U.S. patent application number 10/036473 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for jump skate.
Invention is credited to Wu, Thomas J..
Application Number | 20020084601 10/036473 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24247648 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020084601 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu, Thomas J. |
July 4, 2002 |
Jump skate
Abstract
A jump skate comprises a boot with a base attachment, a surface
engager, and a link/spring mechanism, which uses large spring
deformation to boost a skater in jumping. The link/spring mechanism
comprises at least two links and at least one spring (coil or
wound). The links and the spring(s) are made of metallic,
synthetic, or composite materials. The link/spring mechanism is
connected to the boot and the surface engager with pin joints in
such a way that allows large relative displacement with zero
rotation between the boot and the surface engager, which offers
improved control of the surface engager for skate jump/landing. The
spring(s) is installed in such a way that it deforms with relative
displacements between the boot and the surface engager. Thus a
skater can first store energy into the spring(s) by forcing the
boot down towards the surface engager and then jump to release the
energy for further height.
Inventors: |
Wu, Thomas J.; (McLean,
VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas J. Wu
1321 Timberly Lane
McLean
VA
22102
US
|
Family ID: |
24247648 |
Appl. No.: |
10/036473 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10036473 |
Jan 7, 2002 |
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09562759 |
May 2, 2000 |
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6336643 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/11.115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 17/26 20130101;
A63C 17/0046 20130101; A63C 17/065 20130101; A63C 1/22
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/11.115 |
International
Class: |
A63C 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A jump skate for permitting a skater to perform jumping
maneuvers, comprising: a boot; a surface engager having a ground
traversing lower portion; a plurality of links including a forward
link and a rearward link, the forward link having an upper end
portion pivotally connected at a forward portion of the bottom of
the boot at a first pivot connection, and a lower end portion
pivotally connected at a forward portion of the surface engager at
a second pivot connection,and the rearward link having an upper end
portion pivotally connected at a rearward portion of the bottom of
the boot at a third pivot connection, and a lower end portion
pivotally connected at a rearward portion of the surface engager at
a fourth connection; and at least a wound spring means having a
first end attached to the boot and a second end attached to the
surface engager so as to bias the boot in a direction away from the
surface engager, by virtue of a torque-wise deformation/recovery,
the wound spring means having a characteristic of quick
storage/release of energy to assist a jump.
2. The jump skate of claim 1, wherein the ground traversing lower
portion of the surface engager includes a plurality of wheels
rotatably supported in an in-line configuration.
3. The jump skate of claim 1, wherein the ground traversing lower
portion of the surface engager includes a first pair of roller
skate wheels rotatably supported by a first axle transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the skate, and a second pair of roller skate
wheels rotatably supported by a second axle transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the skate and disposed rearwardly of the first
pair of roller skate wheels.
4. The jump skate of claim 1, wherein the ground traversing lower
portion of the surface engager includes an ice skating blade that
extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the skate.
5. The jump skate of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third,
and-fourth pivot connections constitute the four apices of a
parallelogram.
6. The jump skate of claim 1, further comprising a stopper element
arranged to permit the jump skate boot to only move forward when
forced downward against the spring force of the spring.
7. A jump skate for permitting a skater to perform jumping
maneuvers, comprising: a boot; a surface engager having a ground
traversing lower portion; a forward spring link having an upper end
portion connected at a forward portion of the bottom of the boot at
a first pivot connection, and a lower end portion connected at a
forward portion of the surface engager at a second pivot connection
so as to bias the boot in a direction away from the surface
engager; a rearward spring link having an upper end portion
connected at a rearward portion of the bottom of the boot at a
third pivot connection, and a lower end portion connected at a
rearward portion of the surface engager at a fourth pivot
connection so as to bias the boot in a direction away from the
surface engager; wherein each spring link comprises wound spring
means, by virtue of a torque-wise deformation/recovery, the wound
spring means having a characteristic of quick storage/release of
energy to assist a jump.
8. The jump skate of claim 7, wherein the ground traversing lower
portion of the surface engager includes a plurality of wheels
rotatably supported in an in-line configuration.
