WO2001085271A1

WO2001085271A1 - Retractable skate apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2001085271A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malcolm Paul Hurst
Original assignee: Sonnos Blades Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-05
Filing date: 2001-05-04
Publication date: 2001-11-15

Abstract

Skating footwear and a displacement apparatus for retraction and extension of a skate, such as in-line rollers, are provided. The displacement apparatus includes an actuating means having single or dual triggers (232) that are manually operable to initiate both pivotal extension and retraction of the skate. The retracted skate is conveniently housed within a cavity in the underside of the footwear. This allows the skate to be simply and readily interconverted between extended and retracted positions to allow skating use or normal walking use as desired.

Description

TITLE

SKATE APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a displacement apparatus applicable to skating footwear. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for retracting and/or extending one or more rollers, wheels or blades into a cavity within the sole of a skating shoe, without being limited thereto. This invention enables a wearer of skates to retract or extend the rollers, wheels or blades, thereby allowing normal walking use or skating use of the shoe as required.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recreational and sporting footwear such as roller skates, ice skates, rollerblades and the like are well known. It has also been known to create footwear which can function both as a skate and as a shoe suitable for walking without impediment by the skate. To this end, skating footwear have been developed whereby the rollers or skates are displaceable between a ground-engaging, extended position for skating or rollerblading, and a retracted position which allows normal walking.

Typically, footwear incorporating a retractable skate have a recess or cavity in the underside or sole of the footwear which houses the skate when retracted. Retraction of the skate into the recess, and extension out of the recess into a ground-engaging position, may be achieved by any of a number of mechanisms.

Referring to U.S. patent 3,979,842, there is described an athletic shoe having two pairs of rollers, each pair respectively pivotally attached to front and rear underside portions of the shoe. Each pair of rollers is independently displaceable into an extended, ground-engaging position or into a retracted position in the shoe underside.

Another example of independently displaceable roller pairs is provided by U.S. patent 5,398,970. Each roller pair is mounted to an axle, each axle moveable within a respective vertical bore within the shoe underside and lockable into either an extended position or a retracted position.

In U.S. patent 5,797,609, simultaneous displacement of the front and rear roller pairs is achieved via a flexible link, such as a strap, which extends through the shoe underside and interconnects the roller pairs. For the purposes of retraction and/or extension of the rollers, a portion of the flexible link projecting from the shoe underside is grasped by the wearer, the roller pairs held in a retracted or extended position by locking the flexible link into the desired position.

A push-button mechanism which initiates pivotal extension of in-line rollers is provided in German patent DE 29717652, although the push button mechanism does not assist or initiate retraction of the rollers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventor has sought to overcome the generally cumbersome and complicated apparatus of the prior art by inventing a simple, easy to use apparatus for displacing rollers, wheels or skates of skating footwear from a retracted position to an extended position, and Wee versa.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a displacement apparatus for footwear having a skating means, said apparatus having an actuating means operable to initiate pivotal displacement of said skating means.

In another aspect, the invention provides skating footwear comprising the displacement apparatus of the first-mentioned aspect.

Suitably said actuating means is operable to initiate pivotal retraction of said skating means into a normal walking position, and is operable to initiate pivotal extension of said skating means into a ground- engaging position.

Preferably, pivotal retraction is accompanied by lateral movement of the skating means to assist retraction of the skating means into the underside of said footwear to enable unimpeded normal walking use of the footwear.

In one embodiment, the actuating means comprises a trigger for actuating retraction of said skating means and a trigger for actuating extension of said skating means.

In another embodiment, the actuating means comprises a trigger for actuating retraction and extension of said skating means respectively. Preferably, said actuating means is located in an underside of said footwear.

Suitably, the actuating means is manually operable. Preferably, the actuating means comprises one or more slidable rods, push-buttons or push-rods, levers, ring-pulls, pulleys, cables or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the trigger is a slidable rod operable to initiate retraction and extension of said skating means respectively.

