BACKGROUND While it is common for skaters, particularly hockey players, figure skaters and speed skaters, to put on their skates in a locker room and then walk on padded or carpeted surfaces to the ice surface, such is not always possible for amateur or recreational skaters. In many instances, skaters put on their skates at a location remote from the ice surface and then must walk over unprotected surfaces, such as concrete, hallways, grass, etc., to the ice arena before reaching the ice surface.
It is known that the edge of an ice skate blade must be kept sharp for smooth skating, sharp turns, etc., especially by figure skaters, hockey players and even the occasional recreational skater. However, walking with skates on over concrete, hard floor surfaces, grass, etc., quickly dulls the blade edge making it more harder to skate.
Skate guards formed of rubber or other soft, flexible elastomeric materials are commonly applied over the skate blade to protect the skate blade between uses. While it is possible to walk with the skate guards on the skates and have some measure of protection for the blade, the sharp blade edges can cut through the soft material of the skate guard rendering it useless. In addition, it can be difficult to walk on skate blades due to the slightly wider skate guard mounted on the blade.
To address these problems, or to merely provide a skate which is convertible from an ice skate to a roller skate, roller assemblies have been devised which mount over the skate blade and provide a plurality of rolling surfaces to enable a skater to more efficiently move over non-ice surfaces while at the same time protecting the ice skate blade edges. What is still needed, however, is an ice skate blade protection device which enables a skater to easily move about non-ice surfaces between the ice surface and the location where the skater intends to put on or take off his or her skates which can be easily applied to a skate blade, and which has adjustability to accommodate different length skate blades.
It would also be desirable to provide a roller apparatus which is mountable over an ice skate blade which evens out the pressure on the blade edges and distributes the pressure outward to the rollers or wheels when the skater is walking on non-ice surfaces to reduce twisting torque.
SUMMARY The present invention is a roller apparatus releasibly attachable to an ice skate blade to provide rolling capability for the user of a pair of ice skates when the user is not on an ice surface.
In one aspect, the invention is an attachment to a skate guard having an open ended, longitudinally extended recess for receiving a skate blade therein and a plurality of apertures extending transversely therethrough.
An optional heel strap is mounted in one of the apertures in the skate guard and wrapped about one end of the blade holder connecting the blade to a skate boot. A rail has a base wall and a pair of sidewalls extending therefrom. The sidewalls are spaced apart to slidably receive the skate guard therein.
A plurality of pairs of transverse apertures in the sidewalls of the rail are alignable with the at least one aperture in the skate guard. A pair of axles carrying wheels are mounted in one pair of apertures in the rail and the apertures in the skate guard.
Another optional front or toe strap may be mountable over the blade holder and attachable to the skate guard or the rail to secure the forward end of the skate to the skate guard and/or rail. The front strap may be provided in different configurations, each including a strap member which have a slight amount of elasticity and connector means carried on the strap member for tightly securing the strap member to the skate guard, the rail and the blade holder.
The front or toe strap connector means may be in the form of interlocking hook and pile sections, an inter-engagable enlarged head and one or more apertures on the strap member, a plurality of spaced apertures which receive a plurality of spaced projections carried on an opposite end of the strap member, a pin mountable through aligned apertures in the rail and the skate guard which is mountable over an aperture in one end of the strap member, the other end of the strap member, after being tightly wrapped around the rail, the skate guard and the blade holder, engages an opposite outwardly extending end of the pin. The front or toe strap may also be an elastic member having enlarged heads at opposite ends which are engagable with opposite sidewalls of the rail. One end of the strap member may be releasibly or permanently fixed in the skate guard or the rail. The other end of the strap member is wrapped around the rail, the skate guard and the blade holder and releasibly disposed another apertured in the skate guard.
In one aspect, the rail of the roller apparatus is formed as a one piece, monolithic member. In another aspect, the rail is formed of two separate rail portions, each receiving an elongated skate guard therethrough in a spaced apart arrangement. One axle of each of the pairs of wheel assemblies is mountable through apertures in each rail portion.
A rear lock element is carried on the rear end of the rail and overlays the rear edge of the ice skate blade to assist in securing the heel portion of the ice skate blade to the roller apparatus.
In another aspect of the present invention, wheel mounting means are carried on the rail for mounting a plurality of rotatable wheels to the rail. In one aspect, the wheel mounting means includes a pair of plates fixed to the rail at one end and having an opposed end depending from the rail. The opposed end supports a wheel axle in a wheel.
The plates may be separately fixed to the rail by means of mechanical fasteners, welds, etc. as well as being monolithically formed as a one piece molded or cast part of the rail.
The wheel mounting means supports at least one frontmost wheel and at least one rearmost wheel in an axially inline configuration on the rail. The wheel mounting means may also support a plurality of frontmost mounted wheels and/or a plurality of rearmost mounted wheels, all axially in line.
