US2240532A

US2240532A - Combined roller skate and ankle support

Info

Publication number: US2240532A
Application number: US315611A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sotorious D Warner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-01-25
Filing date: 1940-01-25
Publication date: 1941-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1958-05-06

Description

May'G, 1941.,

s. D. WARN-ER COMBINED ROLLER SKATE AND ANKLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1941. s. D. WARNER COMBINED ROLLERSKATE AND'ANKLE surronw Filed Jan; 25, 1940 Maw 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 61D; TVarzzer Edi I l lllllllll llll Patented May 6, 194-1 UNETE Setorious 1). Warner, Cincinnati, Ghio 6 Claims.

This invention relates to roller skates and has for its object to provide a ball bearing roller skate of simple and durable construction having single longitudinally alined rollers instead of the usual pairs of rollers at the front and rear of the skate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roller skate, the foot supporting frame of which is formed of adiustably connected terminal and intermediate sections so as to permit said sections to be lengthened or shortened to fit the shoe of the user. 7

A further object is to provide the skate with a novel form of ankle support so constructed as to securely brace and support the ankle While at the same time permitting freedom of movement of the ankle when skating.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efiiciency.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a roller skate embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a front View with the ankle support removed,

Figure 3 is a top plan View,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the ankle support detached, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

The improved roller skate forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises a supporting frame or foot rest, preferably stamped, molded or otherwise formed of metal and including front and rear sections 5 and 6 connected by an intermediate section l. The intermediate section I is angular in cross section and is provided with longitudinal slots 8 which receive bolts or similar fastening devices 9 carried by the front and rear sections so that after the sections have been adjusted to lit the foot of the user said sections may be securely fastened in adjusted position by tightening the clamping nuts it. The front and rear sections are provided with depending side flanges H, between which are mounted for rotation on stub shafts l2 suitable ball bearing traction rollers, indicated at l3. The rollers l3 are preferably arranged in longitudinal alinement at the front and rear of the skate instead of in pairs as plicaticn .l'anuary 25, 1940, Serial No. 315,611

(Cl. sac-nee) usual so as to reduce traction and facilitate skating.

The front and rear frame sections are formed with depending portions i l and it which partially house and enclose the adjacent rollers, and extending transversely through the side flanges H of the front frame section are slots l6 which receive adjustable shoe clamping memof any desired construction and indicated at ill. The rear end of the frame section 6 is provided with an upstanding heel flange l8 curved to conform to the shape of the shoe and against which the heel rests when the skate is in position on the foot. The rear face of the heel flange it is provided with a vertically disposed seat E9 in which is fitted the adjacent portion of a flat resilient ankle supporting bar it. The lower end of the bar 2% extends through a slot 25 formed in the rear portion l5 and is firmly secured to the heel flange l8 by a bolt or similar fastening device 22.

Slidably mounted on the resilient bar 2% is a vertically split ankle supporting sleeve 23 preferably formed of leather and provided at the split portion thereof with spaced securing straps 2A which fit around the ankle and engage suitable b-uckles 25. The ankle supporting sleeve 23 is reinforced and strengthened by a metallic plate 26, the lower end of which is curved to conform to the heel of the shoe while the upper end thereof is reduced and extended vertically to form an anchoring plate 21. The ankle supporting sleeve is provided with an inner lining 255 and interposed between said inner lining and the leather constituting the outer surface of the sleeve is sponge rubber 29 or other suitable yieldable material to form a cushioning pad. If desired, however, the sponge rubber may be omitted and the lining 13 formed of sheeps wool or other material having a nap of sufilcient thickness to provide the desired cushioning effect.

