Including Pivotally Mounted Boot Patents (Class 280/11.224)
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Patent number: 8777236Abstract: An improved braking system is disclosed in which a pair of conical braking members engage a pair of skate wheels through vertical movement of a pushrod that is actuated by movement of the skater's foot within a cuff. The braking members are separated by a spring disposed on an axel to maintain the braking members in optimal braking position. The braking members are serrated to promote frictional contact with the wheels, and a disk is positioned on the axel to act as a clutch to control the braking force.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Alexander BellehumeurInventors: Alexander R. Bellehumeur, James Woods
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Patent number: 8333391Abstract: A frame for a clap skate comprises: a lower frame part; an upper frame part with means for coupling to the sole and heel of a skate shoe; hinge which couples the two frame parts hingedly to each other and which are situated at a distance above the foremost zone of the lower frame part and define a first free degree of freedom of rotation, or a plane varying a maximum of about 30° therefrom of the runner; and resetting means for urging the upper frame part to a rest position determined by positioning means, in which rest position the frame parts have the smallest possible mutual distance. The hinge defines a second free degree of freedom of ±30° perpendicularly of the first free degree of freedom. The upper frame part performs an up and downward and lateral pivoting movement relative to the lower frame part.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2008Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Widee B.V.Inventor: Jan-Willem Meijer
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Patent number: 7871086Abstract: The present invention refers to a skate with in-line rollers or ice-skating blades, comprising: a boot provided with a sole comprising a heel portion, a central portion and a toe portion; a chassis acting as a support for said sole to rest thereupon, and including a first carriage and a second carriage that are capable of moving relative to each other and adapted to support at least a front roller or blade and at least a rear roller or blade respectively; the first carriage comprises a first plate for said heel portion to rest thereupon, from which there extends towards the front portion of the skate a first arm that is adapted to support at least said front roller or blade, and the second carriage comprises a second plate for the toe portion to rest thereupon, from which there extends towards the rear portion of the skate a second arm that is adapted to support at least said rear roller or blade; the first and second carriages overlap each other approximately at the central portion of the sole.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Nordica S.p.A.Inventor: Claudio Zampieri
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Patent number: 7712749Abstract: A footwear includes a main shoe body provided with a recess on a bottom thereof; an upper body fixed to the recess and having a plurality of magnets arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction; a lower body having a plurality of magnets arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction, and connected with the upper body to be rotatable relative to the upper body; and rollers mounted to the lower body. The magnets of the upper body and the lower body are arranged so as to return the rollers always to a regular position by magnetism acting between the magnets of the upper body and the magnets of the lower body.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Inventor: Duk-Ki Moon
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Patent number: 7419187Abstract: A skate includes a midskate hinge in the shoe to preferentially flex the shoe base at the metatarsal area, a forward hinge to allow the rear of the shoe to be raised in relation to the rear of the skate frame, and a third hinge to laterally stabilize the rear of the shoe as the shoe base is flexed.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: K-2 CorporationInventors: Darrin J Haugen, John E Svensson
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Publication number: 20080067763Abstract: The present invention refers to a skate with in-line rollers or ice-skating blades, comprising: a boot provided with a sole comprising a heel portion, a central portion and a toe portion; a chassis acting as a support for said sole to rest thereupon, and including a first carriage and a second carriage that are capable of moving relative to each other and adapted to support at least a front roller or blade and at least a rear roller or blade respectively; the first carriage comprises a first plate for said heel portion to rest thereupon, from which there extends towards the front portion of the skate a first arm that is adapted to support at least said front roller or blade, and the second carriage comprises a second plate for the toe portion to rest thereupon, from which there extends towards the rear portion of the skate a second arm that is adapted to support at least said rear roller or blade; the first and second carriages overlap each other approximately at the central portion of the sole.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2005Publication date: March 20, 2008Applicant: Nordica S.P.A.Inventor: Claudio Zampieri
