Inline roller skate

An inline roller skate includes at least one eccentric inline roller assembly (7) mounted under boot sole (50). The eccentric inline roller assembly comprises an inclined base (70) and a roller unit (8). A central axis Y-Y of the inclined base is offset by an acute angle from a vertical axis H-H of travelling surface. The roller unit comprises a roller seat (80) and a roller (9). The roller seat is rotatably pivoted to the inclined base, and the roller is rotatably pivoted to the roller seat and drifts from the central axis Y-Y of the inclined base. The inline roller skate of the invention can be easily propelled and favorably make a turn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inline roller skate, and especially to an inline roller skate easily steering, changing traveling direction or making a turn.

Referring toFIGS. 1-2, the inline roller skate in the prior art comprises frame10and a plurality of inline rollers11serially arranged under the frame. The rollers11are parallel mounted to the frame10via shafts12coupled with bearings13. Boot sole20is fixed on top of the frame10and under boot30for receiving foot of the skater. The rollers11of the inline roller skate in the prior can only run front and back, then, when the skater makes a turn, he shall making the rollers side slipping, which will require a considerable degree of skill, force and a good feeling of equilibrium, and will impact on flexibility and safety. Specially as traveling on slope or uneven ground surface, accident will be more possible. Furthermore, frequent side-slipping will cause rollers side wearing, which will reduce the duration of use. Moreover, the rollers of the prior roller skate is vertically arranged relative to the ground surface and parallel to axis of the skate, therefore, at the beginning of skating, the skater shall continually swing his arms or body for getting side slipping and propelling the roller, the skater easily feel short of force, and difficultly accelerating. In other words, the configuration of the prior inline roller skate causes a lower propelling force and lower speed for starting, uneasily turning, and unfavorably side slipping.

Therefore, an improved inline roller skate is desired which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide an inline roller skate, which can be easily propelled and favorably make a turn.

To obtain the above object, an inline roller skate in the invention comprises at least one eccentric inline roller assembly mounted under boot sole. The eccentric inline roller assembly comprises an inclined base and a roller unit. A central axis Y-Y of the inclined base is offset by an acute angle from a vertical axis H-H of travelling surface. The roller unit comprises a roller seat and a roller. The roller seat is rotatably pivoted to the inclined base, and the roller is rotatably pivoted to the roller seat and drifts from the central axis Y-Y of the inclined base.

Preferably, a frame is set under the boot sole, and the eccentric inline roller assembly is mounted to the frame via the frame forming the inclined base therein. The roller seat is pivoted to the inclined base via a main shaft. A locking pin is inserted in one end of the main shaft for rotatably fixing the roller seat to the inclined base.

The inclined base defines a first shaft hole therethrough with the central axis Y-Y; the roller seat correspondingly define a second shaft hole therethrough aligned to the first shaft hole, and a pair of shaft bearings are received in inner wall of the second shaft hole of the roller seat. Thereby the main shaft is inserted in the first and second shaft hole, and is engaged with the shaft bearings.

The inclined base extends downwards to form a projecting tab; the roller seat defines an annular groove on an top end thereof for receiving the projecting tab sliding therein; and offsetting spring is placed in the annular groove. Preferably, a stop block is set in the annular groove opposite to the projecting tab in an original position, thereby the annular groove is divided into two halves for respectively receiving one offsetting spring therein.

A pair of wheel forks rearwards and downwards extends from the roller seat, and the roller is pivoted to the wheel forks therebetween via an axle. A fixing pin is inserted in an end of the axle for rotatably fixing the roller to the wheel forks.

The inclined base and the roller seat substantially has a cylindrical or annular shape respectively defined the shaft hole in center.

The inline roller skate further comprises a brake extending downwards and rearward from a rear of the roller skate. Therefore, the skate will be stopped if desired.

The inline inclined base defines a first fixing hole therethrough, the roller seat defines a second fixing hole therein aligned to the first fixing hole; thereby, a fixing member inserts into the first and second fixing holes, and releasably secures the roller seat to the inclined base so as to limit a rotary movement therebetween. Thereby, the roller skate performs as inliners.

The inline roller skate comprises two eccentric inline roller assemblies linearly and serially mounted under boot sole.

