KR20030071794A - In-line roller skate with internal support and external ankle cuff - Google Patents

Abstract

A roller skate includes an upper, including a substantially nonrigid upper portion secured to a base. A frame secured to the base carries a plurality of wheels. The substantially nonrigid upper portion is reinforced by a substantially rigid internal heel counter. An ankle support cuff assembly is pivotally secured to the internal heel counter. The ankle support cuff assembly includes a substantially rigid ankle support cuff that is pivotally secured on lateral and medial sides to the internal heel counter. Ankle pad lines the interior of the ankle support cuff. Ankle support cuff is fastened by a selectively securable fastener about the skater's ankle. The ankle support cuff assembly pivots freely in the forward and aft direction relative to the internal heel counter.

Description

IN-LINE ROLLER SKATE WITH INTERNAL SUPPORT AND EXTERNAL ANKLE CUFF}

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to inline roller skate constructs, and more particularly to a pivoting ankle support structure for an inline roller skate.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application No. 08 / 668,278, filed June 21, 1996, and part of Utility Model Application No. 08 / 484,467, filed June 7, 1995. Application, and a continuing application of Utility Model Application No. 08 / 094,576, filed on July 19, 1993, currently US Patent No. 5,437,466.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the present invention and various additional advantages will be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a soft boots skate with a rigid heel counter and cuffs interconnected in an outer shell of the skate as one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the skate of FIG. 1 showing the soft portion of the top of a virtual road and a toe cap; FIG.

3 is a side cross sectional elevation view of the skate illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an internal cross sectional view of the skate cut to illustrate the cuff / counter boundary;

4 is a side cross sectional elevation cut vertically through the skate and extending through the pivot position of the cuff;

5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention that includes a pivot neck between the heel counter and the inner cuff;

6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a flexible arm used between an inner curve and a heel counter;

FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative embodiment with a single flexible arm to secure the internal cuff to the heel counter.

8 illustrates another alternative embodiment having a flex cross at the boundary between the heel counter and the cuff;

9 illustrates an alternative embodiment having an arch interconnect between an inner cuff and heel counter inverted from previous embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative embodiment with no substantial interconnection between the inner cuff and heel counter other than the configuration of the tongue and groove; FIG.

11 illustrates another alternative embodiment utilizing the configuration of pins and slots between the inner cuff and heel counter;

12 illustrates another alternative embodiment having a configuration of pins and slots;

FIG. 13 illustrates a flexible billows that may be used in the outer shell of the skate provided for movement of the cuff of the skate relative to the bottom;

14 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the inner support structure of the skate, showing the inner and outer supports covering the connection between the inner cuff and the heel counter;

15 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention that includes an inner heel counter virtually shown and an ankle support cuff pivotally secured thereto;

16 is a perspective view of the skate of FIG. 15 with a portion of the ankle support cuff assembly omitted for simplicity; And

17 is a cross-sectional view of the skate of FIG. 15 taken through a cross section through the pivot axis of the ankle cuff.

Typically, the inline roller skates comprise a plurality of wheels aligned with a parallel axle fixed to the skate frame. Skate boots or shoes are attached to the top of the frame. Currently, most skate manufacturers construct a boot or shoe (“top of the skate”) with a base, a plastic shell extending upwards from the base, and a removable liner. The shell includes a cuff pivotally attached to the bottom of the cell to facilitate forward and backward movement of the skater's legs, providing a central and lateral support. Alternatively, the plastic shell can extend upwards to the top of the skate above the ankle, without the cuff being pivotally secured to the bottom. Rigid hockey skates are also in the prior art. These skates typically do not have a plastic outer shell. Hockey skates may have leather with inner reinforcement / support members or leather / nylon outer shells. While hockey skate constructs provide the necessary support for this sport, the constructs are not easily bent forward and backward.

Many inline roller skates are very easy to operate and can achieve faster speeds than those typically associated with conventional roller skates with paired wheels. In general, inline roller skating will require a higher level of skill, coordination and force than conventional skating with paired turns due to the narrow, lateral support base associated with inline roller skating. Specifically, balancing in the forward and rearward directions is relatively easy for skate beginners, while balancing in the diagonal or lateral direction is difficult due to the narrow support base and greatly depends on the skater's balancing and adjustment techniques. Different. Proper ankle and support in the upper shoe of the inline roller skate aid in lateral balancing.

In order to obtain optimal performance from the inline roller skates, it is important that the inline roller skates are maintained in a substantially vertical position. The upper shoe of the inline roller skate serves a competitive purpose in providing support and comfort. Shoes comfort is typically not associated with a high degree of support. In other words, the incorporation of rigid support structures within the upper shoe of the inline roller skates tends to add stiffness and size, and makes the skates heavy, hot and uncomfortable, given the warm weather environment conducive to inline roller skating. Where comfort is preferred over support, proper support of inline roller skates has been an important design criterion in the past, as this can lead to serious injuries to the ankle and elsewhere.