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Patent number: 7270343Abstract: The invention describes a pivotable binding system (1) for mounting between a sports device (2) and a tread surface (5) for a user's foot, in which the tread surface (5) is pivotable about an axis extending more or less parallel with the ankle joint of the foot and is displaceable, at least in a part region assigned to the toes, to a position closer to the sports device (2), and can be joined to the sports device by at least one binding element (11). The binding element (11) is flexible and is resiliently deformable in a vertical plane (8).Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Atomic Austria GmbHInventor: Bernhard Riepler
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Publication number: 20070205569Abstract: The present invention refers to a steering device for sports articles (1) adapted to slide on a supporting surface (2) by means of a plurality of supporting and sliding elements (3) provided in an in-line arrangement; the steering device comprises a chassis (5), to which there is associated at least a carriage 6a adapted to swing relative to said chassis (5), against the force of elastic means (17, 18), about an axis (7) that is inclined by an angle (x with respect to said supporting surface (2) and lies substantially on the median longitudinal plane (4) of the chassis (5). The carriage (6)a is adapted to support at least two supporting and sliding elements (3) in a manner that the respective support axes (25, 26) come to lie substantially parallel to said supporting surface (2) on opposite sides with respect to the pivoting, i.e. swinging centre (27) of said carriage 6a relative to said chassis (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2004Publication date: September 6, 2007Inventor: Andrea Battocchio
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Patent number: 6971652Abstract: Connecting mechanisms for pivotally coupling a shoe with a sporting device are described. In one embodiment, the connecting mechanism can include a support element for supporting a shoe, a connecting element disposed on a sporting device, and a coupling element for coupling the support element to the connecting element. The support element can include a first end liftably disposable on the sporting device and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The coupling element can include a first end attachable via a first pivot to the second end of the support element and a second end attachable via a second pivot to the connecting element. The first and second pivots can be active successively with the progression of a bending movement of a foot in a shoe supported by the support element.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2003Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Viking Schaatsenfabriek B.V.Inventors: Maarten Bobbert, Gerrit de Groot, Johannes Hendricus Petrus Houdjik, Jacobus Jozef de Koning, Hans Meester, Albert Wilhelm Schreurs
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Patent number: 6921093Abstract: A flexing base skate (100) 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 of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (28) that carries rearward wheels (18c, 18d). A second embodiment (100) provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a base (104) mounted at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal portion (108), and forms an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide (118) for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment (210) provides a forward frame segment (226) carrying forward wheels (218) and a rearward frame segment (228) carrying rearward wheel (218).Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: K-2 CorporationInventors: John E. Svensson, Antonin A. Meibock
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Patent number: 6883811Abstract: A skate with a main skate frame, a skate boot, and a carriage frame pivotally coupled to the main skate frame. At least one ground engaging member, such as a wheel or a runner blade, is coupled to the carriage frame for pivoting therewith. The main skate frame can pivot laterally, dorsally, or both laterally and dorsally relative to the carriage frame. Lateral pivoting can be achieved, for example, with a lateral pivot shaft or with an arcuate passage with a plurality of axles that also enable dorsal pivoting.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2002Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Inventor: Juraj George Tlucko
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Patent number: 6871860Abstract: An in-line skate composed of an inner boot connected to an outer boot at a pivot point near the toe. Mounted between the inner and outer boots springs under the heel area, used to limit and dampen the shock and vibration transmitted to the skater. The inner and outer boots contain mating holes in the upper heel area, for the engagement of a locking pin. Freeing the boot sections decompresses the springs and allows them to function as shock absorbers. The locking pin has an enlarged end that is sized to move freely in the inner boot portion of the hole yet be retained by the smaller stop portion defined by the outer boot mating hole. The wheel frame has a section for the retention of the majority of the wheels, and a section for the retention of a pivoting wheel. The pivoting wheel frame contains internally lubricated ball bearings for ease of movement while pivoting.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2002Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Inventor: Constant Noel Esse ya
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Patent number: 6851683Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Inventor: Andreas C. Wegener