In another aspect of the invention, optional lock means are provided for locking the skate blade in the skate guard carried in the rail. The lock means is carried on the rail by mounting on one of the wheel mounting means or plates. In one aspect, the lock means includes a spring biased pin which is retracted away from a first position overlaying the recess in the skate guard to assist in retaining a skate blade in the skate guard by means of a moveable actuator which is coupled to an opposite end of the pin. The actuator may be a pivotal lever or a pull ring.
In another aspect, the lock means includes a rotatable cam which is moveable between a first position overlaying the recess in the skate guard and a second retracted position. An actuator or lever mounted in a housing carried on one of the wheel mounting plates moves the cam between the first and second positions.
In another aspect, a brake member is attached to the rail to provide a friction surface to assist the user in stopping forward movement.
The present apparatus provides a unique roller apparatus which is attachable over a conventional ice skate guard to provide easy rollability to ice skates when the skater is not on an ice surface. The inventive apparatus is easily applied to an existing skate and employs a commonly available skate guard. The inventive apparatus also accommodates different length skates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one aspect of the inventive apparatus applied to a hockey skate;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional skate guard with which the present apparatus may be employed;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heel strap used with the skate guard shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one aspect of a channel of the present apparatus;
FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a modification to the channel shown in FIG. 4;
FIGS. 6-9 are perspective views of different aspects of a toe strap employed in the present apparatus;
FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of another aspect of the present apparatus employed with a figure skate;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view through one of the wheel assemblies of the present apparatus;
FIG. 12 is an exploded, partial, perspective view of an alternate aspect of the present apparatus shown employed with a figure skate blade;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the channel shown in FIG. 12, but depicted in a modified configuration;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view through one of the wheel assemblies showing the modified rear channel portion depicted in FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of another aspect of the present apparatus employed with a hockey skate;
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line 16-16 in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of another aspect of the present apparatus employed with a hockey skate;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line 18-18 in FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of another aspect of the present apparatus employed with a hockey skate;
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line 20-20 in FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing another aspect of a toe strap employed with the apparatus shown in FIG. 19;
FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of a prior art ice blade and blade holder;
FIG. 23 is a side elevational view showing another aspect of the present apparatus employed with the ice blade and blade holder shown in FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line 24-24 in FIG. 23;
FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of another aspect of the present apparatus;
FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line 26-26 in FIG. 25;
FIG. 27 is a perspective view of another aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line 28-28 in FIG. 27;
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a modification to the apparatus shown in FIG. 27;
FIG. 30 is a front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 27;
FIG. 31 is a perspective view of another aspect of a roller element attachment according to the present invention;
FIG. 32 is a plan view of one aspect of the lock means shown in FIGS. 27 and 30;
FIG. 33 is a plan view of a another aspect of the lock means usable in the present invention;
FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing another aspect of a lock means according to the present invention;
FIG. 35 is a plan view of the lock means shown in FIG. 34;
FIG. 36 is an exploded, cross sectional view generally taken along line 36-36 in FIG. 29;
FIG. 37 is a plan view of another aspect of a lock means according to the present invention;
FIG. 38 is a plan view of yet another aspect of a lock means according to the present invention;
FIG. 39 is a partial, perspective view showing the lock means of FIG. 38 mounted on the rail;
FIG. 40 is a perspective view of another aspect of the present invention; and
FIG. 41 is a rear view, partially cross-section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 40.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing, there is depicted a roller apparatus mountable on an ice skate to enable a skater wearing the ice skate to easily move across non-ice surfaces, typically between an ice rink or ice surface and a parking lot, locker room, home, etc.
The present apparatus is employable with any conventional ice skate, such as the hockey skate 40 shown in FIG. 1, a figure skate 42 shown by way of example in FIG. 10 and partially in FIG. 11, as well as speed skates which have a typically longer blade than hockey or figure skates.
By way of example only, the skate 40 includes a boot 44 having a sole 46 to which is mounted a blade holder 48. The blade holder 48 is typically formed of plastic and is fixedly mounted to the sole 46 by means of rivets, not shown. The blade holder 48 carries an ice blade 50. The blade 50 can be solid or provided with a plurality of lightening apertures 52 as shown in FIG. 22.
