EP1146936A1

EP1146936A1 - In-line roller skate

Info

Publication number: EP1146936A1
Application number: EP99936003A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gard Emar Group Inc. Mayer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-10
Filing date: 1999-07-30
Publication date: 2001-10-24
Also published as: EP1146936A4; JP2002522185A; WO2000009223A1

Abstract

An in-line roller skate (10) having at least a pair of interior wheels (48, 50) mounted at a lower elevation than the toe and heel wheels (36, 44) and pivotably mounted on a rocker panel (46) for limited pivoting movement to more closely replicate the skating ability obtained with ice hockey skates.

Description

LN-LLNE ROLLER SKATE

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 08/677,711, filed July 10, 1996, now U.S. Patent 5,791,665, which is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 08/657,967, filed June 5, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 08/472,382 filed June 7, 1995, now U.S. Patent 5,685,550.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to roller skates, particularly of the in-line type, where a plurality of wheels are aligned in a linear array. More particularly the present invention is directed to in-line roller skates having superior performance capabilities over prior art in-line skates as to skating in both the forward and rearward directions, turning in both the forward and rearward directions, pivoting in both the forward and rearward directions and stopping.

Background of the Invention

Roller skates, particularly of the in-line type which have a single linear array of wheels, are presently very popular and in wide use. In fact, one area of increasing popularity for in-line roller skates is in the use of such skates to play "roller" hockey. Unfortunately, conventional in-line roller skates which are used to play roller hockey replicate the type of ice skates used for speed skating. Conventional in-line roller skates are based on the same principles of physics used in ice speed skates which are very different from the principles of physics used in ice hockey skates. Speed skates used on ice have long flat blades. This type of blade enables ice speed skaters to disperse their weight over a longer plane, which, in turn, allows skaters to skate fast in a straight line. Even though speed skaters use an oval race course, the turning radius at each end of the oval course is not severe and speed skaters really do not turn very much but navigate these turns by crossing the lead foot over the trailing foot.

Distinct from the long flat ice speed skate, ice hockey skates are made with much shorter curved blades. This type of blade allows skaters the ability to shift their body weight back and forth over the length of the curved blade which further enables skaters to make tight radius, high speed turns, pivots and stops, all of which are required for optimal play on an enclosed rink surface and for high performance skating in general. The problem with in-line roller skates, as with all roller skates, is that roller hockey players and others interested in high performance maneuvers are not able to use conventional in-line roller skates to duplicate the increased mobility and performance that ice hockey skates have over ice speed skates. More particularly, players cannot skate in the forward or rearward directions, turn in the forward or rearward directions, pivot in the forward or rearward directions or stop with conventional in-line skates as they can with ice hockey skates. Conventional in-line roller skates, like ice speed skates, have wheels mounted in a long flat plane in contact with the skating surface. This construction mandates that the multiple wheels all be positioned at the same level so that the full array of wheels are in contact with the skating surface. This type of in-line skate is optimal for skating forward in a straight line but is far from optimal for skating rearward, turning in the forward or rearward direction, pivoting in the forward or rearward direction or stopping without the use of a separate "bumper" brake. Due to the shortcomings of conventional in-line skates, some roller hockey players have developed a number of modifications, which can be applied to a conventional in-line roller skate, aimed at trying to duplicate the physics of an ice hockey skate. One such modification applied to a conventional chassis is to use smaller wheels in the toe and heel axles of the chassis while using larger wheels in the center axles of the chassis, thus creating a "curved" array of wheels. In this configuration, the toe and heel wheels are elevated from the ground while the two center wheels remain in contact with the ground. Some in-line roller skate manufacturing companies have taken this concept one step further, in that, some now offer a chassis with toe and heel axle holes located at a higher elevation than the center axle holes, thus allowing skaters to use the same diameter wheels throughout the chassis while still creating a curved array of wheels. Others offer a structure which allow skaters to choose the vertical relationship between the interior wheels and toe and heel wheels by providing a sub-chassis which locates the interior wheels and a primary chassis which locates the toe and heel wheels. The sub-chassis is located in a fixed position in relationship to the primary chassis in one of two vertical positions determined by a locating pin or other like device. In this instance, one position locates all of the wheels in a linear array on the same plane creating the physics of a speed skate, while the second position locates the sub-chassis at a fixed elevation lower than the primary chassis, and thus, in effect, creates a curved array for the wheels.