The skating means may comprise one or more wheels or rollers. The wheels or rollers may be "in-line", such as an in-line roller shoe or rollerblades, or may be paired by a common axle, such as in traditional roller skates.

Another skating means contemplated by the present invention is a blade, such as used in ice skates. Suitably, the skating means is pivotally attached to the footwear.

Preferably, the skating means is pivotally attached to the footwear by way of a mounting means of the displacement apparatus.

Preferably, the mounting means comprises a frame, bracket, brace or the like to which the rollers, wheels or blade is/are mounted.

Preferably, the mounting means further comprises another frame, bracket, brace or the like which is fitted to the underside of the shoe. In such a case, the first-mentioned frame, bracket, brace or the like is pivotally-attached to said another frame, bracket, brace or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the displacement apparatus comprises in-line wheels that are mounted to a frame pivotally attached to a bracket which is attachable to the underside of an in-line roller shoe, operation of a slidable trigger initiating either pivotal retraction or extension of said skating means, as required.

When retracted, said frame and wheels are housed at least partly within an extended portion of the underside of said footwear. The present invention therefore provides displacement of said skating means by way of a relatively simple, efficient and easy to use apparatus readily adaptable to any kind of skating footwear.

Throughout this specification, unless otherwise indicated, "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" are used inclusively rather than exclusively, so that a stated integer or group of integers may include one or more other non-stated integers or groups of integers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a first embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means (A) in an extended position and (B) in a retracted position.

FIG. 2 shows a rear elevation view of a first embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means (A) in a extended position and (B) in a retracted position.

FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view of a first embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means (A) in an extended position and (B) in a retracted position.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means (A) in an extended position and (B) in a retracted position. FIG. 5 shows a rear elevation view of a second embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means (A) in an extended position and (B) in a retracted position.

FIG. 6 shows a front elevation view of a second embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means (A) in an extended position and (B) in a retracted position. retracted position.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom plan view of a third embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means in an extended position.

FIG. 8 shows a bottom plan view of a third embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means (A) in an extended position and (B) in a retracted position. FIG. 9 shows a front elevation view of a third embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means (A) in an extended position and (B) in a retracted position.

FIG. 10 shows a bottom plan view of a third embodiment of a skating shoe with skating means in an extended position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to an embodiment shown in FIGS 1A and 1B, skating footwear 10, in the form of an in-line roller shoe, comprises shoe 11 and skating means 12 having three in-line wheels 13 A, B and C which are rotatably mounted to parallel members 42A, 42B of frame 15 of displacement apparatus 14 via axles 16A, 16B and 16C respectively. Displacement apparatus 14 includes bracket 17 which is fitted to underside 18 of shoe 10. Shoe underside 18 also includes extended portion 19 (shown with hatched lines) which forms recess or cavity 31 which effectively encapsulates skating means 12 when retracted as in FIG. 1B. When skating means 12 is in an extended position, wheels 13A-C extend beyond lower perimeter 20 of extended portion 19 of shoe underside 18 as shown in FIG. 1A.

Referring now to FIGS 2A and 2B, the displacement apparatus mechanism at rear 24 of shoe 11 can be seen in more detail. Frame 15 has rear pin 21 A which extends into and is slidable within rear arcuate slot 22A of bracket 17 in rear face 40. Frame 15 is capable of pivotal movement about rear pin 21 B relative to bracket 17. Bracket 17 also includes rear pawl 23 retained by spring 28A.

Referring now to FIGS 3A and 3B, the displacement apparatus mechanism at the front 25 of shoe 11 can be seen in more detail. Frame 15 has front pin 21 C which extends into and is slidable within front arcuate slot 23B in front face 41 of bracket 17. Frame 15 is capable of pivotal movement about front pin 21 D relative to bracket 17.

Rear pawl 22 of FIGS 2A and 2B and front pawl 29 of FIGS 3A and 3B are interconnected by rod 30.

