In-line Wheels (e.g., In-line Skates) Patents (Class 280/11.221)
  • Patent number: 6481724
    Abstract: The adapter comprises an ice-blade mounted in a blade-chassis. The blade-chassis is a plastic molding, which fits between the support rails of an in-line roller skate, and is clamped therebetween by the spindle-rods that serve as the spindles of the rollers. The ice-blade resides in a channel in the blade-chassis, the roof of the channel, and of the blade, being clear of, and below, the spindle rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Renny Carl Whipp
  • Publication number: 20020163146
    Abstract: A skate (10) includes a substantially nonrigid upper (12) secured to a base (14). The skate includes a vamp portion (28) defining a vamp opening (30), and a tongue (32) disposed beneath the vamp opening. An elastic web (34) spans across the vamp opening to compress the upper about a skate's foot. The elastic web transmits compressive force to the underlying tongue for distribution over a greater area of the foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: D. Paul Bennett
  • Publication number: 20020158428
    Abstract: A roller skate with a detachable boot includes a truck, a seat having a plate and a back, a boot, a retaining ear and a nut both securely mounted on a sole of the boot, a slot and a key hole both defined in a plate of the seat, and a connecting piece securely formed on the plate having an ear extending through the slot. By abutting the nut and the key hole together with a threading connection of the ears and the retaining ear using a screw, the boot is able to be securely engaged on the seat and is detachable from the seat, such that replacement and easy cleaning of the boot is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Jong-Yuan Lin
  • Publication number: 20020153679
    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: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Rollerblade, Inc., a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Todd Jack OIson, Thomas Lee Spaulding, Alan Eugene Doop
  • Patent number: 6467777
    Abstract: An in-line skate with power assistance has at least two rollers attached to a base, the at least two rollers aligned to form an in-line axis such that the at least two rollers travel along a surface in essentially a single travel line and a power roller aligned outward of the at least two rollers. A bias mechanism coupled between the power roller and the base, the bias mechanism is responsive to pressure on the power roller when contacting the surface to adjust position of the power roller relative to the base. The power roller is adjustable and resiliently mounted to be positioned above the skating surface when gliding. The power roller makes with contact the skating surface when pushing, the pressure on the power roller being varied by the bias mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: J. Gary Teyhen
  • Publication number: 20020140187
    Abstract: A skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having a shoe portion (22) and a plurality of wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density. The structural member having first and second sidewalls (62 and 68), each having an upper end and a lower end. The structural member also includes a shoe mounting portion (50) spanning between at least a portion of the upper ends of the sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls having a wheel load introduction portion (58), wherein loads associated with the wheels are transferred to the structural member. The shoe mounting portion having a shoe load introduction portion, wherein loads associated with the shoe portion are transferred to the structural member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: K-2 Corporation
    Inventor: Dodd H. Grande
  • 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: 6454280
    Abstract: The present invention provides a suspension system for in-line skates. The in-line skate includes a boot and a tracking system attached to the sole of the boot. Opposing rocking arms that hold the wheels are connected to the tracking system using a truncated axle. In addition, an adjustable spring can be configured between the opposing rocker arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sprung Suspensions
    Inventor: Robert Keith Longino
  • 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: 6446983
    Abstract: A device for disabling or otherwise allowing the wearer of an in-line skate to walk on the in-line skate without activating the wheels may include a clamping member to clamp the wheels. A switch may be activated which in turn activates or deactivates the clamping member. A walking member may also be provided, the walking member being coupled to the skate and moveable between first and second positions. In the first position the walking member may be secured such that the wearer may walk on the walking member. In the second position, the walking member is positioned such that it will not interfere when skating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Richard S. Gaster
  • Patent number: 6446984
    Abstract: A skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having a shoe portion (22) and a plurality of wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density. The structural member having first and second sidewalls (62, 68). The structural member also includes a shoe mounting portion (50) spanning between at least a portion of the upper ends of the sidewalls. The skate frame also includes core material (64) disposed within at least one of the first and second sidewalls or within the shoe mounting portion. In an embodiment of the invention a threaded insert (602) is embedded in the core material of one sidewall, and an aligned tubular insert is installed in the opposite sidewall, such that the wheel axle (612) can be inserted through the tubular insert to engage the embedded threaded insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: K-2 Corporation
    Inventors: Dodd H. Grande, John E. Svensson
  • Publication number: 20020117817
    Abstract: A frame particularly usable for in-line or ice skates, comprising two mutually facing approximately vertical walls, transversely to which there are, along the same longitudinal axis, multiple holes for placing the hubs of respective wheels. The frame has, in a transverse cross-section, an oval shape which is closed in the interspace between at least two adjacent wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: BENETTON GROUP S.p.A.