In all of these modifications to conventional in-line roller skates what is known as a "fixed rocker" chassis is created. A fixed rocker chassis is a chassis which defines three distinct skating planes. The forward and rearward skating plane is defined by the two most forward wheels, the turning plane is defined by the two most rearward wheels, and the stopping and pivoting plane is defined by the interior two wheels. However, each skating plane is defined by only two wheels. Furthermore, each skating plane can only be as long as the distance between the axle holes for the wheels on their respective plane. Therefore, on an average men's skate with a ten inch (25 cm) chassis, if the wheels are aligned in a linear fashion with a conventional axle hole alignment in which the axles are equidistant from each other, then no one plane can be any more than two and a half inches (6.5 cm) long. While it would seem that these fixed roller constructions had adequately duplicated the principles of physics around which an ice hockey skate is centered, it has been found, through extensive studies, that the physics of an ice hockey skate cannot be replicated in this manner. For example, using a ten inch (25 cm) long blade on an average men's ice skate, when skaters skate in either a forward or rearward direction, the front six to seven inches (15 to 17.5 cm) of the ice skate blade contacts the ice. When ice skater's turn while skating forward, the rear six to seven inches (15 to 17.5 cm) of the ice skate blade contacts the ice. When skaters pivot or stop, the center three to four inches (7.5 to 10 cm) of the ice skate blade contacts the ice. The present invention provides a means to more closely replicate the principles of the physics around which an ice hockey skate is based. Furthermore, the present invention allows skaters to more closely replicate ice hockey skating in the forward and rearward directions, turning in the forward and rearward directions, pivoting in the forward and rearward directions and stopping. This, in turn, affords in-line roller skaters greater maneuverability, agility and mobility on enclosed rink surfaces which ultimately leads to better performance and less injuries.

Another problem with in-line roller skates which have a fixed rocker chassis, as with all roller skates, is providing an effective provision for creating more than one radius of curvature of the wheels. Present conventional in-line roller skates only allow skaters to rocker their chassis to one radius of curvature. In contrast, ice hockey players have individual preferences as to how small or large a radius of curvature they have on their skate blade and can customize skate blades with different blade curvatures.

The present invention allows in-line skaters the ability to customize the radius of wheel curvature to their individual preferences.

Still another problem with in-line roller skates, as with all roller skates, is providing an effective provision for stopping. One widely used stopping device for in-line roller skates is a rubber bumper extending downwardly at the front or rear of the skate. To stop forward skating motion, the skater tilts the toe or heel down to cause the bumper to contact the skating surface to provide friction and resistance to the forward motion of the skater. Alternatively, with conventional in-line roller skates the skater can attempt a turn to stop or avoid an obstacle. However, due to the fixed linear array of the wheels, as in an ice speed skate, the turning radius a skater can achieve is quite large so that an emergency or hockey stop is not achievable.

However, in ice hockey skating, as opposed to speed skating, a popular way of stopping forward motion is to use what is known as the hockey stop. In a manner similar to the use of skis, the skater makes a sharp turn to the side and the blade of the ice skate is turned transversely to the forward direction of the skater. The skate blade, now positioned transverse to the previous direction of movement, transfers all of the skater's weight to the center three to four inches (7.5 to 10 cm) of the skate blades. This concentrates the frictional force between the ice and the skate blade and thus the blade, as it slides along under increasing frictional resistance, digs into the ice to provide a quick stopping action.

Because conventional in-line roller skates are constructed around the physics of an ice speed skate, hockey type stops cannot be readily achieved due to the fact that the skater's weight is dispersed over the entire length of the blade as opposed to the center three to four inches (7.5 to 10 cm) of the blade as in an ice hockey skate. Therefore, skaters using conventional in-line skates or speed skates cannot concentrate their weight over a shorter span to permit achievement of a hockey stop. Stopping is usually accomplished by depressing the toe or heel to place the rubber bumper in contact with the ground to arrest forward momentum. If a skater is traveling at a high rate of speed and needs to stop quickly, often such quick stops cause the skater to fall forward. Most in-line skaters wear protective gear such as helmets, knee and elbow pads and hand pads to cushion these body parts in the event of a fall. Despite the wearing of these types of protective equipment many serious injuries occur. The present invention provides a safer and quicker way of stopping which will eliminate many of the injuries sustained by a forward head long fall.

