WO2004011110A1

WO2004011110A1 - Shoes equipped with detachable roller skating implement

Info

Publication number: WO2004011110A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001535
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeong-Ki Jang
Original assignee: Jeong-Ki Jang
Priority date: 2002-07-31
Filing date: 2003-07-30
Publication date: 2004-02-05
Also published as: AU2003247214A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a shoe with a detachable roller Skating unit, which is adapted to allow a roller skating sole, to which roller wheels are installed, to be easily attached or detached to or from an outsole of the shoe. The shoe of the present invention comprises one or more fixed brackets integrally embedded in an outsole of the shoe, and a roller skating sole having one or more detachable magnet receiving protrusions at its upper surface and front and rear roller wheels at its lower surface. Each of the fixed brackets has a downwardly-opened assembly groove depressed inward from a. lower surface of the outsole and is made of magnetic material. Each of the detachable magnet receiving protrusion is Positioned in correspondence to the assembly groove of the respective fixed brackets so as to be inserted into and attached inside one of the fixed brackets, and receives a detachable magnet.

Description

SHOES EQUIPPED WITH DETACHABLE ROLLER SKATING IMPLEMENT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a shoe, and more particularly to a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit, the shoe being adapted to allow a roller skating sole, to which roller wheels are installed, to be easily attached or detached to or from an outsole of the shoe.

Background Art

In general, a term "rollerblade", widely known to the public, is the general term for a roller skating shoe, having roller wheels mounted underneath thereof. Currently, various kinds of roller skating shoes have been used.

In view of recent trends, a roller skating shoe, configured in such a fashion that a footwear portion is separable from a roller skating sole installed with roller wheels, is in use. Hereinafter, such a roller skating shoe is described as a "detachable-type roller skating shoe". Next, one example of such detachable-type roller skating shoes is explained. The conventional detachable-type roller skating shoe comprises a roller skating unit, and a footwear portion. The roller skating unit has a roller skating sole plate installed with front and rear roller wheels underneath thereof, and a fixing band installed at a certain position along the outer periphery of the roller skating sole plate. The footwear portion is adapted to come into close contact with the top surface of the roller skating sole plate at its lower surface and adapted to be wound and tied tightly by the fixing band.

In order to install the roller skating unit to the footwear portion, the wearer first winds the fixing band, extended outwardly from the certain position along the outer periphery of the roller skating sole plate, around the footwear portion. In this state, the wearer binds both ends of the fixing band to each other, thereby fixing the roller skating unit to the footwear portion.

The conventional detachable-type roller skating shoe, however, has a problem that the knot of the fixing band, binding the roller skating unit to the footwear portion, may be loosened during roller skating. If the knot of the fixing band is loosened during roller skating, the wearer may receive serious injury on his/her ankle or leg due to the accidental separation of the roller skating unit from the footwear.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit, which is configured to allow a roller skating sole, to which roller wheels are installed, to be easily attached or detached to or from an outsole of the shoe.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit, which ensures the firm attachment of a roller skating sole, to which roller wheels are installed, relative to an outsole of the shoe, thereby preventing the roller skating sole from accidentally separating from the shoe during roller skating.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit, which comprises a fixed bracket installed to an outsole of the shoe so that it is depressed inward into the outsole, thereby preventing the generation of noise during walking and preventing the wear or damage of the fixed bracket due to the contact thereof with the road surface, resulting in easy installation of a roller skating sole to the outsole of the shoe.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit, which prevents impurities, such as soil or the like on the road surface, from entering into a groove defined in an outsole of the shoe during walking, thereby facilitating the attachment of a roller skating sole relative to the outsole.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit comprising: one or more fixed brackets integrally embedded in an outsole of the shoe, each having a downwardly-opened assembly groove depressed inward from a lower surface of the outsole and being made of magnetic material; and a roller skating sole having one or more detachable magnet receiving protrusions at its upper surface and front and rear roller wheels at its lower surface, each detachable magnet receiving protrusion being positioned in correspondence to the assembly groove of the respective fixed brackets so as to be inserted into and attached inside one of the fixed brackets, and receiving a detachable magnet.

