Roller skate with improved comfort

Abstract: Roller skate with improved comfort including dampers (219) for damping only the forces that are applied to the wheels (206) along axes that are not at right angles to the frame (205). It is thus possible to improve foot comfort while maintaining optimum transmission of the efforts of the foot to the wheels.

Description: The present invention relates to a roller skate with improved comfort. Conventional roller skates have a rigid support for supporting and securing a shoe, and adapted wings or shoulders protruding below said support; two front wheels and two rear wheels are pivoted between said wings or shoulders. The drawback observed in these conventional skates substantially resides in that any unevenness of the ground is transmitted directly through the wheels to the support and thus to the skater's foot, causing early tiring or possible loss of balance. U.S. Patent No. 2,552,987 partially solves that problem with a roller skate having a rigid support for a shoe, two pairs of arms being rotatably associated with said support at one end and a wheel being rotatably associated between each arm. Each pair of arms can oscillate, at its free end, in contrast with a spring interposed between said end and the lower surface of the shoe rigid support. Although this solution allows to compensate for any unevenness of the ground, it has the drawback that this compensation or damping occurs also when not desired, for example when the skater is pushing, part of the force transmitted to the wheels is absorbed by the compression of the springs, and therefore there is a dispersion of forces that limits efficiency during the pushing action. This problem is also felt when the user performs slalom skating, since every sudden change in direction is followed by an additional compression of the springs, which on one hand limits the sensitivity of the athlete and on the other hand can produce unpleasant situations of compression-elongation of the springs during slalom skating that can lead to discordant movements. Also in a speed competition, the springs would still constitute a drawback, because they would imbalance the athlete with respect to a very specific position that he must assume in order to reach the maximum possible speed; this position usually entails bending the legs and lowering the trunk, and is therefore not very stable for the user. US-A-5 312 120 describes a roller ski having wheels pivoted to a frame, in which the wheels may move substantially laterally in damping contrast against springs. The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the technical problems and the drawbacks of the described prior art, by providing a skate that both damp the unevennesses of the ground and provides a rigid connection between the wheels and the shoe. Within the scope of this aim, an important object is to provide a skate in which these two apparently contrasting features can be selectively chosen by the user. Another important object is to provide a skate in which these features can be selected quickly and easily by the user. Another important object is to provide a skate that is structurally simple as well as reliable and safe in use. This aim, these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a roller skate as defined in the appended claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of two particular but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a partially sectional side view of the skate; figure 2 is a lateral perspective view of a detail of the skate; figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along the plane III-III of figure 1; figure 4 is a view, similar to figure 1, of a second embodiment of the invention; figure 5 is a side, partially sectioned, view of a third embodiment of the invention. With reference to figures 1-3, the reference numeral 1 designates the skate, which is constituted by a shoe 2 preferably composed of a quarter 3 that is articulated to a shell 4, a substantially U-shaped frame 5 being associated therebelow. The skate comprises a means for damping only forces applied to the wheels, along axes that are not at right angles to the frame 5. Said means comprises an oscillating support designated by the reference numeral 7. The illustrated embodiment comprises four such supports 7. Each oscillating support 7 has a substantially triangular shape, wherein the base 8 is curved so that its convex part is directed towards the overlying shell 4, whereas a wheel 6 is pivoted at the vertex 9 by means of a pivot 10 (called second pivot). Each oscillating support 7 is rotatably associated, at the base 8, transversely to the wings 11 of the frame 5 by means of an adapted pivot 12 (called first pivot). Two third pivots 13a and 13b are transversely associated to the bases 8 of each oscillating support 7. The third pivots are equidistant from the first pivot 12 and are arranged on a plane that is approximately parallel to the ground 14. A plate 15 is slidingly associated between the wings 11 of the frame 5 below the plane of arrangement of said first pivot 12 and of said third pivots 13a and 13b and can slide longitudinally with respect to the frame 5 in the interspace formed between said wings 11. Said plate 15 is laterally provided with two longitudinal flaps 16a and 16b that slide above adapted tabs 17 protruding inside the wings 11 of the frame 5. Two notches 18a and 18b are formed on each one of the longitudinal flaps 16a and 16b of the plate 15 at each one of the third pivots 13a and 13b of each oscillating support 7; their width is such as to allow, as shown in figure 1 in the wheel located at the rear end of the frame 5, the oscillating support 7 to oscillate, since the third pivots will pass at the selected pair among the pairs of notches 18a and 18b so that they are free to oscillate. A flexible element, such as for example a pad 19, has appropriate seats at said first and third pivots for its positioning. Pad 19 is interposed in the interspace formed between the plate 15 and the base of the frame 5 connecting the wings 11, at the region affected by said first pivot 12 and said third pivots 13a and 13b. The plate 15 can be made to slide by means of an adapted knob 20 rotatably associated laterally with respect to the shell 4 or the quarter 3 and allowing to take up an end of a traction element, such as a cable 21 which is appropriately guided within an adapted sheath 22 and is connected, at its other end, for example to the end of the plate 15 protruding to the rear of the frame 5. The longitudinal movement of the plate 15 is contrasted by an additional flexible element, such as a spring 23 interposed between the end of the plate lying opposite to the one that interacts with the cable 21 and said frame 5. An activation of the knob 20, so as to reach a desired condition of stable equilibrium, forces the plate 15 to move so that the pairs of notches 18a and 18b are no longer located at the third pivots 13a and 13b of each oscillating support 7, as shown in figure 1 in the wheels that do not lie below the heel region. In this manner, each oscillating support 7 is prevented from moving about the first pivot 12, so as to eliminate the damping condition described above. Furthermore, if each support can oscillate about the first pivot 12, and therefore