As previously noted, some prior in-line roller skates use a primary chassis which locates the toe and heel wheels and a sub-chassis which locates the interior wheels, so that the interior wheels can be located in different vertical fixed positions. This creates a fixed rocker. One such fixed rocker is shown in U.S. Patent 5,588,658 to Perner et al. which discloses an in-line skate in which a sub-frame is capable of securement in two different vertical positions. In one position the wheels are all at the same level. In a second position the interior wheels are at a fixed lower level. This is illustrative of a fixed rocker.

A fixed rocker in-line roller skate is also disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,166,767 to Peterman which shows wheels fixed in a curved array. A modified fixed rocker in-line roller skate is also shown in U.S. Patent 2,644,692 to Kahlert. This construction discloses rubber cushioned or spring action roller skate having a continuous series of rollers or wheels each individually and separately cushioned to provide shockless skating over a rough surface.

Another variation for mounting rollers in different vertical positions is disclosed in W092/10251 which discloses adjusting the spacing of the axles of the rollers in the longitudinal direction of the skate simultaneously with an adjustment of the vertical position. The vertical adjustment takes place against the force of a spring, using a key which brings about movement of the sub-frame in the vertical direction, while the spring tension increases. The bearing surfaces contact each other eccentrically, and are naturally subjected to corresponding wear.

U.S. Patent 4,272,090 to Wheat discloses an in-line roller skate construction intended for use by figure skaters. This skate features a front wheel unit called a bogie pivoted about a transverse axis and carrying leading and trailing wheels. A leaf spring bears on the opposite ends of the bogie to maintain the bogie in a normal stable condition relative to the shoe. The rear wheel unit is mounted on the heel of the skating shoe. A particular feature of this skate is that the front wheel bogie assembly functions to maintain a pair of aligned wheels in contact with the skating surface, when the rear wheel is raised slightly. This construction creates two defined skating planes. The first skating plane is defined by the front wheel bogie assembly and the rear wheel unit contacting the skating surface on one plane when the skater is skating in an upright position, and the second skating plane is defined by only the front wheel boogie assembly contacting the skating surface when the skater is leaning in a forward skating position. This construction cannot replicate ice hockey skate maneuvers.

Yet another bogie system which embodies a braking means is disclosed in GB 2 160 780 A. In this embodiment the roller assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart side members, between which extend front and rear axles, which carry front and rear rollers. The roller assembly is centrally attached to a plate by a pivot shaft thereby enabling the foot-platform to rock forwardly and backwardly relative to the roller assembly. This construction also provides a brake pad fitted to the underside of the foot-platform, above the rear wheel so as to provide a braking means when the skater rocks backward. The object is to provide an improved foot operable braking means. Furthermore, this construction has only one skating plane defined by the front and rear wheels which always maintain contact with the skating surface.

Still another bogie system which embodies a braking means is disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,342,071 to Soo. In this construction front and rear brake members are respectively mounted to the toe and heel area of the chassis from which the front and rear wheel assemblies are pivotally mounted. This construction is designed to allow braking by pivotal movement for both the front and rear wheel brake assemblies.

In a similar manner U.S. Patent 5,135,244 to Allison discloses a tandem roller skate employing a suspension system by which the tandem positioned wheels are articulated through a truck and beam arrangement to contact heel or toe brake pads.

Summary and Objects of the Invention An in-line roller skate construction according to the present invention replicates the same principles of physics which are embodied in the design of an ice hockey skate blade. Ice hockey skates are not provided with a flat lower blade surface like ice speed skates and conventional in-line roller skates. Instead, ice hockey skate blades have a slight curved shape in the heel and toe area so that the heel and toe area curve upwardly. The present invention duplicates the relevant physical dimensions of an ice hockey skate blade by locating the interior wheels at a lower elevation than the toe and heel wheels. The interior wheels are also mounted for limited pivoting movement relative to the skate boot and toe or heel wheel.

