Abstract:
A hand roller skating mechanism in conjunction with an athletic protective mechanism utilizing a glove portion including a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion includes a wheel retaining portion and a wheel assembly in communication with the wheel retaining portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and takes priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61,759,556 filed on Feb. 1, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The pre se system relates generally to protective wear for hands and arms and more particularly to protective mechanisms such as gloves with nominal friction devices such as rollers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Roller skates have been used for centuries, dating back to a least 1760. The initial concept did not quickly catch on with the public until 1863, with the system of the “rocking” skate which allowed users to more easily maneuver around corners. From this point, roller skates continued to evolve and became apparent in everyday life. Initially, roller skates were used for personal enjoyment or quicker transportation. However, their use soon found a place in many sports. The first sport to employ the use of roller skates was roller hockey, followed by other sports such as speed skating, figure skating, jam skating, and roller derby. Roller skating continues to be a popular pastime to this day, along with its many uses in various sports. While their use still remains popular, there has been little innovation to the roller skate over the past few decades. 
         [0004]    Protective gear has been utilized in conjunction with athletic endeavors almost since the inception of competitive athletics. Traditionally, protective gear is defined by static systems which are not utilized to interact with the playing surface. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The instant apparatus and system, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious, or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. The versatile system, method and series of apparatuses for creating and utilizing a system for protection of a user&#39;s arms during roller skating are illustrated. Thus the several embodiments of the instant apparatus are illustrated herein. 
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present system to provide a skate that will revolutionize the act of roller skating and provide protection for the user. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the system to provide a roller skating system that also provides a glove and protective mechanism for the user&#39;s hands and arms. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the system to provide a roller skating system including retractable wheels or rollers. 
         [0009]    The system results from the realization that the act of roller skating will be revolutionized by a roller skate that can be worn on a user&#39;s hand. In this way, a user can use both their feet and hands to skate along the ground. The present system features a glove with a padded palm area. The four wheels are able to extend from and retract into the padded portion of the glove. 
         [0010]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the embodiments in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the system that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0011]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the system in detail, it is to be understood that the system is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The system is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0012]    These together with other objects of the system, along with various features of novelty, which characterize the system, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the system, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the system. 
         [0013]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein and these aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practiced and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Advantages of the present apparatus will be apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Having thus described the system in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the roller skate glove in a preferred embodiment of the present system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the roller skate glove in a preferred embodiment of the present system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the roller skate glove with the wheels extended in a preferred embodiment of the present system. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the roller skate glove with the wheels retracted in a preferred embodiment of the present system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the roller skate glove with the wheels extended in a preferred embodiment of the present system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the roller skate glove in an alternative embodiment of the present system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the roller skate glove in communication with a forearm and elbow protection device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the system and does not represent the only forms in which the present system may be construed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of the steps for producing the system. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the system. 
         [0023]    In reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , the present system is a roller skate glove. The roller skate glove  10  is comprised of a body  12  and a plurality of wheels  14 . The body  12  is further comprised of a glove portion  16  and a wheel retaining portion  18 . The glove portion  16  is further comprised of a brake  20 . The wheel retaining portion.  18  is further comprised of plurality of wheel cavities  22  and at least one release mechanism  24 . The plurality of wheel cavities  22  are further comprised a plurality of tracks  26 . The plurality of tracks  26  are further comprised of a plurality of locking mechanisms  28 . The plurality of wheels may further comprise a plurality of track engaging members  30 . 
         [0024]    The roller skate glove  10  is comprised of a body  12 . The body  12  is further comprised of a glove portion.  16  and a wheel retaining portion  18 . The glove portion  16  can be made from any material or combination of materials including, but not limited to, nylon, leather, silk, steel, rubber, aluminum, cotton or plastic. Additionally, the glove portion  16  can be any size as to fit any sized hand. In the preferred embodiment of the present system the glove portion  16  is a full fingered glove, however, it may also be a fingerless glove. It is also possible for one or more of the fingers of the glove portion  16  to be attached to one another or for the glove portion to be webbed. The finger portions of the glove can be either flexible or rigid. 
         [0025]    The glove portion may further comprise a brake  20 . The brake  20  can be made from any material such as rubber or plastic. In the preferred embodiment of the present system the brake  20  is attached to both the ring finger and the middle finger, however, the brake  20  may be attached to any finger or fingers. It is also possible for the brake  20  to be attached to the wrist area of the glove portion  16 . The brake  20  can be attached to the glove portion  16  using any method of attachment such as a chemical or mechanical means. The glove portion  16  may also feature a strap  32  along the wrist portion. The strap  32  is used to tighten the opening of the glove portion  16  around the user&#39;s wrist such that the roller skate glove  10  does not slip off of a user&#39;s hand while in use. The strap  32  can be secured using Velcro®, buttons, snaps, ties or any other means of attachment. 
