GB2358358A

GB2358358A - A roller skate for figure skating

Info

Publication number: GB2358358A
Application number: GB0010251A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tendayi Sailas Machakaire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-19
Filing date: 2000-04-28
Publication date: 2001-07-25
Also published as: GB0001189D0; GB2358453A; GB0010251D0

Abstract

A roller skate for figure skating comprises a self aligning wheel arm and associated wheel and a toe operated wheel engaging brake mechanism 26. The self aligning wheel arm ( see Figures 3A-4A) pivots about a vertical axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the wheel and may be pivotally biassed so that when the wheel is lifted off the ground the wheel arm and associated wheel are returned to a predetermined orientation. The wheel associated with self aligning wheel arm may be the same size as the other fixed wheels (see wheel arms 2, Figures 1) or may be smaller and positioned above the other fixed wheels (see wheel arm 67, Figure 14B). The toe operated wheel engaging braking mechanism may operate by either an electrical (see Figures 5-7) or a mechanical (see Figures 8-10) system. The braking system allows control of the skate while performing figure skating type manoeuvres. Also disclosed is a sandal arrangement (see Figure 12) directly strapping the users foot or shoe to the skate. Further disclosed is a mounting plate (see Figure 13B) for clamping a removable boot (see Figure 13A) to the skate.

Description

2358358

Specification

Roller skates for figure skating with toe operated brakes The invention relates to a device for performing figure skating on roller skates on a plain flat surface. Figure skating is normally performed on ice. Devices for simulating ice skating on hard surfaces are generally easier to operate in a straight line. A simple performance of spinning in one position, requires great expertise. The present devices are at a disadvantage when attempting to carry out the most basic movements performed in figure skating on ice.

It is the object of this invention to endeavour to rectify the disadvantages of the present contrivances. According to this invention, a device is provided that enhances in roller skating on an ordinary flat surface, all the movements performed in figure skating on ice.

It is also the object of this invention, to perfect the movements incorporated in ice skating, on ordinary surfaces. The advantages that can be acquired owing to this inv:ention are that, figure skating may become an outdoor or all seasonal sport.

It is the hope based on this invention, that this sport may be attempted by many.

According to this invention a device is provided that has two wheel arms attached to the mainframe, and means is provided to rotate the front and rear wheel arms 360 degrees in either direction without impedance.

When the foot is raised as the skater's foot is lifted from the floor, the wheel arms are forced to spin back into such a position that all the wheels face the same direction, in a straight line position.

By performing a simple adjustment, it can also be made that the arms can be restrained in that, the wheels will maintain pointing the direction that the skater's foot left the ground. The positions of the wheels will not change, until the skater willfully changes the maintained positions.

The control in wheel directions enables the skater to land on to the hard surface with ease. A simpler method also offered in this invention is by placing a single self aligning wheel in front, and slightly above the foremost wheel of the roller skate. The wheel is placed in such a manner so as to rotate in any direction chosen by the skater without impending performance.

When the skater shifts his or her body weight to the foremost wheel, the extra wheel makes contact with the surface, enabling the skater to spin towards the desired direction. Controlling the roller skates can also be made possible by in built, toe operated, solenoid assisted electronic brakes. Embodiments of the invention are here after described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

40. Figure I shows the roller skate and the way it is mounted on the boot.

Figure 2 shows the roller skate and how it is mounted onto a sandal for use with or without soft shoes or boots Figures 3A and 3B show the side and front views of the main frame.

Figures 4A and 4B are illustrations of the arm assembly and the various items that are attached to it.

Figure 5 is an illustration of the electrical system of the brakes.

Figures 6 and 7 show the sliding block and the sliding cone braking system.

Figure 8 is the disk version of the sliding block braking system.

Figure 9 is an illustration of the disk brake system as it would appear when assembled on the roller skate frame.

Figure 10 is mechanical brake linkage for activating the various braking system.

Figure 11 shows a phantom view of the boot type of roller skate showini the braking system when assembled inside the boot and frame.

