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
  • A63C17/04—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
• • 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
• • 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
  • A63C17/22—Wheels for roller skates
  • A63C17/24—Wheels for roller skates with ball-shaped or spherical running surfaces
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C2201/00—Use of skates, skis, roller-skates, snowboards and courts
  • A63C2201/02—Aggressive riding, e.g. grinding

Definitions

• the present invention refers, in its most general aspect, to a roller skate.
• rollers we mean any type of rolling members, in particular of substantially cylindrical shape (cylindrical rollers) , which can rotate about a single rotation axis, or of spherical shape (spherical rollers) , which can rotate about a single rotation axis or about infinite rotation axes, i.e. about any diameter of the spherical roller itself (multidirectional spherical rollers) .
• skates There are three categories of skates that are well-known and used: the conventional roller skates, where a footwear is associated with a support for a couple of front cylindrical rollers and for a couple of rear cylindrical rollers, the in-line roller skates, where a footwear is associated with a support for a plurality of substantially cylindrical rollers arranged along a longitudinal symmetry axis of the support itself, and the ice skates, where a footwear is associated with a support for a suitable blade for sliding on the ice. Ice skates are extremely versatile: indeed the skater can both skate at high speed and perform "dance" maneuvers, like for example pirouettes and jumps with spin about himself/herself.
• Such a skate although it satisfies the aforementioned requirement, has a recognized drawback that indeed has prevented it from being used, i.e. the fact that it is not possible to satisfactorily and above all safely control the movements thereof.
• the skater that wears skates of the aforementioned type has great difficulty in keeping balanced even simply when standing still, since it only takes the slightest movement with respect to the balanced position to cause him to fall (i.e. the balanced position that can be obtained is of unstable type) .
• the technical problem underlying the present invention is that of devising and providing a roller skate that is able to provide the skater with a great flexibility of use, a good wearing comfort and a easy and safe maneuverability, so as to overcome the quoted limitations and drawbacks with reference to the prior art in a simple and effective manner.
• a roller skate characterized in that it comprises a flexible insole and a plurality of rollers associated with said insole, means being provided for the wearability of said insole.
• Figure 1 schematically represents a plan view from below of a first embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 1.
• Figure 3 schematically represents a front, side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 1.
• Figure 4 schematically represents a rear, side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 1.
• Figure 5 schematically represents an enlarged plan view of a detail of the roller skate of figure 1.
• Figure 6 schematically represents a section view of the detail of figure 5, taken according to the plane traced with the line VI-VI in figure 5.
• Figure 7 schematically represents an enlarged plan view of a front portion of the roller skate of figure 1.
• Figure 8 schematically represents a section view of the portion of figure 7, taken according to the plane traced with the line VIII-VIII in figure 7.
• Figure 9 schematically represents a plan view from below of a second embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.
• Figure 10 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 9.
• Figure 11 schematically represents a plan view from below of a third embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.
• Figure 12 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 11.
• Figure 13 schematically represents a front, side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 11.
• Figure 14 schematically represents a rear, side elevation view of the roller skate of figurel.
• Figure 15 schematically represents a plan view from below of a fourth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.
• Figure 16 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 15.
• Figure 17 schematically represents a plan view from below of a fifth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.
• Figure 18 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 17.
• Figure 19 schematically represents a plan view from below of a sixth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention.
• Figure 20 schematically represents a side elevation view of the roller skate of figure 19.
• Figures 21 and 22 schematically represent side elevation views, taken from opposite sides, of the roller skate of figure 1, in a moment of use of the skate itself by a skater.
• Figure 23 schematically represents a plan view from above of the roller skate of figures 21 and 22.
• Figure 24 schematically represents a rear, side elevation view of the roller skate of figures 21 and 23.
• FIG. 1-8 a first embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 10.
• figures 1-4 show a right roller skate, i.e. the one destined to be worn by a right foot.
• the left roller skate is specularly symmetrical.
• the roller skate 10 comprises a flexible insole 11.
• the insole 11 is also elastically deformable.
• the insole 11 is advantageously made from plastic material or rubber.