As briefly described above, conventional upper shoes of an inline roller skate are typically rigid, non-ventilated, formed of plastic material and have an inner liner. In general, the plastic material forms the outer structure of the upper shoe, and therefore, it is required to include a soft inner liner of sponge rubber or other similar material to provide comfort to the user. This soft material, combined with a rigid plastic shell, is a good heat insulator and does not allow heat or air to pass easily from the user's feet, resulting in hot upper shoes.

In order to provide lateral stability, conventional alpine ski boot designs have been well adapted to inline roller skating. These boots provide support and durability, which is a necessary property for inline roller skating. US Pat. Nos. 4,351,537 and 5,171,033 are both examples of rigidly injection molded boots suitable for winter sports such as ice skating and alpine skiing modified in inline roller skating applications. These patents disclose a boot top comprising a rigid plastic outer shell with a soft inner liner. This type of boot design is most suitable for sports in cold weather, so when used for sports in warm weather such as inline roller skating, the upper shoe tends to be hot and inconvenient. No. 5,171,033 incorporates an "essentially unobstructed vent" in the rigid outer shell of the upper shoe to allow air to circulate around the skater's foot, thereby providing some heat associated with the hard plastic outer shell. Removal is suggested. While the patent seeks a view of comfort, the disclosed upper shoe is a rigid plastic outer cell and a soft inner that may still be uncomfortable in warm weather conditions due to excessive heat buildup compared to conventional walking shoes and / or sneakers. It consists of two parts containing a liner. This often results in the skater's feet becoming hot, damp and uncomfortable.

Another problem associated with the adoption of injection molded ski type boots for inline roller skating provides good lateral stiffness and rigidity to the lateral ankle support, while these boots are also unnecessary and unwanted. Does not produce forward / backward strengthening and stiffness. Ski-type boots deteriorate the performance characteristics of skates because they limit the range of motion of the skater's legs and feet and limit the skater's ability to utilize the full range of the skater's power and agility.

It is also preferable that the upper shoe portion of the inline roller skate is light. Boots that are best suited for skiing do not need to lift and lower the boots each time the foot is moved (because skiers rely on gravity to give them forward or downward motion). Proved to be great. When skating on a flat surface, the inline roller skater must lift the boots at every step in order to provide forward maneuverability, resulting in heavy upper shoe fatigue and reduced skating pleasure.

Alternative modes have been proposed that provide both comfort and proper support for inline roller skating. Specifically, US Pat. Nos. 3,963,252, 4,418,929 and 5,069,462 include a platform that allows a skater to wear conventional street shoes inserted into a series of braces and supports. A roller skate frame is shown. These skates provide an alternative shoe and frame design for the outer shell and inner liner that are rigid in conventional inline roller skates. However, there is a need to accommodate a variety of shoe sizes and shapes, and the design presents significant problems in that the adjustable braces and supports of these designs are bulky and inconvenient. In addition, there is a limited range of types of shoes that the skate accommodates, and therefore there is an additional requirement that the skater must have the appropriate shoe type in order to utilize the skate properly.

The outer plastic shell of the previous inline roller skates had difficulty in styling the skate compared to that which did not occur in hiking boots and other footwear that did not have a rigid outer shell. However, it was thought that a rigid outer shell would be needed to facilitate the forward and backward movement of the skater's legs with respect to the skater's feet during skating, while providing a suitable intermediate support and lateral support. As a hobby skater, you may not need the power and ability to take advantage of low-cut, easy-to-move skates. The skate will not provide sufficient lateral support and intermediate support. Skates that provide lateral support and intermediate support and that do not include a rigid plastic outer shell configuration include hockey skates. Hockey skates do not provide adequate lateral and intermediate supports for the ankle of the skater. However, the forward and backward movement of the skater's lower leg relative to the skater's foot is also limited. In general, hockey skate tops are very rigid and unforgiving. Therefore, there is a need to provide a skate that includes superstructure support members for intermediate and lateral support, while facilitating forward and backward movement without entirely enclosing the skater's foot in a rigid plastic shell.

