U.S. patent application number 10/702599 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for adjustment device, particularly for adjusting the length of a skate.
This patent application is currently assigned to NORDICA S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Frigo, Flavio, Gorza, Roberto, Piva, Lino.
Application Number | 20040094917 10/702599 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32259988 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040094917 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frigo, Flavio ; et
al. |
May 20, 2004 |
Adjustment device, particularly for adjusting the length of a
skate
Abstract
An adjustment device, particularly for adjusting the length of a
skate, which comprises a frame provided with first connection
elements to two or more wheels, a shell associated with the frame
in order to accommodate at least the heel of the user, and a toe
unit slidingly associated with the shell and/or frame in order to
accommodate the tip of the user's foot. The device comprises a
slider means that can be actuated by the user, and is substantially
transversely associated to the toe unit in contrast with an elastic
element and interact selectively with the frame and/or shell.
Inventors: |
Frigo, Flavio; (Ponzano
Veneto, IT) ; Piva, Lino; (Crocetta Del Montello,
IT) ; Gorza, Roberto; (Feltre, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MODIANO & ASSOCIATI
Via Meravigli, 16
MILANO
20123
IT
|
Assignee: |
NORDICA S.p.A.
|
Family ID: |
32259988 |
Appl. No.: |
10/702599 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/11.31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 17/06 20130101;
A63C 17/0086 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/011.31 |
International
Class: |
A63C 009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 12, 2002 |
IT |
TV2002A000135 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustment device for adjusting the length of the in-line
skate, the skate comprising: a frame provided with first connection
means for connection to at least two wheels; a shell, which is
associated with said frame in order to accommodate at least the
heel of the user; a toe unit, which is slidingly associated with
said shell and/or said frame in order to accommodate the tip of the
user's foot; the adjustement device comprising slider means that
are actuatable by a user and elastic means, said slider means being
connectable substantially transversely to said toe unit in contrast
with said elastic means, so as to interact selectively with said
frame and/or shell.
2. The adjustment device of claim 1, wherein said slider means
comprises second engagement means, which are adapted to act
selectively with at least one abutment element that is provided at
said frame and/or said shell.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the shell of the skate comprises
a first plate that is flat and substantially horizontal and is
coupled to a first base in an upward region thereof, said first
base being part of said frame and being also flat and substantially
horizontal, said first plate being provided, laterally and
rearwardly, with a first raised edge, and extending over a second
rear region of said first base that corresponds to a region of a
user foot that goes from the heel to approximately the plantar arch
of the foot, the at least one abutment element protruding at right
angles and in an upward region with respect to said first base at a
first front region thereof free from said first plate of said
shell.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein a first slot is formed
longitudinally at the first upper surface of said first plate of
said shell, starting from the front edge of said first plate, said
first slot having a substantially C-shaped transverse sectional
profile, with a front end being closed partially and transversely
by two first tabs that are coupled thereat.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein said toe unit has a second flat
base that is provided laterally and at a front part thereof with a
second raised edge, said flat base being adapted to rest at least
partially with sliding engagement at said first front region of
said first base of said frame.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein a second flat tab protrudes
substantially horizontally to the rear of said second base of said
shell, at a central axis thereof, said tab having a substantially
T-shaped plan shape and comprising a stem at one end of which a
head protrudes at right angles, said head being substantially as
wide as said first slot, so as to allow insertion, by way of a
downward movement, of said second tab in said first slot.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first slot of said first
plate allows sliding engagement of said second tab until the tab
abuts against said first tabs, so as to prevent axial extraction of
said second tab from said first slot.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said at least one abutment
element, which protrudes in an upward region and at right angles to
said first front region of said first base, is constituted by a
plurality of first toothed profiles and by a plurality of second
toothed profiles, each of which is arranged along a same
longitudinal axis thereof and parallel to each other.
9. The device of claim 8, comprising a second slot and a third slot
that are formed longitudinally at the second lower surface of said
second base of said toe unit and are arranged parallel to each
other at a distance equal to a distance between said first toothed
profiles and said second toothed profiles, so as to slidingly
accommodate both said toothed profiles.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein said second and third slots have
a transverse sectional shape that is advantageously complementary
to a shape of said first and second toothed profiles, so as to
allow, by way of a front insertion of said toe unit, sliding
arrangement of said first and second toothed profiles respectively
at said second and third slots.