• the insole 11 is anatomical, by this meaning an insole that is shaped so as to substantially reflect the morphology of the sole of the foot.
• a substantially plantar vault-shaped intermediate portion lib and a heel portion lie are defined.
• a plurality of rollers 16 is associated with said insole 10.
• rollers 16 are associated with the toe portion 11a and with the heel portion lie.
• the intermediate portion lib which is the area of the insole 11 subject to the greatest torsion during the use of the roller skate 10 by a skater, is advantageously without rollers 16.
• rollers 16 are associated with the insole 10: three of them are associated with the toe portion 11a and one is associated with the heel portion lie.
• the roller skate 10 also comprises means 18 for the wearability of said insole 11, i.e. means that make it possible for a skater to wear said insole 11.
• the means 18 comprise an upper 12 that is perimetrically connected to said insole 11, so that a footwear 13 is constituted.
• the upper 12 is flexible.
• Each roller 16 is carried by a support 14, a portion of the roller 16 itself projecting from one part of said support 14.
• each support 14 can carry more than one roller 16, as shown in the example of figures 1-4, where a support 14 associated with the toe portion 11a of the insole 11, carries three rollers 16.
• the aforementioned plurality of rollers 16 is carried by at least two distinct supports 14.
• said supports 14 are flexible and elastically deformable.
• the supports 14 are advantageously made from plastic material or rubber.
• rollers 16 With the association of the rollers 16 with the insole 11 takes place by connecting an end of the support 14, opposite the part where the roller 16 projects or where the rollers 16 project, below the insole 11, with per se conventional means like glues .
• a front-of-foot support 14 is associated with the toe portion lla of the insole 11, and a back-of-foot support 14 is associated with the heel portion lie of the insole 11.
• the back-of-foot support 14 carries a roller 16, advantageously arranged substantially at a lower end of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
• the front-of-foot support 14 carries three rollers 16.
• just two rollers 16 can be provided, which are advantageously arranged substantially at a front end of the first metatarsus and substantially at a front end of the fifth metatarsus of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
• roller 16 of the back-of-foot support 14 and the two aforementioned rollers 16 of the front-of-foot support 14 are arranged at the vertices of a triangle, with one side extending transversally to the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11 substantially at the toe portion 11a thereof and vertex opposite said side substantially at the heel portion lie thereof.
• the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11 substantially coincides with the functional longitudinal axis of the foot destined to wear said insole 11, an axis that substantially passes from a lower end of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone and between the second and third toe of the foot, the physiological supination and pronation movements of the foot being performed about said axis, said flexible insole 11 following the aforementioned movements of the foot in torsion.
• the third roller 16 of the front-of-foot support 14 is advantageously arranged substantially at a central area of the aforementioned triangle to constitute a further point of support on the ground for the roller skate 10.
• the aforementioned third roller 16 of the front-of-foot support 14 is positioned substantially on the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11, which is also the bisector of the angle of the aforementioned triangle arranged at the heel portion lie.
• the aforementioned third roller 16 is positioned in such a way that the incenter of the triangle having the three rollers 16 of the front-of-foot support 14 for vertices, is substantially on the aforementioned bisector .
• rollers 16 are per se conventional multidirectional spherical rollers .
• a bearing sphere 17 for example made from plastic material such as polyamide-imide, from ceramic or from steel
• a housing case 19 for example made from steel
• said bearing sphere 17 partially emerging from said housing case 19 and being supported by a plurality of support spheres 21 (for example made from plastic material such as polyamide-imide, from ceramic or from steel, and with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the bearing sphere) , substantially placed side by side one another and arranged at a substantially hemispherical seat 23 provided in said housing case 19, in such a way that the bearing sphere 17 is allowed to rotate in every direction with minimum friction.
• the bearing sphere 17 and the support spheres 21 are kept in the seat 23 in their correct mutual position by a collar 19a for closing the housing case 19, which is in the shape of a spherical annulus and from which emerges the aforementioned portion of bearing sphere 17.
• a collar 19a for closing the housing case 19 which is in the shape of a spherical annulus and from which emerges the aforementioned portion of bearing sphere 17.
