Patent Publication Number: US-2005127621-A1

Title: In-line roller skate with vibration absorption system

Description:
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/038,578 filed on Jan. 8, 2002 and claiming priority from Canadian Patent Application 2,330,847 filed on Jan. 12, 2001, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to an in-line roller skate having a vibration absorption system adapted to reduce the transfer of shocks and vibration induced by the skating surface, from the wheels to the feet of the skater.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In-line roller skating has become a very popular activity and is practiced as an exercise and a sport, but also as a means for sightseeing or for commuting in general. In-line roller skates are therefore increasingly used on roads and on generally rough or hard surfaces which are often very uncomfortable for the skater as the bumps, cracks and holes of any shape and size induce shocks and vibrations of the wheels which are transferred directly to the foot of the skater. The skater&#39;s feet may become numb from repeated vibrations induced by rough surfaces and joints, including the ankle joints and the knee joints, and muscles may become sore from repeated shocks.  
      To alleviate this problem, in-line skates may include a suspension system of some sort disposed between the chassis carrying the wheels and the skate boot in order to separate the two components and therefore reduce the transfer of shocks and vibrations from the wheels to the skate boot. For example, a particular in-line roller skate sold under the trade-mark Bauer® comprises a thin, flat elastomer component fitted between the chassis and the skate boot. The elastomer component is rigidly sandwiched between the chassis and the skate boot and provides some dampening of shocks and vibrations transferred from the wheels to the skate boot.  
      Other suspension systems have been devised which aim at absorbing vibration and shocks by pivotally connecting the chassis to the skate boot. One such design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,706 to Sreter in which the skate boot is pivotally mounted to the chassis at the front end thereof and is connected at the rear portion of the chassis via a spring, guiding post and mounting socket assembly which allows the skate boot to move vertically relative to the chassis thereby absorbing some of the shocks and vibrations induced by a rough surface at the heel portion of the boot. However, since the front portion of the chassis is secured to the skate boot through a pivot pin, shocks and vibrations are transferred to the boot unhindered or undampened.  
      Another more elaborate suspension system is disclosed in International application No. PCT/US97/00387. The system consists of a front and rear double pivot mechanism disposed between the skate boot and the chassis. The double pivot mechanism includes a first pivot mounted to the skate boot, a pivot member rotatably connected to the first pivot and having a second pivot attached to the chassis. A resilient member is disposed between the skate boot and the pivot members of each double pivot mechanism such that the front and rear portions of the skate boot are partially isolated from the chassis and shocks and vibrations are partially transferred through the mechanical pivots yet partially absorbed by the resilient members.  
      These suspension or vibration absorption systems represent a compromise between the required firmness and responsiveness of an in-line skate and a minimum degree of comfort for the legs of the user. Indeed when a chassis is allowed to move relative to the skate boot or when a soft material is positioned between a chassis and the skate boot, the chassis is able to sway laterally as well as vertically and the responsiveness of the skate is greatly diminished. A chassis mounted to a skate boot in the manner described above has an inherent tendency to become misaligned vertically and laterally relative to the skate boot during various maneuvers where high forces are applied to the in-line skate such as when turning or accelerating. The chassis is somewhat loosely connected to the skate boot because of the flexibility of the mechanical fittings of the various moving parts or of the soft material positioned between the chassis and the skate boot.  
      Hence prior existing suspension and/or vibration absorption systems for in-line skates are less responsive and somewhat unstable at high speed as well as in turning maneuvers than a skate with a rigidly mounted chassis.  
      There is a need for an in-line roller skate having a suspension/vibration absorption system that is able to reduce the transfer of shocks and vibrations to the foot of the skater yet remains responsive and firm during various maneuvering.  
     STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION  
      As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides an in-line roller skate comprising: (a) a skate boot comprising an upper for enclosing and supporting a human foot, the upper comprising a bottom portion; (b) a chassis carrying a plurality of aligned wheels, the chassis having front and rear portions; (c) an outsole covering the bottom portion of the upper, the outsole comprising a heel portion having a cavity; (d) an insert mounted in the cavity for reducing shocks and vibrations transferred from the chassis to the human foot; and (e) a resilient member mounted between a front portion of the skate boot and the front portion of the chassis.  
