WO1999033532A1

WO1999033532A1 - In-line roller skate with improved springing

Info

Publication number: WO1999033532A1
Application number: PCT/IT1998/000377
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pietro Pellin
Original assignee: Lts Alluminio S.P.A.
Priority date: 1997-12-24
Filing date: 1998-12-23
Publication date: 1999-07-08
Also published as: ITVI970227A1; ITVI970227A0; AU1783999A; IT1297526B1

Abstract

An in-line roller skate comprises a frame (2), at least one carriage (4) which is associated with the frame (2) and on which at least two aligned wheels (3) are mounted for rotation about parallel and spaced-apart axes, and a fulcrum between the frame (2) and the carriage (4) for allowing the carriage (4) to pivot relative to the frame (2) about an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the wheels (3). The fulcrum is movable relative to the frame (2) along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the wheels and the skate comprises a resilient suspension system (6) acting between the fulcrum and the frame (2).

Description

In-line roller skate with improved springing

Technical field

The present invention relates to an in-line roller skate according to the preamble to the main claim.

Technical background

Skates are known in which a shell of plastics material houses the foot, extending above the ankle, and is associated removably in its lower portion with an inverted "U" -shaped frame between the flanges of which a plurality of wheels are mounted for rotation in line. The wheels are generally mounted rotatably in a fixed manner by means of a through pin fixed at its ends by screws the heads of which engage holes formed along the flanges of the frame. The damping of vibrations and jolts due to surfaces characterized by rough finishing is usually entrusted mostly to the resilience of the wheels, given that the rest of the structure is intrinsically very rigid. This situation becomes worse when the skates are used for sports since their structure as a whole is subjected to stresses of various types, usually discontinuous stresses of considerable magnitude .

The disadvantage of the great majority of known skates is that these vibrations and jolts are felt almost throughout the user's feet and calves, even causing physical pain. Moreover, sports use of the skates often involves acrobatic manoeuvres which accentuate any physical problems if use is not preceded by adequate training to strengthen the leg muscles . Further problems are perceived in the fact that these skates do not provide for any pre-adjustment of the travel of the wheels in dependence on the ground. Description of the invention

The main task of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of known skates complained of above by providing a skate with a shock-absorber which damps the wheels individually and reduces the vibrations and jolts transmitted by the structure of the skates to a threshold acceptable to the user.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a skate with a shock-absorber in which the shock-absorber can be pre- adjusted quickly and easily according to the ground.

Another object of the invention is to construct a skate with a shock-absorber which permits a marked travel of the wheels such that, for example, during acrobatic performances, landings are softer but safe.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a skate with a shock-absorber which is composed of a small number of structural elements which can be produced by techniques usual in the field.

Not the least object of the invention is to provide a skate with a shock-absorber which can be marketed at a price attractive to the purchaser.

These and further objects which will become clearer from the following are achieved by an in-line roller skate formed in accordance with the following claims.

Advantageously, the fulcrum means which is provided between the frame and the wheel-holder carriage and which is arranged to allow the carriage to pivot relative to the frame about an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the wheels is movable relative to the frame along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the wheels and a resilient suspension means is provided, acting between the fulcrum means and the frame. According to the invention, first guide means are also provided between the carriage and the frame for guiding the carriage in the combined movement along a substantially vertical axis perpendicular to the axes of the wheels and substantially parallel to the action of the resilient suspension means, and of pivoting of the carriage about the fulcrum means. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first guide means comprise a pair of slots formed in side walls of the frame or of the carriage and at least one pair of corresponding appendages formed on corresponding side walls of the carriage or of the frame, each of the appendages being engaged in the corresponding slot so as to permit and limit the displacements of the carriage relative to the frame, which result from the aforementioned combined movement.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, the carriage and the frame have respective juxtaposed side walls and respective guide and sliding plates are interposed between the side walls of the carriage and of the frame. The slots or the appendages formed in or on the side walls of the frame are preferably formed in or on the corresponding plates and the slots in the same side wall have a vertically elongate, symmetrically opposed arrangement with two portions facing one another in the direction of elongation, one being a straight portion for guiding the carriage along the substantially vertical axis and the other being an arcuate portion for guiding the carriage during the pivoting about the fulcrum means . The skate according to the invention also has second guide means provided for guiding the carriage along a substantially horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the wheels and to the action of the resilient suspension means. The second guide means are advantageously interposed between the frame and the sliding plates and comprise a track fixed to one of the plate and the frame in the region of the side walls and a groove formed in the other of the plate and the frame and engaged for sliding by the track.

According to a further characteristic of the invention which is the subject of Claim 11, braking means are provided between the carriage and the frame for braking the movement of the carriage relative to the frame along the second guide means so as to damp frontal impacts on the wheels.

According to Claim 12 , means are also provided for limiting the travel between the carriage and the frame along the first guide means. In a preferred embodiment, the travel-limit means comprise a spacer element extending between the opposed side walls of the frame in order to stiffen the frame. The skate according to the invention has adjustment means for adjusting the relative inclination between the frame and the carriage so as to vary the number of wheels in contact with the ground during skating. The adjustment means preferably comprise a cam profile on one of the frame and the carriage and a cam-follower pin on the other of the carriage and the frame, the pin being movable along the cam profile on the respective carriage or frame.

