Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to in-line skates, and in particular to in-line skates wherein the boot size is adjustable to accommodate different sizes. 
     In-line skating is currently enjoying a tremendous popularity. In addition to be enjoyable exercise for adults, children have increasingly begun to participate in in-line skating. 
     In order to provide a one size fits all in-line skate for adults, as well as a skate which will accommodate a foot of a growing child, expanding skates have been developed. This type of in-line skate eliminates the need to re-purchase skates for a child&#39;s growing foot, or the struggle to find a skate which fits a variety of adult foot sizes. 
     In the past, this expansion capability was accomplished by adjusting the boot portion of the skate. Specifically, the boot was adjusted by sliding the toe portion of the skate with respect to the heel portion of the skate and having an oversized liner which would expand or contract to adjust to the boot size selected. 
     This expansion style, however, did not adjust the wheel frame portion of the skate. Instead, the wheel spacing was the same regardless of the adjustment to the boot portion. Thus, when the boot portion of the skate was expanded, the boot length increased with respect to the wheel base length. Therefore, for a longer boot accommodating a larger foot, less support was provided by the wheel base. 
     On the other hand, when the boot portion was contracted to accommodate a smaller foot, the boot length decreased with respect to the wheel base length. Thus, when a smaller boot was needed to accommodate a smaller person, the wheel base was oversized and unwieldy. Prior expansion skates traded performance for expansion capability. 
     Other art exists where the skate support may be expanded by sliding a single wheel on the wheel base away from the remaining wheels. This type of skate design is problematic for performance issues. Skates which expand along the boot, but expand the wheel base disproportionately to the expansion of the boot result in an improperly balanced skate. Expanding the boot size disproportionately from the wheel base again results in inadequate support for the foot. Low performance by the skate results as well as an increase in the possibility for injury to the wearer. 
     Additionally, the prior art utilizes tracks mounted under the sole of the foot to provide for expansion of the wheel. This style of design can be problematic when designing boots to conform to a foot since the addition of a track defines the sole of the boot. Adjustment can also be difficult, since the expansion means are under the wearer&#39;s foot, limiting accessibility. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an adjustable fit in-line skate that utilizes an expansion configuration which expands the wheel base proportionately to the boot when the boot size is expanded and decreases the wheel base proportionately to the boot when the boot size is decreased. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the inventive in-line skate. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of the rear frame showing the expansion mechanism. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the front frame showing the expansion mechanism. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG.  4 A-FIG. 4D each are a side view of the inventive in-line skate adjusted to a different size. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the inventive in-line skate using adjustable lock spacers. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view of the rear frame illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a partial exploded perspective view of the front frame illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The skate of the present invention is illustrated generally in FIG. 1 at  10 . The skate  10  includes a boot frame  12  and a wheel holder frame  13 . The size of the boot frame  12  may be modified in length. The boot frame  12  includes a toe box  14  and a heel portion  16 . A cuff portion  18  is pivotally mounted to the heel portion  16  in a conventional manner by a pair of pivots  20 , each pivot  20  being located on opposing sides of the cuff portion  18 . A person skilled in the art will realize that other methods of securing the cuff portion  18  to the heel portion  16  may be used, including molding the cuff portion  18  to the heel portion  16  into one integrated piece. Conventional style buckles  22 A and  22 B are secured to the cuff portion  18  and the heel portion  16 , respectively so that the boot frame  12  may be securely fastened to the leg and foot of a wearer. 
     The toe box  14  includes a toe cap portion  23  and a toe sole portion  24 . A toe strap  25  (or alternatively a buckle) secures a portion of the toe box  14  of the boot frame  12  to the foot. The strap  25  is of the type commonly known in the art and extends through strap apertures  25 A in the toe cap  23 . 
     The heel portion  16  includes a heel sole portion  26 . The heel sole portion  26  extends forwardly approximately to the instep of the foot. Flexible left and right vamp sections  27  extend forwardly past the heel sole portion  26  and into the toe cap  23  of the toe box  14 . It will be appreciated that the toe sole portion  24  and the heel sole portion  26  cooperate to form a support for the wearer&#39;s foot. 
