U.S. patent application number 10/677987 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for ice skate blade guard roller apparatus.
Invention is credited to Paul M. JR. Steinhauser.
Application Number | 20070075540 10/677987 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37901184 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070075540 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steinhauser; Paul M. JR. |
April 5, 2007 |
Ice skate blade guard roller apparatus
Abstract
A roller apparatus mountable to an ice skate blade. The roller
apparatus includes a pair of wheel assemblies having an axle
mountable through apertures in a skate guard or a rail mounted over
a skate guard which receives an ice skate blade. At least one of
front and heel straps are mountable to the skate guard or the rail
to releasibly secure the roller apparatus to an ice skate. The
wheels are laterally spaced pairs of front and rear wheels or front
and rear inline wheels.
Inventors: |
Steinhauser; Paul M. JR.;
(Davison, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM M HANLON, JR;YOUNG & BASILE, PC
3001 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD
SUITE 624
TROY
MI
48084-3107
US
|
Family ID: |
37901184 |
Appl. No.: |
10/677987 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/825 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 17/18 20130101;
A63C 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/825 |
International
Class: |
A63C 3/12 20060101
A63C003/12 |
Claims
1-59. (canceled)
60. A roller apparatus releasibly mountable over an ice skate blade
attached to a boot by a blade mount and comprising: a skate guard
having an open ended channel for receiving a skate ice blade and
extending a length; a plurality of apertures extending transversely
to said length in a longitudinally spaced manner along said length
of said skate guard; pairs of wheel assemblies, each having an axle
mountable through one of said apertures in said skate guard, said
skate guard supporting the wheel assemblies a heel strap formed of
elastic material for maintaining said skate guard on the blade,
wherein said heel strap includes a portion receivable in one of
said apertures such that either one of said wheel assemblies or
said heel strap is receivable in any one of said plurality of
apertures.
61-68. (canceled)
69. The roller apparatus of claim 60 wherein said portion of said
heel strap is a pin.
70. The roller apparatus of claim 60 wherein each of said plurality
of apertures is further defined as an open slot.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] While it is common for skaters, particularly hockey players,
figure skaters and speed skaters, to put on their skates in a
locker room and then walk on padded or carpeted surfaces to the ice
surface, such is not always possible for amateur or recreational
skaters. In many instances, skaters put on their skates at a
location remote from the ice surface and then must walk over
unprotected surfaces, such as concrete, hallways, grass, etc., to
the ice arena before reaching the ice surface.
[0002] It is known that the edge of an ice skate blade must be kept
sharp for smooth skating, sharp turns, etc., especially by figure
skaters, hockey players and even the occasional recreational
skater. However, walking with skates on over concrete, hard floor
surfaces, grass, etc., quickly dulls the blade edge making it more
harder to skate.
[0003] Skate guards formed of rubber or other soft, flexible
elastomeric materials are commonly applied over the skate blade to
protect the skate blade between uses. While it is possible to walk
with the skate guards on the skates and have some measure of
protection for the blade, the sharp blade edges can cut through the
soft material of the skate guard rendering it useless. In addition,
it can be difficult to walk on skate blades due to the slightly
wider skate guard mounted on the blade.
[0004] To address these problems, or to merely provide a skate
which is convertible from an ice skate to a roller skate, roller
assemblies have been devised which mount over the skate blade and
provide a plurality of rolling surfaces to enable a skater to more
efficiently move over non-ice surfaces while at the same time
protecting the ice skate blade edges. What is still needed,
however, is an ice skate blade protection device which enables a
skater to easily move about non-ice surfaces between the ice
surface and the location where the skater intends to put on or take
off his or her skates which can be easily applied to a skate blade,
and which has adjustability to accommodate different length skate
blades.
[0005] It would also be desirable to provide a roller apparatus
which is mountable over an ice skate blade which evens out the
pressure on the blade edges and distributes the pressure outward to
the rollers or wheels when the skater is walking on non-ice
surfaces to reduce twisting torque.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention is a roller apparatus releasibly
attachable to an ice skate blade to provide rolling capability for
the user of a pair of ice skates when the user is not on an ice
surface.
[0007] In one aspect, the invention is an attachment to a skate
guard having an open ended, longitudinally extended recess for
receiving a skate blade therein and a plurality of apertures
extending transversely therethrough.
[0008] An optional heel strap is mounted in one of the apertures in
the skate guard and wrapped about one end of the blade holder
connecting the blade to a skate boot. A rail has a base wall and a
pair of sidewalls extending therefrom. The sidewalls are spaced
apart to slidably receive the skate guard therein.
[0009] A plurality of pairs of transverse apertures in the
sidewalls of the rail are alignable with the at least one aperture
in the skate guard. A pair of axles carrying wheels are mounted in
one pair of apertures in the rail and the apertures in the skate
guard.
[0010] Another optional front or toe strap may be mountable over
the blade holder and attachable to the skate guard or the rail to
secure the forward end of the skate to the skate guard and/or rail.
The front strap may be provided in different configurations, each
including a strap member which have a slight amount of elasticity
and connector means carried on the strap member for tightly
securing the strap member to the skate guard, the rail and the
blade holder.