In normal forward and rearward skating modes, as the skater moves, the tendency is to lean forward so that the foot also pivots forward. The result is that the boot pivots so that the front three wheels are in contact with the skating surface, as opposed to a fixed rocker where only two wheels contact the ground. Furthermore, a skating plane the same length as a like sized ice hockey skate is created, thus affording the skater increased stability in contrast to a fixed rocker chassis. On executing a turn in the forward direction, especially a sharp turn, the skater leans backward so that the boot also pivots back. The result is that as the boot pivots rearwardly, the three rear wheels now contact the surface, as opposed to a fixed rocker, where again only two wheels contact the surface. Furthermore, a turning plane the same length as a like sized ice hockey skate is created, thus affording the skater increased stability in contrast to a fixed rocker chassis.

On executing a pivot turn, skaters, like skiers who step up on the downhill ski, naturally lift their body up and centrally locate their weight on the skate chassis. The result is that as the boot pivots to the pivoting plane, only the two interior wheels contact the skating surface. Because the interior wheels can pivot and are mounted lower than the toe and heel wheels, a pivoting plane, the same length as a like sized ice hockey skate, is created, thus affording the skater increased agility and mobility in contrast to a conventional in-line chassis. On executing a hockey stop maneuver, skaters similarly naturally lift their body weight up and centrally locate their weight on the skate chassis. The result is that as the boot pivots to the pivoting/stopping plane, only the two interior wheels contact the skating surface. As in the pivot turn maneuver, a stopping plane the same length as a like sized ice hockey skate is created. A skater is able to concentrate his body weight over the two interior wheels, because so much weight is dispersed over such a small plane with only two contact points. The result is a concentration in frictional force which permits a skater to stop using the hockey stop maneuver.

The present invention has also recognized that increased stopping capability can be achieved on all types of skating surfaces by using only the interior wheels of the array for stopping purposes. Thus the support system has been designed to permit a rocking action to place only the interior wheels in contact with the ground when stopping.

It has been found after experimentation with a type of in-line roller skate as disclosed in the parent applications, that acceptable stopping capability in a hockey stop maneuver can be achieved without using an internal braking mechanism and with conventional in-line wheels instead of spherical wheels. The material for the wheels, a high impact engineering thermoplastic material resistant to wear and abrasion, exhibits sufficient frictional drag on numerous types of skating surfaces, e.g., concrete, asphalt, and specifically prepared surfaces for competition skating, during a hockey stop maneuver. Thus it has been found that with the interior wheels (i.e., two or more interior wheels) in contact with the skating surface a hockey stop maneuver can be successfully employed.

The present invention also enables skaters to customize the degree of the wheel curvature. Due to the offset, pivoting nature of the centrally located wheels, skaters have the ability to dictate the size of the wheel curvature radius by selectively placing different sized, conventional in-line roller wheels in the four different axle holes. A skater can create many different rockers or radii by selection of different sized wheels. In other words, if there are four axle holes and two different sized wheels, sixteen different curvatures can be created. If there are four axle holes and three different sized wheels, then sixty-four different curvatures can be created. The ability to customize the rocker cannot be achieved with conventional fixed rocker skates with acceptable results.

The present invention is intended to be used by skaters in competitive situations such as roller hockey or other competitive endeavors where increased performance capability is desired. In such competitive environments skaters are often particular about all aspects of their equipment, including the comfort, fit and support obtained through the skating boot or shoe itself.

Accordingly, many competitive skaters have and use custom foot ware. The present invention, therefore, may be obtained as a chassis assembly to be mounted on any desired boot or shoe, and may even be obtained with or without wheels to allow the selection of wheels.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an in-line roller skate with which skaters can duplicate the exact skating, turning, pivoting and stopping motions as skaters can on ice hockey skates.

It is a further object of the present invention to duplicate the three skating planes of an ice hockey skate blade, and therefore duplicate the properties of physics around which an ice hockey skate blade is constructed. Yet, another object of the present invention, is to enable skaters to customize the size of the radius of curvature of the wheels according to their skating style.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an in-line roller skate with which a skater can stop by executing what is known as a hockey stop.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an in-line roller skate which is safer to use and which would be less prone to result in serious injuries due to falls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an in-line chassis assembly for a roller skate which may be mounted on any desired boot.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily ascertainable with reference to the following specification and drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a preferred embodiment of the in-line skate of the present invention with the toe wheel and two interior wheels in contact with the skating surface; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the heel wheel and two interior wheels in contact with the skating surface;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing only the two interior wheels in contact with the skating surface;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view taken along line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the chassis body and one rocker panel;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the chassis and rocker panel; and Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the chassis.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

As seen initially in Figs. 1-3, the skate 10 of the present invention includes a conventional or custom shoe boot 12, having a heel area 14 and a toe area 16 to which is secured the chassis 18 of the invention.

