A ROLLER SKATE

Abstract: This invention discloses a roller skate comprising at least one front roller (30, 31), a middle roller (40) longitudinally aligned with the front roller (30, 31), and a pair of rear rollers (50). The lowest point of the front roller (30, 31) is substantially higher than the middle roller (40) and the pair of rear rollers (50) so that a skater can skate only with the front roller (30, 31) and the middle roller (40). Alternatively, a hinge member (11) connects pivotally the front portion (45) and the middle portion (55) of the roller skate so that the pair of rear rollers (50) can be lifted up, thereby, allowing the skater to skate only with the front roller (30, 31) and the middle roller (40). In this way, the skater can gyrate smoothly at a radius smaller than that of a conventional roller skate.

Description: This invention relates to a roller skate. A conventional roller skate having two pairs of transversely aligned rollers is more stable than an ice skate equipped with a single runner when the skater is standing. However, the radius of gyration of the roller skate is greater than that of the ice skate. As a result, the roller skate cannot gyrate as fast as the ice skate. It is more difficult to control the direction of gyration of a roller skate when a skater tries to gyrate with a smaller radius of gyration. US-A-1 989 344 discloses a roller skate having two rollers, one supported under a front portion of a shoe base and the other supported under a rear portion of the shoe base. It also discloses a roller skate having a single front roller supported under a front portion of a shoe base and a pair of transversely aligned rear rollers supported under a rear portion of the shoe base. The present invention provides a roller skate comprising: a substantially planar shoe base generally having a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion connected between the front and rear portions; a front roller rotatably supported under the front portion; and a pair of transversely aligned rear rollers rotatably supported under the rear portion; characterised by a middle roller rotatably supported under the middle portion and longitudinally aligned with the front roller, the middle roller being disposed at a position constituting the vertex of an isosceles triangle formed by the middle roller and the pair of rear rollers, thus defining a supporting plane for making contact with the ground. The roller skate can enjoy a smaller radius of gyration by only using the longitudinally aligned rollers, thus gyrating both quickly and smoothly. The invention enables one to provide a roller skate having less surface area in contact with the ground than a conventional skate, so as to enable the skater to skate faster than he/she would be able to with conventional skates. It is preferable to provide two sets of braking means, one set respectively fixed on two sides of the front roller, and another set fixed in front of the front roller, the combined effect of these braking means enabling the skater to accelerate conveniently. Preferably, it is possible for the skater to skate by means of only the front and middle rollers of the roller skate. In one embodiment the front roller, which is supported under the front portion of the roller skate, is suspended in the air while the middle and rear rollers of the skate are placed on a horizontal surface. Said front roller may be disposed at such a position that its lowest point is substantially higher than the said supporting plane while the supporting plane is in contact with a horizontal surface, whereby the skater only with the front and middle rollers, allowing fast and smooth gyration. In addition, the roller skate can also be operated using only the middle and rear rollers, so that the roller skate has a minimized surface area in contact with the ground and thus can skate faster than conventional roller skates. The preferred features of this invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a roller skate in accordance with this invention. Fig.2 is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of a roller skate in accordance with this invention. Fig.3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a roller skate in accordance with this invention. Fig.4 is a schematic view of a roller skate of a preferred embodiment of this invention in an operating position. Fig.5 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of a roller skate in accordance with this invention. Figs.6 to 8 are schematic views of another preferred embodiment of a roller skate of this invention in an operating position. Fig.9 is alternative preferred embodiment of a roller skate in accordance with this invention. Fig.10 is a schematic view of a further preferred embodiment of a roller skate in accordance with this invention in an operating position. Referring to Fig.1, a preferred embodiment of a roller skate comprises a substantially planar shoe base 1 adapted to fit with a foot and fix a foot thereon, a toe stop 20, two lines of braking means, substantially being rubber stoppers 60, a front roller 30, a middle roller 40 being longitudinally aligned with said front roller 30, and a pair of transversely aligned rear rollers 50. Referring to Figs.1, 2, said substantially planar shoe base 1 comprises a front portion 45, a middle portion 55, and a rear portion 65. Said middle portion 55 is slidably and adjustably connected between said front portion 45 and said rear portion 65 so as to enable the length of the shoe base to vary to adapt to different foot sizes. Said toe stop 20 is fixed on a base 67 connected under the front end of said shoe base 1 by a rivet or a screw. Said two lines of rubber stoppers 60 are respectively fixed under two opposite sides of said front portion 45. Each set of rubber stoppers is longitudinally aligned and parallel to said front roller 45 and said middle roller 55. Said front roller 45 is rotatably supported under said front portion 45 by a roller seat 72 which has an axle 71 passing through the center of said front roller 45. Said roller seat is connected to said front portion 45 by a rivet or a screw. Said middle roller 40 is rotatably supported in a similar manner to said front roller 30 under said middle portion 55. Said middle roller 40 is disposed near said front roller 30 at a position constituting the vertex of an isosceles triangle, formed by said middle roller 40 and said pair of rear rollers 50. In this way, said middle roller 40 and said pair of rear roller 50 construct a supporting plane for making contact with the ground allowing said roller skate to be operated like a conventional skate. Said pair of transversely aligned rear rollers 50 are passed through at their centers by an axle 83 and rotatably mounted to two ends of said axle 83. Said axle is supported and connected by a V-type roller seat 80. Said V-type roller seat is fixed under said rear portion 65 by a rivet or a screw. Referring to Fig.3, a side view of a preferred embodiment is shown wherein said front portion 45 is in an elevated position whereby said front roller 30 is suspended in the air at a predetermined height while said middle roller 40 and said pair of rear rollers 50, which have the same diameter as said front roller 30, are placed on the ground. As said front portion 45 is pressed down by the skater, such that front roller 30 and said middle roller 40 are in contact with the ground, said pair of rear rollers are lifted above the ground, as shown in Fig.4. In this way, the roller skate can be operated in a manner resembling an ice skate with two longitudinally aligned rollers ( i.e. said front roller 30 and said middle roller 40 ), enjoying a small radius of gyration. Referring to Fig.5, a side view of another preferred embodiment shows that said front portion 45 is as high as said middle portion 55, but said front roller 30 is smaller than said middle roller 40. In this case, said front roller 30 will be suspended in the air and this alternative embodiment of a roller skate shown in Fig.4 will will operate in the same manner as the roller skate shown in Fig.6. Referring to Figs.7 and 8, if a roller skate in accordance with this invention gyrates with a radius of gyration too small for the skater, one of said two rubber stoppers 60 will come into contact with the ground so as to reduce the speed. Therefore, the skater can be prevented from falling due to a loss of balance. In addition, a skater can accelerate by means of pressing down on said rubber stoppers 60 with his or her feet, in order to produce a reactive force. Referring to Fig.9, still another preferred embodiment of a roller skate is shown wherein a series of front rollers 31 are longitudinally aligned with said middle roller 40. Said series of front rollers 31, which are smaller than said middle roller 40, function much like said front roller 30, shown in Fig.5. When skating with said series of front rollers 31 and said middle roller 40, in a manner resembling ice skating, the skater can skate more stably and still enjoy the same effects of the abovementioned front roller 30. Referring to Fig.10, a further preferred embodiment of a roller skate is shown wherein a hinge member 11 connecting pivotally said front portion 45 and said middle portion 55, enables said pair of rear rollers 50 of said rear portion 65 to be lifted up so that the skater can skate with only said front roller 30 and said middle roller 40, which have same diameter, without the need to elevate said front portion 45 or reduce the diameter of said front roller 30.