     A suitable liner  28  is disposed inside the boot frame  12 . Liner  28  has an elastic section proximate the toe box  14  so that the liner  28  can accommodate different foot sizes. Such liners are known in the art. 
     The wheel holder frame  13  includes a front frame portion  13 A and a rear frame portion  13 B. The toe box  14  is integrally connected to the front frame  13 A, and the heel portion  16  is integrally connected to the rear frame  13 B. Since the skate  10  is preferably constructed of plastic, the connection between the components is typically accomplished by molding the connected portions of the skate as one piece. A person skilled in the art will realize that the components may be fixed together using other methods (riveting, gluing, and the like) as is known in the art. Both the front frame  13 A and the rear frame  13 B retain a plurality of freewheeling roller skate wheels  30 A- 30 D. The wheels  30 A- 30 D are rotatably secured to the wheel holder frame  13  by suitable fasteners  32  that are known in the art. Additionally, a brake  31  is fixedly mounted to the rear frame portion  13 , as is known in the art. 
     The skate  10  of the present invention is modifiable in length, allowing the wearer to customize the skate  10  to fit his or her foot. This is particularly advantageous for use by youth whose foot size may change significantly in a short period of time. The length of the skate  10  of the present invention is modified by moving the toe box portion  14  of the boot frame  12  in relation to the heel portion  16  of the boot frame  12 . Since the heel portion  16  of the boot frame  12  is integrally connected to the rear frame portion  13 B of the wheel holder frame  13 , moving the heel portion  16  moves the rear frame portion  13 B of the wheel holder frame  13 . Similarly, since the toe box portion  14  of the boot frame  12  is integrally connected to the front frame portion  13 A, moving the toe box  14  moves the front portion  13 A of the wheel holder frame  13 . When the heel portion  16  of the boot frame  12  is moved towards the toe box portion  14 , the boot is made smaller (decreasing the boot size). The vamp sections  27  are forced by the toe box  14  towards the center of the boot, thereby adjusting the width (smaller) of the forward section of the boot  12 , as well as the length. Alternatively, moving the toe box  14  away from the heel portion  16  makes the boot  12  larger (increasing the boot size). The vamp sections  27  flex outwardly, once again adjusting the width (larger) of the forward section of the boot  12 . 
     A toe box arm  34 , best illustrated in HG.  2 , projects rearwardly from the front frame  13 A. The toe box arm  34  extends transversely from an instep side  33 A to an outer side  33 B of the skate  10 . A distal end  35  of the toe box arm  34  includes a rear slot  36  through the toe box arm  34 . The slot  36  preferably extends longitudinally along the arm  34 . Opposing rear apertures  38 A and  38 B are disposed through the instep side  33 A and the outer side  33 B of the rear frame  13 B. The slot  36  in the toe box arm  34  is disposed proximate to the rear apertures  38 A and  38 B. The toe box arm  34  is fixably secured to the rear frame  13 B using a rear locking nut  40  and a rear locking screw  42 . The locking nut  40  extends through the rear aperture  38 A and the rear slot  36  from the instep side  33 A the of skate  10 . The locking screw  42  extends through the rear aperture  38 B and the rear slot  36  from the outer side  33 B of skate  10  and engages the locking nut  40 . Alternatively, the locking screw and nut may be inserted from the opposite side of that described. 
     In a first embodiment of the invention, tightening the locking nut  40  and the locking screw  42  causes frictional interference between the toe box arm  34  and the rear frame  13 B which fixably disposes the toe box arm  34  in place with respect to the rear frame  13 B. Loosening the locking screw  42  from the locking nut  40  (while still maintaining a level of engagement) allows the toe box arm  34  to be adjusted in position with respect to the rear frame portion  13 B. The toe box arm  34  is adjustable in position so that the slot  36  can be disposed along its length at alternate positions with respect to the apertures  38 A and  38 B. The nut  40  can be re-tightened, securing the toe box arm  34  in place by increasing the frictional interference between the toe box arm  34  and the rear frame  13 B. 
