SKATE WITH ALIGNED WHEELS

Abstract: A skate with aligned wheels includes a frame (5) to which the ends of two pairs of wheel supporting trucks (7a, 7b) are centrally and independently pivoted. The skate includes a connecting element (13a, 13b) which protrudes below the support in the interspace between the frame and the tip an heel of the item of footwear. At least one element (18a) for adjusting the compression of at least one resilient member (17a) which interacts with a linking element for each one of the truck pairs is rotatably associated with the connecting element, which is freely associated with the support at one end. The user may adjust the connecting element for achieving optimum maneuverability and ease of execution in the practice of slalom and optimum use in the practice of speed skating.

Description: SKATE WITH ALIGNED WHEELS Technical Field The present invention relates to a skate with aligned wheels. Background Art Skates are known which are constituted by a support for an item of footwear from which wings protrude, mutually aligned wheels being pivoted between the wings; the use of these skates is aimed in an increasingly specific manner to the sports practice of speed skating or slalom. Specifically for the specialty of slalom, the skating direction is changed by the athlete by means of the movements of the foot transmitted directly to the skate. The problem which can be observed in conventional skates is that it is difficult to perform very tight curves; furthermore, during curving, the wheels tend to perform a non-uniform curving action, because they are arranged tangent to the obtainable curvature radius. A sports implement, mainly used by skiers for summer training on roads, is also known which is composed of a support for an item of footwear from which a frame protrudes downward and centrally; the ends of two pairs of wheel supporting trucks are independently pivoted to the frame, and the head of a screw is connected to the support. The screw is provided with a threaded stem with which a complementarily threaded nut is associated and abuts on the ground-facing surface of a connecting element which is arranged transversely to each pair of trucks. A spring is arranged coaxially to the stem. This known solution, disclosed in US patent No. 4,700,958, allows, by adjusting the compaction of the spring, to vary the angle defined between each pair of wheel supporting trucks and the ground. When the adjustment of the spring is at its minimum value, i.e. when the spring is not compressed, the skate is adapted to slaloming, however the skate yields in the pushing action and when skating in a straight path, with a considerable deterioration of the athletic performance. When the spring is adjusted to a greater compression, the outermost wheels of the pairs of trucks rise and are thus separated from the ground to a more or less large extent. This condition can allow to improve the use of the implement in the practice of slalom, but this again entails a non-optimum and thus unstable condition during straight paths and thus in the practice of speed skating. The adjustment of the spring allows only to vary the condition of use of the implement in the sports practice of slalom. Disclosure of the Invention One aim of the present invention is to eliminate the problems described above in conventional skates by providing a skate with aligned wheels wherein it is possible for the user to achieve, according to the requirements, optimum maneuverability and ease of execution in the practice of slalom and optimum use in the practice of speed skating. Within the scope of the above aim, another important object is to provide a skate wherein the maneuverability characteristics can be changed by the user according to specific requirements, such as the type of use or the personal skill level, without affecting the trim of the skate. Another important object is to provide a skate with aligned wheels which allows to achieve both a very tight and as uniform as possible curving radius and, in other conditions, a straight path which can be easily controlled. Another important object is to provide a skate wherein curving can be achieved easily for the athlete, requiring very little effort. Another important object is to provide a skate which is structurally simple and can be obtained with conventional machines and facilities. Not least object is to provide a skate which 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 a skate with aligned wheels, comprising a support for an item of footwear from which a frame protrudes downward, an end of at least one pair of wheel supporting trucks being pivoted to said frame, a connecting element protruding below said support, characterized in that at least one member for adjusting the compression of at least one resilient member is associated, so that it can rotate, with said connecting element, which is freely associated with said support at one end, said resilient member interacting with a linking element for said at least one pair of trucks, a means being provided for rotating said connecting element. Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a partially sectional side view of the skate, according to the invention; figure 2 is a sectional view of the compression adjustment member in the position of maximum stroke allowed to the resilient member; figure 3 is a view, similar to the preceding one, in the position of minimum stroke for the resilient member; igure 4 is a front sectional view of the compression adjustment member, according to a further aspect of the invention, in the position of maximum stroke; figure 5 is a view similar to the preceding one, in the position of minimum stroke; figure 6 shows a detail of the adjustment member of figures 4-5, in a partially sectioned view; figures 7 and 8 are top views respectively of the support member and of the adjustment member of figures 4-5. Ways of carrying out the Invention With particular reference to the figures 1-3, a skate according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a support 2 for an item of footwear 3. A frame 5 protrudes downward, preferably approximately at the median region 4 of the support 2. The first ends 6a and 6b of two trucks, designated by the numerals 7a and 7b, are independently pivoted on the frame, and a plurality of wheels 8 is pivoted between the trucks; the wheels are mutually aligned. A pair of first seats 11a and lib is arranged, below the support 2, at the heel region 9 and at the tip region 10. At each seat 11a, lib there is a connecting member having a plate, designated by the numerals 12a and 12b which is respectively arranged at each seat 11a, lib and is adapted to rotate. The connecting member protrudes below the support 2 between each pair of trucks 7a and 7b in the interspace between two mutually adjacent wheels 8. The connecting member is constituted by a screw which has a threaded stem, designated by the numerals 13a and 13b, which is connected to the plate 12a and 12b and has a head, designated by the numerals 14a and 14b, which is provided with adapted notches for the use of tools such as a screwdriver. The threaded stems 13a and 13b and the heads 14a and 14b rotate freely within complementarily shaped second seats 15a and 15b formed at the underlying linking elements, which are constituted by a pair of cross-members 16a and 16b which are interposed between each pair of trucks 7a and 7b. The heads 14a, 14b thus abut at said second seats, and this constitutes a stroke limit during dynamic damping. The skate 1 also includes an adjustment member for adjusting at least one resilient member which is preferably constituted by one or more rubber pads or by a spring, designated by the numerals 17a and 17b, which is arranged coaxially to the threaded stems 13a and 13b. The adjustment member is constituted by a pair of profiles 18a and 18b which have the shape of an inverted cup and on whose base 19, which is directed toward the support 2, there is a hole 20 which is threaded complementarily with respect to the stems 13a and 13b. The lateral surfaces 21 of each profile 18a and 18b are advantageously arranged approximately at right angles to the underlying pair of trucks, and are guided, in their stroke, by adapted wings 22a and 22b which protrudes at right angles to the support 2. Each spring 17a and 17b is thus interposed between the bases 19 of the profiles 18a and 18b and the cross-members 16a and 16b which link each pair of trucks 7a and 7b. The use of the skate with aligned wheels is as follows: by acting at the heads 14a and 14b, the user can adjust the extension of the spring 17a and 17b, varying the position of the profiles 18a and 18b with respect to the support 2. Actuation of the spring compression adjustment member in fact allows to keep the wheels 8, which are pivoted at the second ends 23a and 23b of each pair of trucks 7a and 7b, constantly in contact with the ground, without varying the angular position of the trucks with respect to the ground. In the condition illustrated in figure 2, in which the maximum stroke of the trucks with respect to the frame is allowed, optimum maneuverability and ease of use of the skate in the practice of slalom is allowed. By increasing the compression of the spring 17, the allowed stroke of the trucks with respect to the frame is reduced, until one reaches the condition illustrated in figure 3, wherein the spring 17a or 17b is completely packed and any relative movement between the trucks and the frame is thus prevented. In this condition, the free ends of the lateral surfaces 21 of the profiles 18a and 18b are in fact in contact with the cross-members 16a and 16b. This is also the best condition for the use of the skate in speed skating. Naturally, it is possible to select all the positions which are intermediate between those illustrated in figures 2 and 3. Figures 4-8 show an adjustment member, according to a further aspect of the invention, comprising two springs 117 and wherein like reference numbers denote similar features to those of figures 1-3. The connecting member includes a screw 112 connecting a first bush 113 with the support 2. First bush 113 is externally threaded and is associated with a second bush 114 having an internal threading. Second bush 114 also has a seat 115 for engaging a tool adapted to rotate the bush 113. Second