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Patent number: 6843497Abstract: The invention describes a pivotable binding system (1) for mounting between a sports device (2) and a tread surface (5) for a user's foot, in which the tread surface (5) is pivotable about an axis extending more or less parallel with the ankle joint of the foot and is displaceable, at least in a part region assigned to the toes, to a position closer to the sports device (2), and can be joined to the sports device by at least one binding element (11). The binding element (11) is flexible and is resiliently deformable in a vertical plane (8).Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1999Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: ATOMIC Austria GmbHInventor: Bernhard Riepler
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Publication number: 20040262861Abstract: The present invention pertains to a klop skate with pushing and pulling capabilities. In one alternate, the skate includes a glide member (110) for traversing a surface. The skate includes a shoe portion (112) for receiving a skater's foot. The skate has a base secured to the shoe portion (112) and underlying the received foot. The skate has a base lever (114) secured to the shoe portion base. The base lever (114) has a forward end portion and a forward base attachment structure (124) defined by the forward end portion. The base lever (114) has a longitudinal base lever axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of the received foot. The skate also includes an elongate frame (116) for mounting the glide member (110). The frame has a longitudinal axis, a forward end portion, and a forward frame attachment structure (136). The skate has a canted hinge (126) for connecting the forward end portion of the base lever (114) to the forward end portion of the frame (116).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: K2 CorporationInventor: Drew Krah
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Publication number: 20040160025Abstract: A semi-soft shoe mainly has a cuffing piece protruding from a bottom rim on the rear lateral side of a fixed frame of the shoe; an elastic piece connects with the cuffing piece and an insert opening at the upper aspect; wherein, the elastic piece is of a long shape with a center expanding circularly such that the upper and lower ends of the fixed piece are riveted firmly at the insert opening and the cuffing piece so as to reinforce the entire structural supporting strength and protect the ankle from damage; a removable cushion liner is disposed inside the shoe for easy cleansing and replacement thereby eliminating odor situation so as to achieve the objectives of cleansing, sanitation and replacing the damaged cushion liner.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Inventor: Shi-Pei Liu
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Publication number: 20040135328Abstract: A flexing base skate (100) 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 of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (28) that carries rearward wheels (18c, 18d). A second embodiment (100) provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a base (104) mounted at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal portion (108), and forms an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide (118) for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment (210) provides a forward frame segment (226) carrying forward wheels (218) and a rearward frame segment (228) carrying rearward wheel (218).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Applicant: K-2 CorporationInventors: John E. Svensson, Antonin A. Meibock
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Patent number: 6736412Abstract: A klop skate with pushing and pulling capabilities. In one alternate, the skate includes a glide member (110) for traversing a surface. The skate includes a shoe portion (112) for receiving a skater's foot. The skate has a base secured to the shoe portion (112) and underlying the received foot. The skate has a base lever (114) secured to the shoe portion base. The base lever (114) has a forward end portion and a forward base attachment structure (124) defined by the forward end portion. The base lever (114) has a longitudinal base lever axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of the received foot. The skate also includes an elongate frame (116) for mounting the glide member (110). The frame has a longitudinal axis, a forward end portion, and a forward frame attachment structure (136). The skate has a canted hinge (126) for connecting the forward end portion of the base lever (114) to the forward end portion of the frame (116).Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2000Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: K2 CorporationInventor: Drew Krah
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Patent number: 6726225Abstract: An ankle support, particularly for in-line skates, which includes a base support that wraps about the users heel and a spaced upper support which wraps about the user's leg. The upper and base supports are fixedly joined by a plurality of struts. At least one stop secured to either the upper support or the struts abuts a stop on the base support to provide a hard stop for maximum braking.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Brian Stewart, Christopher A. Robinette, James Thorne, Allen W. Van Noy
