Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CUSHION FOR IN-LINE SKATE
2
3 BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
4 1. FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-line skate and, more
6 particularly, to a cushion for an in-line skate.
7
8 2. RELATED PRIOR ART
9 Disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 331745 is an in-line
skate including a frame 1 and two rolling gears 2. The frame 1 includes
11 two walls 11 each including two pairs of apertures 111. Each of the
12 rolling gears 2 includes two levers 21 and 24, two casters 22 and 25 and a
13 spring 23. Each of the levers 21 and 24 includes an upper section, a
14 lower section and a middle section. A pin 27 is driven into the middle
section of the lever 21 through related apertures 111 of the walls 11. A
16 pin 26 is driven in the middle section of the lever 24 through related
17 apertures 111 of the walls 11. The spring 23 is compressed between the
18 upper sections of the levers 21 and 24. The upper sections of the levers
19 21 and 24 can abut the bottom of the frame 1, thus limiting the maximum
distance between the levers 21 and 24 and avoiding the escape of the
21 spring 23. However, the lever 21 transfers impact to the frame 1 when
22 the upper section of the former abuts the latter, particularly when the
23 caster 22 bumps a rock. This means poor cushioning.
24 Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least
alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
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1 SUMMARY OF INVENTION
2 According to the present invention, an in-line skate includes a frame
3 and two rolling gears. Each of the rolling gears includes two levers
4 pivotally connected to the frame, two casters each attached to related one
of the levers, at least one first cushion provided between the levers and
6 two second cushions each provided between related one of the levers and
7 the frame.
8 An advantage of the in-line skate of the present invention is that the
9 second cushions provide excellent cushioning.
Another advantage of the in-line skate of the present invention is that
11 the first cushions prevent the casters from contacting each other, i.e.,
they
12 prevent the casters from jamming each other.
13 Other advantages and features of the present invention will become
14 apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.
16 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
17 The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of
18 embodiments referring to the drawings.
19 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an in-line skate according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
21 Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the in-line skate shown in Fig. 1.
22 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the in-line skate shown in Fig. 1.
23 Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the in-line skate in another position
24 than shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the in-line skate of Fig. 4 rolling
26 over a bump on the ground.
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1 Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the in-line skate of Fig. 4 rolling in
2 a pit.
3
4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an in-line skate including a
6 frame 10 and two rolling gears 20 pivotally connected to the frame 10.
7 Each of the rolling gears 20 is provided with two first cushions 30 and
8 two second cushions 40.
9 Referring to Fig. 3, the frame 10 includes two pairs of ears 11 on the
bottom. Each pair of ears 11 is for the pivotal connection of related one
11 of the rolling gears 20. Each ear 11 defines an aperture 111.
12 The following description will be focused on only one of the rolling
13 gears 20 as well as only one pair of ears 11 for convenience. The rolling
14 gear 20 includes two levers 21 pivotally connected to the pair of ears 11
and two casters 22 each attached to related one of the levers 21.
16 One of the levers 21 includes two ears 211. The remaining lever 21
17 includes only one ear 211 positioned between the ears 211 of the previous
18 lever 21. Each ear 211 defines an aperture 212. A fastening device 12
19 is driven in the apertures 111 and 212 in order to pivotally connect the
levers 21 to the pair of ears 11. The fastening device 12 includes a
21 threaded bolt and a nut.
22 Each lever 21 includes a fork 213 for supporting related one of the
23 casters 22. A fastening device 23 is driven in an aperture 214 defined in
24 each of the prongs of the fork 213 of each lever 21 and an aperture 221
defined in related one of the casters 22. The fastening device 23
26 includes a threaded bolt and a nut.
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1 Each lever 21 defines a recess 215. A stem 216 is formed on the
2 floor of the recess 215.
3 Each first cushion 30 includes a plunger 31a, a cylinder 31b for
4 receiving the plunger 31a and a helical spring 32 provided around and
compressed between a portion of the plunger 31 a and a portion of the
6 cylinder 31 b. The plunger 31a is connected to the fork 213 of one of the
7 levers 21 by means of a pin 33. The cylinder 31b is connected to the
8 fork 213 of the remaining lever 21 by means of a pin 33.
9 Each second cushion 40 is a helical spring compressed between
related one of the levers 21 and the frame 10. Each second cushion 40
11 includes an end fit on a stem 13 formed on the bottom of the frame 10
12 and an opposite end fit in the recess 215 and fit around the stem 216 of
13 related one of the levers 21.
14 Referring to Fig. 4, the in-line skate is rolling on a flat surface. A
load is exerted on the in-line skate. The levers 21 are opened. The
16 second cushions 40 are compressed in order to provide cushioning
17 between the levers 21 and the frame 10. Thus, in-line skate provides a
18 soft and comfortable feel to a skater.
19 Referring to Fig. 5, the in-line skate is rolling on a bump. Referring
to Fig. 6, the in-line skate is rolling in a pit. Based on the terrain on or
21 in which the in-line skate rolls, one of second cushions 40 is compressed
22 more than the other second cushion 40, and the levers 21 are pivoted to
23 the front or back of the in-line skate. The first cushion 30 is used to
24 prevent the casters 22 from getting too close to each other.
The in-line skate of the present invention exhibits two advantages.
26 Firstly, the second cushions provide excellent cushioning. Secondly, the
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1 first cushions prevent the casters from contacting each other, i.e., they
2 prevent the casters from jamming each other.
3 The present invention has been described via detailed illustration of
4 some embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from
the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present
6 invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the
7 present invention defined in the claims.
5
