EP1674139A1

EP1674139A1 - Modular in-line skate frame assembly

Info

Publication number: EP1674139A1
Application number: EP04400072A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hendrikus Adrianus Van Egeraat
Original assignee: PC-Vane Sportartikel GmbH; PC Vane Sportartikel GmbH
Current assignee: PC-Vane Sportartikel GmbH; PC Vane Sportartikel GmbH
Priority date: 2004-12-21
Filing date: 2004-12-21
Publication date: 2006-06-28

Abstract

A modular in-line skate frame assembly (2) includes a shoe mounting horizontal plate (22), two spaced-apart lateral plates (21), and a fastening unit (23). The shoe mounting horizontal plate (22) includes a plurality of spaced-apart lateral place connecting portions (223). The lateral plates (21) extend downwardly and respectively from two opposite ends of the horizontal plate (22), and has a plurality of spaced-apart link portions (213) provided on a respective one of the lateral plates (21). The link portions (213) are connected respectively to the lateral plate connecting portions (223) . The fastening unit (23) extends through the lateral plate connecting portions (223) and the link portions (213) for fastening together the horizontal plate (22) and the lateral plates (21).

Description

The invention relates to an in-line roller skate, more particularly to a modular in-line skate frame assembly.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a conventional in-line skate frame 1 is made from extruded aluminum. The extruded aluminum undergoes a machining process to form integrally the frame 1. The frame 1 includes two spaced-apart lateral plates 11, and a plurality of spaced-apart curved ribs 12 connected between the lateral plates 11. When a plurality of wheels (not shown) are rotatably connected between the lateral plates 11, the curved ribs 12 are located facing the outer peripheries of the wheels so as to provide sufficient stiff support to the lateral plates 11.
Although the conventional in-line skate frame 1 is formed integrally and has a stiff structure, it has the following disadvantages in terms of production and use:

1. During the formation process of the frame 1, the aluminum is initially heated to a sufficient temperature to provide the aluminum with a predetermined degree of plasticity, then fed through a mold by a hydraulic press to form a rectangular extruded aluminum member. The extruded aluminum member is then machined, and finally undergoes a finishing process to form the desired structure of the in-line skate frame 1. Since the frame 1 is designed to have a strong structure and an appealing appearance, the machining process must be performed in a precise and meticulous manner, such that the manufacturing process of the conventional in-line skate frame 1 is very difficult and complicated.
2. During the machining process of the aforementioned extruded aluminum, a significant amount of waste material is produced, resulting in an effective use of the aluminum that's often below 25%. The mining, recycling and production of aluminum involve high costs and significant effort, and place a burden on the environment. Therefore, aluminum should be used as effectively as possible, ideally with an effective use of 25% or greater. If this waste material is disposed of directly and not recycled, a high consumption of material occurs.
3. Through the presence of the curved ribs 12, the lateral plates 11 have a stiff structure. When one of the lateral plates 11 receives an external shock, the impact absorbed by said one of the lateral plates 11 will be transmitted to the other lateral plate 11 through the curved ribs 12 to dampen the impact, thereby enhancing the stiffness of the lateral plates 11. However, since the frame 1 is formed integrally and has no areas of resiliency, when the impact is very strong, the frame 1 tends to deform easily, particularly at the junctures of the lateral plates 11 and the curved ribs 12.

