Patent ID: 6120040
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: A43B,A63C

Abstract:
A roller skate having a shoe portion for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels, comprising:a base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the shoe portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the base including a heel region, a forefoot region, and a metatarsal head portion between the forefoot region and heel region; anda frame secured to an underside of the base at least below the forefoot region of the base such that the base can flex at the metatarsal head portion during skating to permit elevation of the skater's heel, the frame extending below the base and rotatably receiving the plurality of wheels, with at least one forward wheel disposed below the forefoot region of the base and at least one rearward wheel disposed below the heel region of the base, wherein the forefoot region of the base is rigid and the metatarsal head portion of the base defines a stress concentrating contour formed by a reduced material section, relative to the forefoot region and heel region, extending transversely substantially across the base underlying the metatarsal head of the received skater's foot that focuses flexure of the base at the metatarsal head portion.