Abstract:
An in-line skate having a support for in -line wheels; the support is associated with the skate frame in order to be transversely adjustable. The skate has a frame with a spaced downwardly extending wings, and a support element arranged between he wings of the frame, with an actuatable mechanism for automatically moving the support element laterally with respect to the frame upon actuation by the user.

Description:
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/499,558, filed Jul. 7, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,488. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an in-line skate. 
     Conventional in-line skates comprise a support for a shoe and rigid wings or tabs associated with the support and between which aligned wheels are pivoted. The use of these skates is increasingly specifically orientated towards speed skating, hockey, slalom, or long-distance skating such as marathons. 
     Specifically for hockey or slalom, the athlete changes skating direction by means of a short stroke with frequent lateral thrusts of the foot, which are transmitted directly to the skate. Quick increases in speed are also frequent and can be obtained by again exerting strong lateral thrusts at a high rate and with a short stroke. 
     The drawback that can be observed in these conventional skates is the difficulty in customizing the skate according to the extent of these thrusts, to the length of the stroke, and to the physical characteristics of the skater. 
     This customization also has the drawback that it requires different characteristics for engaging in long-distance speed competitions instead of hockey or slalom: in this case lateral thrusts are less frequent and the stroke is longer because the track does not require sudden direction changes and because the increase in speed does not have to compensate for the sharp braking performed during hockey or slalom. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,324 discloses a roller skate in which a support is associated below the shoe. The support is in turn associable with the wheel supporting frame, and there are means to allow a longitudinal movement of the support with respect to the frame, as well as means to allow the longitudinal movement of the intermediate wheel with respect to the outer wheel. 
     The support also has transverse slots which act as seats for screws that allow to lock the sole of the shoe. 
     This solution is specifically provided to allow to change the mutual axial alignment of the individual wheels with respect to the frame to which they are pivoted, and therefore it is not specifically suitable for solving the above mentioned drawbacks. 
     The solution is also structurally very complicated, with adjustments that require a long time and special tools. 
     In any case, the transmission of efforts from the shoe to the frame must occur by means of the screws that fix the sole to the support and by means of the screws that connect the support to the frame; on one hand this may allow displacements with respect to the selected adjustment, caused by the considerable stresses applied during the lateral movement of the skate when speed is being increased, with the consequent forming of possible plays, and on the other hand this provides incomplete and non-optimum transmission of efforts from the foot to the wheels. 
     Moreover, the cost of this solution is high. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the described technical problems and to solve the drawbacks described above in conventional types by providing an in-line skate that allows the user to customize the skate according to the specific sport of hockey, slalom, or long-distance speed skating, while maintaining an optimum transmission of efforts from the foot to the wheels. 
     Within the scope of this aim, an important object is to provide a skate that allows the user to achieve these customizations rapidly and easily without requiring particular instruments or tools. 
     Another object is to provide a skate that has low manufacturing costs. 
     Another object is to provide a skate in which it is possible to rapidly and easily replace the wheels completely depending on whether slalom or speed skating is being practiced. 
     Another object is to provide a skate whose maneuverability characteristics can be modified by the user according to specific requirements such as the type of use or the skill level achieved. 
     Another important object is to provide a skate that is structurally simple, can be easily industrialized, and can be obtained with conventional machines and equipment. 
     Another object is to provide a skate that associates with the preceding characteristics that of being reliable and safe in use. 
     This aim, these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an in-line skate, characterized in that it comprises a frame associated with a support having a plurality of in-line wheels, means being provided for adjusting the position of said support with respect of said frame. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of some particular but not exclusive embodiments, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side view of the skate; 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views, taken transversely to the frame, of the possible arrangement of the support; 
     FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, of another embodiment; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are views, similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, of another embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of another embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, of the embodiment of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the skate, according to a further embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along the plane X—X of FIG. 9, which passes at the means for allowing the adjustable movement of the support transversely to the frame; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view, taken along the plane XI—XI of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a partially sectional side view of a second embodiment; 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view, taken at the sectional plane XIII—XIII of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view, taken at the plane XIV-XIV of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 15 is a side view of another embodiment; 
     FIG. 16 is a sectional view, taken along the plane XVI—XVI of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional view, taken along the plane XVII—XVII of FIG.  16 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral  1  designates a skate which is constituted by at least one quarter  3  associated with a shell  2  and below which an essentially U-shaped frame  4  is associated and forms first wings  5   a  and  5   b  which are directed towards the ground  6 . 
