Patent Publication Number: US-6983942-B2

Title: Adjustable skate

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/004,163; filed Oct. 30, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,210, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/833,758; filed Apr. 12, 2001 abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/141,170; filed Aug. 27, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,039, which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/073,464; filed Feb. 2, 1998, entitled “ADJUSTABLE SKATE”. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to skates, and in particular to skates wherein the boot size is adjustable to accommodate different foot sizes. 
   Both ice skating and in-line skating have been a popular recreational activities for many years, especially for children. However, children have growing feet, and to enjoy skating the skates should properly fit the child&#39;s feet. Of course with growing feet, a new pair of skates must be purchased as the child&#39;s feet grow, sometimes on an annual basis. Additionally, many elementary schools have begun incorporating in-line skating into daily physical exercise activities. In order to accommodate the various foot sizes of many children, many different sized skates must be purchased. Assigning a child the correct skate size is time intensive, as is the process of collecting and distributing the skate during the exercise periods. 
   There exists in the prior art boots that are modifiable in length. However, there does not exist in the prior art skates that can be modified in length, and yet be durable, and also have a minimum number of parts to keep down costs and be easy for children to use. Thus, there is a need to provide a skate that can be modified in length, durable to the rigors that children put skates through and also be simple for children to use. The skate of the present invention, being modifiable in length and width, durable and simple to use is advantageous especially for use by youth whose foot size may change significantly in a short period of time. Additionally, the skate of the present invention is advantageous for schools where a number of children, having many different foot sizes, need proper fitting skates and a relatively short amount of time to collect or distribute the skates. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a skate that has a variable length boot disposed upon a frame. The boot can be modifiable in length and includes a heel portion and a toe box. The heel portion is disposed upon a rear section of the frame. The toe box is slidably disposed upon a forward section of the frame and is slidable in relation to the heel portion. The forward section of the frame includes a plurality of spaced-apart slots for receiving a clasp of a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism locks the toe box to the forward section of the frame at a selected position, defining the length of the boot. The locking mechanism includes a lever connected to the clasp to urge the clasp into engagement with a selected slot. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an adjustable skate of the present. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a forward area of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the locking mechanism of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a locking mechanism engaging and disengaging a forward section the skate of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The skate of the present invention is generally illustrated at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The skate  10  includes a boot  12  whose size may be modified in length. The boot  12  includes a toe box  14  and a heel portion  16  disposed upon a chassis  18 . The boot  12  further includes a cuff portion  20  integrally formed with the heel portion  16 . A conventional buckle or a suitable fastener (not shown) is secured to the cuff  20  so that the cuff  20  may be securely fastened to the leg of a wearer. The toe box  14  is slidably attached to the chassis  18  and is positionable along a longitudinal axis of the skate  10  to increase or decrease the length of the boot. Upon selectively positioning the toe box  14  to achieve the desired length of the boot  12 , the toe box  14  is locked at the selected position to the chassis  18  by a locking mechanism  22 . 
