US20080040889A1

US20080040889A1 - Carpet skate for use on hard surfaces

Info

Publication number: US20080040889A1
Application number: US11/894,237
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald V. Edwards
Original assignee: Simtec Co
Current assignee: Simtec Co
Priority date: 2006-08-18
Filing date: 2007-08-20
Publication date: 2008-02-21

Abstract

A hard surface slide for use as a recreational entertainment device that includes a slide member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size. The slide member is formed from a flexible sheet of material having an upper surface and a bottom surface. An attachment device is engageable with the slide member for attaching the hard surface slide to a user's foot. A protective cover is disposed on the bottom surface of the slide member for protecting against mars on a hard surface floor due to friction with the bottom surface of the slide member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/838,799 filed Aug. 18, 2006. The application is also closely related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/393,470, filed on Mar. 30, 2006, entitled “MEANS FOR ATTACHING A CARPET SKATE TO A USER'S FOOT”. The teachings of this application are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a carpet slide used for recreational purposes and, more particularly, this invention relates to a specially designed type carpet slide which is applied to the feet of the participant for sliding on hard surfaces without marring the hard surface floor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, there are various recreational devices commercially available which enable a person to slide for recreational purposes.
For example, snow skis are used to slide on snow and ice skates are used to slide on ice. Roller skates and skate boards use wheels to slide along hard surfaces.
Additionally, both U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,294 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/393,470, which are incorporated herein by reference thereto, disclose a slide designed specifically for use indoors on carpeted surfaces.
However, the carpet slide disclosed in these two documents will not work very well on hard surfaces. In addition, these slides would mar and/or damage the floors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hard surface slide for use as a recreational entertainment device. The hard surface slide includes a slide member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size. The slide member is formed from a flexible sheet of material having an upper surface and a bottom surface. There is a first means engageable with the slide member for attaching the hard surface slide to a user's foot. A second means is one of disposed on or engageable with the bottom surface of such slide member for protecting against mars on a hard surface floor due to friction with such bottom surface of the slide member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a recreational device for use indoors on a hard surface floor which will enable a user to slide on the hard surface floor without marring and/or damaging such floor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on hard surface floors which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on hard surface floors which is easy to use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on hard surface floors which is relatively lightweight.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on hard surface floors which can fit a variety of different size feet.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a recreational device for use on hard surface floors which will exhibit a relatively long useful life.
In addition to the above described objects and advantages of the present invention, various additional objects and advantages of the recreational slides according to the instant invention will become more readily apparent to those persons skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a hard surface slide according to a first embodiment of the invention showing rubber bands being used to secure the hard surface slide to a user's foot;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the hard surface slide showing a variation on how the rubber bands are connected to the hard surface slide member;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the hard surface slide according to another embodiment of the invention wherein straps are used to secure the hard surface slide to the user's foot;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the hard surface slide shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hard surface slide according to yet another embodiment of the invention wherein a sock like member is used for sliding on the hard surface floor;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hard surface slide according to still another embodiment of the invention wherein a bag like member is used for sliding on the hard surface floor;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the hard surface slide according to an embodiment of the invention wherein the shape of the hard surface slide member is one of a left foot with a corresponding arch support and a right foot with a corresponding arch support.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the hard surface slide shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity in understanding the invention, identical components having identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
Now reference is made, more particularly, to drawing FIGS. 1-8. Illustrated therein is a hard surface slide, generally designated 10, for use as a recreational entertainment device. The hard surface slide 10 includes a slide member 12 having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size. The slide member 12 is preferably formed from a flexible sheet of plastic having an upper surface and a bottom surface.
There is a first means, generally designated 20, that is engageable with the slide member 12 for attaching the hard surface slide 10 to a user's foot 18. A second means, generally designated 30, is disposed on the bottom surface of such slide member for protecting against mars on a hard surface floor due to friction with such bottom surface of the slide member 12. Second means 30 also has a predetermined coefficient of friction that enables ease of sliding on such hard surface floor.
In a presently preferred embodiment, the second means 30 is made from at least one of various types of natural and synthetic fibers that are formed into a cloth like material, such as felt, or cotton.
In one embodiment, the second means 30 is disposed on the bottom surface of such slide member 12 using a predetermined adhesion coating.
In another embodiment the second means 30 includes a sock like member 24 for fitting over the bottom surface 16. The sock like member includes an elastomeric type band 26 for wrapping around an ankle of such user. The sock like member 24, preferably, includes a predetermined friction material 27 disposed on an inner surface of such sock like member 24 adjacent the bottom surface of such slide member 12 for gripping such bottom surface of the slide member 12.