• an annular recess is also provided that supports a felt, destined to prevent the entry of impurities between the bearing sphere 17 and the support spheres 21.
• the housing case 19 is fixed to the support 14 through per se conventional fastening means such as glues and/or screws.
• the rollers 16 can be replaced by quick coupling means to the roller skate 10, which are per se conventional and for this reason not illustrated (like for example a threaded coupling or a bayonet coupling) . In this way, the rollers 16 are easily replaced when they are worn out.
• said supports 14 are equipped with one or more braking and/or thrusting portions, which project laterally with respect to the profile, in plan view, of the insole 11.
• the braking and/or thrusting portions are preferably made from plastic material or rubber .
• the aforementioned braking and/or thrusting portions also project below the profile, in side elevation view, of the supports 14. More specifically, they project below the part of the supports 14 where the portion of the roller 16 projects. In order to ensure the possibility of inclining the insole 11 with respect to the ground, the projection of the braking and/or thrusting portions is smaller than the projection of the portion of roller 16.
• a first braking and/or thrusting portion 22 is arranged in front of the front-of- foot support 14 and a second braking and/or thrusting portion 24 is arranged behind the back-of-foot support 14.
• FIG 8 a cross section of the first braking and/or thrusting portion 22 is shown, in which it can be seen that the lower surface 22a of the first braking and/or thrusting portion 22 has concave shape. More specifically, the lower surface 22a is substantially a portion of cylindrical surface, having generatrices substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11.
• This conformation of the portion 22 is particularly advantageous because, on the one hand, the portion 22 has a lower surface 22a with a minimum possibility of obstacle during the rolling step of the skate, and on the other hand, it ensures a sufficient "active" surface of thrusting when the skater thrusts himself using such a portion 22, since, thanks to the flexibility of the material from which it is made, the concave surface 22a tends to flatten out, with the consequent increase in contact surface with the ground.
• a third braking and/or thrusting portion 26 is arranged on the inner side of the front-of-foot support 14, by inner side of the front-of-foot support 14 meaning the side located by the part of the big toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
• the third braking and/or thrusting portion 26 is situated in an area near both the aforementioned third roller 16, and the roller 16 arranged near the big toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
• a fourth braking and/or thrusting portion 28 is arranged on the outer side of the front-of-foot support 14, by outer side of the front-of-foot support 14 meaning the side that is located by the part of the fifth toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
• the fourth braking and/or thrusting portion 28 arranged on the outer side of the footwear is located near the roller 16 arranged near to the fifth toe of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
• the aforementioned braking and/or thrusting portions 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be replaced by quick coupling means to the respective supports 14 with which they are associated, which are per se conventional and for this reason not illustrated (like for example a coupling through screws or a coupling through a suitable insertion/release groove, provided on the supports 14 themselves) .
• the portions 22, 24, 26 and 28 are easily replaced when they are worn out.
• a second embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 110.
• the roller skate 110 differs from the roller skate 10 in that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of- foot support 14 a connection portion 130 is provided, which is associated with the intermediate portion lib of the insole 11.
• connection portion 130 has a concave lower surface 130a that is substantially shaped like a portion of cylindrical surface, having generatrices substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11.
• connection portion 130 is sufficiently soft to allow the insole 11 to be flexible and elastically deformable. It should be noted that a wide radius of curvature of the lower surface 130a facilitates the flexibility and the elastic flow of the connection portion 130, so that said connection portion 130 can follow the movement of the insole 11 during the use of the skate 110.
• said lower surface 130a is coated with material suitable for sliding for example on a handrail of a banister, i.e. for the so-called "grinding".
• FIG. 11-14 a third embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 210.
• the roller skate 210 differs from the roller skate 10 substantially in that the rollers 216, associated with the insole 11, are of substantially cylindrical shape and can rotate about a single rotation axis.
• the rollers 216 are arranged along a alignment substantially parallel or coinciding with the longitudinal symmetry axis A-A of the insole 11.
• rollers 216 are four.
• a roller 216 is carried by a back-of-foot support 14, associated with the heel portion lie of the insole 11.