9. The jump skate of claim 7, wherein the ground traversing lower
portion of the surface engager includes a first pair of roller
skate wheels rotatably supported by a first axle transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the skate, and a second pair of roller skate
wheels rotatably supported by a second axle transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the skate and disposed rearwardly of the first
pair of roller skate wheels.
10. The jump skate of claim 7, wherein the ground traversing lower
portion of the surface engager includes an ice skating blade that
extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the skate.
11. The jump skate of claim 7, further comprising a stopper element
arranged to permit the jump skate boot to only move forward when
forced downward against the spring force of the spring.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/562,759 filed on May 2, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a skate for jumping. More
particularly, the invention relates to improved in-line roller
skates, improved ice skates, and improved conventional roller
skates, which provide effective energy storage/release to enable a
relatively high jump, controlled landing, and reduced impact.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Spring-assisted skates are disclosed in the patent art. Most
of these prior arts use small springs and claim shock absorbing
characteristics. Only a couple of prior arts claim jump-assisting
characteristics. Such skates are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
1,597,792 issued to E. A. Hoff et al (1926); 4,351,538 issued to
Berta (1982); and 5,503,413 issued to Belogour (1996). These prior
arts include an ice skate, a conventional roller skate, and an
in-line roller skate. Each of the skates comprises components
including a boot, a surface-engaging blade or roller assembly
(hereinafter referred to as the surface engager), and a means using
spring(s) for shock absorbing or jump assistance.
[0006] In general, these prior spring-assisted skates have the
following disadvantages:
[0007] (a) No effective rotational control of the surface engager
from the boot. In particular, the surface engager is allowed to
rotate with respect to the boot, thus a skater cannot select a
specific part of the surface engager to initiate a jump or support
a landing. In other words, a skater's jump is limited to certain
ways, and the landing becomes more difficult because of the
uncertain orientation of the surface engager.
[0008] (b) No significant storage/release of energy to assist a
jump because only small spring deformation is practical for these
prior arts. Based on their design configurations, prior arts may
further lose control of surface engagers and skate structural
integrity if relatively large spring deformation is adopted.
[0009] Other spring-assisted prior arts related to selfpropelling
skates are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,451,055 issued to Robert
E. Lee (1984) and 2,174,990 issued to F. R. Maguire (1939). These
arts fall into the following disadvantages:
[0010] (a) Lack of jump assistance: These prior arts utilize the
energy from the weight force entirely for forward propulsion, not
jump assistance. A spring means may be used to bias the boot from
the surface engager only when a skate (or weight carrier) is
manually raised off the ground. Because a strong spring will create
strong resistance and defeat the main purpose of propelling, only
soft springs may or may not be used, which is apparently incapable
of jump assistance p1 (b) Hazardous for landing: These prior arts
are not intended for jumping, and will definitely be hazardous in
landing. Upon landing, these skates will propel and accelerate
forward as the arts intend, thus making it virtually impossible for
a skater to maintain balance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, objects and unique advantages of the present
invention are:
[0012] 1. to provide a spring-assisted skate with large spring
deformation for effective jump assistance
[0013] 2. to provide a spring-assisted skate with zero rotation
between the surface engager and the boot for effective jump/landing
control
[0014] 3. to provide a spring-assisted skate with structural
integrity during large deformation.
[0015] These and other objects of the invention are realized by
interposing a link/spring mechanism between the boot and the
surface engager.
[0016] A link/spring mechanism comprises at least two links and at
least one spring (coil or wound). The links and spring(s) are made
of metallic (such as aluminum alloy), synthetic (such as plastics),
or composite materials (such as graphite/epoxy).
[0017] The link/spring mechanism is connected to the boot and the
surface engager with pin (also made of metallic, synthetic, or
composite materials) joints in such a way that
[0018] i. the spring(s) deforms with relative displacements between
the boot and the surface engager;
[0019] ii. the boot base is maintained parallel to the surface
engager throughout the entire range of skate deformation.
