Abstract: Quick release systems and methods are provided which may be used with a skate assembly comprising a boot, a soul plate, and a grind plate. A first component, which may be a soul plate, has a tab and slot engagement mechanism. A second component, which may be a grind plate, defines at least one aperture and is engaged with at least a portion of the first component. At least one push button is accessible via the at least one aperture. When the second component is in an inward position it maintains the tab and slot engagement mechanism in a locked position and when the second component is in an outward position it unlocks the tab and slot engagement mechanism. When the push button is not pressed, it maintains the second component in the inward position and when the push button is pressed it facilitates movement of the second component to the outward position.

Abstract: A deck assembly for a scooter comprises a deck having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side surfaces, and a grind plate having a front end, a rear end, a mating surface, and a grinding surface. The grind plate may be slidably attachable to the deck such that the mating surface of the grind plate mates with the bottom surface of the deck, and the bottom surface of the deck and at least a portion of each side surface of the deck are covered by the grind plate. A scooter assembly may further comprise a neck, a handlebar assembly, and steer tube extending through a down tube. The steer tube may be a butted tube member having a first wall thickness near a bottom portion of the butted tube member and a second wall thickness near a top portion of the butted tube member, the first wall thickness being greater than the second wall thickness. The steer tube may define a linear slot at or near the bottom portion of the steer tube and a key adapted to fit into the linear slot.

Abstract: A backpack apparatus comprises a backpack body, a holder panel assembly, and a closure device. The backpack body has a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion and defines a main storage compartment. The holder panel assembly has a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The holder panel assembly includes a first side wall and a second side wall. The bottom edge of the holder panel assembly is fixedly attached to the backpack body, and the top edge of the holder panel is unattached to the backpack body. The first side wall of the holder panel is fixedly attached to the backpack body, and the second side wall of the holder panel is fixedly attached to the backpack body.

Abstract: A backpack apparatus comprises a backpack body, a holder panel assembly, and a closure device. The backpack body has a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion and defines a main storage compartment. The holder panel assembly has a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The holder panel assembly includes at least one zipper assembly, a first side wall extending from a portion of the first side edge, and a second side wall extending from a portion of the second side edge. The bottom edge of the holder panel assembly is fixedly attached to the backpack body, and the top edge of the holder panel is unattached to the backpack body. The first side wall of the holder panel is fixedly attached to the backpack body, and the second side wall of the holder panel is fixedly attached to the backpack body. A closure device may be attached to the first side portion of the backpack body.

Abstract: A deck assembly for a scooter comprises a deck having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side surfaces, and a grind plate having a front end, a rear end, a mating surface, and a grinding surface. The grind plate may be slidably attachable to the deck such that the mating surface of the grind plate mates with the bottom surface of the deck, and the bottom surface of the deck and at least a portion of each side surface of the deck are covered by the grind plate. A scooter assembly may further comprise a neck, a handlebar assembly, and steer tube extending through a down tube. The steer tube may be a butted tube member having a first wall thickness near a bottom portion of the butted tube member and a second wall thickness near a top portion of the butted tube member, the first wall thickness being greater than the second wall thickness. The steer tube may define a linear slot at or near the bottom portion of the steer tube and a key adapted to fit into the linear slot.

Abstract: An in-line skate frame assembly has a rigid frame and an elongate grinding insert releasably engaged with the frame. The frame and insert are secured together to the sole of a shoe or boot by frame bolts extending through upper portions of the frame and insert. The frame has spaced side walls with downwardly facing recessed regions in which the insert is mounted. The insert extends along a major portion of the length of the frame and has a downwardly facing, centrally located grinding surface which terminates short of the opposite ends of the insert. Different inserts with grinding surfaces of different shapes and lengths are releasably secured to the frame for performing alternative grinding maneuvers.

Abstract: Footwear has a sole for supporting a foot of a wearer, a first pair of wheels projecting from opposite sides of the sole adjacent the heel, and a second pair of wheels spaced in front of the first pair and projecting from opposite sides of the sole adjacent the arch portion of the sole. The footwear is convertible from a wheeled configuration to a non-wheeled configuration by opening a cover plate normally covering a downwardly facing, recessed region of the heel, removing the wheel axles from wheel axle mounting grooves in the recessed region, then re-closing the cover plate over the heel region.

Abstract: A skate assembly has a boot having a substantially completely open base with a sole plate of more rigid material than the boot secured over the open base. The base has an opening extending along at least substantially the entire length of the boot from the heel to the toe, with side rims extending along opposite sides of the base opening. The sole plate may be releasably or permanently secured to the boot.

Abstract: An in-line skate frame assembly has a rigid frame and an elongate grinding insert releasably engaged with the frame. The frame and insert are secured together to the sole of a shoe or boot by frame bolts extending through upper portions of the frame and insert. The frame has spaced side walls with downwardly facing recessed regions in which the insert is mounted. The insert extends along a major portion of the length of the frame and has a downwardly facing, centrally located grinding surface which terminates short of the opposite ends of the insert. Different inserts with grinding surfaces of different shapes and lengths are releasably secured to the frame for performing alternative grinding maneuvers.

Abstract: Footwear has a sole for supporting a foot of a wearer, a first pair of wheels projecting from opposite sides of the sole adjacent the heel, and a second pair of wheels spaced in front of the first pair and projecting from opposite sides of the sole adjacent the arch portion of the sole. The footwear is convertible from a wheeled configuration to a non-wheeled configuration by opening a cover plate normally covering a downwardly facing, recessed region of the heel, removing the wheel axles from wheel axle mounting grooves in the recessed region, then re-closing the cover plate over the heel region.

Abstract: A skate assembly has a boot having a substantially completely open base with a sole plate of more rigid material than the boot secured over the open base. The base has an opening extending along at least substantially the entire length of the boot from the heel to the toe, with side rims extending along opposite sides of the base opening. The sole plate may be releasably or permanently secured to the boot.

Abstract: An adjustable frame assembly for skates to allow for attachment of the frame in a number of positions along the length of the boot portion of the skate. The assembly comprises a skate foot bed containing two recessed portions each containing an opening flanked by ribs corresponding to ribs on a T-nut allowing the T-nut to rest in a variety of positions in the recessed portion. The T-nut further comprises a threaded opening for coupling to a fastener which attaches the frame to the base of the boot portion of the skate.

Abstract: An backslide plate is designed for mating engagement in an opening in the outer side face of an in-line skate boot. The backslide plate has an arcuate outer slide guiding surface for contacting a sliding surface during sliding maneuvers. The plate is releasably secured in the boot opening by a releasable fastener device. In this way, the skater's foot will be in direct engagement with the backslide plate during maneuvers, providing improved control.

Abstract: An adjustable in-line skate has a rigid frame, a plurality of wheels rotatably secured to the frame in a line, a sole plate secured to the frame having a heel portion and a toe portion, and a boot mounted on the sole plate. The boot has a toe shell and a separate heel shell. The heel and toe shells are each adjustably secured to the sole plate for adjustment of the overall length of the boot, so that two separate adjustment points are provided.

Abstract: The invention is a shock absorbing system for an in-line skate comprising a washer wherein the washer is composed of a rigid center for insertion of wheel axles surrounded by a resilient material to provide shock absorption especially while performing jumps and tricks. The washer can be incorporated into the skate at the time of manufacture or may be inserted as a post-market modification.

Abstract: An adjustable in-line skate has a rigid frame, a plurality of wheels rotatably secured to the frame in a line, a sole plate secured to the frame having a heel portion and a toe portion, and a boot mounted on the sole plate. The boot has a toe shell and a separate heel shell. The heel and toe shells are each adjustably secured to the sole plate for adjustment of the overall length of the boot, so that two separate adjustment points are provided.

Abstract: An adjustable frame assembly for skates to allow for attachment of the frame in a number of positions along the length of the boot portion of the skate. The assembly comprises a skate foot bed containing two recessed portions each containing an opening flanked by ribs corresponding to ribs on a T-nut allowing the T-nut to rest in a variety of positions in the recessed portion. The T-nut further comprises a threaded opening for coupling to a fastener which attaches the frame to the base of the boot portion of the skate.

Abstract: An backslide plate is designed for mating engagement in an opening in the outer side face of an in-line skate boot. The backslide plate has an arcuate outer slide guiding surface for contacting a sliding surface during sliding maneuvers. The plate is releasably secured in the boot opening by a releasable fastener device. In this way, the skater's foot will be in direct engagement with the backslide plate during maneuvers, providing improved control.

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 includes the only sliding surface of the apparatus during sliding maneuvers.

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.