Figure 12 shows details of the sandal version of the roller skate.

Fiaures 1') shows a boot with hooks to facilitate easy removal for the wearer in 101 er to use the boots without the roller skate.

Figures 14 and 15 show roller skates with a pilot wheel in front and above the f.o It wheel.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a boot mounted on the roller skate frame 1 - The frame has at each end arms 2 where wheels can be attached. In thel middle of the frame is a fixed member integral with the frame, where a wheel i so attached. Figure 3 shows another version of the roller skate with a sandal mount..

on it instead of a boot. In Figures 3A and 33B are shown the side and end views p 1 the frame, shown without anything attached to it. The sockets 5 encompass th,:,', arms and the circlips 513 lock the arms to the frame.

Referring to Figure 4A, the arm 2 has a neck 6 on which the ball bean race 7 is mounted. The end of the arm's neck below the ball bearing is larger th: 11 the section which passes through the ball bearing race. A cirClip 8 sits in the gr 813 and locks the ball bearing race to the neck of the arm.

In the middle of the arm is a pin 9 that passes through a plate 10 with ail elongated hole 10b. Screws 11 lock the plate to the arm through the threaded hi s 11 b on the end of the neck of the arm.

Still referring to Figure to 4A, A lever 12 presses a wheel 13 against the edge of the plate. Pressure is applied to the wheel by a spring 14. The hole 15 ir lle lever allows a pin to pass through it to form a fulcrum. The hole to anchor the p ri:o the housing can be drilled at any suitable place in the frame 1 shown earlier in figre 3. Still referring to figure 4A, as the pin 9 at the centre of the neck of the arm, 11 passes through the elongated hole n the plate, it enters a bush 16, that fits in a h 1 61 17 of the saddle bracket 18, mounted to the main framel. through the holes 1911 e pin serves to stabilise the arm so that it remains in an ight position as it spi upn 1 the bearing 7.

When the screws 11 are slightly loosened, plate 10 can be slid toward 0 C edge of the of the neck of the arm and thus forming a cam. Pressure from the i 'I 13 agamst the edge of the plate will thus turn the arm so that the wheel can res the lowest position of the cam. Figure 4B is an illustration of the wheel in the 1(,1,st position of the plate.

Referring back to figure 4A, the wheel 20, with a plastic or rubber ring in the centre, is mounted to the arm 2. Bolts or screws 22 lock an axle to the arm 5 t passes through the arm and the wheel. The axle is shown later in the assembly, 1:

drawing in figure 9.

Figure 5 shows the electrical section of the brake assembly. An electrical 11 solenoid 23 is connected to an electrical circuit board 24, a battery 25, and a plastib or rubber switch 26. on both sides of the switch are small contact disks 27 that e the switch.

in contact with each other when pressure is applied to + Electrical contact leads 28, 29 and 30 pass an electrical current from the' battery, to be energised by the electrical circuit board and then passed on to the solenoid when the switch is depressed. A threaded metal shaft 3 1, with a locki rig nut 32 is attached to the braking mechanisms shown in figures 6, 7 and 8.

3 Referring to figure 6, the wedge shaped sliding blocks of a braking system is shown. Two wedge shaped sliding blocks -353 3 and 34 slide against each other. Metal guides 34b guide the top sliding bloc ' k along the surface of the bottom block.

Attached to the bottom sliding blocks is a curved rubber block 35, that makes contact with the wheel when the blocks slide into a braking position Small rollers 36 placed at the opposite ends of the two sliding blocks reduce friction when the blocks slide against each other. A threaded hole 333b attaches the top sliding block to the threaded shaft -3) 1 mentioned earlier in figure 5. Return springs 37, attached to knobs 37b, pull the bottom sliding block against the top sliding block.

Referring to figure 7, a sliding cone type of braking system is shown. A cylindrical cone 38, threaded at the smaller end 39, slides between two rollers 40, on shafts 41. While one shaft is suspended to the upper part of the roller skate frame, the other is passed through holes 42 on the brackets 43 of the metal block 44. One roller is placed on the top shaft, and the second on to the bottom shaft.

