel skate platform wheel truck and wheel design is disclosed which incorporates five wheels per truck, with a larger center wheel with a convex or flat running surface, and two smaller side wheels with a beveled surface. This configuration permits more fluid and responsive turning of the skateboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: James D. Bouden
  • Patent number: 6241264
    Abstract: A steerable wheel assembly for an in-line skate or roller ski comprises a hollow or dish-shaped wheel (11), a wheel bearing (13), and a wheel support (14) connecting the wheel (11) to a steering pivot (16) which is substantially disposed at a distance measured radially from the rotational axis of the wheel (11) where that distance is greater than the outer radius of the wheel bearing (13) and less than the outer radius of the wheel (11). Steering of the wheel occurs as the user's weight is displaced or the chassis of the device is inclined with respect to the ground toward the desired turning direction. A chassis for an in-line skate or roller ski containing a damping and centering force mechanism which may be used to moderate the behavior of a steering mechanism or suspension mechanism comprises a structural member (21), a damper housing (17), a damper piston (19), a fluid chamber (24), and a centering force mechanism (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Crosskate, LLC
    Inventor: James S. Page