[0011] The front or toe strap connector means may be in the form of
interlocking hook and pile sections, an inter-engagable enlarged
head and one or more apertures on the strap member, a plurality of
spaced apertures which receive a plurality of spaced projections
carried on an opposite end of the strap member, a pin mountable
through aligned apertures in the rail and the skate guard which is
mountable over an aperture in one end of the strap member, the
other end of the strap member, after being tightly wrapped around
the rail, the skate guard and the blade holder, engages an opposite
outwardly extending end of the pin. The front or toe strap may also
be an elastic member having enlarged heads at opposite ends which
are engagable with opposite sidewalls of the rail. One end of the
strap member may be releasibly or permanently fixed in the skate
guard or the rail. The other end of the strap member is wrapped
around the rail, the skate guard and the blade holder and
releasibly disposed another apertured in the skate guard.
[0012] In one aspect, the rail of the roller apparatus is formed as
a one piece, monolithic member. In another aspect, the rail is
formed of two separate rail portions, each receiving an elongated
skate guard therethrough in a spaced apart arrangement. One axle of
each of the pairs of wheel assemblies is mountable through
apertures in each rail portion.
[0013] A rear lock element is carried on the rear end of the rail
and overlays the rear edge of the ice skate blade to assist in
securing the heel portion of the ice skate blade to the roller
apparatus.
[0014] In another aspect of the present invention, wheel mounting
means are carried on the rail for mounting a plurality of rotatable
wheels to the rail. In one aspect, the wheel mounting means
includes a pair of plates fixed to the rail at one end and having
an opposed end depending from the rail. The opposed end supports a
wheel axle in a wheel.
[0015] The plates may be separately fixed to the rail by means of
mechanical fasteners, welds, etc. as well as being monolithically
formed as a one piece molded or cast part of the rail.
[0016] The wheel mounting means supports at least one frontmost
wheel and at least one rearmost wheel in an axially inline
configuration on the rail. The wheel mounting means may also
support a plurality of frontmost mounted wheels and/or a plurality
of rearmost mounted wheels, all axially in line.
[0017] In another aspect of the invention, optional lock means are
provided for locking the skate blade in the skate guard carried in
the rail. The lock means is carried on the rail by mounting on one
of the wheel mounting means or plates. In one aspect, the lock
means includes a spring biased pin which is retracted away from a
first position overlaying the recess in the skate guard to assist
in retaining a skate blade in the skate guard by means of a
moveable actuator which is coupled to an opposite end of the pin.
The actuator may be a pivotal lever or a pull ring.
[0018] In another aspect, the lock means includes a rotatable cam
which is moveable between a first position overlaying the recess in
the skate guard and a second retracted position. An actuator or
lever mounted in a housing carried on one of the wheel mounting
plates moves the cam between the first and second positions.
[0019] In another aspect, a brake member is attached to the rail to
provide a friction surface to assist the user in stopping forward
movement.
[0020] The present apparatus provides a unique roller apparatus
which is attachable over a conventional ice skate guard to provide
easy rollability to ice skates when the skater is not on an ice
surface. The inventive apparatus is easily applied to an existing
skate and employs a commonly available skate guard. The inventive
apparatus also accommodates different length skates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The various features, advantages and other uses of the
present invention will become more apparent by referring to the
following detailed description and drawing in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one aspect of the
inventive apparatus applied to a hockey skate;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional skate guard
with which the present apparatus may be employed;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heel strap used with the
skate guard shown in FIG. 2;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one aspect of a channel of
the present apparatus;
[0026] FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a modification to the
channel shown in FIG. 4;
[0027] FIGS. 6-9 are perspective views of different aspects of a
toe strap employed in the present apparatus;
[0028] FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of another aspect
of the present apparatus employed with a figure skate;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view through one of the wheel
assemblies of the present apparatus;
[0030] FIG. 12 is an exploded, partial, perspective view of an
alternate aspect of the present apparatus shown employed with a
figure skate blade;
[0031] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the
channel shown in FIG. 12, but depicted in a modified
configuration;
[0032] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view through one of the wheel
assemblies showing the modified rear channel portion depicted in
FIG. 13;
[0033] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of another aspect of the
present apparatus employed with a hockey skate;
[0034] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line
16-16 in FIG. 15;
[0035] FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of another aspect of the
present apparatus employed with a hockey skate;
[0036] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line
18-18 in FIG. 17;
[0037] FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of another aspect of the
present apparatus employed with a hockey skate;
[0038] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line
20-20 in FIG. 19;
[0039] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing another aspect of
a toe strap employed with the apparatus shown in FIG. 19;
[0040] FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of a prior art ice blade
and blade holder;
[0041] FIG. 23 is a side elevational view showing another aspect of
the present apparatus employed with the ice blade and blade holder
shown in FIG. 22;
[0042] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line
24-24 in FIG. 23;
[0043] FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of another aspect of the
present apparatus;
[0044] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line
26-26 in FIG. 25;
[0045] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of another aspect of the
present invention;
[0046] FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line
28-28 in FIG. 27;
[0047] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a modification to the
apparatus shown in FIG. 27;
[0048] FIG. 30 is a front perspective view of the apparatus shown
in FIG. 27;
[0049] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of another aspect of a roller
element attachment according to the present invention;
[0050] FIG. 32 is a plan view of one aspect of the lock means shown
in FIGS. 27 and 30;
[0051] FIG. 33 is a plan view of a another aspect of the lock means
usable in the present invention;
[0052] FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing another aspect of a
lock means according to the present invention;
[0053] FIG. 35 is a plan view of the lock means shown in FIG.
