Abstract:
A body roller suit ( 1 ) containing a plurality of rollers ( 20 ) wherein a wearer&#39;s body can roll along the ground or other surface. More particularly, the body roller suit contains a distribution of rollers ( 20 ) such that a wearer lying on a surface would be supported entirely by rollers ( 20 ). Additional apparel and equipment can be worn for safety and control while using the body roller suit ( 1 ). The invention further relates to methods for producing a roller suit ( 1 ).

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to apparel and equipment worn to provide rolling surfaces over a plurality of areas of a user&#39;s body and additional apparel providing protection and frictional surfaces for directing, producing, retarding or stopping motion. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Very often particular apparel or equipment is worn in order to enhance the performance of certain tasks. For example, many athletes wear clothing that is designed to reduce drag coefficients, such as swimmers or skier&#39;s. Also, workers sometimes wear equipment that allows them to more easily perform their job, such as a painter that puts on stilts in order to reach a ceiling or a coal-miner that wears a helmet with a light. 
     Currently, there exists apparel that is designed to have low friction surfaces, such as is described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,057 to Gunn. These garments are intended to either protect the skin or reduce, to a limited extent, normal frictional coefficients either between the wearer&#39;s body and the garment or between the garment and exterior surfaces, objects or fluids. These low friction garments are generally intended to prevent injuries that might be caused by sudden or abrupt stops when an individual&#39;s body is made to slide on a hard surface at high speeds. Also, these low friction garments are additionally intended to minimize drag coefficients through fluids such as air or water, in order to maximize athletic performance. 
     Additionally, it is known that protective yet functional equipment, such as rolling kneepads are available that provide protection and mobility to the wearer while still on his or her knees. U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,774 to Legenstein and U.S. Pat. No. 2,484,494 to Ferguson disclose just such rolling kneepads. This type of equipment is generally intended solely for workers and is limited to providing rolling mobility to a user on his or her knees. 
     The prior art does not disclose apparel or equipment that provides rolling surfaces over a substantial portion of a wearer&#39;s body and particularly on a user&#39;s upper body. Further, the prior art does not disclose a roller suit that includes additional apparel providing protection and frictional surfaces for directing, producing, retarding and stopping motion 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention there is presented a body suit that contains a plurality of rollers wherein a wearer&#39;s body can roll along a surface. More particularly, the roller suit can contain a distribution of rollers such that a wearer lying on a surface would be supported substantially by those rollers. The invention also relates to apparel and equipment worn for safety and control while using the roller suit. The invention further relates to methods for producing a roller suit. 
     It is a principle object of this invention to provide equipment and apparel which will facilitate a user&#39;s ability to roll along the ground or any surface desired. A further object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a body suit that contains a plurality of rollers that are selectively distributed over a body suit in order to support a user&#39;s weight and provide efficient rolling capability. It is another object of this invention to provide a method of producing a roller suit using a combination of soft cushioning materials and more rigid structures to support rollers. It is yet another object of the invention to provide equipment and apparel which contains a plurality of rollers and other surfaces for not only rolling on a surface, but controlling the speed and direction of travel along that surface. 
     One of the key elements to the invention relates to providing an efficient means for a wearer to roll along surfaces, that is incorporated into that wearer&#39;s apparel. Whether for entertainment or to accomplish tasks more easily the invention has numerous applications. 
     Another element of the instant invention is the location of rollers, which are strategically placed on the suit in order to support evenly a wearer&#39;s body while rolling. The rollers should be positioned in order to allow the wearer to make various body movements, while rolling, that do not unintentionally retard rolling. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, sufficient padding and protective gear can be provided in order to ensure the safety and comfort of a wearer. Equipment, such as a helmet, gloves, shoes and other gear can be used as part of the instant invention. Special gloves and shoes or shoe covers should be provided for steering, propulsion, positioning and breaking. Also, specific areas of the suit are provided with rigid plates designed to distribute impact loads felt by the users. Further, it is anticipated that padding would be provided in the suit in order to enhance the comfort to the wearer. Further still, the instant invention can include portions of the roller suit that provide ventilation or cooling. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the roller suit should be adjustable in order to accommodate wearers of different sizes, proportions and shapes. The adjustments would allow a wearer to make the suit tighter or looser in various parts of the body as they desire. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, additional roller bearings can be added to the suit to provide additional roller support. Also, it is anticipated that the instant invention can be constructed with fewer rollers as desired. The use of fewer rollers could reduce the overall cost of constructing the suit as well as making the suit lighter and thus more comfortable. Further, it is anticipated that certain applications for the suit might not require rollers in particular areas, such as either the entire front or back. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Those and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a roller suit in accordance with the instant invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of a roller suit in accordance with the instant invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the roller suit of the instant invention, without the outer shell. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the roller suit of the instant invention, without the outer shell. 
