GB2411363A

GB2411363A - Footwear designed or adapted to attach a roller skate assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2411363A
Application number: GB0404423A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Trew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-27
Filing date: 2004-02-27
Publication date: 2005-08-31
Also published as: GB0404423D0

Abstract

A boot or shoe 3 has a channel 2 or recess in the sole which allows the attachment of a base plate 5 and wheel assembly 6 in order to convert the shoe to a roller skate. A bar 1 passes through the channel 2 and recesses 12 in the base plate, being held in place by a clip 8 and spring 7. The sole of the shoe may be moulded to match the base plate, to prevent unwanted movement of the shoe. The base plate has side flanges which allow footwear of varying widths to use the wheel assembly and prevent sideways movement of the shoe. Straps are also provided so that the base plate may be used for shoes without a channel. The system may also be used for skis, snowboards and snowshoes.

Description

241 1 363 Detachable Roller Skate

DESCRIPTION (Refer to Figures 1 and 2)

This invention is for a comfortable shoe that is easily converted into a roller skate.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1, in which a bar [1] passes along a recess [2] in the sole of a shoe [3], and also fits into recesses [4] in the side flanges of a base plate [5], onto which the steering units [6] for the wheels of the skate are attached. The bar is held in place with a clip [7] that is pushed down by springs [8], until the clip is pushed up and the bar is pulled away to release the shoe.

To prevent the shoe from rising up during skating, a handle [9] on one end of the bar fits below the base plate beside one of the side flanges [10], while the other end of the bar fits into a hole in the other side flange [11], the hole being re-enforced with a suitably shaped insert [12] to facilitate the insertion of the bar and protect the base plate.

A similar design of the invention is shown in Figure 2, in which a shoe that has a rectangular slot [13] in its sole is attached to a base plate [14] with a bar [15]. One end of the bar has protrusions [16] that hook beneath a recess [17] on one side of the base plate, while the other end of the bar fits into a recess on the opposite side flange [18].

The side flanges not only prevent sideways movement of the shoe, but also provide sufficient strength to the base plate to prevent it from bending during skating. This allows separate steering units to be attached to the base plate, so that the same size of steering unit can be used for all sizes of skate.

The upper surface of the base plate may have suitably shaped ridges or protrusions that correspond with grooves or depressions in the tread of the sole of the shoe, thus further preventing any unwanted movement of the shoe during skating.

The shoe may have been produced especially for the invention, or may be an ordinary shoe with a sole that has been modified to include a recess, which could then be re- enforced with a suitably shaped tube.

Any suitable clipping mechanism that secures a bar to a base plate may be used for other designs of the invention, and a clip that is pushed or pulled to release the bar may even be located on the bar itself.

The base plate may include straps, instead of or as well as having a bar to secure the shoe, thus providing additional ankle support and allowing an ordinary shoe (with no recess in its sole) to be attached to the base plate.

Other designs may have fewer parts than has been described so far, as a single part may be moulded or forged to form a base plate that includes steering units, straps, brakes and a clipping mechanism. Such a base plate may have adjustable side flanges, allowing many sizes of shoe to be attached to a single size of base-plate.

Instead of providing a system for a detachable roller skate, the invention may also be used for the creation of a detachable in-line skate, an ice skate or any other device that requires the attachment of a shoe, such as a crampon, ski, snowboard or snow shoe.

Claims

1. A shoe with a sole that has a recess passing from one side of the foot to the other, to accommodate a bar that passes along the recess and fits into holes or recesses in a base plate, onto which the wheels and steering units of a skate are attached, the bar being held in place by a clipping mechanism that secures the shoe firmly to the base plate until a clip is pushed or pulled and the bar is pulled away to release the shoe.

2. A base plate as claimed in Claim 1 with side flanges that fit the sides of the sole of the shoe, serving the purpose of preventing any unwanted sideways movement of the shoe during skating, and providing sufficient strength to the base plate for separate steering units to be used, the side flanges having holes or recesses that correspond to a recess in the sole of the shoe, the holes or recesses possibly being re- enforced with an insert that facilitates the insertion of the bar and protects the base plate.

3. A bar as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 with a suitably shaped handle, or protrusions, that hook beneath the base plate beside one of the side flanges, the other end of the bar fitting into a recess on the opposite side flange, thus holding the shoe fimmly onto the base plate, the bar being held in place by a suitable clipping mechanism that may be located on the base plate or on the bar itself.

4. A base-plate as claimed in any preceding claim with straps to provide additional ankle support, and also to allow an ordinary shoe with no recess in its sole to be secured to the base plate.

5. A detachable skate as described in any preceding claim with a base plate that has been moulded or forged to include steering units, straps, brakes and a clipping mechanism, thus reducing the number of components required.

6. A shoe as described in any preceding claim with grooves or depressions in the tread of the sole that correspond to ridges or protrusions on the upper surface of the base plate, thus preventing unwanted movement of the shoe during skating.

7. A base-plate as claimed in any preceding claim with adjustable side flanges that allow many sizes of shoe to be attached to a single size of base-plate.

8. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim that may have been produced especially for the invention, or may be an ordinary shoe with a sole that has been modified to include a recess, which could then be re-enforced with a suitably shaped tube.

9. A shoe and detachable base plate as described in any preceding claim that may be used to form of a roller-skate, an in-line skate, an ice skate or any other device that requires the attachment of a shoe, such as a crampon, ski, snow board or snow shoe.

10. A detachable skate substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.