Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Title: "Roller skate"
DESCRIPTION
Field of application
The present invention refers, in its most general aspect,
to a roller skate.
In the present invention by the term rollers we mean any
type of rolling members, in particular of substantially
cylindrical shape (cylindrical rollers), which can rotate
about a single rotation axis, or of spherical shape
(spherical rollers), which can rotate about a single
rotation axis or about infinite rotation axes, i.e. about
any diameter of the spherical roller itself
(multidirectional spherical rollers).
As an example, and not for limiting purposes, we refer to
the case of a roller skate with multidirectional spherical
rollers.
Prior Art
There are three categories of skates that are well-known
and used: the conventional roller skates, where a footwear
is associated with a support for a couple of front
cylindrical rollers and for a couple of rear cylindrical
rollers, the in-line roller skates, where a footwear is
associated with a support for a plurality of substantially
cylindrical rollers arranged along a longitudinal symmetry
axis of the support itself, and the ice skates, where a
footwear is associated with a support for a suitable blade
for sliding on the ice.
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Ice skates are extremely versatile: indeed the skater can
both skate at high speed and perform "dance" maneuvers,
like for example pirouettes and jumps with spin about
himself/herself.
With the conventional roller skates, on the other hand, it
is not possible to perform the aforementioned maneuvers,
whereas with the in-line roller skates some' types of
maneuvers can be performed, although they are not
comparable to those that can be obtained with the ice
skates.
Nevertheless, for all of the aforementioned categories of
skates it is not permitted to move sideways, i.e. it is not
permitted a move which is perpendicular or oblique to the
longitudinal symmetry axis of the respective supports.
In order to try to satisfy the aforementioned requirement,
it has been thought to equip skates with multidirectional
spherical rollers. Such an attempt is described in patent
US 5,716,074 that shows a roller skate in which a footwear
is connected to a support of a plurality of
multidirectional spherical rollers, arranged along two
side-by-side alignments, parallel to the longitudinal
symmetry axis of the support.
Such a skate, although it satisfies the aforementioned
requirement, has a recognized drawback that indeed has
prevented it from being used, i.e. the fact that it is not
possible to satisfactorily and above all safely control the
movements thereof. In practice, the skater that wears
skates of the aforementioned type has great difficulty in
keeping balanced even simply when standing still, since it
only takes the slightest movement with respect to the
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balanced position to cause him to fall (i.e. the balanced
position that can be obtained is of unstable type).
Summary of the invention
The technical problem underlying the present invention is
that of devising and providing a roller skate that is able
to provide the skater with a great flexibility of use, a
good wearing comfort and a easy and safe maneuverability,
so as to overcome the quoted limitations and drawbacks with
reference to the prior art in a simple and effective
manner.
This problem is solved, according to the present invention,
by a roller skate characterized in that it comprises a
flexible insole and a plurality of rollers associated with
said insole, means being provided for the wearability of
said insole.
Further characteristics and the advantages of the roller
skate according to the present invention shall become
clearer from the following description of a preferred
example embodiment thereof, given for indicating and not
limiting purposes with reference to the attached drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 schematically represents a plan view from below of
a first embodiment of a roller skate according to the
present invention.
Figure 2 schematically represents a side elevation view of
the roller skate of figure 1.
Figure 3 schematically represents a front, side elevation
view of the roller skate of figure 1.
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Figure 4 schematically represents a rear, side elevation
view of the roller skate of figure 1.
Figure 5 schematically represents an enlarged plan view of
a detail of the roller skate of figure 1.
Figure 6 schematically represents a section view of the
detail of figure 5, taken according to the plane traced
with the line VI-VI in figure 5.
Figure 7 schematically represents an enlarged plan view of
a front portion of the roller skate of figure 1.
Figure 8 schematically represents a section view of the
portion of figure 7, taken according to the plane traced
with the line VIII-VIII in figure 7.
Figure 9 schematically represents a plan view from below of
a second embodiment of a roller skate according to the
present invention.
Figure 10 schematically represents a side elevation view of
the roller skate of figure 9.
Figure 11 schematically represents a plan view from below
of a third embodiment of a roller skate according to the
present invention.
Figure 12 schematically represents a side elevation view of
the roller skate of figure 11.
Figure 13 schematically represents a front, side elevation
view of the roller skate of figure 11.
