AU723700B3 - Improvements in or relating to skates - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicants: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: GERARD PATRICK KEOGH and STEVEN DONALD RITCHARDSON GERARD PATRICK KEOGH CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO

SKATES

Details of Associated Provisional Applications: The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SKATES TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to skates for recreational and sporting use, and for use as a general mode of transport.

BACKGROUND ART There are numerous forms of skates in use at the present time, ranging from the traditional roller skates through to skate boards.

Existing skates are designed for use on smooth surfaces and are not suitable for use on other surfaces, such as turf, sand, gravel, and the like.

The use of skates on footpaths, roads, and in public areas has given rise to some debate and regulation because sections of the public are somewhat intimidated by skaters and would like to see them banned from public areas.

There is a recognised problem with skateboards which cause considerable damage to landscaped, particularly tiled areas as a result of impact.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a skate which can be used on paved and non-paved surfaces.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a skate which can be used in landscaped areas with very little risk of causing damage.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a skate comprising: an elongate foot support, a boot fixed to the foot support, forwardly and rearwardly extending bifurcated forks, and wheels with pneumatic tyres journalled to the forks.

A rearwheel axle of the skate can incorporate a clutch bearings, which prevent reverse rotation of the rearwheel.

A rearwheel of the skate can be fitted with a caliper brake operable by a handgrip.

The boot can be a ski boot or special purpose boot. The boot may have a stiff outer casing which can be bolted directly to the platform and a softer boot inner which includes boot straps or laces.

The wheels can have pneumatic tyres similar to those used on industrial equipment such as trolleys, wheel barrows and the like.

The wheels can vary in size and specification.

Other accessories for the skates may include lights, music or radio systems.

The skates can be provided in pairs, one for each foot of the wearer, and may be provided in different sizes and specifications to suit the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a top perspective view of one form of skate according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic front or rear view of the skates of figure 1 worn by a skater shown in skeletal outline, and Figures 3 and 4 are plan and side views of the skate of figure 1, and Figure 4a is an enlarged side-view of the forked portion of the skate of the present invention.

With respect to the drawings the skate illustrated includes a platform support generally indicated by arrow 1 having a pair of bifurcated forks generally indicated by arrow 2 extending from opposite ends of the platform.

In the example illustrated the forks 2 are inclined upwardly so that the pivot axis for a pair of ground wheels 3, 3a journalled with respect to the forks are higher than the platform 1 to which boots 4 are attached.

The forward wheel 3 can have a free wheeling axle 5 and the rear axle 6 of the rear wheel 3a can embody a one-way or so-called clutch bearing which allows clockwise (forward motion only) of the wheel. This arrangement allows the user to climb slopes or hills on the skates and generally assists with maneuverability and control.

The platform 1 which can be fabricated in metal or moulded plastics comprises fore and aft boot rest portions 7, 8 flanked by flanges 9, the free ends 9a of which form the forks 2.

The forks are configured so that the wheels 3 and 3a are aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the platform 1. Strengthening braces 9b can extend between the forks 2.

The caliper brakes can be mounted on a suitable stand 10 and are positioned so that opposed brake pads 11 can close on the pneumatic tyre or a rim of the rearwheel 3a.

The caliper brakes can be operated from a handgrip comprising a circular gripping portion 12 and a tensioner 13 for tensioning a cable 14 which is threaded via the gripping portion 12. The braking system illustrated is similar to conventional push-bike braking system.

With respect to figures 4 and 4a of the drawings the forks 2 can be slightly upwardly inclined so that the level of the axles 5 and 6 is approximately the same as the surfaces of the footrest 8. As lesser inclination of the forks as indicated by the broken outline of figure 4a may make the skate faster, albeit and for some users less stable.

The skate in accordance with the present invention can be used for general recreation, sports and fitness training and as a general mode of transport.

The pneumatic tyres expand the fields of usage thereof.

The pneumatic tyres will not damage tiled and landscaped areas in the same way that skate boards inflict such damage.

Rather than being a tarmac skate the skate can be readily used on other surfaces including hard sand, gravel and turf.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (3)

1. A skate comprising: an elongate foot support, a boot fixed to the foot support, forwardly and rearwardly extending bifurcated forks, front and rear wheels with pneumatic tyres journalled to the forks wherein the rearwheel axle of the skate incorporates a clutch bearing which prevents reverse rotation of the wheel.

2. A skate as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rearwheel is fitted with a caliper brake operable by a handgrip.

3. A skate as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 28th day of June 2000 Gerard Patrick KEOGH and Steven Donald RITCHARDSON By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.