According to the present invention, a skate is received which receives a skater's foot. The skate includes a frame, a rigid base, a substantially non-rigid top, and a substantially rigid top. The frame has a means for climbing on the surface. The rigid base is attached fixed to the frame. The base is adapted to support the sole of the skater and includes heel and toe suitable for supporting the region of the skater's heel, convex anterior to the sole and the area under the toe. The substantially non-rigid top is adapted to receive the skater's foot. The substantially rigid top substantially covers the top of the skater's foot and the ankle and is permanently attached to the rigid base. It is coupled to the substantially non-rigid top and the rigid base. The rigid top includes an ankle support cuff that extends over the ankle of the skater when wearing the skate. The rigid upper portion is adjacent to only a portion of the non-rigid upper portion, and there remains a substantial portion of the vamp of the skate without the rigid support immediately adjacent thereto. The non-rigid top extends over the curve.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the substantially rigid top comprises an outer shell. Ankle support cuffs are placed under the outer shell. In addition, in one embodiment of the invention, the substantially non-rigid top comprises billows in the front and back of the ankle region of the top. The billows allows the substantially non-rigid top to move flexibly.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the substantially rigid top further comprises an inner heel counter beneath the outer shell. The ankle support cuff is pivotally connected to the internal heel counter. In addition, the outer heel counter may extend upward from around the upper heel lying outside of the outer shell.

In one embodiment of the invention, the outer heel counter and ankle support cuff are pivotally interconnected with a reduced cross section of the heel counter and an integrally formed ankle support cuff heel counter material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heel counter includes two sides with a recess along the interior of the top thereof. The ankle support cuff includes a lower edge at least partially within the recess. The recess preferably comprises a groove extending therein. The cuff includes a tongue that protrudes downward on both sides lying in the groove. The recess in the sides of the heel counter is preferably arcuate, with complementary arcuate tongues on the sides of the cuff. The retracted portion is preferably located on the inner surface of the heel counter having a lower portion of the cuff that overlaps the heel counter on the inner surface.

Another embodiment of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a substantially rigid support panel lying on the side of the interface between the heel counter and the ankle support cuff. The support panel is fixed to the heel counter to allow the ankle support cuff to move relative to the panel.

One embodiment of an alternative embodiment of the present invention includes an arch slot in the arch portion of the hill counter. In this embodiment, the cuff further includes a pin therethrough through the arch bottom. The pin extends through a slot in the heel counter.

In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the arch of the hill counter and the arch of the curve are interconnected with an arm attached therebetween. These arches of the heel counter preferably include a recess for receiving the arch of the cuff.

In addition, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a skate comprising a frame, a rigid base, an outer heel counter, an upper with an outer shell, a substantially rigid inner heel counter and a substantially rigid ankle support cuff to accommodate the feet of the skater. Can be explained. The frame has wheels or blades for riding on the surface. The rigid base is securely attached to the frame. The outer heel counter extends upwards from the base around the heel of the skate. The outer shell is composed of a substantially soft flexible material. The inner heel counter is placed under the outer shell and extends around the heel area of the skate above the top of the outer heel counter. The ankle support cuff is pivotally connected to the inner heel counter and sits under the outer shell. In addition, the inner heel counter preferably includes at least one groove along at least a portion that receives the lower edge of the cuff in the substantially sliding engagement.

The above-described skate arrangement provides a skate with an aesthetic appeal even without substantially plastic material on the outer body of the skate. In addition, the skates are provided with excellent lateral and intermediate supports, allowing for the forward and backward movement of the skater's lower leg with respect to the skater's foot using a cuff that is pivotally fixed within the top.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a substantially rigid inner and outer heel counter, a substantially rigid outer ankle cuff. The skate includes a base that defines the bottom, top and ends of the tow and heel. The frame is fixed to the underside of the base to mount a plurality of wheels or other ground engaging member. The substantially non-rigid top is fixed to the top surface of the base. A substantially rigid internal heel counter is secured to the end of the heel of the base and extends upwardly from the end of the heel and is received within and covered by the substantially non-rigid top. A substantially rigid ankle cuff that can be tightened against the ankle of the skater is pivotally secured to the top of the heel counter. The substantially rigid ankle cuff can be freely pivoted forward with respect to the inner heel counter from the non-rigid top without substantially resisting.

In a preferred embodiment, the substantially rigid ankle cuff is secured only to the substantially non-rigid top by pivot connection with respect to the heel counter and the internal heel counter, otherwise it is separated from the non-rigid top. Ankle pads lining the inner surface of the ankle curve and extend downwards to terminate at the free lower end in the inner heel counter. This embodiment of the present invention allows the ankle cuff to pivot substantially free from resistance by the bottom of the skate. You can follow the natural movement of the skater's lower leg.

1, an inline roller skate 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. The inline skate 10 includes an upper portion 12 connected to a frame 14 that secures the wheels 16. Top 12 includes a base 18 that is rigid for interconnection to frame 14. The rigid base 18 preferably extends substantially below the top 12 from the heel to the toe. The outer heel counter 20 is preferably formed integrally with the base 18. Alternatively, the outer heel counter 20 may be omitted or formed separately without attaching to the base 18. In addition, the toe cap 22 is formed separately and attached to the base 18 to protect the toe end of the skate from being dragged and worn. The toe cap 22 also protects the skater's feet from collision with the hard surface.