Further to obtain the above object, an inline roller skate comprises a boot, a boot sole under the boot, a frame is fixed under the boot sole, and two sets of roller units eccentrically and rotatably pivoted at a front end and rear end of the frame via main shafts. A central axis Y-Y of the roller unit and the main shaft is offset by an acute angle relative to a vertical axis H-H of traveling surface. the roller unit comprises an eccentric roller seat and an inline roller. The eccentric roller seat is selectively rotatably pivoted to the front or rear end of the frame via the main shafts; the inline roller is rotatably pivoted to the eccentric roller seat via an axle so that the inline roller is positioned under the frame and offset from the central axis of the main shaft. Thereby the roller units briefly performs turning or changing travel direction via a rotation movement of the eccentric roller seat relative to the frame when a twisting force is exerted to the roller units, and the inline roller is propelled forwards which will provide an oblique forwards force for an easy travel or accelerating.

The frame respectively downwards inclines at front and rear ends thereof corresponding to the acute angel between the central axis and the vertical axis. The inclined front and rear ends respectively define an annular receptacle therein. The eccentric roller seat defines an annular shaft hole therethrough corresponding to the annular receptacle in the frame, whereby the main shaft engaged in the annular receptacle and shaft hole for rotatably mounting the roller seat to the front or rear end of the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 3, an inline roller skate according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a boot30′, boot sole frame50, and at least one eccentric inline roller assembly7mounted under the boot sole frame50.

In the preferable embodiment as shown inFIGS. 3-5, a frame60is set under the boot sole frame50, and two eccentric inline roller assembly7are linearly and serially installed to the frame60. The boot sole frame50sets at least one brace for fixing the frame60thereto, and preferably a front brace51is set under the boot sole frame50and a rear brace52is set at side of or under the boot sole frame.50for fixing the frame60via locking pins or bolts53,54. The frame60comprises a front frame61and a rear frame62respectively fixing one roller assembly7thereon.

From the boot sole frame50or the frame62, a brake65extends downwards for stopping traveling if desired. Preferably, the brake65downwards extends from the rear of the frame62.

The roller assembly7comprises an inclined base70and roller unit8. Herein, the inclined base70can be formed on the braces51,52or on the frame60. Preferably, the front frame61and rear frame62respectively form an inclined base70thereon. The inclined base70substantially has a cylindrical or annular shape which defines an shaft hole77or shaft receptacle therethrough, and the roller unit8is rotatably mounted to the inclined base70via a main shaft71with a central axis Y-Y. The main shaft71is inserted in the inclined base70with one enlarged end abutting on top flange of the annular inclined base70and the other end extending into the cylindrical roller seat80.

A central axis Y-Y of the eccentric inline roller assembly7is offset by an acute angle relative to a vertical axes H-H of the boot sole frame50or travelling surface. The roller unit8is coaxially pivoted to the inclined base70so that the roller unit8is eccentric or offset from the vertical axes H-H as well. The inclined base70at a bottom thereof downwards projects a tab73for guiding the rotation movement of the roller unit8with respect to the inclined base70. A fixing hole74is defined through the inclined base70parallel to the main shaft71.

The roller unit8comprises an incline roller90and a roller seat80substantially in a shape of cylinder corresponding to the inclined base70. The roller seat80defines a fixing hole84aligned with the fixing hole74in the inclined base70. Therefore, a fixing member75such as a pin, bolt, or shaft, is removably inserted in the fixing holes74,84so that the rotation movement of the roller unit8with respect to the inclined base70is limited.

Referring toFIGS. 5-6together, the roller seat80defines a shaft hole87aligned to the shaft hole77of the inclined base70. A top end of the cylindrical seat80defines an annular groove82for guiding the projecting tab73moving therein, and a stop block83is set in the annular groove82. The fixing hole84is defined in the stop block83. In an original position, the projecting tab73is located in the annular groove82opposite to the stop block83so as to divide the annular groove82into two halves for respectively receiving offsetting springs85,86or any other restoring elastic element therein. The offsetting springs85,86are pressed by the moving tab73to form a twisting force to urge the rotation movement of the roller unit8relative to the inclined base70. On the other hand, the pressed offsetting springs85,86will bias the roller seat80moving to the original position relative to the incline base70after the twisting force disappears. Receiving grooves are defined in the inner wall of shaft hole87through the cylindrical seat80.