Secured to the rear of the ankle supporting sleeve 23 is a plate 3% and engaging said plate is a socket member 3! having laterally extending attaching flanges formed with openings for the reception of rivets or similar fastening devices 33 which latter engage the metallic plate 26 and the reduced extension thereof and serve to rigidly support the socket member against accidental displacement. The member 3| is molded, stamped or otherwise formed with a socket 34, the lower end of which is open and flared laterally, as shown, to accommodate flexing movement of the resilient bar 20. The upper end of the socket member terminates short of the upper end of the plate at said upper end are spaced guide flanges 35 defining a guide seat 36 for the adjacent portion of the resilient bar 213. The inner wallof the socket 34 at the flared portion thereof is preferably curved laterally, as indicated at 31, so as to permit a limited forward movement of the ankle supporting sleeve and thus allow freedom of movement of the ankle in the act of skating. The rear section 6 of the frame is formed with transversely alined inclined slots 33 through which extend securing straps 39 for the purpose of fastening the skate over on the instep. If desired, auxiliary inclined strap receiving slots 49 may be formed in the rear section of .the frame of the skate to receive the straps 39, or if it is desired to more firmly clamp the skate to the foot, the auxiliary slots 29 may receive extra securing straps. It will thus be seen that the device provides a combined roller skate and ankle support, the ankle being firmly braced when skating while at the same time permitting freedom of movement of the ankle incident to skating around curves or performing fancy figures or gyrations, If desired, instead of using the straps 26, the front or open end of the ankle supporting sleeve may be provided with hooks and eyes so as to permit the sleeve to be laced up in the same manner as an ordinary shoe.

30 and arranged It will, of course, be understood that the roller skates may be made in different sizes and shapes and that the ankle support thereof may be used in connection with ice skates if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

1. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame, an upright bar secured to the heel portion of said frame, an ankle supporting sleeve, and a socket member secured to the sleeve and through which the upright bar extends, the lower end of the socket member being flared outwardly to permit limited lateral movement of the sleeve.

2. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame, an upright resilient bar secured to the heel portion of said frame, an ankle supporting sleeve slidably mounted on the bar, and a socket member secured to the sleeve through which the upright bar extends, the lower end of the socket member being open and flared outwardly to permit limited lateral movement of the sleeve.

3. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame including a heel portion having a seat formed therein, an upright bar fitted in the seat and Secured to said heel portion, an ankle supporting sleeve, and a socket member secured to the rear portion of the sleeve and having its opposite ends open to receive the bar, the outer wall of the socket member at the lower end thereof being flared outwardly to permit lateral movement of said sleeve.

4. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame having an upstanding heel portion provided with a seat and a transverse slot extending through the frame and communicating with the seat, an upright bar secured to the heel portion at said seat and having its lower end fitted Within the slot, a split ankle supporting sleeve slidably mounted on the bar, interengaging fastening devices oarried by the split portion of the sleeve, a socket member secured to the rear portion of the sleeve and slidably receiving the bar, the lower end of the socket member being flared outwardly to permit limited lateral movement of the sleeve.

5. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame having an upstanding heel portion provided with a seat, an upright bar secured to the heel portion at said seat, a reinforcing plate secured to the inner surface of the sleeve and provided with a vertical extension, a pad fitting over the plate, a socket member arranged at the rear of the sleeve and through which the bar extends, said socket member being provided with lateral attaching flanges, fastening devices extending through the flanges and reinforcing plate, the lower end of the socket member being flared outwardly to permit limited lateral movement of said sleeve.

6. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame having an upstanding heel portion formed with a seat, there being a slot formed in the frame at the rear end of the skate, an upright bar fitted in said seat with its lower end extending within the slot, a fastening device extending through the lower end of the bar and engaging the heel portion, an ankle supporting sleeve, a reinforcing member having its lower end curved to conform to and adapted to bear against the inner surface of the sleeve and provided with a vertical extension, a pad covering said plate, means for securing the sleeve in position on the ankle of the user, a plate bearing against the rear portion of the sleeve, a socket member engaging the plate and having its upper end provided with spaced guide fingers and its lower end flared outwardly, and fastening devices extending through the socket member, plate and reinforcing member.

SOTORIOUS D. WARNER.