Most of the remainder of the top 12 is of a soft, ventilated and flexible material of the kind commonly used in shoes or hiking boots. Thus, synthetic or natural leather and meshes or other fabrics may be used to construct the soft portion of the top 12. These soft parts generally include a forefoot portion 24 below the ankle region of the skate and an ankle 26 on and above the ankle of the skate. String 28 is preferably used to securely secure top 12 around the skater's foot in a conventional manner. However, buckle, strap, Velcro ^™ , or other fasteners may alternatively be used. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front billows 32 and the rear billows 30 are located just above the heel and within the cut of the top 12 between the ankle and the front axles 26, 24 of the top 12. Is fixed at. The front and rear billows 32 and 30 facilitate the bending of the ankle 26 relative to the front axle 24.

Most of the configuration of the skate top is similar to that disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,437,466, which is incorporated herein by reference. The skate disclosed in the patent application (US Pat. No. 5,437,466) includes a soft, flexible top. The top disclosed in patent 5,437,466 has a stiff outer cuff and a stiff outer heel counter pivotally interconnected to provide intermediate and lateral support and front and rear flexibility. The same concept is employed in the present invention. However, the present application provides more detailed portions and components with cuffs and rigid heel counters placed inside the relatively soft outer shell 44 of the upper portion 12. The inner heel counter 34 is preferably attached to the base 18 by connecting to the outer shell 44 and the last board 52 (see Fig. 3). The inner heel counter 34 starts from about halfway of the side of the base 18 and rises upward from the base 18 toward the ankle 26 of the top 12. The inner heel counter 34 then descends gradually to a position below the rear billows 30 and above the outer heel counter 20 at the rear face of the heel of the top 12. Thus, the inner heel counter cantilevered upwards from the outer heel counter 20 except for having an outer shell 44 interposed therebetween in the preferred embodiment.

2 further illustrates the heel counter / inner cuff structure. The right and left sides of the inner heel counter 34 are substantially identical except for differences in anatomical shape and changes due to movement between the center and side of the skater's foot. The top of both sides of the inner heel counter 34 includes a recess having an arcuate lower boundary. The bottom of the recess includes a groove 40 in which the ankle cuff 36 engages the tongue and groove shape. The pivot pin 38 is fixed at the radial center of the arcuate portion and extends between the ankle cuff 36 and the inner heel counter 34. The pivot pin 38 is preferably riveted. Pivot pin 38 permits forward and backward movement of ankle cuff 36 relative to internal heel counter 34. Pivot pin 38 limits the lateral and central bending of ankle cuff 36. Ankle cuff 36 is made of a rigid material, such as plastic or fiber reinforced plastic. The material is rigid compared to the upper 12 soft portion surrounding the rest of the skater's foot. The ankle cuff 36 is preferably U-shaped as described above to surround the lower leg of the skater and the ankle of the skater from the back of the skater toward the front. Ankle cuff 36 does not wrap all of the ankle and lower leg of the skater, but preferably extends to the front of the ankle bone. Thus, the ankle cuff 36 bends back and forth around the pivot pin 38, supporting the ankle of the skater from the center to the side. The ankle portion 26 of the upper portion 12 is fixed around it and is made of a softer and more flexible material than the ankle cuff 36, so it can be bent back and forth with the ankle cuff 36. Thus, the above-described structure provides excellent center and side support and the forward and backward flexibility required for in-line skating for skates having a favorable aesthetically pleasing sports shoes or hiking boots.

Groove 40 having pivot pin 38 and cuff tongue 42 (as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4) provides strong support between ankle cuff 36 and internal heel counter 34. Provide a connection. Both central and lateral bends are limited by both sides of the ankle cuff 36 having this arrangement because it has a vertical space between the pivot pin 38 and the tongue and groove arrangement.