    Inventors: Flavio Frigo, Nicola Bonora
  • Patent number: 6439584
    Abstract: A roller-skating boot has a wheel support turnably fitted to a front connecting portion of the sole thereof. Two front wheels are provided at two ends of the wheel support such that the user can be supported with increased stability by the side-by-side arranged front wheels and other wheels that are arranged in one line behind the front wheels. The wheel support has a protrusion sticking up to be movably confined in a guide trench of the front connecting portion so as to limit the change of orientation of the wheel support in relation to the sole to a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Eric Lai
  • Publication number: 20020113383
    Abstract: An in-line skate with power assistance has at least two rollers attached to a base, the at least two rollers aligned to form an in-line axis such that the at least two rollers travel along a surface in essentially a single travel line and a power roller aligned outward of the at least two rollers. A bias mechanism coupled between the power roller and the base, the bias mechanism is responsive to pressure on the power roller when contacting the surface to adjust position of the power roller relative to the base. The power roller is adjustable and resiliently mounted to be positioned above the skating surface when gliding. The power roller makes with contact the skating surface when pushing, the pressure on the power roller being varied by the bias mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: J. Gary Teyhen
  • Patent number: 6435524
    Abstract: An in-line roller skate in accordance with this present invention includes at least four integral independent suspension system aligned under the chassis platform having all forks axles pivotally in forward motion and opposite direction from each other. The integral independent suspension system all parts and components are integrated in a body-frame, includes at least two independent shock absorber mechanisms in which the front shock absorber suspension mechanisms interconnects with the rear shock absorber secondary mechanisms, in which the rear shock absorber mechanisms support the pivotally forks axles and wheel system. The main chassis system supports the front brake and central rolling-brake. The integral independent suspension and the removable boot systems are interconnected with the chassis system trough a plurality of removable fasteners. The removable boot supports the front and rear anatomical-frame structure and the rear integral independent suspension support the main brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Ferenc Kuncz
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20020109313
    Abstract: A skate with removable wheel assembly including a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion. The upper foot-receiving portion has an open upper end and a closed lower end. The lower sole portion is removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot-receiving portion. The lower sole portion has a groove formed therein. The groove has an open forward end. A wheel assembly is adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion. The wheel assembly is comprised of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration. The housing has an upper end and a lower end. The lower end has a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration. The upper end has a track secured thereto. The track is dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Mike Johnsen
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20020105153
    Abstract: A roller skate has a frame formed of a short length of sturdy, generally rectangular channel material having two opposed side walls and a sole plate or floor extending therebetween. A large diameter wheel is secured to each end of each side wall, to define a widely spaced rectangular wheel array providing a stable skate platform. The high attachment of the large diameter wheels places the sole plate immediately adjacent the underlying surface when the wheels are resting on that surface, for greater stability. Instep and heel straps extended from single central attachment points along each side wall, with the present skate being essentially longitudinally and laterally symmetrical. Provision may be made for vertical and/or lateral adjustment of the wheels relative to the skate frame, if so desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Robbie L. Miller, Joel Luing
  • Patent number: 6425588
    Abstract: A braking system preferably for an in-line skate includes a brake pad mounted to a forward end of a skate frame and an elevated front wheel attached to the skate frame by two pivot arms. The pivot arms are biased forward which is in a clockwise direction with respect to their pivot point. When skating normally, the pivot arms bias the wheel against the brake pad, but the wheel is elevated from the skating surface and thus the brake is not engaged. When skating in a rearward direction, or desiring a push start, the skater rotates the toe portion of the skate downward and raises the heel. The front wheel will engage the skating surface and the reaction force on the wheel due to friction between it and the skating surface which will urge the wheel forward and increase the contact pressure between it and the brake pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Hemisphere Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Holland
  • Patent number: 6425587
    Abstract: Mono-wheel roller skates having a single large main wheel which supports the skater and a pivotally mounted smaller brake actuation wheel which contacts the ground when the skates are tipped backward and which is operatively connected to caliper brakes which grip the main wheel to slow or stop the skater. The main wheel is treaded and spring-mounted on a cantilevered arm to absorb shocks for off-road skating. A removable rock guard works in conjunction with a built-in rail guard to deflect debris and prevent it from accumulating in front of the main wheel. An arcuate toe push-off piece or a unidirectionally rolling toe push-off wheel allows pushing off from the toe of the skate such that a skater can use an in-line skating stroke wherein the skates remain pointed in the direction of travel rather than angled outward thereto as is usually required for skating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Aaron G. Moon
