GB2038644A - Ball skate or ski device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device may be of ski-type in the form of an elongate board 10, 11 having four or more spherical ground engaging rollers 13 mounted for rotation one behind the other on the board or may be of skate-like form having two such rollers. Selected rollers may be adapted for swivelling about vertical axes (i.e. castor type). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device to be carried by the foot Roller skating is a popular pastime especially with children. A smooth surface such as concrete paving is necessary if the skates are to run well but in many towns concrete pavements are being replaced by a tarred surface making roller skating difficult. Also, with skiing becoming a popular sport, dry ski-slopes are often used for skiing practice. It would often be far more convenient if an ordinary sloping field could be used to perform practice runs but normal skis will not slide over grass sufficiently well. An object of the invention is to provide a device which will help to mitigate the foregoing disadvantage of conventional skates and skis.

According to the invention there is provided a device to be carried by the foot including an elongate board having two or more substantially spherical ground engaging rollers mounted for rotation one behind the other on the board. The use of wheels in the form of spherical rollers improves running of the device over rough terrain.

Preferably the diameter of the rollers is substantial, eg around two and a half inches.

At least four rollers may be arranged one behind the other along the board. With such an arrangement, the board can be made to resemble a ski and two such skis can be used for ski practice on grassy slopes. The skis can be made more manoeuvrable if selected rollers (eg the leading and trailing rollers) are in the form of castors adapted for swivelling about respective vertical axes.

The board may be formed with raised cover portions which house respective upper portions of the rollers. The cover portions act as "mudguards" for the rollers. The board may comprise two overlying parts, the lower part being formed with apertures through which the rollers extend and the upper part being formed with said raised cover portions. Two or more of the rollers may be supported for rotation by means of members sandwiched between the overlying parts. In the case where selected rollers are in the form of castors, the castors may be mounted for swivelling on support means carried by the underside of the raised cover portions.

The board may be formed in two elongate sections which overlap each other and which can be fixed in selected overlapping positions to enablethe length of the board to be varied, each section supporting one or more rollers. This arrangement is particularly suited to an embodiment in the form of a roller skate so that the length of the board can be varied to suit the length of the user's foot.

Preferably, fastening means is provided on the board for fastening the board to the foot.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded cross-section of a device in accordance with the invention in the form of a ski, Figure 2 is a plan view of the ski shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a cross-section of the ski of Figures 1 and 2, when partly assembled on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a partial longitudinal cross-section of part of the ski shown in Figure 1 illustrating a castortype roller, Figure 5 is a cross-section of the ski part shown in Figure 4 on the line V-V in Figure 4, Figure 6 is an elevation of a device in accordance with the invention in the form of a skate, and Figure 7 is a plan view of the skate of Figure 6 with the rollers omitted.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 5 the ski comprises a lower section 10, an overlying upper section 11, and eight brackets 12 sandwiched between the sections. The brackets 12 are arranged in pairs and rotatably support wheels in the form of four spherical rubber rollers 13.

In greater detail, the lower section 10 is formed with four apertures 14 which may be rectangular as shown, circular or other desired shape. The size of each aperture is chosen so that the associated roller can freely rotate therein. The right hand end of the lower section as shown sweeps upwardly to form a leading end L for the ski.

The upper section 11 is of identical size and shape in plan to the lower section and has four hollow domes 15 thereon which lie directly above the respective apertures 14 in the lower section when the two sections are brought together. The size of each dome 15 is selected to provide working clearance for the associated roller. Like the lower section 10, the right hand end of the upper section sweeps upwardly.

Each bracket 12 comprises a side plate 16 and a supporting flange 17 at right angles thereto. The side plate 16 is formed with an aperture 18 for receiving one end of an axle 19 for the associated roller. The axle 19 passes diametrically through the roller and the roller may be journalled on the axle by means of ball bearings.

The upper and lower ski-sections can be held together, with the flanges 17 sandwiched therebetween, by an adhesive, rivets or screws.

A conventional ski-boot or shoe attachment (indicated generally at 20) can be provided on the upper section 11.

Although the ski illustrated utilises four rollers arranged two adjacent each end of the ski, any convenient number of rollers in excess or two can be used.

