Patent Publication Number: US-2003227144-A1

Title: In-line skate frame with H-block

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to wheeled, single track roller skates of the type generally known as in-line skates or roller blades, and is particularly concerned with a sliding or grinding block device incorporated in such skates.  
       [0002] In-line skates generally have four or five wheels arranged one after the other in a single line in the running direction. The wheels are rotatably mounted on a frame or chassis, and the frame is connected with the sole of the shoe or may be integrated into the sole of the shoe. An example of a skate of this type is described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,983. Other examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,278 of Wittman and 5,806,860 of Conte.  
       [0003] Typically, the frame of an in-line skate includes a pair of plates between which the rollers are rotatably mounted. In so-called extreme or stunt skates, the center of the lower edge of each plate is arched to provide a sliding surface for the skater to slide or grind along a railing, curbstone edge, or the like more easily. In some cases, a so-called “H-block” of a different material is mounted between the side plates in this region, with a similar arched, downwardly facing surface, to allow the skater to slide more easily along such edges. The H-block may be made of various materials in order to provide faster or slower sliding surfaces. One problem with such stunt skates is that repeated sliding or grinding of the plates against a pavement edge will cause abrasion and damage to the plates.  
       [0004] My co-pending application Ser. No. 09/801,849 filed on Mar. 8, 2001 describes a H-block device for installation between the middle wheels of an inline skate frame having four wheels, which reduces abrasion of the frame material by extending out into openings in the plates. However, there is little space between the two center wheels for the H-block or other similar sliding or grinding blocks. Thus, the sliding or grinding area is limited. In the past, skates have been provided with smaller central wheels in order to increase the area available for an H-block. However, this is an expensive solution, requiring two different types of wheels and wheel mounts, and the available gap is still limited in size. U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,591 of Roderick describes an in-line wheeled skate with a rotatably mounted, rolling element between the wheels. The central wheels may be eliminated, with only one wheel mounted at each end of the skate frame, and the rolling element mounted with its axis of rotation transverse to the wheel axes. However, this is also a relatively complex and expensive arrangement.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved in-line wheeled skate with an H-block.  
       [0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an in-line wheeled skate is provided, which comprises a frame for attachment to the underside of a shoe, the frame having a longitudinal axis in the direction of travel of the skate, two wheels rotatably mounted in line at spaced longitudinal positions on the frame, and an H-block mounted on the frame between the two wheels, the H-block being elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the frame and having opposite ends and a downwardly facing surface, the downwardly facing surface having a central region which is arcuate to form a sliding surface for sliding maneuvers, and a pair of end regions between each end of the H-block and the central region, each end region having an end stop projection.  
       [0007] The H-block may be integrally formed, or may comprise a central element in which the arcuate sliding surface is formed and separate end elements secured to the frame to form continuations of the central element. The wheels are located at or adjacent opposite ends of the frame, and the usual central wheels are eliminated, providing an extended space for mounting of an increased length H-block. Thus, an increased length grinding or sliding surface can be provided, and the skate will be less expensive due to the elimination of two wheels and their associated mounting structure. The end portions or elements of the block may be secured to the frame using the same mounting holes as are normally used to mount the center wheels, so that existing skates can be readily retrofitted with the new, extended H-block.  
       [0008] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the frame comprises a pair of spaced, parallel elongate plates and the end wheels are rotatably mounted between the plates at opposite ends of the frame. Each plate has an upwardly indented cut out in its lower edge at the central region, and the H-block is mounted between the plates in the central region, and has projections on each side extending out into the indented cut-outs, with outer faces of the projections lying flush with the outer faces of the respective plates. The opposite end portions of the block extend in opposite directions from the central region and have lower faces substantially flush with the lower edges of the respective plates, apart from the respective end stop projections which project downwardly from the lower faces of the block end portions.  
       [0009] The elimination of the two central wheels provides a big gap in the center of the frame so that the H-block or grinding surface dimensions can be increased. The H-block with extended end portions can be made inexpensively in one piece, and is easy to remove and replace when worn. The end stop projections provide improved control, so that the wearer will not tend to slide off a ledge or the like when performing grinding maneuvers. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a side view of the inline skate according to an exemplary embodiment with a typical shoe indicated in broken line;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the underside of the skate frame;  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a similar perspective view with the H-block separated; and  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line  4 - 4  of FIG. 1.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015] FIGS.  1  to  4  illustrate an in-line skate apparatus  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which an improved H-block device  12  is installed on the frame  14  of the skate apparatus. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the frame  14  is attached to a shoe or boot  15 , illustrated in dotted outline, in a conventional manner. Frame  14  has an upper wall  16  and a pair of downwardly depending side walls  18 , 19  which are spaced apart by a predetermined distance, as indicated in FIGS.  2  to  4 . A first wheel  20  is rotatably mounted on axle  21  between the side walls  18 , 19  at the forward end of the frame, and a second wheel  22  is rotatably mounted on axle  23  between the side walls at the rear end of the frame, via aligned openings  24 , 25  in the frame.  
