U.S. patent application number 10/356925 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-13 for roller skate.
Invention is credited to Magerer, Detlev, Weitgasser, Erwin.
Application Number | 20030209867 10/356925 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3486845 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030209867 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weitgasser, Erwin ; et
al. |
November 13, 2003 |
Roller skate
Abstract
A roller skate: a shoe forming a sole; a rail placed against the
sole; first and second wheel truck adapters ("adapters") each
fastened to the sole by a bolt passing through the rail; wheel
trucks attachable to the adapters. The bottom surface of the rail
is profiled. The top surface of each adapter is profiled to engage
the bottom surface of the rail. The adapters when pressed against
the rail are rotationally and laterally stabilized but may slide
lengthwise along the rail. One fastener secures each adapter to the
sole. The relative locations and separations of the fasteners, and
the points at which the fasteners penetrate the rail, are
determined primarily with reference to the structure of the sole.
Adapters are stabilized in angle relative to one another
substantially without reference to the distance between them.
Adapters may be spaced apart any distance within a range
accommodated by a single rail. Thus, fewer parts and steps are
needed to assemble the roller skate and fewer rails are needed to
construct roller skates of all desired sizes. Optionally, a rail
may define a channel through which a fastener may be inserted at
any of a range of lengthwise locations. Optionally, one wheel truck
may be modified to carry a wheel-equipped fork, resulting in a
three-wheeled roller skate.
Inventors: |
Weitgasser, Erwin;
(Salzburg, AT) ; Magerer, Detlev; (Salzburg,
AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Marshall A. Lerner
KLEINBERG & LERNER, LLP
Suite 1080
2049 Century Park East
Los Angeles
CA
90067
US
|
Family ID: |
3486845 |
Appl. No.: |
10/356925 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/11.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 17/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/11.27 |
International
Class: |
A63C 017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 13, 2002 |
AT |
GM 299/2002 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A roller skate, comprising: a shoe; a sole formed on said shoe,
said sole forming a sole bottom surface; a rail, said rail forming
a rail top surface adapted for approximation to said sole bottom
surface; said rail forming a rail bottom surface; said rail
defining a rail longitudinal axis; a first adapter, said first
adapter forming a first adapter top surface adapted for
approximation to said rail bottom surface; said first adapter being
movable along said rail longitudinal axis when so approximated;
said first adapter being tightly fastenable to said sole when so
approximated; said first adapter and said rail being substantially
fixed with reference to said sole when said first adapter is
tightly fastened to said sole; and a first truck, said first truck
being adapted for mounting on said first adapter, said first truck
comprising at least one wheel.
2. A roller skate as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a
second adapter, said second adapter forming a second adapter top
surface adapted for approximation to said rail bottom surface; said
second adapter being movable along said rail longitudinal axis when
so approximated; said second adapter being tightly fastenable to
said sole when so approximated; said second adapter and said rail
being substantially fixed with reference to said sole when said
second adapter is tightly fastened to said sole; and a second
truck, said second truck being adapted for mounting on said second
adapter, said second truck comprising at least one wheel.
3. A roller skate as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rail bottom
surface forms a rail profile and said first adapter top surface
forms an adapter profile complementary to said rail profile.
4. A roller skate as set forth in claim 3, wherein said rail
profile comprises a left guide, a right guide, and a groove
therebetween.
5. A roller skate as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first
adapter, when first adapter top surface is approximated to said
rail bottom surface, is substantially fixed in yaw, pitch, roll,
lateral translation, and vertical translation with reference to
said rail while being able to slide longitudinally along said
rail.
6. A roller skate as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a
fastener; said sole, said rail, and said first adapter being
penetrable by said fastener and securable tightly together
thereby.
7. A roller skate as set forth in claim 6, wherein said fastener
comprises a bolt and a nut for securing the bolt.
8. A roller skate as set forth in claim 6, wherein said rail is
longitudinally movable over at least a range of positions relative
to said first adapter and relative to said sole while said sole,
said rail, and said first adapter are penetrated by said fastener;
and wherein said rail is no longer so movable when said fastener is
tightly secured.
