AU641582B2

AU641582B2 - Skate with aligned steerable wheels

Info

Publication number: AU641582B2
Application number: AU91081/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alessandro Pozzobon
Original assignee: Nordica SpA
Current assignee: Nordica SpA
Priority date: 1990-12-28
Filing date: 1991-12-19
Publication date: 1993-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-19
Also published as: JPH05504706A; EP0516784A1; CA2077087A1; AU9108191A; WO1992011908A1

Description

SKATE WITH ALIGNED WHEELS Technical Field

The present invention relates to a skate with aligned wheels.

Background Art

Skates which have mutually aligned wheels are currently known; their use is aimed, to an increasingly specific extent, at the sports practice of speed skating or slalom.

Specifically for the specialty of slalom, the athlete changes direction of motion by means of the movements of the foot transmitted directly to the skate.

The disadvantage which can be observed in these known types of skates, in which the wheels are pivoted at adapted supports which are rigidly associated with a supporting plate for the sole of an item of footwear, consists in the difficulty in achieving very tight curving radii; while curving, the wheels furthermore tend to curve in a non- uniform manner, since they are in any case and always arranged tangent to the obtainable curving radius. Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types by providing a skate with aligned wheels wherein it is possible to achieve a curving radius which is very tight and as uniform as possible.

Within the scope of this aim, another important object is to provide a skate wherein curving is easily obtainable for the athlete, requiring very small efforts. Another important object is to provide a skate which allows to achieve a curving radius which is as much as possible continuous and not discrete.

Another important object is to provide a skate which i structurally simple and can be obtained with conventiona known machines and facilities. Not least object is to provide a skate which associates with the preceding characteristics that of being reliable and safe in use.

This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a skate, comprising at least two aligned wheels and a supporting plate for an item of footwear, characterized in that it has an articulated frame, composed of at least two forks which are rotatably associated with said plate and support said at least two wheels, at least one resilient tab protruding at said plate and interacting with said at least two forks at one end. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of the skate; figure 2 is a top view of the skate according to the preceding figure; figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal median sectional plane, of a different embodiment of the skate; figure 4 is a plan view of the plate according to the preceding embodiment; figure 5 is a view of a detail of a further embodiment; figure 6 is a perspective view of a skate according to still a further object of the invention; figure 7 is a sectional view according to the line VII- VII of figure 6; figure 8 is a bottom view of the skate of figure 6; and figure 9 is a sectional view according to the line IX- IX of figure 8; figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a skate according to a further aspect of the invention; figure 11 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the skate of figure 10.

Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates the skate, which comprises, in the particular embodiment, two aligned wheels, indicated by the reference numerals 2 and 3, and a plate 4 for supporting an item of footwear or for connecting thereto.

The skate 1 comprises an articulated frame 5 which is constituted by two separate elements, such as a first fork and a second fork, respectively indicated by the reference numerals 6 and 7.

Said first and second forks, which are mutually identical, are essentially U-shaped and are arranged longitudinally with respect to the plate 4; each is slightly shorter than half of the longitudinal extension of the plate 4.

The first fork and the second fork have, at one end, wings which protrude toward the ground and are indicated by the reference numerals 8 and 9; the wheels 2 and 3 are pivoted between said wings by means of adapted first screws, indicated by the reference numerals 10 and 11, which can be secured by means of adapted complementarily threaded nuts.

Each of said first and second forks is rotatably associated at the lower surface 12 of the plate 4: a pivot, indicated by the reference numerals 14a and 14b, in fact protrudes from the base 13 which connects the wings 8 and 9 proximate to the end which is opposite to the end at which the wheels 2 and 3 are pivoted.

Said pivots, which have a preferably cylindrical configuration, can be accommodated at a complementarily shaped seat, indicated by the reference numerals 15a and

15b, which is defined at the longitudinal median axis of the plate 4.

This arrangement allows the forks to rotate with respect to the plate 4; the pivots 14a and 14b define the rotation axis.

The skate furthermore comprises rotation guiding means with which the forks are associable; said means are constituted by second screws, indicated by the numerals 16a and 16b, which pass within adapted slots 17a and 17b defined on the plate 4; said slots 17a and 17b have an arc shape, with the concavity directed toward the pivots 14a and 14b respectively.

The stems of the second screws are associable at complementarily threaded seats defined on protrusions 18a and 18b which protrude from the plate 4 at the wheel pivoting ends.

The ends 19a and 19b of the first and second forks which constitute the frame 5 are not associated with the wheels 2 and 3 and are curved along an axis which is transverse to said forks so as to allow interaction with an interconnection element 20 constituted by a third screw 21 the stem whereof can be interposed between said ends 19a and 19b. Said third screw 21 can be tightened by means of a ring 22 and of a nut 23; resilient elements, such as pads 25a and 25b, are interposed between the ring 22 and the lateral surfaces of the ends 19a and 19b and between said surfaces and the head 24 of the third screw 21. The rotation of the forks is thus allowed while at the same time adjusting the degree of contrast to rotation.

In order to allow this adjustment, two pairs of resilient tabs, indicated by the reference numerals 26a, 26b and 27a, 27b, protrude from the lower surface 12 of the plate 4 and at the region adjacent to the ends 19a and 19b of the forks 6 and 7 and interact with the lateral surfaces of the underlying forks.

The use of the skate is thus as follows: during a rotation imparted to the frame 5 of the skate, the presence of the two pairs of tabs and of the pads provides an elastic contrast to the rotation of the wheels 2 and 3 and a consequent return to neutral position once the curve has ended.

It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a skate having been provided which allows the athlete to easily perform curves along even very tight curving radii, following said radii in a uniform manner.

The presence of the articulated frame and thus of the rotatable connection of the forks to the plate, and the presence of the two pairs of tabs and of the pads, in fact allows to arrange one or both wheels so as to gradually follow the curving radius according to the specific requirements. Figure 3 illustrates a skate 101 which again comprises two aligned wheels, indicated by the reference numerals 102 and 103, and a plate 104 for supporting an item of footwear or for connecting thereto.

The skate 101 furthermore comprises an articulated frame 105 which is constituted by two separate elements, such as a first fork and a second fork, which are respectively indicated by the reference numerals 106 and

107.

Said first and second forks, which are identical, are essentially U-shaped and are arranged longitudinally to the plate 104? each fork is slightly shorter than half of the longitudinal extension of said plate 104.

The first and second forks furthermore have, at one end, wings which protrude toward the ground and are indicated by the reference numerals 108 and 109; the wheels

102 and 103 are pivoted between said wings by using adapted first screws, indicated by the reference numerals 110 and

111, which can be tightened by means of adapted complementarily threaded nuts. Each one of said first and second forks is rotatably associated at the lower surface 112 of the plate 104; the fork 106 has, proximate to the end which is adjacent to the wheel 102, a spherical lug 128 which protrudes therefrom at the longitudinal median axis. Said lug can be inserted in a snap-together manner within a complementarily shaped seat 129 defined on the lower surface 112 of the plate 104.

In order to allow an optimum rotation of the fork 106, there is also a rivet 130 which is interposed between the base 113a of the fork and the plate 104; a first slot 117a, with its concavity directed toward the lug 128, is defined on said plate 104.

The fork 107 has, proximate to the end which is adjacent to the wheel 103, a fourth screw 131 the head whereof slides in an adapted second slot 117b which has its concavity directed toward the lug 128.

Advantageously, the stem of the fourth screw is associated with a spherical nut 132a which is accommodated within a complementarily shaped seat defined on the base 113b of the fork 107, and a hemispherical protrusion 118a protrudes thereat toward the lower surface 112 of the plate

104 and is accommodated within a complementarily shaped seat 133a defined on said lower surface 112.

The fork 107 is furthermore associated with the plate 104 by means of a fifth screw 134 which passes within an adapted hole defined on said plate; said fifth screw is similar to the fourth screw 133, and also has a stem with which a spherical nut 132b is associated; said nut 132b is accommodated within a complementarily shaped seat 133b defined on the base of the fork, and a hemisphe~^:cal protrusion 118b protrudes thereat toward the lower s -face

112 of the plate and is accommodated within a complementarily shaped seat 133b defined on said lower surface 112. In order to allow to adjust the degree of contrast to the rotation of the wheels 102 and 103, a pair of tabs, indicated by the numeral 126, protrudes from the lower surface 12 of the plate 104 at the region adjacent to the adjacent ends of the forks 106 and 107; said tabs are resilient and interact with the lateral surfaces of the underlying forks.

Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment, wherein the skate comprises a frame which is constituted by a first fork and a second fork, respectively indicated by the reference numerals 206 and 207, which are rotatably associated with one another at the ends 219a and 219b which are not associated with the wheels.

Said ends are in fact perforated and partially mutually superimposed so as to allow mutual interconnection by means of a third screw 221, coaxially to which a resilient element, such as a pad 225, is arranged.

Said pad can be compressed as a consequence of the tightening of the third screw 221, which occurs by means of a rotation imparted to a nut 223, thus achieving a different degree of adjustment of the elastic contrast to the rotation of the wheels and the consequent return thereof to a neutral position once the curve has ended.

With reference to figures 6-9, the reference numeral 301 indicates a skate according to still a further aspect of the invention, which comprises three aligned wheels: a central wheel, indicated by the numeral 302, and two outer wheels, indicated by the numerals 303 and 304.

The skate furthermore comprises a supporting or connecting plate 305, for an item of footwear, and a pair of U-shaped forks, indicated by the numerals 306 and 307; the outer wheels 303 and 304 are pivoted between the wings of said forks, indicated by the numerals 308a, 308b, 308c and 308d, which are directed toward the ground 309, by using adapted first screws, indicated by the numerals 310a and 310b, which can be secured by means of adapted complementarily threaded nuts.

The forks 306 and 307 are rotatably associated at the lower surface 411 of the plate 305 and have such a longitudinal extension as to approximately affect the interspace between the outer wheels and the central wheel, said central wheel not interacting with said flaps.

The outer wheels 303 and 304 are pivoted to the end of the respective forks which is not adjacent to the central wheel. An articulated pivot, indicated by the numerals 313 and 314, is associated, at the end which is not adjacent to the central wheel 302, between the connecting base 312 of the wings of each of the forks 306 and 307 and the plate 305, and constitutes a means for rotatable interconnection between the forks and the plate.

Said pivots are articulated by virtue of the presence of a pad, indicated by the numerals 315a and 315b, which is arranged coaxially therebetween.

T-shaped protrusions, indicated by the numerals 317a and 317b, furthermore protrude from the upper surface 316 of the plate 305 and constitute means for guiding the forks with respect to the plate; said protrusions in fact slide freely within adapted arc guides, indicated by the numerals

318a and 318b, defined on said plate 305. Said guides naturally define an arc of a circumference centered at the respective axes of the pivots 313 and 314.

One or more resilient flaps, indicated by the numerals

319a, 319b, 319c and 319d, furthermore protrude from the lower surface 311 of the plate 305 at the underlying ends of the forks which are adjacent to the fixed wheel.

The free end of said flaps interacts with the lateral surfaces of the wings 308a and/or 308b and/or 308c and/or 308d of the forks.

The central wheel 302 is fixed with respect to the plate, since it is pivoted to a pair of shoulders 320 which protrude below the plate 305.

The use of the skate is therefore as follows: during a rotation imparted to the skate, it is possible to impart a rotation to the forks with respect to the plate, so as to allow the athlete to define the curve correctly.

The presence of the flaps 319a, 319b, 319c and 319d provides an elastic contrast to the rotation of the outer wheels 303 and 304 and the consequent return into neutral position once the curve has ended. The central wheel is fixed and thus acts as "pivot" during rotation, so as to allow to perform a curve in an optimum manner, since better stability and precision, which are especially useful during the practice of slalom, are achieved. Means suitable for allowing to lock the rotation of the forks, in order to be able to use the skate for high speeds, can be provided.

The rotatable connection of the forks to the plate and the presence of the flaps in fact allows to arrange the outer wheels so as to follow the radius of curvature in a gradual manner and according to the specific requirements, said fixed central wheel facilitating this operation.

Figures 10-11 show a skate 401 according to a further aspect of the invention, wherein two aligned wheels 402 and 403 are respectively supported by a first fork 406 and a second fork 407.

Forks 406 and 407 are connected by an interconnection element 420 constituted by a screw bolt 421 and by a resilient member 425, preferably constituted by a rubber pad.

Resilient elements 426, 427 protrude downwardly from the supporting plate (not illustrated) of the skate.

Resilient elements 426 and 427 lie at both sides of, respectively, first fork 402 and second fork 403, and operate as stop members for the rotation of both forks.

By tightening the screw bolt 420, the rubber pad 425 is compressed thereby increasing the resistance against the mutual rotation of the forks.

The skate according to the invention is naturally susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.

The materials and the dimensions which constitute the individual components of the device may naturally also be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligi¬ bility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. Skate, comprising at least two aligned wheels (2,3, 103, 303,304, 402,403) and a supporting plate (4,104,305) for an item of footwear, characterized in that it has an articulated frame (5,105,205), composed of at least two forks (6,7,106,107,206,207,306,307,406,407) which are rotatably associated with said plate and support said at least two wheels, at least one resilient tab (26,27,126,319,426,427) protruding at said plate and interacting with said at least two forks at one end.

2. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that said articulated frame is constituted by two separate elements, a first fork (6) and a second fork (7), which are identical, are substantially U-shaped and are arranged longitudinally to said plate (4), each of said first and second forks being slightly shorter than half of the longitudinal extension of said plate.

