CA2231285A1 - A skate structure particularly for ice skates and in-line roller skates - Google Patents

Abstract

The skate structure described comprises running means for the skate and a support for the running means, for fixing to footwear. The support comprises a first portion associated with the running means and a second portion which can be fixed to the footwear, the first portion being at least partially incorporated in the second portion and being made of a material having a modulus of elasticity and/or a colour different from the modulus of elasticity and/or the colour of the material of which the second portion is made.

Description

CA 0223128~ 1998-03-06 ~ 5 DESCRIPTIO~
The present invention relate~ to a skate structure according to the prca~'ale to the main clai~.
In the technical field of skates, t~at is, both ice s~ates and in-line roller-skates, i~ is known to make the support for carrying the blade ~for an ice skate) or for supporting the wheels ~or rotatlon (f~r an in-line roller sXate) of a plas~ic~ material which, in the former case i~
co ~ulded with the blade of the skate in order to fix the ~lade to the s~pport and, in the latter case, is fonmed ~ith suitable seats for housing the a~les for the rot~tion of the wheel~. On the opposite si~e t~ the blade or wheels, t~e support i~ formed with suitable attachment surf~ces for flxing it to the user's footwear.
The support must have characteristics ~uch as to sa,isfy two main requireme~ts. On the one hand, the support h~s to be ~airly rigid to ensure the necessary $tiffn~ç5~ particularly tor~ional s~iffness, especially in the region of the edge to ~hich the blade is attached ~or an ice skate) or in ~he region in which the ~heels are moun~ed ~or an in-line roller ~kate); on the other hand, howe~er, the support must be fairly resilient for better absorption of kn~cks and for damping vibrations generated ~urin~ skating.
The plastics materl~ls normally used for ~he mo~ in~
of ~he ~uppor~ generally represent a compromise to sati~fy the a~oremen~ioned conflicting requirements ~ut cannot achieve opt~mal performance with currently-known skate ~tructures.
The proble~ upon ~hich the present invention is based is ~hat of pro~i~ing a skate structure which i~ designed structurally and function~lly to overccme all af the problems compl~ined of with reference ta the prior art mentioned.

, This problem is ~ol~ed by the invention by means of a skate structure of ~he ~ype indicated at the begi.nning which is formed in accordance wi~h the following claims.
The characteristics and the a~vantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of some pre~e~red em~odiments thereo~, described by way of n~n-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in ~hich:
~ igure 1 is a front elevational view of a first e_bodiment of an ice-skate structure ~or~ed in accor~ance with the present invention, Figures ~, 3 and 4 are sections taken on the lines II-Il, III-III and IV-I~ of Figure 1, respectively, Figure ~ is a front ele~ation~l view ~f a second em~odi~ent of an ice-skate structure acc~rdin~ to the present invention, Figures 6, 7 and B are sections taken on the lines VI-V~, VII-VII and VIII-VIII of ~igure 5, respeCtively, Fi~ure 9 is a side elevatio~al ~iew of a third embodiment of an ice-skate struct~re according to the invention, Figure 10 is a cection taken on the line X-X of ~igure 9, Figure 11 is a side ele~ational view of a ~ourth embodiment o~ an ice-skate structure ~ccording to the invention, Figure 12 is a side ele~at1onal view of a $irst em~odLment of an in-line roller-skate structure according to the inventio~, ~ igures 13 and 1~ are sections taken on the lines XIII--XIII alld XIV--XIV of~ Figure 12, respectively, Figure 15 is a side elevational vie~ of a further emhodiment ~f an in-line roller-skate stnlcture according to ~he in~entlon, Eigures 16 and 17 ~re sections taken on the lines XVI-XVI and XVII-XVII of Figure 15, respectively.
With refere~ce ~o Figure 1, a first embo~iment of an ice-skate structure formed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated 1.
The skate structure 1 ccmprfses a blade-holder support 2 for fixing ~ bla~e 3 to a footwear 4, shown only partiaily in the drawing.
The support 2 comprises a first portion and a sec~nd portion 5, 6, fixed to ~he ~lade 3 and fixable to the footwear a, respectively.
The first portion 5 extends longitu~i n~ I 1 y relative to the skate and is partially incorporated in the second portion 6. The portions 5, 6 are pre~erably formed one upon the other by co-moulding by the injection of plastics material. The first portion 5 has a "T"-shaped cross-section with a web 7 to one edge 7a of which the blade 3 is fixed and on the opp~site edge of which a flange 8 is formed at right an~les to the web 7. Natu~ally, the portion 5 may have a different cxoss-section, subject to its ha~ing suitable dime~sions, ~ut the ~T~-shaped cross section represents a preferred choice.
The second portion 6 of the support 2 extend~ so as to cover the fist portion 5 and, on both sides of the support, has a plurality of windows 9 which are arrange~ at regular inter~als, and through whi~h the web 7 can be soen. The second portion 6 extends so as to cover the first portion 5 even on the edge on which the blade 3 is attached to the support 2 and, on the side opposite the blade, defines two spo~e~-apart elements 10, 11 for the atta~hm~nt of footwear 4, between which ele~ents a recess 12 is defined. The attachment ele~ents 10, 11 have respecti~e flanges lOa, lla for fixing the support 2 to corresponding heel and toe por~ions of the footwear 4.

The first and second portions 5, 6 Gf the support 2 are made of ~aterialY having different moduli of elasticity, in particular, with a material o~ the first portion 5 having a modulus of elasticity El greater tha~
the mod~lus of elasticity E2 of the second po~tion 6. The materials used have modulus of elasticity values ~1 greater than about 5000 ~Pa, preferably greater than 15000 M~a, and madulus of elastlcity values EZ below 2~00 MPa, preferably below 1500 MPa.
By virtue of these properties of elasticity, a high degree of stiffness, particularly torsional stiffness ~ue the modulus of elasticity El, is achieved in the first po~tion 5 in the region of attachment of the blade to the supp~rt 2 where the greatest res~stance to stresses, particularly torsional stres~es, is required ~n use. At the same time, ~y virtue of its relative resilience due to the mod~lus of elasticity E2, the second portion 6 which e~tends so as to cover the web 7, has a greater capacity to absorb knocks as well as to damp vibrations ~enerated during skating.
~ igh values of th~ modulus of elasticity ~1 can be achieved preferably ~ith the use o~ a reinfor~ed plastics ma~erial, for exa~ple, polyamide filled with carbon or glass fi~re. Alternatively, the first portion 5 of the support m~y be made of metal, for example, aluminium alloy, so as to have a high m~dulus of elasticity with a low specific weight. The second portion 6 of the support which has a modulus of elasticity E2 is preferably made of plastics material, for example, poly~ide rein$orced with a rubber ~iller.
The portions 5 and 6 may also be co-moulded to form the support 2 with the use of materi~ls of different colours so as to ~chie~e a certain aesthetic Lmpact ~y ~ir~ue of the fact that the web 7 of the first portion is ~isible through ~he windows 9.
In the embodi~ent of Figure-~ 1 to 4, the first portion 5 of t~e support extends over sub~tantially the entire length o~ the blade 3. Alternatively, the portion 5 may ~e restricted solely to the central region of the support 2 in the region o~ the rece~s 12 in which the greatest torsional stresses are concentrated in use. It should also be noted that, by ~irtue of the greater torsional stiffness achieved in the first portion 5 owing to the modulus of elasticity El, the contribution of the blade 3 to this sti~fness can be li~ited, thus advantageously permitting t~e use o~
bla~es of reduced height an~ thi~ness, consequentl~
red~ g the o~er ll ~eight of ~he s~ate.
Figures S to ~ ~how a second em~odiment of the skat~
structure of the in~ention, generally indicated 2~.
Details similar to those ~f- the previous embo~iment are indicated by the same reference nu~erals. The skate 20 differs ~rom that af the pre~ious ~mhodiment substantially i~ that the support 2 further co~prises a third portion 21 co-m~ulded with the portions ~ and ~ and made o~ a ~aterial with a modulus of elasticity and/or a colour dif~erent from those of the first and second portions 5, 6.
In particular, the third portion 21 is made of a material having an modulus o~ elasticity E3 lower than the modulus o~ elasticity ~2 of the ~econd portion, preferably below 1000 MPa.
The third portion 21 e~tends so as to cover at least part of the web 7 o~ the fir~t portion S, the flange 8 of which, however, is incorporated in the second portion 6.
The web 7 remai~s visible thro~gh the plurality of w~ndows 9 Which are now ~ormed in the third portion Zl on both sides of the skate 20. It can be seen, with particular re~erence to Figures 6 ~o ~, ~ha~ the third portion 21 o~ th~ suppor~ extends so as to cover the ~e~

-portion 7 complete~y in the region of the edge to which the blade 3 is att~che~, to protect the web again~t knocks to which the support is sl~jected during s~ating.
Figures g an~ 10 show a thi~d embodiment of an ice-skate structure according to the invention, generally indicated 30. In this variant, the skate structure 30 differs f~om the skate structure 1 i.n that the first portion 5 has extensions 31, 32 in the region of the attArhm~nt elements 10, 11. The extensions 31, 32 extend away from the blade 3 on opposite sides o~ the flange 8 into the attachment elements 10, 11, up to the regions of the ~langes lOa, lla. The extensions 31, 32 a~e incorporated in the secon~ poxtion 6 of the support and are restricted to the portions of the attachment elements 10, 11 f~;n~ the rece~s 12. In the region of thes~ portions, the first portion 5 has a sub~tantially "Y"-shape~ cross-section, as shown in Figure 10. The provislon of the extensions 31, 3~ made of the stiffer material advantageously ena~les the forces applied to the blade 3 through the user's foot to be transferred to the sole ~omogeneously lnd continuously~
Figure 11 shows a fourt~ e~bodiment of the skate structure of the invention, gener~lly indicated 40, which ~iffers from the pre~ious embodiments in that the suppo~t 2 comprises a fourth portion 41 extending from the attachment elements 10, 11 to define respective cradles 42, 43 for housing the heel and toe po~tions of the ~ootwear ~.
The fourth portion 41 i~ pre~erably co-moulded with the other portions of the support 2 and made of a plastics ma~erial having a ~odulus of elasticity ~nd/or a colour different ~rom those of the other portions of the suppoxt 2. In particular, the fourth poxtion 41 is made of a material with a modulus of e}asticity E4 lo~er than the modulus of elasticity E2 of the second portion 6 of which , the att~hm~nt elements 10, 11 are made. The structural discontinuity due to the diffe~ent elastic properties of the footwear and of t~e support of the skate is thus at~enuated by t~e interposition of the fourth portion 41 between the footwear 4 an~ the ~ttachment elements 1~, 11.
With reference to Fiqures 12 to 1~, a fur~her embodiment of a skate structure according tn the invention, designed particularly for an in-line roller skate, ls generally indicated 50. The skate ~tructure 50 comprises a support SZ having oppose~ side walls between which four aligned wheels 55a-d with paralle]. and spaced-apart axes ~re supported.
The support 52 comprises a first portion and a second portion 57, 5~, ~he former bein~ arranged for suppo~ting the ~eel-q 55a-d an~ the second for fixing to the footwear 4, shown only partially in the ~.;nqS. The ~irst portion 57 extends lon~itudin~lly relative to the skate structure 50 and is partially incorporated in the second portion 5~.
The portions 57, 58 are preferably made of plastics materi~l by co-mol~ld;ng onto one another by injection. The first portio~ ~7 comprises a pair of symmetrical la~eral ch~k~ both indicated 59, connected to one another by transverse walls 60 and defining there~ith respective seats for housing t~e wheels 55a-d.
Each cheek 59 has an L-.ch~re~ cross-se~tion with a web 61 on one edqe of which a flange 62 is forwed at right angles to the web. A plurality of through-holes, all indicated 63, is ~ormed in the web 61 on the opposite side to the flange 62 ~or ho~sing respective axles for the rotation of the wheels 5a-d.
The se~ond portion 5B comprises an elong~te body with two side walls 64 each of ~hich extends so as to cover the corresron~i ng cheek 59 of th~ first purtion. Through-windows 65, through which the web 61 is visible, are fonmed in e~ch si~e w~ll 64 and ~re disp~sed in the vlcinity of .he holes 63, in positions between pairs of adjacent holes.
The second portion 58 extends so as to cover the fi~st portion ~p to the region o~ ~he hales 63 and, on the opposite side to the holes, defines two attachment elements 66, 67 ~etween which a recess 68 is ~efined. Each att~ch~e~t element 66, 67 defines a respective surface 66a, 67a For fixing the support 52 to corre~po~ng heel and toe p~rtions of the footwear 4.
The first and second portions 57, 58 are made of materials having different moduli of elasticity, in particular, with a material of the first portion having a modulus of elasticity greater than the mo~ulus of elasticity of the sec~nd portion. The values of these ~ o~ elasticity are preferab~y selected in accordance with those in~ic~ted in the previous embodi~ents wi~h reference to ice-skate structures, to which reference should be made for a detailed description.
By ~irtue of these elastic properties, a high degree of fleYv~l stiffness and particularly torsional stif~ness is achi~ved in the first portion 57 which is required to suppor~ the wheels, whilst relati~e re~ilience is ensured i~ the second portion 58 which performs the main function of protecting the web, conferring o~ the skate structu~e an im~roved capacity to ab~orb knocks as well to damp vibrations. The firs~ p~rti~n 57 may also be made of metal, pre~e~abl~ light alloy, for example, aluminlum alloy, so as to have a high modulus of elasticity with a low specl~ic ~eight.
The co-moulding of the first portion 57 with the second portion 58 with the use of different colours also enables colour combinations with a particular aesthetic effect to be achieved by virtue of the fact that ~he web 61 is visible through ~he hole3 65 ~Figure 12).

Figures 15 to 17 show a second embo~iment of an in-line roller-skate structure according to the invention, generally indicated 70, in which details similar ~o those of the previo~s embodiment are indicated by the same reference nu~erals.
The skate structure 10 differs f~om that of the pre~ious embodiment substantially in that the support 52 further comprises a third portion 71 co-moulded with the portions 57 and 58 and made of a material ha~ing a different modulus of elastici.ty andJor colour from those of the first and second portions. This portion 71 is preferably made of a material havin~ an modul~s of elasticity lower than ~he modulus of elasticity of the second portion 5~.
The third portion 71 extends so as to cover at least part of the web 61 of the first portion 57, the flange 62 of whic~, howe~er, is incorporated in the second portion 58, as shown in Figure 15.
The second portion 58 also has, on each ~ide wall 64, a respective appen~ge 72, the T-sectioned shape of which permits better anchorage, d~ring the co-moulding stage, to the first and third portions in which the appendage 72 remains incorporated.
The we~ 61 is visible through the windows 65 formed in the third portion 71 in the region of the two sides of the skate.
It will be appreciated that, ~y ~irtue o~ the greater elastic yielding capacity of the m~erial of which i~ is made, the third portion 71 extends so as to cover the ~heeks 59 of the first portion with the particular function of protecting the ~upport 52 again~t knocks to ~hich it is subjected during sports activitie~.
Amongst the advantages achieved by the invention, it should be mentioned, in particular that, by vlrtue of the technique of co-moulding the blade-holder/~heel-holder support by injection of two or more materials, it is possible to ~orm, in the skate support, regions having different physical ~nd resilience properties, suitably selected in depPn~ence on the specific requirements to be satisfied, which may also differ from one anot~er such a~, ror example, greater sti~fness in the region of the attachment of ~he blade or of the wheel support and relati~e resilience for absorbing knocks and vi~rations.
The use of ma~e~ials having different colou~s achieYes the further advantage of combining a cert~in ~esthetic effect with the improved perfo~ Inre which can be ~chie~ed for t~e skate.
Natu~ally, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, an expert in t~e art may apply to the ~bove-described skate structure ma~y m~difications and ~ariations all of which, however, are included within the scope o~
protection o~ the in~ention as defined by the follo~ing claims.

Claims (34)

1. A skate structure comprising running means for the skate and a support for the running means, for fixing to a footwear, characterized in that the support comprises a first portion associated with the running means and a second portion which can be fixed to the footwear, the first portion being at least partially incorporated in the second portion and being made of a material having a modulus of elasticity and/or a colour different from the modulus of elasticity and/or the colour of the material of which the second portion is made.

2. A skate structure according to Claim 1, in which the modulus of elasticity of the first portion is greater than the modulus of elasticity of the material of the second portion.

3. A skate structure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the second portion is made of plastics material.

4. A skate structure according to Claim 3, in which the first portion is also made of plastics material.

5. A skate structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first portion is co-moulded with the second portion.

6. A skate structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the modulus of elasticity of the first portion is greater than 5000 MPa.

7. A skate structure according to Claim 6, in which the modulus of elasticity of the first portion is greater than 15000 MPa.

8. A skate structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the modulus of elasticity of the second portion is less than 2500 MPa.

9. A skate structure according to Claim 8, in which the modulus of elasticity of the second portion is less than 1500 MPa.

10. A skate structure according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second portion comprises at least one window through which the first portion is visible.

11. A skate structure according to Claim 10, in which the second portion comprises a plurality of windows through which the first portion is visible.

12. A skate structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the support further comprises a third portion which extends so as to cover at least part of the first portion and is fixed to the second portion, the third portion being made of a material having an modulus of elasticity and/or a colour different from the modulus of elasticity and/or the colour of the first and second portions.

13. A skate structure according to Claim 12, in which the third portion is made of a material having a modulus of elasticity lower than the modulus of elasticity of the material of which the second portion is made.

14. A skate structure according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, in which the third portion is co-moulded with the first and second portions so as to form a unitary and substantially indivisible structure.

15. A skate structure according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, in which the modulus of elasticity of the third portion is below 1000 MPa.

16. A skate structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the running means comprise an ice-skating blade to be fixed to the support.

17. A skate structure according to Claim 16, in which the first portion comprises a web to one edge of which the blade is fixed and on the opposite edge of which a flange is formed substantially at right angles to the web.

18. A skate structure according to Claim 17, in which the second portion extends so as to cover the web even on the edge to which the blade is fixed.

19. A skate structure according to Claims 11 and 16, in which the windows are arranged at regular intervals.

20. A skate structure according to Claim 19, in which the windows are formed in the second portion in the region of the web of the first portion.

21. A skate structure according to one or more of Claims 16 to 20, in which the second portion defines at least one element for the attachment of the footwear, the first portion having, in the region of the at least one attachment element, extensions extending away from the blade into the attachment element.

22. A skate structure according to Claim 21, in which the extensions extend through only part of the attachment element.

23. A skate structure according to Claim 21 or Claim 22, in which the second portion defines two spaced-apart attachment elements between which a recess is defined, the extensions being restricted to the portions of the attachment elements facing the recess.

24. A skate structure according to any one of Claims 12 to 15 and 17, in which the third portion extends so as to cover the web, the flange being incorporated in the second portion.

25. A skate structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the second portion defines at least one attachment element, the support comprising a fourth portion extending from the at least one attachment element to define a respective cradle for housing the footwear, the fourth portion being made of a material having a modulus of elasticity and/or a colour different from the modulus of elasticity and/or the colour of at least one of the first and second portions.

26. A skate structure according to Claim 25, in which the modulus of elasticity of the fourth portion is lower than the modulus of elasticity of the second portion.

27. A skate structure according to Claim 25 or Claim 26, in which the fourth portion is co-moulded with the first, second and third portions.

28. A skate structure according to one or more of Claims 1 to 15, in which the running means comprise a plurality of aligned wheels supported for rotation on the support.

29. A skate structure according to Claim 28, in which the first portion comprises a pair of opposed cheeks connected to one another by transverse walls which define with the cheeks respective seats for housing the wheels.

30. A skate structure according to Claim 29, in which the second portion comprises an elongate body with opposed side walls, each side wall extending so as to cover the respective cheek up to the axles for the rotation of the wheels.

31. A skate structure according to Claim 29, in which each of the cheeks comprises a web on one edge of which a flange is formed substantially at right angles to the web, and in the opposite edge of which holes are formed for supporting the wheels for rotation.

32. A skate structure according to Claims 11 and 31, in which the windows are formed in the region of the holes.

33. A skate structure according to Claim 32, in which the windows are also formed in the second portion in positions between pairs of adjacent holes.

34. A skate structure according to Claim 29, in which the second portion comprises an appendage with a substantially T-shaped cross-section extending from each respective side wall and incorporated in the first and third portions.