GB2029240A - Roller skate - Google Patents

Abstract

A roller skate which can either form an integral part of an item of footwear or which can be secured by clamps to an item of conventional footwear comprises a support structure in which three rollers having a common plane of rotation are rotatably mounted, in which the central roller is offset in the vertical sense from the other two rollers so that only two of the rollers can contact the ground at the same time. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to roller skates This invention relates to roller skates in which each foot of the user of the roller skates according to the invention is supported by at least three wheels.

A roller skate according to the present invention comprises a support structure in which at least three wheels are rotatably mounted, the wheels all being aligned so as to have a common plane of rotation, at least one of the wheels being at a different height from the remaining wheels such that one of the remaining wheels forms a pivot about which the skate can pivot.

The roller skate preferably is formed as an integral part of an item of footwear, as in the case of an ice-skate, although it may be formed in the manner of a conventional 4-wheeled roller skate so that it can be attached to a conventional item of footwear.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic elevation of one form of roller skate according to the present invention and Fig. 2 shows a modified form of the roller skate shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows an item of footwear 10 such as a laced boot to which the roller skate 12 is attached and which forms an integral part of the boot The roller skate 12 comprises a support structure consisting of a central web 14 having three semicircular cut-outs 16, two wheel support members 18 secured to the web and three wheels 20 mounted in bearings (not shown) on axles 22 which pass through each of the two members 18. The wheels 20 are mounted in line so that the plane of rotation of the wheels is common and the axes of rotation are positioned so that the central wheel forms a pivot about which the skate can rock in a fore and aft sense, i.e. pitch.

Referring to Fig. 2 which shows an item of footwear and skate similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the support structure comprises two spaced apart parallel webs 30, similar to the blades of an ice-skate, between which the rollers 20 are rotatably mounted on axles 22 which extend through the webs.

It will be seen that a skate according to the invention is analogous to an ice-skate and that it will be easier to perform movements and figures such as are commonly performed on ice-skates. The invention is in contrast to the conventional wheeled skate on which it is quite difficult to perform turns and figures.

In use, a skate according to the present invention only uses two of the wheels on each skate in contact with the ground at any one time, i.e. either the front wheel or the rear wheel in combination with the centre wheel. This enables the skate to perform rather like an ice-skate.

The skate may have more than three wheels although it is essential that all the wheels are in line and that one of the wheels between the end two wheels forms a pivot as in the manner of the central wheel in the illustrated embodiment.

Preferably, the skate should form an integral part of a boot so that adequate support is given to the user but the skate may be formed so that it can be attached to a shoe or boot in the manner of a conventional 4-wheeled skate by means of clamps.

1. A roller skate comprising a support structure in which at least three wheels are rotatably mounted, the wheels all being aligned so as to have a common plane of rotation, at least one of the wheels being at a different height from the remaining wheels, such that one of the wheels forms a pivot about which the skate can pivot.

2. A roller skate as claimed in claim 1 in which the support structure comprises a central web having a number of cut-outs arranged to receive corresponding wheels, the wheels being rotatable on axles extending between wheel support members, the wheel support members being attached to the central web.

3. A roller skate as claimed in claim 1 in which the support structure comprises two parallel wheel support members, the wheels having axles extending between the wheel support members.

4. A roller skate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support structure forms an integral part of an item of footwear.

5. A roller skate as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the support structure includes clamping means enabling the skate to be attached to an item of footwear.

6. A roller skate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which three wheels are rotatably mounted with respect to the support structure, the axis of rotation of the middle wheel lying below a straight line drawn between the axes of rotation of the two end wheels.

7. A roller skate constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to roller skates This invention relates to roller skates in which each foot of the user of the roller skates according to the invention is supported by at least three wheels. A roller skate according to the present invention comprises a support structure in which at least three wheels are rotatably mounted, the wheels all being aligned so as to have a common plane of rotation, at least one of the wheels being at a different height from the remaining wheels such that one of the remaining wheels forms a pivot about which the skate can pivot. The roller skate preferably is formed as an integral part of an item of footwear, as in the case of an ice-skate, although it may be formed in the manner of a conventional 4-wheeled roller skate so that it can be attached to a conventional item of footwear. The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic elevation of one form of roller skate according to the present invention and Fig. 2 shows a modified form of the roller skate shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows an item of footwear 10 such as a laced boot to which the roller skate 12 is attached and which forms an integral part of the boot The roller skate 12 comprises a support structure consisting of a central web 14 having three semicircular cut-outs 16, two wheel support members 18 secured to the web and three wheels 20 mounted in bearings (not shown) on axles 22 which pass through each of the two members 18. The wheels 20 are mounted in line so that the plane of rotation of the wheels is common and the axes of rotation are positioned so that the central wheel forms a pivot about which the skate can rock in a fore and aft sense, i.e. pitch. Referring to Fig. 2 which shows an item of footwear and skate similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the support structure comprises two spaced apart parallel webs 30, similar to the blades of an ice-skate, between which the rollers 20 are rotatably mounted on axles 22 which extend through the webs. It will be seen that a skate according to the invention is analogous to an ice-skate and that it will be easier to perform movements and figures such as are commonly performed on ice-skates. The invention is in contrast to the conventional wheeled skate on which it is quite difficult to perform turns and figures. In use, a skate according to the present invention only uses two of the wheels on each skate in contact with the ground at any one time, i.e. either the front wheel or the rear wheel in combination with the centre wheel. This enables the skate to perform rather like an ice-skate. The skate may have more than three wheels although it is essential that all the wheels are in line and that one of the wheels between the end two wheels forms a pivot as in the manner of the central wheel in the illustrated embodiment. Preferably, the skate should form an integral part of a boot so that adequate support is given to the user but the skate may be formed so that it can be attached to a shoe or boot in the manner of a conventional 4-wheeled skate by means of clamps. CLAIMS

1. A roller skate comprising a support structure in which at least three wheels are rotatably mounted, the wheels all being aligned so as to have a common plane of rotation, at least one of the wheels being at a different height from the remaining wheels, such that one of the wheels forms a pivot about which the skate can pivot.

2. A roller skate as claimed in claim 1 in which the support structure comprises a central web having a number of cut-outs arranged to receive corresponding wheels, the wheels being rotatable on axles extending between wheel support members, the wheel support members being attached to the central web.

3. A roller skate as claimed in claim 1 in which the support structure comprises two parallel wheel support members, the wheels having axles extending between the wheel support members.

4. A roller skate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support structure forms an integral part of an item of footwear.

5. A roller skate as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the support structure includes clamping means enabling the skate to be attached to an item of footwear.

6. A roller skate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which three wheels are rotatably mounted with respect to the support structure, the axis of rotation of the middle wheel lying below a straight line drawn between the axes of rotation of the two end wheels.

7. A roller skate constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.