In yet another embodiment the second means 30 will include a bag like member 36 for fitting over the bottom surface of the slide member 12. The bag like member 36 has an overlapping portion 38 and a drawstring 42 to pull the overlapping portion 38 together around the ankle of such user thus securing the bag like member 36 to such user's foot 18.
The predetermined shape of such slide member 12, in one embodiment, will either be a left foot with a corresponding arch support 44 or a right foot with a corresponding arch support 44. Only one arch support 44 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Also, such slide member 12 will preferably have an upturned perimeter edge.
The hard surface slide 10 preferably will include a non slip surface material disposed on the upper surface of such slide member.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first means 20 includes a first portion 52 disposed along the upper surface of the slide member 12 adjacent a first outer edge portion thereof between a front portion of the first member and a back portion of the first member and a second portion 52 of the first means 20 is disposed along the upper surface of the slide member 12 adjacent a substantially radially opposed second outer edge portion thereof between front portion of the slide member 12 and the back portion of the slide member 12.
At least one of first portion 52 and second portion 52 of the first means 20 is preferably a hook like member 66 with an open portion of such hook like member 66 facing a front end of the hard surface slide 10. It is presently preferred that the first portion 52 and second portion 52 of the first means 20 are both hook like members 66. However, one or both of such first portion 52 and second portion 52 could be just a circular loop. It is also preferred that the first portion 52 and second portion 52 be substantially identical.
A third portion of the first means 20 includes at least one elastomeric member 26 that is engageable with the first portion 52 and the second portion 52 of the first means 20 for securing the slide member 10 to a user's foot 18. Preferably, the elastomeric member 26 is a rubber band.
The rubber band 26 hooks onto the hook like members 66 and the user slides his foot under the rubber band 26, or the rubber band 26 is placed over the foot. The hard surface slide 10 may be used with or without a shoe on foot.
The rubber band 26 should be strong enough to secure the slide member to the user's foot. Such rubber band 26 must be elastic enough to adjust to different foot sizes but it must also be sufficiently strong enough to not distort when in use. Therefore, the rubber band 26 should have a predetermined width. The minimum predetermined width is between about ¼ inch and about ½ inch. It is even more preferred that the predetermined width be between about 5/16 inch and about 7/16 inch.
Preferably, the first means 20 further includes a second elastomeric member 28. The second elastomeric member 28 is engageable with either the first portion 52 of first means 20 or the hook like member 66 and with the second portion 52 (or hook like member 66) of first means 20 for securing the first member to a heel portion of a user's foot.
Such second elastomeric member (rubber band) 28 is longer than the first elastomeric member 26 since it must stretch for a longer distance. Further, the second rubber band 28 does not have to be as wide or possess the strength as the first rubber band 26.
In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, the first means 20 will include at least one strap like member 78 having a first end and a second end. There is a third means, generally designated 40, disposed along the upper surface of such slide member 10 adjacent the first outer edge portion thereof between the front portion of the slide member 10 and the back portion of such slide member 10 for engaging the first end of such at least one strap like member 78. There is a fourth means 50 disposed along the upper surface adjacent the substantially radially opposed second outer edge portion thereof between front portion of such slide member and the back portion of such slide member 10 for engaging the second end of such at least one strap like member 78.
The third means 40 preferably includes an aperture 86 formed therethrough for receiving the first end of the at least one strap like member 78 through such aperture 86 and the fourth means 50 preferably includes a similar aperture 86 formed therethrough on fourth means 40 on a radially opposed portion of such slide member 10 for receiving the second end of such at least one strap like member 78 through the aperture 86.
Another embodiment includes using two strap like members. Each strap like member has a first end and a second end. The first end of such first strap like member is secured to the hard surface slide 10 through the aperture 86 formed through third means 40 on one side of the slide member and the first end of such second strap like member is secured to the hard surface slide 10 through the aperture 86 formed through such fourth means 50 disposed on the radially opposed side of the slide member 10.
It is presently preferred in this embodiment that the second end of each of such two strap like members includes a respective portion of an adjustment means 60 attached thereto for adjustably securing such hard surface slide 10 to such user's foot. Such adjustment means 60 could include buckles or hook and loop material.
The adjustment means 60 preferably includes one of a hook and loop member disposed adjacent such second end of the first strap like member. Also, an opposite one of such hook and loop member is disposed adjacent such second end of the second strap like member or engaging such one of the hook and loop member attached to the second end of such first strap like member.
In the embodiment directed to using straps as the attachment means it is presently preferred to include a third strap like member having a first end secured to one of such two strap like members and a second end secured to other one of such two strap like members. The third strap like member is for engaging a heel of such user similar to the way strap 28 engages the heel as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above it should be understood that various other embodiments of the invention can be envisioned by those persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hard surface slide for use as a recreational entertainment device, said hard surface slide comprising:

(a) a slide member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size, said slide member formed from a flexible sheet of material having an upper surface and a bottom surface;

(b) a first means engageable with said slide member for attaching said hard surface slide to a user's foot; and

(c) a second means one of disposed on and engageable with said bottom surface of said slide member for protecting against mars on a hard surface floor due to friction with said bottom surface of said slide member.

2. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said second means is made from at least one of various types of natural and synthetic fibers formed into a cloth like material.

3. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said second means is disposed on said bottom surface of said slide member using a predetermined adhesion coating.

4. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes a sock like member for fitting over said bottom surface, said sock like member including an elastomeric type band for wrapping around an ankle of such user.

5. A hard surface slide, according to claim 4, wherein said sock like member includes a predetermined friction material disposed on an inner surface of said sock like member adjacent said bottom surface of said slide member for gripping said bottom surface of said slide member.

6. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes a bag like member for fitting over said bottom surface of said slide member, said bag like member having an overlapping portion and a drawstring to pull said overlapping portion together around an ankle of such user thus securing said bag like member to such user's foot.

7. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape of said slide member is one of a left foot with a corresponding arch support and a right foot with a corresponding arch support.

8. The hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape of said slide member includes an upturned perimeter edge.

9. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said hard surface slide further includes a non slip surface material disposed on said upper surface of said slide member.

10. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said flexible sheet of material is plastic.

11. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein a first portion of said first means is disposed along said upper surface of said slide member adjacent a first outer edge portion thereof between a front portion of said slide member and a back portion of said slide member and a second portion of said first means is disposed along said upper surface of said slide member adjacent a substantially radially opposed second outer edge portion thereof between said front portion of said slide member and said back portion of said slide member.

12. A hard surface slide, according to claim 11, wherein both of said first portion and said second portion of said first means are substantially identical hook like members.

13. A hard surface slide, according to claim 12, wherein an open portion of each of said hook like members is facing a front end of said hard surface slide.

14. A hard surface slide, according to claim 12, wherein each said hook like member is a double hook having an open end of one portion of said double hook facing a front end of said hard surface slide and an open end of a second portion of said double hook facing a back end of said hard surface slide.

15. A hard surface slide, according to claim 11, wherein a third portion of said first means includes at least one elastomeric member engageable with said first portion and said second portion of said first means for securing said slide member to such user's foot.

16. A hard surface slide, according to claim 15, wherein said at least one elastomeric member is a rubber band having a predetermined width.

17. A hard surface slide, according to claim 15, wherein said third portion of said first means includes two elastomeric members, a second elastomeric member engageable with said first portion of said first means and with said second portion of said first means for securing said slide member to a heel portion of such user's foot.

18. A hard surface slide, according to claim 17, wherein said second elastomeric member is longer than said first elastomeric member.

19. A hard surface slide, according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes:

(a) at least one strap like member having a first end and a second end;

(b) a third means disposed along said upper surface of said slide member adjacent a first outer edge portion thereof between a front portion of said slide member and a back portion of said slide member for engaging said first end of said at least one strap like member; and

(c) a fourth means disposed along said upper surface adjacent a substantially radially opposed second outer edge portion thereof between said front portion of said slide member and said back portion of said slide member for engaging said second end of said at least one strap like member.

20. A hard surface slide, according to claim 19, wherein said third means includes a first aperture formed therethrough for receiving said first end of said at least one strap like member through said first aperture and said fourth means includes a second aperture formed therethrough for receiving said second end of said at least one strap like member through said second aperture.

21. A hard surface slide, according to claim 19, wherein said hard surface slide includes two strap like members, said second strap like member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first strap like member secured to said hard surface slide through a first aperture formed through said third means and said first end of said second strap like member secured to said hard surface slide through a second aperture formed through said fourth means.

22. A hard surface slide, according to claim 21, wherein said second end of each of said two strap like members includes a respective portion of an attachment means attached thereto for adjustably securing said hard surface slide to such user's foot.

23. A hard surface slide, according to claim 22, wherein said hard surface slide further includes a third strap like member having a first end secured to one of said two strap like members and a second end secured to other one of said two strap like members, said third strap like member engaging a heel of such user.

24. A hard surface slide, according to claim 22, wherein said attachment means includes:

(a) one of a hook and loop member disposed adjacent said second end of said first strap like member; and

(b) an opposite one of said hook and loop member disposed adjacent said second end of said second strap like member for engaging said one of said hook and loop member attached to said second end of said first strap like member.