The shoe of the present invention may allow the roller skating sole, to which the roller wheels are installed, to be easily attached or detached to or from the one or more fixed brackets integrally embedded in the outsole of the shoe through the one or more detachable magnets provided at the upper surface of the roller skating sole, thereby allowing the shoe to be conveniently used as an ordinary walking shoe as well as a roller skating shoe. Especially, since the roller skating sole is firmly fixed to the outsole using the detachable magnet receiving protrusions provided at the upper surface thereof, it may be possible to prevent the roller skating sole from accidentally separating from the shoe during roller skating, thereby preventing the wearer from injuring his/her leg or foot.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit further comprising: a recessed portion depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole at a rear position of an outer periphery of the outsole, the recessed portion having a holder member provided therein, the holder member including a horizontal holder bar, which is spaced apart therefrom so as to define a certain space between the holder member and the horizontal holder bar; and a holding hook formed at the upper surface of the roller skating sole so as to be positioned in correspondence to the holder bar of the holder member.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided with a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit further comprising: a recessed portion formed around a whole outer periphery of the assembly groove, the recessed portion being depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole; and a plurality of semi-spherical protuberances arranged at equal distances along an outer periphery of an upper surface of the recessed portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating the shoe coupled with a roller skating sole in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a circular portion A shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the roller skating sole in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the outsole in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a further another embodiment of the outsole in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating the shoe coupled with the roller skating sole shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a circular portion B shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the outsole.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating the shoe coupled with a roller skating sole in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a circular portion A shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the roller skating sole in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shoe of the present invention comprises one or more fixed brackets 2 integrally embedded in an outsole 1 of the shoe, and a roller skating sole 3. Each of the fixed brackets 2 defines a downwardly-opened assembly groove 22 depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole 1, and made of certain magnetic material. The roller skating sole 3 is formed at the upper surface thereof with one or more detachable magnet receiving protrusions 31, in correspondence to the respective assembly grooves 22 of the fixed brackets 2, and at the lower surface thereof with front and rear roller wheels 32. The detachable magnet receiving protrusions 31 are adapted to be inserted into and attached inside the fixed brackets 2 and receive detachable magnets 4, respectively.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, preferably, a pair of the fixed brackets 2 are positioned at front and rear positions of the lower surface of the outsole 1, and a pair of the detachable magnet • receiving protrusions 31 are positioned at front and rear positions of the upper surface of the roller skating sole 3, in correspondence to the positions of the fixed brackets 2. In this manner, if the fixed brackets 2 and the detachable magnet receiving protrusions 31 are provided at the front and rear positions as stated above, respectively, the roller skating sole 3 achieves the most stable attachment state relative to the outsole 1.

Referring again to each of the assembly grooves 22, it is depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole 1, as stated above.

As apparent from above description, the roller skating sole 3 is adapted to be selectively attached to the outsole 1 of the shoe during roller skating. Therefore, in an ordinary walking mode of the shoe, the roller skating sole 3 may be removed from the outsole 1 and then may be kept in a separate place.

Now, the configuration of the shoe according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, each of the fixed brackets 2 is constructed by integrally coupling a circular ring 21 with an upper horizontal plate 23. The circular ring 21 serves to define the downwardly-opened assembly groove 22, and the upper horizontal plate 23 is configured to cover the top of the circular ring 21. In addition, the upper horizontal plate 23 is provided at its both sides with outwardly-extended portions 231. These outwardly-extended portions 231 are formed with a plurality of perforated holes 232, respectively, through which synthetic resin material is passed in the manufacture of the outsole 1.

By virtue of the plurality of perforated holes 232 formed at the upper horizontal plates 23, the outsole 1 is molded in a state wherein synthetic resin material, constituting the outsole 1, is passed through the perforated holes 232. This enables the fixed brackets 2 to be firmly fixed to the outsole 1 of the shoe.

The roller skating sole 3 is provided at the upper surface thereof with a plurality of the detachable magnet receiving protrusions 31 configured to be inserted into and attached inside the assembly grooves 22, respectively, and at the lower surface thereof with the front and rear roller wheels 32.

