Patent Publication Number: US-7216874-B2

Title: Inline skate with an adjustable length

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an inline skate and, more particularly, to an inline skate with a length that can be adjusted. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   An inline skate with multiple wheels in a row is very popular with young people, because use of the inline skate is not limited by seasons and site conditions. A conventional inline skate is comprised of an integral boot and an inside lining with a soft material to make a user&#39;s feet comfortable. However, the length of the boot is fixed such that the skate is not sensible for young users with quickly developing feet. Additionally, when a user skates with the conventional inline skate that is too large, controlling the inline skate is difficult and readily results in sports injuries. 
   Therefore, the invention provides an inline skate with and adjustable length to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The main objective of the present invention is to provide an inline skate with an adjustable length to accommodate growth of a user&#39;s feet. 
   Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an inline skate with an adjustable length in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a toe section of the inline skate in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged front view in partial section of an adjusting device of the inline skate in  FIG. 1  that is attached to a boot; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged front view in partial section of the adjusting device in  FIG. 3  being separated from the boot; and 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged front view in partial section of the adjusting device in  FIG. 4  in position to adjust the inline skate relative to the boot. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1–2 , an inline skate with an adjustable length comprises an inner boot ( 10 ), an adjusting device ( 20 ), an outer boot ( 30 ) and a wheel assembly ( 40 ). 
   The inner boot ( 10 ) is composed of an inner toe ( 11 ), an inner heel ( 12 ) and an optional insole ( 13 ). The inner heel ( 12 ) is slidably holding the inner toe ( 11 ) and has a sole and a shank ( 25 ). The shank ( 25 ) is connected to the sole and has a through hole. The insole ( 13 ) is mounted inside the inner heel ( 12 ) and the inner toe ( 11 ). 
   The adjusting device ( 20 ) comprises a block ( 21 ) and a key ( 26 ). 
   The block ( 21 ) is attached to the shank ( 25 ) of the inner heel ( 12 ) and has a bottom, a front end, two sides, a longitudinal adjustment hole, a transverse slot ( 22 ), a mounting hole ( 23 ), a through hole, a boot fastener ( 24 ) and a shank fastener. The longitudinal adjustment hole is formed in the block ( 21 ) and extends to the front end. The transverse slot ( 22 ) is defined in the bottom of the block ( 21 ), extends to the two sides and communicates with the longitudinal adjustment hole. The mounting hole ( 23 ) is formed vertically through the block ( 21 ) next to the transverse slot ( 22 ) and may be threaded. The through hole is formed vertically through the block ( 21 ) near the front end. The boot fastener ( 24 ) is held in the mounting hole ( 23 ) and may be a threaded bolt. The shank fastener is mounted through the through hole in the block ( 22 ) and the through hole in the shank ( 25 ) to attach the block ( 22 ) securely to the sole of the inner heel ( 12 ) and may be a rivet. 
   The key ( 26 ) is mounted through the transverse slot ( 22 ) in the block ( 21 ), selectively extends into the longitudinal adjustment hole in the block ( 21 ) and has a flexible shaft ( 28 ) and a head ( 27 ). The flexible shaft ( 28 ) is mounted through the transverse slot ( 22 ) in the block ( 21 ) and has a stationary end, a moveable end, a locking segment ( 281 ) and a mounting coil ( 282 ). The locking segment ( 281 ) is formed between the ends, is mounted through the transverse slot ( 22 ) in the block ( 21 ) and selectively extends into the longitudinal adjustment hole in the block ( 21 ). The mounting coil ( 282 ) is formed in the flexible shaft ( 28 ) near the stationary end. The head ( 27 ) is attached to the moveable end of the flexible shaft ( 28 ) and has an inside surface and a lug ( 271 ). The lug ( 271 ) is defined on the inside surface of the head ( 27 ) and is mounted around the moveable end of the flexible shaft ( 28 ). 
   The outer boot ( 30 ) comprises an outer toe ( 31 ) and an outer heel ( 32 ). 
   The outer toe ( 31 ) holds the inner toe ( 11 ), is mounted adjustably in the longitudinal adjustment hole in the block ( 21 ) and has a bottom, two sides, a rear edge, two optional sliding rails ( 33 ), an elongated hole ( 34 ) and a tongue ( 35 ). The sliding rails ( 33 ) are mounted in the bottom of the outer toe ( 31 ) respectively near the sides. The elongated hole ( 34 ) is defined longitudinally in the bottom of the outer toe ( 31 ) between the sliding rails ( 33 ). The tongue ( 35 ) is formed on and protrudes from the rear edge of the outer toe ( 31 ), is mounted slidable in the longitudinal adjustment hole in the block ( 21 ) and has a bottom surface and multiple adjustment slots ( 351 ). The adjustment slots ( 351 ) are formed transversely in the bottom of the tongue ( 35 ) and selectively align with the transverse slot ( 22 ) in the block ( 21 ). The adjustment slot ( 351 ) aligned with the transverse slot ( 22 ) in the block ( 21 ) is engaged by the locking segment ( 281 ) of the key ( 26 ) to hold the outer toe ( 31 ) in position. 
   The outer heel ( 32 ) holds the inner heel ( 12 ), is attached to the block ( 21 ) and has a front end, a rear end, two sides, a bottom, a joint ( 36 ), a chamber ( 37 ) and a notch ( 38 ). The joint ( 36 ) is formed at the front end of the outer heel ( 32 ), is slidably connected to the outer toe ( 31 ), may be mounted slidably between the sliding rails ( 33 ) in the outer toe ( 31 ) and has a protrusion ( 361 ). The protrusion ( 361 ) is formed on the joint ( 36 ) and is mounted slidably in the elongated hole ( 34 ) in the outer toe ( 31 ). The chamber ( 37 ) is defined at the rear end of the outer heel ( 32 ) to accommodate the tongue ( 35 ) and mount the adjusting device ( 20 ) and has a top end and an orifice ( 371 ). The orifice ( 371 ) is defined in the top end of the chamber ( 37 ) to allow the boot fastener ( 24 ) to be inserted into the mounting hole ( 23 ) in the block ( 21 ) of the adjusting device ( 20 ). The notch ( 38 ) is defined in a side of the outer heel ( 32 ), is aligned with the chamber ( 37 ) and the block ( 21 ) of the adjusting device ( 20 ), selectively holds the head ( 27 ) of the key ( 26 ) and has an elongated through hole ( 381 ). The elongated through hole ( 381 ) is defined in the notch ( 38 ) to allow the mounting coil ( 282 ) to pass through the side of the outer heel ( 32 ) so the stationary end of the key ( 26 ) can be mounted in the opposite side and to hold and guide the lug ( 271 ). With further reference to  FIGS. 3–5 , the elongated through hole ( 381 ) allows the lug ( 271 ) to be moved down so the locking segment ( 281 ) of the key ( 26 ) can be disengaged from the adjustment slot ( 351 ) in the tongue ( 35 ) of the outer toe ( 31 ) when the length of the inline skate needs to be changed. 
   The wheel assembly ( 40 ) is mounted on the bottom of the outer heel ( 32 ) and is composed of a wheel bracket and multiple wheels ( 41 ). The wheel bracket is mounted on the bottom of the outer heel ( 32 ). The wheels ( 41 ) are mounted in a line in the wheel bracket. 
   Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.