34;
[0054] FIG. 36 is an exploded, cross sectional view generally taken
along line 36-36 in FIG. 29;
[0055] FIG. 37 is a plan view of another aspect of a lock means
according to the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 38 is a plan view of yet another aspect of a lock means
according to the present invention;
[0057] FIG. 39 is a partial, perspective view showing the lock
means of FIG. 38 mounted on the rail;
[0058] FIG. 40 is a perspective view of another aspect of the
present invention; and
[0059] FIG. 41 is a rear view, partially cross-section, of the
apparatus shown in FIG. 40.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0060] Referring now to the drawing, there is depicted a roller
apparatus mountable on an ice skate to enable a skater wearing the
ice skate to easily move across non-ice surfaces, typically between
an ice rink or ice surface and a parking lot, locker room, home,
etc.
[0061] The present apparatus is employable with any conventional
ice skate, such as the hockey skate 40 shown in FIG. 1, a figure
skate 42 shown by way of example in FIG. 10 and partially in FIG.
11, as well as speed skates which have a typically longer blade
than hockey or figure skates.
[0062] By way of example only, the skate 40 includes a boot 44
having a sole 46 to which is mounted a blade holder 48. The blade
holder 48 is typically formed of plastic and is fixedly mounted to
the sole 46 by means of rivets, not shown. The blade holder 48
carries an ice blade 50. The blade 50 can be solid or provided with
a plurality of lightening apertures 52 as shown in FIG. 22.
[0063] In most of the aspects of the present invention described
hereafter, the inventive apparatus makes use of a skate guard 56
shown generally in FIG. 2. The skate guard 56 is typically formed
of a relatively, soft, flexible material, such as rubber or an
elastomer. The skate guard 56 has an elongated, generally planar
portion 58 with a centrally located, open-ended recess 60 extending
from a first or heel end 62 to an opposed, upturned, second, toe
end 64. Although the planar portion 58 can be solid, it is known to
provide a plurality of open ended, generally key-hole shaped slots
66 extending from a bottom surface 68 along at least a portion of
or over the entire length of the planar portion 58. The slots 66
adjustably and optionally receive a heel strap 70 shown in FIG. 3.
The heel strap 70 is also formed of an elastic material and has a
U-shaped portion 72 with two opposed walls and an interconnecting
pin 74 at one end. The pin 74 is sized to snap into one of the
apertures 66 in the skate guard 56 to releasibly mount the heel
strap 70 to the skate guard 56. The closed end 76 of the heel strap
70 then is wrapped around the heel portion of the blade holder 48
as shown in FIG. 1.
[0064] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4-9, there is depicted one
aspect of a roller apparatus 80 according to the present invention
which is releasibly mountable on the skate guard 76 and secured
over the skate blade 50 to provide rolling capabilities to a skater
when wearing an ice skate. The roller apparatus 80 includes a
support 82 for receiving the skate guard 56. The support 82 is in
the form of an elongated, generally planar, channel or rail member
having opposed sidewalls 84 and 86 which extend angularly,
typically perpendicularly, from a central bottom wall 88. The
sidewalls 84 and 86 and the bottom wall 88 define a generally
U-shaped cross section defining an interior opening which is sized
to snugly, but releasibly receive the skate guard 56 therein.
[0065] In the aspect of the rail 82 shown in FIG. 4, the upper ends
of the sidewalls 84 and 86 have inward turned flanges or lips 90
and 92, respectively, forming an elongated opening 94 extending
along the length of the channel 82 from a first end 96 to an
opposed second end 98. The flanges 90 and 92 securely retainer the
guard 56 in the rail 82.
[0066] In an alternate aspect shown in FIG. 5, a modified rail 82'
has the ends 90' and 92' of the sidewalls 84 and 86 disposed
generally inline with the extent of the sidewalls 84 and 86, rather
than formed as inward turned or extending flanges.
[0067] A plurality of apertures 100 are formed along at least a
portion of the length of the sidewalls 84 and 86 generally in close
proximity to the bottom wall 88. The apertures 100 are arranged in
co-axial pairs in the sidewalls 84 and 86.
[0068] A notch 102 is formed in the sidewalls 84 and 86 and the
bottom wall 88 intermediate the first and second ends 96 and 98.
The notch 102 exposes an intermediate portion of the skate guard 56
for attachment of the pin 74 to one of the apertures 66 in the
skate guard 56 to assist in securing the skate guard 66 as well as
the roller apparatus 80 to a heel portion 49 of the blade holder 48
on the skate 40.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to one aspect of the
present invention, the skate guard 56 may be provided with an
aperture 110 generally located in the toe portion 64. The aperture
110 receives one end of a front strap 112 shown in one aspect in
FIG. 1 and in alternate aspects in FIGS. 6-9 and subsequent drawing
figures. Generally, all of the different aspects of the front strap
described hereafter have an elongated, strap-like configuration
form of a strap portion 114 and first and second releasibly
connectable ends which are joined together by suitable fastening
means as described hereafter.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 1, the front strap 112 is designed to pass
through the aperture 110 in the skate guard 56 and extend around an
end of the toe support portion 54 of the holder 48, through the
aperture 51 in the holder 48 between the toe support 54 and the
heel support 49, and then is secured to itself as described
hereafter to secure the toe or front portion of the skate guard 56
and the rail 80 carried thereon securely on the skate blade 50.
[0071] Various aspects of the front strap may be employed, with the
front strap 112 shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 generally having
intermeshing hook and pile portions 116 and 118 on the same or
opposite sides of the strap portion 114 which are securable to
themselves in a tight, releasible manner.