Figure 14 schematically represents a rear, side elevation
view of the roller skate of figurel.
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Figure 15 schematically represents a plan view from below
of a fourth embodiment of a roller skate according to the
present invention.
Figure 16 schematically represents a side elevation view of
5 the roller skate of figure 15.
Figure 17 schematically represents a plan view from below
of a fifth embodiment of a roller skate according to the
present invention.
Figure 18 schematically represents a side elevation view of
the roller skate of figure 17.
Figure 19 schematically represents a plan view from below
of a sixth embodiment of a roller skate according to the
present invention.
Figure 20 schematically represents a side elevation view of
the roller skate of figure 19.
Figures 21 and 22 schematically represent side elevation
views, taken from opposite sides, of the roller skate of
figure 1, in a moment of use of the skate itself by a
skater.
Figure 23 schematically represents a plan view from above
of the roller skate of figures 21 and 22.
Figure 24 schematically represents a rear, side elevation
view of the roller skate of figures 21 and 23.
Detailed description of a preferred embodiment
With initial reference to figures 1-8, a first embodiment
of a roller skate according to the present invention is
shown, globally indicated with 10.
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In particular, figures 1-4 show a right roller skate, i.e.
the one destined to be worn by a right foot. The left
roller skate is specularly symmetrical.
In accordance with the present invention, the roller skate
10 comprises a flexible insole 11.
Preferably, the insole 11 is also elastically deformable.
The insole 11 is advantageously made from plastic material
or rubber.
Preferably, the insole 11 is anatomical, by this meaning an
insole that is shaped so as to substantially reflect the
morphology of the sole of the foot.
In particular, in the anatomical insole 11 a toe portion
11a, a substantially plantar vault-shaped intermediate
portion 11b and a heel portion 11c are defined.
In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of
rollers 16 is associated with said insole 10.
Preferably, the rollers 16 are associated with the toe
portion 11a and with the heel portion 11c. The intermediate
portion 11b, which is the area of the insole 11 subject to
the greatest torsion during the use of the roller skate 10
by a skater, is advantageously without rollers 16.
In the example of figures 1-4, four rollers 16 are
associated with the insole 10: three of them are associated
with the toe portion 11a and one is associated with the
heel portion 11c.
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The roller skate 10 also comprises means 18 for the
wearability of said insole 11, i.e. means that make it
possible for a skater to wear said insole 11.
In the example of figures 1-4, the means 18 comprise an
upper 12 that is perimetrically connected to said insole
11, so that a footwear 13 is constituted. Preferably, the
upper 12 is flexible.
Each roller 16 is carried by a support 14, a portion of the
roller 16 itself projecting from one part of said support
14. In general, each support 14 can carry more than one
roller 16, as shown in the example of figures 1-4, where a
support 14 associated with the toe portion 11a of the
insole 11, carries three rollers 16. In general, the
aforementioned plurality of rollers 16 is carried by at
least two distinct supports 14.
Preferably, said supports 14 are flexible and elastically
deformable. The supports 14 are advantageously made from
plastic material or rubber.
The association of the rollers 16 with the insole 11 takes
place by connecting an end of the support 14, opposite the
part where the roller 16 projects or where the rollers 16
project, below the insole 11, with per se conventional
means like glues.
In the example of figures 1-4 two supports 14 are provided,
to be precise a front-of-foot support 14 is associated with
the toe portion 11a of the insole 11, and a back-of-foot
support 14 is associated with the heel portion llc of the
insole 11.
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The back-of-foot support 14 carries a roller 16,
advantageously arranged substantially at a lower end of the
rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone of the foot destined
to wear said insole 11.
The front-of-foot support 14 carries three rollers 16.
Alternatively, just two rollers 16 can be provided, which
are advantageously arranged substantially at a front end of
the first metatarsus and substantially at a front end of
the fifth metatarsus of the foot destined to wear said
insole 11.
In general, the roller 16 of the back-of-foot support 14
and the two aforementioned rollers 16 of the front-of-foot
support 14 are arranged at the vertices of a triangle, with
one side extending transversally to the longitudinal axis
A-A of the insole 11 substantially at the toe portion lla
thereof and vertex opposite said side substantially at the
heel portion 11c thereof.