It will therefore be appreciated that frame 15 and wheels 13A-C mounted thereto are pivotally movable relative to bracket 17 fixed to shoe underside 18 by virtue of pivotal attachment of frame 15 to bracket 17 through front pin 21 D and rear pin 21 B.

In order to explain the preferred mechanism whereby the displacement apparatus facilitates extension of skating means 12, the skilled person is particularly referred to FIGS 1 B, 2B and 3B in which skating means 12 is in a retracted position so that wheels 13A, B and C and frame 14 are oriented obliquely relative to bracket 17 and shoe 12. This orientation enables skating means 12 to fit inside cavity 31 within underside extension 19 and allow normal walking in shoe 11. In order to displace skating means 12 to an extended position for skating purposes, extension trigger in the form of push-button 32 is operated by pushing against wheel 13C. This causes movement of pins 21 A and 21 C, against the action of spring 28B, through respective arcuate slots 23A and 23C until pins 21 A and 21 C are engaged by respective pawls 22A and 22C. The pawls effectively lock skating means 12 into an extended position wherein wheels 13A-C are in a ground-engaging position as shown in FIGS 1A. 2A and 3A.

Referring now to FIGS 1A, 2A and 3A, in order to initiate retraction of skating means 12, a retraction trigger in the form of push-rod 33 comprising shaft 34 with head 35, spring 28C and collar 36 is provided. Head 35 protrudes externally of extended portion 19 of underside 18 of shoe 11. Tip 37 of shaft 34 bears against rear pawl 23, so that if suitable pressure is applied to head 35 against the retaining action of spring 28A, rear pin 21 A and front pin 21 C are simultaneously disengaged from respective pawls 23 and 29 interconnected by rod 30. Return of pins 21 A and 21 C to the retracted position is facilitated by spring 28B. Spring 28A acts to return pawl 22, and hence pawl 29 by virtue of interconnecting rod 30, to bear against tip 35 of retraction trigger 33, while spring 28C acts between head 35 and collar 36 to ensure return of tip 37 of retraction trigger 33 to bear against pawl 22.

Referring now to an embodiment shown in FIGS 4A and 4B, skating footwear 110, in the form of an in-line roller shoe, comprises shoe 111 and skating means 112 having three in-line wheels 113 A, B and C which are rotatably mounted to members 142A, 142B of frame 115 of displacement apparatus 114 via respective axles 116A, 116B and 116C. Displacement apparatus 114 includes bracket 117 which is fitted to underside 118 of shoe 110. Shoe underside 118 also includes extended portion 119 (shown with hatched lines) which forms recess or cavity 131 which effectively encapsulates skating means 112 when retracted as in FIG. 4B. When skating means 112 is in an extended position, wheels 113A-C extend beyond lower perimeter 120 of extended portion 119 as shown in FIG. 4A.

Referring now to FIGS 5A and 5B, displacement apparatus 114 at rear 124 of shoe 111 can be seen in more detail. Frame 115 has first rear pin 121 A which extends into and is slidable within first rear slot 123A in rear face 140 of bracket 117. Second rear pin 121B is slidable within second rear slot 123B in rear face 140 of bracket 117. Frame 115 is capable of pivotal movement about second rear pin 121 B relative to bracket 117. Bracket 117 is connected to frame 115 by rear spring 145.

Referring now to FIGS 5A and 5B, the displacement apparatus mechanism at the front 125 of shoe 111 can be seen in more detail. Frame 115 has first front pin 121C which extends into and is slidable within first front slot 123C in front face 141 of bracket 117. Second front pin 121D is slidable within second front slot 123D in front face 141 of bracket 117. Frame 115 is capable of pivotal movement about second front pin 121D relative to bracket 117. Bracket 117 is connected to frame 115 by front spring 150.

It will therefore be appreciated that frame 115 and wheels 113A-C mounted thereto are pivotally movable relative to bracket 117 fixed to shoe underside 118 by virtue of pivotal attachment of frame 115 to bracket 117 through second front pin 121 D and second rear pin 121 B.

