Land vehicles – Skates – Wheeled skate
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2001-05-08
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Skates
Wheeled skate
C280S011270
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227551
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wheel frame for use with in-line roller skates, and in particular, relates to in-line roller skates with eccentrically mounted, single pivot wheel frames.
Wheel frames, or mounts of in-line roller skates are well known in the art, for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,344 to Kim Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,648 to Tonel, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,156 to Gonella, U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,958 to Soo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,071 to Soo. However, the in-line skates of the prior art, and their wheel frames, are not particularly adapted to providing with increased manoeuverability, flexibility and ease of ride. In particular, the prior art does not provide for a wheel frame which allows a first or front wheel to be raised, or rotated upwardly in order to overcome (i.e. ride over) an obstacle such as a rock, twig or other such obstacles. The patents which allow for a front wheel to be raised upwardly however, are provided with wheel frames which are pivoted about two or more pivot points, therefore, needlessly complicating the construction of the wheel frame, adding unnecessary costs, and unnecessary weight to the skate. Further, single pivot wheel frames disclosed in the prior art are not eccentrically mounted about their pivot point, and therefore do not make use of the mechanical advantage which may result from eccentrically mounted wheels.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for an improved in-line roller skate having improved wheel frames.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for an in-line roller skate with eccentrically mounted wheel frames in order to facilitate the use of the in-line roller skate over rough or uneven train.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for an in-line roller skate with eccentrically mounted, single pivot, wheel frames in order to facilitate the use of the in-line roller skate over rough or uneven train.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for an in-line roller skate with eccentrically mounted, single pivot, wheel frames in order to increase the manoeuverability of the skate.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for an improved in-line roller skate wheel frame of more economical construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a general embodiment of the present invention, there is provided for:
an in-line roller skate comprising
a boot
at least one wheel frame comprising at least two wheels rotatably mounted on said wheel frame
wherein said at least one wheel frame is eccentrically, pivotally mounted to said boot.
In accordance with a further aspect, there is provided for an:
in-line roller skate comprising
a boot
a sole plate affixed to said boot
a first wheel frame having a front wheel and a rear wheel rotatably mounted thereon
a second wheel frame having a front wheel and a rear wheel rotatably mounted thereon wherein said first wheel frame is eccentrically, pivotally mounted to said sole plate at a first single pivot point, such that the moment arm of the front wheel about said first pivot point is greater than the moment arm of the rear wheel about said first pivot point, and
wherein said second wheel frame is eccentrically, pivotally mounted to said sole plate at a second single pivot point, such that the moment arm of the front wheel about said second pivot point is greater than the moment arm of the rear wheel about said second pivot point.
In accordance with a further aspect, there is provided for a:
wheel frame suitable for pivotable mounting to an in-line roller skate about a single pivot point comprising at least a forward rotational axis and a rear rotational axis for rotatably mounting a wheel thereon, wherein the distance from the forward rotational axis to said pivot point is greater than the distance from the rear rotational axis to said pivot point.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided for an in-line roller skate comprising a boot onto which a sole plate may be affixed. Said sole plate may be permanently affixed to the underside of the boot or may be removably affixed to the boot. Further, at least one wheel frame may be pivotally mounted onto said sole plate, and two or more wheels may be rotatably affixed to said wheel frame. There may be provided with only one wheel frame which may be pivotally mounted to the sole plate or, alternatively two or more wheel frames may be pivotally mounted onto said sole plate. Further, in accordance with another aspect, the in-line roller skate may be provided with one ore more wheel frames pivotally mounted directly to the boot (i.e. to te underside of the boot), therefore obviating the need for a sole plate or other intermediate structure between the wheel frame(s) and the boot.
In accordance with a particular aspect of the present invention, an in-line skate may be provided with two or more wheel frames, i.e. a forward wheel frame and a rear wheel frame, each pivotally mounted to a sole plate. Each wheel frame may comprise two wheels rotatably mounted thereon, the wheels being of conventional construction. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, the in-line roller skate may comprise four wheels wherein the first two may be rotatably mounted onto a forward wheel frame. The third and fourth wheels may be mounted onto a rear wheel frame. One and/or both of the wheel frames may be eccentrically, pivotally mounted to the sole plate. Alternatively, only one of the wheel frames may be eccentrically mounted to the sole plate, for example, the forward wheel frame, while the rear wheel frame may be conventionally mounted, or for example, the forward wheel frame may be conventionally mounted to the sole plate while the rear wheel frame is eccentrically pivotally mounted to the sole plate.
In accordance with a particular embodiment, the present invention provides for a in-line roller skate comprising a forward and a rear wheel frame each of which may be eccentrically, pivotally mounted to said sole plate (or directly to the boot) about a single pivot point. The expression eccentrically mounted is understood to mean that, with respect to a wheel frame, the axis of rotation of the front wheel and the axis of rotation of the rear wheel are not equidistant from the pivot point (i.e. the pivot axis) of the wheel frame. In other words, the pivot point of the wheel frame is located elsewhere than at the geometric centre of the wheel frame. For example, the distance (whether the straight line distance or the right angle distance) between the axis of rotation of the front wheel and the pivot point of the wheel frame may be greater (or smaller) than the distance between the axis of rotation of the rear wheel and the same pivot point. As may be understood, the pivot point of the wheel frame may be disposed behind the midpoint of the wheel frame (i.e. rearward of the mid point between the front wheel and the rear wheel), such that less force is required to vertically pivot the front wheel about the pivot point then would otherwise normally be required if the front and rear wheels were equidistant about the pivot point. The expression eccentrically mounted may further be understood to mean that the moment arm of the forward most wheel about the pivot point of the wheel frame is greater than the moment arm of the rear wheel about the pivot point of the wheel frame. In accordance with a further definition of eccentrically mounted, the centre of gravity of the wheel frame may be disposed forwardly of the single pivot point of a wheel frame.
The difference between the distance of the front and rear wheels to the pivot point may be termed the eccentricity of the wheel frame, which eccentricity may also be expressed in terms of a ratio of one distance over the other. The eccentricity of a wheel frame may vary according to operational constraints. For example, the eccentricity may be minor, such that the forward wheel is only slightly disposed forwardly, i.e. the ratio of the distances of the forward wheel and rear wheel
9084-6593 Quebec Inc.
Brouillette Robert
Johnson Brian L.
Kosie Ronald S.
Sliteris Joselynn
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