     [0016] In a conventional in-line skate apparatus, two more wheels are generally mounted in line with the front and rear wheels  20  and  22 , at an equal spacing from each other and the front and rear wheels, and the frame side walls have additional sets of aligned openings  26 , 28  for mounting the additional wheels. However, in this embodiment, the central two wheels are removed from the frame, to leave an extended area or gap between the front and rear wheels  20 , 22  for mounting of the H-block or grinding block device  12 . The device  12  is a modification of the shorter H-block described in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/801,849 of Wegener, filed Mar. 8, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     [0017] The lower edge  30  of each side plate has an upwardly extending, cut-out region or indent  32 , as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The H-block device  12 , which is of a stronger, more wear-resistant material than that of the frame side plates, is designed for installation between the side plates or walls  18 , 19  at a central location in the frame, so that it substantially fills the space between the side plates and extends outwardly into indents  32 . The H-block device is secured in the frame in a conventional manner, as is commonly used for mounting H-blocks. As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, device  12  has a central projecting portion or mounting boss  34  of rectangular shape which fits into a mounting recess  35  in the frame. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a threaded bore  36  in the upper end of boss  34  is aligned with a corresponding hole or opening  38  in the upper wall  16  of the frame, and the device is secured in place by a screw or bolt  39  which extends through opening  38  and threadably engages in bore  36  in the H-block device. A suitable locking device may extend transversely into bore  36  via slot  40  in a known manner in order to resist any loosening of screw  39 .  
     [0018] In the illustrated embodiment, the H-block device  12  is formed integrally in one piece, and is a generally rectangular, elongated member having a central region  42  and opposite end regions  44 ,  45  extending from the central region towards the respective wheels. Each end region has a transverse through bore or openings  46  in its opposite side faces for allowing an additional fastener, such as a bolts  72 , to extend through the side wall openings  26  and  28  and through bores  46  in order to securely fasten the end regions of the H-block device in the frame. Thus, the end regions of the H-block device may be attached to the frame using the existing axle attachment holes or openings  26 , 28  after removal of the central two wheels, either in addition to the conventional H-block attachment illustrated in FIG. 4, or in place of this attachment.  
     [0019] The lower or downwardly directed face of the H-block device is shaped to provide a desired grinding or sliding contour. As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the central region  42  of the device has oppositely directed projections or wings  48  which extend into, and fill, the respective side wall cut-outs or indents  32  when the device is secured in the frame. This provides an extended, generally downwardly and outwardly directed grinding face having a central, smooth arcuate or indented, downwardly facing region  50 , and gradually tapered, stepped arcuate regions  52 , 54  extending from opposite sides  55  of the region  50  outwardly and upwardly to meet the outer flat faces  56  of each wing  48  (see FIG. 4), with the outer flat faces  56  being flush with the respective side wall outer face  58 , as indicated in FIG. 4. Arcuate regions  52  have a first, upwardly tapering angle relative to the central arcuate region  50 , while arcuate regions  54  extend upwardly at a steeper angle than regions  52 . This arrangement provides a range of different levels for providing different sliding angles for the user, allowing performance of a variety of stunts.  
     [0020] The end portions  44 , 45  have generally flat lower faces, with each end portion having a downwardly depending projection, or anti-rocker stop portion  60  adjacent the respective end of the H-block device. Each stop portion  60  is of generally wedge-like shape, and has a flat upper face  62  of multi-sided, generally cut-off triangular shape. An inclined end face  64  extends downwardly from the inner side or edge of each upper face to the flat lower face of the end portion, and adjacent side faces  65  extend downwardly from adjacent edges of the upper face of the projection to the lower face of the end portion. The projections or stop portions  60  provide the skater with more control and act in place of the previously removed central wheels in this regard. Essentially, the stationary stop portions provide a stopping surface at each end of the sliding surfaces to provide the skater with more control, preventing the skater from sliding off a curb or rail, for example.  
     [0021] The H-block device  12  will be provided in various different materials to provide a variety of different sliding speeds, such as plastic, metal, and the like, and can be easily removed and replaced with a new block when the sliding surfaces become worn, without requiring replacement of the entire frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the H-block device is formed integrally with a central portion having the sliding surfaces and extensions from each end of the sliding surfaces to provide an end stop formation and improved control and stability, allowing the two central wheels to be eliminated. However, it will be understood that the device may alternatively be formed in three separate parts, as indicated by the dotted lines  70  in FIG. 3, or in two separate halves. Where the device is formed in three separate parts, these will comprise a central H-block sliding element mounted with a conventional H-block mount as indicated in FIG. 4, as described in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/801,849 referred to above, and two end stop elements mounted between the frame side walls at opposite ends of the central element. Each end stop element can be secured between the side walls by fasteners extending through the existing axle attachment holes  26  and  28 .  
     [0022] The elimination of the two central wheels provides a larger gap or area in the center of the frame so that the grinding or sliding surfaces of the H-block or grind block device can be extended, and more room is provided for the skater to perform grinding maneuvers on ledges and rails. At the same time, end portions can be provided with anti-rocker or stop formations to provide the skater with better control. The invention is inexpensive and may be readily mounted on an existing in-line skate frame, simply by removing the two central wheels and any previous H-block, and using the existing H-block attachment device and attachment holes for the wheel axles to mount the extended H-block device. It will be easy to replace the device when worn.  
     [0023] Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described above by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.