Chassis 18 includes a toe plate 20 and a heel plate 22 which flange outwardly from spaced side rails 24. Suitable through bores 26 are provided in the toe and heel plates 20 and 22 through which bolts, rivets or other attachment means 28 can be placed to secure the chassis 18 to boot 12 in any convenient manner. Side rails 24 each include forwardly canted forks 30 provided with through bores 32 to receive an axle 34 of toe wheel 36. In like manner, rearwardly canted forks 38 are provided with through bores 40 to accommodate the axle 42 of a rear heel wheel 44.

A pair of rocker panels 46 are provided on the exterior of side rails 24 to pivotally mount the interior wheels 48 and 50 to chassis 18. A pair of through bores 52 are provided in each side rail 24 as well as cam slots 54 to permit pivoting of the rocker panels as will be explained hereafter.

A pivot shaft 56 is disposed within through bores 52 with each end of pivot shaft 56 being received in a through bore 58 in each rocker panel 46. In like mariner, a pivoting shaft 58 passes through cam slots 54 and is disposed in through bores 60 in each rocker panel 46.

Each rocker panel also includes forward through bores 62 and rear through bores 64 to receive, respectively, axle 66 of forward interior wheel 50 and axle 68 of rear interior wheel 48. Each of the interior wheels 48 and 50 are accommodated within oval slots 70 and 72, respectively, in chassis 18. Chassis 18 is spaced from boot 12 in this area to preclude any contact between the interior wheels 48 and 50 and boot 12.

All of the wheels may be conventional in-line roller skate wheels which typically include internal ball bearings for more ready and precise rotation about its axle shaft.

The wheel axle shafts, pivot shaft 56 and pivoting shaft 58, as is evident to one of ordinary skill in the art, are all conventionally mounted so as to be easily removed when desired for replacement or to replace or change wheels.

To achieve the benefit of the present invention a precise geometric orientation of the wheels must be provided. Accordingly, the location of the axle mounts of the toe and heel wheel forks and the positioning and location of the axle mounts of the rocker panel are selected so that the toe and heel wheels, when the interior wheels are both in contact with the ground, as shown in Fig. 3, are elevated with respect to the ground. The location of through bores 52 in rocker panel 46 which accommodate the pivot axis of the rocker panels, as well as the location and dimension of the cam slots 54 in chassis 18 are selected to permit the rocker panels 46 to pivot about pivot shaft 56 to the desired extent provided by movement of the pivoting shaft 58 within cam slots 54.

The desired result is to provide sufficient pivoting movement of rocker panels 46, which dictate the pivoting movement of interior wheels 48 and 50, so that when a skater leans forward only the toe and interior wheels contact the ground. Conversely, when the skater leans backward only the interior wheels and heel wheel contact the ground, all as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

The net result and benefit is that, in essence, the curved shape of an ice hockey skate blade is replicated to permit attainment of skating performance obtained by an ice hockey skate blade over an ice speed skate blade. All of the wheels are readily removable to change wheels if worn or to select wheels of different diameters to customize the radius achieved. Thus, it is evident that an increase in curvature can be obtained by selecting large diameter wheels for the interior wheels while maintaining toe and heel wheels of a uniform smaller diameter. Also, either the toe or heel wheel may have a different diameter to customize further the curvature shape achieved. Also either of the interior wheels may have a different diameter.