In most of the aspects of the present invention described hereafter, the inventive apparatus makes use of a skate guard 56 shown generally in FIG. 2. The skate guard 56 is typically formed of a relatively, soft, flexible material, such as rubber or an elastomer. The skate guard 56 has an elongated, generally planar portion 58 with a centrally located, open-ended recess 60 extending from a first or heel end 62 to an opposed, upturned, second, toe end 64. Although the planar portion 58 can be solid, it is known to provide a plurality of open ended, generally key-hole shaped slots 66 extending from a bottom surface 68 along at least a portion of or over the entire length of the planar portion 58. The slots 66 adjustably and optionally receive a heel strap 70 shown in FIG. 3. The heel strap 70 is also formed of an elastic material and has a U-shaped portion 72 with two opposed walls and an interconnecting pin 74 at one end. The pin 74 is sized to snap into one of the apertures 66 in the skate guard 56 to releasibly mount the heel strap 70 to the skate guard 56. The closed end 76 of the heel strap 70 then is wrapped around the heel portion of the blade holder 48 as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4-9, there is depicted one aspect of a roller apparatus 80 according to the present invention which is releasibly mountable on the skate guard 76 and secured over the skate blade 50 to provide rolling capabilities to a skater when wearing an ice skate. The roller apparatus 80 includes a support 82 for receiving the skate guard 56. The support 82 is in the form of an elongated, generally planar, channel or rail member having opposed sidewalls 84 and 86 which extend angularly, typically perpendicularly, from a central bottom wall 88. The sidewalls 84 and 86 and the bottom wall 88 define a generally U-shaped cross section defining an interior opening which is sized to snugly, but releasibly receive the skate guard 56 therein.
In the aspect of the rail 82 shown in FIG. 4, the upper ends of the sidewalls 84 and 86 have inward turned flanges or lips 90 and 92, respectively, forming an elongated opening 94 extending along the length of the channel 82 from a first end 96 to an opposed second end 98. The flanges 90 and 92 securely retainer the guard 56 in the rail 82.
In an alternate aspect shown in FIG. 5, a modified rail 82′ has the ends 90′ and 92′ of the sidewalls 84 and 86 disposed generally inline with the extent of the sidewalls 84 and 86, rather than formed as inward turned or extending flanges.
A plurality of apertures 100 are formed along at least a portion of the length of the sidewalls 84 and 86 generally in close proximity to the bottom wall 88. The apertures 100 are arranged in co-axial pairs in the sidewalls 84 and 86.
A notch 102 is formed in the sidewalls 84 and 86 and the bottom wall 88 intermediate the first and second ends 96 and 98. The notch 102 exposes an intermediate portion of the skate guard 56 for attachment of the pin 74 to one of the apertures 66 in the skate guard 56 to assist in securing the skate guard 66 as well as the roller apparatus 80 to a heel portion 49 of the blade holder 48 on the skate 40.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to one aspect of the present invention, the skate guard 56 may be provided with an aperture 110 generally located in the toe portion 64. The aperture 110 receives one end of a front strap 112 shown in one aspect in FIG. 1 and in alternate aspects in FIGS. 6-9 and subsequent drawing figures. Generally, all of the different aspects of the front strap described hereafter have an elongated, strap-like configuration form of a strap portion 114 and first and second releasibly connectable ends which are joined together by suitable fastening means as described hereafter.
As shown in FIG. 1, the front strap 112 is designed to pass through the aperture 110 in the skate guard 56 and extend around an end of the toe support portion 54 of the holder 48, through the aperture 51 in the holder 48 between the toe support 54 and the heel support 49, and then is secured to itself as described hereafter to secure the toe or front portion of the skate guard 56 and the rail 80 carried thereon securely on the skate blade 50.
Various aspects of the front strap may be employed, with the front strap 112 shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 generally having intermeshing hook and pile portions 116 and 118 on the same or opposite sides of the strap portion 114 which are securable to themselves in a tight, releasible manner.
In another aspect of a front strap 120 shown in FIG. 7, the front strap 120 has a strap portion 122 with an enlarged end having an aperture 124 formed therein. The opposite end of the strap portion 122 is formed in a generally T-shape 126. As can be seen, the T-shaped end 126, after being wrapped around the toe support 54 on the blade holder 48 is, slidable through the aperture 124 to secure the strap 122 in a tight loop about the toe support 54 and the toe portion of the skate guard 56 through the aperture 110.
Another aspect of a front strap 130 is shown in FIG. 8. In this aspect, the front strap 130 includes a strap portion 132 with a necked down portion 134 at one end terminating in a head or ball-shaped member 136. The opposite end of the strap portion 132 is formed with at least one and, preferably, two or more axially spaced apertures, with key-holed slot shaped apertures being shown by way of example only.
In use, the strap portion 132 is extended through the aperture 110 in the skate guard 56 and wrapped around the holder toe support 54 until the head 136 inserted through the enlarged end of one of the slots 138 and urged to the narrow end of the slot 138 to secure the ends of the strap 132 together.
In yet another aspect of a front strap 140, shown in FIG. 9, the front strap 140 includes an elongated, generally planar strap portion 142 having at least one and, preferably, a plurality of outward extending projections 144 at one end and at least one and, preferably, a plurality of complementary sized apertures 146 at an opposite end. After the strap portion 142 is inserted through the aperture 110 in the skate guard 56 and wrapped around the holder toe support 54, one or more of the projections 144 are inserted through the aligned apertures 146 to tightly secure the front strap 140 to the skate guard 56 and the holder toe support 54.
Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is depicted a wheel assembly which may be employed, by way of example, in the roller apparatus 80. The roller apparatus 80 is provided with a pair of substantially identical wheel or roller assemblies 150 and 152, each of which includes a cylindrical axle 154, formed of a high strength material, such as metal, i.e., steel. A centrally located spacer bushing 156 extends through one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56. Each wheel 158 and 160, which may be formed of a urethane or other suitable skate wheel material, is also provided with a pair of wheel bushings 162 at opposite ends of an aperture receiving the axle 154 therethrough.
An enlarged head 164 is formed on one end of the axle 156 and is disposed exteriorly of the side surface of one of the wheels, such as wheel 160. The opposite wheel 158 has an aperture at one end of the bore extending through the wheel 158. The end 166 of the axle 154 is formed with an internally threaded bore 168 which receives a fastener, such as a screw 170 to secure the wheels 158 and 160 to the axle 154, the skate guard 56 and the rail 82. The provision of a plurality of pairs of apertures 100 in the rail 82 enables the wheel assembly 150 and 152 to be spaced as desired on the rail 82 to accommodate different length skates, a skater's particular preference, etc.
Referring now to FIG. 12, there is depicted another aspect of a support for the skate guard 56. Although the support shown in FIG. 12 is depicted as being usable with a figure skate wherein the blade 180 has a toe connector arm 181 and a heel connector arm 183 which are fixedly mounted to the skate sole, it will be understood that the support shown in FIG. 12 and described in greater detail hereafter, can also be employed with the hockey skate 40 shown in FIG. 1.
In this aspect of the invention, the skate guard support is formed of two separate support members including a first support member 182 adapted to be disposed adjacent the toe portion of the skate guard 56 and the toe connector arm 181, and a second support portion 184 adapted to be disposed adjacent the heel of the skate guard 56 and the heel connector arm 183.
Both of the first and second support members 182 and 184 has substantially the same shape including, for the first support member 182, a pair of opposed sidewalls 186 and 188 which extend generally perpendicularly from a base wall 190. The outer ends of the sidewalls 186 and 188 are formed within inward extending lips or flanges 192. Alternately, the ends of the sidewalls 186 and 188 may have the generally planar shape without the inward turned lips as shown in FIG. 5.
A plurality of apertures 194 are formed in aligned pairs in the sidewalls 186 and 188 at a spacing generally complementary to the spacing of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56.
Similarly, the second support portion 184 is formed with opposed sidewalls 196 and 198, each of which extend generally perpendicularly from a base wall 200. The ends of the sidewalls 196 and 198 may be formed with or without inward turned flanges 202. A plurality of apertures 204 are formed in aligned pairs in the sidewalls 196 and 198 for alignment with the slots 66 in the skate guard 56.
The first and second support members 182 and 184 each have an interior opening sized to slidably receive the skate guard 56 therethrough. Each of the support members 182 and 184 will be fixed in place on the skate guard 56 by insertion of one of the axles 154 on the wheel pairs through a selected one of the apertures 194 in the first support portion 182, or the aperture 204 in the second support member 184 and the corresponding slots 66 in the skate guard.
The provision of the plurality of apertures 194 and 204 in the first and second support members 182 and 184 allow for longitudinal adjustment of the spacing between the wheel pairs as well as the position of the first and second support members 182 and 184 on the skate guard 56 and the attached skate. Also, the plurality of pairs of apertures in each support members 182 and 184 allow for longitudinal adjustment of the position of the wheel assemblies 150 and 152. This allows the user to provide any wheel spacing and support position to achieve the desired balance and ease of use desired by the user.
Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, a modification to the second support portion 184 is depicted. It will be understood that this modification may also be employed with the one-piece channel or rail 82 described above and shown in FIG. 4.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the second support portion 184 is formed with a lock element 206 in the form of a plate extending completely across the upper ends of the sidewalls 196 and 198 and completely closing off the recess or channel 208 formed between the inward extending lips 202 or the sidewalls 196 and 198. The lock element 206 is positioned to be disposed over the upper edge of the rear end 210 of a skate blade 180 thereby providing additional locking capability to secure the skate blade 180 and the rail or support member 184 on the skate blade 180.
Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is depicted an alternate aspect of a front strap 210. The front strap 210 is usable with a keeper pin 212 having an elongated shank 214 and an enlarged head 216. The keeper pin 212 is adapted to be inserted through a selected pair of aligned apertures 100 in the rail 82 and one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 66. The front strap 210 is in the form of an elongated, generally planar strap having an aperture 218 at one end and an aperture 220 at an opposite end. The strap 210 is preferable formed of a material with at least a slight elasticity.