Claims: A roller skate comprising: a substantially planar shoe base (1) generally having a front portion (45), a rear portion (65), and a middle portion (55) connected between the front and rear portions (45, 65); a front roller (30) rotatably supported under the front portion (45); and a pair of transversely aligned rear rollers (50) rotatably supported under the rear portion (65); characterised by a middle roller (40) rotatably supported under the middle portion (55) and longitudinally aligned with the front roller (30), the middle roller (40) being disposed at a position constituting the vertex of an isosceles triangle formed by the middle roller (40) and the pair of rear rollers (50), thus defining a supporting plane for making contact with the ground. A roller skate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front roller (30) has a small diameter, relative to the middle roller (40), so that the lowest point of the front roller (30) is substantially higher than the supporting plane while the supporting plane is in contact with a horizontal surface. A roller skate as claimed in claim 2, wherein a series of small-diameter front rollers (31) are longitudinally aligned with the middle roller (40). A roller skate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front roller (30) and the middle roller (40) are of the same diameter and the front portion (45) is elevated so that the lowest point of the front roller (30) is substantially higher than the supporting plane while the supporting plane is in contact with a horizontal surface. A roller skate as claimed in claim 1, including a hinge member (11) which connects pivotally the front portion (45) and the middle portion (55), enabling the rear rollers (50) to be lifted up so that the lowest points of the rear rollers (50) are substantially higher than the lowest point of the front and middle rollers (30, 40) while the front and middle rollers (30, 40) are in contact with a horizontal surface. A roller skate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the front portion (45) has two sets of longitudinally aligned braking means constituted by first braking means (60) fixed under the front portion (45) parallel to the front and middle rollers (30, 40) and second braking means (20) fixed under the front portion (45) in front of the front roller (30) or rollers (31).

Inventors: YU, CHUNG-HSIUNG
Applicants: YU, CHUNG-HSIUNG
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A63C17
IPC codes: A63C17