Each of the detachable magnet receiving protrusion 31, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, comprises an upper circular ring 311 positioned at the upper surface thereof , in correspondence to the mounted position of the fixed bracket 2, and an intermediate projecting rim 312 extending outward beyond the outer periphery of the upper circular ring 311. The upper circular ring 311 is configured to be inserted into the assembly groove 22 and receives the detachable magnet 4 having an exposed upper surface. The intermediate projecting rim 312 is adapted to come into close contact at the upper surface thereof with the lower end surface of the circular ring 21 provided at the fixed bracket 2. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the roller skating sole 3 is coupled to the outsole 1 of the shoe, preferably, the roller skating sole 3 is configured so that its center region is depressed and its peripheral rim region is protruded so as to come into close contact with the outsole 1 of the shoe. Such configuration of the roller skating sole 3 is effective to improve the whole strength thereof.

The shoe with the detachable roller skating unit of the present invention constructed as stated above is adapted to allow the roller skating sole 3, to which the roller wheels 32 are installed, to be easily attached or detached to or from the one or more front and rear fixed brackets 2 provided inside the outsole 1 of the shoe using the one or more detachable magnet receiving protrusions 31 provided at the upper surface of the roller skating sole 3, thereby enabling the shoe to be comfortably switched from a roller skating mode to an ordinary walking mode. Further, the shoe is adapted to ensure the firm and easy attachment of the roller skating sole 3 to the outsole 1 of the shoe through the detachable magnets 4 provided at the roller skating sole 3, thereby preventing the roller skating sole 3 from being accidentally separated from the shoe .

The operation of the present invention constructed according to the preferred embodiment will be described as follows.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, in an ordinary walking mode, the shoe is used under a state wherein the roller skating sole 3 is removed from the outsole 1 thereof.

Since the circular ring 21 of the fixed bracket 2, mounted inside the outsole 1 of the shoe, is depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole 1, only the outsole 1, made of synthetic resin material, comes into close contact with the road surface while preventing the circular ring 21 of the fixed bracket 2 from coming into close contact with the road surface during ordinary walking, thereby preventing the generation of noise and continuously maintaining the elasticity of the outsole 1.

In a roller skating mode wherein the roller skating sole

3 is attached to the outsole 1 of the shoe, the one or more detachable magnet receiving protrusions 31 of the roller skating sole 3 are inserted into and attached inside the assembly grooves 22 defined in the one or more front and rear fixed brackets 2, respectively.

That is to say, as the lower surface of the upper horizontal plate 23, provided at the upper side of the assembly groove 22 defined in each fixed bracket 2, comes into close contact with the upper surface of the detachable magnet

4 provided in the upper portion of each detachable magnet receiving protrusion 31, the roller skating sole 3 is inserted into and attached inside the fixed bracket 2.

As the whole lower surfaces of the upper horizontal plates 23 provided at the assembly grooves 22 come into close contact with the top surfaces of the detachable magnets 4, respectively, the roller skating sole 3 is prevented from accidentally separating from the fixed brackets 2 during roller skating, thereby preventing serious injury to the wearer.

Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the outsole in accordance with the present invention. In the present embodiment, the outsole 1 is formed with recessed portions 221 around the whole outer periphery of the respective assembly grooves 22. The recessed portions 221 are depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole 1. Preferably, each of the recessed portions 221^' receives a plurality of semi- spherical protuberances 222 arranged at equal distances along the upper surface thereof.

As the fixed bracket 2 mounted at the outsole 1 of the shoe is embedded inside the outsole 1, the recessed portions 221 and semi-spherical protuberances 222 are adapted not to come into contact with the road surface substantially during walking. Therefore, even though impurities, such as soil on the road surface, enter into the recessed portions 221 or between the semi-spherical protuberances 222, the impurities are prevented from remaining at the outsole 1 of the shoe as well as entering into the fixed bracket 2, thereby allowing the roller skating sole 3 to be easily attached to the outsole 1 of the shoe.

Fig. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the outsole in accordance with the present invention. The sole of the present embodiment is further provided at the rear central position of the outer periphery thereof with a recessed portion 5 depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole 1, and a holder member 51 provided in the recessed portion 5. The holder member 51 comprises a horizontal holder bar 511, which is spaced apart therefrom in parallel so as to define a certain space between the holder member 51 and the horizontal holder bar 511. The roller skating sole 3 is formed at the upper surface thereof with a holding^' hook 6, in correspondence to the holder bar 511 of the holder member 51. In the present embodiment, preferably, the fixed bracket

