WO1995005220A1

WO1995005220A1 - Roller skate arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO1995005220A1
Application number: PCT/FI1994/000347
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Anders Stenius
Original assignee: Per Anders Stenius
Priority date: 1993-08-11
Filing date: 1994-08-11
Publication date: 1995-02-23
Also published as: FI933545A; AU7461494A; FI933545A0

Abstract

The invention relates to a roller skate arrangement comprising shoes (8) and rotatable wheels (1) arranged under the respective bottoms (13) of said shoes (8). Said wheels are attached to a separate wheel bar (5) which may easily be detached and attached by inserting into a corresponding track arrangement in said respective shoe (8).

Description

Roller skate arrangement

The invention relates to a roller skate arrangement comprising a pair of shoes and rotatable wheels arranged under the bottom portion of each shoe, respectively.

Modern roller skates constitute, in the urban community and especially on asphalt surfaces, a favourable and effective transportation method. Especially the new so called "In-Line" roller skates, where a plurality of wheels are arranged suc¬ cessively in a tandem arrangement, have proven useful, since they permit an easy curving and fast movement without great effort or skill requirements. For the arrangement to be useful for daily life it will, however, be necessary to make the wheel system removable, in order to enable the user to move indoors, in staircases and so on.

In the prior art skates are known, which have an integral blade and shoe portion. Corresponding roller skates are also known, where the wheel system is integrally arranged at special shoes. Said shoes are rigid enough for the actual skating, but they are practically unusable in any other con¬ nections, because the wheels are essentially fixed to the shoe.

Skates for use on ice are also known, where the edge portion is fixed to a base portion comprising, on one hand, a bayonet coupling for co-operation with a corresponding coupling piece in the shoe heel, and, on the other hand, movable side pieces used for clamping the apparatus against the edges of the shoe sole. Such an apparatus may be used together with conventional shoes of especially stable and durable type, but the bayonet coupling piece in the heel, and the general rugged character of the shoes restrict the usability.

The object of the invention is to avoid said drawbacks and to present a shoe and wheel combination having the wheels ar- ranged easily detachable from said shoes, which thereafter are fully usable as shoes for normal utility. When the conditions permit the wheel system should be, in a corresponding manner, easily and securely attachable to the shoes.

According to the invention the said object is achieved in accordance with the appended claims. Thus the invention is characterized by said wheels being attached to a separate wheel bar, which by insertion into a corresponding track system in said shoe may be easily connected to said shoe and correspondingly detached therefrom.

The invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawing, where

Fig 1 shows a wheel bar according to one embodiment of the invention,

Fig 2 shows a view from below of a shoe having a track system according to one embodiment of the invention, and

Fig 3 shows a section of a wheel bar and the lower portion of a shoe, said parts being attached to each other ac¬ cording to one embodiment of the invention.

According to Figure 1 one embodiment of the invention com¬ prises a plurality of sequentially arranged wheels 1 known per se, which wheels are arranged to be essentially freely rotatable on wheel shafts 2, said wheels being suitably kept in place by resilient locking discs 3, which are known in the art and are located in grooves. The apparatus may further comprise a separate brake block 4 of any known type. According to the invention said wheels 1, as well as eventional brake blocks 4 and any additional skating installations, are at¬ tached to a separate wheel bar generally indicated as 5. Said wheel bar 5 comprises side portions, generally indicated as 6, to which said wheel shafts 2 are connected, as well as pre¬ ferably longitudinally running bar portions 7, which suitably by their shape adapt to corresponding portions arranged at the bottom portion 9 of a respective shoe 8. According to Figure 2 said shoe suitably comprises a track arrangement 10 for receiving said wheel bar 5. Said track arrangement 10 is suitably buried in the plane of the shoe sole 11, which most clearly can be seen in Figure 3. Said track system 10 is suitably arranged so that said wheel bar 5 may be pushed in in a direction essentially parallel to said plane of said shoe sole 11, suitably in the general longi¬ tudinal direction of said shoe 8, as can be seen in Figure 3.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said track arrangement 10 of said shoe comprises successive in¬ dependent track portions 12 arranged in a spaced apart arrange¬ ment. The generally U-shaped projections of said track portions 12 and essentially aligned in the insertion di¬ rection, so that the cross sections of at least those track portions, which are located between the outermost track portions 12a and 12b in principle correspond to the cross section according to Figure 3, or any other cross section type having the same technical function. The embodiment shown, having spaced apart arranged track portions 12, is especially favourable, since said wheel bar 5 in roller skate use will give said shoe 8 a desired rigidity, while the bottom portion 13 of said shoe 8, in normal use without an attached wheel bar 5, is as flexible as any normal shoe. A special resilient cover bar may be provided for insertion in said track arrange¬ ment 10, in order to cover said track portions 12, 12a, 12b when said wheel bar 5 is removed.

