GB2445921A

GB2445921A - Inline skate with illumination means

Info

Publication number: GB2445921A
Application number: GB0701386A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Allan Grossman
Original assignee: H Grossman Ltd
Current assignee: H Grossman Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-24
Filing date: 2007-01-24
Publication date: 2008-07-30
Also published as: WO2008090321A1; HK1109698A2; GB0701386D0; CN201164711Y

Abstract

A skate includes a skate boot 5 and one or more illumination means 10. The skate may comprise an inline skate having a plurality of rolling means or wheels 15 provided in a line along the sole of the skate boot 5, or may comprise a roller skate (not shown) having pairs of front and rear rolling means. The skate may comprise a housing or support member 20, with an upper end 25 attached to the sole 30 of the skate boot 5 and a lower end 35 retaining the wheels 15. The illumination means 10 may be provided on the outermost edge of the skate adjacent an outer edge of the foot when the skate is worn by a user, and may be provided on the housing 20, preferably in a line. The illumination means 10 may comprise lights or LEDs each of the same or different colours, and may illuminate continuously or in a sequence. The illumination means 10 may include electronic circuitry and/or a battery (see fig. 7) provided within the housing 20. An on/off button or switch 45 may be provided on the outermost side of the housing.

Description

1 2445921

IMPROVED SKATE

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to a "skate" or skate/skating footwear, such as a skate boot or shoe, e.g. in-line skate shoes/boots and/or roller skate shoes/boots.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Skating is a popular pursuit, particularly with infants, children and young people. In-line skates and roller skates are therefore known.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at lest one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved skate or skating footwear.

It is an object of at lest one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate and/or mitigate one or more disadvantages in the prior art.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide skating footwear having novel or novelty lighting effect.

By such provision a wearer/user may be more easily seen by others, e.g. in poor or dull lighting conditions, at dusk or at night. Such improved visibility may assist in the prevention of accidents.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a "skate" or skate footwear such as e.g. a skate shoe or boot, comprising at least one illumination means.

Preferably, the skate may comprise an on-line skate boot, that is to say, the boot may comprise a plurality of rolling means, wheels or skates disposed in a line along a sole of the boot.

Alternatively the skate may comprise a roller skate boot having at least one pair of front rolling means, wheels or skates and at least one pair of rear rolling means, wheels or skates.

The skate may comprise a housing/support member, an upper end of which is attached to a sole of the skate and a lower end of which houses or retains the rolling means, wheels or skates.

The at least one illumination means may be provided on a side of the skate which is outermost when worn.

That is to say, may be provided on or adjacent to an outer edge of the wearer's foot.

The at least one illumination means may be provided on the housing member, e.g. on an outermost side therof.

The illumination means may comprise a plurality of illumination means or lights, such as LEDs. The illumination means may all be of the same colour or may be of a selection of colours.

The plurality of illumination means may be provided in a line along the housing member.

The skate may comprise electronic circuitry associated with the at least one illumination means.

The circuitry may include at least one power source, e.g. battery.

The circuitry may be provided within the housing member.

The boot may comprise an "on/off" switch for the illumination means, e.g. a push button on an outermost side of the housing member.

The circuitry may cause the at least one illuminatable means to illuminate continuously or to operate in a predetermined sequence.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of skate boots according to the first aspect of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are: Figure 1 a side view of a first (left) in-line skate boot according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 a side view of the skate boot of Figure 1 in an illuminated state; Figure 3 a side view of a second (right) in-line skate boot according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 a side view of the skate boot of Figure 3 in an illuminated state; and Figure 5 electronic circuitry for the skate boots of Figures 1 and 2 and Figures 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 5 there is shown a first (left foot) skate boots, generally designated 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The skate boot 5 comprises at least one illumination means 10.

In this advantageous embodiment the skate boot 5 comprises an on-line skate boot, that is to say, the boot comprises a plurality of rolling means 15, wheels or skates disposed in a line along a sole of the boot 5.

In an alternative embodiment the skate boot 5 comprises a roller skate boot having at least one pair of front (toe) rolling means, wheels or skates and at least one pair of rear (heel) rolling means, wheels or skates.

The skate boot 5 comprises a housing or frame member 20, an upper end 25 of which is attached to a sole 30 of the skate boot 5, and a lower end 35 of which houses or retains the rolling means 15, wheels or skates.

The at least one illumination means 10 is provided on a side of the skate boot 5 which is outermost of the wearer when worn. That is to say, provided parallel to an outermost edge of the wearer's foot.

The at least one illumination means 10 is provided on the housing member 20, e.g. on an outermost side therof.

The illumination means 10 comprises a plurality of illumination means or lights, such as LEDs. The plurality of illumination means 10 are provided in a line along the housing member 20.

The skate boot S comprises electronic circuitry (see Figure 7) associated with the at least one illumination means 10. The circuitry includes at least one power source, e.g. battery 40. The circuitry is provided within the housing member 20.

The boot 5 comprises an "on/off" switch 45 for the illumination means 10, e.g. a push button on an outermost side of the housing member 20. The circuitry causes the at least one illuminatable means 10 to illuminate continuously or to operate in a predetermined sequence.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 and to Figures 3 and 4 there is shown a pair of skate boots 5,5' according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The skate boot 5' (which is a right boot) is substantially the same as the skate boot 5, is a mirror image thereof.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention hereinbefore described is given by way of example only and is not meant to limit the scope thereof in any way.

Claims

1. A skate or skate footwear, such as a skate shoe or skate boot, comprising at least one illumination means.

2. A skate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the skate comprises an on-line skate boot, that is it to say, the boot comprises a plurality of rolling means or wheels disposed in line along the sole of the skate.

3. A skate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the skate comprises a roller skate boot having at least one pair or front rolling means or wheels and at least one pair or rear rolling means or wheels.

4. A skate as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the skate comprises a housing/support member, an upper end of which is attached to a sole of the skate and a lower end of which houses or retains the rolling means, wheels or skates.

5. A skate as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one illumination means is provided on a side of the skate which is outermost when worn, and provided on or adjacent to an outer edge of a wearer's foot.

6. A skate as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein the at least one illumination means is provided on the housing member, optionally on an outermost side thereof.

7. A skate as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the illumination means comprises a plurality of illumination means or lights or LEDs.

8. A skate as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the illumination means are of the same colour or of a selection of colours.

9. A skate as claimed in claim 4 or any of claims 5 to 8 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein the plurality of illumination means are provided in a line along the housing member.

10. A skate as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the skate comprises electronic circuitry associated with the at least one illumination means.

11. A skate as claimed in claim 10, wherein the circuitry includes at least one power source or battery.

12. A skate as claimed in either of claims 10 or 11 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein the circuitry is provided within the housing member.

13. A skate as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the skate comprises an on/off switch for the illumination means, the on/off switch optionally comprising a push button on an outermost side of the housing member.

14. A skate as claimed in either of claims 10 or 11 or claims 12 or 13 when dependent upon claim 10, wherein, in use, the circuitry causes the at least one illuminatable means to illuminate continuously or to illuminate in a predetermined sequence.

15. A skate as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the skate is an in-line skate.

16. A pair of skates, wherein each comprises a skate according to any of claims 1 to 15.

17. A pair of skates as claimed in claim 16, wherein each skate is an on-line skate.

18. A skate boot as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A pair of skate boots as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.