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Patent number: 6666463Abstract: A first embodiment of a flexing base skate (100) 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 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 plate (72) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward frame segment overlaps the rearward frame segment for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment (100) provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a flexible base (104) mounted only at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal head portion (108), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: K-2 CorporationInventors: John E. Svensson, Antonin A. Meibock
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Publication number: 20030197338Abstract: A tri-wheel skating boot, comprised of a hollow area formed at the bottom in the rear of the truck, a suspended support shaft frame extending forward from the rear of the truck, a laterally disposed shaft tube at the end of the support shaft frame pivoted to a wheel shaft with both ends connected to two rear wheels, a seat at the center above the shaft tube, a recessed trough in the rear truck, a hole at the bottom of the recessed trough to connect through the hollow area below, a connection block between the hole and the seat; a protrusion at the upper end of the connection block to lock it in position relatively to the hole; a spherical surface at the lower end of the connection block to hold against the seat, a screw hole at the top of the connection block; a convexity with a central hole formed in the rear of boot above the truck to be inserted into the recessed trough in the truck and secured with a bolt in the connection block for achieving proper deflection of the support shaft frame to compromise theType: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2002Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventor: Ting-Hsing Chen
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Patent number: 6595529Abstract: An improved hinge system for pivotally coupling a skate lower portion to a skate upper cuff. The multi-hinge design incorporates a four link chain mechanism that greatly increases the number of design options for a hinged boot. The pivot axis defined by the four link chain can be designed to shift through a path of travel that generally coincides with the path of travel of the anatomical pivot axis defined by the user's foot and leg. The upper cuff and boot lower portion account for two of the four links of the four link mechanism. The other two links are either rigid bars with pin connections on both the upper cuff and the lower portion, or roller links with a pin connection to the upper and a slot like sliding surface on the lower portion. A slider link can be substituted for the roller and a slide surface can be substituted for the slot.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Inventor: Arthur G. Erdman
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Patent number: 6592131Abstract: A roller skate includes a wheel housing having two front and two rear panels each of which has one or more oblong holes. Two seats are secured to a shoe, and each has two plates slidably engaged onto the panels with one or more conduits or tubes which are slidably received in the oblong holes of the panels for preventing the seats from moving laterally relative to the panels. A barrel is disposed on the wheel housing, a sleeve is disposed on the rear seat and slidably engaged onto the barrel, and a spring member is stably received between the sleeve and the barrel.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2002Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Inventor: Yio Deng Bai
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Publication number: 20030102641Abstract: An improved cuff hinging structure of an in-line roller skate includes a plurality of wheels set straight under a chassis, a base portion mounted on the chassis, and a cuff connected to the boot of the base portion through pivots on an ankle support cuff, providing excellent resilience for the cuff and thus enhancing the durability of the skate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2001Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventor: Shi-Pei Liu
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Patent number: 6557864Abstract: An in-line roller skate is described, which consists of a chassis (2) equipped with at least two rollers (3) and which has two platforms (4, 5) and a boot (1) with a flexible upper resting on the platforms and connected to these platforms by a rigid part consisting of a footbed (17) connected to the inside of the flexible upper. The sole is thus securely held between the rigid footbed and at least the rear platform of the chassis.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1998Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Lange International S.A.Inventor: David Lenoir
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Patent number: 6513815Abstract: 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 connection near the top for pivotally connecting the lever to the wheel frame, and a hole and shaft combination for connecting a resilient member. The lever's pivot connection 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: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Verducci USA LLCInventors: Douglas Glass, Ty Bennett Daughtridge, Albert Merrell Kaiser
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Patent number: 6485034Abstract: A roller assembly of an in-line roller skate fastened to the sole of a boot for gliding on a surface and formed of a roller frame with wheels, a boot frame fastened pivotally with the roller frame, a braking mechanism fixed on the boot frame, and a biasing mechanism mounted between the roller frame and the boot frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Inventor: Tien-Chiu Chou
