Adjustable skate

A skate comprises a chassis with a variable length boot disposed thereon. The variable length boot includes a toe portion fixedly disposed upon the chassis and a heel portion slidably disposed upon the chassis. The heel portion is slidable in relation to the toe portion along the longitudinal axis of the skate to increase or decrease the size of the boot. A locking mechanism attached to the heel portion locks the heel portion to the chassis at a selected position. The selected position is chosen from a plurality of spaced-apart slots disposed within the chassis. The locking mechanism includes a positionable clasp insertable into a selected slot to lock the heel portion to the chassis at the selected position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to skates, and in particular to skates wherein the boot size is adjustable to accommodate different foot sizes.

Both ice skating and in-line skating have been a popular recreational activities for many years, especially for children. However, children have growing feet, and to enjoy skating the skates should properly fit the child's feet. Of course with growing feet, a new pair of skates must be purchased as the child's feet grow, sometimes on an annual basis. Additionally, many elementary schools have begun incorporating in-line skating into daily physical exercise activities. In order to accommodate the various foot sizes of many children, many different sized skates must be purchased. Assigning a child the correct skate size is time intensive, as is the process of collecting and distributing the skate during the exercise periods.

There exists in the prior art boots that are modifiable in length. However, there does not exist in the prior art skates that can be modified in length, and yet be durable, and also have a minimum number of parts to keep down costs and be easy for children to use. Thus, there is a need to provide a skate that can be modified in length, durable to the rigors that children put skates through and also be simple for children to use. The skate of the present invention, being modifiable in length and width, durable and simple to use is advantageous especially for use by youth whose foot size may change significantly in a short period of time. Additionally, the skate of the present invention is advantageous for schools where a number of children, having many different foot sizes, need proper fitting skates and a relatively short amount of time to collect or distribute the skates.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a skate that has a variable length boot disposed upon a frame. The boot includes a toe support. The toe support is disposed upon a forward section of the frame. The heel portion is slidably disposed upon a rear section of the frame and is slidable in relation to the toe support to modify the length of the boot. The rearward section of the frame includes a plurality of spaced-apart slots for receiving a clasp of a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism locks the heel portion to the rearward section of the frame at a selected position, defining the length of the boot. The locking mechanism includes a lever connected to the clasp to urge the clasp into engagement with a selected slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The skate of the present invention is generally illustrated at10in FIG.1. The skate10includes a boot12whose size may be modified in length. The boot12includes a toe support14and a heel portion16disposed upon a chassis18. The boot12further includes an integrally formed cuff20. A conventional buckle or a suitable fastener (not shown) is secured to the cuff20so that the cuff20may be securely fastened to the leg of a wearer. The heel portion16is slidably attached to the chassis18and is positionable along a longitudinal axis of the skate10to increase or decrease the length of the boot12. Upon selectively positioning the heel portion16to achieve the desired length of the boot12, the heel portion16is locked at the selected position to the chassis18by a locking mechanism22.

In a first embodiment of the present invention as illustrated inFIGS. 1-4, the chassis18retains a plurality of freewheeling wheels26as is commonly known in the art of inline skates. The wheels24are rotatably secured to the chassis18by suitable fasteners that are well known in the art. In a second embodiment of the present invention as illustrated inFIG. 5, the chassis18retains an ice engaging blade26as is commonly known in the art of ice skates. A suitable liner (not shown) is provided to fit within the boot12and accept a foot of the wearer. The liner has an elastic section proximate the toe box so that the liner can accommodate different foot sizes. Such liners are known in the art. In either embodiment, the frame18further comprises a forward stanchion28and a rearward stanchion30. For descriptive purposes, the term forward corresponds to the area of the skate10for receiving and supporting a ball and toe area of the foot, while the term rearward corresponds to the area of the skate10for receiving and supporting a heel area of the foot.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the rearward stanchion30is preferably formed to include a plurality of spaced-apart slots32disposed within a side surface34. Each slot32is spaced apart a selected distance and works in conjunction with the locking mechanism22to lock the heel portion16to the rearward stanchion30at the selected position. The selected position corresponds to the overall length of the boot12, thus the position of each spaced-apart slot32corresponds to a different selected length of the boot. The rearward stanchion28further includes an elongated slot36disposed within a top surface38. A cavity (not shown) positioned under the top surface38and within the rearward stanchion30houses a locking nut40. The locking nut40includes a square head and seats within the rearward stanchion. The elongated slot36partially receives the nut40while inner sidewalls of the rearward stanchion30engage the nut40. Thus, the nut40is prevented from rotating within the rearward stanchion30, but allowed to slide within the elongated slot36.

