WO1997039809A1

WO1997039809A1 - Frame for skates with longitudinally aligned wheels, which is provided with a damper device

Info

Publication number: WO1997039809A1
Application number: PCT/EP1997/001785
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gino Conte
Original assignee: Roces SRL
Current assignee: Roces SRL
Priority date: 1996-04-18
Filing date: 1997-04-10
Publication date: 1997-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1998-10-18
Also published as: ITVE960012A0; AU2695397A; ITVE960012A1; IT1288154B1

Abstract

A frame for skates with longitudinally aligned wheels, comprising: a first substantially U-shaped support structure (1) for a plurality of wheels which is rigid with the shell of the boot, at least one second substantially U-shaped structure (8) to which at least one wheel is pivoted, said second structure (8) being pivoted to said first structure (1) in an end position thereof, said second structure (8) being at least partly housed within said first structure (1), a counteracting spring interposed between the first structure (1) and the second structure (8) and acting in the sense of maintaining them spaced apart.

Description

FRAME FOR SKATES WITH LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED WHEELS, WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH A DAMPER DEVICE

This invention relates to a frame for skates with longitudinally aligned wheels, which is provided with a damper device. Skates are known comprising a boot, to the sole of which there is fixed a substantially U-shaped frame supporting a plurality of longitudinally aligned wheels.

These known skates have however certain limitations in that, during sporting activity, any ground roughness encountered by the wheels during their movement produces vibration which is transmitted to the boot and consequently to the skater's foot.

These continuous stresses cause muscular and/or spinal pain, tiredness and consequent poor sensitivity during the sporting activity.

To eliminate these drawbacks, skates have been proposed comprising a boot fixed to a plate hinged at its front, via a fork, to a wheel support frame and provided at its rear with a device consisting of a coil spring, which connects it to the rear of the wheel support frame.

This known frame has however certain drawbacks, and in particular:

- a lack of rigid connection with the boot and a consequent instability of the skate, especially in the case of outward thrust, which is the normal movement during sporting activity,

- unrealiable wheel-ground contact in that the basic purpose of the structure is to absorb ground irregularities,

- a large distance between the boot and ground, with consequent instability for the athlete,

- an aesthetically unsatisfactory result, - a certain unrealiability of operation due to the lack of protection of the moving parts.

These and further drawbacks which will be apparent from the description given hereinafter are attained according to the invention by a frame for skates with longitudinally aligned wheels, which is provided with a damper device, as described in claim 1.

Two preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first structural element supporting the boot,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the second structural element, Figure 3 shows them assembled,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the first structural element supporting the boot, Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the second element,

Figure 6 is a cross-section therethrough on the line VI-VI of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a plan view thereof from above, Figure 8 shows the spring adjustment bush, Figure 9 shows the bush operating disc, Figure 10 shows a modified embodiment of the frame assembled with the wheels, and Figure 11 shows it while under stress.

As can be seen from the figures, the skate frame according to the invention comprises substantially a substantially U-shaped structure 1 provided with flanges 2, a plate 3 for fixing the toe of the boot (not shown on the drawings) and a plate 4 for fixing its heel.

The flanges 2 comprise a plurality of holes 5 of horizontal axis for engaging pivot pins 6 for the wheels 7. On the pin 6 of the rear holes 5 there is pivoted a second structure 8, also substantially of U-shape and partly housed within the frame 1 at its rear. The outer side walls 9 of the structure 8 comprise a depression 10 defining a step 11 forming a counteracting surface for the lower edges 12 of the rear ends of the structure 1. Both the structure 1 and the structure 8 can be constructed of metal, plastic or nylon with added glass fibre.

The central rear end 13 of the structure 1 is inclined downwards and comprises an inwardly projecting tooth 14 forming a stop element for a corresponding rib 15 provided on the second structure 8. In correspondence with its intermediate plate 16, said second structure

8 also comprises a cylindrical seat 17 housing a coil spring 18.

With said spring 18 there interacts the hexagonal head 19 of a screw 20 the threaded shank 21 of which engages in a disc element 22 comprising a plurality of radial seats 23. Said head 19 is housed in a corresponding hexagonal seat allowing the screw 20 to undergo axial but not rotational movements.

The structure is used in the manner of traditional frames for roller skates.

In the case of ground irregularity, the rear wheel 7', overcoming the elastic reaction of the spring 18, rises to absorb the irregularity. In this stage the limit stop is provided by the abutting of the edges 12 of the frame 1 on the steps 1 1 of the structure 8 (see Figure 11 ).

Having overcome the ground irregularity, the elastic reaction of the spring 18 prevails to return the structure 8 to the position in which its wheel T is level with the other wheels. During this stage the tooth 14 forms the stop element for the rib 15.

If the degree of preloading of the spring 18 needs to be changed, a pointed object is inserted into a radial cavity 23 in the disc element 22, which is then rotated to move the head 19 of the screw 20 in one direction or the other so as to compress said spring 18 to a greater or lesser extent.

From the aforegoing it is apparent that the structure of the invention has numerous advantages, and in particular:

- high stability due both to the "embracing" of the element 8 by the rear end of the flanges 2, and to the direct connection between the boot and support structure 1 ,

- considerable damping effectiveness of ground irregularities.

In Figures 10 and 11 the frame structure is shown provided with a braking device 24. The structure 1 is of plastic construction and comprises a band 25 of different colour from the structure 1. This structure, which can be constructed by a traditional biiπjection moulding process, has the further advantage of a pleasing appearance.

If the two plastic materials also have different physicomechanical characteristics, with the band 25 being less yieldable than the structure 1 , an increased vibration damping effect is obtained, which is added to that obtained by the coil spring.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A frame for skates with longitudinally aligned wheels, comprising:

- a first substantially U-shaped support structure (1 ) for a plurality of wheels (7) which is rigid with the shell of the boot, - at least one second substantially U-shaped structure (8) to which at least one wheel (7') is pivoted, said second structure being pivoted to said first structure in an end position thereof, said second structure being at least partly housed within said first structure,

- a counteracting spring (18) interposed between the first structure and the second structure and acting in the sense of maintaining them spaced apart.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the first structure (1) is of metal construction.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the second structure (8) is of metal construction.

4. A frame as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the first structure (1 ) is of plastic construction.

5. A frame as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the second structure (8) is of plastic construction.

6. A frame as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that towards the interior of the first structure (1 ) there projects a tooth (14) which when the spring (18) is not stressed cooperates with a rib (15) provided on the second structure (8).

7. A frame as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the spring (18) is provided with an adjustable preloading device.

8. A frame as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said preloading device consists of a disc (22) which comprises a plurality of radial holes (23) engagable from the outside and operates a threaded bush (20).

9. A frame as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the structure (1 ) is constructed of two materials of different colour.

10. A frame as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the structure (1 ) comprises on its longitudinal walls a band (25) of material having different physico-mechanical characteristics from the structure.