Referring to Figure 3, another conventional in-line skate frame 3 is shown tobe similar to the aforementioned in-line skate frame 1. Particularly, the frame 3 is formed integrally, and includes two lateral plates 31. However, the frame 3 has no curved ribs 12 (see Figure 2) . The frame 3 is provided with a slot 32 in each lateral plate 31. The slot 32 extends along the length of the frame 3 so that each lateral plate 31 is formed with a double-wall configuration.
Since the frame 3 is formed integrally, it encounters problems similar to those of the aforementioned frame 1, that is, a complex manufacturing process and high consumption of material. Furthermore, the double-wall configuration of each lateral plate 31 only weakens the structure of the frame 3 so that each lateral plate 31 tends to deform easily and may even crack when met with a strong impact.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a modular in-line skate frame assembly that is easy to manufacture, that can be produced in such a way that the base material is used effectively, and that has a low production cost, as well as sufficient strength and resiliency.
According to this invention, a modular in-line skate frame assembly comprises a shoe mounting horizontal plate, two spaced-apart lateral plates, and a fastening unit. The shoe mounting horizontal plate includes a plurality of spaced-apart lateral plate connecting portions. The lateral plates extend downwardly and respectively from two opposite ends of the horizontal plate, and has a plurality of spaced-apart link portions provided on a respective one of the lateral plates. The link portions are connected respectively to the lateral plate connecting portions. The fastening unit extends through the lateral plate connecting portions and the link portions for fastening together the horizontal plate and the lateral plates.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detai led description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional in-line skate frame;
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the in-line skate frame of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic side view of another conventional in-line skate frame;
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a modular in-line skate frame assembly according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a front view of the preferred embodiment, which is partly sectioned to show a groove in a horizontal plate;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how a fastening unit secures the horizontal plate to two lateral plates;
Figure 7 is an assembled schematic view of the preferred embodiment in a state of use;
Figure 8 is a front view of the preferred embodiment with one of the lateral plates being flexed inwardly; and
Figure 9 illustrates an alternative lateral plate usable in the present invention.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of a modular in-line skate frame assembly 2 according to the present invention is shown to comprise two spaced-apart lateral plates 21, a shoe mounting horizontal plate 22, and four fastening units 23.
The lateral plates 21 are symmetrical, and extend along a longitudinal direction. Each of the lateral plates 21 includes a main body 211 having a continuous wave-like structure, five spaced-apart wheel connecting portions 212 projecting downwardly from a bottom end of the main body 211, and four spaced-apart link portions 213 projecting upwardly from a top end of the main body 211. Since the main body 211 has a wave-like structure, the wheel connecting portions 212 and the link portions 213 are arranged in a staggered configuration. The main body 211 is provided with a plurality of decorative holes 214 so as to reduce the weight of the main body 211.
The shoe mounting horizontal plate 22 is disposed between the lateral plates 21, and includes an intermediate portion 221, heel and toe support portions 222, 222' formed on two opposite sides of the intermediate portion 221, and a plurality of spaced-apart lateral plate connecting portions 223. The lateral plate connecting portions 223 include a front connecting portion 223a projecting downwardly and forwardly from the toe support portion 222', a rear connecting portion 223b projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the heel support portion 222, and two middle connecting portions 223c projecting downwardly from the intermediate portion 221. Each of the lateral plate connecting portions 223 is tubular, and is disposed in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the lateral plates 21. The lateral plate connecting portions 223 are connected respectively to the link portions 213 of the lateral plates 21. Each of the heel and toe support portions 222, 222' has an elongated slot 224 through which a fastener may be secured to a heel or a toe portion of a boot (shown in Figure 7 in phantom lines). Two elongated grooves 225 are formed respectively in bottom faces of the intermediate portion 221 and the toe support portion 222'.
Referring to Figure 6, in combination with Figures 4 and 5, the fastening units 23 are provided for fastening together the lateral plates 21 and the horizontal plate 22 through the link portions 213 and the lateral plate connecting portions 223. Each of the fastening units 23 includes an internally threaded tubular member 231 that extends through the corresponding link portion 213 of one of the lateral plates 21, the corresponding lateral plate connecting portion 223, and into the corresponding link portion 213 of the other one of the lateral plates 21, and an externally threaded tubular member 232 that engages threadedly the internally threaded tubular member 231 so that the horizontal plate 22 is secured between the two lateral plates 21.
Referring to Figure 7, each of the lateral plates 21 and the horizontal plate 22 cooperatively define a plurality of spaced-apart apertures 24, each of which is located between two adjacent ones of the link portions 213 below the horizontal plate 22. In this embodiment, there are six apertures 24 defined by the lateral plates 21 and the horizontal plate 22 with three apertures 24 on each side of the horizontal plate 22.
During assembly of the boot and the frame assembly 2, five roller wheels (shown in Figure 7 in phantom lines) are respectively and pivotally connected between the wheel connecting portions 212 of the two lateral plates 21. Two of the roller wheels project respectively into the grooves 225 in the horizontal plate 22 (only one is visible in Figure 5). Next, the heel and toe portions of the boot are secured respectively to the heel and toe support portions 222, 222' of the horizontal plate 22 through the elongated slots 224. The assembly of the boot and the frame assembly 2 is, in this state, ready for use by the user.
The advantages of the in-line skate frame assembly 2 of the present invention in terms of manufacture and use are as follows:

1. The lateral plates 21 and the horizontal plates 22 are made individually by punching, and are fastened together by using the fastening units 23. Thus, the manufacturing process of the in-line skate frame assembly 2 of the present invention is easy, quick, and simple.
2. Since an amount of material approximating that of the completed lateral plates 21 and the horizontal plates 22 is punched to form these elements, there is little waste of material.
3. Since the lateral plates 21 and the horizontal plate 22 are made individually, are fastened together through the link portions 213 and the lateral plate connecting portions 223, and cooperatively define the apertures 24 which can absorb shock, when one of the lateral plates 21 receives an external shock or when the road surface is rough, as shown in Figure 8 in phantom lines, the frame assembly 2 can undergo temporary deformation to thereby produce suitable resilience and in this way absorb shock forces, thereby avoiding the situation where the majority of the shock forces enters the skater's body. The remaining impact or shock is absorbed through the connecting points, so that the horizontal plate 22 or the other one of the lateral plates 21 are not easily affected.
4. In the preferred embodiment, another way in which the material is more effectively used and its resilience further enhanced is by producing the parts by hot forging.

It is generally known that properly treated Aluminum 7075 that is hot-forged nears the mechanical properties of St 52.
The parts of the frame assembly 2 can be easily produced by hot-forging, and the resulting increase in strength will allow for further effective use of the material, as will the hot-stamping itself.
Figure 9 illustrates an alternative form of the lateral plates 21 (only one is visible) which can be used in the present invention. The top and bottom ends of the main body 211 of each lateral plate 21 are substantially straight.

Claims

A modular in-line skate frame assembly (2)
characterized by:
a shoe mounting horizontal plate (22) including a plurality of spaced-apart lateral plate connecting portions (223);

two spaced-apart lateral plates (21) extending downwardly and respectively from two opposite ends of said horizontal plate (22) and having a plurality of spaced-apart link portions (213) provided on a respective one of said lateral plates (21), said link portions (213) being connected respectively to said lateral plate connecting portions (223); and

a fastening unit (23) extending through said lateral plate connecting portions (223) and said link portions (213) for fastening together said horizontal plate (22) and said lateral plates (21) .
The modular in-line skate frame assembly (2) as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each of said lateral plates (21) further includes a main body (211), and a plurality of spaced-apart wheel connecting portions (212) projecting downwardly from a bottom end of said main body (211), said link portions (213) projecting upwardly from a top end of said main body (211), said wheel connecting portions (212) and said link portions (213) being arranged in a staggered configuration.
The modular in-line skate frame assembly (2) as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said lateral plates (21) are symmetrical.
The modular in-line skate frame assembly (2) as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said horizontal plate (22) includes an intermediate portion (221), and heel and toe support portions (222, 222') formed on two opposite sides of said intermediate portion (221), said lateral plate connecting portions (223) including a front connecting portion (223a) projecting downwardly and forwardly from said toe support portion (222'), a rear connecting portion (723b) projecting downwardly and rearwardly from said heel support portion (222), and a middle connecting portion (223c) projecting downwardly from said intermediate portion (221).
The modular in-line skate frame assembly (2) as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that each of said lateral plates (21) and said horizontal plate (22) cooperatively define a plurality of spaced-apart apertures (24), each of which is located between two adjacent ones of said linkportions (213) below said horizontal plate (22).
The modular in-line skate frame assembly (2) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said lateral plates (21) and said horizontal plate (22) are formed by hot forging.