The heel portion16includes a heel surface42with the cuff20extending upwardly therefrom. The heel surface42extends forwardly and includes a tongue member42to engage the toe support14. An aperture46positioned within the heel surface44accepts a locking screw48to secure the heel portion16to the rearward stanchion30. Positioned between the heel portion16and the rearward stanchion30is a sliding plate50. The sliding plate50includes a circular aperture52and a flange54extending downwardly proximate the side surface34of the rearward stanchion30to guide movement of the heel portion16along the rearward stanchion30. The flange54also provides reinforcement to the spaced-apart slots32and includes an aperture56for cooperating with the locking mechanism22and the spaced-apart slots32. The locking screw48inserts through the heel portion16, the aperture52, the elongated slot36and a spacer58. The spacer58slidably nests within the elongated slot36. The locking screw48threadably engages the locking nut40positioned within the rearward stanchion30and slidably secures the heel portion16to the rearward stanchion30.

The toe support14attaches to the forward stanchion28and engages the heel portion16. A fastener60and a spacer62fixedly secure the toe support14to the forward stanchion28. The toe support14includes a forward toe sole portion64and an attached toe cap66. The toe cap66attaches to the toe support14proximate the forward toe sole portion64. Alternatively, the toe support14and toe cap66are integrally formed with the toe sole portion64. The toe support14further includes a recessed surface68for receiving the tongue member44of the heel portion16. It should be appreciated that the tongue member44and the toe sole portion64cooperate to form a single sole of the boot12. An insole70is included to overlay the heel surface42, tongue member44and toe sole portion64.

The heel portion16is locked into a selected position by the locking mechanism22. The locking mechanism22includes a bracket72attached to the underside surface of the heel portion16by rivets74. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the bracket72supports a lever76and a locking member78. Both the lever76and the locking member78are pivotally attached to the bracket72and the heel portion16. A pin80inserts through the bracket72, lever76and heel portion16to pivotally attach the lever76. The locking member78includes a clasp82having first and second spaced-apart arms,84and86respectively, extending therefrom. Terminal ends of each arm84and86include a rounded portion88having a camming surface90. Terminal ends of each arm84and86further include a cylindrical member92disposed on the rounded portion88. The cylindrical member92of the first arm84engages an aperture (not shown) disposed within the heel portion16, while the cylindrical member92of the second arm86engages an aperture94disposed within the bracket72, thus pivotally attaching the locking member78to the bracket72and the heel portion16. The lever76slidably disposes between each arm84and86and further includes posts96for engaging the arms84and86to lock and unlock the locking mechanism.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the lever76is positionable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position (illustrated by dashed lines). Correspondingly, the locking member78is positionable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position (illustrated by dashed lines). Positioning the lever76towards the locked position causes each post96to engage the adjacent cammed surface90of the rounded portion88of the respective arm84and86, urging the clasp82toward the engaged position wherein the clasp82inserts within and engages the selected slot32, as illustrated in FIG.4. Upon the clasp82engaging the selected slot32, the heel portion16is locked into position and travel upon the rearward stanchion30is not permitted. The lever76tends to remain in the first locked position due to the frictional engagement of each post96with the respective adjacent cammed surface90. Positioning the lever76toward the unlocked position and overcoming the frictional engagement of each post96with the respective cammed surface90causes each post96to disengage from the respective cammed surface90and engage an interior surface98of the adjacent arm84and86. Further positioning of the lever76toward the second unlocked position urges the clasp82away from the selected slot32and disengaging the clasp82therefrom. Upon disengagement, the heel portion16is permitted to travel upon the rearward stanchion30to increase or decrease the length of the boot12.

The length of the boot12of the present invention is modified by moving the heel portion16in relation to the toe support14. To determine the selected size for the boot12, the locking mechanism22is disengaged, allowing the heel portion16to travel upon the rearward stanchion30. A wearer inserts the proper foot, and the heel portion16is positioned to accommodate the size of the foot. To decrease the boot size or to make the boot12smaller, the heel portion16is moved forwardly until the boot12properly conforms to the foot of the wearer. Forward travel of the heel portion16is limited by the length of the elongated slot36disposed within the rearward stanchion30which the locking screw48engages at the most forward extent.

To increase the length of the boot12, the heel portion16is moved rearwardly. Rearward travel of the heel portion16is once again limited by the length of the elongated slot36which the locking screw48engages at the most rearward extent. Upon positioning the heel portion16to the selected length of the boot12, the lever76is positioned toward the locking position, which urges the clasp82into engagement with the most proximate slot32, and the heel portion16is locked into position. As the foot of the wearer grows, or for use by a different wearer, the heel portion16may be unlocked, repositioned to fit the new size of the foot and locked into the new position.