[0020] Thus a skater can force the boot down towards the surface
engager to store energy and then jump to release the energy for
increased height. Being certain that the surface engager is
parallel to the boot base, the skater can land with as much control
as if wearing a regular skate--even more comfortably due to the
effective shock-absorbing characteristics of the jump skate.
[0021] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention
shall become apparent from the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments thereof, when considered in conjunction
with the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to
corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0022] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are exploded perspectives illustrating
the side and front views, respectively, of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention related to a jump in-line
roller skate using three springs.
[0023] FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate the side and front views,
respectively, of the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention related to a jump ice skate using one spring.
[0024] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate the side and front views,
respectively, of the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention related to a jump conventional roller skate using one
spring.
[0025] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are exploded perspectives illustrating
the side and front views, respectively, of the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention related to a jump in-line
roller skate using one spring.
[0026] FIGS. 4(c) to 4(f) show alternative spring provisions for
the embodiment shown in FIG. 4(a).
[0027] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate the side and front views,
respectively, of the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention related to a jump ice skate using one spring.
[0028] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) illustrate the side and front views,
respectively, of the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention related to a jump conventional roller skate using one
spring.
[0029] FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are exploded perspectives illustrating
the side and front views, respectively, of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention related to a jump in-line
roller skate using two springs that are integrated with one of the
links.
[0030] FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are exploded perspectives illustrating
the side and front views, respectively, of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention related to a jump in-line
roller skate using three springs that are all integrated with the
links.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] 1. First Preferred Embodiment
[0032] Jump skates according to the first preferred embodiments of
the invention shall now be described with initial reference to
FIGS. 1(a)-3(b).
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), jump skate 1 includes a
boot 2 and an in-line roller assembly as the surface engager 3.
Boot 2 includes a base attachment 4 with two machined holes 5 and
6. (A base attachment may comprise a single element or multiple
elements that are attached to the sole and heel with screws,
adhesive, or other means.) Surface engager 3 includes attachments
with two machined holes 7 and 8. The distance between holes 5 and 6
is the same as that between holes 7 and 8.
[0034] Shown between the boot base attachment 4 and the surface
engager 3 is the link/spring mechanism that comprises
[0035] Links 9 and 10 (of equal length) with four machined holes
5a, 6a, 7a, and 8a
[0036] Connector pins 5b, 6b, 7b, and 8b
[0037] Wound springs 5c and 8c
[0038] Coil spring 11
[0039] Pins 5b, 6b, 7b, and 8b are shown to connect links 9 and 10
to the boot base attachment 4 and the surface engager 3 by
fastening hole 5 to hole 5a, hole 6 to hole 6a, hole 7 to hole 7a,
and hole 8 to hole 8a, respectively. These links and pin joints
assure the skate structural integrity while allowing displacements
between the boot base attachment 4 and the surface engager 3.
[0040] Note that, geometrically, the boot base attachment 4, the
surface engager 3, links 9 and 10 together form the four sides of a
parallelogram to assure that the surface engager 3 will always be
parallel to the boot base attachment 4. The present invention thus
surpasses all prior arts in controlling the surface engager for
skate jump/landing.
[0041] Wound spring 5c is shown to be installed on pin 5b, with two
spring legs pushing against link 9 and the boot base attachment 4.
Similarly, wound spring 8c is shown to be installed on pin 8b, with
two spring legs pushing against link 10 and the top of surface
engager 3. In addition, coil spring 11 is connected between pins 6b
and 7b. All three springs will deform and store energy with
relative displacements between the boot base attachment 4 and the
surface engager 3. (For a simplified design, using any one of the
three springs alone can serve the purpose of jump assistance.) An
additional wound spring can be provided at each pin joint, if
desired, or a single spring (or any combination thereof) at any of
the disclosed locations can be used.
[0042] Because most of the space between the boot base attachment 4
and the surface engager 3 can be used for skate/spring deformation
and energy storage/release, the present invention is therefore very
effective for jump assistance. In addition, because all links and
spring(s) are located under the boot base attachment 4 without any
hazardous protrusions around the boot (such as in the U.S. Pat. No.