     The skate  1  comprises a support  7  which is also preferably essentially U-shaped and between the second wings  8   a  and  8   b  of which multiple wheels  9  are pivoted and thus mutually aligned. 
     The shape of the support  7  allows to insert it removably between the first wings  5   a  and  5   b  of the frame  4 ; this insertion can occur equally along a direction that lies at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said frame  4  or parallel thereto. 
     Conveniently, the second wings  8   a  and  8   b  have one or more suitable pairs of raised portions  10   a  and  10   b  or, as an alternative, a single pair of raised portions, which, once the support has been inserted, abut against the free ends of the first wings  5   a  and  5   b  of the frame  4 . 
     Another particularity of the support  7  is constituted by the fact that the second wings  8   a  and  8   b  have different thickness: this allows, when the support is removed and reinserted after rotating it through 180°, to vary the mutual position of the longitudinal median axis  11  of the wheels and of the longitudinal median axis of the frame  4 . 
     It is thus possible to change the mutual axial alignment of said axes  11  and  12 . 
     The skate also comprises guiding and centering means which are constituted by suitable ridges  13  which protrude from the first base  14  of the support  7  and arrange themselves at suitable complementarily shaped guides  15  formed on the second base  16  of the frame  4 . 
     It is thus possible to vary the position of the axes  11  and  12 , so as to allow a different position of the shoe with respect to the axis that passes through the points where the wheels touch the ground. 
     Varying the distance between said wheel contact axis and the center of gravity of the user in fact entails advantages according to the sport being practiced: the smaller the distance between said axis that passes through the wheel contact points and the center of gravity of the body, the longer the stroke, considered as the step after the outward thrusting of the skate; accordingly, less frequent thrusts are required, but this entails a slower return of the leg at the end of the stroke to start the subsequent thrust. 
     Therefore, if it is possible to place the longitudinal median axis  11  of the wheels in a region that is closer to the longitudinal plane on which the center of gravity of the user&#39;s weight is projected, the skating action becomes more effective in the practice of long-distance speed skating, where long and constant strokes are required, with wide curves and with speeds that are practically constant or entail small accelerations. 
     Vice versa, the greater the distance between the center of gravity of the body and the wheel contact point, the shorter the stroke; accordingly, more frequent thrusts are required, but the return of the leg after the stroke to start the following thrusting step is much faster. 
     Therefore, by placing the wheels towards the outside of the frame one obtains quick direction changing, which is a characteristic that is particularly suitable for hockey or slalom, where rapid acceleration with short and frequent thrusts is also required. 
     The invention can also be used to correct the position of the center of gravity of the skater with respect to the wheel contact points for example if the skater suffers from a varus or valgoid condition. 
     Finally, it should be stressed that it is possible to arrange the wheels asymmetrically, for example towards the outside on the right skate and towards the inside on the left skate: this allows to compensate for the position assumed by the skater in loop-shaped circuits used in speed contests, which is always tilted to the same side. 
     In this case the thrust is in fact almost always directed towards the inside of the circuit. 
     It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a skate having been provided in which it is possible to move the longitudinal median axis of the wheels laterally outward or inward with respect to the axis of the frame, thus allowing to customize the skate without modifying the transmission of efforts between the frame and the support and without limiting the mutual longitudinal movements of said frame and said support. 
     The described solution is also constructively very simple and is constituted by elements which can be easily and rapidly industrialized, allowing considerable cost containment. 
     Furthermore, the arrangement of the two axes can be changed rapidly and easily even by the user, without having to use specific tools. This also allows to replace, in a single operation, all the wheels according to the specific sport. 
     The skate according to the invention is naturally susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept. 
     Thus, for example, FIG. 4 illustrates a skate  101  in which there is a frame  104  which is essentially U-shaped so as to form first wings  105   a  and  105   b  directed towards the ground. 
     The skate  1  comprises a support  107  which is also preferably essentially U-shaped; multiple wheels  109  are pivoted between the second wings  108   a  and  108   b  of said support and are thus mutually aligned. 
     The second wings  108   a  and  108   b  have one or more suitable pairs of raised portions  110   a  and  110   b  or, as an alternative, a single pair of raised portions, which abut against the free ends of the first wings  105   a  and  105   b  of the frame  104  once the support has been inserted. 
     The skate also comprises an insert  117  which can be removably interposed between the frame  104  and the support  107 ; said insert has third wings  118   a  and  118   b  which can be interposed between the first wings  105   a  and  105   b  and the second wings  108   a  and  108   b.    