2 is positioned at the front position of the lower surface of the outsole 1, and the holder member 51 is positioned at the rear position of the lower surface of the outsole 1. In correspondence to such an arrangement of the fixed bracket 2 and the holder member 51, preferably, the detachable magnet receiving protrusion 31 is positioned at the front position of the upper surface of the roller skating sole 3, and the holding hook 6 is positioned at the rear position of the upper surface of the roller skating sole 3. Although the fixed bracket 2 and the holder member 51 are positioned, respectively, at the front and rear positions of the outsole described as stated above, their positions are not limited in the above manner, and other contrary arrangements are also possible. That is, the holder member 51 can be formed at front central position around the outer periphery of the outsole 1, and the fixed bracket 2 can be formed at the rear position of the outsole 1. As the positions of the holder member 51 and the fixed bracket 2 are changed, the positions of the detachable magnet receiving protrusion 31 and the holding hook 6 mounted on the roller skating sole 3 are also changed.

Now, the operation of the present invention constructed according to the present embodiment will be described in detail in reference with Figs. 6 to 8. Since the configurations of the fixed bracket 2 and the detachable magnet receiving protrusion 31 have been described already, the description thereof is omitted.

The holder member 51 comprises the holder bar 511, which is received inside the recessed portion 5 depressed inward from the rear central position of the outer periphery of the outsole 1. The holder bar 511 is spaced apart from the holder member 51 so as to define a certain space therebetween, thereby allowing the holding hook 6 of the roller skating sole 3 to be captured in the defined space. In this case, it is preferable that at the front and rear sides of the holder member 51, namely, at the front and rear sides of the holder bar 511, guide grooves are provided for allowing the holding hook 6 of the roller skating sole 3 to be more easily introduced into and captured by the holder bar 511 when the roller skating sole 3 is coupled to the outsole 1 of the sole. Next, the holding hook 6 of the roller skating sole 3 will be explained.

The holding hook 6, corresponding to the holder member 51, is integrally molded with the roller skating sole 3 so that it is protruded from the rear position of the upper surface of the roller skating sole 3. The holding hook β comprises a vertical plate 61 extending vertically from the upper surface of the roller skating sole 3, and a horizontal plate 62 connected at one end thereof to the upper end of the vertical plate 61 so as to extend forward. The vertical plate 61 of the holding hook 6 is adapted to come into close contact with the holder bar 511. Under such a configuration, the holding hook 6 can be easily captured by the holder bar 511 located inside the outsole 1 of the shoe. By virtue of the detachable magnet receiving protrusion

31 and the holding hook 6, the roller skating sole 3 can be more easily coupled to the outsole 1 of the shoe, and can be firmly coupled so as to prevent it from accidentally separating from the shoe during roller skating. The operation of the present invention constructed according to the above embodiment will be described as follows.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, in an ordinary walking mode, the shoe is used under a state wherein the roller skating sole 3 is removed from the outsole 1 thereof.

When it is desired to attach the roller skating sole 3 to the outsole 1 of the shoe for use, first, the holding hook 6 of the roller skating sole 3 is fitted forward from the rear side of the holder bar 511 of the holder member 51 formed at the rear position of the shoe, and then the detachable magnet receiving protrusion 31 of the roller skating sole 3 is inserted and attached into the fixed bracket 2.

That is to say, as the holding hook 6 is captured by the holding bar 511 located at the rear position of the outsole 1, at the same time that the lower surface of the upper horizontal plate 23, provided at the upper side of the assembly groove 22 defined in the front position of the outsole 1, comes into close contact with the upper surface of the detachable magnet 4, the roller skating sole 3 is prevented from accidentally separating from the fixed bracket 2 during roller skating, thereby preventing serious injury to the wearer.

Fig. 9 illustrates yet another embodiment of the outsole according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 9, preferably, the outsole 1 is formed with the recessed portion 221 around the whole outer periphery of the assembly groove 22. The recessed portion 221 is depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole 1. Preferably, the recessed portion 221 receives a plurality of the semi-spherical protuberances 222 arranged at equal distances along the upper surface thereof.

As the fixed bracket 2 mounted at the outsole 1 of the shoe is embedded inside the outsole 1, only the outsole 1, made of synthetic resin material, comes into close contact with the road surface while preventing the fixed bracket 2 from coming into close contact with the road surface during ordinary walking, thereby preventing the wear or damage of the fixed bracket 2 due to the contact thereof with the road surface, and preventing the generation of noise and continuously maintaining the elasticity of the outsole 1.