10. A roller skate as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first
adapter is fastenable to said sole at a first fastening location on
said sole, said second adapter is fastenable to said sole at a
second fastening location on said sole, and said first adapter and
said second adapter are spaced apart by a distance determined by
said first fastening location and said second fastening location
when said first adapter and said second adapter are tightly
fastened to said sole; wherein said rail is so formed as to
substantially fix said second adapter relative to said first
adapter when said first adapter and said second adapter are tightly
fastened to said sole as long as said first adapter and said second
adapter are spaced apart by any distance within a predetermined
range of distances.
11. A roller skate as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first
adapter, said second adapter, said rail, and said sole are tightly
securable together by means of no more than two fasteners.
12. A frame for a roller skate, comprising: a rail, said rail
having a rail top surface, a profiled rail bottom surface, a rail
first end and a rail second end; a first adapter located proximate
said rail first end and a second adapter located proximate said
rail second end, each of said first and second adapters comprising
means for supporting a skating wheel assembly; said first adapter
and said rail first end being together tightly securable to a
roller skate shoe by means of a single fastener; said second
adapter and said rail second end being together tightly securable
to a roller skate shoe by means of a single fastener; at least one
of said first adapter and said second adapter forming an adapter
top surface profiled to engage said profiled rail bottom surface;
said first adapter and said second adapter, when both tightly
secured to a roller skate shoe bottom, being substantially
rotationally and laterally fixed relative to one another by virtue
of engagement of said profiled rail bottom surface with said at
least one profiled adapter top surface.
13. A frame as set forth in claim 12, wherein, when said first
adapter and said second adapter are tightly secured to a roller
skate shoe bottom and spaced apart a predetermined distance, said
engagement of said profiled rail bottom surface with said at least
one profiled adapter top surface substantially fixes said first
adapter in angle and lateral position relative to said second
adapter in a manner independent of said predetermined distance
therebetween, so long as said predetermined distance is within a
predetermined range of distances.
14. A frame as set forth in claim 12, wherein a fastener-receiving
bore is formed in said rail proximate said at least one profiled
adapter top surface.
15. A frame as set forth in claim 12, wherein a fastener-receiving
channel is formed in said rail proximate said at least one profiled
adapter top surface, said channel perforating said rail and
extending longitudinally in said rail for accommodating a fastener
at any one of a predetermined range of locations on said rail.
16. A method of constructing a roller skate, the method including
the steps of: providing a skate shoe comprising a sole forming a
sole bottom surface comprising a sole first end and a sole second
end; providing a rail, said rail comprising a first rail end and a
second rail end; providing a first adapter, said first adapter
being equipped to support a wheel-bearing truck; approximating said
rail first end to said sole bottom surface proximate said sole
first end; approximating said first adapter to said rail proximate
said rail first end; orienting said rail second end toward said
sole second end; securing a first fastener about said first adapter
and said sole first end, said first fastener fixing said first
adapter relative to said sole first end; approximating said second
adapter to said rail proximate said sole second end; and securing a
second fastener about said second adapter and said sole second end,
the distance of said second fastener from said first fastener being
determined solely with reference to said sole.
17. A method of stabilizing a second wheel truck adapter relative
to a first wheel truck adapter on a bottom surface of a sole of a
roller skate to which both are to be secured, the method including
the steps of: approximating a lengthwise-oriented rail to said sole
bottom surface, a first end of said rail being proximate a first
end of said sole and a second end of said rail being oriented
toward a second end of said sole, said rail comprising a rail
bottom surface; approximating said first adapter to said rail
bottom surface proximate said first end of said rail; fixing said
first adapter relative to said rail by securing a first fastener
relative to said first adapter and said sole; approximating said
second adapter to said rail bottom surface proximate said sole
second end; by means of a profile on said rail bottom surface
engaged with a complementary profile on said approximated second
adapter, stabilizing said second adapter in pitch, yaw, roll, and
lateral position relative to said rail; by means of a second
fastener secured relative to said second adapter and said sole,
stabilizing said second adapter in vertical position and
longitudinal position relative to said rail.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Austrian Utility
Model Application No. GM 299/2002, filed May, 13, 2002, the
entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a roller skate in which a shoe
forms a sole having a wheel frame fastened to the sole by screws,
the wheel frame having receptacles for front and rear roller
axles.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Roller skates with rollers ("wheels") arranged in two pairs
on a front axle and a rear axle generally comprise a wheel frame
("frame") consisting of an impact plate (or "stop plate"). The stop
plate can be fastened to the sole of the shoe. The stop plate
comprises receptacles ("adapters") for the two axles, which are
held with their support in the adapters. These frames must be
adapted to the particular shoe size, which requires separate frame
sizes, at least for different ranges of shoe sizes. Different frame
sizes require different forming tools, so that not only a
corresponding construction cost but also the maintaining of a
rather expensive stock must be reckoned with.
