WO1993002756A1

WO1993002756A1 - Skate with aligned wheels, with improved fit

Info

Publication number: WO1993002756A1
Application number: PCT/EP1992/001654
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mariano Sartor
Original assignee: Nordica S.P.A.; Rollerblade Inc.
Priority date: 1991-08-02
Filing date: 1992-07-20
Publication date: 1993-02-18
Also published as: AU2345392A; CA2092923A1; IT222871Z2; JPH06501640A; EP0551467A1; ITMI910723U1; ITMI910723V0

Abstract

A skate with aligned wheels, with improved fit, including a support (2) for the sole (4) of a shell (5) inside which an innerboot can be arranged, whose peculiarity is that it has a band (7) which passes inside and transversely to the shell at the region overlying the user's heel. The band allows to achieve optimum fit by allowing to adjust the pressure which can be exerted at the user's heel.

Description

SKATE WITH ALIGNED WHEELS, WITH IMPROVED FIT Technical field

The present invention relates to a skate with aligned wheels, with improved fit.

Background art

Known skates with aligned wheels are generally constituted by a shell having a sole associated with a support.

An inconvenience observed in these known types of skate is that they do not support and secure the user's leg, and in particular the ankle, in an optimum manner during sports practice. The use of levers on the shell in fact allows only to secure more or less tightly the flaps of said shell without securing the foot of the user which takes its actual anatomical configuration into account.

A differentiation of this securing action is necessary for transmitting the efforts to the wheels in different manners, depending on whether one .is performing pure speed or slalom contests. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the problems described above in known types by providing a skate which allows to achieve optimum fit.

Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a skate which allows the user to vary, in an optimum, rapid and easy manner, the degree of securing of the leg region, and in particular of the ankle region, according to the changes in the specific requirements set by the sports practice. Z,

Another important object is to provide a skate which is simple, easy to industrialize, reliable and safe in use and has low manufacturing costs.

This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a skate with aligned wheels with improved fit, which comprises a support for the sole - of a shell inside which an innerboot can be arranged, characterized in that at least one end of at least one traction element is associated with said shell, said traction element passing inside and transversely to said shell at the region overlying the heel of the user, said traction element having a second end which can be subjected to tension from the outside an means for temporary connection to at least one region adjacent to said first end.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated only by way of non- limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the skate, wherein the traction means is constituted by a band arranged in secured position; figure 2 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the skate with the band released; figure 3 is a sectional enlarged view, taken along a transverse median plane of the shell, of the skate with the band in secured position.

Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the above figures, the skate, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, is constituted by a support 2 for aligned wheels 3; the sole 4 of a shell 5, inside which an innerboot 6 can be arranged, is associated with said support in an upward position. A traction element is associated with said shell and is constituted by a band 7 which is rigidly associated with the shell 5 at a first end 8 by means of an adapted rivet 9 or another equivalent fastening means.

Said band 7, starting from the first end 8, is arranged, for a first portion 10, transversely and externally to the outer lateral surface 11 of the shell 5 and is arranged at the region 12 overlying the heel of the user.

A first slot 13 is defined on said shell in the region adjacent to the malleoli of the user; said band 7 is passed in said first slot and is then arranged transversely inside the shell for a second portion 14.

Said band 7 then protrudes outside the shell 5 through a second slot 15. The band 7 then has a third portion 16 which is external to the shell 5, with the second end 17 arranged outside the shell and engageable by the user. Band 7 has means for temporary connection to the first portion 10 at the third portion 16; said means are obtained for example by using a layer of material known by the trade-name "Velcro", arranged both on said third portion and on said first portion.

The use of the invention is as follows: once the foot has been inserted in the shell 4, after closing said shell, it is possible to adjust the fit of the user's leg before starting the sports activity by acting on the band 7.

By gripping the second end 17, the user can in fac apply more or less tension thereto and then associate i with the first portion 10. In this manner it is possible to achieve the require degree of securing on the region overlying the heel of th user's foot, allowing to achieve the optimum transmission o efforts to the wheels.

Tension can be applied to said traction element 7 easily and instantaneously by means of a layer of "Velcro" on both surfaces of the first and third portions.

It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the above mentioned aim and objects, a skate having been provided which allows to achieve optimum fit, since the user can vary, in an optimum, rapid and easy manner, the degree of securing of the region overlying the heel according to changes in the specific requirements imposed by the sports practice, and thus depending on whether he must perform a speed test or a slalom test. The materials and the dimensions of the individual elements constituting the skate structure may naturally be the most appropriate according to the specific requirements.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. Skate with aligned wheels, with improved fit, comprising a support (2) for the sole (4) of a shell (5) inside which an innerboot (6) can be arranged, characterized in that at least one end (8) of at least one traction element (7) is associated with said shell, said traction element passing inside and transversely to said shell at the region overlying the heel of the user, said traction element having a second end (17) which can be subjected to tension from the outside and means for temporary connection to at least one region (10) which is adjacent to said first end (8).

2. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that said traction element is constituted by a band (7) which is rigidly associated, with said shell (5) at one end (8) by means of a rivet (9) , said band being arranged, starting from said first end, for a first portion, transversely and externally to the outer lateral surface (11) of said shell, said band being arranged at the region overlying the user's heel.

3. Skate according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that a first slot (13) is formed on said shell (5) in the region adjacent to the malleoli of the user, said band (7) being passed in said first slot and being then arranged transversely inside said shell for a second portion (14) .

4. Skate according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that said band exits said shell through a second slot (15) .

5. Skate according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said band (7) has a third portion (16) which is external to said shell, with the second end (17) arranged outside said shell and engageable by the user.

6. Skate according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said band has , at said third portion (16) , means for temporary connection to said first portion, said means comprising a layer of material known by the trade-name "Velcro", arranged on both said third portion (16) and said first portion (10).