      The invention also provides an in-line roller skate comprising: (a) a skate boot comprising a front mounting bracket with co-axial apertures and an upper for enclosing and supporting a human foot, the upper comprising a bottom portion; (b) a chassis carrying a plurality of aligned wheels, the chassis having front and rear portions, the front portion comprising a vertical slot; (c) an outsole covering the bottom portion of the upper, the outsole comprising a heel portion having a cavity; (d) an insert mounted in said cavity for reducing shocks and vibrations transferred from said chassis to the human foot; (e) a resilient member mounted between a front portion of the skate boot and the front portion of the chassis; and a front fastener passing through the co-axial apertures and the vertical slot such that the front portion of the chassis can move towards the front portion of the skate boot by squeezing the resilient member.  
      Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      A detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an in-line roller skate according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of the in-line roller skate shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is front elevational view of the in-line roller skate shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the in-line roller skate shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the in-line roller skate shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded side elevational view of the in-line roller skate shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the bottom section of an in-line roller skate according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a right side elevational view of an in-line roller skate according to the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 9  is an exploded side elevational view of the in-line roller skate shown in  FIG. 8 ; and  
       FIG. 10  is a right side elevational view of an in-line roller skate according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
      In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      In FIGS.  1  to  4 , an in-line roller skate constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated generally and identified by reference numeral  21 . In-line roller skate  21  comprises a skate boot  20  and a wheel carrying chassis  48 . Skate boot  20  includes an upper  22  having a heel counter portion  24  which cups around the wearer&#39;s heel, an ankle support  26  enclosing a substantial portion of the wearer&#39;s ankle, a lateral quarter panel  28  and a medial quarter panel  30  extending along each side of the wearer&#39;s foot and ankle and a toe covering portion  32 . Upper  22  further includes an inner lining  34  which is a layer of soft material covering the inside walls of upper  22  or at least a portion thereof and a cushioning tongue  36  also having an inner lining made of soft material to comfortably enclose the wearer&#39;s foot within skate boot  20 . Upper  22 , as illustrated, features an aperture  38  located between heel counter  24  and ankle support  26 . Aperture  38  serves as a ventilation means and provides added comfort to the wearer&#39; Achilles&#39; heel by removing any potential pressure points which are common in this area and often painful especially when the skate is new. However, skate boot  20  may be constructed without aperture  38  such that the back of skate boot  20  is completely closed.  
      Skate boot  20  also features a pair of side plate  42  located one on each side of skate boot  20 . Side plates  42  extend from the bottom portion of upper  22  to an area located just above the wearer&#39;s heel. Side plates  42  provide added rigidity to skate boot  20  to support the forward portion of the wearer&#39;s heel. Indeed, each side plate  42  extend diagonally upwardly from the front of the heel to a point above the heel bone near the Achilles&#39; tendon such that side plates  42  assist in laterally supporting the wearer&#39;s heel and the back of the wearer&#39;s foot generally. The lateral support provided by side plates  42  prevents skate boot  20  from bending sideways and provides the skater with increased control of the skate.  
      Skate boot  20  is completed with an outsole  40  covering the bottom portion of upper  22 . In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, outsole  40  is molded from a rigid plastic and mounted to the bottom surface of upper  22  with adhesive or nails, or both. Outsole  40  extends the length of skate boot  20  and includes mounting brackets  44  and  46  ( FIG. 5 ) adapted to mount chassis  48  to skate boot  20 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the rear or heel portion of outsole  40  is split in two segments including an upper platform  50  and a lower platform  52  which form a fork-like heel structure by separating into two segments the heel portion of outsole  40 . Upper and lower platforms  50  and  52  branch out from an intersecting portion  54 . A deformable absorption insert  56  shaped to conform to cavity  51  defined by upper and lower platforms  50  and  52 , is sandwiched between upper and lower platforms  50  and  52 , within cavity  51  and act as a cushioning and vibration absorption device for skate boot  20 .  