  • Patent number: 6422577
    Abstract: A skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having a shoe portion (22) and a plurality of wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density. The structural member having first and second sidewalls (62 and 68), each having an upper end and a lower end. The structural member also includes a shoe mounting portion (50) spanning between at least a portion of the upper ends of the sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls having a wheel, load introduction portion (58), wherein loads associated with the wheels are transferred to the structural member. The shoe mounting portion having a shoe load introduction portion, wherein loads associated with the shoe portion are transferred to the structural member. The skate frame also includes core material (64) disposed within at least one of the first and second sidewalls or within the shoe mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: K-2 Corporation
    Inventor: Dodd H. Grande
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6416064
    Abstract: A vehicle truck for supporting a ground contacting device, and in particular to a independent-suspension turnable skate vehicle truck which supports a wheel or wheels or a runner or ski, for example a roller skate boot have in-line wheels or tandem wheels is provided. The independent-suspension turnable skate vehicle truck has one or more deflecting beams attached to a wheel axle hanger and the opposite end attached to a skate vehicle mounting structure. The deflecting beam has at least one horizontal component and/or at least one vertical component. The vertical components resist vertical deflection of the wheel axle hangers to restrict upward and downward movement of the wheels or other ground contacting portions. The horizontal component controls most twisting motions controlling turning of the deflecting beam and wobble of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventor: Brian Lee Evans
  • Patent number: 6416081
    Abstract: Various means designed to protect an in-line skate frame from direct impact with damaging and/or abrasive surfaces are disclosed. Such protective means mount to the skate frame and may be manufactured from various materials, including metals, plastics, composites, and ceramics. Also disclosed are methods of preventing direct impacts to or abrasions of a skate frame using the disclosed protective means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: K-2 Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Ashley Goodman
  • Publication number: 20020079657
    Abstract: A skate body comprises a first body portion and a second body portion that are releasably secured together. A brake device includes a brake seat mounted to one of the first and second body portions and a brake block. The brake seat includes a resilient hook member and a rib formed on an inner wall thereof. The brake block includes an engaging groove releasably engaged with the rib of the brake seat and a retaining piece releasably engaged with the resilient hook member of the brake seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Lung-Chuan Chen
  • Publication number: 20020070513
    Abstract: A wheel seat assembly of a roller skate includes a sole body fixed on the bottom of a shoe. The sole body is provided with receiving chambers for securing casings therein. The casing defines an axial hole and at least two positioning holes. A roller seat is pivotally mounted in the casing by a pivot member. The pivot member is fitted with a catch member and an elastic member. The catch member may be selectively locked into one of the positioning holes of the casing by an urging action of the elastic member. The roller seat has a roller rotatably mounted therein by a rotation shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Chung-Cheng Chang
  • 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: 6402163
    Abstract: An adjustable skate boot has an adjustable boot shell of multiple, rigid pieces, and an adjustable liner adapted to provide an inner cushion for the shell. The soft, padded tricot liner has a fore portion and a heel portion which are adapted to be overlapped in use, the amount of overlap being adjustable for accommodating feet of different sizes. Hook-and-loop fasteners provide a releasable engagement for connecting the fore and heel portions of the liner. Methods of adjusting the liner are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Seneca Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael K. Pratt
  • Publication number: 20020067011
    Abstract: A roller skate includes at least one mounting plate affixed or integral to an article of footwear, a bilateral frame, a plurality of axles, and a plurality of wheels. The bilateral frame is affixed to each mounting plate. The frame also includes a plurality of axle journals angularly disposed to one another. A plurality of axles are supported at each end by one of the axle journals. At least one of the axles is nonparallel to at least another one of the axles. A plurality of wheels are disposed upon the axles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph Colonese
  • Patent number: 6398237
    Abstract: An in-line skateboard (10) includes a frame (18) located between-aligned wheels (14, 16). The frame (18) is pivotally connected at (32) to a leading wheel (14) by means of a fork member (30) which extends from an axle (15) of the wheel (14). The pivotal connection (32) is disposed below the level of the axle (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Design Science Pty.Ltd.