It should be specified that the longitudinal axis A-A of
the insole 11 substantially coincides with the functional
longitudinal axis of the foot destined to wear said insole
11, an axis that substantially passes from a lower end of
the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal bone and between the
second and third toe of the foot, the physiological
supination and pronation movements of the foot being
performed about said axis, said flexible insole 11
following the aforementioned movements of the foot in
torsion.
In the example of figures 1-4, the third roller 16 of the
front-of-foot support 14 is advantageously arranged
substantially at a central area of the aforementioned
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triangle to constitute a further point of support on the
ground for the roller skate 10.
In particular, the aforementioned third roller 16 of the
front-of-foot support 14 is positioned substantially on the
longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11, which is also the
bisector of the angle of the aforementioned triangle
arranged at the heel portion llc.
More specifically, the aforementioned third roller 16 is
positioned in such a way that the incenter of the triangle
having the three rollers 16 of the front-of-foot support 14
for vertices, is substantially on the aforementioned
bisector.
In the example of figures 1-4 the rollers 16 are per se
conventional multidirectional spherical rollers.In figures
5 and 6 one of these rollers is shown, comprising a bearing
sphere 17 (for example made from plastic material such as
polyamide-imide, from ceramic or from steel) and a housing
case 19 (for example made from steel) for said bearing
sphere 17, said bearing sphere 17 partially emerging from
said housing case 19 and being supported by a plurality of
support spheres 21 (for example made from plastic material
such as polyamide-imide, from ceramic or from steel, and
with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the bearing
sphere), substantially placed side by side one another and
arranged at a substantially hemispherical seat 23 provided
in said housing case 19, in such a way that the bearing
sphere 17 is allowed to rotate in every direction with
minimum friction.
The bearing sphere 17 and the support spheres 21 are kept
in the seat 23 in their correct mutual position by a collar
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19a for closing the housing case 19, which is in the shape
of a spherical annulus and from which emerges the
aforementioned portion of bearing sphere 17. In the housing
case 19, in a totally conventional way, an annular recess
5 is also provided that supports a felt, destined to prevent
the entry of impurities between the bearing sphere 17 and
the support spheres 21. The housing case 19 is fixed to the
support 14 through per se conventional fastening means such
as glues and/or screws.
10 Advantageously, the rollers 16 can be replaced by quick
coupling means to the roller skate 10, which are per se
conventional and for this reason not illustrated (like for
example a threaded coupling or a bayonet coupling). In this
way, the rollers 16 are easily replaced when they are worn
out.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, said supports 14 are equipped with one or more
braking and/or thrusting portions, which project laterally
with respect to the profile, in plan view, of the insole
11. Preferably, the braking and/or thrusting portions are
preferably made from plastic material or rubber.
Moreover, the aforementioned braking and/or thrusting
portions also project below the profile, in side elevation
view, of the supports 14. More specifically, they project
below the part of the supports 14 where the portion of the
roller 16 projects. In order to ensure the possibility of
inclining the insole 11 with respect to the ground, the
projection of the braking and/or thrusting portions is
smaller than the projection of the portion of roller 16.
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In the example of figures 1-4, a first braking and/or
thrusting portion 22 is arranged in front of the front-of-
foot support 14 and a second braking and/or thrusting
portion 24 is arranged behind the back-of-foot support 14.
In figure 8 a cross section of the first braking and/or
thrusting portion 22 is shown, in which it can be seen that
the lower surface 22a of the first braking and/or thrusting
portion 22 has concave shape. More specifically, the lower
surface 22a is substantially a portion of cylindrical
surface, having generatrices substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11.
This conformation of the portion 22 is particularly
advantageous because, on the one hand, the portion 22 has a
lower surface 22a with a minimum possibility of obstacle
during the rolling step of the skate, and on the other
hand, it ensures a sufficient "active" surface of thrusting
when the skater thrusts himself using such a portion 22,
since, thanks to the flexibility of the material from which
it is made, the concave surface 22a tends to flatten out,
with the consequent increase in contact surface with the
ground.
It has surprisingly been found that excellent thrusting
results are obtained when the aforementioned cylindrical
surface of the first braking and/or thrusting portion 22
has generatrices having a predetermined inclination, for
example up to about 10 , with respect to the longitudinal
axis A-A of the insole 11, towards the outer side of the
insole 11 (by outer side meaning the side that is located
by the part of the fifth toe of the foot destined to wear
said insole 11).