     FIGS. 5A-C demonstrate an alternate embodiment of the instant invention including shoulder, elbow and helmet rollers. 
     FIGS. 6A-C demonstrate an alternate embodiment of the instant invention including shoulder, elbow and helmet braking pads. 
     FIG. 7 is a relief view of a strap assembly, without an outer shell, as it loops through the foam padding and a rigid support plate. 
     FIG. 8 is a relief view of an alternate embodiment of a strap assembly, without an outer shell, as it attaches to a rigid support plate using a rivet assembly. 
     FIG. 9 is a partially disassembled detail view of the area surrounding the roller assembly used in the instant invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a roller bearing in an alternatively shaped cover unit. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a roller bearing in a support socket without its cover unit. 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a roller bearing and its support structure, including a conical cover unit. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a roller bearing assembly. 
     FIGS. 14 is a side view of a user applying a padded glove to a surface. 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a padded glove assembly. 
     FIGS. 16,  17 A,B &amp;  18  A,B show side views of additional alternate embodiments of the glove pads. 
     FIGS. 19A-M show alternate embodiments of the glove with varied pad configurations. 
     FIGS. 20A-I demonstrate various embodiments of padded footwear. 
     FIGS. 21A &amp; 21B show views of a user applying different parts of padded footwear to a surface. 
     FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the left and right side of padded footwear in at least one embodiment. 
     FIG. 23 shows a user simultaneously applying two padded portions of one shoe to a surface. 
     FIGS. 24A-C show side views of three different phases for one embodiment of footwear padding as it is being donned by a user over standard footwear. 
     FIGS. 25A-C show top views of three different phases for one embodiment of footwear padding as it is being donned by a user over standard footwear. 
     FIG. 26 shows various coupling means for multiple users of the instant invention to maintain, impart or retard movement in unison. 
     FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a roller suit worn by a user in the prone position. 
     FIG. 28 is a side view of one embodiment of the instant invention worn by a user in the prone position. 
     FIGS. 29A-F are alternative embodiments for roller placement and body suit layout. 
     FIGS. 30 &amp; 31 front and rear views, respectively, of an alternate embodiment of the instant invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As indicated above, the present invention is a body suit, which includes a plurality of rollers and some frictional and protective surfaces which will allow the user to roll along a surface. In an effort to provide a safe, comfortable and effective means for a user to actively roll in various positions the instant invention anticipates numerous configurations of rollers and pads. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show the front and back view of a roller suit according to the instant invention and particularly the outermost layer of the suit. Similarly, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the front and back view of a roller suit with the outer shell removed and thus show the inner layers of the suit. The roller suit  1  is comprised of several layers. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the innermost layer  2 , intended to be in contact with a wearer&#39;s skin or undergarments  10 , consists of foam padding. This foam padding innermost layer provides a cushion means that adds to the wearer&#39;s comfort and distributes or dampens impact loads on the wearer&#39;s body. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outermost layer or exterior shell  3 , is a flexible and durable material that covers most of the wearer&#39;s body. This outer layer or covering means can vary in terms of thickness, color and style of material used in order to accommodate user preferences. Many aesthetic considerations can go into the outer layer. Additional inner layers include rigid support plates  50 - 53 ,  60 - 63 ,  70 - 72  which are used to support the roller bearing assembly and distribute impact loads over a broad area of a wearer&#39;s body. These rigid support means can be made of numerous materials that are capable of withstanding localized impact loads several times the weight of a user. These plates are distributed to accommodate roller bearing assembly  20  locations. In particular, in the front portion of the suit, plate  50  supports the chest area,  51  supports the torso area,  52  supports the mid-section and plates  53  support the wearer&#39;s leg, although located in the thigh region. In the rear portion of the suit plate  60  supports the upper back,  61  supports the lower back, plates  62  support the buttock area and plates  63  support wearer&#39;s legs although located in the calf region. On each side of the user&#39;s body plates  70 ,  71 , and  72  support the latissimus, hip and upper thigh regions respectively. The support plates can be sewn into the fabric of the outer shell  3 . Also, the support plates can be interconnected through a series of support straps  40 - 49  in order to minimize the strain of shifting plates on the outer shell  3 . These straps provide positioning means in that they connect the plates and keep them snug and in position on the wearer&#39;s body by passing through holes  510  in the support plates as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 8, a rigid end fitting  520  along with a rivot  525  can be used to fix the straps to the support plates. In the preferred embodiment, it is anticipated that some of these straps will be a fixed length while others will be adjustable. In particular, providing straps  43 , and  46 - 48  as fixed length straps could allow the suit to accommodate various sized users while reducing the number of adjustable straps necessary for the suit to still be adaptable to most users. Various adjustment means are anticipated including buckles and Velcro fastening. Velcro would be particularly useful in locations, such as for straps  44  and  49 , where less bulk would be more comfortable. Although all or no straps could be adjustable the preferred embodiment tries to minimize the adjustable straps for simplicity and cost reduction. 