5,503,413 to Belogour), the present invention adds safety to
performance.
[0043] For the stable support of a skater's weight, the front
segment of the surface engager 3 is made so long that it extends
the front roller axle 12 beyond the boot toe (hole 6) throughout
the entire range of skate deformation.
[0044] One or more stopper elements (a single stopper element 13 is
shown added onto surface engager 3) may be provided to keep links 9
and 10 (through the connection to the surface engager 3) always
"forward inclined" such that the boot can only move forward when it
is forced downward. Thus, the stopper element 13 reduces
uncertainty in the skate for improved control. (The present
invention is also applicable to a jump skate with "rearward
inclined" links. Nevertheless, a stopper is needed to maintain a
rearward incline of the links.)
[0045] Finally, the flat top portion of the surface engager 3
serves as an additional stopper that limits the downward rotation
of links 9 and 10 and defines the maximal deformation range of the
skate.
[0046] FIGS. 2(a) to 2(b) illustrate the side and front views,
respectively, of the first preferred embodiment of the invention
related to a jump ice skate using one spring.
[0047] FIGS. 3(a) to 3(b) illustrate the side and front views,
respectively, of the first preferred embodiment of the invention
related to a jump conventional roller skate using one spring.
[0048] 2. Second Preferred Embodiment
[0049] FIGS. 4(a)-6(b) illustrate a second preferred embodiment of
the present invention. In comparison to the first embodiment, the
second embodiment minimizes the relative horizontal displacement
between the boot and the surface engager, thus offering further
control to a jump skate.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), jump skate 31 includes a
boot 32 and an in-line roller assembly as the surface engager 33.
Boot 32 includes a base attachment 34 with two machined holes 35
and 36. Surface engager 33 includes attachments with two machined
holes 37 and 38. The distance between holes 35 and 36 is the same
as that between holes 37 and 38.
[0051] Shown between the boot base attachment 34 and the surface
engager 33 is the link/spring mechanism that comprises
[0052] Links 39, 40, 44, 45, and 46
[0053] Pins 35b, 36b, 37b, 38b, 47b, and 48b
[0054] Wound springs 48c
[0055] Links 39, 40, 44, 45, and 46 are connected by pins 47b and
48b, through holes 47 and 48. Links 39, 40, 44, and 45 are equal in
length, each with an additional machined hole (holes 37a, 38a, 35a,
and 36a, respectively) for connections to the surface engager 33
and the boot base attachment 34. The center link 46 has a length
equal to the distance between holes 35 and 36, which also equals to
the distance between holes 37 and 38.
[0056] Pins 35b and 36b are shown to connect links 44 and 45 to the
boot base attachment 34 by fastening hole 35 to hole 35a, and hole
36 to hole 36a, respectively. Similarly, pins 37b and 38b are shown
to connect links 39 and 40 to the surface engager 33 by fastening
hole 37 to hole 37a, and hole 38 to hole 38a, respectively. These
links and pin joints assure the skate structural integrity while
allowing displacements between the boot and the surface
engager.
[0057] Note that, geometrically, the boot base attachment 34, the
surface engager 33, and all five said links together form two
superimposed parallelograms to assure that the surface engager 33
will always be parallel to the boot base attachment 34.
[0058] The wound spring 48c is shown to be installed on pin 48b,
with two spring legs pushing against links 39 and 44, which will
deform and store energy with relative displacements between the
boot base attachment 34 and the surface engager 33. In addition,
the deformation of wound spring 48c will push forward the center
link 46 and suppress relative horizontal displacement between the
boot base attachment 34 and the surface engager 33. Additional
wound springs can be provided at any of the pin joints, or any
combination of such springs can be used.
[0059] In a further modification shown in FIG. 4(c), one or both of
tension springs 71 and 72, respectively attached between pins
35b-47b and 37b-47b, can be used instead of or in combination with
any or all of the wound springs (such as 48c) just described, for a
maximum of eight springs according to the present embodiment.
