Patent ID: 6481724
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: A63C

Abstract:
Apparatus for converting an in-line-roller skate-boot for use as an ice-skate-boot, wherein the apparatus is so structured as to be suitable for use with a skate-boot having the following characteristics:the skate-boot has left and right support-rails, integrated into the structure of the skate-boot; the left and right support-rails extend from front to rear of the skate-boot, and have opposed left and right inwards-facing surfaces, disposed in a spaced-apart parallel relationship; the support-rails are so structured as to carry a number N of rollers, in-line; in respect of each of the N rollers: the roller is provided with a spindle-rod of diameter D inches; the spindle-rod straddles between the left and right support-rails, and passes through spindle-through-holes in the support-rails; the roller has a bearing, which includes a non-rotating inner-race-structure; the non-rotating inner-race-structure fits over the spindle-rod, and has left and right end-faces, which are spaced an axial width W inches apart, overall; the left and right support-rails each have N spindle-through-holes, which carry the spindles that support the N rollers; in respect of each of the N spindle-through-holes in the support-rails: the inwards-facing surface of the left support-rail includes a marginal annular left-cheek, and the inwards-facing surface of the right support-rail includes a marginal annular right-cheek; the left and right support-rails are so configured that the left-cheek and the right-cheek are spaced a distance WW inches apart; the distance WW between the cheeks is so related to the width W of the non-rotating inner-race-structure, that the left and right cheeks can be drawn together, and can be clamped thereby into tight contact with the left and right end-faces of the non-rotating inner-race-structure; the spindle-rod includes clamping-means, for clamping the cheeks of the left and right rails tightly against the end faces of the non-rotating inner-race-structure; the front-rear distance between a frontmost one of the spindle-through-holes and a rearmost one of the spindle-through-holes is between FRmax and FRmin inches; the apparatus includes an ice-skate adapter unit, comprising a blade-chassis and a skate-blade, which has the following characteristics; the blade-chassis has N chassis-through-holes, corresponding to the N spindle-through-holes of the support-rails; the N chassis-through-holes are so dimensioned that the N spindle-rods can pass respectively therethrough; in respect of each of the chassis-through-holes, the blade-chassis has left and right, outwards-facing, parallel side-walls, which are annularly marginal to the chassis-through-holes; the distance apart of the outwards-facing side-walls of the blade-chassis is equal to W inches; the blade chassis has a downwards-opening blade-channel, with side-faces and a roof; an ice-blade has an upper edge, which is engaged against the roof of the blade-channel; the adapter unit includes a means for attaching the ice-blade into the blade-chassis, and for preventing the ice-blade from moving longitudinally along the blade-channel, and for preventing the ice-blade from falling out of the blade-channel; the blade chassis is of such robust structure as to provide support of the ice-blade relative to the skate-boot, during skating; the blade-chassis is of plastic material; with respect to each of the N spindle-through-holes: the roof of the blade-channel lies underneath and below the chassis-through-hole; a dimension of the blade-chassis relates to the said roof of the blade-channel and to the chassis-through-hole, and is the distance Q, being the length of the shortest line that can be drawn, wholly through the material of the chassis, from the roof to the chassis-through-hole; a support-zone of the material of the blade-chassis lies around, and includes, the distance Q; the structure of the chassis is such that, in use, the force of the weight of the skater passes from the roof of the blade-channel to the chassis-through-hole, and to the spindle-rod therein, through the said support-zone; the distance Q is a large enough distance that the said support-zone of the material of the chassis, between the roof and the chassis-through-hole, is characterised as thick and stocky; the support-zone is thick and stocky to the extent that the weight of the skater becomes well-distributed along the length of the spindle-rod, the support-zone is thick and stocky to the extent that the weight of the skater is spread over a large enough volume of the plastic material of the chassis that the stresses induced in the plastic material by the weight of the skater are well below the level the plastic material can support without damage.