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment of the present system, the wheel retaining portion  18  extends from a palm area  34  of the glove portion  16 . The wheel retaining portion  18  may also be designed to extend from a portion of the fingers or from the entirety of the fingers. Any type of material or combination of materials may be used to construct the wheel retaining portion  18  including, but not limited to, steel, rubber, aluminum, plastic or fiber glass. The wheel retaining portion  18  should be either rigid or semi-rigid. The wheel retaining portion  18  is further comprised of a plurality of wheel cavities  22  and at least one release mechanism  24 . The plurality of wheel cavities  22  are cut out sections of the wheel retaining portion  18  shaped to the size of the plurality of wheels  14 . The plurality of wheel cavities  22  is further comprised of a plurality of tracks  26 . In a preferred embodiment of the present system, each of the plurality of cavities  22  contains two tracks  26  located opposite of one another; however, it is possible for only one track  26  to be used within each wheel cavity  22 . Each of the plurality of tracks is further comprised of a locking mechanism  28 . The locking mechanisms  28  engage each of a plurality of track engaging members  30  when the plurality of wheels  14  is in both the retracted position and extended position. The locking mechanisms  28  ensure that the plurality of wheels  14  remain in the desired position. 
         [0027]    The locking mechanism  28  may be an interlocking snap fit or any other method of engaging and securing the plurality of track engaging members  30 . At least one release mechanism  24  may be used to disengage the locking mechanisms  28  used to secure the plurality of wheels  14  in the retracted position and the extended position. The at least one release mechanism  24  can be located anywhere on the roller skate glove. One release mechanism  24  may be used to disengage the locking mechanisms  28  of a single wheel  14  or the locking mechanisms  28  of multiple wheels  14 . The at least one release mechanism  24  can be activated by a spring loaded button, a slide button or any other similar means. Activating the at least one release mechanism  24  causes the locking mechanisms  28  to disengage the plurality of track engaging members  30 , in turn allowing the plurality of wheels  14  to extend from or retract into the plurality of wheel cavities  22 . Once the plurality of wheels  14  has been extended or retracted, the locking mechanisms  28  re-engage the plurality of track engaging members  30  to ensure that the plurality of wheels  14  remain in the desired position. 
         [0028]    The roller skate glove also comprises a plurality of wheels  14 . The plurality of wheels  14  can be constructed from any material or combination of materials including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, plastic or rubber. The plurality of wheels  14  can be any size and can be spaced at any distance from one another. In a preferred embodiment of the present system, four wheels  14  are aligned in a traditional roller skate pattern. It is also possible for the plurality of wheels  14  to be aligned along a single axis much like a roller blade. The plurality of wheels  14  is further comprised of a plurality of track engaging members  30 . In a preferred embodiment of the present system, two track engaging members  30  are attached to opposite sides of each wheel  14  and connected by an axle  36  on which the wheel rotates. However, it is possible for one track engaging member  30  to be used. The plurality of wheels  14  may also be comprised of a ball bearing attached to the axle. The plurality of track engaging members  28  slide along the plurality of tracks  26 , allowing the plurality of wheels  14  to extend from and retract into the plurality of wheel cavities  22 . In a preferred embodiment of the present system, the plurality of wheels  14  retracts fully into the plurality of wheel cavities  22 . However, they may also be designed to only retract partially. Also in a preferred embodiment the plurality of wheels partially extend from the plurality of wheel cavities  22 , however, they may be designed to fully extend such that the entire wheel  14  is visible. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present system. In this alternative embodiment, the pair of wheels  14  located at the base of the palm  36  of the glove portion  16  is attached to a T-shaped member  38 . Similarly, the pair of wheels  14  at the base of the fingers are connected by a second T-shaped member  38 . Each of the wheels  14  is attached to an arm  40  of the T-shaped member  38 . A base  42  of the T-shaped member  38  is attached within the wheel cavity  22  about a hinge, axle or similar member such that it may pivot between a ninety degree angle. Each of the T-shaped members  38  may pivot towards one another, down into its respective wheel cavity  22 . The T-shaped members  38  engage a locking mechanism  28  to ensure they remain in the retracted position. When the release mechanism  24  is activated, the T-shaped members  38  pivot up and away from one another, stopping at a ninety degree angle. The T-shaped members  38  then engage a second locking mechanism to ensure that they remain in the extended position. 
         [0030]    In another alternative embodiment of the present system, each of the plurality of wheels is attached to one support member. The other end of the support member is attached to the wheel cavity such that it may rotate at a ninety degree angle. In this way, wheels on opposing sides of the roller skate glove can fold in towards one another such that they rest flat within the wheel cavity. In this way, the wheel retaining portion of the glove can be designed such that it is thinner. A locking mechanism is used to secure the wheels in each position. 
         [0031]    In a further embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , is a perspective view of the rear side of the roller skate glove, in an alternative embodiment of the present system, a set dual wheeled axles may be utilized as opposed to four free wheels. 
         [0032]    In an alternative embodiment of the present system,  FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the ice skate glove  10  in communication with a forearm and elbow protection device  40 , which may be permanently attached or removably attached. 
         [0033]    In conclusion, herein is presented a roller skating glove with retractable wheels for use in hand skating. The system is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present system.