   In a first embodiment of the present invention and as illustrated in  FIGS. 1–4 , the chassis  18  retains an ice engaging blade  24  as is commonly known in the art of ice skates. In a second embodiment of the present invention and as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the chassis  18  retains a plurality of freewheeling wheels  26  as is commonly known in the art of inline skates. The wheels  26  are rotatably secured to the chassis  18  by suitable fasteners that are well known in the art. A suitable liner (not shown) is provided to fit within the boot and accept a foot of the a user. The liner has an elastic section proximate the toe box so that the liner can accommodate different foot sizes. In either embodiment, the frame  18  further comprises a forward stanchion  28  and a rearward stanchion  30 . For descriptive purposes, the term forward corresponds to the area of the skate  10  for receiving and supporting a ball and toe area of a foot, while the term rearward corresponds to the area of the skate  10  for receiving and supporting a heel area of the foot. Preferably, the heel portion  16  and the rearward stanchion  30  are integrally formed. However, the heel portion  16  may be secured to the rearward stanchion  30  by a variety of means including, but not limited to, riveting, bolting, gluing or stapling. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the forward stanchion  28  is preferably formed to include a plurality of spaced-apart slots  32  positioned on a side surface  34 . Each slot  32  is spaced-apart a selected distance and works in conjunction with the locking mechanism  22  to lock the toe box  14  to the front stanchion  28  at the selected position. The selected position corresponds to the overall length of the boot  12 , thus the position of each spaced-apart slot  32  corresponds to a selected length of the boot  12 . The forward stanchion  28  further includes a portion for receiving a locking plate  36  and locking nut  38 . The locking nut  38  seats within the forward stanchion  28  and is secured into position by the locking plate  36  which is fastened to the forward stanchion  28  with screws  40 . The locking plate  36  includes a central aperture  42  for receiving a spacer  44  and screw locking bolt  46 . The locking screw bolt  46  threadably engages the locking nut  38  and secures the toe box  14  to the forward stanchion  28 . The locking plate  36  further includes downwardly extending flange members  48  and a side wall  50 . The flange members  48  reinforce the spaced-apart slots  32  and are positioned between the spaced-apart slots  32  proximate the side surface  34  of the forward stanchion  28 . The side wall  50  is positioned proximate to an opposing side surface  52  of the forward stanchion  28 . Alternatively, the spaced-apart slots  32  disposed within the forward stanchion  28  may be replaced with an open cavity, with the spaced-apart flanges  48  defining slots for receiving the locking mechanism  22 . In addition to the flanges  48  working in conjunction with the locking mechanism  22 , the flanges  48  and the side wall  50  of the locking member  36  work in conjunction with a slotted sliding member  56  attached to the toe box  14  to slidably secure the toe box  14  to the forward stanchion  28 . 
   The toe box  14  slidably secures to the forward stanchion  28  and engages the heel portion  16 . The toe  14  box includes a forward toe cap portion  58  integrally formed with a toe sole portion  60 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the toe sole portion  60  overlies a top forward surface  62  of the heel portion  16  and includes an elongated slot  64  positioned under the forward toe cap portion  58  along a longitudinal axis of the skate  10 . The sliding plate  56  for accepting the forward section  28  of the chassis  18  attaches to an underside surface  66  of the toe box  14  by way of rivets  68 . The sliding plate  56  is positioned such that an elongated slot  70  disposed within the sliding plate  56  cooperably aligns with the elongated slot  64  of the toe box  14 . The second elongated slot  70  of the sliding plate  56  has a smaller width than a width of the elongated slot  64  positioned within the sole portion  60 , resulting in the second elongated slot  70  having an exposed upper surface  72 . The toe box  14  slidably secures to the forward stanchion  28  by the sliding plate  56  engaging the locking plate  56  with the locking screw  46  inserting through the first elongated slot  64 , the second elongated slot  70 , the spacer  44  and threadably engaging the locking nut  38 . The screw  46  includes a head  74  having a diameter less than the width of the first elongated slot  64  but greater than the second elongated slot  70 , thus the head  74  of the screw  46  engages the exposed upper surface  72  of the second elongated slot  70  to secure the toe box  14  to the forward stanchion  28  while permitting movement of the toe box  14  along the longitudinal axis of the skate  10 . Detents  76  positioned on the locking plate  36  mateably engage indentations  78  positioned on the sliding plate  56  at several positions. The sliding plate  56  further includes first and second downwardly extending guide members,  80  and  82  respectively, positioned on opposing sides. The first guide member  80  engages the flanges  48  of the locking plate  36 , while the second guide member  82  engages the side wall  50  of the locking plate  36 . Each guide member  80  and  82  permits movement of the toe box  14  along the longitudinal axis of the skate  10 , while prohibiting transversal movement. 
   Alternatively, the toe box  14  may include a forward closure strap portion (not shown) that extends upwardly from the sole portion. A conventional buckle is secured to the closure strap to secure the strap portion to the foot of the wearer. The closure strap portion includes left and right strap members each extending upwardly from the sole portion. The buckle is attached to the strap members. The strap members are positioned slightly forward of the instep of the boot  12  and are spaced rearwardly of the toe cap  58 . 