      Insert  56  can be made in a variety of elastomer material with various hardness or durometer gauges such that under pressure, insert  56  yields and its shape is altered thereby absorbing energy. The elastomer body of insert  56  may have a series of holes or areas with less material to provide more room for deforming the insert. Insert  56  may also include a large pocket of air or gas enclosed within its elastomer body or a series of smaller air pockets also enclosed within its elastomer body to provide some pneumatic resiliencies to insert  56 . Many variations of designs of insert  56  are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , a midsole  58  is enclosed between the front portion of upper  22  and the front portion of outsole  40 . Midsole  58  is made of a rigid plastic and includes a pair of sidewalls  60  and  62  extending upwardly on each side of upper  22 . Sidewalls  60  and  62  provide added lateral forefoot support to skate boot  20 .  
      A series of wheels  64  are mounted to chassis  48  with a series of fasteners  66  acting as rotational axis for each wheel  64  as is well known in the art. Chassis  48  consists of a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls  68  and  70  housing and rotatably supporting each wheel  64 . The front portion of chassis  48  comprises a bridge portion  72  integrally connecting sidewalls  68  and  70  whereas the rear end of chassis  48  is open. Chassis  48  is mounted to skate boot  20  at the front by inserting bridge portion  72  in between the front mounting brackets  44  and securing them together with a sufficiently long bolt inserted into aligned apertures  87  and  88  of chassis  48  and mounting brackets  44 ; the bolt being fastened with an appropriate nut. The rear portion of chassis  48  is mounted to skate boot  20  by inserting mounting bracket  46  in between sidewalls  68  and  70  and again inserting into aligned apertures  86  of both sidewalls  68 ,  70  and mounting bracket  46  a sufficiently long bolt  76  with appropriate nut in order to secure the rear portion of chassis  48  to the rear portion of skate boot  20 .  
      A brake  78  is mounted to the rear of skate boot  20 . Brake  78  comprises a rigid plastic frame  80  and a brake pad  82  made of rubber to provide the required friction for efficient braking. Frame  80  includes two attachment arms  84  extending laterally from brake pad  82  and secured to the nut and bolt assembly  66  of the rear wheel  64 . A third attachment arm  85  extends above rear wheel  64  and is secured to the nut and bolt  76  of chassis  48  as best shown in  FIG. 5 .  
      In use, the wheels  64  of the skate encounter a variety of surfaces, some of them rough and bumpy which induce shocks and vibrations to wheels  64  and chassis  48 . As wheels  64  roll upon uneven terrain, the various bumps and holes in the skating surface impact the wheels and the shocks are transferred through each axle bolts  66  to chassis  48 . The repetition of shocks to wheels  64  induces vibrations to chassis  48  which in turn transfers both shocks and vibrations to skate boot  20 . The vibrations are caused by repetitive shocks to a single wheel  64  and/or by the same shock hitting each of the four wheels  64  consecutively. The vibrations are then transferred to chassis  48 . Shocks and vibrations are finally transferred to outsole  40  of skate boot  20  through the front and rear connecting bolts  74  and  76  and eventually to the skater&#39;s foot causing discomfort to the skater.  
      At the front end of outsole  40 , shocks and vibrations are transferred to the skater&#39;s foot relatively unhindered through connecting bolt  74  linking mounting brackets  44  to chassis  48 . However, at the heel portion of outsole  40 , shocks and vibrations are transferred from chassis  48  through connecting bolt  76  to the mounting bracket  46 , which is integral with the lower platform  52  of the fork-like heel structure of outsole  40 . Shocks and vibrations are then partially transferred through deformable insert  56  sandwiched between upper and lower platforms  50  and  52 , which has the effect of dissipating a significant portion of the shocks and vibrations about the skater&#39;s heel. The fork-like heel structure of outsole  40  is able to bend at its intersection portion  54  such that upper and lower platforms  50  and  52  squeeze and compress deformable insert  56  under the weight of the skater and the impulses of the shocks coming from chassis  48 . As well vibrations coming from chassis  48  are partially absorbed by insert  56  before these are felt by the skater&#39;s heel.  