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Moreover, again in the example of figures 1-4, a third
braking and/or thrusting portion 26 is arranged on the
inner side of the front-of-foot support 14, by inner side
of the front-of-foot support 14 meaning the side located by
the part of the big toe of the foot destined to wear said
insole 11.
More specifically, the third braking and/or thrusting
portion 26 is situated in an area near both the
aforementioned third roller 16, and the roller 16 arranged
near the big toe of the foot destined to wear said insole
11.
Furthermore, a fourth braking and/or thrusting portion 28
is arranged on the outer side of the front-of-foot support
14, by outer side of the front-of-foot support 14 meaning
the side that is located by the part of the fifth toe of
the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
More specifically, the fourth braking and/or thrusting
portion 28 arranged on the outer side of the footwear, is
located near the roller 16 arranged near to the fifth toe
of the foot destined to wear said insole 11.
Advantageously, the aforementioned braking and/or thrusting
portions 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be replaced by quick
coupling means to the respective supports 14 with which
they are associated, which are per se conventional and for
this reason not illustrated (like for example a coupling
through screws or a coupling through a suitable
insertion/release groove, provided on the supports 14
themselves). In this way, the portions 22, 24, 26 and 28
are easily replaced when they are worn out.
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In figures 9 and 10 a second embodiment of a roller skate
according to the present invention is shown, globally
indicated with 110. In figures 9 and 10, structural
elements that are identical or equivalent from the
functional point of view to those of the roller skate 10 of
figures 1-4 described above, shall be attributed the same
reference numerals and they shall not be described any
further.
The roller skate 110 differs from the roller skate 10 in
that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of-
foot support 14 a connection portion 130 is provided, which
is associated with the intermediate portion llb of the
insole 11.
The connection portion 130 has a concave lower surface 130a
that is substantially shaped like a portion of cylindrical
surface, having generatrices substantially perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis A-A of the insole 11.
The material of such a connection portion 130 is
sufficiently soft to allow the insole 11 to be flexible and
elastically deformable. It should be noted that a wide
radius of curvature of the lower surface 130a facilitates
the flexibility and the elastic flow of the connection
portion 130, so that said connection portion 130 can follow
the movement of the insole 11 during the use of the skate
110.
Advantageously, said lower surface 130a is coated with
material suitable for sliding for example on a handrail of
a banister, i.e. for the so-called "grinding".
In figures 11-14 a third embodiment of a roller skate
according to the present invention is shown, globally
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indicated with 210. In figures 11-14, structural elements
that are identical or equivalent from the functional point
of view to those of the roller skate 10 of figures 1-4
described above, shall be attributed the same reference
numerals and they shall not be described any further.
The roller skate 210 differs from the roller skate 10
substantially in that the rollers 216, associated with the
insole 11, are of substantially cylindrical shape and can
rotate about a single rotation axis. The rollers 216 are
arranged along a alignment substantially parallel or
coinciding with the longitudinal symmetry axis A-A of the
insole 11.
In particular, in the non-limiting example of figures 11-
14, the rollers 216 are four.
A roller 216 is carried by a back-of-foot support 14,
associated with the heel portion 11c of the insole 11.
Preferably, the roller 216 of the back-of-foot support 14
is arranged substantially at a lower end of the rear
tuberosity of the calcaneal bone of the foot destined to
wear said insole 11.
Three rollers 216 are carried by a front-of-foot support
14, associated with the toe portion 11a of the insole 11.
Alternatively, the three aforementioned rollers 216
associated with the toe portion 11c of the insole, can be
carried by three independent supports 14.
Advantageously, the rollers 216 can be replaced by quick
coupling means to the roller skate 210 that are per se
conventional and for this reason not illustrated. In this
way, the rollers 216 are easily replaced when they are worn
out.
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In figures 15 and 16 a fourth embodiment of a roller skate
according to the present invention is shown, globally
indicated with 310. In figures 15 and 16, structural
elements that are identical or equivalent from the
5 functional point of view to those of the roller skate 210
of figures 11-14 described above, shall be attributed the
same reference numerals and they shall not be described any
further.
The roller skate 310 differs from the roller skate 210 in
10 that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of-
foot support 14 a connection portion 330 is provided, which
is associated with the intermediate portion llb of the
insole 11.