Movement of the cone between the two rollers moves the brake block 44, attachO to the curved rubber 45. Springs 46 pull the brake block towards the cone.

In figure 8 is a disk type of braking system. A wedge shaped hollow cylinder 47, is placed against a similar wedge shaped hollow cylinder 48, with the sides that form the wedges facing each other. Short levers, 49 and 50 are fixed to the cylinders.

When the lever of the first cylinder is pulled towards the lever of the second cylinder, the wedges will increase the total length of the two cylinders as shown by he two headed arrow.

On the other end of the second cylinder 48, is placed a third straight sided cylinder 51. The sides of the second and third cylinders facing each other are laminated with a thick frictious substance 52. On the face of the third cylinder, opposite that facing the second cylinder, are two dowels 53. A return spring 54, attached to the lever 49 of the first cylinder, pulls back the cylinder to reduce the total length of the first and second cylinders Referring to figure 9, the braking system described m figure 8 is shown assembled between the two fixed arms of the frame 1, and the wheel axle 55. Two round headed bolts 56, are placed at each end of the axle to restrain the arms of the frame from pulling away from each other when the brake system expands.

The two dowels 53 on the third cylinder, shown and described in figure 8, lock the third cylinder to the sides of the wheel 57 in the holes 58, to restrain the wheel from rotating when the brake is applied and all the cylinders are tightly pressed against each other Placed round the wheel is shown a plastic or rubber ring 59 for reducing the wheel noises as it rolls on the hard surfaces. Another set of brake cylinders 60 can be placed on the other side of the wheel to increase braking efficiency A mechanical brake system shown in figure 10, if required, can be adopted instead of the electrical system shown and described earlier in figure 5. Referring to figure 10, a lever 6 1, with a pedal 62, pivots on a fulcrum 63. When the pedal is depressed, the lever pulls an adjustable linkage 64, turning the cylinder 47, described and illustrated fully in figure 8.

Referring to figure 11, shown is a phantom assembly of a roller skate. Inside the frame is the toe operated brake switch 26, and the solenoid 23. The electrical circuit board 24, is shown placed inside the heel of the boot, and the battery 25 placed underneath. In the middle is shown the cone t)rpe of brake assembly 39, as it i would be placed between the guides 64, built inside the frame.

Shown in figure 12 is the sandal version of the roller skates. The sides 65 are strengthened so as to give support and to protect the ankle when skating. Th strap 66 stops the foot from accidentally sliding over the electrical switch buttot In figure 13A is shown a boot that can be removed from the skate. Figurlo 113 3B shows the mounting plate that is mounted to the roller skate frame.

Figures 14A and 1413, show a roller skate with a pilot wheel 67, placed at the 1; front across, and above the foremost roller skate wheel. In order for a skater to p continuously on the same position, while executing some figure skating vanatil, the skater can shift his or her body weight onto the foremost wheel and the pil(t wheel as shown in figure 14B.

Referring back to figure 13A, hooks 68 attached to the boot, lock on to J base 69, attached to the roller skate frame. The base has locks 70 for engaging wi the hooks on the boot. A movable lock 71, pivots on a pin 72 in order to facilitati the locking and unlocking of the boot to the base. An arm 73), with a rubber fitti:l 74, can also be used as a brake instead of the earlier mentioned electrical and mechanical braking systems.

i 1: i 1 11 i

Claims

1. A device for figure skating incorporating an adjustable disk attached to the arm, for self aligning the ann when contact between the wheel and surface is broken as shown and described in figure 4.

2. A device incorporating an arm, rotating in or with the inner part of a bearing or a bush and as claimed in the first claim.

3. A device as claimed above, incorporating a wheel and a lever under tension from a spring, for applying pressure to the adjustable disk

4. A device incorporating a pin or member placed in the middle of one end of the arm, having a bush and a saddle, and serving the purpose of centralising and steadying the arm in the roller skate frame.