3 illustrates the layer of the top 12 in more detail. As described above, the cuff tongue 42 extends downward from the cuff 36 to contact the groove 40 of the heel counter 34. Thus, there is a sliding arrangement between the cuff 36 and the heel counter 34 at the interface between the two with semi-circular tongues and groove interface. A portion of the inner heel counter 34 extending upwards of the pivot pin 38 may be provided on the outside of the ankle cuff 36 to further support when any portion of the cuff 36 is pushed outward in the central or lateral direction. It is desirable to have.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top 12 encompasses the outer shell 44 described above that comprises substantially the majority of the top 12. The outer layer or shell 44 is preferably composed of leather or a flexible artificial material. The outer shell 44 is fixed to the base 18, toe cap 22 and outer heel counter 20. The outer shell 44 extends to the top of the top 12 where it is desired that it be coupled to the inner lining 46. The inner lining 46 lins the inner wall of the top 12. The inner lining 46 is preferably a breathable material, such as a tricoat or other conventional breathable lining. The soft padding 48 is secured between the inner lining 46 and the ankle cuff and the inner heel counters 36 and 34. The padding 48 also preferably extends between the inner lining 46 and the outer shell 44 in areas that do not include the heel counter 34 and the cuff 36. The padding 48 is preferably conventional panning, such as an open cell foam material.

3 also illustrates a skate tongue 50 extending in a conventional manner at the front of the upper portion 12.

The lastboard 52 permanently secures a portion of the upper portion 12 described above to the base 18. The rivets or other fasteners preferably extend through the frame 14, the base 18, and the lastboard 52. Adhesives are also used. The outer shell 44, as well as the inner heel counter 34, extends at least partially just below the last board 52 to securely fit between the last board 52 and the base 18. The rigid connection of the upper part 12 to the base 18 provides a better skate in terms of performance than any skate including a removable liner because the skater's feet can be held more reliably in the skate and on the base and frame. . Sole 54 is positioned over last board 52 in skate top 12.

5 to 13, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is now described. In this figure, most details of the top are not shown in order to more clearly show the arrangement of the cuff and heel counter. It should also be noted that the last two numbers of the elements numbered respectively correspond to the elements of the same number as in the above-described embodiment.

5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used in FIG. 5, but 100 is added to each reference numeral. The inner heel counter 134 is connected to the inner cuff 136 by a pivot neck 138. Pivotneck 138 is small enough to create a "live hinge" between cuff 136 and heel counter 134. In this embodiment, the cuff 136 may be in the form of a side panel on the side of the upper 112 or generally extend around the back of the skate in a U shape. Most details of top 112 are not shown in FIG. 5 to more clearly show inner heel counter 134, pivot neck 138 and inner cuff 136. The remaining details are similar to those described above in connection with FIGS. The movement of the inner cuff 136 is also shown in phantom in FIG. 5. In the cuff 136 having a U-shape, the structural integrity providing the central and lateral support to the ankle of the skater is simple with an internal heel counter 134 while still allowing front and back pivoting movements. It is provided in a low-cost one-piece structure.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the present invention having an internal cuff 236 in contact with an internal heel counter 234 does not include a pivot pin at the center of curvature radius of the interface. In this embodiment, the inner cuff 236 is interconnected with the inner heel counter 234 by tongue and groove arrangements, as described above. However, the front and rear arms 258, 260 deflect the cuff 236 to a neutral position and keep the cuff 236 in the groove 240. The front and rear arms 258, 260 form a V shape with the bottom of the arm connected to a heel counter pin secured between the arm and the inner heel counter 234 below the bottom of the groove 240. Alternatively, groove 240 may simply be a recess on the side of inner heel counter 234. Upper ends of the arms 258 and 260 are fixed to the guide holes 262 in the heel counter 234 by the guide pins 264. The guide pin 264 slides in the arcuate guide hole 262 and maintains the side of the cuff 236 with respect to the heel counter 234. Arms 258 and 260 are preferably constructed of a hard elastomeric material. The remaining details of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 are similar to the embodiment described above.

Referring to FIG. 7, another alternative embodiment similar to FIG. 6 is described. In this embodiment, a single elastomeric arm 358 is secured to the inner heel counter 334 in a horizontal fashion at both ends. Arm 358 is secured over the bottom of the recess of inner heel counter 334 with the lowest end of cuff 336 disposed between arm 358 and heel counter 334. Arm 358 is elastic and flexible in nature to allow for the back and forth movement of cuff 336 relative to internal heel counter 334. Depending on the elasticity of the arm 358, the arcuate lower edge of the heel counter 336 may rock in the recess created within the top of the heel counter 334, thus slightly upwardly guiding the guide pin 364 on the arm 358. Pull into it. The recess in the top of heel counter 334 may have a larger radius to allow for this rocking.

Another embodiment is now described with reference to FIG. 8. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 described above. In this embodiment, flexcross 438 is interconnected between cuff 436 and internal heel counter 434. Alternatively, the upper arm 462 of the flexcross 438 is secured to the cuff 436 although multiple arms may be connected to one or more multiple arms connected to the inner hill counter 434. Again, the cuff arm 462 and the heel counter 458 are connected to the cuff 436 and the heel counter 434 at their ends, respectively. Thus, the resilient nature of flex 438 causes the cuff 436 to move relative to heel counter 434 while rocking or pivotally sliding between each arcuate portion.

