EP2714212B1

EP2714212B1 - Frame structure for skates

Info

Publication number: EP2714212B1
Application number: EP12717777.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dario De Lazzari
Original assignee: MGM SpA
Current assignee: MGM SpA
Priority date: 2011-05-31
Filing date: 2012-05-03
Publication date: 2016-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-03
Also published as: WO2012163622A1; EP2714212A1; ITPN20110041A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a frame structure for skates, in particular in-line roller skates or ice skates.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In-line roller skates or ice skates of known type usually consist of a support frame on the lower part of which are mounted in-line wheels or a blade for ice skating, and on the upper part of which is mounted a boot, for example of the type consisting of a lower shell to which is joined an upper shell, or of a boot with a flexible upper.
Clearly, the structure of a skating-boot frame must meet several requirements of safety and functionality, and also guarantee a certain modularity: for that purpose, many different frame structures have been proposed, most of which comprising a large number of components. However, it is evident that such a structure implies high production costs and rather complex assembling operations.
In fact, numerous fastening or coupling means, removable or fixed, are required to fasten all the different components, and they must be used with particular care and attention and checked from time to time in order, first of all to avoid compromising safety, but also to avoid the formation of undesirable "play" between the various components that prevent the optimum transmission to the skate of the force generated by the skater.
The lightness of the finished product, which would be a very desirable characteristic for a skate, can also be compromised by the high number of components and the relative fastening means.
One proposed solution to avoid such drawbacks is to have skates of "monobloc" type, that is, skates wherein the frame is moulded in a single piece, including the lower shell in which the user's foot is positioned. Obviously, said frames, in addition to requiring a specific mould for each size and each model, must necessarily be made entirely of polymeric materials in order to contain weight and costs.
However, the undifferentiated use of a single polymeric material may be unsuitable for making some skate components, in particular those subjected to the greatest strain, such as the upper reinforcing braces and the walls to which the wheels or blades are joined: in fact, it is well known that the polymeric materials, although rigid, have an intrinsic flexibility that may imply undesirable losses in the transmission of the forces generated during the skating run.
Document EP0919264 shows a skate frame including a pair of elongated rails, extending parallel and spaced apart from one another, each provided with a series of apertures. A plurality of bracing members are arranged between the rails and provided with tabs for engagement with the apertures of the rails.
WO2004/008899 A1 shows a frame forming one piece with the reinforcing braces (Fig. 6).

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by devising a frame structure for skates, in particular in-line roller skates or ice skates, that combines extreme lightness with safety and functionality.
In the scope of the above objective, one purpose of the present invention is to achieve a frame structure for skates that comprises a small number of components, and consequently also means for fastening and/or coupling the same, while guaranteeing the modularity of skate sizes and models.
A further objective of the present invention consists of providing a frame structure that is simple to make and easy to assemble.
One not negligible objective is to devise a frame structure for in-line roller skates that achieves the above purpose and objectives at competitive production costs and that can be obtained with the usual known tools, machines and equipment.
The above purposes and objectives, and others that will be better disclosed hereinbelow, are achieved by a frame structure for skates as defined in claim 1; further characteristics are defined in the subsequent dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Advantages and characteristics of the invention will become evident from the description which follows, given by way of non limiting example, with reference to the enclosed figures, wherein:

figure 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, a roller skate of the in-line type comprising a frame structure according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a perspective view of a frame structure for skates assembled according to the present invention;
figure 3 is an exploded view of the frame structure for skates illustrated in figure 2;
figures 4 and 5 illustrate, in an assembled and exploded view respectively, part of the frame structure for skates according to the present invention, and
figure 6 illustrates a variant embodiment of a frame for skates according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, in particular figure 1, number 1 indicates a skate comprising a frame structure 10 consisting substantially of a first and a second wall 2A, 2B arranged parallel to each other, between which is rotatably supported, through first jointing means 12 such as pins, a plurality of wheels 20; alternatively, between the parallel walls can be arranged an ice-skating blade (not shown in the enclosed figures).
Said parallel walls 2A, 2B are centrally linked by at least one interface plate 4 connected transversally to them by conventional fastening means 14, which has the function of supporting the sole of a boot 5 that fits the user's foot. Said boot 5 also includes a flexible upper that wraps both the foot and the lower part of the leg, and can be associated to said interface plate 4 by gluing or through suitable fastening means.
A first and a second reinforcing brace 3A, 3B branch off respectively from said first and second wall 2A, 2B, and extend therefrom in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the interface plate 4.
According to a specific characteristic of the invention, said first wall 2A and said first reinforcing brace 3A are made integral as one piece to a first half-shell 23A and, similarly, said second wall 2B and said second reinforcing brace 3B are made integral as one piece to a second half-shell 23B.
Said two half- shells 23A and 23B are joined directly to each other through second fastening means 13 at the free end of the reinforcing braces 3A, 3B; in the figures, said second fastening means 13 include a plate 13A provided with two through holes 13B that are arranged to correspond to other similar through holes 19 provided on each brace 3A, 3B within which are at the same time inserted fastening elements 13C, such as screws or rivets.
In addition, as mentioned above, said two half- shells 23A, 23B are also indirectly joined through said interface plate 4; in particular, advantageously, the walls 2A and 2B are associated to said plate 4 through a "forked" joint, in which at least two portions 21 projecting from each of the two walls 2A, 2B are inserted into corresponding cavities formed by pairs of flanges 41 arranged on the downwardly turned surface of the interface plate 4, and locked therein by the insertion of said first fastening means 14.
A cuff 6 is articulated on said two reinforcing braces 3A, 3B in the area of the user's ankle around second joining means 16, such as side clasps or screws; said cuff 6 is adapted to support suitable known closure means 7 (figure 1), such as for example lever-operated devices cooperating with notched straps, to firmly fasten the skate 1 to the user's leg.
For what concerns the materials to be used, it is particularly advantageous to make the two half- shells 23A, 23B described above of particularly lightweight and strong metal or metal alloys, such as magnesium or aluminium, and to have the interface plate 4 made as a separate element, preferably by injection moulding a rigid polymeric material.
In this manner, advantageously, the half- shells 23A, 23B are moulded substantially in a single shape, that is the same for skates of any size, while changing only the dimensions of the interface plates 4 to adapt them to the size of the sole of the boot that is to be mounted thereon.
Clearly, the fact of using a metal to build the two half-shells makes it possible to limit the cross sections and the thicknesses of the components, and thus to give the skate an essential aesthetic shape. Obviously, the materials mentioned above are relative to only one preferred embodiment of the present invention; this does not prevent, for example, making the half-shells of polymeric material, in particular to obtain a more economic product. However, in this case, the overall weight of the frame could be higher since, with strength and sturdiness being equal, the components would need to be of greater thickness.
In addition, the surface of the interface plate 4 turned toward the sole of the boot 5 is designed to have raised edges 4B that are adapted to contain the same boot; said edges 4B are preferably made with an overinjected pliable polymeric material.
In figure 6 is illustrated a frame 10' according to a variant embodiment of the present invention: in particular, said frame 10' is not provided with the interface plate 4, and from each of the two walls 2A and 2B project at least two jutting beams 22 spaced apart from each other and connectable through relative fastening means 15. The union between pairs of jutting beams 22 facing each other, in addition to forming a connection between the two walls 2A, 2B, and consequently between the two half- shells 23A, 23B, functions advantageously also as support for the sole of a boot 5, without requiring the provision of additional components.
In conclusion, from the above it is evident that a frame structure for skates according to the present invention achieves the initially foreseen objectives and advantages. In fact, a frame structure was obtained for skates, particularly for in-line roller skates or ice skates, capable of combining safety (sturdiness) and functionality without negatively affecting the weight. In fact, the two half-shells, each made in a single piece, make it possible to have a high sideways strength and reduced vibrations, while cancelling out any "play" between the different parts. In addition, a frame 10, 10' made in this way enables an optimum transmission of the forces impressed by the skater's leg and foot.
Further, as it is made up of a reduced number of components, said frame structure also requires a limited number of fastening and/or coupling means, a characteristic that lends a greater safety to the frame, and enables its easy assembly.
Advantageously, although the frame is made up of a limited number of components, it maintains its modularity unchanged: in fact, to a single shape defined by the two half-shells can be associated interface plates 4 having different dimensions and shapes, chosen on the basis of the anatomical characteristics of the user, or the sole of the boot could be placed and supported directly on the jutting beams 22.
Naturally, the present invention is amenable to numerous applications, modifications or variations without thereby departing from the scope of patent protection, as defined in the enclosed claims.
Moreover, the materials and the equipment used to realize the present invention, as well as the shapes and sizes of the individual components, can be the most suitable for the specific requirements.

Claims

Frame structure for skates (10, 10') comprising
- first and second wall (2A, 2B) supporting a plurality of wheels (20) or a skate blade,

- first and second reinforcing brace (3A, 3B), extending, in use, upward and substantially perpendicular with respect to the extension of said first and said second wall (2A, 2B),
said first wall (2A) being formed in one piece with said first reinforcing brace (3A) forming a first half-shell (23A), said second wall (2B) being formed in one piece with said second reinforcing brace (3B) forming a second half-shell (23B), characterized in that said two half-shells (23A, 23B) are joined with each other at the free ends of said reinforcing braces (3A, 3B) through second fastening means (13) to envelop the back of a shoe associable to said frame structure (10, 10').
Frame structure for skates (10, 10') according to claim 1, wherein said second fastening means (13) include a plate (13A) provided with a plurality of holes (13B) which are arranged in correspondence with holes (19) provided on each reinforcing brace (3A, 3B) in which fastener elements (13C) are inserted.
Frame structure for skates (10) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an interface plate (4) for the sole of a shoe, wherein said interface plate (4) is formed by a separate element associated to said first and said second wall (2A, 2B) to form a connection between them.
Frame structure for skates (10) according to claim 3, wherein said first and said second wall (2A, 2B) are each provided with protruding portions (21) adapted to be arranged inside cavities formed by pairs of flanges (41) provided on the surface of said interface plate (4) facing said first and said second wall (2A, 2B) to be fixed therein through first fastening means (14).
Frame structure for skates (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said interface plate (4) is made of molded polymeric material.
Frame structure for skate (10') according to claim 1 or 2, wherein from each of said first and said second wall (2A, 2B) protrude at least two beams (22) spaced from each other and connectable to form a connection between said first and said second wall (2A, 2B) and to support the sole of a shoe.
Frame structure for skates (10, 10') according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said first and second half-shell (23A, 23B) are made of magnesium.
Skate (1) comprising a frame (10, 10') according to any of claims 1 to 7.
Skate (1) according to claim 8, further comprising a shoe (5) and a cuff (6) articulated on said first and second reinforcement braces (3A, 3B), said cuff (6) being adapted to support closure means (7) firmly joining said skate (1) to the skater's lower leg.