11. The device of claim 10, comprising a fourth slot and a fifth
slot that are formed transversely to said second lower surface of
said second base of said toe unit, at a region that is adjacent to
said second tab, said fourth and fifth slots extending over an
entire width of said second lower surface and being arranged at
right angles to, and so as to intersect said second and third
slots.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein said slider means comprise a
cheek that has a plan shape complementary to a shape of a recess or
hollow of said second raised edge and a first arm and a second arm
protruding from said cheek, said arms being parallel to each other
at a mutual distance equal to a distance between said fourth and
fifth slots.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein said first and second arms are
each shaped like a face-down letter F and have a maximum height, an
overall length and a width that are equal to, or at the most
slightly smaller than, corresponding dimensions of said fourth and
fifth slots.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein each one of said first and
second arms comprises a straight bar having a height that is
slightly less than a gap between upper ends of first and second
teeth of said toothed profiles and said second lower surface of
said second base.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein said second engagement means
protrude in a downward region of and at right angles to said
straight bar and are constituted by a third tooth and a fourth
tooth, which are adapted to be arranged temporarily in said gap
between two consecutive said first teeth and between two
consecutive second teeth of said first and second toothed profiles,
respectively.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein said elastically deformable
means comprises a spring that is arranged between a wall of said
recess or hollow and said cheek of said slider, so as to pull said
slider toward an outside region of said first base and said toe
unit.
17. The device of claim 15, comprising a depression formed
transversely on an upper surface of said straight bar of said first
and second arms at a region that lies above said third tooth, said
depression having a selected length that is equal to the length of
said third tooth or of said fourth tooth.
18. The device according to claim 17, comprising a second
protrusion that protrudes in a downward region of said second flat
base and at right angles to the upper surface of said fourth and
fifth slots and is arrangeable at said depression.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein said second protrusion is
placed in abutment against step-like surfaces formed at ends of
said depression when a mutual position of said slider and said
fourth and fifth slots varies.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe, particularly to a
skate with in-line wheels that allows size adjustment.
[0002] Nowadays it is known to manufacture skates provided with a
frame that supports a plurality of in-line wheels and is
associated, in an upward region, with a shell of adjustable length,
so as to allow the skate to be used by different people or, if the
user is still growing, by the same user for a long period of
time.
[0003] In this regard, U.S. Ser. No. 10/318,296 discloses a skate
provided with a frame for supporting a plurality of in-line wheels,
which is associated in an upward region with a heel unit above
which a cuff is in turn associated, said cuff wrapping around the
lower part of the leg of the user.
[0004] A toe unit is further associated with the front part of the
frame and can slide longitudinally so as to allow to vary, by way
of the activation of suitable adjustment means, the size of said
skate according to the size of the foot of the user.
[0005] The toe unit and the heel unit constitute a shell for
containing, together with the cuff, an advantageously soft
innerboot.
[0006] Said innerboot, made of non-stretch material, is provided at
the toe with a suitable longitudinal elongation device, which is
constituted for example by stretchable bands.
[0007] The adjustment means used in said skate comprise an
actuator, which is arranged outside said frame approximately below
the toe unit and can be actuated directly by the user so as to
arrange said toe unit selectively with respect to the frame.
[0008] In particular, the actuator has a first position, in which
said toe unit can slide freely with respect to the frame, and a
second position, in which the toe unit is locked with respect to
the frame.
[0009] The main drawback of this known type of skate consists of
the fact that the toe unit and the heel unit, in order to perform a
suitable containment of the foot, must have raised lateral edges
that partially overlap each other according to a telescopic
configuration.
[0010] Another drawback of the cited known type of skate relates to
the fact that said telescopic arrangement of the toe unit and the
heel unit requires precision manufacturing, with low tolerances, so
as to avoid the possibility of jamming or the presence of excessive
clearances.
[0011] Another drawback is the fact that the presence of a toe unit
and of a heel unit that have a large surface causes low comfort and
reduced breathability for the foot, since these components are
usually made of rigid and non-breathable materials.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,140 is also known which discloses a
device that is adapted to adjust the length of a skate and is
arranged below the frame.
[0013] Such known type of device is constituted by a lever that
activates the movement of a pivot that is arranged at right angles
and below the frame and is provided with a toothed tab that is
adapted to interact with a complementarily shaped set of teeth
formed below said frame.
[0014] The main drawback of such known type of adjustment device is
the fact that its manual activation is particularly awkward and
troublesome, since the user must act at a region that is located
below the skate frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the
above noted problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited known
art, and thus to provide a skate with adjustable size that is
highly comfortable for the user, said adjustable size entailing low
manufacturing costs.