Referring now to FIG. 9, another alternative embodiment is an inverted arcuate and cuff 536 of heel counter 534 such that cuff 536 includes a recess while heel counter 534 includes a convex portion. It includes. In this case, heel counter 534 may extend upwards just above the astragalus of the skater. Cuff 536 allows movement of the lower leg of the skater relative to internal heel counter 9534. One of the recesses 540 or recesses with the cuff tongue 542 works smoothly between the two elements.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an embodiment is shown in which no distinct pivotal or linkage connection is created between cuff 636 and hill counter 634 in addition to tongue and recess or tongue and groove arrangement. Maintaining the cuff 636 and the inner heel counter 634 in the outer shell 44 of the top 612 means providing sufficient preservation of the elements so that no rivets or other fastening means are required.

11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein a recess 740 in the top of the inner heel counter 734 is provided to overlap the cuff 736. However, in this embodiment, a guide hole 762 in the form of an elongate arcuate slot is provided at the bottom of the cuff 736 adjacent to the recess 740 of the inner heel counter 734. The heel counter pin 756 extends through the recess 740, restricts the movement of the cuff 736 through the guide hole 762, and gives additional strength thereto.

Figure 12 shows the structure slightly rearranged. In FIG. 12, the same guide pin / guidehole arrangement is used, but a groove 840 is provided at the bottom of the recess where the cuff tongue 842 extends. In this embodiment, the cuff 836 is further limited and strengthened from center and lateral movements because the cuff tongue 842 cannot move laterally or centrally and only slides in the groove 840. The actual pivot axis of the cuff 836 may be above the heel counter pin 856 due to the guide hole 862 that is arcuate and provides room to move. Thus, the pivot axis may be at the astragalus of the skater without protruding the rivets or pins inward at the same position.

With reference to FIG. 13, additional elements associated with the exterior of the top 912 are described. In this embodiment, a full billow 966 is provided between the ankle 926 and the front axle 924 so that both the cuff 936 and the inner heel counter 934 as well as the two parts are relatively relative to each other. Let it move The billows 966 is a flexible elastomeric material that is not easily broken. In this embodiment, the pool billows 966 extends from the front of the boot to the bottom of the astragalus and arches up to the heel behind the astragalus. Then, the billows 966 extends substantially mirror-symmetrically on the opposite side of the skate around the skate rear.

Referring now to FIG. 14, an additional support structure that is preferably added to the basic structure described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4 is described. In FIG. 14, soft portions throughout the upper portion 12 have been removed to expose the lastboard 1052, the inner heel counter 1034 and the inner cuff 1036. The configuration and arrangement of these three elements of FIG. 14 are substantially similar to those described above with respect to FIGS. However, an outer support 1068 and an inner support 1070 have also been added to provide a smooth transition between these elements and to provide more support and comfort. The outer support 1068 is made of plastic material and covers the cuff and heel counter intersections of the skate and extends slightly forward from it. This provides additional stiffness to the pivot, tongue and groove array support structures, and wraps around the skater's foot for additional support. Similarly, the inner support 1070 covers the gasket between the cuff 1036 and the heel counter 1034 in the interior of these elements and also covers the interior of the pivot pin 1038, which may be a rivet or other fastener. Thus, the inner support 1070 not only provides additional structural support for the skater's feet to help maintain proper orientation of the inline skates, but also provides a smooth transition between the elements for maximum comfort. The supports 1068, 1070 are fixed to the inner heel counter 1034. The supports 1068 and 1070 are slidably fixed to the inner cuff 1036 to position against the cuff 1036 so as not to interfere with the forward and backward movement. However, supports 1068 and 1070 further strengthen the cuff 1036 in the center and lateral directions and provide another support around the foot of the skater in addition to being provided by heel counter 1034.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The basic concept and configuration described above can be modified by placing elements on the outside of the skate outside the outer shell 44 or by varying the arrangement in various ways, but having a rigid cuff interconnected to the heel counter in a pivoting manner. The basic concept is still maintained.

Another embodiment of the present invention showing such an alternative configuration is shown in FIGS. 15 to 18. The skate 1110 shown in FIG. 15 is configured similarly to the skate 10 of FIG. 1, but the configuration and mounting of the pivot ankle support cuff are different. Accordingly, details of the embodiment of FIGS. 15-18 that are common to FIG. 1 will not be described in further detail below. Generally, skate 1110 includes an upper portion 1112 connected to frame 1114 between sidewalls on which a plurality of wheels 1116 are rotatably fixed. The upper portion 1112 includes a rigid base 1118 to which the frame 1114 is fixed below the upper portion. The fixing of the base 1118 to the frame 1114 may be made by riveting, threaded fasteners, gluing or otherwise, as described above, or the base 1118 and the frame 1114 are integrally formed. May be In the illustrated embodiment, the base 1118 has rigidity over the entire length of the upper portion 1112 from the front toe end to the rear heel end of the base. However, the invention is equally applicable to skates, which may include a flexible base 1118 that is unfixed and has a heel end that can be lifted from the rear end of the frame or that includes a split frame having front and rear segments. Should be understood.