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Patent number: 6481726Abstract: A skate which includes a shoe having a first frame and a second frame for supporting one or more wheels. The first frame and the second frame, or the sole of the shoe, are articulated in a region which lies approximately below the metatarsus of the foot in order to allow better flexing. An adjustable fork assembly is also provided between the first frame and the sole and is adapted to force the planar arrangement of the shoe once thrusting has ended.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Benetton Group S.p.A.Inventors: Fabio Alfieri, Roberto Gorza, Francesco Caeran
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Patent number: 6431558Abstract: A hinge system for pivotally coupling a skate lower portion to a skate upper cuff. The multi-hinge design incorporates a four link chain mechanism. The pivot axis defined by the four link chain can be designed to shift through a path of travel that generally coincides with the path of travel of the anatomical pivot axis defined by the user's foot and leg. The upper cuff and boot lower portion account for two of the four links of the four link mechanism. The other two links are either rigid bars with pin connections on both the upper cuff and the lower portion, or roller links with a pin connection to the upper and a slot sliding surface on the lower portion. A slider link can be substituted for the roller and a slide surface can be substituted for the slot.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1999Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Inventor: Arthur G. Erdman
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Patent number: 6431559Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Inventor: Juraj George Tlucko
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Patent number: 6382639Abstract: An in-line skate having a suspension means that reduces or eliminates lateral movement of the skate boot. The in-line skate has a wheel chassis with a plurality of tandem wheels rotatably mounted thereon and a boot attached to the chassis. The diameter of the wheels preferably decreases from the toe end to the heel end of the chassis. The toe of the boot is pivotally attached to the chassis. A cylindrical suspension guide member extends vertically along a portion of the back of the boot and has a central bore located therein. A suspension chassis includes a pair of substantially parallel vertically disposed guide posts with a horizontal guide plate extending between the upper ends of the vertical guide posts and around the back of the boot. A stabilizer rod extends upwardly from the heel end of the wheel chassis. The stabilizer rod extends through the bore of the cylindrical guide member and through a bore extending vertically through the horizontal guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2001Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Inventor: Tyler Scherner
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Publication number: 20020017764Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2001Publication date: February 14, 2002Applicant: K-2 CorporationInventors: John E. Svensson, Antonin A. Meibock
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Patent number: 6340164Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2000Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: Salomon S.A.Inventor: René Borel
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Patent number: 6336643Abstract: A jump skate comprises a boot with a base attachment, a surface engager, and a link/spring mechanism, which uses large spring deformation to boost a skater in jumping. The link/spring mechanism comprises at least two links and at least one spring (coil or wound). The links and the spring(s) are made of metallic, synthetic, or composite materials. The link/spring mechanism is connected to the boot and the surface engager with pin joints in such a way that allows large relative displacement with zero rotation between the boot and the surface engager, which offers improved control of the surface engager for skate jump/landing. The spring(s) is installed in such a way that it deforms with relative displacements between the boot and the surface engager. Thus a skater can first store energy into the spring(s) by forcing the boot down towards the surface engager and then jump to release the energy for further height.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2000Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: American Composites CorporationInventor: Thomas J. Wu
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Patent number: 6325394Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2000Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: K-2 CorporationInventors: John E. Svensson, Antonin A. Meibock
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Publication number: 20010026054Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2000Publication date: October 4, 2001Applicant: Todd Jack OlsonInventors: Todd Jack Olson, Thomas Lee Spaulding, Alan Eugene Doop
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Patent number: 6293564Abstract: An in-line roller skate, which comprises a rigid shell wherein a flexible inner shoe is housed. The latter is advantageously lined at the level of its leg portion by a cover, thereby defining with it a sheath substantially open downward in which the upper part of the shell is housed. In this way, when the skater's ankle bends forwards it is supported by the inner shoe as a result of the interference arising between the cover and the upper part of the shell. This allows a great freedom of movement in a longitudinal direction for the skater's ankle, which can be bent even in a very accentuated manner, differently from what occurs in the known skates, where the bottom of the leg is enclosed in a rigid leg portion. At the same time, good support is maintained in a lateral direction owing to the upper part of the shell which allows the transmission of the guiding movements. According to a preferred embodiment, the cover may be hinged to the shell in the malleolar regions.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1998Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Tecnica SPAInventor: Andrea Gabrielli
