Skate with aligned wheels

Abstract: A skate (1) with aligned wheels (6) having a single plate (3) provided with cantilever pivots for supporting the wheels (6). The pivots have a quick-release device for easily and rapidly removing and replacing the wheels.

Description: Conventional skates with aligned wheels, for example as shown in EP-A-486013, are currently provided with a fork-like plate or chassis, having a U-shaped cross section, which supports the wheels by means of through pivots fixed to the sides of the fork or chains. When the wheels have to be replaced, or removed for simple maintenance, for cleaning the bearings for example, the fork-like plate creates great difficulty in this disassembly. Later, when the wheels must be reassembled, great care must be taken to position them correctly. A main object of the invention is to allow a rapid disassembly and assembly of the wheels with respect to conventional skates. A further object of the invention is to provide a skate having a lower weight. The above objects, and others which will be more apparent later, are achieved by a skate with aligned wheels as defined in claim 1. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrated, by way of example, in the enclosed drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a side view of a skate useful for understanding the invention; figure 2 is an exploded detail view of the quick-release system; figure 3 is a perspective view of the plate according to a first aspect of the invention; figure 4 is a top view of the plate of figure 3; figure 5 is a perspective view of the plate according to a second aspect of the invention; figure 6 is a top view of the plate of figure 5. With reference to the figures, the skate 1 comprises a skating shoe 2 which is provided, on its sole, with a single plate 3 which supports pivots 4 provided with a quick-release device 5 for aligned wheels 6. Pivots 4 are associated with the plate in a cantilever manner. Plate 3 does not constitute an example of an embodiment of the invention as defined in the appended claims, but rather is described herein as being useful for understanding the invention. The single plate 3 is advantageously made of light alloy, for example titanium, and is provided with two upper wings 7 which are advantageously fixed to the shoe with the same couplings as an ice blade; two rectangular openings 8 are also provided on the wings so as to obtain perfect positioning of the plate on the shoe. The single plate can have various shapes and dimensions, depending on whether the skate is for road or rink use, and can support two or more pivots 4 for supporting two or more wheels 6, which can have various widths and diameters. The pivots arranged on the single plate are of the quick-release type to allow to replace the wheels easily and to allow quicker maintenance. In this manner it is possible to quickly and easily change the wheels, replacing them with harder or softer ones according to terrain conditions. The quick-release devices are composed of a pivot 4 on which the wheel 6 is fitted; the pivot is threaded at one end 9, on the side where it is screwed onto the single plate, and is provided, at its opposite end, with a lever 10 for retaining the wheel. The retainer may be a conventional quick-release retainer, already commercially available for conventional speed skates. The quick-release system can be opened simply with a slight pressure of the fingers on the retainer; in this manner it is also possible to obtain effective and rapid maintenance of the skate and of the wheels. When the skate touches the ground, the wheels tend to slow down; a larger diameter of the rear wheel 66 therefore allowing the skater to go faster. Since the single plate is coupled to the shoe with the same couplings as an ice blade, it can thus be interchanged with an ice-skating blade. Figures 3, 4 illustrate a single plate 103 according to a first aspect of the invention, wherein the wheels 106 are associated two by two at opposite sides. The single plate 103 comprises two parallel sections 133 connected by a transverse section 134. The pivots 104 are associated in pairs on opposite sides of the plate 103. Figures 5, 6 illustrate a single plate 203 according to a second aspect of the invention, wherein each wheel 206 is associated with the plate on the opposite side with respect to the adjacent wheel. The single plate 203 comprises a plurality of parallel sections 233 connected by transverse sections 234. Each pivot 204 is associated at a respective parallel section 233. The skate provided with either the plate of figures 3, 4 or the plate of figures 5, 6 has an improved stability and balancing because of the greater rigidity of the plate 103, 203. The skate according to the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the subject-matter defined by claim 1. The materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the specific needs and the state of the art. 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: A skate with aligned wheels, comprising a single plate (103,203) having a plurality of pivots (104,204) each adapted to support a wheel (6,66,106,206), characterized in that said single plate (103,203) comprises at least a first and second parallel sections (133,233) which extend on opposite sides of the axis of extension of the aligned wheels and which are connected by a transverse section (134,234) which crosses the axis of extension of the aligned wheels, and wherein said pivots (104,204) are cantilever pivots including at least one pivot extending from said first parallel section and at least one other pivot extending from said second parallel section. A skate, according to claim 1, wherein said cantilever pivots comprise a quick-release device (5) for fastening said wheels. A skate, according to claim 1, comprising a first pair of said pivots (104) being associated at said first of said parallel sections and a second pair of said pivots (104) being associated at said second parallel section at an opposite side with respect to said first pair of pivots. A skate, according to claim 1, wherein said single plate (203) comprises a plurality of parallel sections (233) connected by transverse sections (234), each of said parallel sections (233) having a pivot (204) associated at an opposite side with respect to an adjacent pivot.

Inventors: SBRILLI FRANCO, SBRILLI, FRANCO
Applicants: NORDICA SPA, NORDICA S.P.A
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A63C17
IPC codes: A63C17