Roller skates

Abstract

The present invention relates to sports equipment, namely, to roller skates design enabling an athlete to achieve high speed of movement with better comfort and improved motion control, in particular, in case of movement on a lower quality road surfaces. Roller skates consist of two skates—right and left ones, each comprising a spatial rectangular frame with its upper surface adapted to be attached to a frame of the corresponding shoe, either left or right one, and its lower side having two pairs of rollers pivotally attached thereto such that the rollers may rotate being in contact with the roadway and the rollers' axes are parallel to the frame plane, and according to the invention each pair of front and rear rollers of each skate is pivotally attached to the corresponding Z-shaped wheel arm, either front or rear one, which has its central section pivotally attached to the corresponding smaller side of the spatial rectangular frame, and the distance between the axes of the inner rollers of a skate is greater than the distance between the axes of the external rollers. The present invention is aimed to provide such roller skates, which would be more reliable and safe due to increased stability of the skates during movement, also in case of lower quality road surface and during cornering. This objective is achieved by way of creating conditions for uniform distribution of the load arising from the weight of the athlete during movement among all four rollers of each skate, even when moving on a lower quality road surface.

Claims

1. Roller skates consisting of two skates—right and left ones, each comprising a spatial rectangular frame with its upper surface adapted to be attached to a frame of the corresponding shoe, either left or right one, and its lower side having two pairs of rollers pivotally attached thereto such that the rollers may rotate being in contact with the roadway and the rollers' axes are parallel to the frame plane, wherein each pair of front and rear rollers of each skate is pivotally attached to the corresponding Z-shaped wheel arm, either front or rear one, which has its central section pivotally attached to the corresponding smaller side of the spatial rectangular frame, and the distance between the axes of the inner rollers of a skate is greater than the distance between the axes of the external rollers.

2. Roller skates according to claim 1, wherein each Z-shaped wheel arm is pivotally attached to its corresponding smaller side of the spatial rectangular frame by means of an elastic plastic sliding bearing.

3. Roller skates according to claim 1, wherein the spatial rectangular frame is provided with four spacing collars having limiters mounted thereon, one per each roller, said limiters being installed with the possibility to limit inclination of the frame during movement, for example, when cornering.

4. Roller skates according to claim 1, wherein the maximum distance L1 between the axes of the inner rollers of each skate and the maximum distance L.sub.2 between the axes of external rollers are defined by the following equation: L.sub.1=(1.2−1.5) L.sub.2.

5. Roller skates according to claim 1, wherein the spatial rectangular frame of each skate has a U-shaped cross-section, and its side parts are directed downwards.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) The essence of the proposed invention is further explained by schematic drawings, where:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a kinematic scheme of one of the proposed roller skates—the right one,

(4) FIGS. 2, 6 show top view and the procedure for installing rollers of a skate,

(5) FIGS. 3, 4 show layout of the roller skates suspension,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a general view of the proposed roller skates,

(7) FIG. 7 is an example of the movement of roller skates while overcoming uneven area of a road surface,

(8) FIGS. 8, 9 show an example of the movement of roller skates while tilting to the left.

(9) The proposed roller skates (FIGS. 1, 3, 4) include two skates, right and left ones, each consisting of a spatial rectangular frame 1 having U-shaped cross-section, two axes 2 with elastic plastic sliding bearings 3, two Z-shaped wheel arms 4 with four rollers 5 installed thereon. Axes of the rollers 5 of a skate are spaced apart and parallel to the plane of the frame 1. The spatial rectangular frame 1 has two supporting platforms 6 in its upper part with four mounting slots 7, i.e. two slots per each platform, to use the standard fastening of a skate to a shoe (not shown).

(10) The spatial rectangular frame 1 is provided with four spacing collars 8 having limiters 9 mounted thereon, one per each roller 5, said limiters being installed with the possibility to limit inclination of the frame 1 during movement, in particular, when cornering.

(11) The rollers 5 are mounted on the ends of Z-shaped wheel arms 4 (FIGS. 2, 5, 6) in such a manner that the distance L.sub.1 between the axes of the rollers 5 on the inside of a shoe (right and left, respectively) is maximum and the distance L.sub.2 on the outer side is minimal. The authors have experimentally determined the optimal ratio of the mentioned distances, namely, the maximum distance L.sub.1 between the axes of the inner rollers of each skate and the maximum distance L.sub.2 between the axes of the outer rollers are defined by the equation: L.sub.1=(1.2−1.5)L.sub.2. Values beyond the limits of the above equation reduce the stability of an athlete on the skates and complicates the movement control.

(12) The rollers 5 are mounted on the wheel arms 4 using standard fastening elements, i.e. bolts, bearings and spacing collars (FIG. 3) (shown schematically).

(13) Spatial rectangular frame 1, Z-shaped wheel arms 4 and spacing collars 8 are made of extruded aluminum alloy. Elastic sliding bearings 3 and limiter 9 are made of polyurethane.

(14) The proposed roller skates operate in the following manner.

(15) Each pair of rollers 5 is mounted on the wheel arm 4 to the right and to the left of the longitudinal axis of the spatial frame 1, and each wheel arm 4 rotates freely on the axis 2 with elastic plastic sliding bearing 3.

(16) This design allows even distribution of the load, with variable magnitude and direction arising, from athlete movements, from the spatial frame 1 to all four rollers 5 simultaneously.

(17) Meanwhile, elastic plastic sliding bearings 3 absorb small shocks that occurring when passing over uneven area of the road surface (FIG. 7). At maximum turn of the Z-shaped wheel arm 4, limiters 9 made of elastic plastic prevent metal to metal hitting.

(18) The position of the rollers 5 when moving with a side tilt during cornering is shown in FIGS. 8, 9. The movement is accompanied by a natural uniform wear of all four rollers 5 of the proposed skate, which virtually eliminates the loss of stability of the skates characteristic to the prototype device, and thus reduces operating costs.

(19) The proposed design of roller skates allows the use of rollers 5 of different diameter +/−5.0 mm on one Z-shaped wheel arm 4 without compromising the properties of the skate.

(20) The proposed roller skates have a lower cost compared to the prototype devise cost, a longer expected service life and provide more comfortable conditions for movement by increasing their stability both during movement and during the stop.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

(21) In describing the embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of the invention.

LIST OF ITEMS IN THE DRAWINGS

(22) 1—spatial rectangular frame; 2—axes; 3—elastic plastic sliding bearings; 4—Z-shaped wheel arms; 5—rollers; 6—supporting platforms; 7—mounting slots in supporting platforms; 8—spacing collars; 9—limiters.

(23) While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with one or more specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.