[0016] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to
provide a skate that allows to perform mostly simple and rapid
manufacturing operations that entail very low manufacturing
costs.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
skate that has reduced weight and dimensions, said structure
allowing good breathability and at the same time optimum
containment of the foot and effective transmission of forces to the
ground.
[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide a skate whose
size can be modified always rapidly and effectively, without the
possibility of causing jamming or other adjustment defects.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
skate that is sturdy and aesthetically pleasant.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
skate that is structurally simple and has low manufacturing
costs.
[0021] This aim and these and other objects that will become better
apparent hereinafter are achieved by an adjustment device,
particularly for adjusting the length of a skate, said skate
comprising:
[0022] a frame provided with first means for connection to two or
more wheels;
[0023] a shell, which is associated with said frame in order to
accommodate at least the heel of the user;
[0024] a toe unit, which is slidingly associated with said shell
and/or said frame in order to accommodate the tip of the user's
foot;
[0025] characterized in that it comprises slider means that can be
actuated by the user, are associated substantially transversely to
said toe unit in contrast with elastic means, and interact
selectively with said frame and/or shell.
[0026] Advantageously, in said adjustment device said slider means
comprise second engagement means, which are adapted to act
selectively with one or more abutment elements, which are
associated with said frame and/or said shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become better apparent from the detailed description of a
particular embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limitative
example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of some components of
a skate, such as a frame associated with a shell, a cuff, a toe
unit and a slider;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a detail of FIG. 1, taken
along the line II-II of FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a partial bottom perspective view of the skate
with which the toe unit is associable;
[0031] FIGS. 4 and 5 are two separate top perspective views of the
toe unit, with which a slider is associable so that it can slide
transversely;
[0032] FIGS. 6 and 7 are two separate partially sectional views,
taken along a longitudinal plane, of the frame associated with the
toe unit, with the slider respectively in the temporary locking
position and in the release position;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the invention, taken along the
line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6;
[0034] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the invention, taken along the
line IX-IX of FIG. 7;
[0035] FIGS. 10 and 11 are two separate top perspective views of
the toe unit associated with the frame, with the slider shown
respectively in the temporary locking position and in the release
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] In the examples of embodiment that follow, individual
characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may
actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that
exist in other examples of embodiments.
[0037] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1
generally designates a skate, which is shown partially and
comprises a frame 2.
[0038] In the described embodiment, the frame 2 has a transverse
cross-section that is preferably shaped like an inverted letter U
and is therefore provided with a first flat base 3, at the ends of
which two first wings, generally designated by the reference
numeral 4, protrude downward and approximately at right angles.
[0039] The frame 2 is provided with first means for connection to
one or more in-line wheels, not shown, which are preferably
constituted by one or more pairs of through holes, which are
designated by the reference numeral 5 and are formed at matching
regions of the first wings 4, and by seats for pivots for the
pivoting of said wheels.
[0040] Said holes 5 are provided proximate to the lower edge of
each wing 4 so as to be arranged in succession with respect to each
other at a preset distance from each other.
[0041] A shell 6 is associated with the frame 2 in an upward region
and affects, or extends over a portion of the base 3 that
corresponds to the region of the foot that goes from the heel to
approximately the plantar arch.
[0042] More particularly, the shell 6 is constituted by a first
flat and horizontal plate 7, which is associated or rigidly coupled
above the base 3.
[0043] The first plate 7 is provided, laterally and at the rear,
with a first raised edge 8 for wrapping around the heel of the
foot.
[0044] A cuff 9 for wrapping around the lower part of the leg of
the user is associated in an upward region with said first raised
edge 8 so that it can rotate about a pivoting axis that is
substantially transverse to the base 3.
[0045] One or more fastening levers 13 for a soft innerboot, not
shown, are associable with the cuff and with the shell.
[0046] At the first upper surface, designated by the reference
numeral 10, of the first plate 7 there is a first slot 11 that is
provided longitudinally starting from the front edge of said plate
and has a substantially C-shaped profile in a transverse
cross-section.
[0047] The front end of the first slot 11 is partially closed
transversely because two first tabs, generally designated by the
reference numeral 12, are associated or rigidly coupled
thereto.
[0048] At the front of the frame 2 it is possible to associate
slidingly a toe unit, designated by the reference numeral 14, which
comprises a second flat base 15 that is provided laterally and at
the front with a second raised edge 16 for partially wrapping
around the tip of the foot.
[0049] The second base 15 can rest at least partially at the first
front region, designated by the reference numeral 17, of the base
3, which is not affected by the shell 6.
[0050] The reference numeral 18 designates the tips of the second
raised edge 16 that protrude to the rear of the second base 15.
