Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C17/00—Roller skates; Skate-boards
  • A63C17/0046—Roller skates; Skate-boards with shock absorption or suspension system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C17/00—Roller skates; Skate-boards
  • A63C17/04—Roller skates; Skate-boards with wheels arranged otherwise than in two pairs
  • A63C17/06—Roller skates; Skate-boards with wheels arranged otherwise than in two pairs single-track type
  • A63C17/061—Roller skates; Skate-boards with wheels arranged otherwise than in two pairs single-track type with relative movement of sub-parts on the chassis
  • A63C17/062—Roller skates; Skate-boards with wheels arranged otherwise than in two pairs single-track type with relative movement of sub-parts on the chassis with a pivotal frame or cradle around transversal axis for relative movements of the wheels

Definitions

• the invention relates to in-line skates, and, in particular, to an independent
• suspension system to attach the wheels of an in-line skate to the skate's boot where the suspension system allows the wheels to move individually relative to the ground
• in-line skates are used outside on sidewalks and other road
• uneven surfaces can cause stress on the wheels, boots and other structural elements of the skate as well as discomfortable for the skater. Often, the uneven surfaces can be
• Some of these systems include a mechanism
• the purpose of the present invention is to overcome the limitations of the prior
• the invention includes mechanism that allow the wheels to move relative
• suspension mechanism can be arranged so that the wheels can move in a dual action
• the suspension mechanism which allow the wheels to move relative to the
• boot includes a biasing means that absorbs the shock when the wheels encounter the
• biasing means can include a spring, flexible plastic or metal, or another type of energy
• the wheels are rotatably attached to a
• the present invention fits within the confines of
• FIG. 1 shows an in-line skate including a boot, tracking system, wheels and
• FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of suspension mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the suspension mechanism taken along the
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wheel and attachment means of the
• FIG. 5 is a fragmented side view of another embodiment of the suspension
• FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 taken
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wheel and attachment means of the
• FIG. 8 is a fragmented side of yet another embodiment of the suspension
• FIG. 9 is a front view of the suspension mechanism shown in FIG. 8.
• FIG. 10 is a fragmented side view of still another embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 11 is a front view of the suspension mechanism shown in FIG. 10;
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wheel and attachment means of the
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the suspension
• FIG. 14 is a front view of the suspension mechanism shown in FIG 13;
• FIG. 15 is a rear view of the suspension mechanism shown in FIG 13;
• FIG. 16 is a side view of the attachment mechanism shown in FIG 13;
• FIG. 17 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the suspension
• FIG. 18 is a top view of the suspension mechanism shown in FIG. 17.
• FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of the attachment mechanism for the
• FIG. 1 illustrates an in-line skate 10 that includes a suspension mechanism 12
• the boot 14 includes a boot 14 that is configured to hold and support the foot of the wearer.
• boot includes a sole 16 that has a tracking system 18 attached to it.
• system 18 is made of any suitable material and is typically made of aluminum.
• tracking system 18 has a series of wheels 20 rotatably attached to it so that the wheels
• the wheel 20 can be rotatably attached to
• suspension mechanism 12 allows the wheels 20 to move individually and
• Figs 2-4 shows one embodiment of the suspension mechanism 12 according to
• the suspension mechanism 12 includes an
• the attachment mechanism 35 is movably connected at
• mechanism 35 has the wheel rotatably attached to it by an axle 22. The attachment
• each wheel 20 can move individually
• biasing means 39 can be a typical spring. Of course, any type of biasing means can be used
• the biasing means 39 is connected between the tracking system 18 and the
• the biasing means 39 is biased so that
• the biasing means 39 can also be biased to relieve the pressure on the boot 14 when the biasing means 39 is biased.
• the wheels 20 encounter the surface during the natural skating motion.
• Figs. 5-7 illustrate another embodiment of the suspension mechanism 12 of the
• This embodiment includes an attachment mechanism 35 that has a
• the attachment mechanism is connected to the tracking system 18 at a
• One end of the attachment mechanism 35 is
• tracking system 18 also includes a channel 41 to position the attachment mechanism
• the wheel 20 is rotatably connected to the other end of the attachment
• biasing means 39 returns the channel 41 positions the attachment mechanism 35 and
• the biasing means 39 can also be configured to
• biasing means 39 other than a spring shown
• Figs. 8-9 illustrate yet another embodiment of the suspension mechanism 12 of
• the attachment mechanism 35 includes a channel 45
• end of the channel includes ribs 43 that are perpendicular to the sides 49 of the
• a mating member 51 is movably engaged at one end into the channel of
• the other end of the mating member is rigidly connected to a u-shaped
• the wheel 20 is rotatably connected to the bracket by an axle 22.
• the biasing means 39 can be any sort of energy
• the biasing means 39 is biased so that the wheel 20, bracket 53 and
• mating member 51 move vertically when the wheel 20 encounters an uneven surface.
• the biasing means 39 can also be configured to absorb the shock achieved when the
• FIGs. 10-12 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention where
• the attachment mechanism 35 includes a u-
• mechanism 35 connects to the tracking system 18 by an arm 57 extending from a side
• the arm 57 includes a series of holes 59 that are used to
• a pin 63 is provided
• the pin 63 provide stability for the attachment mechanism 35.
• attachment mechanism 35 depends on which hole the screw 61 is placed.
• Fig. 13-16 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention where the
• attachment mechanism 35 includes an upper portion 70 that connects to the tracking
• side arms 78 extend perpendicularly. Screws (not shown) are placed through
• the lower portion 72 has a generally C-shaped cross-section that surrounds the
• the upper portion 70 and lower portion 72 are connected to one another by
• Bars 80 and 82 connect one side of the C-shaped lower portion 72 to
• Bars 80 and 82 are used on each side of the
• the bars 80 are connected to the lower and upper portion
• pins 84 so that the bars 80 can rotate about the pins 82.
• One of the pins 84 can be
• FIGS. 13-16 includes a biasing means 39 that is
• the biasing means 39 is
• the biasing means 39 can also be configured
• the stopping mechanism 86 is formed from
• each arm 78 At the lower end of each arm 78 a portion of the
• each arm 78 is L-shaped.
• the bars 82 are connected together
• This bridge 86 fits into the removed portion of the arms so that the
• FIGS. 17-19 illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention.
• the tracking system 18 includes a series of channels 92.
• the attachment mechanism 35 includes a
• live axle 94 which is shown in FIG. 18.
• the top end 96 of the live axle 94 connects
• first biasing means 98 is provided to the upper surface of channel 92 and is supported by first biasing means 98 at either
• the first biasing means 98 also connects into the end walls of the channel 92.
• the opposite end of the live axle 92 includes a rod 100 and between the rod 100 and
• the top end 96 is a wedge 102.
• the attachment mechanism 35 in this embodiment also includes a first arm
• the first and second arms 104, 106 are both connected at
• the wheels are
• a second biasing means is connected to the other end of the arms 104, 106 by axles 38.
• the 108 can be configured between the arms 104, 106 and the wedge 102 to absorb the
• wheels 20 connected to arms 104 and 106
• wheels can also move in a path relative to the top end 96, such that the top end 96
• Both the first and second biasing means 98 and 108 are configured

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• 1997
  • 1997-09-05 WO PCT/US1997/015786 patent/WO1998009691A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-09-05 ES ES97942404T patent/ES2289763T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-09-05 EP EP97942404A patent/EP0938355B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-09-05 AT AT97942404T patent/ATE365578T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-09-05 DE DE69737865T patent/DE69737865T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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