A pair of wheel forks88eccentrically extend rearwards from the roller seat80. The roller90is rotatably pivoted between the forks88via an axle95, and a lock pin is inserted in an end of the axle95for further fixing axle95to the wheel forks88.

The roller unit8further comprises a pair of shaft bearings81respectively accommodated in the receiving grooves in the inner wall of the roller seat80. The main shaft71is inserted into the shaft holes77,87and is engaged with the shaft bearings81in the cylindrical roller seat80so that the roller seat80is fixed to inclined base70, and can rotate around the main shaft71relative to the inclined base70with the projecting tab73moving in the annual groove82. The main shaft71, inclined base70, and roller seat80are coaxially assemblied about the central axis Y-Y, thus the roller seat80and inclined base70are eccentric from the vertical axis H-H of travelling surface. A locking pin72is inserted into an end of the main shaft71in the shaft hole87so as to further fixing the roller unit8to inclined base70.

The fixing member75is inserted into the aligned fixing holes74,84so as to fix the roller seat80to the inclined base70without rotation, the inline roller skate can perform a linear travel as a simple operation. If the fixing member is removed therefrom, the roller seat80can eccentrically rotate with respect to the inclined base70and offset from the vertical axis H-H, and the roller90and eccentrically rotate and offset from the central axis Y-Y. Since the roller unit8is eccentrically pivoted to the inclined base70via the main shaft71, and the roller90is rearwards offset relative to the central axis Y-Y of the roller unit8, when the inline roller skate travel forwards, the eccentric inline roller assembly7will produce a lateral force to propel the roller90traveling.

Referring toFIG. 7together, in use, the skater puts his foot in the boot30′, removes the fixing member75from the eccentric inline roller assembly7such that the roller unit8can rotates freely relative to the inclined base70. The roller90is pivoted to the wheel forks88which eccentrically extend rearwards from the roller seat80, herein the roller90is offset from the central axis of the roller unit8. The roller unit8is eccentrically pivoted to the frame60under the boot sole50via the inclined base70, herein the central axis of the roller unit8is offset from the vertical axis H-H by an acuate angle. As a result, the roller90eccentrically extends rearwards so that the roller90travels forwards, which meanwhile will provide an oblique forwards force. Accordingly, less expenditure of force will be required and more powerfully propelling forward will be obtained.

By virtue of the rotary movement of the roller unit8with respect to the inclined base70, the skater moves gravity center of body so as to compel the roller unit8rotating on the inclined base70and thus change the traveling direction of the roller skate. Herein, when the roller seat80turns around under a twisting force, the projecting tab73of the inclined base70slides in the annual groove82and compresses the offsetting springs85,86, and when the twisting force disappears, the offsetting springs85,86will bias the roller seat80to the original position. Therefore, the traveling direction of the roller skate is easily changed.

Accordingly, the inline roller skate of the invention can easily turn travelling direction so that the skater can easily perform various and complicated motion, which brings more traveling enjoyment. Moreover, the roller unit8can provide an oblique forwards force, and the roller unit8can freely rotate under the boot sole frame50, so that the roller skate can briefly, quickly and flexibly travel, even when pushing off and accelerating. Furthermore, the turning radius is relatively lower when the roller skate changes the travelling direction or makes a turn. Thereby, the roller skate can easily and briefly accelerate and changes the traveling direction anywhere even on slope, narrow or uneven traveling surface, and offers security to the skater.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 8, when the fixing member75is inserted into the fixing holes74,84, the roller unit8is fixed to the inclined base70without rotary movement. Therefore, the eccentric inline roller assembly7is used as linear roller or inliners, which is very nice for the beginner. Herein, since the roller90is eccentric away from the central axis Y-Y, which will provide forwards propelling force as well.

It is understood that in the above description, such words about position or direction as “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “forwards”, “rearwards”, “downwards”, etc., are illustrative without limitation.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that numerous alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the forgoing descriptions. The scope of this invention is defined only by the following claims.