Patent ID: 6237923
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: A63C

Abstract:
A skate including a boot portion having a base portion and a boot, a first member pivotably connected at an upper longitudinal end thereof to the base portion, a second member pivotably connected at an upper longitudinal end thereof to the base portion and pivotably connected to the first member, a first wheel mounted on the first member at a lower longitudinal end thereof, a drive wheel mounted on the second member at a lower longitudinal end thereof, the drive wheel having a concentrically mounted pinion, and an elongate driving mechanism pivotably connected to the boot portion and adapted to operatively engage with the pinion, the skate being movable between an expanded configuration wherein the base portion is spaced from the first wheel and the drive wheel and a contracted configuration wherein the base portion is adjacent the first wheel and the drive wheel, the arrangement being such that when the skate moves from the expanded configuration to the contracted configuration, the base portion remains substantially parallel to a plane passing through the axes of rotation of the first wheel and the drive wheel and the driving mechanism effects rotation of the pinion and thereby transfers a propulsion force to the drive wheel.