From Figures 1 and 3 it will be evident, that said wheel bar 5 suitably comprises grooved longitudinal portions 7 intended for co-operation with corresponding portions 7a in said shoe track system 10. Said portions 7, 7a suitably comprise pro¬ trusions 14, 15 and recesses 16, respectively. At the in¬ sertion of said wheel bar 5 said protrusions 14, 15 slide in said recesses 16 in a shape-to-shape engaging manner and thus lock said wheel bar 5 to said track system 10 in said shoe, in directions which are distinguished from the insertion di- rection. Figure 3 shows an embodiment where said track system 10 of said shoe 8 comprises track profiles 12 having, in cross section, a general U-shape, with longitudinally running pro¬ trusions 15, while the locking track portion of said wheel bar 5 or an intermediate piece 18 has a generally H-, T- or I- shaped cross section and longitudinally running grooves 16, which co-operate with said protrusions 15. Of course, the cross sections of said track profiles may also be different from the shown shape as long as they co-operate for keeping said bar and track in a mutually stable position.

Said track system 10 and/or said wheel bar 5 suitably com¬ prises special locking means 17 for mutual locking of said wheel bar 5 in a desired inserted position in said track system 10. Said locking means suitably comprise spring biased pins or the like elements, which are known per se.

Said wheel bar 5 as a whole is suitably generally U-shaped with downwards projecting open legs 19, 19a. Said legs 19, 19a may be integrally attached to an intermediate piece 18, or they may be separately connected thereto, for instance by riveting or the like method. Figure 1 shows an embodiment, where the side portions 6 of said wheel bar 5 simultaneously constitute said legs 19, 19a, which in the shown embodiment are un-interrupted and conformingly extending. According to another, lighter embodiment said legs are cut between said wheels 1, said legs thus only comprising downwards projecting successive paired protrusions, which constitute separate attachment points for said wheel shafts 2.

Said shafts 2 for said wheels 1 are inserted transversely through said legs 19, 19a. Said shafts 2 are suitably detachable and said wheels 1 interchangeable, favourably by removing said locking discs 3 or the like. At a so called "In- ine" arrangement said wheels 1 are suitably centered between said legs 19, 19a with the aid of discs 20, bearings or the like devices, which are known per se. One advantage provided by the arrangement according to the invention is that said wheels 1 may easily be arranged between said legs 19, 19a of said U-bar (in a so called "In-Line" arrangement, shown in solid line in Figure 3) , as well as outside said legs 19, 19a (in a "classic" wheel arrangement la, shown in phantom in Figure 3) . Combinations of such ar¬ rangements are also possible (see Figure 1) . Hereby one suitably uses mutually interchangeable wheel shafts 2, 2a of different length, which in Figure 3 is shown in phantom. In this manner the user himself may choose the wheel arrangement, so that novices and elderly persons, for example, may use parallel wheels. Later, with increasing skill, they may change to a monowheel arrangement (so called "In-Line") , which provide improved curving properties.

In use the roller skates according to the invention will differ only unsignificantly from normal roller skates, but they will have the special advantage, that the complete wheel arrangement may be detached, whereafter the shoes may be used as normal shoes and the wheel arrangement carried, for instance, in a strap on ones belt. The circumstances allowing, the wheel arrangement may be easily attached under the shoes and then the travel can be continued in a faster manner.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment according to the drawing enclosed, it is obvious for the average expert, that invention also comprises other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A roller skate arrangement comprising shoes (8) and rotatable wheels (1) arranged under their respective bottom portions (13), c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said wheels (1) being attached to a separate wheel bar (5) , which is adapted for being pushed into a corresponding track arrangement in each shoe (8) , respectively, so as to be easily attached to or detached from said shoe (8) .

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d by said shoe (8) comprising a track system (10) for receiving said wheel bar (5) , said track system (10) suitably being buried under the plane of the shoe sole (11) , and ar¬ ranged so that said wheel bar (5) may be inserted into said track system (10) in a direction essentially parallel to said shoe sole (1) plane, suitably in the generally longitudinal direction of said shoe (8) .

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d by said track system (10) of said shoe (8) com¬ prising successive track portions (12, 12a, 12b) arranged in spaced apart relationship, the suitably generally U-shaped projections of said portions being essentially aligned in the inserting direction.

4. An arrangement according to claim l to 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d by said wheel bar (5) comprising grooved longi¬ tudinally running portions (7, 14, 16) intended for co¬ operation with corresponding portions (7a, 15) in said track system (10) of said shoe (8) , for thus locking said wheel bar (5) to said track system (10) of said shoe (8) in directions distinguished from said inserting direction.

5. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said track system (10) of said shoe (8) and/or said wheel bar (5) comprising separate locking means (17) for locking said wheel bar (5) in a desired in¬ serted position in said track system (10) .

6. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said wheel bar (5) being general¬ ly U-shaped and having downwards extending open legs (19, 19a) , and by shafts (2) for said wheels (1) being inserted transversely through said legs (19, 19a) .

7. An arrangement according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d by said shafts (8) being detachable and said wheels (1) being interchangeable, suitably by removing locking discs (3) or the like.

8. An arrangement according to any one of claims 6 or 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by wheels (1) being arrangable both between said legs (19, 19a) of said U-shaped wheel bar (5) as well as outside said legs (19, 19a), suitably by using shafts

(2, 2a) of different length.