     Additionally, the layers of the roller suit  1  are designed to contain voids or ventilation areas  200  and  201 . These ventilation areas are created by the absence of the foam or other material of which the inner layer is made. 
     As seen in FIGS. 5A-C alternate embodiments of the instant invention are anticipated that use shoulder  73 , elbow  74 ,  75  and helmet  101  roller assemblies and plates with corresponding additional straps  410 ,  420 . Further as seen in FIGS. 6A-C, these same areas could be provided with braking pads  730 ,  740 ,  750  and  755  as additional means for the individual to control his or her movements. These braking pads  730 ,  740 ,  750  and  755  provide frictional engagement means for controlling movements of the suit. Such pads can impart, retard or merely control movement and rolling engagement of the suit. Combinations of these two embodiments using additional roller assemblies and braking pads are anticipated. In fact, virtually every location that uses a roller could potentially be designed to alternatively include a braking pad and visa-versa. 
     As seen in FIG. 9, the roller bearing assemblies  20  provide rolling means for the suit and are fixed to a support plate  50  but protrude through the outer shell  3 . FIG. 10 demonstrates a conical transition shell  300 , which protects the bearing socket  21  (seen in FIG. 11) while leaving the ball bearing  22  exposed. This embodiment also provides a less industrial appearance to the whole roller bearing assembly  20 . FIG. 12 illustrates one possible bearing socket  21  design that includes sub-bearings  220  to further reduce frictional coefficients. The support plate  50  is fixed to the foam padding  2  by either adhesives, stitching  215  or fasteners  211 ,  212  as seen in FIGS. 9 and 13. Such fasteners can be a nut and bolt assembly, rivets or other known fasteners. Also, the inner layer of foam padding  2  can be comprised of multiple layers. It is anticipated that as with composite materials, different types of foam can be used for the layers in order to take advantage of the properties of the selected materials and provide comfort, durability, flexibility and support. 
     Additional accessories or equipment can be used as part of the instant invention, such as gloves  80 , shoes or shoe pads  90  and a helmet  100 . FIGS. 19A-M demonstrate some basic glove designs with varied pad shapes and configurations. The most basic glove, as seen in FIG. 14, includes a large rubber pad  81 , a rigid wrist guard member  82 , and a foam neoprene layer  83  in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin. FIGS. 16,  17 A,B and  18  A,B demonstrate some of the advantages of alternate glove pad embodiments. Separate smaller pads  811  provide more flexibility in the glove as can be seen in FIGS. 17B and 18B. Additionally, smaller pads of different heights  812 - 816  as seen in FIGS. 16,  18 A and  18 B allow a user to apply differing degrees of friction to the underlying rolling surface. 