[0006] It would be desirable to have a roller skate of the type
described above, for which the manufacturing and storage costs were
significantly reduced while still being able to adapt the frame to
particular shoe size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An exemplary embodiment of the roller skate in accordance
with the present invention includes a shoe having a sole which
forms a sole bottom surface. A rail is provided having a rail
bottom surface and defining a rail longitudinal axis. A first
adapter forms a first adapter top surface adapted to fit the rail
bottom surface and is movable along the rail longitudinal axis when
approximated to the rail. The first adapter can be tightly fastened
to the sole; and when it is, the first adapter and the rail are
substantially fixed with reference to the sole. A first truck is
also provided. The first truck is adapted for mounting on the first
adapter and has at least one wheel. A single fastener can thus be
used to attach the adapter and the rail to the sole.
[0008] In another exemplary embodiment of the roller skate in
accordance with the present invention, there is also a second
adapter like the first and a second truck like the first. The
second adapter is stabilized relative to the first, with the use of
only one fastener for each adapter.
[0009] In another exemplary embodiment, the rail bottom surface
forms a rail profile and the first adapter top surface forms an
adapter profile complementary to the rail profile. The rail profile
stiffens the rail. The complementary profiles facilitate angular
and lateral stabilization of the adapter relative to the rail.
[0010] The rail profile comprises a left guide, a right guide, and
a groove therebetween for stabilizing the adapter relative to the
rail. The first adapter, when first adapter top surface is
approximated to the rail bottom surface, is substantially fixed in
yaw, pitch, roll, lateral translation, and vertical translation
with reference to the rail while being able to slide longitudinally
along the rail.
[0011] Another exemplary embodiment further comprises a fastener.
The sole, rail, and first adapter are penetrable by the fastener
and securable tightly together thereby. The fastener may comprise a
bolt, a nut for securing the bolt, and a washer for securing the
sole to the bolt.
[0012] In another exemplary embodiment, the rail is longitudinally
movable over at least a range of positions relative to the first
adapter and relative to the sole while the sole, the rail, and the
first adapter are penetrated by the fastener. The rail is no longer
so movable when the fastener is tightly secured.
[0013] In another exemplary embodiment, the first adapter is
fastenable to the sole at a first fastening location on the sole,
the second adapter is fastenable to the sole at a second fastening
location on the sole, and the first adapter and the second adapter
are spaced apart by a distance determined by the first fastening
location and the second fastening location when the first adapter
and the second adapter are tightly fastened to the sole. However,
the rail will substantially fix the second adapter relative to the
first adapter when the first adapter and the second adapter are
tightly fastened to the sole as long as the first adapter and the
second adapter are spaced apart by any distance within a
predetermined range of distances.
[0014] In another exemplary embodiment, the first adapter, the
second adapter, the rail, and the sole are tightly securable
together by means of no more than two fasteners.
[0015] An exemplary embodiment of a frame for a roller skate in
accordance with the present invention includes a rail having a rail
top surface, a profiled rail bottom surface, and a rail first end
and a rail second end. A first adapter is located proximate the
rail first end and a second adapter is located proximate the rail
second end. Each of the adapters has a wheel truck or other means
for supporting a skating wheel assembly. The first adapter and the
rail first end can be together tightly secured to the skate shoe
with a single fastener. A second adapter and the rail second end
are likewise together tightly securable to a roller skate shoe by
means of a single fastener. At least one of the adapters forms an
adapter top surface profiled to engage the profiled rail bottom
surface. The adapters, when both tightly secured to a roller skate
shoe bottom, are substantially rotationally and laterally fixed
relative to one another by virtue of engagement of the profiled
rail bottom surface with the at least one profiled adapter top
surface.
