Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Occupational or athletic shoe
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-02-20
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Occupational or athletic shoe
C036S117100, C036S00300B, C036S029000, C036S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189241
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cushioned in-line skate shoe having a separable air cushion foot pad which can cushion and absorb shocks, and can selectably adjust the inclined angle thereof so as to enhance the comfort and controllability of the in-line skate during roller skating.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, to have the comfort of wearing an in-line skate, a rubber foot pad is adhered to the insole of the in-line skate shoe body by adhesive. However, since roller skating comprises motions such as leaping, pivoting and serpentine, and the in-line skate shoe body is usually made of hard materials and covers a wearer's ankle to block the wearer from pivoting the ankle to reduce the shocks in roller skating, the conventional rubber foot pad cannot provide a sufficient shock absorbing function. Therefore, the legs and the feet of the wearer are usually uncomfortable and are even injured.
Further, after using for a period of time, due to the wearer's weight acting thereon, the rubber foot pad deforms permanently and can no longer achieve the desired cushioning and shock absorbing functions. In addition, after long time use, the adhesive hardens and loses its intended function such that the foot pad separates from the shoe body and is displaced, whereby the foot pad not only doesn't have the functions of cushioning and absorbing shocks, it even prevents the wearer from wearing the in-line skates.
In addition to the rubber foot pad, a conventional air cushion foot pad is used. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the conventional air cushion foot pad is generally a hollow and closed foot pad, which utilizes the air pressure within the foot pad to provide the effect of resilient support. Moreover, the thickness of the pad is substantially the same and no support is provided within the pad. Therefore, while wearing the in-line skate, the air cushion foot pad is pressed and deformed under the wearer's weight and even the upper surface of the foot pad contacts with the lower surface thereof. Consequently, the desired cushioning and shock absorbing functions cannot be obtained.
Further, if the air cushion foot pad is pierced or worn out, air within the foot pad will leak out and the pad will no longer provide resilient support. The conventional air cushion foot pad also has the problem of easily separating from the in-line skate shoe body.
Moreover, to meet the ergonomic requirements, the sole of a conventional in-line skate shoe is generally made so that it inclines slightly forward; or, when viewed horizontally, the heel portion
90
of the sole is slightly higher than the toe portion
80
thereof (see FIG.
3
). Conventionally, the heel portion
90
of the sole is made slightly thicker than the toe portion
80
thereof, or the sole of the in-line skate shoe is attached to the wheels in a predetermined angle, so as to obtain a forward inclined configuration which makes wearing the in-line skate comfortable and meets the ergonomic requirements. However, since the above inclined configuration is predetermined and cannot be easily changed due to the cost of designing, manufacturing and marketing, it does not meet some users' specific requirements (such as a larger inclined angle or no inclined angle).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the above disadvantages, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a cushioned in-line skate shoe having a separable air cushion foot pad, wherein the foot pad can cushion and absorb shocks such that roller skating is more comfortable and injury can be avoided.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cushioned in-line skate shoe having a separable air cushion foot pad, wherein the foot pad can be firmly secured to the in-line skate shoe body.
It is the other objective of the present invention to provide a cushioned in-line skate shoe having a separable air cushion foot pad, wherein a heel portion of the foot pad is thicker than a toe portion of the foot pad such that the sole of the in-line skate shoe body does not have to be made in an inclined configuration. In addition, a variety of foot pads with different thickness differences between the toe portion and the heel portion can be selected by the wearer so as to adjust the inclined angle of the in-line skate shoe.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a cushioned in-line skate shoe having a separable air cushion foot pad, wherein a plurality of flexible columns are formed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the foot pad so as to maintain the appropriate support and rigidity of the foot pad.
To achieve these objectives, the cushioned in-line skate shoe in accordance with the present invention comprises: an in-line skate shoe body, including: an outer side wall which has an outer lower edge, an inner side wall which has an inner lower edge, a sole provided on a bottom of the shoe body and connected between the outer and inner lower edges, at least one outer hole and at least one inner hole formed on the outer lower edge and the inner lower edge, respectively; an air cushion foot pad including: an upper surface, a lower surface opposing to the upper surface, a circumferential edge which is formed between the upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of flexible columns connecting the upper surface and the lower surface to define a plurality of air chambers formed within the circumferential edge so as to rigidly support the air chambers, a plurality of transverse protrusions formed on the circumferential edge of the foot pad, thereby when the foot pad is positioned over and contact with the sole of the shoe body, the protrusions are inserted into the outer and inner holes of the shoe body to secure the foot pad within the shoe body.
The structure and objectives of the present invention will be more readily understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4271606 (1981-06-01), Rudy
patent: 4274211 (1981-06-01), Funck
patent: 4670995 (1987-06-01), Huang
patent: 4774774 (1988-10-01), Allen, Jr.
patent: 5477626 (1995-12-01), Kwon
patent: 5528841 (1996-06-01), Pozzobon
patent: 5878513 (1999-03-01), Annovi et al.
patent: 5947487 (1999-09-01), Keleny et al.
patent: 6050574 (2000-04-01), Olson et al.
patent: 6098313 (2000-08-01), Skaja
European Sports Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Ladas and Parry
Sewell Paul T.
Stashick Anthony
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