The connection portion 330 has a concave lower surface
15 330a, and has similar characteristics to those of the
connection portion 130 of the roller skate 110 described
above.
In figures 17 and 18 a fifth embodiment of a roller skate
according to the present invention is shown, globally
indicated with 410. In figures 17 and 18, structural
elements that are identical or equivalent from the
functional point of view to those of the roller skate 210
of figures 11-14 described above, shall be attributed the
same reference numerals and they shall not be described any
further.
The roller skate 410 differs from the roller skate 210 in
that there are three rollers 216 in total. The front-of-
foot support 14, associated with the toe portion 11a of the
insole 11, carries two rollers 216. Alternatively, the two
aforementioned rollers 216 associated with the toe portion
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11c of the insole, can be carried by two independent
supports 14.
In figures 19 and 20 a sixth embodiment of a roller skate
according to the present invention is shown, globally
indicated with 510. In figures 19 and 20, structural
elements that are identical or equivalent from the
functional point of view to those of the roller skate 410
of figures 17 and 18 described above, shall be attributed
the same reference numerals and they shall not be described
any further.
The roller skate 510 differs from the roller skate 410 in
that between the front-of-foot support 14 and the back-of-
foot support 14 a connection portion 530 is provided, which
is associated with the intermediate portion 11b of the
insole 11.
The connection portion 530 has a concave lower surface
530a, and has similar characteristics to those of the
connection portion 330 of the roller skate 310 described
above.
From the above description it can clearly be seen that the
roller skate according to the invention solves the
technical problem and achieves numerous advantages, the
first of which concerns the fact that it is unusually
balanced and easy to maneuver.
Moreover, with the roller skates according to the first and
second embodiment of the invention, i.e. those that use
multidirectional spherical rollers, the skater can perform
a large number of different maneuvers, even more than those
that can be obtained with the ice skates.
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Moreover, the skates according to the invention are
unusually light, in particular if compared with the in-line
roller skates of the prior art, and thus allow less effort
and better performance by the skater.
Furthermore, it has been noted that the foot of the skater
who uses the roller skates according to the first and
second embodiment of the invention, is advantageously
lifted from the ground by a lower height than the height
which the foot of the same skater has, when he/she uses the
in-line roller skates of the prior art.
Furthermore again, the roller skates according to the
invention allow the foot and the ankle of the skater to
have a great freedom in the compound physiological
movements known as "eversion" (comprising the physiological
movements of pronation, abduction and dorsiflexion) and
"inversion" (comprising the physiological movements of
supination, adduction and plantar flexion). In particular,
the insole of the skate according to the invention,
elastically deformable in flexion and torsion, allows a
substantial adaptability to the flexional and torsional
movements of the foot that is destined to wear it. This
means that the roller skates according to the invention
have a excellent versatility of use, i.e. the skater easily
can also "walk" on the skates (without any risk of losing
his/her balance), as well as thrust himself/herself and
brake in an unusually balanced manner.
In figures 21-24 it is shown how the insole of the skate
according to the invention, during the use of the skate
itself by a skater, can wring itself, substantially with
respect to the longitudinal axis of the foot of the skater.
In particular, in figure 24 it can be seen how a middle
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plane X-X of the front-of-foot support is rotated with
respect to a middle plane Y-Y of the back-of-foot support.
It has also been noted that the arrangement of the four
rollers described above in reference to the first and
second embodiment of the invention, is surprisingly
balanced with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
skater's foot (which substantially passes from the lower
supporting point of the rear tuberosity of the calcaneal
bone and between the second and third metatarsus), the axis
about which the aforementioned eversion and inversion
movements substantially take place.
Furthermore, the roller skates according to the invention
are extremely soft and comfortable to wear. Indeed, the
conformation of the flexible and elastically deformable
insole adapts perfectly to the changes in curvature of the
plantar vault of the skater's foot, which varies according
to the conformation of the ground and the position at that
time of the skater's body. In particular, when the skater
picks up speed and bends himself/herself forwards, there is
a "flattening" of the plantar vault of the foot, which is
indeed helped by the flexibility of the insole.
Of course, a man skilled in the art can make numerous
modifications and variations to the roller skate described
above, in order to satisfy specific and contingent
requirements, all of which are nevertheless covered by the
scope of protection of the present invention as defined by
the following claims.
