GB2338639A

GB2338639A - Skates with spherical ground engaging members

Info

Publication number: GB2338639A
Application number: GB9813493A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jon Laurie Horley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-24
Filing date: 1998-06-24
Publication date: 1999-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-24
Also published as: GB9813493D0; GB2338639B

Abstract

A skate (10, Fig. 1) comprises a plurality of ground engaging assemblies 24, 38, each having a freely rotatable substantially spherical member 28 for engaging the ground. Each assembly 24, 38 typically comprises a housing 26 in which spherical member 28 is restrainably located. Skate (10) may include a sole 20 having at least semi-rigid sole parts 22, 36 at front and rear sections of skate (10). A flexible sole part 34 may be located between front and rear sole parts 22, 36 so that they may be inclined relative to one another. Preferably, a brake member 32 which extends downwardly from the front end of skate (10) is provided so as to be ground engageable when skate (10) is tipped forwards. Skate (10) may also comprise an upper (12, Fig. 1) formed from a textile material.

Description

1 SKATING EQUIP 2338639 This invention concerns skating equipment, and

particularly skating footwear.

Rofierskates or variants thereof are becoming increasingly popular. However rollerskates do not allow some of the movement available for instance with ice skates. In particular many of the movements used by ice dancers are not available to those wearing rollerskates. The following ice dance movements are generally not possible when wearing rollerskates; lateral glide, toe spins and barrel rolls.

According to the present invention there is provided skating equipment, the equipment being in the form of footwear comprising a pair of shoe members, each shoe member comprising a plurality of ground engaging assemblies, each assembly comprising a freely rotatable substantially spherical ground engaging member.

The ground engaging assemblies preferably comprise a housing in which the freely rotatable ground engaging member is restrainably located such that part thereof extends at any one time from the housing to be ground engaging.

A rear ground engaging assembly is preferably provided beneath the heel of the shoe members.

A front ground engaging assembly is preferably provided beneath a front part of the shoe members. A plurality of front ground engaging members may be provided. The front ground engaging members are preferably offset from each other laterally and/or longitudinally.

The shoe member preferably comprise an at least semi-rigid rear sole part at the heel thereof. The shoe members preferably comprise an at least semi-rigid front sole part at the front part thereof. Said front sole part 2 preferably mounts the front ground engaging assembly or assemblies.

The sole of the shoe members between said front and rear sole parts is preferably flexible, and is preferably sufficiently flexible that the front sole part can be inclined to a significant degree relative to the rear sole part.

Brake means may be provided at the front end of the shoe members, and the brake means may comprise a brake member extending downwardly from the sole of the shoe member so as to be ground engageable when the shoe members are tipped forwards.

The uppers of the shoe members are preferably made of textile material, and desirably a relatively heavyweight textile member as used in training shoes and the like.

The spherical members of the ground engaging assemblies may be made of vulcanised rubber or a rigid polymer, and the housing of the ground engaging assemblies may be made of a rigid polymer.

The shoe members may be in the form of boots.

A protective member is preferably provided around the front end of the shoe members and/or the rear end thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a shoe member according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a view from beneath of the shoe member of Fig. 1.

The drawings show a boot 10 according to the invention, suitable for use 3 in skating and particularly for dancing. The boot 10 comprises a main body 12 made of a heavyweight textile material such as used in training shoes and the like. The boot 10 has a demi-boot size and a conventional lacing arrangement 14. A front protective member in the form of a toe box 16 extends over the front of the boot 10. A rear protective member in the form of a heel box 18 extends over the heel area of the boot 10 and for almost the full height at the back of the boot.

The sole 20 of the boot 10 comprises three portions. A front portion has a semi-rigid sole plate 22 upon which two ground engaging assemblies 24 are provided. The assemblies 24 are offset laterally and longitudinally such that the outer assembly is further forward. Each of the assemblies 24 comprises a rigid polymer housing 26 from which a vulcanised rubber ball 28 partially extends. The ball 28 is freely movably held in the housing 26. A further plate 30 is provided at the front of the plate 22 and a brake member 32 is provided thereon. The member 32 comprises a block of material which is clear of the ground when the boot 10 is flat thereon but which can engage with the ground if the boot is tipped forward.

The sole 20 also comprises a mid-section 34 corresponding generally to the arch of a wearer's foot. The section 34 is quite flexible. The sole 20 further comprises a rear sole plate 36. The plate 36 is made of a similar material to the plate 22 and mounts a single larger ground engaging assembly 38. The assembly 38 is mounted substantially centrally of the heel of the boot 10 and has a similar construction to the assembly 24.

In use the boot 10 can be worn comfortably whilst skating and used in a similar manner to rollerskates. However, the provision of the ground engaging assemblies 24 with the balls 28 permits lateral movement and also spinning which is not possible with rollerskates. The flexible material of the body 12 and the mid-section 34 provides a skater with greater sensitivity of movement. The arrangement of the boot 10 also permits movements as outlined above, which are usually only possible with ice skates to be performed.

4 Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a different number, positioning or arrangement of ground engaging assemblies could be used. The boot may have a different form and be made of different materials. The ground engaging assemblies could have different configurations.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

1 1

Claims

Claims:-

1. Skating equipment, the equipment being in the form of footwear comprising a pair of shoe members, each shoe member comprising a plurality of ground engaging assemblies, each assembly comprising a freely rotatable substantially spherical ground engaging member.

2. Skating equipment according to claim 1, wherein the ground engaging assemblies comprise a housing in which the freely rotatable ground engaging member is restrainably located such that part thereof extends at any one time from the housing to be ground engaging.

3. Skating equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rear ground engaging assembly is provided beneath the heel of the shoe members.

4. Skating equipment according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a front ground engaging assembly is provided beneath a front part of the shoe members.

5. Skating equipment according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of front ground engaging members are provided.

6. Skating equipment according to claim 5, wherein the front ground engaging members are offset from each other laterally and/or longitudinally.

7. Skating equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shoe members comprise an at least semi-rigid rear sole part at the heel thereof.

8. Skating equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shoe members comprise an at least semi-rigid front sole part at the front part thereof.

6 g. Skating equipment according to claim 8, wherein said front sole part mounts the front ground engaging assembly.

10. Skating equipment according to claims 8 or 9 when dependent on claim 7, wherein the sole of the shoe members between said front and rear sole parts is flexible.

11. Skating equipment according to claim 10, wherein the sole of the shoe members between said front and rear sole parts is sufficiently flexible that the front sole part can be inclined to a significant degree relative to the rear sole part.

12. Skating equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein brake means are provided at the front end of the shoe members.

13. Skating equipment according to claim 12, wherein the brake means comprise a brake member extending downwardly from the sole of the shoe member so as to be ground engageable when the shoe members are tipped f orwards.

14. Skating equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the uppers of the shoe members are made of textile material.

15. Skating equipment according to claim 14, wherein the uppers of the shoe members are made of a relatively heavyweight textile member as used in training shoes and the like.

16. Skating equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spherical members of the ground engaging assemblies are made of vulcanised rubber.

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17. Skating equipment according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the spherical members of the ground engaging assemblies are made of a rigid 7 polymer.

18. Skating equipment according to claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 17 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the housing of the ground engaging assemblies is made of a rigid polymer.

19. Skating equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shoe members are in the form of boots.

20. Skating equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a protective member is provided around the front end of the shoe members and/or the rear end thereof.

21. Skating equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.