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the shank 214 of the keeper pin 212 is inserted through the aperture 218 in one end of the strap 210 and then through a selected pair of apertures 100 in the rail 82 and one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56. The strap 210 is then wrapped around the exterior of the rail 82 and the blade holder 48 through the aperture 51 in the blade holder 48, over the opposite side of the blade holder 48 and the sidewall 84 of the rail 82 until the aperture 220 in the opposite end of the strap 210 can be urged over the exposed end of the shank 214 of the keeper pin 212. This fixes the strap 210 about the rail 82 and the blade holder 48 to secure the forward end or toe portion of the rail 82 and the skate guard 56 to the blade holder 48.
Yet another aspect of a front strap 224 is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. In this aspect, the front strap 224 includes an elongated, generally planar strap member 226 having an aperture 228, which may be in the form of a keyhole slot, formed at one end. The opposite end of the strap member 226 is formed with an enlarged head 230.
In this aspect, at least the end portion of the strap member 226 extending from the head 230, and possibly the entire length of the strap member 226 may be formed of a slightly rigid enough material to enable the strap member 226 to be easily inserted through an aligned pair of apertures 100 in the rail 82 and one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56.
As shown in FIG. 18, in use, the free end of the strap member 226 is inserted through one pair of aligned apertures 100 in the rail 82 and one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56 until the head 230 abuts the sidewall 84. The strap member 226, after exiting the opposed aperture 100, is wrapped around the sidewall 86 of the rail 82 and the blade holder 48, through the central aperture 51 in the blade holder 48, and over the opposed sidewall 84 of the rail 82 to a position bringing the aperture 228 in proximity with the enlarged head 230 at the opposite end of the strap member 226. The enlarged head 230 is then inserted through the enlarged end of the aperture 228 allowing the adjacent narrower or smaller diameter portion of the strap member 226 adjacent to the enlarged head 230 to be slid into the narrower width portion of the slot 228 to lock the end of the strap member 226 in the slot 228 and tightly secure the strap member 228 about the rail 82, the skate guard 56 and the blade holder 48.
Yet another aspect of a front strap and modified rail are shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. In this aspect of the invention, the rail 82 is formed with an additional notch 236 extending through a lower portion of the sidewalls 84 and 86 and a portion of the bottom wall 88. The notch 236 exposes one or more of the slots 66 in the skate guard 66 to view as shown in FIG. 19.
In this aspect, a front strap 238, formed of a generally planar strap member 240 substantially similar to the front strap 224 described above and shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, is provided with at least one and preferably, a pair of apertures at a first end. The opposite end of the strap member 240 is formed with an enlarged head 242. The apertured end of the strap member 240 is first urged through one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56 exposed to view by the notch 236 in the rail 82 until the head 242 abuts the sidewall 86. The strap member 240 is then passed over the sidewall 84 of the rail 82 and around and through the central aperture 51 in the blade holder 48 to bring the opposed apertured end of the strap member 240 over a pair of projections 244 generally in the form of headed screws mounted in the sidewall 86 of the rail 82. The one or more apertures in the end of the strap member 240 are inserted over the one or more projections 244 to fixedly lock the strap 238 around the blade holder 48, the rail 82 and the skate guard 56.
FIG. 21 depicts a modified strap 248 usable with the modified rail 82 shown in FIG. 19. In this aspect, the strap 248 has two enlarged heads 250 and 252 formed at each opposed end. The strap 248 is preferably provided with at least slightly elastic properties enabling it to be inserted through one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56 bringing one head 250 in engagement with one sidewall 84. For example, the strap 248 maybe a bungee cord with out the metal end hooks. The strap 248 is then passed around the sidewall 84 of the rail 82 and through the central aperture 51 in the blade holder 48, and around the opposed sidewall 86 of the rail 82. The strap 248 is further inserted through an adjacent slot 66 in the skate guard 56 until the opposed head 252 is disposed adjacent to the opposite sidewall 84 of the rails 82. This wrapped arrangement of the strap 248 tightly secures the forward or toe end of the skate 240 to the blade holder 48, the skate guard 56 and the rail 82. The strap 248 may be releasibly engagable with one of open-ends slots 66 or have one end non-releasibly mounted in a closed aperture int eh skate guard 56.
Referring now to FIGS. 23 and 24, there is depicted another aspect of a roller apparatus employing a unique front strap according to the present invention.
This aspect of the invention makes use of the lightening apertures 56 in the blade 50 shown in FIG. 22. A keeper pin 254 having an elongated shank 256 terminating in an enlarged head 258 is inserted through one aligned pair of apertures 100 in the rail 82, an upper end of a slot 66 in the skate guard 56 and one of the lightening apertures 52 in the skate blade 50. The strap member 260 has an enlarged head 262 at one end. The head 262 secures one end of the strap 260 in position abutting the sidewall 84. The strap 260 is then inserted through an aligned pair of apertures 100 in the rail 82 and one slot 66 in the skate guard 56, along the sidewall 84 to an opposite end. An aperture 262 is formed at the end and is mountable over the shank 256 of the keeper pin 254 adjacent to the head 258.