[0072] In another aspect of a front strap 120 shown in FIG. 7, the
front strap 120 has a strap portion 122 with an enlarged end having
an aperture 124 formed therein. The opposite end of the strap
portion 122 is formed in a generally T-shape 126. As can be seen,
the T-shaped end 126, after being wrapped around the toe support 54
on the blade holder 48 is, slidable through the aperture 124 to
secure the strap 122 in a tight loop about the toe support 54 and
the toe portion of the skate guard 56 through the aperture 110.
[0073] Another aspect of a front strap 130 is shown in FIG. 8. In
this aspect, the front strap 130 includes a strap portion 132 with
a necked down portion 134 at one end terminating in a head or
ball-shaped member 136. The opposite end of the strap portion 132
is formed with at least one and, preferably, two or more axially
spaced apertures, with key-holed slot shaped apertures being shown
by way of example only.
[0074] In use, the strap portion 132 is extended through the
aperture 110 in the skate guard 56 and wrapped around the holder
toe support 54 until the head 136 inserted through the enlarged end
of one of the slots 138 and urged to the narrow end of the slot 138
to secure the ends of the strap 132 together.
[0075] In yet another aspect of a front strap 140, shown in FIG. 9,
the front strap 140 includes an elongated, generally planar strap
portion 142 having at least one and, preferably, a plurality of
outward extending projections 144 at one end and at least one and,
preferably, a plurality of complementary sized apertures 146 at an
opposite end. After the strap portion 142 is inserted through the
aperture 110 in the skate guard 56 and wrapped around the holder
toe support 54, one or more of the projections 144 are inserted
through the aligned apertures 146 to tightly secure the front strap
140 to the skate guard 56 and the holder toe support 54.
[0076] Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is depicted a wheel
assembly which may be employed, by way of example, in the roller
apparatus 80. The roller apparatus 80 is provided with a pair of
substantially identical wheel or roller assemblies 150 and 152,
each of which includes a cylindrical axle 154, formed of a high
strength material, such as metal, i.e., steel. A centrally located
spacer bushing 156 extends through one of the slots 66 in the skate
guard 56. Each wheel 158 and 160, which may be formed of a urethane
or other suitable skate wheel material, is also provided with a
pair of wheel bushings 162 at opposite ends of an aperture
receiving the axle 154 therethrough.
[0077] An enlarged head 164 is formed on one end of the axle 156
and is disposed exteriorly of the side surface of one of the
wheels, such as wheel 160. The opposite wheel 158 has an aperture
at one end of the bore extending through the wheel 158. The end 166
of the axle 154 is formed with an internally threaded bore 168
which receives a fastener, such as a screw 170 to secure the wheels
158 and 160 to the axle 154, the skate guard 56 and the rail 82.
The provision of a plurality of pairs of apertures 100 in the rail
82 enables the wheel assembly 150 and 152 to be spaced as desired
on the rail 82 to accommodate different length skates, a skater's
particular preference, etc.
[0078] Referring now to FIG. 12, there is depicted another aspect
of a support for the skate guard 56. Although the support shown in
FIG. 12 is depicted as being usable with a figure skate wherein the
blade 180 has a toe connector arm 181 and a heel connector arm 183
which are fixedly mounted to the skate sole, it will be understood
that the support shown in FIG. 12 and described in greater detail
hereafter, can also be employed with the hockey skate 40 shown in
FIG. 1.
[0079] In this aspect of the invention, the skate guard support is
formed of two separate support members including a first support
member 182 adapted to be disposed adjacent the toe portion of the
skate guard 56 and the toe connector arm 181, and a second support
portion 184 adapted to be disposed adjacent the heel of the skate
guard 56 and the heel connector arm 183.
[0080] Both of the first and second support members 182 and 184 has
substantially the same shape including, for the first support
member 182, a pair of opposed sidewalls 186 and 188 which extend
generally perpendicularly from a base wall 190. The outer ends of
the sidewalls 186 and 188 are formed within inward extending lips
or flanges 192. Alternately, the ends of the sidewalls 186 and 188
may have the generally planar shape without the inward turned lips
as shown in FIG. 5.
[0081] A plurality of apertures 194 are formed in aligned pairs in
the sidewalls 186 and 188 at a spacing generally complementary to
the spacing of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56.
[0082] Similarly, the second support portion 184 is formed with
opposed sidewalls 196 and 198, each of which extend generally
perpendicularly from a base wall 200. The ends of the sidewalls 196
and 198 may be formed with or without inward turned flanges 202. A
plurality of apertures 204 are formed in aligned pairs in the
sidewalls 196 and 198 for alignment with the slots 66 in the skate
guard 56.
[0083] The first and second support members 182 and 184 each have
an interior opening sized to slidably receive the skate guard 56
therethrough. Each of the support members 182 and 184 will be fixed
in place on the skate guard 56 by insertion of one of the axles 154
on the wheel pairs through a selected one of the apertures 194 in
the first support portion 182, or the aperture 204 in the second
support member 184 and the corresponding slots 66 in the skate
guard.
[0084] The provision of the plurality of apertures 194 and 204 in
the first and second support members 182 and 184 allow for
longitudinal adjustment of the spacing between the wheel pairs as
well as the position of the first and second support members 182
and 184 on the skate guard 56 and the attached skate. Also, the
plurality of pairs of apertures in each support members 182 and 184
allow for longitudinal adjustment of the position of the wheel
assemblies 150 and 152. This allows the user to provide any wheel
spacing and support position to achieve the desired balance and
ease of use desired by the user.
[0085] Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, a modification to the
second support portion 184 is depicted. It will be understood that
this modification may also be employed with the one-piece channel
or rail 82 described above and shown in FIG. 4.
[0086] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the second support portion 184
is formed with a lock element 206 in the form of a plate extending
completely across the upper ends of the sidewalls 196 and 198 and
completely closing off the recess or channel 208 formed between the
inward extending lips 202 or the sidewalls 196 and 198. The lock
element 206 is positioned to be disposed over the upper edge of the
rear end 210 of a skate blade 180 thereby providing additional
locking capability to secure the skate blade 180 and the rail or
support member 184 on the skate blade 180.
[0087] Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is depicted an
alternate aspect of a front strap 210. The front strap 210 is
usable with a keeper pin 212 having an elongated shank 214 and an
enlarged head 216. The keeper pin 212 is adapted to be inserted
through a selected pair of aligned apertures 100 in the rail 82 and
one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 66. The front strap 210 is
in the form of an elongated, generally planar strap having an
aperture 218 at one end and an aperture 220 at an opposite end. The
strap 210 is preferable formed of a material with at least a slight
elasticity.
[0088] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the shank 214 of the keeper pin
212 is inserted through the aperture 218 in one end of the strap
210 and then through a selected pair of apertures 100 in the rail
82 and one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56. The strap 210 is
then wrapped around the exterior of the rail 82 and the blade
holder 48 through the aperture 51 in the blade holder 48, over the
opposite side of the blade holder 48 and the sidewall 84 of the
rail 82 until the aperture 220 in the opposite end of the strap 210
can be urged over the exposed end of the shank 214 of the keeper
pin 212. This fixes the strap 210 about the rail 82 and the blade
holder 48 to secure the forward end or toe portion of the rail 82
and the skate guard 56 to the blade holder 48.
[0089] Yet another aspect of a front strap 224 is shown in FIGS. 17
and 18. In this aspect, the front strap 224 includes an elongated,
generally planar strap member 226 having an aperture 228, which may
be in the form of a keyhole slot, formed at one end. The opposite
end of the strap member 226 is formed with an enlarged head
230.
[0090] In this aspect, at least the end portion of the strap member
226 extending from the head 230, and possibly the entire length of
the strap member 226 may be formed of a slightly rigid enough
material to enable the strap member 226 to be easily inserted
through an aligned pair of apertures 100 in the rail 82 and one of
the slots 66 in the skate guard 56.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 18, in use, the free end of the strap
member 226 is inserted through one pair of aligned apertures 100 in
the rail 82 and one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56 until the
head 230 abuts the sidewall 84. The strap member 226, after exiting
the opposed aperture 100, is wrapped around the sidewall 86 of the
rail 82 and the blade holder 48, through the central aperture 51 in
the blade holder 48, and over the opposed sidewall 84 of the rail
82 to a position bringing the aperture 228 in proximity with the
enlarged head 230 at the opposite end of the strap member 226. The
enlarged head 230 is then inserted through the enlarged end of the
aperture 228 allowing the adjacent narrower or smaller diameter
portion of the strap member 226 adjacent to the enlarged head 230
to be slid into the narrower width portion of the slot 228 to lock
the end of the strap member 226 in the slot 228 and tightly secure
the strap member 228 about the rail 82, the skate guard 56 and the
blade holder 48.
[0092] Yet another aspect of a front strap and modified rail are
shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. In this aspect of the invention, the rail
82 is formed with an additional notch 236 extending through a lower
portion of the sidewalls 84 and 86 and a portion of the bottom wall
88. The notch 236 exposes one or more of the slots 66 in the skate
guard 66 to view as shown in FIG. 19.
[0093] In this aspect, a front strap 238, formed of a generally
planar strap member 240 substantially similar to the front strap
224 described above and shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, is provided with
at least one and preferably, a pair of apertures at a first end.
The opposite end of the strap member 240 is formed with an enlarged
head 242. The apertured end of the strap member 240 is first urged
through one of the slots 66 in the skate guard 56 exposed to view
by the notch 236 in the rail 82 until the head 242 abuts the
sidewall 86. The strap member 240 is then passed over the sidewall
84 of the rail 82 and around and through the central aperture 51 in
the blade holder 48 to bring the opposed apertured end of the strap
member 240 over a pair of projections 244 generally in the form of
headed screws mounted in the sidewall 86 of the rail 82. The one or
more apertures in the end of the strap member 240 are inserted over
the one or more projections 244 to fixedly lock the strap 238
around the blade holder 48, the rail 82 and the skate guard 56.
[0094] FIG. 21 depicts a modified strap 248 usable with the
modified rail 82 shown in FIG. 19. In this aspect, the strap 248
has two enlarged heads 250 and 252 formed at each opposed end. The
strap 248 is preferably provided with at least slightly elastic
properties enabling it to be inserted through one of the slots 66
in the skate guard 56 bringing one head 250 in engagement with one
sidewall 84. For example, the strap 248 maybe a bungee cord with
out the metal end hooks. The strap 248 is then passed around the
sidewall 84 of the rail 82 and through the central aperture 51 in
the blade holder 48, and around the opposed sidewall 86 of the rail
82. The strap 248 is further inserted through an adjacent slot 66
in the skate guard 56 until the opposed head 252 is disposed
adjacent to the opposite sidewall 84 of the rails 82. This wrapped
arrangement of the strap 248 tightly secures the forward or toe end
of the skate 240 to the blade holder 48, the skate guard 56 and the
rail 82. The strap 248 may be releasibly engagable with one of
open-ends slots 66 or have one end non-releasibly mounted in a
closed aperture int eh skate guard 56.
[0095] Referring now to FIGS. 23 and 24, there is depicted another
aspect of a roller apparatus employing a unique front strap
according to the present invention.
[0096] This aspect of the invention makes use of the lightening
apertures 56 in the blade 50 shown in FIG. 22. A keeper pin 254
having an elongated shank 256 terminating in an enlarged head 258
is inserted through one aligned pair of apertures 100 in the rail
82, an upper end of a slot 66 in the skate guard 56 and one of the
lightening apertures 52 in the skate blade 50. The strap member 260
has an enlarged head 262 at one end. The head 262 secures one end
of the strap 260 in position abutting the sidewall 84. The strap
260 is then inserted through an aligned pair of apertures 100 in
the rail 82 and one slot 66 in the skate guard 56, along the
sidewall 84 to an opposite end. An aperture 262 is formed at the
end and is mountable over the shank 256 of the keeper pin 254
adjacent to the head 258.
[0097] Finally, referring now to FIGS. 25 and 26, there is depicted
yet another aspect of a roller apparatus according to the present
invention. In this aspect, the roller apparatus makes use of the
pairs of wheel assemblies 150 and 152 containing wheels 160 mounted
on an axle 154 extending through one of a plurality of closed
apertures 270 which are linearly spaced along a length of a skate
guard 272. The closed apertures 270 can be continuous along the
length of the skate guard 272, at least in the area of the wheel
assemblies 150 and 152 or interrupted by opened end slots, like
slots 66 for receiving the pin 74 on the heel strap 70. The skate
guard 272 is otherwise constructed in the same manner as the skate
guard 56 to include an open ended recess extending from an upper
end for receiving the skate blade 50 therethrough. A bushing 274
may be interposed over the axle 154 in one of the apertures 270 to
rotatably support the axle 154 in one aperture 270 in the skate
guard 272.
[0098] The heel strap 70 described above is mounted in another one
of the apertures 270 by providing the pin 74 with a snap
connection, typically through an aperture in one end of the strap
70 to secure the strap 70 to the skate guard 272 and wrapped in a
position in which the closed end 76 of the strap 70 is wrapped
around the outer surface of the heel portion of the blade holder
48. Although a front strap is not shown in FIG. 25, it will be
understood that any of the front straps described above may be
employed in this aspect of the invention.
[0099] Referring now to FIGS. 27, 28, 30 and 32, there is depicted
another aspect of the roller apparatus 300 according to the present
invention. The roller apparatus 300 makes use of the rail 82, skate
guard 56 and blade 50 described above. Heel strap 70 is also
employed in the roller apparatus 300.
[0100] The roller apparatus 300 includes a rear wheel assembly 302
and a front wheel assembly 304 which are each adapted for
supporting one or more rollers or wheels 306 and 308, respectively,
in an in-line configuration directly under the rail 82.
[0101] The rear wheel assembly 302, shown in greater detail in FIG.
28, is in the form of a pair of plate members 310 and 312 which are
affixed at one end to the sidewalls 84 and 86, respectively, of the
rail 82 and have a second depending end 314 carrying an aperture
316 for receiving an axle or pin 318 which is fixedly mounted by
means of end caps 320 to the plates 310 and 312 to support the
roller 306 directly below the skate blade 50.
[0102] The plates 310 and 312 can be fixed to the sidewalls 84 and
86 of the rail 82 by suitable means, including welding, as well as
the illustrated nut 322 and bolt 324 which extend through apertures
in the plates 310 and 312 and aligned ones of the apertures 100 in
the sidewalls 84 and 86 of the rail 82 and one aperture 66 in the
skate guard 56.
[0103] The roller or wheel 306 may be any conventional in-line
skate roller or wheel and may be provided with a central hub which
has an inner bearing surface engaged with a smooth shank portion of
the bolt 324.
[0104] The plates 310 and 312 may also be integrally formed as one
piece with the rail 82 as shown for the rear wheel plate 312' in
the modified rail 82' in FIG. 29. In this aspect of the invention,
the rear wheel mounting plates are each integrally formed, such as
by molding or casting, on the sidewall 84' of the rail 82' and the
opposed sidewall, not shown.
[0105] A further aspect of the rear wheel assembly and also the
front wheel assembly is shown in FIG. 31 and includes a plurality
of rollers 330 and 332 mounted in a cage 344 formed of a generally
tubular body fixed, such as by welding, between two enlarged side
plates 336 and 338. Axles for each of the rollers 330 and 332
extend through the plates 336 and 338 and terminates in heads 340.
A plurality of apertures 342 are formed in each plate 336 and 338
for receiving fasteners which extend through aligned ones of the
apertures 342 and the apertures 100 in the sidewalls 284 and 286 of
the rail 82 and the aperture 66 in the skate guard 56.
[0106] The front wheel support 304 includes a pair of front plates
350 and 352 certain of which are adjustably alignable with
apertures 100 in the rail 82 and one aperture 66 in the skate guard
56 for receiving fasteners, such as nuts and bolts both denoted by
reference number 354, to secure the plates 350 and 352 to the
forward end of the rail 82.
[0107] Similarly, the at least one wheel or roller 308 is mounted
on an axle 358 extending through apertures in the plates 350 and
352. The roller 308 is supported axially in-line with the rear
mounted roller 306.
[0108] An optional support pin 360 extends through aligned
apertures in the plates 350 and 352. The pin 362 underlies the
bottom wall of the rail 82 for added front end support of the rail
82.
[0109] The single roller 308 and the plates 350 and 352 may be
replaced by the carriage assembly 334 shown in FIG. 31 to provide a
plurality, such as two or more rollers 330 and 332, at the forward
end of the roller apparatus 300.
[0110] In addition, the plates 350' and 352' may be integrally
formed, such as by welding or molding, as a unitary, one-piece part
of the rail 82' as shown in FIG. 29. This integral mounting
eliminates the need for the fasteners 354.
[0111] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
roller apparatus 300 includes an optional lock means 370 on the
forward end of the rail 82. The lock means includes a member which
is moveable from a first retracted position laterally outboard of
the blade 50 and the skate guard 56 to permit insertion or removal
of the skate blade 50 into or out of the skate guard 56 carried in
the rail 82, and a second, inward extending position, shown in
FIGS. 27 and 32, in which a inner end 372 of the moveable member,
such as pin 374, overlays and may be in contact with or closely
spaced from the upper surface of the blade 50 to assist in securing
the forward end of the blade 50 in the skate guard 56 and rail
82.
[0112] The lock means 370, in the aspect shown in FIGS. 27, 30 and
32, includes the pin 374 which is mounted in a housing 376 carrying
an internal spring which normally biases the end 372 of the pin 374
outward from the housing 376. A nut 378 is engagable around a
threaded portion of the exterior of the housing 376 for securing
the housing 376 to one of the plates, such as an enlargement or
plate 354. An end 376 of the pin 374 opposite from the end 372 has
an aperture which receives a transverse pin 378 which secures an
actuator, such as a lever or handle 380, to the end 376 of the pin
374. Movement of the actuator 380 in the direction of arrow 382
retracts the end 374 of the pin 372 into or toward the housing 376
to disengage the end 372 of the pin 374 from the skate blade 50
allowing insertion or removal of the skate blade 50 into and out of
the skate guard 56. Release of actuating force on the lever 380
allows the internal biasing means or spring in the housing 376 to
re-extend the end 372 of the pin 374 over the upper edge of the
skate blade 50.
[0113] Another aspect of a lock means 385 is shown in FIG. 33. This
aspect is similar to the lock means 370 shown in FIG. 32 except
that the pivotal actuator or lever 380 is replaced by a pull ring
386 which is mounted through the aperture in the end 376 of the pin
374. Movement of the pin 374 is effected in the same manner as with
the lever 380 by pulling and release of the pull ring 386. The lock
means 385 and most of the components of the lock means 370 are
commercially available as a Quick Release Pin from Pivot Point,
Inc., Hustisford, Wis.
[0114] Another aspect of the lock means 390 according to the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 34 and 35. The lock means 390
operates on a cam principal. A support 392 is fixed, such as by
fasteners 394 or welds, to an end portion of the front wheel
support plate 352. The support 392 carries a rotatable lever 396
which is secured about a pivot axis 398 shown in FIG. 35 to a
rotatable member 400 having an outwardly extending cam 402.
Rotatable movement of the lever 396 rotates the member 400 in the
opposed directions of arrow 404 to bring cam 402 into and out of
engagement with skate blade 50 to allow insertion and/or removal of
the skate blade 50 to and from the skate guard 56 while providing
additional support to retain the skate blade 50 in the skate guard
56 and the attached rail 82 during use of the roller apparatus
300.
[0115] Another aspect of a lock means 440 as shown in FIG. 37. The
lock means 460 is similar to the lock means 370 shown in FIG. 32 in
that it includes a moveable pen 374 having a first end 372 and an
opposed second end 375. A nut 378 secures a pin housing 376 to
mounting plate 352 on the rail 56. A yoke 446 is mounted by means
of suitable fasteners, for example, on the plate 352 and pivotally
receives a mating tongue of an actuator lever 442. The biasing
means 448, such as a coiled spring, is mounted between a post on
the yoke 446 and a portion of the actuator lever 442 for normally
biasing the lever 442 to a first position in which the end 372 of
the pin 374 is extended outward from the pin housing 376 and
overlays the top edge of the blade 50 to lock the blade 50 in the
rail 56. The other end of the actuator lever 442 overlays the end
376 of the pin 374. An aperture 443 in the pin 374 receives a
plunge pin which extends through a lined bores in the actuator
lever 442 to pivotally couple the actuator lever 442 to the pin
374. In this manner, the biasing means 448 normally biases the
actuator lever 442 to a first position in which the end 372 of the
pin 374 is extended outward from the pin housing 376 and overlays
the skate blade 50 to lock the skate blade 50 in the rail 56.
Pressure applied in the direction of arrow 452 on one end of the
actuator lever 442 causes the opposite end of the actuator lever to
pivot in the direction of arrow 454 thereby retracting the pin 372
and enabling the blade 50 of the skate to be removed from the rail
56.
[0116] Yet another aspect of a lock means 460 according to the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 38 and 39. The lock means 460
includes a plate 462 which is mounted to the rail 56 by means of
suitable fasteners 354. A yoke 464 is fixedly mounted on the plate
462 by suitable means, such as fasteners or rivets 463. The yoke
464 supports a pivot pin 465 which extends through a tongue portion
of an actuating lever 466 to pivotally couple the actuator lever
466 to the yoke 464. A biasing means 468 is mounted between a pin
on one end 467 of the actuator lever 466 and an aligned pin on a
mounting leg of the yoke 464. The biasing means 468 which is shown
by way of example only as being a coil spring, exerts a biasing
force on one end of the actuator lever 466 to bias the actuator
lever 466 to a first position shown in FIGS. 38 and 39 in the
direction of arrow 474.
[0117] The other end 472 of the actuator lever 466 is elongated and
is disposed to extend through an aperture 470 in the mounting plate
462 when the actuator 466 is in the first position. In this first
position, an end 473 of the end 472 of the actuator lever 466
extends through the aperture 470 in the plate 462 and overlays the
upper or top edge of the blade 50 to lock the blade 50 in the rail
56. A force exerted against the end 467 of the actuator lever 466
causes pivotal movement of the actuator lever 466 in the direction
of arrow 476 thereby retracting the end 473 into or through the
slot 470 to enable the blade 50 to be removed from the rail 50.
[0118] Referring now to FIGS. 29 and 36, there is depicted another
feature of the present invention in the form of a brake or stop
member 420. The brake or stop member is formed of a pad 422
constructed of a resilient material, such as rubber, an elastomer,
etc. The pad 422 has an irregularly cubical, block-like shape with
a generally flat or arcuate lower surface 424 adapted to engage the
ground for a friction stop.
[0119] A pair of arms 426 and 428 integrally or fixed extend from
the block 422 in a spaced apart manner. Each arm 426 and 428 has a
through bore 430 and 432, respectively, which are aligned for
receiving a fastening means which may be in the form of a headed
pin 434 having an internally threaded bore 436 extending from one
end. The pin 434 is inserted through the aligned apertures and
separate bores 438 and 440 formed in the sidewalls 84 and 86 of the
rail 82 and a through bore 442 formed in the skate guard 56. The
bores 438, 440 and 442 are aligned, as shown in FIG. 36 for
receiving the pin 434 therethrough. A separated threaded screw 444,
having an enlarged head, is threaded into the threaded bore 436 at
the end of the pin 434 to secure the pin 434 in the arms 426 and
428 thereby securing the break or stop member 420 to the rear end
of the rail 82.
[0120] In use, with the brake member 422 attached to the rear end
of the rail 82, the user need only tilt the rail 82 upward about
the rear end to bring the surface 424 of the brake 420 into
engagement with the underlying surface to provide friction to stop
movement of the user.
[0121] Referring now to FIGS. 40 and 41, there is depicted a
combined rear wheel mount, heel strap mount and an alternate heel
strap. The rear wheel mount in this aspect of the invention, is in
the form of two plates 480 and 482, each having a generally planar
configuration but an irregular shaped periphery. At least one and
preferably a plurality of spaced mounting holes for 484 are mounted
linearly along a lower portion of each mounting plate 480 and 482.
The mounting holes 484 receive fasteners 486 to secure each
mounting plate 480 and 482 to a rail 488. The rail 488 is similar
to the previously described rails, except that it has a continuous,
non-interrupted cross-section lacking the notch 102.
[0122] The apertures 484 allow fore and aft adjustment of the
position of the rear mounting plates 480 and 482 on the rail 488 to
accommodate different length skate blades. One or more of the rear
mounting apertures 484 may also be employed to receive fasteners to
attach a brake pad 420 to the mounting plates 480 and 482, as
described above and shown in FIG. 29.
[0123] The lower portion of each mounting plate 480 and 482 has an
aperture which receives a pivot pin 490 for rotatably supporting at
least one rear wheel or roller 306.
[0124] At least one and preferably a plurality of spaced apertures
492 are formed in an upper portion of each rear mounting plate 480
and 482. The apertures 492 receive opposite ends 496 and 498 of a
stretchable or elastic heel strap 494 as shown in FIGS. 40 and 41.
The heel strap 494 which may be provided in different widths and
lengths is appliable over the rear edge of a blade holder 500.
Securing means 502, in the form of bodies having opposed slots 504
extending laterally therethrough receive the ends 496 and 498 of
the heel strap 494 in a back and forth woven pattern to secure the
ends 496 and 498 in the bodies 502.
[0125] The ends 496 and 498 of the heel strap may be extended
through any of the apertures 492 in the mounting plates 480 and 482
to provide a taut securing force for the heel strap 494 against the
blade holder 500 despite a lengthwise adjustment of the mounting
plates 480 and 482 relative to the rail 488. Alternately, the ends
496 and 498 of the heel strap 494 may be inserted through any of
the apertures 492 to provide a different, i.e., higher or lower,
securing force on the blade holder 500 to secure the rear portion
of the skate in the roller apparatus.
[0126] The present invention provides a unique roller apparatus
which can be easily mounted on an ice skate over the skate blade
with or without an intervening skate guard mounted over the skate
blade to provide easy rolling capability for the user while wearing
the skates and not on an ice surface while at the same time
protecting the sharp edges of the ice blade from dulling or damage
cause by contact with a non-ice surface. The roller apparatus makes
use of the heel strap employed with existing skate guards as well
as one of several different front straps and/or locks to securely,
yet releasibly mount the roller apparatus about the skate guard and
inserted skate blade. The roller apparatus can be provided with
pairs of laterally spaced front end rear wheels as well as a
plurality of axially in-line wheels.
* * * * *