    Inventor: Graeme Scott Attey
  • Patent number: 6398230
    Abstract: A roller skate has a base, a plurality of tandem frames, a like plurality of axles, and a like plurality of wheels. Each frame is affixed to the base and has bilateral, spaced apart, opposing side walls that define a wheel well. Adjacent side walls of the frames are interconnected to form unitary opposing structures. The side walls of one of the frames is angularly related to the side walls of at least one of the other frames. Each axle is carried in a wheel well by the side walls of one of the frames. Each wheel is disposed within one of the wheel wells and mounted for rotation on the axle in the wheel well. The wheel wells are either equally or unequally spaced. The roller skate may further include an article of footwear, such as a shoe or a boot, to which the base is either affixed or integral. Additionally, at least one brace may interconnect the opposing walls of at least one frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: V-Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20020063403
    Abstract: A roller skate has a base, a plurality of tandem frames, a like plurality of axles, and a like plurality of wheels. Each frame is affixed to the base and has bilateral, spaced apart, opposing side walls that define a wheel well. Adjacent side walls of the frames are interconnected to form unitary opposing structures. The side walls of one of the frames is angularly related to the side walls of at least one of the other frames. Each axle is carried in a wheel well by the side walls of one of the frames. Each wheel is disposed within one of the wheel wells and mounted for rotation on the axle in the wheel well. The wheel wells are either equally or unequally spaced. The roller skate may further include an article of footwear, such as a shoe or a boot, to which the base is either affixed or integral. Additionally, at least one brace may interconnect the opposing walls of at least one frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Rudolph
  • Patent number: 6375198
    Abstract: A skate with in-line wheels, including a first front body, for supporting and locking the front part of the foot, and a second rear body, for supporting and locking at least the heel, the bodies having a first frame and a second frame for supporting a plurality of wheels. The first and second bodies and the first and second supporting frames are rotatably associated to each other to allow better transmission of lateral forces during sports practice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Nordica S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Caeran, Mario Gonella, Renato Serafin
  • 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: 6367818
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: K-2 Corporation
    Inventors: Antonin A. Meibock, John E. Svensson
  • Publication number: 20020030331
    Abstract: A sports vehicle which includes a substantially horizontal platform [(1)] capable of supporting the user and having attached to its underside two or more rotatable disks [(2)] arranged to rotate about substantially vertical axes [(3)], the underside of each rotatable disk being substantially convex in form. The platform is resilient and can adopt a convex or concave shape, so as to steer the vehicle. The user places his feet on the platform and steers the vehicle by tilting the platform using his body weight. The vehicle enables its user to travel over grassland and similar terrain in a manner similar to skateboarding and snowboarding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: William Plenderleith
  • Publication number: 20020020975
    Abstract: A roller skate which includes specially shaped front and back wheels which allow the skate to operate on flat ground and over pipes or rails. The skater is able to perform stunts and maneuvers involving pipes or rails of different diameters due to the front and back wheel geometry. The hourglass-shaped cross-section that is created by the configuration of the front and back wheels centers the pipe or rail that is being skated on under the center of balance of each skate. The two front and two back wheels each have a half hourglass shape, and are able to spin independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Mardoche Marc Dahan
  • Publication number: 20020017764
    Abstract: A first embodiment of a flexing base skate (10) includes an upper shoe portion (12) mounted on a base (14). The base includes a forefoot region (20) secured to a forward frame segment (26) carrying forward wheels (18a, 18b). A heel region (24) of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (28) that carries rearward wheels (18c, 18d). The base defines and flexes at a reduced thickness metatarsal head portion (22), with the skater's heel and the rearward frame segment elevating freely relative to the forward frame segment. A spring (72) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward frame section overlaps the rearward frame section for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a flexible base (104) mounted only at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base (104) flexes at a metatarsal head portion (108), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: K-2 Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Svensson, Antonin A. Meibock
  • Patent number: 6345827
    Abstract: A frame for skates and the like with a structure that includes at least one bearing surface engageable by a boot or the like, and a side flange. One of more ground-engaging members are to be attached to the frame. The components of the structure of the frame are made of at least two at least partially mutually assembled materials having different mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Louis Benoit
  • Publication number: 20020014750
    Abstract: A chassis for a gliding sport element, such as a skate, and, more particularly, such as an in-line roller skate, which includes such chassis. The chassis includes at least one support surface capable of receiving a boot and at least one lateral flange having at least one stiffening rib formed on at least one of the flanges. The gliding member(s), such as wheels, are mounted to the lateral flange(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: SALOMON S.A
    Inventor: Louis Benoit
  • Publication number: 20020011712