[0016] In another exemplary embodiment of a frame in accordance
with the present invention, when the first adapter and the second
adapter are tightly secured to a roller skate shoe bottom and
spaced apart a predetermined distance, the engagement of the
profiled rail bottom surface with the at least one profiled adapter
top surface substantially fixes the first adapter in angle and
lateral position relative to the second adapter in a manner
independent of the predetermined distance therebetween, so long as
the predetermined distance is within a predetermined range of
distances.
[0017] A fastener-receiving bore may be formed in the rail
proximate the at least one profiled adapter top surface.
[0018] Alternatively, a fastener-receiving channel may be formed in
the rail proximate the at least one profiled adapter top surface,
the channel perforating the rail and extending longitudinally in
the rail for accommodating a fastener at any one of a predetermined
range of locations on the rail.
[0019] Also described in accordance with the present invention is a
method of constructing a roller skate. A skate shoe is provided
with a sole forming a sole bottom surface including a sole first
end and a sole second end. A rail is provided including a first
rail end and a second rail end. A first adapter is provided,
equipped to support a wheel-bearing truck. The rail first end is
approximated to the sole bottom surface proximate the sole first
end. The first adapter is approximated to the rail proximate the
rail first end. The rail second end is oriented toward the sole
second end. A first fastener is secured about the first adapter and
the sole first end, fixing the first adapter relative to the sole
first end. The second adapter is approximated to the rail proximate
the sole second end. A second fastener is secured about the second
adapter and the sole second end. The distance of the second
fastener from the first fastener is determined solely with
reference to the sole.
[0020] Also described in accordance with the present invention is a
method of stabilizing a second wheel truck adapter ("second
adapter") relative to a first wheel truck adapter ("first adapter")
on a bottom surface of a sole of a roller skate to which both are
to be secured. A lengthwise-oriented rail is approximated to the
sole bottom surface, a first end of the rail being proximate a
first end of the sole and a second end of the rail being oriented
toward a second end of the sole, the rail comprising a rail bottom
surface. The first adapter is approximated to the rail bottom
surface proximate the first end of the rail and fixed relative to
the rail by securing a first fastener relative to the first adapter
and the sole. The second adapter is approximated to the rail bottom
surface proximate the sole second end. By means of a profile on the
rail bottom surface engaged with a complementary profile on the
approximated second adapter, the second adapter is stabilized in
pitch, yaw, roll, and lateral position relative to the rail. By
means of a second fastener secured relative to the second adapter
and the sole, the second adapter is stabilized in vertical position
and longitudinal position relative to the rail.
[0021] The roller skate and roller skate frame in accordance with
the present invention provide a rail on which the two adapters can
shift longitudinally. Screws or bolts extending through the rail
may connect the adapters to the sole.
[0022] The two adapters are separate, yet are connected to one
another via a rail and are adjusted in their mutual interval along
the rail. Thus, the frame can be easily adapted to the shoe size.
One needs only to cut the rail to the appropriate length and
connect the adapters. Since the adapters for the axles are fastened
to the sole by screws or bolts extending through the rail, the
adapters and the rail are locally fixed relative to the shoe sole
by the screws or bolts. This assures simple mounting because the
position of the adapters for the axles relative to the shoe is
determined by the screw holes or bores in the sole of the shoe. In
addition, because screws or bolts connect the rail and the adapters
to the sole of the shoe, the mounting cost is not much more than
for a one-part frame. The rail of the frame, which rail extends
between the adapters for the axles, assures a mutual, torsion-proof
support of the adapters.
[0023] The rail provides a torsion-proof connection between the
adapters and guides the adapters while allowing them to slide along
the rail until they are fixed. Especially simple construction is
achieved by engaging the rail in at least one longitudinal groove
of the adapters and using the screws or bolts to clamp the rail
between the sole and the adapters. Support is provided and play is
eliminated when the screws or bolts are tightened. Only relatively
simple forming tools are needed because of the longitudinal grooves
for the adapters.
