EP0937486A1

EP0937486A1 - Frame particularly for skates

Info

Publication number: EP0937486A1
Application number: EP99101785A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luca Bertolo; Roberto Gorza
Original assignee: Benetton Group SRL
Current assignee: Benetton Group SRL
Priority date: 1998-02-24
Filing date: 1999-02-15
Publication date: 1999-08-25
Also published as: ITTV980022A1; IT1299704B1

Abstract

A frame particularly for skates includes a pair of wings (10a,10b), each of which has an elliptical shape so as to form an upper elastic portion (11) and a lower elastic portion (12) between which two or more mutually in-line wheels (13) are rotatably associated. The frame (5) includes a lateral stiffening and guiding element (15) which is slidingly interposed between the upper and lower elastic portions (11,12) and allows to achieve optimum control of the skate.

Description

The present invention relates to a frame particularly for skates provided with in-line wheels.
Several types of frames are known in the art, for example WO 97/02072 discloses a skate having a shoe associated with a frame which has two mutually parallel lateral wings. Each wing has a substantially elliptical configuration so as to form a leaf spring in which one portion is connected to the shoe while the wheels are pivoted to the other portion and are arranged mutually in-line.
In this conventional frame, several different means have been provided to limit the vertical oscillation of the wings of the frame in order to be able to absorb part of the stresses that the wheels absorb when they encounter the uneven regions of the ground.
The above frame, however, entails a considerable drawback for the user, since skating inherently and necessarily entails the need to have adequate lateral support. In the above frame, the elasticity of the wings of the frame, required to absorb the stresses, limits the lateral support particularly during thrusting and during sideslip braking.
Accordingly, the above-described conventional frame does not allow to achieve correct, effective and safe use of the skate.
An aim of the present invention is to solve the mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited prior art and thus providing a skate having a frame which allows to simultaneously achieve good absorption of the stresses applied to the wheels by uneven regions (in the ground) and optimum lateral rigidity.
An important object of the invention is to provide a skate having a frame which allows to achieve optimum skating control.
A further important object is to provide a skate having a frame which allows to perform thrusting and sideslip braking in an optimum manner.
A further object is to provide a frame which allows correct, effective and safe use of the skate.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a frame particularly for skates, comprising a pair of wings, each having an elliptical shape so as to form an upper elastic portion and a lower elastic portion between which mutually in-line wheels are rotatably associated, characterized in that it comprises at least one lateral stiffening and guiding element which is slidingly interposed between said upper and lower elastic portions.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side view of a skate provided with a frame, according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken along the plane II-II of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of a skate provided with a frame according to a further aspect of the invention.
With reference to the above figures, 1 designates a skate constituted by a shoe 2 composed of an upper 3 with which a quarter 4 is rotatably associated.
The upper 3 is connected to a frame 5 which has a first base 6 and a second base 7 for supporting the tip region 8 and the heel region 9 of the upper 3.
The frame 5 is also constituted by two wings 10a and 10b, each of which has an elliptical shape so as to form an upper elastic portion 11 and a lower elastic portion 12 which are mutually connected at their ends.
The upper elastic portions 11 are mutually connected at least at the first base 6 and at the second base 7, so that they can be arranged approximately parallel to each other and can accommodate, in the interspace between the wings 10a and 10b, two or more wheels 13, which are thus mutually in-line and are pivoted, by means of pivots 14, at the lower elastic portions 12.
The frame comprises at least one lateral stiffening and guiding element, designated by the reference numeral 15, which is slidingly interposed between the upper elastic portions 11 and the lower elastic portions 12.
The lateral stiffening and guiding element 15 is substantially U-shaped, so as to form a third base 16 which is preferably located at the central region that lies below the upper in the interspace between the upper elastic portions 11.
Two tabs 17a and 17b protrude from the third base 16 and preferably have, in plan view, the shape of a triangle wherein the vertex is directed towards the ground 18. The tabs have a first portion which is associated, so that it can slide freely, at seats 19a and 19b formed at a cross-member 20 that connects the upper elastic portions 11; the tips are instead located outside the lower elastic surfaces 12 and are mutually connected at the pivots 14 for the pivoting of the wheels 13.
According to a further aspect of the invention, illustrated in Figure 3, between the third base 16 of the stiffening and guiding element 15 and the overlying lower surface of the upper 3 it is possible to interpose at least one element 21 suitable to absorb stresses, so as to allow to reduce the amount of stress transmitted from the frame 5 to the shoe 2.
Said element 21 can also act as a stroke limiter for the vertical movement of one or more wheels, particularly the central wheels, preventing them from touching the lower surface of the upper 3.
It has been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a frame having been provided which, by means of the arrangement of the stiffening and guiding element 15, which can slide inside the upper elastic portions 11 and is externally rigidly coupled to the lower lateral portions 12, allows both a vertical movement of the wheels and achieves greater lateral rigidity.
The frame allows to achieve optimum skating, performing correct thrusting and effective sideslip braking by means of the optimum lateral rigidity of said frame due to the presence of the guiding and lateral stiffening element 15, without altering the characteristics in terms of absorption of the stresses provided by the elliptical configuration of the wings 10a and 10b.
A skate is therefore obtained which allows the user to achieve optimum control thanks to a better response, which is achieved by means of the configuration of the frame associated with the shoe.
The frame according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, within the scope of the appended claims.
Thus, for example, there may be more than one guiding and lateral stiffening element, or one of said elements can be connected to more than one wheel.
The materials that constitute the individual components of the frame may also of course also be the most pertinent according to specific requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV98A000022 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
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 intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A frame particularly for skates, comprising a pair of wings (10a,10b), each having an elliptical shape so as to form an upper elastic portion (11) and a lower elastic portion (12) between which mutually in-line wheels (13) are rotatably associated, characterized in that it comprises at least one lateral stiffening and guiding element (15) which is slidingly interposed between said upper and lower elastic portions (11,12).
The frame according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one lateral stiffening and guiding element (15) is slidingly associated between said upper elastic portions (11).
The frame according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one lateral stiffening and guiding element (15) is rigidly coupled, at one end, at a pivot (14) for the pivoting of at least one wheel (13) which passes at said lower elastic portion (12).
The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one lateral stiffening and guiding element (15) is substantially U-shaped so as to form a third base (16) arranged at a central region in the interspace between said upper elastic portions (11).
The frame according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that two tabs (17a,17b) protrude from said third base (16) and have, in plan view, the shape of a triangle in which the vertex is directed towards the ground (18), each one of said two tabs (17a,17b) having a first portion which is associated, so that it can slide freely, at seats (19a,19b) formed at a cross-member (20) which connects said upper elastic portions (11).
The frame according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the tips of said two tabs (17a,17b) are arranged outside said lower elastic portions (12) and are mutually connected at the pivots (14) for the pivoting of said wheels (13).
The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one absorber element (21) suitable to absorb stresses is interposed between said third base (16) of said at least one stiffening and guiding element (15) and the overlying lower surface of a shoe associated with said frame, so as to allow to reduce the amount of stress transmitted from said frame (5) to said shoe (2).
The frame according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that said absorber element (21) acts as stroke limiter for the vertical movement of one or more of said wheels (13), particularly the central wheels, preventing them from touching the lower surface (3) of said shoe (2).