In typical skating in a forward direction the skater tends to lean forward so that the toe wheel and the two interior wheels, as depicted in Fig. 1, are normally in contact with the ground. When it is desired to execute a turn, as the skater turns the boot in the direction of the turn, the skater's body leans back slightly so that the heel and heel wheel pivot downwardly, elevating the toe wheel in the position of Fig. 2. In addition on executing a turn the skater's body leans in the direction of the turn so that the foot pivots about the vertical axis, so that the contact between the wheels and the ground or skating surface is on one-half of the wheel. However, the wheel point of contact is maintained with the skating surface as the radiused wheel contact surface provides multiple uniform tangent points between the wheel surface and the ground at varying angles. Thus no matter how steep or severe an angle the skater's body and feet form with the ground, the wheeled contact angle remains relatively constant. Because of the shorter contact angle and shorter wheel base resulting from the pivoting of the interior wheels, the skater is able to make a more severe or sharper turn than could be made with prior in-line fixed rocker skates. When a skater desires to stop by executing the hockey stop maneuver, the skater executes a sharp transverse turn. At the same time the skater's body will lean in the direction of the turn so that the skates will pivot about the vertical axis. It has been found that the friction between the high impact engineering thermoplastic material with which the wheels are made and typical ground skating surfaces, such as concrete, asphalt and specially prepared competition surfaces, is sufficient to arrest the forward momentum of the skater. When executing the stopping maneuver using the hockey stop, the two interior wheels, as shown in Fig. 3, are the ones that engage the ground surface with the toe and heel wheels being elevated. It has been found that the concentration of the skater's weight on only the two interior wheels provides an ability to stop forward momentum with a hockey stop maneuver.

It is thus apparent that most of the frictional wear on the wheel surfaces will occur to the two interior wheels and when the wheels are sufficiently worn the toe and heel wheels may be exchanged for the two interior wheels until wheel replacement is necessary. While the preferred embodiment has been described it is readily apparent that modifications can be made within the scope of this invention. As an example, the chassis is preferably a single unit to provide exact location of the critical components. However, the chassis can be made in separate pieces with a toe area chassis, a heel area chassis and an interior wheel area chassis suitably attached to a boot. In addition, the toe and heel wheel mount brackets could be a single member rather than a fork with the wheel mounted between. Also the rocker panel could be a single panel with the interior wheels rotatably mounted thereon. Alternatively, the cam slot could be provided on the rocker panel and the pivoting shaft or pivoting pins be mounted on a suitable chassis structural member. Also a cam slot need not be used, although it is preferred, to limit the pivoting extent of the rocker. Since the arc of pivoting movement is not great, suitable pin extensions abutting a stop of some type, instead of a cam slot, may also be employed. Also while four wheels are standard on in-line roller skates it is also possible to use more than four wheels. In this instance more than two interior wheels can be mounted to the pivoting rocker.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a roller skate which has the ability to more closely replicate an ice skate both as to an increased ability to navigate sharper turns and also to allow for rapid and safer stopping maneuver without the necessity of a heel or toe bumper brake.

The disclosed embodiments are provided by way of illustration and not limitation as further modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A roller skate chassis for an in-line roller skate adapted to be mounted to a foot receiving boot having a toe and heel area comprising: an elongate member adapted to be secured to said foot receiving boot; a first bracket member extending from the toe area of said elongate member adapted to rotatably mount a toe wheel member; a second bracket member extending from the heel area of said elongate member adapted to rotatably mount a heel wheel member; a rocker member pivotally mounted to said elongate member between said first and second brackets adapted to rotatably mount at least a pair of wheels between said toe and heel wheel members; either one of said rocker member or said elongate member including a pivoting limiting member spaced from the pivot mount of said rocker member to limit the pivot path of said rocker member with respect to said chassis.

2. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot limiting member comprises a pin member movable within a slot.

3. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 2 wherein said slot is a cam slot and said pin member is constrained to move within said cam slot.

4. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 1 wherein said rocker member comprises a pair of spaced rocker members and said at least a pair of wheels are adapted to be rotatably mounted between said pair of rocker members.

5. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 4 wherein said pivot limiting member comprises a pin member movable within said slot.

6. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 5 wherein said slot is a cam slot and said pin member is constrained to move within said cam slot.

7. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 6 wherein said pin member comprises a shaft between said pair of rocker members and said cam slot is disposed within said elongate member.

8. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second bracket members include wheel axle receiving members to rotatably mount toe and heel wheels therein and said rocker member includes wheel axle receiving members to rotatably mount said at least a pair of wheels.

9. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 8 wherein said wheel axle receiving members in said first and second bracket members are at a higher elevation than said wheel axle receiving members in said rocker member when said chassis is oriented vertically in a skating orientation.