     A pair of heel arms  50 A and  50 B, best illustrated in FIG. 3, extend forwardly from the rear frame  13 B. A distal end of each heel arm  52 A and  52 B includes front slots  54 A and  54 B extending through the heel arms  50 A and  50 B, respectively. The slots  54 A and  54 B preferably extend longitudinally along the arms  50 A and  50 B. A downward extending middle frame member  55  is disposed between the heel arms  50 A and  50 B. The frame member  55  is integrally connected to the front frame portion  13 A. Front apertures  56 A,  56 B and  56 C are disposed through the front frame portion  13 A. The front apertures  56 A- 56 C are aligned transversely across the front frame portion  13 A. The first aperture  56 A extends through the instep side  33 A of the front frame  13 A, the second aperture  56 B extends through the frame member  55  and the third aperture  56 C extends through the outer side  33 B of the front frame  13 A. 
     The first heel arm  50 A is disposed between the instep side  33 A and the middle frame member  55  of the front frame  13 A. The second heel arm  50 B is disposed between the middle frame member  55  and the outer side  33 B of the front frame  13 A. The slots  54 A and  54 B in each heel arm  50 A and  50 B are disposed proximate to the front apertures  56 A- 56 C extending through the instep side  33 A, the middle frame member  55  and the outer sides  33 B, of the front frame portion  13 A. The heel arms  50 A and  50 B are fixably secured to the front frame  13 A using a front locking nut  58  and a front locking screw  60 . The locking nut  58  extends through the first aperture  56 A from the instep side  33 A of the skate  10 , and then through the front slot  54 A and second aperture  56 B in the middle member  55 . The locking screw  60  extends through the aperture  56 C from the outer side  33 B of the skate  10 , through the front slot  54 B and into the second aperture  56 B in the middle member  55  where it engages the locking nut  58 . Alternatively, the locking screw and nut may be inserted from the opposite side of that described. 
     Tightening the locking nut  58  and the locking screw  60  increases the frictional interference between the heel arms  50 A and  50 B and the front frame  13 A which fixably disposes the apertures  56 A- 56 C under the front rear slots  54 A and  54 B of the heel arms  52 A and  52 B. Loosening the locking screw  60  from the locking nut  58  allows the heel arms  50 A and  50 B to be adjusted in position with respect to the front frame portion  13 A. The heel arms  50 A and  50 B are adjustable in position so that the apertures  56 A- 56 C are disposed at an alternate position along the length of the front slots  54 A and  54 B. The nut  58  can be re-tightened, securing the heel arms  50 A and  50 B in place by increasing the frictional interference between the heel arms  50 A and  50 B and the front frame  13 A. 
     A person skilled in the art will realize that although the preferred embodiment of the invention shows one rearwardly extending toe box arm  34  and two forwardly extending heel arms  50 A and  50 B, other embodiments exist utilizing other arm configurations (using any number of forwardly and rearwardly extending arms) which would not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, one alternate embodiment would utilize two rearwardly projecting arms and one forwardly projecting arm, reversing the configuration of the preferred embodiment. Alternatively, two or three (or more) rearwardly and two or three (or more) forwardly projecting arms may extend from the front and rear frame, respectively. Another example of an alternate configuration would be one rearwardly and one forwardly projecting arm extending from the front and rear frame, respectively. 