• the roller 216 of the back-of-foot support 14 is arranged substantially at a lower end of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
• Three rollers 216 are carried by a front-of-foot support 14, associated with the toe portion 11a of the insole 11.
• the three aforementioned rollers 216 associated with the toe portion lie of the insole can be carried by three independent supports 14.
• rollers 216 can be replaced by quick coupling means to the roller skate 210 that are per se conventional and for this reason not illustrated. In this way, the rollers 216 are easily replaced when they are worn out.
• a fourth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 310.
• the roller skate 310 differs from the roller skate 210 in that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of- foot support 14 a connection portion 330 is provided, which is associated with the intermediate portion lib of the insole 11.
• connection portion 330 has a concave lower surface 330a, and has similar characteristics to those of the connection portion 130 of the roller skate 110 described above .
• FIGS 17 and 18 a fifth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 410.
• the roller skate 410 differs from the roller skate 210 in that there are three rollers 216 in total.
• the front-of- foot support 14, associated with the toe portion 11a of the insole 11, carries two rollers 216.
• the two aforementioned rollers 216 associated with the toe portion lie of the insole, can be carried by two independent supports 14.
• FIGS 19 and 20 a sixth embodiment of a roller skate according to the present invention is shown, globally indicated with 510.
• the roller skate 510 differs from the roller skate 410 in that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of- foot support 14 a connection portion 530 is provided, which is associated with the intermediate portion lib of the insole 11.
• connection portion 530 has a concave lower surface
• connection portion 330 of the roller skate 310 has similar characteristics to those of the connection portion 330 of the roller skate 310 described above .
• roller skate according to the invention solves the technical problem and achieves numerous advantages, the first of which concerns the fact that it is unusually- balanced and easy to maneuver .
• the skater can perform a large number of different maneuvers, even more than those that can be obtained with the ice skates.
• the skates according to the invention are unusually light, in particular if compared with the in-line roller skates of the prior art, and thus allow less effort and better performance by the skater.
• the foot of the skater who uses the roller skates according to the first and second embodiment of the invention is advantageously lifted from the ground by a lower height than the height which the foot of the same skater has, when he/she uses the in-line roller skates of the prior art.
• roller skates according to the invention allow the foot and the ankle of the skater to have a great freedom in the compound physiological movements known as “eversion” (comprising the physiological movements of pronation, abduction and dorsiflexion) and “inversion” (comprising the physiological movements of supination, adduction and plantar flexion) .
• the insole of the skate according to the invention elastically deformable in flexion and torsion, allows a substantial adaptability to the flexional and torsional movements of the foot that is destined to wear it.
• the roller skates according to the invention have a excellent versatility of use, i.e. the skater easily can also "walk” on the skates (without any risk of losing his/her balance) , as well as thrust himself/herself and brake in an unusually balanced manner.
• FIGS 21-24 it is shown how the insole of the skate according to the invention, during the use of the skate itself by a skater, can wring itself, substantially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the foot of the skater.
• FIG 24 it can be seen how a middle plane X-X of the front-of-foot support is rotated with respect to a middle plane Y-Y of the back-of-foot support.
• the roller skates according to the invention are extremely soft and comfortable to wear.
• the conformation of the flexible and elastically deformable insole adapts perfectly to the changes in curvature of the plantar vault of the skater's foot, which varies according to the conformation of the ground and the position at that time of the skater's body.
• the skater picks up speed and bends himself/herself forwards there is a "flattening" of the plantar vault of the foot, which is indeed helped by the flexibility of the insole.

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• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
• Biological Depolymerization Polymers (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-05-04 CA CA002651228A patent/CA2651228A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-05-04 US US12/299,401 patent/US20090200788A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-05-04 DE DE602006010115T patent/DE602006010115D1/de active Active
  • 2006-05-04 AT AT06744643T patent/ATE446798T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-05-04 WO PCT/IB2006/001150 patent/WO2007129130A1/fr active Search and Examination
  • 2006-05-04 EP EP06744643A patent/EP2012888B1/fr not_active Not-in-force

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