     The third wings have different thickness, so as to allow, once the support  107  and the insert  117  have been extracted and then rotated through 180°, to vary the mutual position of the longitudinal median axis of the wheels and of the longitudinal median axis of the frame. 
     Again, there are guiding and centering means which are constituted by suitable ridges  113  which protrude from the first base  114  of the insert  117  and are located at suitable and complementarily shaped guides  115  formed on the second base  116  of the frame  104 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a further skate  201  in which there is a frame  204  which is essentially U-shaped so as to form first wings  205   a  and  205   b  directed towards the ground. 
     The skate  201  comprises a support  207  which is also preferably essentially U-shaped; multiple wheels  209  are pivoted between its second wings  208   a  and  208   b  and are thus mutually aligned. 
     The second wings  208   a  and  208   b  have one or more suitable pairs of raised portions  210   a  and  210   b  or, as an alternative, a single pair of raised portions, which abut against the free ends of the first wings  205   a  and  205   b  of the frame  204  once the support has been inserted. 
     At least one insert  217  can be removably interposed between at least one of the side walls of said support  207  and said frame  204 , has the desired thickness, and is preferably made of rigid or semirigid material. 
     The first base  214  of the frame  204  is of course wider than the second base  216  of the support  207  to allow to introduce the insert. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a skate  301  in which below the sole  323  of the shell  302  there is a frame which is constituted by a first tab  304   a  and by a second tab  304   b  which are essentially U-shaped so as to form, for each tab, first wings  305   a  and  305   b  which are directed towards the ground and are respectively arranged in the heel region  324  and in the toe region  325 . 
     The skate  301  comprises a support  307  which is also preferably essentially U-shaped and between the second wings  308   a  and  308   b  of which multiple wheels  309  are pivoted and thus mutually aligned. 
     The second wings  308   a  and  308   b  have one or more suitable pairs of raised portions  310   a  and  310   b  or, as an alternative, a single pair of raised portions; once the support has been inserted, said raised portions abut against the free ends of the third wings  318   a  and  318   b  which are present on a first insert  317   a  and on a second insert  317   b  which can be removably interposed between the first wing  304   a  and the support  307  and between the second tab  304   a  and the support  307  respectively. 
     Said third wings  318   a  and  318   b  can thus be interposed between the first wings  305   a  and  305   b  and part of the second wings  308   a  and  308   b  in the region above the raised portions  310   a  and  310   b.    
     In this solution, the first, second, and third wings are mutually connected by means of a pair of suitable pins  319  which pass within respective first, second, and third holes or slots, designated by the reference numerals  320 ,  321 , and  322 , which have the same axis and are formed on said first, second, and third wings. 
     In this solution, too, the third wings can have different thickness so as to allow, once the pins  319  and thus the support  307  and the insert  317  have been removed and rotated through 180°, to vary the mutual position of the longitudinal median axis of the wheels and of the longitudinal median axis of the frame. 
     As an alternative, a spacer of the desired thickness can be interposed between one of the third wings  318   a  and  318   b  and the second wings  308   a  and  308   b.    
     In this case, too, it is therefore possible to vary the mutual position of the longitudinal median axis  311  of the wheels and the longitudinal median axis  312  of the shell  302 , and the connection between the sole  323  and the inserts  317   a  and  317   b  occurs by means of a screw  326 . 
     In FIGS. 9-11, the reference numeral  401  designates a skate which is constituted by at least one quarter  403  associated with a shell  402  and below which an essentially U-shaped frame  404  is associated and forms first wings  405   a  and  405   b  which are directed towards the ground  406 . 
     The skate  401  comprises a support  407  which is also preferably essentially U-shaped and between the second wings  408   a  and  408   b  of which multiple wheels  409  are pivoted and thus mutually aligned. 
     The shape of the support  407  allows to place it between the first wings  405   a  and  405   b  of the frame  404 . 
     Conveniently, the second wings  408   a  and  408   b  have one or more suitable pairs of raised portions  410   a  and  410   b  or, as an alternative, a single pair of raised portions, which once the support has been inserted abut against the free ends of the first wings  405   a  and  405   b  of the frame  404 . 
     The support  407  interacts with means that can be activated by the user and allow an adjustable movement of the support  407  transversely to said frame  404 . 