bush 114 is associated with a spring presser 121. A spring holder 116 is slidingly associated with second bush 114 and springs 117 are arranged between spring holder 116 and spring presser 121. By turning second bush 114, the spring load can be adjusted between a position of minimum load (figure 4) and a position of maximum load (figure 5). it has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the above mentioned aim and objects, a skate with aligned wheels having been provided wherein it is possible for the user to achieve, according to the requirements, optimum maneuverability and ease of execution in the practice of slalom and optimum use in the practice of speed skating. The user can also select all the positions which are intermediate between the two extreme ones, in which the spring is packed and in which the spring is maximally extended, so as to be able to change the maneuverability characteristics of the skate according to specific requirements such as the type of use or the level of skill achieved. The user can thus use a skate with aligned wheels which allows to achieve a very tight and uniform curvature radius or an easily controllable straight path. The skate thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. For example, only one wheel supporting truck might be pivoted to the frame 5, the remaining wheels being articulated directly to the frame 5. The materials and the dimensions of the individual elements which constitute the skate may be the most appropriate according to the specific requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Skate with aligned wheels, comprising a support (2) for an item of footwear from which a frame (5) protrudes downward, an end (6a,6b) of at least one pair of wheel supporting trucks (7 ,7b) being pivoted to said frame, a connecting element (13,112,113,114) protruding below said support, characterized in that at least one member (18a,18b,121) for adjusting the compression of at least one resilient member (17,117) is associated, so that it can rotate, with said connecting element, which is freely associated with said support at one end, said resilient member interacting with a linking element (16a,16b) for said at least one pair of trucks, a means being provided for rotating said connecting element. 2. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that a first seat (11a,lib) is formed, below said frame in order to accommodate, so that it can rotate, a plate (12a) which constitutes said connecting element. 3. Skate according to claim 2, characterized in that said connecting element is constituted by a threaded stem (13a) which is rigidly associated with said plate (12a) and is provided with a means for rotating said stem, which is constituted by a head (14a) with adapted notches for the use of tools. 4. Skate according to claim 3, characterized in that said connecting element protrudes below said support in the interspace defined between said at least one pair of trucks and between two of said mutually adjacent wheels. 5. Skate according to claim 4, characterized in that 2 said threaded stem rotates f eely within a complementarily 3 shaped second seat (15a) formed on an underlying connecting 4 element which is constituted by a cross-member (16a) which 5 is interposed between said at least one pair of trucks (7a). £ 6. Skate according to claim 5, characterized in that 2 said element for adjusting said at least one resilient 3 member, which is arranged coaxially to said threaded stem, 4 is constituted by a profile (18a) which is shaped like an 5 inverted cup, on whose base (19) , which is directed toward 6 said support, there is a hole (20) which is threaded 7 complementarily with respect to said stem. 1 7. Skate according to claim 6, characterized in that 2 said adjustment member is provided with lateral surfaces 3 (21) which are directed toward said at least one pair of 4 trucks and are arranged approximately at right angles 5 thereto, said lateral surfaces being guided in their stroke 6 by adapted wings (22a) which protrude at right angles to 7 said support. 8. Skate according to claim 7, characterized in that 2 said resilient member is interposed between said base of 3 said profile and said cross-member. 1 9. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that 2 said resilient member is constituted by one spring (17). 1 10. Skate according to claim l, characterized in that 2 said resilient member comprises two springs (117) ' . i 11. Skate according to claim 10, characterized in that 2 said connecting member comprises a screw (112) adapted to 3 associate said support (2) with a first bush (113), said first bush having an external threading for engaging an 5 internal threading of a second bush (114), said second bush internal threading of a second bush (114), said second bush being associated with a spring presser (121), a spring holder (116) being slidingly associated with said second bush, said springs (117) being arranged between said spring presser and said spring holder.

Inventors: POZZOBON ALESSANDRO, POZZOBON, ALESSANDRO
Applicants: NORDICA SPA, NORDICA S.P.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A63C17
IPC codes: A63C17