Finally, referring now to FIGS. 25 and 26, there is depicted yet another aspect of a roller apparatus according to the present invention. In this aspect, the roller apparatus makes use of the pairs of wheel assemblies 150 and 152 containing wheels 160 mounted on an axle 154 extending through one of a plurality of closed apertures 270 which are linearly spaced along a length of a skate guard 272. The closed apertures 270 can be continuous along the length of the skate guard 272, at least in the area of the wheel assemblies 150 and 152 or interrupted by opened end slots, like slots 66 for receiving the pin 74 on the heel strap 70. The skate guard 272 is otherwise constructed in the same manner as the skate guard 56 to include an open ended recess extending from an upper end for receiving the skate blade 50 therethrough. A bushing 274 may be interposed over the axle 154 in one of the apertures 270 to rotatably support the axle 154 in one aperture 270 in the skate guard 272.
The heel strap 70 described above is mounted in another one of the apertures 270 by providing the pin 74 with a snap connection, typically through an aperture in one end of the strap 70 to secure the strap 70 to the skate guard 272 and wrapped in a position in which the closed end 76 of the strap 70 is wrapped around the outer surface of the heel portion of the blade holder 48. Although a front strap is not shown in FIG. 25, it will be understood that any of the front straps described above may be employed in this aspect of the invention.
Referring now to FIGS. 27, 28, 30 and 32, there is depicted another aspect of the roller apparatus 300 according to the present invention. The roller apparatus 300 makes use of the rail 82, skate guard 56 and blade 50 described above. Heel strap 70 is also employed in the roller apparatus 300.
The roller apparatus 300 includes a rear wheel assembly 302 and a front wheel assembly 304 which are each adapted for supporting one or more rollers or wheels 306 and 308, respectively, in an in-line configuration directly under the rail 82.
The rear wheel assembly 302, shown in greater detail in FIG. 28, is in the form of a pair of plate members 310 and 312 which are affixed at one end to the sidewalls 84 and 86, respectively, of the rail 82 and have a second depending end 314 carrying an aperture 316 for receiving an axle or pin 318 which is fixedly mounted by means of end caps 320 to the plates 310 and 312 to support the roller 306 directly below the skate blade 50.
The plates 310 and 312 can be fixed to the sidewalls 84 and 86 of the rail 82 by suitable means, including welding, as well as the illustrated nut 322 and bolt 324 which extend through apertures in the plates 310 and 312 and aligned ones of the apertures 100 in the sidewalls 84 and 86 of the rail 82 and one aperture 66 in the skate guard 56.
The roller or wheel 306 may be any conventional in-line skate roller or wheel and may be provided with a central hub which has an inner bearing surface engaged with a smooth shank portion of the bolt 324.
The plates 310 and 312 may also be integrally formed as one piece with the rail 82 as shown for the rear wheel plate 312′ in the modified rail 82′ in FIG. 29. In this aspect of the invention, the rear wheel mounting plates are each integrally formed, such as by molding or casting, on the sidewall 84′ of the rail 82′ and the opposed sidewall, not shown.
A further aspect of the rear wheel assembly and also the front wheel assembly is shown in FIG. 31 and includes a plurality of rollers 330 and 332 mounted in a cage 344 formed of a generally tubular body fixed, such as by welding, between two enlarged side plates 336 and 338. Axles for each of the rollers 330 and 332 extend through the plates 336 and 338 and terminates in heads 340. A plurality of apertures 342 are formed in each plate 336 and 338 for receiving fasteners which extend through aligned ones of the apertures 342 and the apertures 100 in the sidewalls 284 and 286 of the rail 82 and the aperture 66 in the skate guard 56.
The front wheel support 304 includes a pair of front plates 350 and 352 certain of which are adjustably alignable with apertures 100 in the rail 82 and one aperture 66 in the skate guard 56 for receiving fasteners, such as nuts and bolts both denoted by reference number 354, to secure the plates 350 and 352 to the forward end of the rail 82.
Similarly, the at least one wheel or roller 308 is mounted on an axle 358 extending through apertures in the plates 350 and 352. The roller 308 is supported axially in-line with the rear mounted roller 306.
An optional support pin 360 extends through aligned apertures in the plates 350 and 352. The pin 362 underlies the bottom wall of the rail 82 for added front end support of the rail 82.
The single roller 308 and the plates 350 and 352 may be replaced by the carriage assembly 334 shown in FIG. 31 to provide a plurality, such as two or more rollers 330 and 332, at the forward end of the roller apparatus 300.