Advantageously, the pin is guided along a substantially horizontal axis and the cam comprises a ramp which is inclined to the substantially horizontal axis and which can interfere with the pin in order to vary the inclination of the carriage relative to the frame. The pin and the cam profile also constitute means for limiting the pivoting travel of the carriage relative to the frame.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, the resilient suspension means is subject to a resilient preloading and has means for adjusting the preloading. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for adjusting the resilient preloading is of the male-and-female screw type and a tip is associated with the resilient suspension means at the opposite end to the screw and constitutes the fulcrum means .

The resilient suspension means comprises a helical spring or, alternatively, a sleeve made of elastomeric material . The resilient suspension means is advantageously supported by a slide slidable along the horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the wheels and to the action of the resilient suspension means.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partially-sectioned side elevational view of the skate according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a view of a detail of the skate of Figure 1 from above, Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a partially-sectioned side elevational view of a detail of the skate of the previous drawings, Figure 5 is a section taken on the line V-V of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a side view of a component of the skate of Figures 4 and 5,

Figure 7 is a view of a detail of the skate of Figures 4 to 6 from above.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a shock-absorber, generally indicated 1, for the wheels of in-line roller skates according to the invention, comprises an inverted "U" -shaped frame 2 between the flanges of which at least two inverted "U"- shaped carriages 4, each supporting a pair of wheels 3, are housed in a row. The wheels are mounted rotatably on each carriage 4 by means of pins fitted in pairs of holes 8 formed in the outer portions of the flanges of the carriage 4. In the central portions of the lower edges of the flanges of each carriage 4, there are respective recesses which house a packing spacer 10 to be positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Each carriage is flanked, inside or outside the flanges of the frame 2, by a pair of plates 5 fitted in recesses formed in the surfaces of the flanges of the frame 2. In this embodiment, the plates 5 are fitted inside the flanges and have longitudinal steps 14 which are formed, for example, by moulding, and which are coupled with corresponding steps 9 formed in the edges of the carriages 4. The plates also have vertical slots 11 in their side portions for housing the pins of the wheels and a hole 12 formed in the region of the centre of each plate 5 for housing a screw 13 inserted from outside through a slot in the flange of the frame 2 and screwed into the spacer in order to clamp it axially. The plates also have openings 19 between the hole 12 and the vertical slots 11 for the insertion of small plates of plastics material which improve the sliding of the carriage and prevent resonance upon impact. Each carriage thus has a vertical travel which is controlled by at least one resilient suspension means 6 disposed between the central portion of the frame 2 and the central portion of each carriage 4. In this embodiment, the resilient suspension element 6 is constituted by a rubber cylinder arranged vertically and engaged at the top by a screwing means 7 and at the bottom by an inverted mushroom- shaped pin 15. The screwing means 7 serves to pre-adjust the stiffness of the resilient suspension means 6; it is in fact constituted by a screw, the head of which gradually engages a hole formed in a plate 16 screwed to the central portion of the frame 2, bringing about compression of the cylinder. The inverted mushroom-shaped pin 15 in turn is supported by means of its conical head on a conical seat the opening of which keeps the cylinder constantly vertical and which is formed in a face of a plate 17 which is associated with each carriage 4 by means of pins 18 formed directly on the other face of the plate 17 and inserted in suitable holes formed in the central region of the central portion of each carriage 4. A variant of the invention which achieves the same advantages is described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. In this embodiment, each carriage 104 is a box-like body with two lateral "V" -shaped flanges having, in their upper portions, trapezium-shaped slots 109 which are symmetrical with respect to the centre-line, in their central portions, substantially vertical central slots 110 with curved edges and, in their outer portions, holes 108 for the insertion of the pins of the wheels 103. The plates 105 have, in their upper portions, horizontal slots 111 which are symmetrical with respect to the centre-line and which house drilled and threaded mushroom- shaped pins . Pins 112 formed centrally on the rear surface of each plate engage the slots 110. On the same surface, centrally and at the bottom, there is a rectangular seat 113 which has a central hole 114, and the upper edge of which has a cusp. This seat houses a centrally perforated small plate of the same shape. In this embodiment, each carriage 104 bears in its central region on a blade-like spacer 117 fitted between the two plates 105 facing each carriage 104. This spacer is fixed axially at both ends by means of screws inserted through slots in the flanges of the frame 102, through the holes 114 in the plates, and through the holes provided for the purpose in the small plates. Holes are also formed in the flanges of the frame 102 for housing screws 118 which in turn are screwed into the perforated pins so that each carriage 104 can be inclined relative to the surface by means of the system of slots 109 and 111. The resilient suspension means 106 is adjusted by the screwing means 107 which has holes 120 arranged radially so that the gradual adjustment is achieved by screw-drivers or tools with tips inserted in the holes 120 from one of the ends of the frame 102. The small plate 115 which houses the mushroom-shaped pin 116 in turn is positioned in a suitable seat formed in each carriage 104. Operation is as follows:

- it is assumed that the front wheel 3 encounters an obstacle; the pin of the wheel 3 moves upwards in the slots 11, inclining the carriage to the surface . At the moment when the front wheel passes over the obstacle and the obstacle affects the next wheel, the carriage starts to be inclined in the opposite direction to its previous inclination.