5. A device as claimed in claims 1 to 4, incorporating brakes, manual or electrical, that are activated by the pressure of the toe or toes.

6. A device incorporating a wedge, either flat cylindrical or conical, for expanding the brake mechanism when braking, as described and shown in figures 6,7,8, 9 ansi 10.

7. A device incorporating a sandal to be worn With or without the a shoe or boot to necessitate ease of removal of the skates from the foot apparel.

8. A device that enhances ease of removal of the boot from the skate as shown in Figures 13A and 13B.

9. A device that can be adapted to use a pilot wheel to aid in spinning when skating as described and shown in figures 14A and 1413.

10. A device as a according to all the claims 1 to 9 characterised that comprises a fixed boot Figure (11) or sandal Figure (13) attached permanent ly. The said device can also be made to accommodate a detachable boot or sandal with attachment devices (68), to attache and detach to a fixed plate (69) by hooks (70) and toggle clamp (71) 1 c . '; C,

10. A device as described and shown in the patent specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1 1. A device for figure skating intended for at least one foot, such as a roller!I, skate with at least one or more wheel arms Figures (1) and (14) attached - , 1 self aligning wheel arm, Figures (11) placed in line, or attached at the froit and above the other wheels(14), with at least one or more fixed wheels fo propelling the device, placed in line with the wheel arms, the said wheel arms Figure (4A), compromising a self aligning assembly, Figure (4B), t said device also incorporating means of stopping, Figures (6), (7) (8) and 11,9 electrically or manually activated, Figures (5) and (10) by the skater's toe.

the said device comprising a boot, Figure (13 A) with means of attaching, :)] detaching it from the frame Figure (1 3B), the said device having a toggle! 1 clamp (71)- and the said device, instead of a boot may have a sandal, Figp rt (2) as a means of wearing directly to the foot or shoe.

2. A device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the wheel arms (2) ar (67), can rotate over 360 degrees in either direction and return to the orlgjp:

l positioning, by the aid of an adjustable disk (10), With an elongated hole ':' (lOB), sliding against a lever (12), under tension frorn awheel (13) and spring (14).

I A device according to Claim 2, that is characterized in that at the end of lic wheel arm is a pin (9), that stabilises the arm, through the bush (16), mounted on a saddle bracket (19).

4. A device according to Claims I and 2, that has a fixed wheel attachment s4,c tion (3),or sections shown in Figure (14), placed adjacent to each other ir'a straight line with the wheel arms.

5. A device as Claimed in claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it incorporate 1 ' electrical toe operated switch (26), connected to an electrical circuit boarl' (24), for energising an electrical current from a battery cell (25) for activ'tl ! i an electrical solenoid (23), attached to an adjustable lever (3 1).

6. A device according to claims 1 to 5 characterised in that it incorporates braking system in the form of two square wedges (33) and (34), sliding against the other on rollers (3 36), when activated by the solenoid (23), or mechanical arrangement as shown in (61), (62), (63) and (64) to press t[e attached braking convenience (35) against the wheel surface (59) 7. A device according to claims 1 to 6 characterised in that it incorporates 411 conical device (3 8), sliding on rollers (40) anchored on pins (4 1), With ole 1 the said rollers mounted on structures (43) attached to a base (44) With a! braking convenience (45) that presses against the wheel surface (59), whtn activated as Claimed in Claim 6.

8. A device according to Claims 1 to7 characterised in that it incorpord6s al, 1 braking system in the form of cylindrical wedges.(47) and (48) with one, 1 the wedges pivoted by an attached arm swinging arm (49), whilst the ottker anchored by a fixed arm(50), with the flat end of the cylinder (48) a nonl ing surface (52) that is also found on the third cylinder (5 1), with pins to 1 attached to a wheel hub (60), rotating on an axle (59). The said braking C mechanism being activated as Claimed in Claims (6) and (7).

9. A device as according to claims 1 to 8 characterised in that it incorporates a self aligning wheel arm (67), raised and placed at a required angle and in line with at least two or more wheels, as shown in Figure (14).