     The skate  10  may additionally utilize retention slots  61 A,  61 B and  61 C and rivets  63 A,  63 B and  63 C to allow for further securement of the heel portion  16  to the front frame portion  13 A, as illustrated in FIG.  4 . The retention slots  61 A- 61 C are disposed through the heel sole portion  26  longitudinally along the skate  10 . The retention slots  61 A- 61 C are the same length as the rear slot  36  disposed through the toe box arm  34  and the front slots  54 A and  54 B disposed through the heel arms  50 A and  50 B. The rivets  63 A- 63 C extend through the retention slots  61 A- 61 C into the toe box arm  34 . If the locking nuts  40  and  58  and the locking screws  42  and  60  are removed by the user, the retention slots  61 A- 61 C and retention rivets  63 A- 63 C prevent the toe box  14  from being completely removed from the heel portion  16 . The retention slots  61 A- 61 C and the retention rivets  63 A- 63 C also serve to add further safety factors to the skate, reducing the likelihood of injury to the user. An insert (not shown) may be placed over the heel sole portion  26  and toe sole portion  24  to prevent the rivets  63 A- 63 C from interfering with the liner  28 . 
     Adjusting the skate  10  in the manner described above allows the skate  10  to accommodate a variety of foot sizes while still providing exceptional support for the foot. Support is provided because when the boot frame  12  is adjusted in size, the wheel holder frame  13  is adjusted proportionately to the expansion of the boot frame  12 , as illustrated in FIG. 4A-4D. 
     FIG. 4A (in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3) best illustrate the skate  10  in its extreme contracted (or “smallest”) setting. In other words, the skate  10  is set so that it can be adjusted to accommodate a larger foot, however, it cannot be adjusted to accommodate a smaller foot. To set the skate  10  to this size, the toe box arm  34  is disposed in the most rearward position with respect to the rear frame portion  13 B. The rearward distance is defined by the rear locking nut and screw  40  and  42  interfacing with the rear slot  36 . The rear locking nut  40  and rear locking screw  42  are disposed through the proximate end of the rear slot  36  (so that the rear nut and screw  40  and  42  prevent the skate  10  from being further contracted). The nut  40  and screw  42  extend though rear apertures  38 A and  38 B where they are mated. The nut  40  and screw  42  are tightened so as to prevent movement of the toe box arm  34  with respect to the rear frame portion  13 B. Tightening the nut and screw  40  and  42  locks the rear apertures  38 A and  38 B, at a longitudinal position  62 A along the toe box arm  34 . 
     The heel arms  50 A and  50 B are disposed in the most forward position with respect to the front frame portion  13 A so that the front locking nut and screw  58  and  60  prevent the skate  10  from being further contracted. The front locking nut and screw  58  and  60  are disposed through the proximate end of front slot  54 A and front apertures  56 A,  56 B and  56 C. The nut  58  and screw  60  are tightened so as to prevent movement of the heel arms  50 A and  50 B with respect to the front frame portion  13 A, locking the front apertures  56 A- 56 C at a longitudinal position  64 A along the heel arms  50 A and  50 B. The “smallest” setting disposes the vamp sections  27  of the skate  10  forward into the toe box  14  further than any alternative skate  10  settings (discussed below). The vamp sections  27  are flexed towards each other, thereby decreasing the width of the skate  10 . Support is provided to the user&#39;s foot by the wheels  30 A- 30 D which are spaced approximately equal distances apart. 
     The skate  10  is positionable in a “small to intermediate” setting, as illustrated in FIG. 4B (in conjunction with FIGS.  2  and  3 ). The skate  10  is set so that it can accommodate a somewhat larger foot than in the “smallest” setting. For this setting, the toe box arm  34  is disposed slightly forward (with respect to the rear frame portion  13 B) of the most rearward position (discussed above). The rear locking nut  40  and screw  42  are disposed through the rear slot  36  and rear apertures  38 A and  38 B and tightened so as to maintain the rear apertures  38 A and  38 B at a first distance  62 B from the proximate end of the rear slot  36 A. The heel arms  50 A and  50 B are disposed rearwardly (with respect to the front frame portion  13 A) of the most forward position (discussed above). The front locking screw  60  and locking nut  58  are disposed through the front slots  54 A and  54 B and front apertures  56 A- 56 C and tightened so as to maintain the front apertures  56 A- 56 C at a second distance  64 B from the proximate end of the front slots  54 A and  54 B. Thus, in comparison to the “smallest” setting, the front frame portion  13 A is separated from the rear frame portion  13 B a separation distance illustrated at  66 B. The separation distance  66 B is the combined distance of the first and second distances  62 B and  64 B. Distance  66 B also illustrates the distance that the vamp sections  27  are withdrawn from the toe cap portion  23  of the boot frame  12 . 