[0024] The adapters for the axles can preferably be formed of
plastic. The rail generally is formed as a metal profile. Since the
adapters for the front and the rear axles can be designed in a
corresponding manner, the costs for construction and storage are
also reduced. The adapters for the front and the rear axles, formed
separately, allow a manufacturer to selectively equip frames with
different axles, because only suitable adapters may be connected to
the rail of a particular frame.
[0025] A three-point support for a roller skate can be achieved,
instead of a four-point support, by providing an individual rear
roller on the rear axle. This arrangement can provide good
operating performance even in curves, especially if a front
steering axle is used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of
the present invention, reference should be had to the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numbers and
wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the
roller skate in accordance with the invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a section along line II-II in FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a partially exploded front view of an exemplary
embodiment of the roller skate in accordance with the
invention;
[0030] FIG. 4 shows sectional view of the rail thereof;
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the rail of an exemplary
embodiment of the roller skate in accordance with the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 6 shows a bottom plan view of the rail of an
alternative embodiment of the roller skate in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0033] FIG. 7 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the
roller skate in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a partial side sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of a roller skate 40 in accordance with the present
invention, comprising a shoe 42 having a sole 44, a rail 46, a
front adapter 48, a front truck 50, a front axle 52, a pair of
front wheels 54, a rear adapter 56, a rear truck 58, a rear axle
60, and a pair of rear wheels 62.
[0035] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the sole 44 is formed of
nylon, rubber, metal, wood, or any other material suitable for a
sole for roller skating footwear. The sole 44 includes a sole
forefoot portion 64 and a sole heel portion 66 and forms a sole
bottom surface 68 and a sole top surface 70. A 6.5 millimeter
diameter sole front bore 72 is defined vertically within the sole
forefoot portion 64 and is open at the sole bottom surface 68 and
at the sole top surface 70. A 6.5 millimeter diameter sole rear
bore 74 is defined vertically within the sole heel portion 66 and
is open at the sole bottom surface 68 and at the sole top surface
70.
[0036] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the rail 46 is formed of
aluminum alloy, although it could be formed of magnesium, titanium,
steel, or another hard, stiff, strong, durable material. The rail
46 includes a rail top surface 76, a rail bottom surface 78, a rail
front end 80 and a rail rear end 82.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a partial front sectional view of the
embodiment of FIG. 1 along section line II-II of FIG. 1. The rail
top surface 76 is substantially flat and is suitable for
approximation to the sole bottom surface 68. The rail bottom
surface 78 defines a rail profile 90 which includes a rail central
groove 84, a downward-turned rail left edge portion 86 parallel to
the rail central groove 84, and a downward-turned rail right edge
portion 88 parallel to and coplanar with the rail left edge portion
86.
[0038] With continued reference to FIG. 2 and with reference again
to FIG. 1, a 6.5 millimeter diameter rail front bore 98 is defined
in the rail 46 proximate the rail front end 80 and is open at the
rail top surface 76 and at the rail bottom surface 78. A 6.5
millimeter diameter rail rear bore 100 is defined in the rail 46
proximate the rail rear end 82 and is open at the rail top surface
76 and at the rail bottom surface 78.
[0039] With reference again to FIG. 1, the front adapter 48 is
formed of a high-strength polymer such as nylon, although it could
be formed of aluminum alloy, magnesium, titanium, steel, or another
hard, stiff, strong, durable material. The front adapter 48 forms a
front adapter top surface 102; a front adapter mounting bore 104
including a fastener-seating surface 106; a front adapter truck
mounting bore 108; and a front adapter truck pivot bore 110. With
particular reference to FIG. 2, the front adapter top surface 102
forms an adapter profile 112. The adapter profile 112 matches the
aforementioned rail profile 90 and includes a broad adapter central
plateau 92 flanked by an adapter left guide 94 and an adapter right
guide 96.
[0040] The rear adapter 56 is formed as recited above for the front
adapter 48. The rear adapter 56 forms a rear adapter top surface
114, a rear adapter truck mounting bore 116, and a rear adapter
truck pivot bore 118. Like the front adapter top surface 102, the
rear adapter top surface 114 forms an adapter profile 112 which
matches the rail profile 90.
