EP1011823B1 - Roller skate with reinforcing leggings and in particular for braking - Google Patents

Abstract

The sport gear, in particular the roller skate comprises a frame to be fixed longitudinally under the sole of a boot. It further comprises supporting leggings (8) consisting of two lateral arms (9) with their lower ends (11) integral with the frame (2), on either side of it, and pivoting about a transversal axis (12) and with its upper ends (13) comprising means for being fixed on the legs of the user above the ankle. Preferably, this gear in which the frame supports the rollers, comprises braking means for at least one roller, which are actuated by pivoting the supporting leggings backwards.

Description

The present invention relates to a sports device capable of being fixed under the sole of a walking shoe, said apparatus being of the skate type in line skating or ice skating.

The traditional skates are in molded shell integrating both the shoe and the pad part itself. This provision has the disadvantage of space and the obligation to change fully the skate in case of change in the size of the foot the user.

The prior art, described in document US-A-4,033,596, presents the disadvantage that braking takes place on the running surface of wheels.

Sports devices have already been proposed which are capable of being removably attached under the sole of a shoe market. Such an apparatus is notably described in the document FR.2.725.880.

However in this document it is recalled that even if the shoe has no apparent peculiarity, it must nevertheless maintain enough the ankle to allow the safe skating. For this purpose, it is advisable to provide a lacing or strapping over the ankle.

According to the applicants, the recommended solution does not allow obtain effective lateral ankle support during skating, except to use particularly reinforced and rigid shoes at the level ankle which makes them less able to walk.

The aim that the applicants have set themselves is to alleviate the aforementioned drawback by proposing a sports apparatus which is capable of be fixed under the sole of a particularly well suited shoe when walking, which has no particular reinforcement at the level of the ankle.

This goal is perfectly achieved by the sports apparatus, of the type in particular roller skate, of the invention, which comprises so known a frame capable of being fixed longitudinally under the sole of said shoe. Typically, this device has a support leg formed by two lateral arms whose ends lower are secured to the chassis, on either side thereof, and pivoting along a transverse axis and whose upper ends have means of attachment to the leg of the user above ankle.

So it's the leg support, an integral part of the sports device which provides lateral support for the ankle, being substantially blocked laterally by the two lateral arms which extend rigidly between the chassis arranged under the sole of the shoe and the part of the leg located above the ankle. This lateral support is made possible during skating, whatever the inclination of the leg relative to the plane of the chassis supporting the sole of the shoe due to the pivoting of the lateral arms according to a transverse axis.

Preferably the upper ends of the two lateral arms are connected by a bent and curved extension; more means fixing consists of a fixing strap, positioned in the interior space of the curved extension. The user, after having fixed the sole of his shoe on the chassis, comes to place the extension curve around his leg and secure it with the strap.

Advantageously, the fixing strap comprises a part rigid U-shaped which is able to wrap the back of the leg and which is articulated with respect to the middle zone of the curved extension. This particular arrangement avoids creating constraints between the fastening strap and curved extension of the lateral arms which that the inclination of the leg relative to the plane of the chassis supporting the sole.

Preferably, in the storage position, the lateral arms having pivoted forward the support leg is folded substantially the along the chassis, which minimizes the size of the device invention.

Being a roller skate type device, the chassis supports wheels, we have already brought different solutions to the problem braking, which all, according to the applicants, are controlled by the tilting the foot backwards while maintaining the skate's support on the ground. In this case the brake shoe is no longer guided by the front wheels which do not are more in contact with the ground; the skate becomes unstable and the balance is affected. In addition, in the case where the solution implements a buffer fixed on the back of the skate, this presence increases the size of the also skates and hinders back skating.

It is another object of the invention to propose a solution which is based on the use of the aforementioned sports equipment. According to the invention, this device, the chassis of which supports wheels, comprises braking means of at least one wheel, which are actuated by the pivoting of the support leg towards the rear. So to brake, the user just has to realize this pivoting towards the back of the leg by an extension of the corresponding foot, all the wheels being able to remain in contact with the ground.

According to an alternative embodiment of the device, the chassis includes two vertical uprights between which wheels are mounted along transverse axes, the braking means include, on each side of the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the wheel, a brake pad which is held between a vertical post and a sidewall of the wheel and which has a displacement lug; said lug passes through a hole drilled in the vertical upright and protrudes outward from it. The inner side of the corresponding side arm locally has, at the location of the lug, a varying thickness gradually and forming a cam, so that when pivoting towards the back of the support leg, the lateral arm presses gradually on the lug and moves the plate towards the side of the wheel.