      Positioning insert  56  into outsole  40  as opposed to between the outsole and the chassis has the net advantage that the chassis  48  is mounted rigidly to outsole  40  and is therefore as responsive to the maneuvering of the skater as a standard mounted chassis but with the added benefit that shocks and vibrations are attenuated before reaching the skater&#39;s heel. No tilting movement occurs between chassis  48  and skate boot  20  and this provides the skater with a rigid assembly that is responsive. Intersection portion  54  may bend vertically to allow flexure of upper and lower platforms  50  and  52  toward each other, however intersection portion  54  is rigid laterally and greatly impedes torsional movement of lower platform  52  which would allow chassis  48  to get marginally out of alignment with skate boot  20  during turning or accelerating maneuvers and give the skater a feeling of instability.  
      FIGS.  7  to  9  illustrate a second embodiment of the mounting of skate boot  20  onto chassis  48 . In this particular embodiment, the front end of chassis  48 , is provided with vertical slots  102  on each side of chassis  48  instead of apertures  87  ( FIG. 5 ) for securing chassis  48  to the mounting brackets  44  of outsole  40 . A resilient member  104  such as a flat deformable rubber is installed between the bridge portion  72  of chassis  48  and the underside of oustsole  40 . Chassis  48  is secured to front mounting brackets  44  by inserting axle bolt  106  through apertures  88  and through vertical slots  102  and threading screw  107  to the threaded inside portion of axle bolt  106 . This arrangement allows the front end of chassis  48  to move up and down relative to skate boot  20  thereby absorbing at the front of the skate, shocks and vibrations induced by a rough skating surface. The shaft portion of axle bolt  106  travels inside slots  102  while front mounting brackets  44  slide along the sides of chassis  48 . The vertical range of motion of chassis  48  relative to skate boot  20  being defined by the length of slots  102 . In normal condition the shaft portion of axle bolt  106  rests on the upper portion of vertical slots  102 . In use, when the front wheels of chassis  48  hit an obstacle on the skating surface, the impulse of the shock pushes the bridge portion  72  of chassis  48  upward toward outsole  40  thereby squeezing resilient member  104  which has the effect of attenuating the transfer of shock waves from the front end of chassis  48  to skate boot  20 . Similarly, when the wheels of chassis  48  hit a series of bumps, which induce vibrations into chassis  48 , the elastic rubbery nature of resilient member  104  absorbs at least partially some of these vibrations and prevents the transfer of these vibrations to the skater&#39;s forefoot.  
      As in the first embodiment depicted in FIGS.  1  to  6 , the rear or heel portion of outsole  40  is split in two segments including an upper platform  50  and a lower platform  52  which forms a fork-like heel structure. The fork-like heel structure includes an absorption insert  56  made of deformable and elastic material which is sandwiched between upper and lower platforms  50  and  52 . Absorption insert  56  acts as a cushioning and vibration absorption device that attenuates the transfer of shocks and vibrations to the skater&#39;s heel as previously described.  
      In  FIG. 7  is shown an alternate embodiment of insert  56  in which its central portion  108  is thinner than its peripheral portion  109  giving insert  56  the general shape of horseshoe. In this configuration, the peripheral portion  109  provides the absorbing action as it expends laterally outwardly and inwardly into central portion  108  under the pressure of a shock or the vibrations of multiple shocks. Peripheral portion  109  may have air pockets to vary the behavior of insert  56 .  