[0041] FIG. 3 shows an exploded front view of an exemplary
embodiment of the roller skate in accordance with the present
invention including the shoe 42, sole forefoot portion 64, and sole
bottom surface 68. Also shown are the rail top surface 76, rail
bottom surface 78, rail central groove 84, rail left edge portion
86, and rail right edge portion 88. Also shown are the adapter
central plateau 92, adapter left guide 94 and adapter right guide
96.
[0042] For assembly, the rail top surface 76 is approximated to the
sole bottom surface 68, the rail front end 80 being proximate the
sole forefoot portion 64. The front adapter top surface 102 is
approximated to the rail bottom surface 78 proximate the rail front
end 80, the front adapter 48 being oriented so that the front
adapter truck pivot bore 110 is forward of the front adapter truck
mounting bore 108. Because the adapter profile 112 fits the rail
profile 90, the front adapter 48 may slide longitudinally on the
rail 46 but is not free to move laterally or vertically relative to
the rail 46 and is not free to rotate relative to the rail 46.
[0043] A front fastener 120, comprising a bolt 122, a nut 124, and
a washer 126, is passed through the sole front bore 72, through the
rail front bore 98, and through the front adapter mounting bore
104. The front fastener 120 is secured by tightening the nut 124 on
the bolt 122. The nut 124 presses against the fastener-seating
surface 106, clamping the front adapter 48 and the rail 46 between
the nut 124 and the sole bottom surface 68.
[0044] Because the rail top surface 76 is tightly engaged with the
sole bottom surface 68, and because the front fastener 120 occupies
the rail front bore 98, the rail 46 is fixed relative to the sole
44. Because the front adapter top surface 102 is tightly engaged
with the rail bottom surface 78, and because the front fastener 120
occupies the front adapter mounting bore 104, the front adapter 48
is not free to slide on the rail 46. Because the adapter profile
112 fits the rail profile 90, the front adapter 48 is not free to
rotate or to move laterally or vertically relative to the rail 46.
Thus, the front adapter 48 is fixed relative to the sole forefoot
portion 64.
[0045] Next, the rear adapter top surface 114 is approximated to
the rail bottom surface 78 proximate the rail rear end 82, the rear
adapter 56 being oriented so that the rear, adapter truck pivot
bore 118 is aft of the rear adapter truck mounting bore 116. A rear
fastener 128, comprising a bolt 122, a nut 124, and a washer 126,
is passed through the sole rear bore 74, the rail rear bore 100,
and the rear adapter mounting bore 115. The rear fastener 128 is
secured by tightening the nut 124 in the manner recited above for
the front adapter 48 and with like effect.
[0046] With reference to FIG. 1, it is noteworthy that only a front
fastener 120 and a rear fastener 128 are needed to secure the front
adapter 48, the rear adapter 56 and the rail 46 to the shoe 42.
Thus, the number of parts and the number of steps during assembly
are kept to a minimum.
[0047] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is also noteworthy that
the rail 46, being formed of a strong, stiff material and having
the aforementioned rail profile 90, resists torsion, thereby
stabilizing the front adapter 48 with respect to the rear adapter
56. Additionally, the rail 46 and the sole 44 cooperate to further
resist bending and torsion, thereby further stabilizing the front
adapter 48 with respect to the rear adapter 56. Thus, the roller
skate 40 can reliably absorb the mechanical loads that are applied
to it during skating.
[0048] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the rail 46 of an exemplary
embodiment of the roller skate in accordance with the present
invention. The rail top surface 76 is substantially flat. The rail
bottom surface 78 defines a rail profile 90 including a rail
central groove 84, a downward-turned rail left edge portion 86, and
a downward-turned rail right edge portion 88.
[0049] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the rail 46 of an
exemplary embodiment of the roller skate in accordance with the
present invention comprising a rail front end 80, a rail front bore
98, a rail rear end 82, and a rail rear bore 100. It is noteworthy
that the rail 46 may be cut to a predetermined length, and the rail
front bore 98 and the rail rear bore 100 may be spaced a
predetermined distance apart, in order to fit a sole having a
particular size.