    Abstract: A skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having a shoe portion (22) and a plurality of wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density. The structural member having first and second sidewalls (62, 68). The structural member also includes a shoe mounting portion (50) spanning between at least a portion of the upper ends of the sidewalls. The skate frame also includes core material (64) disposed within at least one of the first and second sidewalls or within the shoe mounting portion. In an embodiment of the invention a threaded insert (602) is embedded in the core material of one sidewall, and an aligned tubular insert is installed in the opposite sidewall, such that the wheel axle (612) can be inserted through the tubular insert to engage the embedded threaded insert. In another embodiment, a protective cap (770) protects and/or enhances the appearance of the skate frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: K2 Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Svensson, Dodd H. Grande
  • Patent number: 6341785
    Abstract: A frame for skates and the like with a structure comprising at least one bearing surface (3, 4) engageable by a boot or the like, and a side flange (2) comprising means for attaching one or more ground-engaging members. The components (3, 4-2, 8) of the structure are made of at least two at least partially mutually assembled materials having different mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Louis Benoit
  • Publication number: 20020008359
    Abstract: An in-line roller skate propulsion device comprising a lever and a wheel frame having a top, a bottom, a plurality of wheel axle holes near the bottom, a pivot means near the top for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame, and a means for connecting a resilient member. The pivot means is located forward of the center of the lever. As the lever rotates around its pivotal connection to the wheel frame, the resilient member is stretched. Upon release of the rotating force, the resilient member returns the lever to a point of contact with the wheel frame or a stopping piece attached thereto. This action allows a skater to achieve greater speeds than with regular in-line roller skates while exerting the same amount of energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Douglas Glass, Ty Bennett Daughtridge, Albert Merrell Kaiser
  • Patent number: 6340164
    Abstract: A skate having a fitting portion adapted to be fixed on the plate of a chassis supporting the gliding element for the practice of the so-called “aggressive” skating. The fitting portion includes a soft portion forming an upper, for a boot or low shoe, mounted on a rigid sole called the insole, a hard cradle adapted to receive the soft portion and formed of an integral shell cut at its front and lateral portion corresponding to the top of the foot and defining a sole adapted to be fixed on the chassis, from which extends, on the one hand, a heel stiffener capable of receiving a hinged rigid collar and, on the one hand, a protective band peripherally bordering the from and sides of the sole, in the extension of the heel stiffener, and an arrangement for assembling the soft portion on the hard cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: René Borel
  • Patent number: 6336644
    Abstract: A combined sports shoe and roller skate includes a sole having a chamber in which is mounted a collapsible roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly has a seat pivotally connected with linking rods, positioning rods, rear arms, front arms, rollers and torsion spring at two sides and a control mechanism is mounted on the seat and composed of a locking bolt, an axle, a pawl, a torsion spring, a tension spring and a pushbutton, whereby the sports shoe can be converted into a roller skate as desired simply by depressing a pushbutton and the roller skate can be also converted into a sports shoe by collapsing the roller assembly into a chamber at the bottom of the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Ching-Long Chen
    Inventor: Yi-Tien Chu
  • Patent number: 6334621
    Abstract: A skate base for a roller skate is attached to a shoe sole having at least two engaging sections on an underside thereof. The engaging portions are located corresponding to front and rear ends of an arch of a wearer's foot. The skate base has engaging members formed on a top thereof for releasably engaging with the engaging sections on the shoe sole. The skate base includes several axles to which wheels are rotatably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: Chun-Cheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20010054803
    Abstract: An in-line roller skate with a braking device is disclosed including a certain number of wheels (11) disposed longitudinally between two plates of a frame (22) of the skate. A control lever (1) articulated at the rear of the boot about a pivot shaft (19) can be actuated by a backward movement of the skate cuff. When rotating, the lower part (2) of the lever (1) pushes a rod (3) forwards and lengthways against return means (10a, 10b), said rod carrying brake pads (5) in an equal number to the number of the discs (6) placed on the wheels 8 (11) and ramps (7a, 7b) co-operating with complementary parts of the frame guiding the rod in order, during a forward movement, to bring the pads into contact with an upper part of the rotating discs. The ramps are positioned between two wheels so as to assure gentle and gradual braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Gaston Haldemann
  • Publication number: 20010054802
    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: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Roger R. Adams
  • Patent number: 6328317
    Abstract: An article of gliding equipment, such as for practicing ice skating or hard surface skating, of the type that includes a frame defined by two lateral flanges on which are attached the gliding member or members, such as a gliding blade or wheels, and the upper plate adapted to be made integral with the external sole of the skater's boot. The frame is formed as a hollow body, hermetically closed in both the transverse and longitudinal directions, simultaneously defining the lateral flanges, the upper plate, and the end parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Louis Benoit