     In an “intermediate to large” setting, the skate  10  is set so that it can accommodate a somewhat larger foot than in the “small to intermediate” setting, but smaller than in the “largest” setting, discussed below. For this setting, best illustrated in FIG. 4C (in conjunction with FIGS.  2  and  3 ), the toe box arm  34  is disposed forward (with respect to the rear frame portion  13 B) of the “small to intermediate” setting, but rearward of the “largest” setting. The rear locking nut  40  and screw  42  are disposed through the rear slot  36  and apertures  38 A and  38 B and tightened so as to maintain the rear apertures  38 A and  38 B at a first distance  62 C from the proximate end of the rear slot  36 . The heel arms  50 A and  50 B are disposed rearward (with respect to the front frame portion  13 A) of the “small to intermediate” setting, but forward of the “largest” setting. The front locking screw  60  and locking nut  58  are disposed through the front slots  54 A and  54 B and front apertures  56 A- 56 C and tightened so as to maintain the front apertures  56 A- 56 C at a second distance  64 C from the proximate end of the front slots  54 A and  54 B. Thus, the front frame portion  13 A is separated from the rear frame portion  13 B a distance illustrated at  66 C, which is the collective distance of the first and second distances  62 C and  64 C. The distance  66 C also illustrates the distance that the vamp sections  27  are withdrawn from the toe cap portion  23  of the boot frame  12 . The distance  66 C is greater than the distance  66 B described with respect to the “small to intermediate setting” above. 
     In the extreme expanded “largest” setting of the skate  10 , best illustrated in FIG. 4D (in conjunction with FIGS.  2  and  3 ), the skate  10  cannot be expanded any further. The toe box arm  34  is disposed in a most forward position (with respect to the rear frame portion  13 B) allowed by the rear locking nut and screw  40  and  42  interfacing with the rear slot  36 . The rear locking nut  40  and rear locking screw  42  are disposed through the distal end of rear slot  36  in the same manner described above. The nut  40  and screw  42  are tightened so as to prevent movement of the toe box arm  34  with respect to the rear frame portion  13 B. Rear nut  40  and rear screw  42  are tightened at a distance  62 D from the proximate end of the rear slot  36 . Thus, the distance  62 D is preferably approximately the same distance as the length of the rear slot  36 . Similarly, heel arms  50 A and  50 B are disposed in a most rearward position (with respect to the front frame portion  13 A) allowed by the front locking nut and screw  58  and  60  interfacing with the front slots  54 A and  54 B. The front locking nut and screw  58  and  60  are disposed through the distal end of front slots  54 A and  54 B in the same manner described above. Front nut and screw  58  and  60  are tightened at a distance  64 D from the proximate end of the front slots  54 A and  54 B, the distance  64 D is preferably approximately the same distance as the length of the front slots  54 A and  54 B. The separation of the front frame portion  13 A from the rear frame portion  13 B is illustrated by separation distance  66 D. The separation distance  66 D also illustrates the maximum distance that the vamp sections  27  can be withdrawn from the toe cap portion  23  of the boot frame  12 . Distance  66 D is the maximum amount that the skate  10  can be expanded, and is the cumulative distance of the front slot  54 A (or  54 B) and the rear slot  36 . Although only four positions are illustrated and described, a person skilled in the art will realize that the user could expand the skate to any size between the fully expanded and fully contracted positions. 