In addition, the plates 350′ and 352′ may be integrally formed, such as by welding or molding, as a unitary, one-piece part of the rail 82′ as shown in FIG. 29. This integral mounting eliminates the need for the fasteners 354.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the roller apparatus 300 includes an optional lock means 370 on the forward end of the rail 82. The lock means includes a member which is moveable from a first retracted position laterally outboard of the blade 50 and the skate guard 56 to permit insertion or removal of the skate blade 50 into or out of the skate guard 56 carried in the rail 82, and a second, inward extending position, shown in FIGS. 27 and 32, in which a inner end 372 of the moveable member, such as pin 374, overlays and may be in contact with or closely spaced from the upper surface of the blade 50 to assist in securing the forward end of the blade 50 in the skate guard 56 and rail 82.
The lock means 370, in the aspect shown in FIGS. 27, 30 and 32, includes the pin 374 which is mounted in a housing 376 carrying an internal spring which normally biases the end 372 of the pin 374 outward from the housing 376. A nut 378 is engagable around a threaded portion of the exterior of the housing 376 for securing the housing 376 to one of the plates, such as an enlargement or plate 354. An end 376 of the pin 374 opposite from the end 372 has an aperture which receives a transverse pin 378 which secures an actuator, such as a lever or handle 380, to the end 376 of the pin 374. Movement of the actuator 380 in the direction of arrow 382 retracts the end 374 of the pin 372 into or toward the housing 376 to disengage the end 372 of the pin 374 from the skate blade 50 allowing insertion or removal of the skate blade 50 into and out of the skate guard 56. Release of actuating force on the lever 380 allows the internal biasing means or spring in the housing 376 to re-extend the end 372 of the pin 374 over the upper edge of the skate blade 50.
Another aspect of a lock means 385 is shown in FIG. 33. This aspect is similar to the lock means 370 shown in FIG. 32 except that the pivotal actuator or lever 380 is replaced by a pull ring 386 which is mounted through the aperture in the end 376 of the pin 374. Movement of the pin 374 is effected in the same manner as with the lever 380 by pulling and release of the pull ring 386. The lock means 385 and most of the components of the lock means 370 are commercially available as a Quick Release Pin from Pivot Point, Inc., Hustisford, Wis.
Another aspect of the lock means 390 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 34 and 35. The lock means 390 operates on a cam principal. A support 392 is fixed, such as by fasteners 394 or welds, to an end portion of the front wheel support plate 352. The support 392 carries a rotatable lever 396 which is secured about a pivot axis 398 shown in FIG. 35 to a rotatable member 400 having an outwardly extending cam 402. Rotatable movement of the lever 396 rotates the member 400 in the opposed directions of arrow 404 to bring cam 402 into and out of engagement with skate blade 50 to allow insertion and/or removal of the skate blade 50 to and from the skate guard 56 while providing additional support to retain the skate blade 50 in the skate guard 56 and the attached rail 82 during use of the roller apparatus 300.
Another aspect of a lock means 440 as shown in FIG. 37. The lock means 460 is similar to the lock means 370 shown in FIG. 32 in that it includes a moveable pen 374 having a first end 372 and an opposed second end 375. A nut 378 secures a pin housing 376 to mounting plate 352 on the rail 56. A yoke 446 is mounted by means of suitable fasteners, for example, on the plate 352 and pivotally receives a mating tongue of an actuator lever 442. The biasing means 448, such as a coiled spring, is mounted between a post on the yoke 446 and a portion of the actuator lever 442 for normally biasing the lever 442 to a first position in which the end 372 of the pin 374 is extended outward from the pin housing 376 and overlays the top edge of the blade 50 to lock the blade 50 in the rail 56. The other end of the actuator lever 442 overlays the end 376 of the pin 374. An aperture 443 in the pin 374 receives a plunge pin which extends through a lined bores in the actuator lever 442 to pivotally couple the actuator lever 442 to the pin 374. In this manner, the biasing means 448 normally biases the actuator lever 442 to a first position in which the end 372 of the pin 374 is extended outward from the pin housing 376 and overlays the skate blade 50 to lock the skate blade 50 in the rail 56. Pressure applied in the direction of arrow 452 on one end of the actuator lever 442 causes the opposite end of the actuator lever to pivot in the direction of arrow 454 thereby retracting the pin 372 and enabling the blade 50 of the skate to be removed from the rail 56.
Yet another aspect of a lock means 460 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 38 and 39. The lock means 460 includes a plate 462 which is mounted to the rail 56 by means of suitable fasteners 354. A yoke 464 is fixedly mounted on the plate 462 by suitable means, such as fasteners or rivets 463. The yoke 464 supports a pivot pin 465 which extends through a tongue portion of an actuating lever 466 to pivotally couple the actuator lever 466 to the yoke 464. A biasing means 468 is mounted between a pin on one end 467 of the actuator lever 466 and an aligned pin on a mounting leg of the yoke 464. The biasing means 468 which is shown by way of example only as being a coil spring, exerts a biasing force on one end of the actuator lever 466 to bias the actuator lever 466 to a first position shown in FIGS. 38 and 39 in the direction of arrow 474.