Preferably the brake pad is held by a blade forming a spring on the axis of the wheel. This blade allows the insert to return to its initial position, without contact with the side of the wheel, when the support leg has returned to a normal position of skating.

• La figure 1 est une représentation schématique en perspective du patin à jambière de maintien et sans moyen de freinage,
• La figure 2 est une représentation schématique partielle en coupe longitudinale d'un premier exemple de patin avec jambière de maintien et freinage au sol, en position de patinage,
• La figure 3 est une représentation schématique partielle en coupe longitudinale du patin de la figure 2 en position de freinage,
• La figure 4 est une représentation schématique partielle de côté d'un deuxième exemple de patin avec jambière de maintien et freinage par disque, en position de patinage,
• La figure 5 est une représentation schématique partielle en coupe selon l'axe V-V du patin de la figure 4,
• La figure 6 est une représentation schématique partielle de côté du patin de la figure 4 en position de freinage,
• La figure 7 est une représentation schématique en coupe selon l'axe VII-VII du patin de la figure 6,
• La figure 8 est une représentation schématique partielle en coupe selon l'axe VIII-VIII du patin de la figure 6,
• La figure 9 est une représentation schématique de côté d'un troisième exemple de réalisation d'un patin avec jambière de maintien et freinage intégré sur les trois roues arrières,
• La figure 10 est une représentation schématique partielle selon l'axe X-X du patin de la figure 9.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which will be given of several exemplary embodiments of a sports apparatus of the in-line roller skate type provided with a holding leg, illustrated by the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective representation of the holding skid pad and without braking means,
• FIG. 2 is a partial schematic representation in longitudinal section of a first example of a skate with leg support and braking on the ground, in the skating position,
• FIG. 3 is a partial schematic representation in longitudinal section of the shoe of FIG. 2 in the braking position,
• FIG. 4 is a partial schematic representation from the side of a second example of a skate with a support leg and disc braking, in the skating position,
• FIG. 5 is a partial schematic representation in section along the axis VV of the skate of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a partial schematic representation of the side of the pad of FIG. 4 in the braking position,
• FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation in section along the axis VII-VII of the pad of FIG. 6,
• FIG. 8 is a partial schematic representation in section along the axis VIII-VIII of the skate of FIG. 6,
• FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of a third embodiment of a skate with leg support and integrated braking on the three rear wheels,
• FIG. 10 is a partial schematic representation along the axis XX of the pad of FIG. 9.

The present invention relates to a sports apparatus which, known manner, comprises a chassis on which can be fixed by suitable means the sole of a walking shoe.

In the first example, illustrated in FIG. 1, this device 1 has its chassis 2 which consists of a support 3 under which are arranged, vertically, two vertical uprights 4 which support wheels 5 mounted on axes 19 transverse to the general direction of the chassis 2. On the upper part of the support 3 are provided means 6, 7 for fixing the device 1 to the sole (not shown) of the shoe. In the example illustrated, these means consist of a centering 6 and in a hook 7 located respectively towards the rear and towards the front of the support 3. This stud 6 and this hook 7 cooperate with recesses and stiffening inserts provided in the sole of the shoe.

Typically, according to "invention, the apparatus 1 includes a support leg 8 whose function is to transmit lateral movements of the leg directly to the chassis without lateral and torsional forces on the ankle and without causing discomfort for the user during flexions and extensions of the foot caused during skating. This leg 8 consists of two lateral uprights 9, 10, the lower end 11 of which is integral with the vertical uprights 4 by a pivot axis 12. The upper 13 ends of the two side arms 9, 10 are connected by a bent and curved extension 14 which delimits an interior space for a fastening strap 15. This strap 15 includes a semi-rigid U-shaped portion 16, which is received substantially along the contour of the curved extension 14 and which is attached to it, in an articulated manner, in its median zone. This part semi-rigid 16 is terminated by conventional fastening elements 17 which will not be described beyond measure.

After having locked the sole of the shoe in position on the support 3 of the device 1, the user places the back of his leg in the semi-rigid U-shaped part and locks it in position on the leg holding 8 thanks to the fastening elements 17.