Top 1112 also includes a substantially non-rigid top 1120 that receives and surrounds the skater's foot. The non-rigid top 1120 extends from the front toe end 1122 of the base 1118 to the rear heel end 1124 of the base 1118. The non-rigid top 1120 is formed of a flexible material, such as leather, canvas, nylon fabric, or flexible plastic, as described above. The front end of the non-rigid top is protected by a toeguard 1126 formed of a rigid or substantially rigid plastic material. The toe guard is secured to the edge of the toe end 1122 of the base 1118 and extends outward therefrom to wrap and protect the side and top edges of the toe of the substantially non-rigid top 1120. The non-rigid top 1120 is also secured to the foremost end of the vamp opening 1128 and also includes a vamp opening 1128 that overlaps the tongue 130 that is selectively closed by a fastener such as lace 1132. Include.

The non-rigid top 120 is internally reinforced by an internal heel counter 1134. 15 and 16, the inner heel counter 1134 generally has a U-shape and is secured with respect to its lower U-shaped edge about the periphery of the heel end 1124 of the base 1118. The inner heel counter 1134 rises upwards from the base 1118 to cover the rear, lateral and central sides of the skater's heel. The heel counter 1134 ends below the skeletal bone, i.e., the ankle bone, and extends forward to the beginning of the instep of the skater's foot. The inner heel counter 1134 is received and covered within a substantially non-rigid top 1120, while some of the inner heel counter 1134 may be exposed for aesthetic reasons. In the illustrated embodiment, lateral and center (not shown) apertures 1136 are formed in the non-rigid top 1120 to expose the underlaying portion of the inner heel counter 1134.

The inner hill counter 1134 has a substantially rigid structure and may be suitably formed of rigid or substantially rigid plastic or metal. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner hill counter 1134 is formed of a fiber reinforced resin such as a graphite fiber reinforced polyester resin composite. The non-rigid top 1120 extends to cover and protect the entire height of the inner heel counter 1134, except for the exposed portion of the heel counter at aperture 1136. The non-rigid top 1120 ends below the astragalus of the user except for the tongue 1130 extending upward along the inside of the ankle, as best shown in FIG. 16. Accordingly, the upper portion 1112 formed of the non-rigid upper portion 1120 reinforced by the inner heel counter 1134 and the base 1118 does not in any way limit the pivoting or bending of the user's ankle.

In order to support the user's ankle in the lateral and central directions while allowing the ankle to be bent in a predetermined range in the front and rear directions, not limited by the non-rigid top, the skates of FIGS. Assembly 1140. Ankle support cuff assembly 1140 includes a substantially rigid ankle support cuff 142, an inner ankle pad 1144 (see FIGS. 16 and 17), a partial outer ankle shell 1146, and optionally fasteners 1148. It includes.

Ankle cuff 1142 has a rigid or substantially rigid structure. Outer ankle cuff 1142 generally has a U-shape configuration and forms lateral and medial sides that terminate at the bottom of the pivot outer edge, respectively. Cuff 1142 is contoured to surround and support around the back side of the ankle and extends over the ankle including a recess to accommodate the astragalus projection of the ankle of the skater. Pivot periphery 1148 extends below the ankle bone and is pivotally secured by rivets 1150 to the side and center of the heel counter 1134. The pivot connection provided in the rivet 1150 is aligned horizontally except slightly below the pivot axis of the ankle. Ankle support cuff 1142 may be constructed of a material similar to that described above with respect to internal heel counter 1134.