Further, the recessed portion 221 and semi-spherical protuberances 222 are adapted not to come into contact with the road surface substantially during walking. Therefore, even though impurities, such as soil on the road surface, enter into the recessed portion 221 or between the semi- spherical protuberances 222, the impurities are prevented from remaining at the outsole 1 of the shoe as well as entering into the fixed bracket 2, thereby allowing the roller skating sole 3 to be easily attached to the outsole 1 of the shoe.

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a shoe with a detachable roller skating unit, which is adapted to allow a roller skating sole, to which roller wheels are installed, to be easily attached or detached to or from an outsole of the shoe through magnets, thereby allowing the shoe to be conveniently used as an ordinary walking shoe as well as a roller skating shoe. Further, according to the present invention, since the roller skating sole, to which the roller wheels are installed, is firmly fixed to the outsole using magnets or holding hooks, it is possible to prevent the roller skating sole from accidentally separating from the shoe during roller skating, thereby preventing the wearer from injuring his/her leg or ankle.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, a fixed bracket provided in the outsole is depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole, thereby causing the outsole, made of synthetic resin material, to come into close contact with the road surface while preventing the fixed bracket from coming into close contact with the road surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent the generation of noise during walking and to effectively maintain the elasticity of the outsole.

According to the present invention, since recessed portions and semi-spherical protuberances are provided around the fixed bracket embedded in the outsole of the shoe so as not to come into contact with the road surface substantially during ordinary walking, it is possible to prevent impurities, such as soil on the road surface, from entering into the fixed bracket as well as remaining at the outsole of the shoe. This facilitates the attachment of the roller skating sole relative to the outsole. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims .

Claims

Claims :

1. A shoe with a detachable roller skating unit comprising: one or more fixed brackets integrally embedded in an outsole of the shoe, each having a downwardly-opened assembly groove depressed inward from a lower surface of the outsole and being made of magnetic material; and a roller skating sole having one or more detachable magnet receiving protrusions at its upper surface and front and rear roller wheels at its lower surface, each detachable magnet receiving protrusion being positioned in correspondence to the assembly groove of the respective fixed brackets so as to be inserted into and attached inside one of the fixed brackets, and receiving a detachable magnet.

2. The shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fixed brackets are installed at front and rear positions of the lower surface of the outsole; and wherein the detachable magnet receiving protrusions are installed at front and rear positions of the upper surface of the roller skating sole, in correspondence to the front and rear positions of the fixed brackets located at the outsole.

3. The shoe as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a recessed portion depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole at a rear position of an outer periphery of the outsole, the recessed portion having a holder member provided therein, the holder member including a horizontal holder bar, which is spaced apart therefrom so as to define a certain space between the holder member and the horizontal holder bar; and a holding hook formed at the upper surface of the roller skating sole so as to be positioned in correspondence to the holder bar of the holder member.

4. The shoe as set forth in claim 3, wherein the outsole comprises the fixed bracket positioned at a front position of the lower surface thereof, and the holder member positioned at the rear position of the lower surface thereof; and wherein the roller skating sole comprises the detachable magnet receiving protrusion positioned at a front position of the upper surface thereof, in correspondence to the fixed bracket, and the holding hook positioned at a rear position of the upper surface thereof, in correspondence to the holder bar of the holder member.

5. The shoe as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fixed bracket includes: a circular ring defining the downwardly-opened assembly groove; and an upper horizontal plate integrally coupled to the circular ring, the upper horizontal plate being configured to cover a top of the circular ring, and provided at its both sides with outwardly-extended portions, the outwardly-extended portions being formed with a plurality of perforated holes, respectively, through which synthetic resin material is passed in the manufacture of the outsole.

6. The shoe as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detachable magnet receiving protrusion includes: an upper circular ring positioned at an upper portion of the detachable magnet receiving protrusion so as to be inserted into the assembly groove, the upper circular ring receiving the detachable magnet having an exposed top surface; and an intermediate projecting rim around a lower end of the upper circular ring, the intermediate projecting rim coming into close contact with a lower end surface of the circular ring of the fixed bracket.

7. The shoe as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a recessed portion formed around a whole outer periphery of the assembly groove, the recessed portion being depressed inward from the lower surface of the outsole; and a plurality of semi-spherical protuberances arranged at equal distances along an outer periphery of an upper surface of the recessed portion.