A stopper 18 can optionally limit the rear pivoting of the leggear 8 as illustrated in FIG. 1, in this case the lateral arms 9, 10 have, towards their lower end 11, a portion 11 which has bent, which comes into contact with the stops 18 when the rear pivoting of the leggings and therefore of the user's leg is too great.

It should be noted that when storing the device 1, the user folds the leggings 8 forward, pivoting the side arms 9, 10 forward. It is the extension 14 which in this case acts as stop, coming into contact, in its middle part, with the support 3. For of course, the dimensions of the side arms 9, 10 and the support 3 allow this blocking in position. Since the fixation support leggings should be located above the ankle, i.e. malleoli of the tibia and fibula, it suffices that the extension curve 14 be slightly above the ankle to get this blocking in the leg position in the folded forward state of the device.

In Figures 2 and 3 is illustrated a first embodiment a sports apparatus 20, of the in-line roller skate type, which is provided a support leg 21 whose rear pivoting activates a braking system 22. In this first example, the braking system combines both the action of a wear pad 23 on the ground and a part metal 24, constituting the actual brake, on the wheel 25.

This braking system 22 is housed between the two uprights vertical 26 of the chassis of the apparatus 20. Under the part 24 forming a brake is fixed, for example by gluing, the wear pad 23. This part 24 and the pad 23 are slidably mounted in a slide 27 between the two vertical uprights 26. A lever 28 is secured to the transverse axis 29 for pivoting the support leg 21. A return spring 30 connects the lever 28 and the brake part 24. The rear part 31 of the part 24 has a concave surface, constituting a surface of braking.

In the skating position, as illustrated in figure 2, the arms side 21 of the leggings have a substantially vertical position, or slightly inclined relative to the vertical, the lever 28 is substantially horizontal and the part 24 and the wear pad 23 are raised from the ground by spring 30.

During braking, the user puts his foot in extension so that rotate the lateral arms 21 backwards (figure 3). This leads correlatively the angular displacement of the lever 28 which pushes towards bottom part 24 and its wear pad 23 which slide in the slide 27. The wear pad 23 comes into contact with the ground 32 and brakes the device 20. Furthermore during its movement towards the bottom, the concave surface of the rear part 31 of the part 24 comes into contact with the wheel 25 and performs a complementary braking action, combining with that of the wear pad 23.

In order to allow the leggings, the part 33 of the lever 28 which subjects said lever 28 to the axis 29 of pivoting of the leg 21, is provided with a light 34 and the driving of the lever 28 during braking is caused by a stop 35. This stop moves in the light 34 during the pivoting towards the front of the leg.

Figures 4 to 8 illustrate a second embodiment an in-line roller skate type sport apparatus 40, according to the invention, which includes a support leg with two arms lateral 41 which actuate, during their pivoting towards the rear, a brake system comprising two brake pads 42 acting at least on the sides 43 of a wheel 44.

The description which follows will be made with regard to a single plate 42 actuated by a single lateral arm 41, the assembly being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal plane DD of the wheel 44. The plate 42 is interposed between the sidewall 43 of the wheel 44 and an upright vertical 45 of the chassis 46 of the apparatus 40. The plate 42 is provided, on the face opposite to the wheel 44, a lug 47 which passes through an orifice practiced in the vertical upright 45. The lateral arm 41 of the leg is articulated on the axis 50 of rotation of the wheel 44. It locally has a zone 48 of gradually varying thickness, intended to form a cam, for braking.

In normal skating position, lug 47 is extended, as illustrated in Figure 5, the head of the lug 47 facing the area 48 at lowest thickness level. When braking, and therefore pivoting rearward of the lateral arm 41, in the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 8, the head of the lug 47 is gradually pushed back by the zone 48, of arm 41, the thickness of which increases during this pivoting, forming an inclined slope with respect to the general direction of the arrow F. The pin 47 being pushed back in the direction of arrow G, we obtain the correlative movement of the plate 42 which comes into contact with the flank 43 of wheel 44, thus braking the device 40, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The plate 42 is held in place by a blade 49, forming return spring, which is fixed on the axis 50 of rotation of the wheel 44, so that when the lateral arm returns to normal position 41, the plate 42 returns to its original position illustrated in the figure 5. Possibly the thickest part of zone 48 or a complementary stop 51 can limit the rearward pivoting of the leg.