In order to explain the preferred mechanism whereby the displacement apparatus 114 facilitates retraction of skating means 112 according to this embodiment, the skilled person is particularly referred to FIGS 4A, 5A and 6A in which skating means 112 is in an extended position so that wheels 113A, B and C extend beyond a lower perimeter 120 of extended portion 119 of shoe underside 118. In order to displace skating means 112 to a retracted position for normal walking, a trigger in the form of push-button 132 is operated by pushing against frame 115. This causes parallel sliding movement of rear pins 121A and 121B through respective rear slots 123A and 123B and front pins 121C and 121D along respective front slots 123C and 123D until pins 121A and 121 C slide along respective arcuate portions 156 and 157 of slots 123A and 123C under the respective influences of rear spring 145 and front spring 146. This latter sliding movement of pins 121A and 121C along respective arcuate portions 156 and 157 of slots 123A and 123C is coincident with pivotal movement of frame 115 about second rear pin 121 B and second front pin 121 D. This pivotal movement is accompanied by lateral movement of frame 115 that assists full retraction of skating means 112 into cavity 131 within underside extension 119 to thereby allow normal walking in shoe 111.

Referring now to FIGS 4B, 5B and 6B, in order to extend skating means 112, push-button trigger 132 is operated by pushing against wheel 113B. This causes sliding movement of pins 121A and 121 C along respective arcuate portions 156 and 157 of slots 123A and 123C thereby moving frame 115 against the action of front spring 146 and rear spring 145, while frame 115 pivots about second rear pin 121B and second front pin 121D. This sliding movement occurs until springs 145, 146 act to return frame 115 wherein rear pins 121 A and 121 B slide along respective rear slots 123A and 123B in parallel with front pins 121 C and 121 D sliding along respective front slots 123C and 123D.

As a result, skating means 112 is displaced to an extended position so that wheels 113A, B and C are oriented substantially perpendicular to shoe 112 and extend beyond a lower perimeter 120 of extended portion 119 of shoe underside 118.

Referring now to FIG. 7, another embodiment of displacement apparatus 214 is shown attached to underside 218 of in-line roller shoe 211. Skating means 212 comprises In-line wheels 213A, 213B and 213C rotatably mounted to respective axles 216A, 216B and 216C in turn mounted to members 242A, 242B of frame 215. Parallel to frame member 242A is slidable member 260 to which is mounted trigger 232.

Springs 258A and 258B each interconnect frame member 242A and bracket 217; spring 258C interconnects bracket 217 and slidable member 260. Slidable member 260 includes elongate slots 261A and

261 B engaged by front pin or rivet 262A and rear pin or rivet 262B respectively which in turn mount slidable member 260 to frame member 242A. Shanks 263A and 263B of respective pins or rivets 261 A and 261 B are of reduced diameter compared to respective heads 264A and 264B, thereby allowing slidable movement of pins or rivets 262A, 262B within respective elongate slots 262A, 262B during sliding movement of slidable member 260.

Slidable member 260 also includes flanges 265A and 265B which, in the extended position shown in FIG. 7, engage respective complementary projections 266A and 266B on frame member 242A.

Spring 258C acts to hold slidable member 260 engaged with frame member 242A in the extended position.

Trigger 232 includes shaft 234 and head 235 that can be manually grasped by a user. Shaft 234 is fixed to plate 267 having upper flange or lip 268 that is retained by, and is slidable along, an edge of bracket 217. Plate 260 also includes tapered flange 269.

Referring now to FIGS 8A and 8B, to initiate retraction of wheels 213A-C, trigger 232 is actuated by being moved in the direction of the arrow (in FIG. 8A) to thereby slide slidable member 260 with respect to frame member 242A against the action of spring 258C and thereby disengage flange 265A from projection 266A and flange 265B from projection 266B respectively. By placing pressure on wheels 213A-C against the action of springs 258A and 258B, a user can thereby assist retraction of wheels 213A-C and frame 215 into cavity 231 in shoe 211.