10. A roller skate chassis for an in-line roller skate adapted to be mounted to a foot receiving boot having a toe and heel area comprising: means for securing said chassis to said foot receiving boot; a toe wheel mount member adapted to rotatably mount a toe wheel extending from said chassis securing means in said toe area; a heel wheel mount member adapted to rotatably mount a heel wheel extending from said chassis securing means in said heel area; a rocker member pivotally mounted to said chassis securing means adapted to rotatably mount at least a pair of interior wheels between said toe and heel wheel members; either one of said rocker member or said chassis securing means including means for limiting the pivot path of said rocker member with respect to said chassis.

11. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for limiting the pivot path of said rocker member comprises a pin member movable within a slot.

12. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 11 wherein said slot is a cam slot and said pin member is constrained to move within said cam slot.

13. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 10 wherein said rocker member comprises a pair of spaced rocker members and said at least a pair of wheels are adapted to be rotatably mounted between said pair of rocker members.

14. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 13 wherein said pivot limiting member comprises a pin member movable within said slot.

15. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 14 wherein said slot is a cam slot and said pin member is constrained to move within said cam slot.

16. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 15 wherein said pin member comprises a shaft between said pair of rocker members and said cam slot is disposed within said elongate member.

17. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 10 wherein said rocker member includes wheel axle receiving members to rotatably mount at least a pair of interior wheels.

18. A roller skate chassis as defined in claim 17 wherein said wheel axle receiving means on said rocker member are at a lower elevation than said toe and heel wheels when said chassis is oriented vertically in a skating orientation.

19. An in-line roller skate chassis having a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted in a substantially linear array and adapted to be mounted to a foot receiving boot having a toe and heel area comprising: a toe wheel rotatably mounted and depending from said toe area; a heel wheel rotatably mounted and depending from said heel area; a plurality of interior wheels rotatably mounted on a rocker panel between said toe and heel wheels; said rocker panel being pivotally mounted with respect to said chassis along a pivoting path; either one of said rocker panel or said chassis further including a pivot member about which said rocker panel is rotatably mounted and a pivot limiting member spaced from said pivot member for limiting said pivoting path of said rocker panel.

20. An in-line roller skate chassis as defined in claim 19 wherein said pivot member includes a bore.

21. An in-line roller skate chassis as defined in claim 20 wherein the other one of said rocker panel or said chassis includes a pivot pin located in said bore.

22. An in-line roller skate chassis as defined in claim 19 wherein said pivot limiting member includes a slot.

23. An in-line roller skate chassis as defined in claim 22 wherein the other one of said rocker panel or said chassis includes a pin disposed in said slot to limit pivoting movement of said rocker panel with respect to said chassis.

24. An in-line roller skate chassis as defined in claim 19 wherein said plurality of interior wheels are mounted on said rocker panel at a lower elevation than said toe and heel wheels when said chassis is oriented vertically in a skating orientation.

25. An in-line roller skate having a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted in a substantially linear array to a foot receiving boot having a toe and heel area comprising: a chassis member mounted to said foot receiving boot; said chassis including a bracket member depending from the toe and heel areas and toe and heel wheels rotatably mounted on said brackets; said chassis including a rocker panel pivotally mounted with respect to said chassis between said toe and heel areas for limited pivoting movement with respect to said chassis; and a plurality of interior wheels rotatably mounted to said rocker panel.

26. The in-line roller skate as defined in claim 25 wherein said toe and heel wheels are mounted at a higher elevation than said plurality of interior wheels when said skate is oriented vertically in a skating orientation.

27. The in-line roller skate as defined in claim 26 wherein said chassis comprises an elongate member secured to said foot receiving boot and includes a pair of depending side rails.

28. The in-line roller skate as defined in claim 27 wherein said toe and heel bracket members comprise integral members extending from said side rails and said toe and heel members are rotatably mounted between said extending members.

29. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 27 or 28 wherein said rocker panel includes a pair of rocker panels each pivotally mounted to said side rails and wherein said plurality of interior wheels are rotatably mounted between said pair of rocker panels.

30. The in-line roller skate as defined in claim 25 wherein either one of said rocker panels or said chassis includes a pivot member and a pivot limiting member spaced from said pivot member to define a pivot path for said limited pivoting movement.

31. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 29 wherein said pivot member includes a pin in a bore and said pivot limiting member is a slot in which said pin is received.