[0051] A second flat tab 20 protrudes at right angles to the third
rear edge, designated by the reference numeral 19, of the second
base 15, approximately at a central axis; said tab has an
approximately T-shaped plan shape and lies on the same plane as the
second base 15.
[0052] The second tab 20 is therefore provided with a stem 21,
which is connected at one end at right angles to the third rear
edge 19 of the second base 15 and is provided, at the opposite end,
with a head 22 that is approximately as wide as the first slot 11
of the first plate 7 of the shell 6.
[0053] It is therefore possible to insert the second tab 20 in the
first slot 11 by way of a downward movement.
[0054] Said first slot therefore allows the sliding engagement of
the second tab 20 until said tab abuts against the first tabs 12,
so as to prevent the axial extraction of said second tab 20 from
said first slot 11.
[0055] Abutment elements protrude upward and at right angles to the
first front region 17 and from the base 3 of the frame 2 and are
preferably constituted by a plurality of first toothed profiles 23
and by a plurality of second toothed profiles 24, each of which is
arranged along a same longitudinal axis and is parallel to the
others.
[0056] The first toothed profiles 23 are therefore constituted by a
plurality of first teeth, each designated by the reference numeral
25a, which are arranged mutually in succession at a preset distance
from each other.
[0057] Likewise, the second toothed profiles 24 are constituted by
a plurality of second teeth, each designated by the reference
numeral 25b, which are identical to the first teeth 25a, so as to
allow the alignment, along an axis that is transverse to the first
base 3, of each first tooth 25a with a corresponding second tooth
25b.
[0058] A gap, designated by the reference numeral 50, is formed
between each one of said first teeth 25a and between each one of
said second teeth 25b.
[0059] The first teeth 25a and the second teeth 25b also have, in a
cross-section taken transversely to the base 3, a shape that is
approximately like an inverted letter L, and are therefore provided
with a first wing 26, which at one end is connected at right angles
to the base 3 and at the opposite end is connected to a first
protrusion 27, which protrudes laterally thereto and is directed
toward the outer edges of the base 3.
[0060] A second slot 29 and a third slot 30 are formed
longitudinally at the second lower surface, designated by the
reference numeral 28, of the second base 15 of the toe unit 14;
said slots are parallel to each other at a distance equal to the
distance between the first toothed profiles 23 and the second
toothed profiles 24, so as to slidingly accommodate them.
[0061] Said second slot 29 and said third slot 30 have, in a
transverse cross-section, a shape that is advantageously
complementary to the shape of the first teeth 25a and of the second
teeth 25b, so as to allow, by way of a front insertion of the toe
unit 14, to slidingly position said first and second teeth at said
second and third slots, respectively.
[0062] The toe unit 14 is therefore allowed to slide substantially
longitudinally with respect to the base 3; furthermore, if said toe
unit 14 is pulled upward, the interaction of the first protrusions
27 with the respective surfaces of said second slot 29 and said
third slot 30 prevents any vertical extraction of said toe unit 14
with respect to the first base 3.
[0063] A fourth slot 31 and a fifth slot 32 are also formed
transversely to the second lower surface 28 of the second base 15,
preferably at a region that is adjacent to the second tab 20,
affect or extend over the entire width of said second lower surface
28 and are arranged at right angles to said second slot 29 and said
third slot 30, so as to intersect them.
[0064] Said fourth slot 31 and said fifth slot 32 are deeper than
said second slot 29 and said third slot 30 and are arranged at a
mutual distance that is equivalent to the center distance between
said first and second teeth.
[0065] The fourth slot 31 and the fifth slot 32 are also at least
as wide as the gap 50 between two first consecutive teeth 25a and
therefore between two consecutive second teeth 25b.
[0066] A recess or hollow 33 is formed on one side of the second
raised edge 16 of the toe unit 14, starting from the second lower
surface 28, and is connected to the fourth and fifth slots 31 and
32 at a wall 34 formed in a downward region by said recess or
hollow 33 at right angles to said second lower surface 28.
[0067] Once the arrangement of the first toothed profiles 23 and of
the second toothed profiles 24 has been determined, at the
respective second slot 29 and third slot 30 of the toe unit 14 the
longitudinal sliding of said toe unit with respect to the first
base 3 can be set in a selected arrangement and locked temporarily
by using an adjustment device, which preferably comprises a slider
means designated by the reference numeral 35.
[0068] Said slider means comprises a cheek 36, whose plan shape is
approximately complementary to the shape of the recess or hollow 33
and from which a first arm 37a and a second arm 37b protrude, said
arms being arranged parallel to each other at a mutual distance
equal to the distance between the fourth slot 31 and the fifth slot
32.
