Abstract: A fastening mechanism for connecting a sports attachment to a shaft is provided. The fastening mechanism comprises an aperture formed in the shaft. A fastening member is mounted to the sports attachment with at least a portion of the fastening member receivable within the aperture. A biasing mechanism biases at least a portion of the fastening member in the aperture wherein the fastening member is releasably maintained within the aperture thereby releasably connecting the sports attachment to the shaft.

Abstract: An axle assembly for in-line skate wheels is provided. Each wheel is arranged between frame extensions having a plurality of opposing apertures. The axle assembly comprises a housing having a first open end, a second open end, and a longitudinal axis. A first tapered axle end is movable along the longitudinal axis within the first open end of the housing. A second tapered axle end is movable along the longitudinal axis within the second open end of the housing. A mechanism biases the ends in a general direction away from each other to urge the ends into the opposing apertures in the frame extensions.

Abstract: A tool for removing a wheel assembly from an in-line skate is provided. The in-line skate has a boot portion and a blade frame having opposing apertures and mounted to the boot portion. The wheel assembly has a wheel axle releasably mounted within the apertures of the blade frame and a wheel rotatably mounted on the wheel axle. The wheel axle has first and second axle ends end movable toward each other and biased away from each other. The tool comprises a flexible substantially U-shaped member having a main body portion and first and second tip ends contactable with the respective axle ends. A gripping mechanism on the main body portion grips the wheel wherein flexure of the main body portion causes the gripping mechanism to grip the wheel and the first and second tip ends to contact respective axle ends causing the first and second axle ends to move toward each other freeing the first and second axle ends from the apertures. A blade frame for an in-line skate is also provided.

Abstract: A quick-release interlocking frame assembly for interchangeably and operatively mounting at separate times in-line skate rollers and an ice skate blade to a boot sole, includes a first base attachable to a toe portion of a boot sole, a second base attachable to a heel portion of the boot sole, a first pair of spaced flanges attached on the first base and defining a first channel therebetween, a second pair of spaced flanges attached on the second base and defining a second channel therebetween, a first bracket operatively supporting inline skate rollers, a second bracket operatively supporting an ice skate blade, a pair of first platforms each attached on a forward portion of respective ones of the first and second brackets and being adapted to slidably fit within the first channel between the first pair of flanges on the first base, a pair of second platforms each attached on a rearward portion of respective ones of the first and second brackets and being adapted to slideably fit within the second channel be