Patent ID: 6921093

Claim:
An in-line skate comprising: a flexible upper; a base attached to the upper, the base having a toe portion, a flexible metatarsal head portion extending rearwardly from the toe portion, and a heel portion extending rearwardly from the metatarsal head portion, the heel portion having a proximal end adjacent the flexible metatarsal head portion, wherein flexure of the metatarsal head portion allows the heel portion to move between a lower position and an upper position with respect to the toe portion; a plurality of wheels; a forward frame member having a pair of spaced sidewalls that rotatably supports at least two of the plurality of wheels, and a transverse section connecting the pair of sidewalls, the transverse section being attached to the toe portion of the base, wherein the forward frame member includes a support portion that extends rearwardly from the transverse section and underlies the proximal end of the heel portion of the base; and a rearward frame segment having a pair of spaced sidewalls that rotatably supports at least one of the plurality of wheels, and a transverse section connecting the pair of sidewalls, the transverse section being attached to the heel portion of the base; wherein the heel portion of the base engages the support portion of the forward frame member when the base is in the lower position.