The other end 472 of the actuator lever 466 is elongated and is disposed to extend through an aperture 470 in the mounting plate 462 when the actuator 466 is in the first position. In this first position, an end 473 of the end 472 of the actuator lever 466 extends through the aperture 470 in the plate 462 and overlays the upper or top edge of the blade 50 to lock the blade 50 in the rail 56. A force exerted against the end 467 of the actuator lever 466 causes pivotal movement of the actuator lever 466 in the direction of arrow 476 thereby retracting the end 473 into or through the slot 470 to enable the blade 50 to be removed from the rail 50.
Referring now to FIGS. 29 and 36, there is depicted another feature of the present invention in the form of a brake or stop member 420. The brake or stop member is formed of a pad 422 constructed of a resilient material, such as rubber, an elastomer, etc. The pad 422 has an irregularly cubical, block-like shape with a generally flat or arcuate lower surface 424 adapted to engage the ground for a friction stop.
A pair of arms 426 and 428 integrally or fixed extend from the block 422 in a spaced apart manner. Each arm 426 and 428 has a through bore 430 and 432, respectively, which are aligned for receiving a fastening means which may be in the form of a headed pin 434 having an internally threaded bore 436 extending from one end. The pin 434 is inserted through the aligned apertures and separate bores 438 and 440 formed in the sidewalls 84 and 86 of the rail 82 and a through bore 442 formed in the skate guard 56. The bores 438, 440 and 442 are aligned, as shown in FIG. 36 for receiving the pin 434 therethrough. A separated threaded screw 444, having an enlarged head, is threaded into the threaded bore 436 at the end of the pin 434 to secure the pin 434 in the arms 426 and 428 thereby securing the break or stop member 420 to the rear end of the rail 82.
In use, with the brake member 422 attached to the rear end of the rail 82, the user need only tilt the rail 82 upward about the rear end to bring the surface 424 of the brake 420 into engagement with the underlying surface to provide friction to stop movement of the user.
Referring now to FIGS. 40 and 41, there is depicted a combined rear wheel mount, heel strap mount and an alternate heel strap. The rear wheel mount in this aspect of the invention, is in the form of two plates 480 and 482, each having a generally planar configuration but an irregular shaped periphery. At least one and preferably a plurality of spaced mounting holes for 484 are mounted linearly along a lower portion of each mounting plate 480 and 482. The mounting holes 484 receive fasteners 486 to secure each mounting plate 480 and 482 to a rail 488. The rail 488 is similar to the previously described rails, except that it has a continuous, non-interrupted cross-section lacking the notch 102.
The apertures 484 allow fore and aft adjustment of the position of the rear mounting plates 480 and 482 on the rail 488 to accommodate different length skate blades. One or more of the rear mounting apertures 484 may also be employed to receive fasteners to attach a brake pad 420 to the mounting plates 480 and 482, as described above and shown in FIG. 29.
The lower portion of each mounting plate 480 and 482 has an aperture which receives a pivot pin 490 for rotatably supporting at least one rear wheel or roller 306.
At least one and preferably a plurality of spaced apertures 492 are formed in an upper portion of each rear mounting plate 480 and 482. The apertures 492 receive opposite ends 496 and 498 of a stretchable or elastic heel strap 494 as shown in FIGS. 40 and 41. The heel strap 494 which may be provided in different widths and lengths is appliable over the rear edge of a blade holder 500. Securing means 502, in the form of bodies having opposed slots 504 extending laterally therethrough receive the ends 496 and 498 of the heel strap 494 in a back and forth woven pattern to secure the ends 496 and 498 in the bodies 502.
The ends 496 and 498 of the heel strap may be extended through any of the apertures 492 in the mounting plates 480 and 482 to provide a taut securing force for the heel strap 494 against the blade holder 500 despite a lengthwise adjustment of the mounting plates 480 and 482 relative to the rail 488. Alternately, the ends 496 and 498 of the heel strap 494 may be inserted through any of the apertures 492 to provide a different, i.e., higher or lower, securing force on the blade holder 500 to secure the rear portion of the skate in the roller apparatus.
The present invention provides a unique roller apparatus which can be easily mounted on an ice skate over the skate blade with or without an intervening skate guard mounted over the skate blade to provide easy rolling capability for the user while wearing the skates and not on an ice surface while at the same time protecting the sharp edges of the ice blade from dulling or damage cause by contact with a non-ice surface. The roller apparatus makes use of the heel strap employed with existing skate guards as well as one of several different front straps and/or locks to securely, yet releasibly mount the roller apparatus about the skate guard and inserted skate blade. The roller apparatus can be provided with pairs of laterally spaced front end rear wheels as well as a plurality of axially in-line wheels.