     The parts of the user&#39;s foot that bear the user&#39;s weight, namely the toe and heel portions, are supported by the wheels  30 A- 30 D. Thus, as the skate  10  is expanded to accommodate a larger foot, the wheel holder frame  13  is expanded so that the unsupported portion of the boot  12  occurs under the middle (or instep) portion of the boot, illustrated by the separation distance  66 B- 66 D. The toe box  14  positions the toe portion of the foot directly over the front frame portion  13 A of the wheel holder frame  13 , and the heel portion of the foot is positioned directly over the rear frame portion  13 B of the wheel holder frame  13 . The balance of wheel distribution over the front and rear frame portions  13 A and  13 B gives the user the same high level of stability, regardless of the setting at which the skate  10  is positioned. 
     Additionally, the arms  34 ,  50 A and  50 B which provide adjusting and locking means along the sides of the skate  33 A and  33 B do not interfere with or alter the boot shape. Thus, the inventive expansion system provides a high performance skate which fits the user&#39;s foot so as to provide comfort and balance, while still allowing for adjustment to fit various foot sizes. 
     A person skilled in the art will realize that although the invention is described as having four wheels, an alternate number of wheels may be provided as long as they are balanced equally between the front and rear frame sections  13 A and  13 B. 
     A second preferred embodiment of the inventive skate  10  uses adjustable lock spacers  70 A- 70 D to connect the front frame portion  13 A to the rear frame portion  13 B as illustrated in FIGS. 5-7. A plurality of indentations  72 A- 72 D are disposed into an instep side  133 A and outer side  133 B of a toe box arm  134  and into an instep side  133 A of heel arm  150 A and an outer side  133 B of heel arm  150 B. 
     First and second detents  74  and  76  extend from the adjustable lock spacers  70 A- 70 D. A bore  80  is disposed through the spacers  70 A- 70 D between the first and second detents  74  and  76 . The first and second detents  74  and  76  cooperatively engage one of the plurality of indentations  72 A- 72 D (respectively) to vary the skate  10  size. A person skilled in the art would realize that the locations of the detents and indentations may be reversed so that the indentations are located on the spacer  70 A- 70 D, and the detents on the arms  134 ,  15 A and  15 B. Openings  82 A- 82 D are disposed through the instep side  133 A and outer side  133 B of front frame portion  13 A and rear frame portion  13 B. The openings  82 A- 82 D are shaped to substantially conform to the shape of the spacers  70 A- 70 D. The spacers  70 A- 70 D are disposed in the openings  82 A- 82 D so that the spacers  70 A- 70 D can engage the arms  134 ,  150 A and  150 B. The spacers  70 A- 70 D are prevented from falling out of the openings  82 A- 82 D by an internal wall  83 A- 83 D in each opening  82 A- 82 D and by screws and nuts  140 ,  142 ,  158  and  160  which clamp the spacers  70 A- 70 D against the arms  134 ,  150 A and  150 B. 
     The screws and nuts  140 ,  142 ,  158  and  160  are disposed through the bore  80  in each spacer  70 A- 70 D, and transversely through the skate  10  as described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. The nuts  140  and  158  are tightened onto the screws  42  and  60  which force the detents  74  and  76  of each spacer  70 A- 70 D against the indentations  72 A- 72 D of the arms  134 ,  150 A and  150 B. Thus, the detents  74  and  76  are secured within the selected indentations  72 A- 72 D. The use of the indentations and detents securely locks the arms  34 A,  34 B,  52 A and  52 B in place with respect to the front and rear frame  13 A and  13 B, as opposed to the frictional method described previously. Each indentation  72 A- 72 D is typically approximately four millimeters apart from the adjacent indentation on each outside face  73 A- 73 D and the detents on each lock spacer  70 A- 70 D is typically approximately eight millimeters apart. Thus, the arms may be moved in four millimeter increments with respect to the front and rear frame  13 A and  13 B. Using the spacers  70 A- 70 D ensures that the arms  134 A,  134 B,  150 A stay fixed in place with respect to the front and rear frame  13 A and  13 B. 
     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.

Technology Category: a