     Said means are constituted by at least one worm screw  411  which is arranged below the frame  404  transversely to the first wings  405   a  and  405   b ; said worm screw furthermore has a head  412  which lies outside one of the first wings  405   a  and  405   b  of the frame  404  and a threaded stem  413  which interacts with a complementary thread formed on the facing surface of the base  414  of the support  407  and is freely rotatably associated, at its free end, with a washer  415  that lies outside the other wing of the frame  404 . 
     There are also separate means that allow to block the support to the frame and are constituted for example by one or more pairs of pins  416  which are arranged transversely and connect the first wings  405   a  and  405   b  of the frame  404  to the base  414  or to the second wings  408   a  and  408   b  of the support  407 . 
     Of course, the pairs of pins are arranged in the interspace between two adjacent wheels or in the interspace between the facing portions of the surface of the base  414  of the support  407  and the rolling surface of the wheel  409 . 
     It is thus possible to vary the mutual position of the longitudinal median axis  417  of the wheels  409  and of the longitudinal median axis  418  of the frame  404 , achieving the desired mutual axial offset. 
     It is thus possible to have a different arrangement of the shoe with respect to the axis that passes through the points where the wheels touch the ground. 
     Varying the distance between said wheel contact axis and the center of gravity of the user in fact entails advantages according to the sport being practiced: the smaller the distance between said axis that passes through the wheel contact points and the center of gravity of the body, the longer the stroke, considered as the step after the outward thrusting of the skate; accordingly, less frequent thrusts are required, but this entails a slower return of the leg at the end of the stroke to start the subsequent thrust. 
     FIGS. 12-14 illustrate another embodiment for a skate  501  which is constituted by a shell  502  in which below the sole  519  there is a frame which is constituted by a first tab  504   a  and by a second tab  504   b  which are essentially U-shaped so as to form, for each tab, first wings  505   a  and  505   b  which are directed towards the ground and located respectively in the heel region  520  and the toe region  521 . 
     The skate  501  comprises a support  507  which is also preferably essentially U-shaped; multiple mutually aligned wheels  509  are pivoted between the second wings  508   a  and  508   b  of said support. 
     The support  507  again interacts with means which can be activated by the user and allow an adjustable movement of said support  507  transversely to the first and second tabs  504   a  and  504   b  which constitute the frame. 
     Said means are applied respectively at the first tab and at the second tab and are constituted by a worm screw  511  which is rotatably associated, at its ends, with the first wings of the first tab and of the second tab, with the optional interposition of a spacer  522  which is again U-shaped and is interposed between said first wings and the second wings of the support  507 . 
     The threaded stem  513  of the worm screw  511  interacts with a complementary thread formed on the facing surface of the base  514  of the support  507 . 
     Separate means are furthermore provided to lock the support  507  to the first wings  505   a  and  505   b  of the first tab  504   a  and of the second tab  504   b ; said means are constituted by one or more pins  516  arranged transversely to said first wings. 
     As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the axes of the worm screw  511  and of the pins  516  are arranged at a same plane which lies at right angles to the ground. 
     This solution, too, therefore allows to achieve the intended aim and objects, as it is possible to achieve a lateral inward or outward movement of the first tab  504   a  and of the second tab  504   b , along the median longitudinal axis  517  and along the axis of the wheels  509  and with respect to the median longitudinal axis  518 . 
     FIGS. 15-17 illustrate another embodiment of a skate  601  which is constituted by a shell  602  which has, below the sole  619 , a first stud  613   a  and a second stud  613   b  which protrude at the heel region  620  and at the toe region  621 . 
     A first tab  604   a  and a second tab  604   b  are slidingly associable with the free ends of said first stud and said second stud, which have an essentially T-shaped transverse cross-section. The tabs can be rigidly coupled to the sole  619 , and each tab has first wings  605   a  and  605   b  which protrude towards the ground. 
     The skate  601  is also constituted by a support  607  which is essentially U-shaped and has, at the first tab and at the second tab, a cross-member  624  which is perforated to allow the insertion therein of a pin  616  which interacts, at its ends, with the first wings  605   a  and  605   b  of the first tab and of the second tab. 
     A worm screw  611  is arranged coaxially to the pin  616  and has a threaded stem  613  which is inserted in a complementary threaded seat formed at the cross-member  624 . 
     The support  607  of course has second wings  608   a  and  608   b  between which one or more mutually aligned wheels  609  are pivoted. 
     Accordingly, it is possible to vary the mutual position of the longitudinal median axis  617  and the axis of the wheels  609  relative to the longitudinal median axis  618  of the first tab and of the second tab in this case as well. 
     Of course the materials and the dimensions of the individual components of the skate may be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.