     FIGS. 20-25 demonstrate various embodiments of padded shoes that could assist a user of the roller suit  1 . Although a customized shoe or sneaker can be created in accordance with FIGS. 20A-I,  21 A,B,  22  and  23 , the padded surfaces  91  also could be added to standard shoes and sneakers. Like rubber galoshes, a padded protective outerwear may be applied to standard  2 ″) footwear that provides similar benefits as the custom shoe at a drastically reduced cost. FIGS. 21A,  21 B and  23  demonstrate how the padded surfaces can be used by a wearer. FIG. 22 demonstrates how the pads can be different on each side of the footwear for a right and left shoe or shoe cover. FIGS. 24A-C and  25 A-B show a side view and a top view, respectively, of one embodiment of a shoe cover. In this embodiment of the protective shoecover, the front  92  and back  93  portions can be adjusted or secured onto standard footwear  95  by using the securing mechanisms  94 . Although the securing mechanism can be something simple such as a strap and buckle configuration, it could also involve a more modem securing mechanism such as the buckles commonly used on ski boots. The buckle or securing mechanism should be designed to as to not protrude more than the pads provided on the front and back portions, so that they will not catch on surfaces or obstruct performance. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the current invention it is anticipated that multiple users might wear roller suits and use them together. In the same way that skydivers often couple or hang-on to one anther so too can users of the roller suit. Also, another individual not wearing such a suit might want to grab onto a roller suit user to either stop or start the roller suit user rolling. As seen in FIG. 26, coupling means such as the padded areas  1100 ,  1200  provide a surface that can be grabbed by another user. Numerous such surfaces should be provided so as to give users alternate locations on which to hang-on. Alternatively, coupling means could involve a plastic loop  1300  or other mechanism for securing a strap or tether  1350 . Providing a quick-releasing type mechanism for such a strap or tether  1350  would provide safety, allow the users to maintain a hands-free connection and allow the users to separate when needed. It is further anticipated that the strap or tether could comprise an elastic band. 
     It is anticipated that numerous fabrics could be used for the interior foam padding  2  and the exterior shell  3 , such as polyester, cotton, rubber or foam neoprene. Considerations in selecting a fabric would include cost, protection to the wearer, durability, flexibility, comfort, style and ease to work with in suit assembly. 
     It is further anticipated that the bearing assembly support plates  50 - 53 ,  60 - 63 ,  70 - 72  could be constructed using more or less material than is shown herein. Although the use of more material would distribute the impact loads to a broader area, this would also drive up manufacturing costs and could also further restrict user mobility. The use of less material could have the opposite effect. It is anticipated that through experimentation and use of the instantly disclosed roller suit and obvious variations thereof, the size, shape and location of the bearing assembly support plates could be adjusted for comfort, efficiency and particular applications of the roller suit and accessories. This same principal applies to the distribution and location of roller assemblies  20 . Experimentation and use will likely indicate alterations in the roller assembly locations based on functional characteristics as well as aesthetic considerations. It is further anticipated the roller assemblies  20  could vary in size throughout the suit in order to similarly provide proper support and performance to a user. 
     FIGS. 30 and 31 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the instant invention that is dedicated to providing the rolling surfaces only on one side of a user&#39;s body. The particular embodiment shown demonstrates rolling surfaces on the user&#39;s back. Such an embodiment could be particularly useful to a mechanic or any individual who needs to slide into a tight area on his or her back. This embodiment has many benefits over the traditional rolling dolly. For example, a worker using a dolly could have problems with it being not in the correct position on the worker&#39;s back. What is more, if the user repeatedly gets on and off the dolly it would have to be readjusted every time the use it. The roller suit could be easily donned and worn throughout the day, thus avoiding the problems of a dolly. 
     FIGS. 30 and 31 demonstrate alternative straps  4000 ,  4100 ,  4200 ,  4600  and  4800 . The strap  4000  is intended to be worn like the straps commonly found on a backpack, with an additional stabilizing buckle  4010 . The stabilizing buckle will prevent the shoulder strap  4000  from sliding off the user&#39;s shoulder. Similarly, belt strap  4200  is to be worn like a tool belt that includes a front buckle  4020  and crotch straps  4800  to maintain the suit in position on the user&#39;s body. The central back straps  4100  connect the upper back plate  6000  with the lumbar back plate  6100 . The buttocks strap  4600 , provides some flexibility and a connection between the lumbar support plate  6100  and buttocks plate  6200 . As with the previous embodiments, the support plates can be fastened to a soft inner foam layer  2000  that comes in contact with a user&#39;s clothes, undergarments or skin. Also, a ventilation area  202  is anticipated for this version of the suit. 
     Although not shown in FIG. 31, an outer shell can be provided for the roller suit of this embodiment. Such an outer shell can be similar to the body suit of the earlier embodiments, but could also be limited to covering the areas where rollers are located, i.e., the user&#39;s back. Additionally, although not shown, rollers could be limited to the front of the suit, using a similar design to the first embodiment described above, but merely eliminating rollers from the back side of the suit. In such an embodiment, support straps  40 , and  41  c would join in the user&#39;s upper back region and support strap  42  would be look more like support strap  41 . Also, the left side support strap  42   b  would join with the right side support strap  47 , and visa-versa for the right side support strap  42   b  and the left side support strap  47 . Further, leg plates  63 , support strap  44  and the associated rollers would not be necessary in such an embodiment. 
     Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the invention that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.