[0069] The first arm 37a and the second arm 37b are each shaped
approximately like a face-down letter F and have a maximum height
and an overall length and width that are approximately equal to, or
at the most slightly smaller than, the corresponding dimensions of
said fourth slot 31 and said fifth slot 32.
[0070] The first arm 37a and the second arm 37b are therefore each
constituted by a straight bar 38, whose height is slightly less
than the gap 50 between the upper ends of the first and second
teeth 25a, 25b and the lower surface 28 of the second base 15;
second engagement means protrude below the straight bar 38 and at
right angles thereto and are preferably constituted by a third
tooth 39a and a fourth tooth 39b, which are adapted to be arranged
temporarily in the gap 50 between said first teeth 25a and between
second teeth 25b.
[0071] More particularly, the third tooth 39a and the fourth tooth
39b are approximately as high as, or at the most slightly higher
than, said first teeth 25a and second teeth 25b.
[0072] The third tooth 39a is slightly shorter than the distance
between the first toothed profiles 23 and the second toothed
profiles 24, while the fourth tooth 39b is approximately as long as
said second teeth 25b are wide.
[0073] Furthermore, the third tooth 39a and the fourth tooth 39b
have such dimensions that they affect together either the gap 50,
provided between two contiguous first teeth 25a and two contiguous
second teeth 25b, or arrange themselves laterally thereto so as to
allow the axial movement of the toe unit 14 with respect to the
first base 3.
[0074] Once a chosen first tooth 25a and the corresponding second
tooth 25b have been interposed between the fourth and fifth slots
31 and 32, it is then possible to push manually the cheek 36 of the
slider 35 toward the hollow or recess 33 of the toe unit 14, so as
to produce the gradual insertion of the first arm 37a and of the
second arm 37b in the respective fourth slot 31 and fifth slot
32.
[0075] An elastically compressible element is arranged between the
wall 34 of the recess or hollow 33 and the cheek 36 of the slider
35 and is preferably constituted by a spring 40, which pulls said
slider 35 toward the outside of the toe unit 14 and of the first
base 3 of the frame 2.
[0076] A depression 41 is formed transversely on the upper surface
of the straight bar 38 of said first arm 37a and said second arm
37b at a region located above the third tooth 39a, and has a chosen
length that is approximately equal to the length of said third
tooth 39a or fourth tooth 39b.
[0077] A second protrusion 42 protrudes in a downward region at
right angles to the upper surface of said fourth slot 31 and said
fifth slot 32, can be arranged at the depression 41, and abuts
against the step-like surfaces formed at the ends of the depression
41 when the relative position of the slider 35 and of said fourth
and fifth slots varies.
[0078] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 10, arranging the third tooth
39a between two adjacent first teeth 25a arranges the fourth tooth
39b between two adjacent second teeth 25b and arranges the second
protrusion 42 in abutment against the step-like surface of the
depression 41 that lies closest to the fourth tooth 39b.
[0079] This accordingly prevents the extraction of the slider 35 of
the toe unit 14 due to the traction applied by the spring 40,
consequently keeping said slider 35 in the position for temporarily
blocking the longitudinal sliding of the toe unit 14 with respect
to the base 3 of the frame 2.
[0080] Vice versa, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 11, pushing
manually on the cheek 36 so as to arrange it in contact with the
recess or hollow 33 places the third tooth 39a at the region of the
first base 3 that is interposed between the first toothed profiles
23 and the second toothed profiles 24 and arranges the fourth tooth
39b in the region of said first base 3 that is interposed between
the second profiles 24 and the adjacent end of the respective
fourth slot 31 and fifth slot 32, so as to allow the longitudinal
sliding of the toe unit 14 with respect to the first base 3.
[0081] It has thus been found that the skate according to the
present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, an
adjustment device having been provided which allows to vary easily
and quickly the length of said skate thanks to the arrangement and
lateral activation of the slider with respect to the toe unit.
[0082] The invention is of course susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the appended claims.
[0083] Thus, for example, it is possible to provide toothed
profiles and slots that have different configurations and
arrangements with respect to the one described.
[0084] One might also provide, for example, a slider that has a
configuration that is different from the one described and has a
different number of arms.
[0085] The materials used, as well as the dimensions that
constitute the individual components of the invention, may of
course be more pertinent according to requirements.
[0086] The various means for performing certain different functions
need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but
can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are
not illustrated.
[0087] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
TV2002A000135 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *