EP0990454A2

EP0990454A2 - Skate

Info

Publication number: EP0990454A2
Application number: EP99116806A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Gorza
Original assignee: Benetton Group SRL
Current assignee: Benetton Group SRL
Priority date: 1998-09-30
Filing date: 1999-09-01
Publication date: 2000-04-05
Also published as: ITTV980039U1; IT245533Y1; EP0990454A3; CA2284046A1

Abstract

A skate constituted by a frame (5) detachably connected to a soft shoe (2). The frame (5) is divided into a first frame portion (7) and a second frame portion (12) which are mutually articulated so as to allow to perform optimum skating and to use the shoe for normal walking.

Description

The present invention relates to a skate such as an in-line roller skate or an ice-skate.
Skates are known which are constituted by a shoe, for example produced by injection-molding plastics, which is associated with a frame for supporting wheels.
The problem that has arisen regarding the use of these skates is constituted by the fact that they can be used only for skating, accordingly forcing the user to remove, before putting on the skates, the shoes he or she wears for normal walking.
As a partial solution to this drawback, an in-line roller skate is known which is marketed by the Italian company MGM under the trademark "Hypno" made of a shoe which can be detached from a wheel supporting frame.
At the frame there is an engagement element, such as a pin, for a grip element which is constituted by a laminar element arranged below the sole of the shoe. The shoe is locked with respect to the frame by means of an H-shaped rod to the rear of frame. The H-shaped rod has ends which are transversely pivoted to the frame at one end and transversely pivoted, at the other end, to a lever which interacts with a suitable element which is associated with the shoe.
The various drawbacks that can be noted in this type of skate include structural complexity and the fact that it requires several operations in order to connect the shoe to the frame. Moreover, such skate is expensive because of the large number of parts or elements used both in the shoe and in the frame.
This structural complexity and therefore the large number of components require a large number of processing steps for the production and full assembly of the skate and the final cost and weight of the skate are accordingly high. Finally, it can be uncomfortable to walk with the shoe due to the laminar element located below the sole.
The aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned technical problems of the above-cited prior art.
An object of the invention is to provide a skate which is structurally simple and accordingly more economic with respect to the cited prior art.
An important object is to provide a skate which allows to use shoes normally usable for walking and which at the same time has such properties to allow optimum transmission of forces from the shoe to the wheels or to an ice-skating blade together with high comfort for the user.
Another object is to provide a skate which is reliable and safe in use and can be manufactured with conventional machines and equipment.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a skate, characterized in that it comprises at least a first frame portion and a second frame portion which are mutually articulated, each portion being provided with means for detachable connection to a soft shoe.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side view of the skate associated with a shoe, in the condition in which all the wheels rest on the ground;
Figure 2 is a side view, similar to the preceding one but in a thrusting condition, in which the second frame portion is raised from the ground;
Figure 3 is a view similar to the preceding ones and wherein the shoe is associated at the first frame portion and disengaged from the second frame portion;
Figure 4 is a side view similar to the preceding ones of a first step for the connection of the shoe to the first frame portion or for the disengagement and subsequent separation of the shoe from the frame.
With reference to the above Figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a skate assembly including a shoe 2 of the soft type, which is accordingly of the type that comprises a soft upper 3 below which a sole 4, made for example of nonrigid plastics or rubber, is associated.
The skate also comprises a frame 5 for supporting wheels 6 or one or more ice-skating blades (not illustrated in the drawings). The frame is constituted by a first frame portion 7 which has a first substantially flat base 8 for supporting the toe region of the foot and the region of the sole of the shoe. The first frame portion 7 is substantially shaped like an inverted U and forms first wings 9 between which two mutually in-line wheels 6 are pivoted.
At the front end of the first frame portion 7 there is a connection means for temporary connection to the sole 4 of the shoe 2. The connection means is constituted by a ring 10 which protrudes from the first base 8 and is arranged transversely thereto.
The tip 11 of the sole 4 interacts with the ring 10. A seat for the ring is optionally provided in the tip.
The frame 5 also comprises a second frame portion 12 which is again substantially shaped like an inverted U which forms second wings 13 between which two wheels 6, for example, are pivoted and therefore also arranged mutually in-line.
A braking pad 14 may be associated with one end of the second frame portion 12.
The second frame portion 12 also has a second base 15 for supporting the heel region 16 and the plantar arch region 17 of the sole 4 of the shoe 2.
Two tabs 18 protrude from the second wings toward the tip 11. The free end of the tabs is pivoted at the first base 8 and/or at the first wings 9 of the first frame portion 7 by means of a pivot 19.
Two arms 20a and 20b are associated at the second base 15, at the opposite end with respect to the tabs 18, and are adapted to pivot a lever 21. A first end 22 of lever 21 is located at a perimetric lip 23 which protrudes to the rear of the sole 4.
In order to allow optimum positioning of the lever 21, and therefore prevent its accidental disengagement from the perimetric lip 23, a connecting member, such as a band 25, for temporary connection to the upper 3, whose free ends can be mutually tightened at the foot instep region 26, is associated at the second free end 24 of the lever.
Therefore, during skating, the frame adapts perfectly to the movements and flexing actions of the foot because of the hinge or fulcrum between the first frame portion and the second frame portion and thanks to the use of a soft shoe.
Whenever a skater decides to stop skating, he can remove the frame simply by loosening the band 25 and disengaging the lever 21 from the perimetric lip 23 of the sole 4 and then disengage the tip 11 from the ring 10.
The user can thus walk without any problem and can start skating again by performing the above described sequence in reverse.
The use of a shoe with a nonrigid sole is indispensable, since the articulation between the first frame portion and the second frame portion entails, when the second frame portion is raised during thrusting, a compression of said sole, which compresses and accordingly compensates for the variation in the space between the ring 10 and the lever 21.
A semirigid or rigid sole, or a sole which otherwise cannot be compressed during thrusting can optionally be used by assuming that the pivot 19 for the mutual pivoting of the first frame portion and of the second frame portion is contained for example at a suitable slotted seat formed in the first frame portion and interacts in contrast with a flexible element which is suitable to compensate for the variation in the length of the chord between said ring 10 and said lever 21.
As an alternative, it is possible to provide similar or equivalent mechanisms located in a chosen region of the frame.
Advantageously, it is further possible to provide at least one elastic element 27 for mutually connecting the first frame portion and the second frame portion in order to avoid the free rotation of said frame portions if the shoe is not present and give greater stability to the frame.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a frame having been provided which is structurally very simple, allows maximum freedom of use whenever the user wishes to use it and also allows to use a leisure shoe for skating as well.
The articulation between the first frame portion and the second frame portion allows optimum adaptation thereof to the movement of the foot throughout sports practice, also improving performance.
The materials and the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention may of course be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. TV98U000039 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Skate, characterized in that it comprises at least one first frame portion and one second frame portion which are mutually articulated, each frame portion being provided with connecting means for detachable connection to a soft shoe.
The skate according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one first and second frame portions are mutually articulated in a region that lies below the metatarsus.
The skate according to claim 1, characterized in that said first frame portion has a first substantially flat base for supporting the toe region of the foot and the sole of the shoe and is substantially shaped like an inverted U which forms first wings between which wheels or an ice-skating blade are pivoted, a means for temporary connection to said sole being provided at the front end of said first frame portion, said means being constituted by a ring which protrudes from said first base, is arranged transversely thereto and interacts selectively with the tip of said sole.
The skate according to claim 3, characterized in that said second frame portion is substantially shaped like an inverted U which forms second wings between which wheels or an ice-skating blade are pivoted, said second frame portion having a second base for supporting the heel and plantar arch region of said sole, two tabs protruding from said second wings toward said tip, the free end of said tabs being pivoted at said first base and/or at said first wings of said first frame portion by a pivot.
The skate according to claim 4, characterized in that two arms for pivoting a lever are associated at said second base at the opposite end with respect to said tabs, said lever having a first end which is located at a perimetric lip which protrudes to the rear of said sole.
The skate according to claim 5, characterized in that a connecting member for temporary connection to said upper is associated at the second free end of said lever.
The skate according to claim 6, characterized in that said temporary connection element is constituted by a band whose free ends can be mutually tightened at the foot instep region.
The skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that if said sole is of the semirigid or rigid type or otherwise unable to be compressed during thrusting, there are means which are suitable to compensate for the variation in the length of the chord between said ring and said lever during flexing, such as a flexible element arranged within a slot which accommodates said pivot for the mutual pivoting of said first and second frame portions.
The skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second frame portions are mutually connected by at least one elastic element.