The brake pad 42 preferably has, as illustrated, a shape which substantially matches both the flank itself of the wheel and a rounded portion thereof.

In Figures 10 and 11 is illustrated a third example of production of a sports device 60 of the inline skate type comprising, according to the invention, a support leg 61 whose vertical arms 62, articulated on the axis 63 of rotation of the rear wheel 64 activate a braking system acting on the last three wheels 64, 65, 66 of the device 60, which has four.

Brake 67 is made up of a part which is guided longitudinally in the space between the two vertical uprights 68 of the chassis of the apparatus 60. This part comprises, for each wheel 64, 65, 66 a wear pad or plate 69 having a braking surface 70 substantially V-shaped, as partially illustrated in Figure 11. Each braking surface 70 is shaped to come and marry substantially the outer periphery of a wheel 64, 65 or 66 when rear displacement of the part 67, actuated by the displacement angle of the lateral arm 62. This actuation is made possible by a share by a training pad 71 which is fixed to the rear of the part 67 and which protrudes outwards from the vertical upright 68, passing through a orifice 72 drilled in said upright 68, and on the other hand by a stop 73, fixed on the lateral arm 62. This stop 73, during the rear pivoting of the arm 62, rests on the stud 71 of drive and moves towards rear part 67. A return spring 74 connects part 67 to the upright vertical 68 so that said part 67 can regain its normal position after braking.

It should be emphasized that the braking means which have just been described can be operated by other means than a reinforcement, especially when the shoe is not a shoe of works, but a reinforced shoe. It only takes one piece actuation integral with the chassis of the device and pivotable relative to to it along a transverse axis either engaging the leg or a part of the shoe, capable of pivoting and that the means of braking of at least one wheel, are activated by pivoting towards the rear of said part, this pivoting being itself caused by that of the leg or of said part of the shoe.

In this case the actuating part does not itself provide a lateral support of the ankle during skating. It only allows actuation of the braking means, functionally replacing to the side arms of the leg warmer in the exemplary embodiments supra.

Claims (9)

1. A sports appliance of the roller inline skate type, comprising a chassis (46) fixed or suitable for fixing longitudinally beneath the sole of a shoe, and comprising an actuator piece (41) for actuating the brake means to the rear wheel (44), which actuator piece is secured to the chassis to pivot relative thereto about a transverse axis (51, 12), characterized in that the brake means comprise, on either side of the longitudinal plane of symmetry (DD) of the wheel (44), a brake pad (42) held between a vertical upright (45) and a flank (43) of the wheel (44) and having a displacement stud (47), in that said stud (47) passes through an orifice formed in the vertical uprights (45) and projects therefrom ; and in that, locally, level with the stud (47), the inside face of a lateral arm (41) of the actuator piece has a cam-forming zone (48) of thickness that varies progressively so that during backward pivoting of the actuator piece, said zone (48) presses progressively on the stud (47) and moves the brake pad (42) towards the flank (43) of the wheel (44).
2. An appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the brake pad (42) is held by a blade (49) forming a return spring and secured to the axis of the wheel (44).
3. An appliance according to claim 1 to 2, characterized in that the actuator piece (41, 11) comprises a leaning surface (51, 11a) which is in contact with an abutment (18) of the chassis during backward pivoting of the actuator piece and stops the movement of the brake pad (42) to the flank (43) of the wheel (44).
4. A sports appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the actuator piece is a supporting leg-piece (8) that engages the leg of the user, and that actuates the brake means when pivoted backwards as caused by backwards pivoting of the leg.
5. An appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the supporting leg-piece (8) comprises two lateral arms (9) whose bottom ends (11) are secured to the chassis (2) on either side thereof, to pivot about a transverse axis (12), and whose top ends (13) include means for fixing to the leg of a user above the ankle.
6. An appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the top ends (13) of the two lateral arms (9) are interconnected by a folded and curved extension (14), and in that the fixing means comprise a fixing strap (15) positioned in the inside space of the curved extension (14).
7. An appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the fixing strap (15) comprises a semirigid U-shaped portion (16) which is suitable for going round the back of the leg and which is hinged to the middle zone of the curved extension.
8. An appliance according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that in the storage position, with the lateral arms (9) pivoted forwards, the supporting leg-piece (8) is folded substantially along the chassis (2).
9. An appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuator piece (41), in its upper portion, is secured to a portion of the shoe that is capable of pivoting during the back of the leg.

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