   The toe box  14  is locked into a selected position by the locking mechanism  22 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the locking mechanism  22  includes a bracket  84  attached to the underside surface  66  of the toe box  14  by rivets  86 . The bracket  84  supports a lever  88  and a locking member  90 . Both the lever  88  and the locking member  90  are pivotally attached to the bracket  84  and the toe box  74 . A pin  92  inserts through the bracket  84 , lever  88  and toe box  14  to pivotally attach the lever  88 . The locking member  90  includes a clasp  94  having first and second spaced-apart arms,  96  and  98  respectively, extending therefrom. Terminal ends of each arm  96  and  98  include a rounded portion  100  having a camming surface  102 . Terminal ends of each arm  96  and  98  further include a cylindrical member  104  disposed on the rounded portion  100 . The cylindrical member  104  of the first arm  96  inserts within an aperture (not shown) disposed within the toe box  14 , while the cylindrical member  104  of the second arm  98  inserts within an aperture  106  disposed within the bracket  84 , thus pivotally attaching the locking member  90  to the bracket  84  and the toe box  14 . The lever  88  slidably disposes between each arm  96  and  98 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the lever  88  is positionable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position (illustrated by dashed lines). Correspondingly, the locking member  90  is positionable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position (illustrated by dashed lines). Positioning the lever  88  towards the locked position causes posts  108  disposed upon the lever  88  to engage the adjacent cammed surface  102  of the rounded portion  100  of the respective arm  96  and  98 , urging the clasp  94  toward the engaged position wherein the clasp  94  inserts within and engages the selected slot  32 . Upon the clasp  94  engaging the selected slot  32 , the toe box  14  is locked into position and travel upon the forward stanchion  28  is not permitted. The lever  88  tends to remain in the first locked position due to the frictional engagement of each post  108  with the respective adjacent cammed surface  102 . Positioning the lever  88  toward the unlocked position and overcoming the frictional engagement of each post  108  with the respective cammed surface  102  causes each post  108  to disengage from the respective cammed surface  102  and engage an interior surface  112  of the adjacent arm  96  and  98 . Further positioning of the lever  88  toward the second unlocked position urges the clasp  94  away from the selected slot  32  to disengage the clasp  94  therefrom. Upon disengagement, the toe box  14  is permitted to travel upon the forward stanchion  28  to increase or decrease the length of the boot  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   The length and width of the boot  12  of the present invention is modified by moving the toe box  14  in relation to the heel portion  16 , as is fully described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,039 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/004,163, which are incorporated herein by reference. It will be appreciated that the toe sole portion  60  and a heel sole  114  portion cooperate to form a single sole of the boot  12 . 
   To determine the selected size for the boot  12 , the locking mechanism  22  is disengaged, allowing the toe box  14  to travel upon the forward stanchion  28 . A wearer inserts the proper foot into the boot  12 , and the toe box  14  is positioned to accommodate the size of the foot. To decrease the size of the boot  12  or to make the boot smaller, the toe box  14  is moved rearwardly towards the heel portion  16  until the boot properly conforms to the foot of the wearer. Rearward travel of the toe box  14  is limited by the length of the first and second elongated slots  64  and  70  engaging the locking screw  46 . In reverse, to increase the length of the boot  12 , the toe box  14  is moved forwardly. Forward travel of the toe box  14  is limited by the length of the elongated slots  64  and  70  which the locking screw  46  engages at the most forward extent. Upon positioning the toe box  14  to achieve the selected length of the boot  12 , the locking lever  88  is engaged by positioning the mechanism  22  toward the locking position, which urges the clasp  94  into engagement with the most proximate spaced-apart slot  32 , and the toe box  14  is locked into position. As the foot of the wearer grows, or for use by a different wearer, the toe box  14  may be unlocked, repositioned to fit the new size of the foot and locked into the new position. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.