if the third pivots 13a and 13b are located at the notches 18a and 18b, the skater can still impart, for example during the pushing action, a force that is then transmitted directly to the wheels, since it is applied at right angles to the ground: in this case, in fact, the force is transmitted through the first pivot 12. Vice versa, if the wheels encounter for example a depression or an obstacle along their path, the support rocks in contrast with the pad 19, thus providing a shock-absorbing action. It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a skate having been provided that allows both to optimally transmit forces from the foot to the wheels during the pushing action and to damp any unevennesses of the ground, since they affect the wheels by generating forces the resultants whereof are not at right angles to the ground. The skate according to the invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, for example, figure 4 illustrates a skate 101 composed of a shoe 102 comprising a shell 104 that can be downwardly rigidly coupled at the base of a substantially U-shaped frame 105 between the wings whereof oscillating supports 107 are again transversely associated by means of first pivots 112. Third pivots 113a and 113b are again transversely associated at the base 108 of each oscillating support 107 and are arranged at the same plane that passes through the first pivot 112 and is approximately parallel to the ground 114. In this embodiment, there is no selection plate for the damped or non-damped condition of the skate, and a flexible element, such as a pad 119, is interposed between the first pivot 112 and the third pivots 113a and 113b with respect to the base of the frame 105. Figure 5 illustrates a skate 201, according to a third embodiment of the invention. Skate 201 comprises a plurality of oscillating supports 207 for respective wheels 206. Each support 207 is substantially V-shaped and is pivoted to the frame 205 by means of a first pivot 212 while a second pivot 210 connects the wheel 206 to the same support. A damping means 219 is interposed between the support 207 and the frame 205 in order to provide a damping action when the support 207 oscillates about pivot 212. Pivots 210 and 212 are on the same vertical axis, so that substantially vertical forces are not damped while forces having a direction other than vertical are damped, as explained above. The components and the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the skate may of course be the most pertinent 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 interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: Roller skate with improved comfort comprising a frame (5,105,205) supporting a plurality of wheels (6,206), and a damping means (7,107,207) connecting each of said wheels to said frame and adapted to damp only forces applied to the wheels in a direction which is not at right angle to the frame, said damping means comprising a support (7,107,207) pivoted to said frame about a first upper pivot (12,112,212) and supporting a respective wheel about a second lower pivot (10,210) such that forces passing through said first and second pivots are not damped but transmitted directly through said first and second pivots. Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a device (15,20) for selectively activating and deactivating said means for damping only forces applied to the wheels along axes that are not at right angles to the frame. Skate, according to claim 1, characterized in that said damping means comprises a plurality of oscillating supports (7,107), each having a substantially triangular shape having a convex part of a curved base (8) directed towards said frame, each of said wheels being pivoted at the vertex by means of the second pivot (10). Skate according to claim 3, characterized in that each one of said oscillating supports is rotatably associated, at said base, transversely to the wings of said frame by means of the adapted first pivot (12,112). Skate according to claim 4, characterized in that two third pivots (13a,13b,113a,113b) are transversely associated to said bases (8) of said oscillating support (7), said third pivots being equidistant from said first pivot (12,112) and being arranged on a plane that is approximately parallel to the plane of the ground. Skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said activating-deactivating device is constituted by a plate (15) that is slideable longitudinally with respect to said frame in an interspace formed in said frame, said plate being slidingly associated at said frame below the plane of arrangement of said second and third pivots. Skate according to claim 6, characterized in that said plate (15) is laterally provided with two longitudinal flaps (16a,16b) that slide over adapted tabs protruding inside said frame. Skate according to claim 7, characterized in that two notches (18a,18b) are formed on each one of said longitudinal flaps (16a,16b) of said plate (15), at each one of said third pivots (13a,13b) of each oscillating support (7), the width of said notches allowing the oscillation of the corresponding oscillating support, said third pivots being allowed to oscillate freely at the desired pair among said pairs of notches. Skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one flexible element (19), such as a pad having appropriate seats for its positioning at said first (12) and third (13a,13b) pivots, is interposed in the interspace formed between said frame and said first pivot (12), at the region affected by said first and third pivots. Skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate can be made to slide by means of an adapted knob (20) rotatably associated laterally with respect to said frame and allowing to take up an end of a traction element (21), such as a cable, that is appropriately guided within an adapted sheath (22) and is connected, at the other end, to the end of said plate protruding to the rear of said frame. Skate according to claim 10, characterized in that the longitudinal movement of said plate (15) is also contrasted by an additional flexible element, such as a spring (23), interposed between the end of said plate lying opposite to the one that interacts with said cable and with said frame. Skate according to claim 11, characterized in that the activation of said knob (20) forces said plate (15) to move so that said pairs of notches (18a,18b) are no longer located at said third pivots (13a,13b) of each one of said oscillating supports (7). Skate according to claim 1, characterized in that said damping means comprises a plurality of oscillating supports (207), each supporting a wheel (206), a damping member (219) being interposed between each of said oscillating supports and said frame (205). Skate according to claim 13, characterized in that each said oscillating support (207) is substantially V-shaped, the second pivot (210) connecting said wheel (206) to said support, the first pivot (212) connecting said support to said frame, said first and second pivots being on the same vertical axis.

Inventors: CAERAN FRANCESCO, ZORZI CLAUDIO, CAERAN, FRANCESCO, ZORZI, CLAUDIO, ZORZI, CLAUDIO, VIA DEI FANTI 17
Applicants: BENETTON SPA, BENETTON GROUP S.P.A.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A63C17
IPC codes: A63C17