Referring now to FIG. 9A in particular, frame 215A includes front plate 241 having arcuate slots 223C and 223D in which are located pins 221 C and 221 D attached to termini of frame members 242A and 242B respectively. Upon pivotal retraction, pins 221C and 221 D slide along respective arcuate slots 223C and 223D to the retracted position shown in FIG. 9B.

Thus, retraction of skating means 212 includes pivotal movement about pin 221 D as well as lateral movement through pin 221 D moving laterally within slot 223D from the position shown in FIG. 9A to that shown in FIG. 9B. This assists full retraction of frame 215 and wheels 213A-C into cavity 231 within underside 218 of roller shoe 211.

It should be appreciated that the mechanism shown in FIGS 9A at the front 225 of shoe 211 is also present at the rear 224 of shoe 211 , as can be seen to some extent in FIG. 7, for example.

Maintenance of the retracted position shown in FIG. 9B is assisted by tab 270 on slidable member 260 bearing against tapered flange 269. Referring now to FIG. 8B, immediately following retraction of frame 215, when slidable member returns under the influence of spring 258C (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8B), frame member 242A is oriented so that the taper in flange 269 allows tab 270 of slidable member 260 to slide along flange 269 to a point where further sliding movement is prevented. This final bearing engagement between tab 270 and tapered flange 269 effectively holds frame 215 in the retracted position until trigger 232 is actuated to initiate extension.

Extension of displacement apparatus 212 is best seen in FIG. 10.

To initiate extension, sliding actuation of trigger 232 and slidable member 260 in the direction shown by the arow in FIG. 10 releases tab 270 from bearing against tapered flange 269. Springs 258A, 258B act to pull frame 215 and wheels 213A-C into the extended position shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8A and FIG. 9A.

Referring now to FIG. 9A and 9B in particular, upon extension, pins 221 A and 221 B slide along respective arcuate slots 253A and 253B from the position shown in FIG. 9B to the extended position shown in FIG. 9A.

Maintenance of the extended position shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8A and FIG. 9A is assisted by flanges 265A and 265B which engage respective complementary projections 266A and 266B on frame member 242A, as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 7. It will therefore be appreciated that in light of the detailed description provided herein, the present invention provides pivotal displacement of said skating means by way of a relatively simple, efficient and easy to use apparatus readily adaptable to any kind of skating footwear, and which allows rapid interconversion of such footwear between walking use and skating use.

It will also be appreciated that the displacement apparatus of the invention is not limited to the particular combination of features described in detail herein, and that various modifications and departures may be made which nevertheless fall within the broad scope of the invention as set forth herein.

Claims

I . A displacement apparatus for footwear having a skating means, said apparatus having an actuating means operable to initiate pivotal displacement of said skating means.

5 2. The displacement apparatus of Claim 1 , wherein the actuating means comprises a trigger for initiating retraction of said skating means and a trigger for actuating extension of said skating means.

3. The displacement apparatus of Claim 1 , wherein the actuating means comprises a trigger for initiating retraction and extension of said 0 skating means respectively.

4. The displacement apparatus of Claim 1 , wherein said actuating means is operable to initiate pivotal and lateral displacement of said skating means.

5. The displacement apparatus of Claim 1 , wherein the skating means 5 is mounted to said displacement means.

6. The displacement apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the skating means comprises a plurality of in-line wheels.

7. A displacement apparatus for an in-line roller shoe, said apparatus comprising in-line wheels mounted to a frame pivotally attached to a 0 bracket attachable to the underside of said shoe, said apparatus further comprising a slidable trigger operable to initiate pivotal retraction or extension of said skating means.

8. A displacement apparatus as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5

9. Skating footwear comprising the displacement apparatus of any one of Claims 1-8.

10. An in-line roller shoe comprising the displacement apparatus of Claim 7.

I I . The in-line roller shoe of Claim 10, wherein said in-line wheels are o retractable at least partly into the underside of said shoe.

12. An in-line roller shoe as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.