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Patent number: 6270089Abstract: A boot/sport article assembly wherein the boot has at least one locking member, the sport article has at least one associated locking device complementary to the locking member to define at least one locking system, respectively, and at least one element of each locking system is elastically displaceably mounted in the vertical direction so as to block the boot against the sport article by traction in the vertical direction during the locking operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1998Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Salomon S.A.Inventor: Laurent Marechal
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Patent number: 6267411Abstract: A skate including a frame provided with a detachable connection to a shoe and with which mutually inline wheels are associated. The skate further includes a device for temporarily supporting the single frame in a stable position when the shoe is not associated with the frame. The device can be deactivated by the engagement of the shoe with the frame, so as to allow the user to use the skate.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1998Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Benetton Sportsystems S.p.A.Inventors: Renzo Balbinot, Nicola Belli, Mario Gonella, Roberto Gorza
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Patent number: 6267389Abstract: A skate particularly adapted for speed contests has a foot-receiving boot hinged about a fore-foot section of the sole to a in-line wheel-mounting or blade-mounting truck so that the heel-section of the boot can be rotatively lifted away from the truck while keeping the skate is full contact with the skating surface. The boot is biased down toward the truck by a strong spring in a first embodiment of the invention, or by the resiliency of a hinge-forming web linking the boot to the truck in an alternate embodiment. A quickly set mechanism is provided to lock the boot onto the truck to turn the device into a conventional skate.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1998Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Inventor: James D. Veltmeyer
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Publication number: 20010007386Abstract: A skate which includes a shoe having a first frame and a second frame for supporting one or more wheels. The first frame and the second frame, or the sole of the shoe, are articulated in a region which lies approximately below the metatarsus of the foot in order to allow better flexing. An adjustable fork means is also provided between the first frame and the sole and is adapted to force the planar arrangement of the shoe once thrusting has ended.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2001Publication date: July 12, 2001Applicant: BENETTON GROUP S.p.A.Inventors: Fabio Alfieri, Roberto Gorza, Francesco Caeran
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Patent number: 6237923Abstract: A skate (10) is provided which includes a boot portion having a base portion (14) and a boot (12), a first member (42) pivotably connected at an upper longitudinal end thereof to the base portion (14), a second member (44) pivotably connected at an upper longitudinal end thereof to the base portion (14) and pivotably connected to the first member (42), a first wheel (16) mounted on the first member (42) at a lower longitudinal end thereof, a drive wheel (18) mounted on the second member (44) at a lower longitudinal end thereof, the drive wheel (18) having a concentrically mounted pinion (53), and an elongate driving mechanism (46) pivotably connected to the boot portion and adapted to operatively engage with the pinion (53). The skate (10) is movable between an expanded configuration wherein the base portion (14) is spaced from the first wheel (16) and the drive wheel (18) and a contracted configuration wherein the base portion (14) is adjacent the first wheel (16) and the drive wheel (18).Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Inventor: Roger Fowle
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Patent number: 6227550Abstract: Skates with in-line wheels, each comprising a supporting structure to which supports are connected for a plurality of wheels, wherein at least one of the central wheels is coupled to the supporting structure so that it can change the level of its rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Inventor: Marco Maggiolo
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Patent number: 6209889Abstract: A skate which includes a shoe having a first frame and a second frame for supporting one or more wheels. The first frame and the second frame, or the sole of the shoe, are articulated in a region which lies approximately below the metatarsus of the foot in order to allow better flexing. An adjustable fork is also provided between the first frame and the sole and is adapted to force the planar arrangement of the shoe once thrusting has ended.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Benetton Group S.p.A.Inventors: Fabio Alfieri, Roberto Gorza, Francesco Caeran