In this case, the action of the resilient suspension means 6 permits the alternate inclination of the carriage 4.

- It is assumed that a jump is performed; in this case, at the moment of landing, both of the carriages 4 move upwards, compressing the respective resilient suspension means 6 which react returning them to the original positions.

The device according to the invention may undergo many modifications and variations all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all of the details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Naturally, any materials or dimensions may be used, according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. An in-line roller skate comprising:

- a frame,

- at least one carriage which is associated with the frame and on which at least two aligned wheels are mounted for rotation about parallel and spaced-apart axes, and

- fulcrum means between the frame and the at least one carriage for allowing the carriage to pivot relative to the frame about an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the wheels, characterized in that the fulcrum means is movable relative to the frame along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the wheels, and in that the skate comprises resilient suspension means acting between the fulcrum means and the frame.

2. A skate according to Claim 1, in which first guide means are provided between the at least one carriage and the frame for guiding the at least one carriage in the combined movement along a substantially vertical axis perpendicular to the axes of the wheels and substantially parallel to the action of the resilient suspension means, and of pivoting of the carriage about the fulcrum means .

3. A skate according to Claim 2, in which the first guide means comprise at least one pair of slots formed in side walls of the frame or of the carriage and at least one pair of corresponding appendages formed on corresponding side walls of the carriage or of the frame, each of the appendages being engaged in the corresponding slot so as to permit and limit the displacements of the carriage relative to the frame, which result from the combined movement .

4. A skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the carriage and the frame have respective juxtaposed side walls and in which respective guide and sliding plates are interposed between the side walls of the carriage and of the frame.

5. A skate according to Claims 3 and 4, in which the slots or the appendages which are formed in or on the side walls of the frame are formed in or on the corresponding plates .

6. A skate according to Claim 3 , in which the slots in the same side wall have a vertically elongate, symmetrically opposed arrangement with two portions facing one another in the direction of elongation, one being a straight portion for guiding the carriage along the substantially vertical axis and the other being an arcuate portion for guiding the carriage during the pivoting about the fulcrum means.

7. A skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which second guide means are provided between the carriage and the frame for guiding the carriage along a substantially horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the wheels and to the action of the resilient suspension means.

8. A skate according to Claim 7, in which stop means are associated with the second guide means for varying the spacing between the carriages as required.

9. A skate according to Claim 7, in which the second guide means are interposed between the frame and the plates .

10. A skate according to Claim 9, in which the second guide means comprise a track fixed to one of the plate and the frame in the region of the side walls and a groove formed in the other of the plate and frame and engaged for sliding by the track.

11. A skate according to one or more of Claims 7 to 10, in which braking means are provided between the carriage and the frame for braking the displacement of the carriage relative to the frame along the second guide means so as to damp frontal impacts on the wheels.

12. A skate according to one or more of Claims 2 to 11, in which means are provided for limiting the travel between the carriage and the frame along the first guide means.

13. A skate according to Claim 12, in which the travel-limit means comprise a spacer element extending between the opposite side walls of the frame in order to stiffen the frame.

14. A skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which means are provided for adjusting the relative inclination between the frame and the carriage so as to vary the number of wheels in contact with the ground during skating.

15. A skate according to Claim 14, in which the adjustment means comprise a cam profile on one of the frame and the carriage and a cam-follower pin on the other of the carriage and the frame, the pin being movable along the cam profile on the respective carriage or frame.

16. A skate according to Claim 15, in which the pin is guided along the substantially horizontal axis and the cam profile comprises a ramp which is inclined to the substantially horizontal axis and which can interfere with the pin in order to vary the inclination of the carriage relative to the frame.

17. A skate according to Claim 15 or Claim 16, in which the pin and the cam profile constitute means for limiting the pivoting travel of the carriage relative to the frame.

18. A skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the resilient suspension means is subject to a resilient preloading.

19. A skate according to Claim 18, comprising means for adjusting the resilient preloading of the resilient suspension means .

20. A skate according to Claim 19, in which the means for adjusting the resilient preloading of the resilient suspension means is of the male-and-female screw type.

21. A skate according to Claim 20, comprising a tip associated with the resilient suspension means at the opposite end to the adjustment screw and constituting the fulcrum means.

22. A skate according to one or more of Claims 18 to 21, in which the resilient suspension means comprise a helical spring.

23. A skate according to one or more of Claims 18 to 21, in which the resilient suspension means comprise a sleeve of elastomeric material .

24. A skate according to one or more of Claims 18 to 23, in which the resilient suspension means are supported by a slide slidable along the horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the wheels and to the action of the resilient suspension means.