To improve manoeuvreability, selected rollers (eg the leading and trailing rollers) may be replaced by castors 22 (see Figs 4 and 5). Each castor has an arcuate frame 23 on which the roller 12 is rotatably supported. The frame 23 is supported for rotation about a vertical axis X in a mounting 24 on the underside of a dome 15. A ball bearing 25 or other suitable thrust ring is disposed between the mounting 24 and a bearing element 26 on the frame 23. The bearing element 26 has a cylindrical extension 27 which is held rotatab-ly captive by a screw 21 in a vertical bore formed in the mounting 24.

If desired the lower and upper sections 10, 11 together with brackets 12 could be formed as a one piece moulding to reduce the number of individual components.

Skis made in accordance with the invention will run over a grassy field and are manoeuvrable in the same way as normal skis, the user holding ski sticks as usual.

Typical ski dimensions may be as follows:- A - B about 3ft.3" C - D about 1ft.3" E - F about i" G - H about 3" J-K about 1" L - M about 3" Instead of forming the upper and lower sections in the shape of a ski, they could be reduced in length to about normal roller skate size as shown in Figures 6 and 7. In Figure 6 two rollers 28 are arranged one behind the other on spindles such as spindles 19 as used for the skis. The spindles 19 are carried in pairs of brackets 29 at the leading and trailing ends of the skate. The brackets are mounted on respective plate sections 30,32 which together make up the aforesaid board. The sections 30 and 32 are slotted at 33 and 34 respectively and held together by a screw 35 and wing nut 36.As shown clearly in Figure 6, the screw 35 has a head 37 which abuts the upper surface of section 30 and the wing nut abuts the underside of section 32. The wing nut 36 can be loosened to enable the two sections 30,32 to be slid relatively lengthwise to adjust the length of the skate. If desired only one section need be slotted. The usual type of boot or shoe fastenings 38,39 are provided for use with straps (not shown).

Forthe roller skates, ball bearing journalled rubber rollers of abouttwo and a half inches diameter will provide greater speed and versatility than normal rol- ler skates. With rollers of such size, the skates will easily run over a rough tarred surface or even grass which is often difficult or impossible with conventional roller skates. Skates in accordance with the invention need not include the hollow domes 15 provided on the skis as the balls may be arranged entirely beneath the shoe or boot supporting sections 30,32. Although the use of a two-section board has been described with respect to the skate, the ski may also utilise two elongate sections which can be fixed in selected overlapping positions to adjustthe length of the ski.

Instead of making the rollers from rubber, resilient plastics could be-used. Rollers of at least two inches diameter are recommended.

Claims (15)

1. A device to be carried by the foot including an elongate board having two or more substantially spherical ground engaging rollers mounted for rotation one behind the other on the board.

2. A device according to Claim 1, in which at least four rollers are arranged one behind the other.

3. A device according to Claim 2, in which each roller is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and selected rollers are in the form of castors adapted for swivelling about respective vertical axes.

4. A device according to Claim 3, in which the leading and trailing rollers are in the form of castors.

5. A device according to any preceding claim in which the board is formed with raised cover portions which house respective upper portions of the rollers.

6. A device according to Claim 5, in which the board comprises two overlying parts, the lower part being formed with apertures through which the rollers extend and the upper part being formed with said raised cover portions.

7. A device according to Claim 6, in which two or more of the rollers are supported for rotation by means of members sandwiched between the overlying parts.

8. A device according to Claim 5,6 or 7 and in the case where selected rollers are in the form of castors, in which the castors are mounted for swivelling on support means carried by the underside of the raised cover portions.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the leading end of the board is curved upwardly in ski-like fashion.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the board is formed in two elongate sections which overlap each other and which can be fixed in selected overlapping positions to enable the length of the board to be varied, each section supporting one or more rollers.

11. A device according to Claim 10, in which the board sections are arranged to be fixed in position by means of a screw-threaded fastener which extends through a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of the sections.

12. A device according to any preceding claim in which the board has means thereon for fastening the board to a foot of the user.

13. A device according to any preceding claim in which the rollers are formed from rubber or like resilient material.

14. A device according to any preceding claim in which the rollers are at least two inches in diameter.

15. A wheeled device to be carried by the foot constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, Figures 4 and 5 or Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.