AU2019101013B4 - An improved grind block for use with roller skates - Google Patents

Abstract

A platform or block for use with roller skates including a central spur made from a material that reduces the friction between the block and coping. The block is mounted between the wheels of the roller skate and enables a skater to engage coping for various roller skate tricks. The top shape of the spur follows that of the block. The block may contain more than one spur.

Description

An improved grind block for use with roller skates

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to grind blocks used with roller skates that are easy to install.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Roller skating is a popular past time by both children and adults. Besides simply skating around it is also popular to do tricks with roller skates so much so that there are numerous roller skate parks arounds the world.

[0003] To facilitate sliding on roller skates it has been known to attach plastic 'wings' to a roller skate. These are attached with the plate either side of the wheels, within the space between the trucks and wheels.

[0004] Alternatively a plastic block accessory of different shapes may either be connected directly to the roller skate plate or by a metal bar within the trucks.

[0005] The difficulty with these designs is that wings are flimsy and distort with the lateral movement. Wings simply do not provide sufficient slide surface but instead catch on the numerous edges.

[0006] The alternative block shapes have flat planes that cause too much friction.

[0007] A block has already been described in AU Patent 2018100689 whose contents are incorporated by reference herein.

[0008] It is an object of this invention is to improve on the block in that patent that further alleviates the above problems, or at least provide the public with a useful alternative. Thus there is provided a platform (plastic block with radius shape) within the space between the trucks and wheels of a roller skate plate to improve the activity of 'sliding' (moving laterally) and 'stalling' (pausing with balance) on 'coping' (the formed edge of a vertical surface or rail shape) by including a spur that further improves the performance of the block, the spur typically made of metal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In a first aspect the invention comprises a block for roller skates having kingpins, the block attached to the king pins using a longitudinal mounting bar, the block having including a bottom concave surface and a longitudinal spur located on the underside of the

2019101013 05 Sep 2019 block and the top of the spur mirroring of shape of the block concave surface.

[0010] In preference the spur extends slightly above the surface of the block.

[0011] In preference the block includes two or more spurs.

[0012] In preference the block includes a slit that frictionally engages the spur.

[0013] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

[0015] Figure 1 illustrates a roller skate using an improved platform having a spur;

[0016] Figure 2 is a view of the platform;

[0017] Figure 3 is a side view of the platform;

[0018] Figure 4 is a bottom view of the platform;

[0019] Figure 5 illustrates the platform with cylinders to be attached to platform apertures;

[0020] Figure 6 is another view of the platform;

[0021] Figure 7 is a further view of the platform; and [0022] Figure 8 is a view of the spur.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0023] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

2019101013 05 Sep 2019 [0024] Illustrated in the Figures is a platform/block 10 adapted to be mounted to a roller skate 12. The block 10 is typically a high density polyethylene block shaped with radius. It includes holes 14 to reduce the weight of the block. However the holes are not intended to be an essential feature of the block. A mounting bar is attached to the block using screws, although other fixing means may be used. The bar attaches the block to the underneath of the skate by attaching the block to the roller skate king pins. This is well known in the art and will not be discussed further in this specification.

[0025] The block 10 is typically an HDPE (high density polyethylene) block shape with radius. Holes 14 are included to reduce weight. The plastic material (HDPE) is chosen for the best performance of slide and durability. Alternatives use UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) which has a wax impregnation that causes a sticky action.

[0026] The block has two concave surfaces at either end to accommodate design of the roller skate. The underside 16 is also concave with a large radius to reduce friction against the contact surface.

[0027] The block has no sharp corners as such and all the edges are of an arcuate shape.

[0028] Centrally located and extending longitudinally and centrally on the underside of the block is a spur 18. The spur is typically made of metal and assists in reducing the friction of the block against coping. Typically it is around 3 mm thick and its length will vary anywhere from 6-10 cm (or other) depending on the size of the roller skate it is used on. It is inserted into the block by cutting out a slit in the block and inserting the spur into the block. To ensure that the spur remains in the block the slit may be a friction narrower than the spur so that the spur is frictionally engaged. Alternatively adhesives may be used to keep the spur in place.

[0029] The block may also include holes 14 to reduce the weight of the blocks. The holes may have inserted into them cylinders 20 to improve the aesthetic appearance of the block for they could be of a different colour or just be shiny metal or plastic.

[0030] The spur surface 22 is concave to mirror the shape of the block and it is inserted to protrude ever so slightly above the surface of the block so that it engages the coping first. The top end of the spur 24, depending on the size of the block may be straight to mirror that of the block depending on the size of the block. The spur sides 26 taper inwardly also to fall within the shape of the block.

2019101013 05 Sep 2019 [0031] The reader will now appreciate the present invention provides a platform or block that includes a spur that reduces the frictional engagement of the block to coping in places such as a skate park.

[0032] Although not shown it is to be understood that there may be located several spurs in the block. Thus there may be two or more spurs all extending parallel to the block longitudinal direction that are located symmetrically on the block.

LIST OF COMPONENTS [0033] The drawings include the following integers.

platform or block10 rollerskate12 holes14 underside16 spur18 cylinders20 spur surface22 top end of spur24 spur side26 [0034] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0035] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims (4)

1. A block for roller skates having kingpins;

the block attached to the king pins using a longitudinal mounting bar;

the block including a bottom concave surface; and a longitudinal spur located on the underside of the block and the top of the spur mirroring the shape of the block concave surface.

2. The block as in claim 1 wherein the spur extends slightly above the surface of the block.

3. The block as in claim 1 wherein the block includes two or more spurs.

4. The block as in claim 1 wherein the block includes a slit that frictionaIly engages the spur.