Alternatively, a compression spring 81 can be attached between the
boot and the surface engager as shown in FIG. 4(e), alone or in
combination with any of the springs discussed above.
[0060] Having eliminated the relative rotation and horizontal
displacement between the boot base 34 and the surface engager 33,
the present invention thus surpasses all prior arts in controlling
the surface engager for skate jump/landing.
[0061] Because most of the space between the boot base attachment
34 and the surface engager 33 can be used for skate/spring
deformation and energy storage/release, the present invention is
therefore very effective for jump assistance. In addition, because
all links and spring(s) are located under the boot base attachment
34 without any hazardous protrusions around the boot (such as in
the U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,413 to Belogour), the present invention
adds safety to performance.
[0062] One or more stopper elements (a single stopper element 49 is
shown added onto the center link 46) may be provided to keep it
always "forward shifted" when the boot base 34 is forced down
toward the surface engager 33. (The present invention is also
applicable to a jump skate with a "rearward shifted" center link.
Nevertheless, stopper elements are still needed to maintain a
rearward shift of the center link 46.)
[0063] Finally, the flat portions of the surface engager 33 and the
boot base attachment 34 serve as additional stoppers that limit the
rotation of links 39, 40, 44, and 45, and define the maximal
deformation range of the skate.
[0064] FIGS. 5(a) to 5(b) illustrate the side and front views,
respectively, of the second preferred embodiment of the invention
related to a jump ice skate using one spring.
[0065] FIGS. 6(a) to 6(b) illustrate the side and front views,
respectively, of the second preferred embodiment of the invention
related to a jump conventional roller skate using one spring.
[0066] 3. Integration of Links and Springs
[0067] In both preferred embodiments disclosed above, springs can
be integrated with links in various ways, depending on the desire
to reduce manufacturing and assembling costs in the jump skates. In
the following figures, only the in-line roller skate of the first
preferred embodiment is used to illustrate an integration of links
and springs. Integration of links and springs is, of course,
applicable to all jump skates in both preferred embodiments.
[0068] FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are exploded perspectives illustrating
the side and front views, respectively, of a jump in-line roller
skate using two springs that are integrated with one of the links.
Shown between the boot base attachment and the surface engager is a
link/spring mechanism comprising three links and two wound springs.
Wound spring 51 has one leg installed into ring 51a and the other
leg integrated (by welding or by any other suitable method,
including a one-piece manufacture) with link 53. Similarly wound
spring 52 has one leg installed into ring 52a and the other leg
integrated with link 53. Collectively, springs 51, 52 and link 53
form a type of "spring link." The locations and attachments of the
springs to the boot and the surface engager are illustrative only,
and may differ without departing from the teachings of the
invention.
[0069] Note that the length of link 53 may be shorter that of the
two "stand-alone" links. However, the overall height of the spring
link should be comparable to that of the standalone links.
[0070] FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are exploded perspectives illustrating
the side and front views, respectively, of a jump in-line roller
skate using three springs that are all integrated with the links.
Part 63 represents a link integrated with two wound springs. Part
64 represents a link integrated with just one wound springs. In
many jump skate configurations, another part 63 can be used instead
of part 64, however, and another part 64 can be used in place of
part 63. The empty (without a spring) end of the link in part 64 is
connected to the surface engager with a relatively small pin joint.
In these two figures, all wound springs are shown connected to the
boot base and surface engager with pin joints, but these
connections represent preferred arrangements and do not limit the
invention.
[0071] The invention therefore provides a novel and improved skate
that allows quick storage/release of large amounts of energy and
enables a skater to jump higher into the air and to land more
comfortably than when wearing a regular skate.
[0072] It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein
shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiments
thereof, and that various changes in shape, material, size, and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit or the invention or scope of the subjoined claims. For
example, plural similar link/spring mechanisms may be transversely
provided in any of the embodiments. Further, the pivot connections
are not limited to pin joints, but may incorporate ball bearings or
any other suitable joint that permits the functionality of the
embodiments described above. Additionally, one or more stopper
elements may be provided in any of the illustrated embodiments.
* * * * *