3. Skate according to claim 2, characterized in that each of said first and second forks is rotatably associated at the lower surface of said plate, a pivot (14a,14b) upwardly protruding from each of said forks proximate to the end which is opposite to the pivoting end of said wheel, said pivot being accommodatable at a seat (15a,15b) defined at the longitudinal median axis of said plate.

4. Skate according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises rotation guiding means with which said first and second forks are associable, said means being constituted by second screws (16a,16b) which pass within adapted slots (17a,17b) defined on said plate, said slots having an arc configuration with the concavity directed toward the respective pivots, said second screws being associated wit said forks at protrusions (18a,18b) of said wheels.

5. Skate according to claim 4, characterized in that the ends of said first and second forks which are not associated with said wheels are curved along an axis which is transverse to said forks so as to allow interaction with a resilient interconnecting element which is constituted by a third screw (21) , the stem whereof can be interposed between said ends, it being possible to tighten said third screw by means of a ring (22) and a nut (23), resilient elements (25a,25b) being interposed between said ring and the lateral surfaces of said ends and between said surfaces and said head of said third screw.

6. Skate according to claim 5, characterized in that two pairs of resilient tabs (26a,26b,27a,27b) extend from said lower surface of said plate and at the region adjacent to said ends which are not associated with said wheels of said forks, said tabs interacting with the lateral surfaces of said underlying forks.

7. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that said first fork (106) has, proximate to the end adjacent to the wheel (102) which is pivoted thereto, a spherical lug (128) which protrudes therefrom at the longitudinal median axis, said lug being inserted in a snap-together manner within a complementarily shaped seat (129) defined underneath said plate (104), a rivet (130) being interposed between said base and said first fork, said rivet being slidable within a first slot (117a) which has its concavity directed toward said lug, said second fork (107) having, proximate to the end adjacent to the wheel which is pivoted thereto, a fourth screw (131) the head whereof slides in an adapted second slot (117b) which has its concavity directed toward said lug.

8. Skate according to claim 7, characterized in that said second fork (107) is associated with said plate (104) by means of a fifth screw (134) which passes within an adapted hole defined on said plate, said fifth screw being similar to said fourth screw.

9. Skate according to claim 8, characterized in that a spherical nut (132b) is associated with said stems of said fourth and fifth screws and is accommodated within a complementarily shaped seat (133b) defined on said first and second forks, a hemispherical protrusion (118b) protruding from said forks toward the lower surface of said plate and being accommodated within a complementarily shaped seat (133b) defined on said lower surface.

10. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that said first (206) and second (207) forks are rotatably associated with one another at the ends (219a,219b) which are not associated with said wheels, said ends being partially mutually superimposed and perforated so as to allow mutual interconnection by means of a third screw (221), a resilient element (225) being arranged coaxially to said third screw.

11. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least three aligned wheels, at least one (302) of said wheels being central and fixed, at least two of said wheels (303,304) being outer wheels and being connected to respective forks (306,307).

12. Skate according to claim 11, characterized in that said forks are rotatably associated at the lower surface (411) of said plate (305) and have such a longitudinal extension as to approximately affect the interspace between said outer wheels and said central wheel.

13. Skate according to claim 12, characterized in that an articulated pivot (313,314) is associated between the connecting base (312) of the wings of each of said forks and said plate at the end which is not adjacent to said central wheel, said pivot constituting a means for rotatable interconnection between said forks and said plate, said pivot being articulated through a pad (315a,315b) which is arranged coaxially therebetween.

14. Skate according to claim 13, characterized in that T-shaped protrusions (317a,317b) extend from the upper surface (316) of said plate (305) and constitute means for guiding said forks with respect to said plate, said protrusions sliding freely within adapted arc guides (318a,318b) defined on said plate.

15. Skate according to claim 14, characterized in that resilient flaps (319a,319b,319c,319d) protrude from the lower surface of said plate at the underlying ends of said forks which are adjacent to said fixed wheel, the free end of each of said flaps interacts with the respective lateral surface of said wings.

16. Skate according to claim 11, characterized in that said central wheel is fixed with respect to said plate and is pivoted to a pair of shoulders which protrude below said plate.

17. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an interconnection element (420) connecting said first fork (406) to said second fork (407), said interconnection element comprising a screw bolt (421) and a resilient member (425), said screw bolt being adapted to be either tightened and loosened to adjust the compression of said resilient member, the compression of said resilient member determining the resistance to the mutual rotation of said forks.