Abstract:
The present invention provides an antiskid device which covers inline skate wheels and which can be folded onto itself so as to become half as long. In this way, it is much easier to conceal inside a pocket or a pouch.

Description:
This application claims priority based on provisional application No. 60/416,464 filed Oct. 7, 2002 for claim  1 . 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to inline skates in general but more specifically to a removable antiskid device that covers the wheels of inline skates. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Ever since inline skates became popular and, to a certain extent, from the time of the older roller skates, the problem of using those same skates off track has been a problem. As is well known, aficionados of inline skating use them to go to work, some messenger services even use inline skaters to deliver parcels. When comes time to climb stairs or move around inside office buildings, use public transit or roll down steep hills, rolling wheels can be a hazard to both the users and surrounding people. Several inventors have developed devices to cover the wheels of all types of roller skates. As usual, some inventors like things heavy, bulky and impractical with complex attachment means while others are a bit more practical and provide for rather uncumbersome and easy to use skate wheel covers. 
   Despite the numerous variations found in the prior art, the problem remains that users with long feet require long skate wheel covers which are cumbersome to carry when not in use. Therefore, there is a need for an improved skate wheel cover device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an antiskid device which covers inline skate wheels and which can be folded onto itself so as to become half as long. In this way, it is much easier to conceal inside a pocket or a pouch. 
   It is also an object of this invention to provide for an antiskid device for inline skates which is easy to install and uninstall. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide for an antiskid device for inline skates which is held more securely onto the wheels. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide for an antiskid device for inline skates which can adapt to various wheel diameters as well as wheel spacing. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, by way of examples. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  orthogonal view of the antiskid device deployed and in context. 
       FIG. 2   ab  orthogonal views, front and back respectively, of folded antiskid device. 
       FIG. 3   abcd  bottom, side, front, and back views respectively of the folded antiskid device. 
       FIG. 4   ab  bottom and side deployed views of the antiskid device. 
       FIG. 5   ab  side views showing variable wheel diameter adaptability and variable wheel distance adaptability, respectively, of the antiskid device. 
       FIG. 6   ab  side and front views respectively of the antiskid device in context. 
       FIG. 7   ab  front and back views respectively of the deployed antiskid device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   An inline skate ( 10 ) has an antiskid device ( 12 ) installed over its wheels ( 14 ) as per FIG.  1 . The antiskid device ( 12 ) consists of a plurality of wheel receptacles ( 16 ) as per  FIGS. 4-5 . The receptacle only cover the bottom half of the wheels ( 14 ) and consist of a high friction (hence antiskid) device ( 18 ) joined to and covering the exterior surface of a pliable and resillient shall ( 20 ). Side panels ( 22 ) are configured and sized to frictionally engage the side of the wheels ( 14 ) up to or near the axle ( 24 ) so as to securely engage the antiskid device ( 12 ) to the wheels ( 14 ) and also give a user a strong grasp to facilitate insertion and removal onto the wheels ( 14 ). 
   Each wheel receptacle ( 16 ) is linked to the next adjacent receptacle by way of a hinge ( 26 ). The hinge ( 26 ) has two main functions: The first being to fold each grouping of receptacles ( 16 ) by rotating them together around the hinge ( 26 ) and mating them in clamshell fashion to procure a more compact size as per  FIGS. 2-3  so as to facilitate carrying of the antiskid device ( 12 ) when not in use. The second function of the hinge ( 26 ) is to vary the distance between each receptacle ( 16 ) so as to accommodate to various spacings between inline skate wheels ( 14 ) such as in  FIG. 5   a.    
   Also, the pliable and resillient shell ( 20 ) allows for different wheel diameters to fit as seen in  FIG. 5   a . Indeed, there are different wheel ( 14 ) diameters for different skate ( 10 ) models and sometimes, even on a single pair of skates ( 10 ). 
   Inline skates ( 10 ) don&#39;t always have 4 wheels, as per the illustrations. In fact, the number of wheels can vary from 3 to 6. A 4 receptacle antiskid device ( 12 ) could fit a 3 wheel skate ( 10 ) by either snipping off one receptable ( 16 ) or leaving it there if it doesn&#39;t bother. A 6 receptacle ( 16 ) antiskid device ( 12 ) could, likewise, serve for a 5 or 6 wheel ( 14 ) inline skate ( 10 ). 
   To keep the antiskid device ( 12 ) in a closed clamshell fashion, a small clip ( 28 ) clips into a fleece ( 30 ). Both the clip ( 28 ) and the recess ( 30 ) are situated at opposite extremities of the antiskid device ( 12 ) as per  FIGS. 6-7 .