[0050] FIG. 6 shows a bottom plan view of the rail 46 of an
alternative embodiment of the roller skate 40 in accordance with
the present invention comprising a rail front end 80, a rail front
channel 130, a rail rear end 82, and a rail rear channel 132. The
rail 46 may be cut to a predetermined length which accommodates a
sole 44 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of any one of a range of sizes.
[0051] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the shoe 42 is supplied
having its sole a front bore 72 and sole rear bore 74 spaced apart
by a distance which will depend on the exact size of the sole 44
within the range of sizes. The rail front channel 130 and the rail
rear channel 132 are of sufficient length to allow insertion of the
front fastener 120 and the rear fastener 128 and attachment of the
front adapter 48 and the rear adapter 56. After the front fastener
120 and the rear fastener 128 are secured, the front adapter 48 and
the rear adapter 56 are spaced apart by a fixed distance determined
by the separation between the sole front bore 72 and the sole rear
bore 74. Also at that time, the rail 46 is fixed with reference to
the sole 44 because the rail 46 is clamped between the sole bottom
surface 68 and the front adapter top surface 102 and the rear
adapter top surface 114. Thus, a smaller number of different-sized
rails 46 may suffice for a larger number of different-sized soles
44.
[0052] With continued reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the rail 46 of an
alternative embodiment of a roller skate 40 in accordance with the
present invention has one rail front channel 130 (as shown in FIG.
6) and one rail rear bore 100 (as shown in FIG. 5). With reference
again to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the longitudinal position of
the rail 46 is fixed not only because the rail 46 is clamped
between the sole bottom surface 68 and the front adapter top
surface 102 and the rear adapter top surface 114, but also because
the rail rear bore 100 allows little or no longitudinal freedom of
movement about the rear fastener 128. In this embodiment, a single
rail 46 may accommodate soles 44 of a plurality of different sizes
while at the same time fixing the longitudinal position of the rail
46 relative to the sole 44 before the front fastener 120 or the
rear fastener 128 is secured. It will be appreciated that the rail
front channel 130 and the rail rear bore 100 may be replaced by a
rail front bore 98 and a rail rear channel 132 while preserving the
function of the embodiment.
[0053] To complete the roller skate 40, the trucks and wheels are
added: the front truck 50 includes a front truck through-bore 134
and a front truck pivot 136. The front truck 50 supports the front
wheels 54 by means of a conventional bearing arrangement. The front
wheels 54 are formed of a high-strength material such as nylon,
aramid, or metal alloy and are equipped with tires formed of solid
polyurethane or another suitable material.
[0054] The front truck pivot 136 is inserted into the front adapter
truck pivot bore 110 and the front truck 50 through-bore is
approximated to the front adapter truck mounting bore 108. A
suitable fastening system (typically a heavy-duty bolt and nut in
combination with washers and bushings) is interposed to affix the
front truck 50 to the front adapter 48.
[0055] The rear truck 58 includes a rear truck through-bore 138 and
a rear truck pivot 140. The rear wheels 62 are of the same type as
the front wheels 54. The rear truck 58 supports the rear wheels 62
and is attached to the rear adapter 56 in the manner recited above
for the front truck 50.
[0056] FIG. 7 shows a partial side sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of the roller skate 40 in accordance with the present
invention in which a modified rear adapter 142 directly supports a
rearward-extending fork 144 which carries a rear axle 60. The fork
according to FIG. 7 supports a single trailing inboard rear wheel,
illustrating that a different type of roller skate 40 in accordance
with the present invention may be made by selectively equipping the
same shoe 42 and rail 46 with different adapters having wheels in
different numbers or differently arranged.
[0057] While the foregoing detailed description has described
several embodiments of a roller skate and roller skate frame in
accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that
the above description is illustrative only and not limiting of the
disclosed invention. It will be appreciated that the embodiments
discussed above and the virtually infinite embodiments that are not
mentioned could easily be within the scope and spirit of the
present invention. Thus, the present invention is to be limited
only by the claims as set forth below.
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