      As previously stated, insert  56  may take a variety of shapes to provide the desired dampening between upper and lower platforms  52  and  50  without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
      The combination of absorption insert  56  near the skater&#39;s heel and resilient member  104  installed between bridge portion  72  and outsole  40  in the forefoot area therefore at least partially isolate the skater&#39;s foot from chassis  48  and provide a more comfortable ride. The transfers of shocks and vibrations through the two attachment points of chassis  48  to skate boot  20 , namely through front and rear mounting brackets  44  and  46 , are impeded and attenuated. However, the longitudinal stability of chassis  48  relative to outsole  40  and therefore skate boot  20  is ensured by the rigid connection of rear mounting brackets  46  to chassis  48  which maintains chassis  48  and skate boot  20  aligned vertically and longitudinally.  
      The connection of the front portion of chassis  48  to mounting brackets  44  with axle bolt  106  inserted through vertical slots  102  and apertures  88  produces a less longitudinally stable mounting which is compensated by inner surface of the walls  110  of mounting brackets  44  being maintained at close proximity of side walls  112  of chassis  48  by the pressure of axle bolt  106 . The walls  110  extend downwardly onto side walls  112  and are sufficiently broad to provide a large contacting area between mounting brackets  44  and side walls  112  of chassis  48  to reduce any deviation of the front end of chassis  48  from alignment with skate boot  20 . Furthermore, the rigid connection of the rear mounting brackets  46  to chassis  48  and the fact that both mounting bracket extend from the same outsole  40  provides added rigidity to the front end mounting of chassis  48 . In order to misalign the front end of chassis  48 , the walls  110  of mounting brackets  44  must themselves get distorted or bend or the entire outsole  40  has to distort and bend.  
      Resilient member  104  is a generally rectangular flat synthetic rubber part adapted for insertion between mounting brackets  44  and configured to rest on bridge portion  72 . However resilient member  104  may take a variety of shape and size as well as using different materials having specific properties. For instance, resilient member  104  may have a bulging central portion that is flatten when installed; this bulging central portion may comprise a deformable air pocket providing added resiliency to resilient member  104 .  
       FIG. 10  illustrates a further variant of the invention in which the chassis and the outsole of the in-line skate are made into a single piece of a rigid plastic. As shown in  FIG. 10 , a chassis  150  is molded into a single unit and mounted to the bottom portion of upper  22 . Chassis  150  comprises a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls  152  and  154  (one shown) extending upwardly into a front pedestal  156  and a rear pedestal  158  integrally connected to an outsole  160 . Outsole  160  extends the entire length of upper  22  from heel portion  162  to front portion  164 . Molding together as a single unit, outsole  160  and the wheel carrying chassis to form chassis  150  eliminates the process of assembling these two parts thereby streamlining the assembly of the in-line skate and reduces overall costs.  
      The single unit chassis  150  is rigid at front portion  164  and provides a level of shock and vibration absorption at heel portion  162 . As with the other embodiments previously described, heel portion  162  is split into two segments including an upper platform  166  and a lower platform  168  which form a fork-like heel structure. Upper and lower platforms  166  and  168  branch out from an intersection portion  170  separating into two segments heel portion  162  forming a cavity  172 . Heel portion  162  is flexible at intersection portion  170 . A deformable absorption insert  56  shaped to conform to cavity  172 , is inserted into cavity  172  and sandwiched between upper and lower platforms  166  and  168 . Chassis  150  being a single unit, is firmly connected to upper  22  and this makes for an in-line skate which is a very responsive during maneuvering. There is no possible movement or play between various parts yet heel portion  162  provides a level of shock and vibration absorption.  
      In use, shocks and vibrations from wheels  64  are transferred through rear pedestal  158  and through deformable insert  56  which has the effect of dissipating a significant portion of the shocks and vibrations about the skater&#39;s heel. The fork-like heel structure of heel portion  162  is able to bend at its intersection portion  170  such that upper and lower platforms  166  and  168  squeeze and compress deformable insert  56  under the weight of the skater and the impulses of the shocks coming from the skating surface dissipating a portion of the shocks at the skater&#39;s heel. In a similar fashion, vibrations are also partially dissipated by deformable insert  56  before these are felt by the skater&#39;s heel.  
      The above description of preferred embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.