Ankle pad 1144 wraps around the user's ankle and extends downward from the inside of the ankle support cuff 1142. Ankle pad 1144 is formed of a soft cushioning material, such as an elastomeric foam. Ankle pad 1144 is larger than ankle support cuff 1142 and extends further upward, forward, and downward than ankle support cuff. When combined with tongue 1130, ankle pad 1144 completely wraps around the user's ankle. The pad 1140 protrudes downward into the interior of the upper portion 1112 and forms a lower edge ending just above the shoe insole 1160. However, the pad 1140 is not connected or fixed to the inner heel counter 1134 or the top 1120, but rather is independent of it. Ankle pad 1140 that extends over the inner surface of pad 1144 and wraps downward over the outer surface of pad 1144 is lined with fabric sheet 1162. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric sheet 1162 extends further down the top edge of the ankle support cuff 1142. Fabric 1162 forms part of outer shell 1146 of ankle cuff. Outer shell 1146 is finished with a fastener, such as a strap having hooks and loop closures surrounding the front of the ankle, and tongue 1130 to tighten the ankle cuff assembly against the user's lower leg, just above the ankle. Cross in front of you. Ankle cuff assembly 1110 consisting of cuff 1142, pad 1140, shell 1146, and strap 1148 is rivet 1150 except that tongue 1130 extends upward with the cuff. It is coupled to the upper portion 1112 only through a pivot connection between the inner heel counter 1134 and the cuff 1142 at the pivot points formed by it. This allows the user to bend the ankle freely and pivot the ankle support cuff assembly 1110 relative to the heel counter 1134 without resistance in the fore and aft directions.

A gap is formed between the partial ankle shell 1146 and the non-rigid top 1120. Side and center rivet pivots are disclosed, but as described above, other pivoting configurations, such as flexible linkages or bellows linkages, may be used between the upper and lower portions of the integral cuff and heel counter assembly. . The lower edge of the inner heel counter may be secured to the base 1118 by the method described above, such as sewing, gluing or riveting. In addition, ankle pad 1144 and partial ankle shell 1146 may be bonded to ankle cuff 1142 in a variety of ways known to those skilled in the art of footwear manufacturing, such as stitching or bonding.

Various other alternatives and variations to the embodiments described above can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, while inline skating has been disclosed, ice skating is also within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above-described embodiment, but is defined by the following claims.

Claims (14)

A skate comprising a plurality of wheels disposed along a common longitudinal axis, A base defining a top, bottom and toe and heel ends; A frame fixed to a lower surface of the base to mount the plurality of wheels; A substantially non-rigid upper portion secured to the top surface of the base and adapted to receive a foot of a skater; A substantially rigid internal heel counter secured to the heel end of the base and projecting upwardly therefrom within a substantially non-rigid top and at least partially covered by the non-rigid top; A substantially rigid ankle support cuff pivotally secured to the upper edge of the inner heel counter, the substantially rigid ankle capable of pivoting against the heel counter independently of the non-rigid top and capable of fastening to the ankle of the skater. Support cuff; And Skate comprising an ankle pad lining the inside of the ankle support cuff. The method of claim 1, And the ankle support cuff is completely separate from the substantially non-rigid upper portion. The method of claim 1, And the ankle pad extends below the ankle cuff and extends within the inner heel counter. The method of claim 3, Skates, characterized in that free to the lower end of the ankle pad is separated from the inner heel counter. The method of claim 1, And an at least partial outer ankle shell covering the outside of the ankle cuff. The method of claim 5, And the outer ankle shell is substantially non-rigid. The method of claim 6, And wherein at least a portion of the substantially rigid ankle cuff is exposed between the partial ankle shell and the substantially non-rigid upper portion. The method of claim 1, The ankle cuff is a skate characterized in that it is pivotally connected to the inner heel counter at the side and the central side. The method of claim 1, Skates characterized in that a gap is formed between the lower rear edge of the ankle cuff and the upper edge of the upper shoe. The method of claim 1, And the base is substantially rigid. The method of claim 1, And wherein at least a portion of said substantially non-rigid upper portion is formed of a breathable material. In the skate comprising a plurality of ground engaging wheels, A base defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and a toe and a heel end; A frame fixed to a lower surface of the base to mount the plurality of wheels; A substantially non-rigid upper portion secured to the top surface of the base and adapted to receive a foot of a skater, extending upwardly from the base and ending below the ankle of the skater; A substantially rigid internal heel counter mounted within said substantially non-rigid top and at least partially covered by said non-rigid top; And And a pivotable ankle support assembly coupled to the inner heel counter only at its side and center side, the pivoting ankle support assembly comprising a substantially rigid ankle cuff and an inner ankle pad. In the skate comprising a plurality of ground engaging rollers, A base defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and a toe and a heel end; A frame fixed to a lower surface of the base to mount the plurality of rollers; A substantially non-rigid upper portion secured to the top surface of the base and adapted to receive a foot of a skater, extending upwardly from the base and ending below the ankle of the skater; A substantially rigid internal heel counter mounted within said substantially non-rigid top and at least partially covered by said non-rigid top; And And an ankle cuff pivotally connected to the upper edge of the inner heel counter and pivoted forward relative to the inner heel counter without substantially any resistance from the substantially non-rigid top. In Figure 13, And ankle pad lining the inner surface of the ankle cuff and extending downward to the heel counter to be freely received therein.