KINETIC SECTION FOR A SKATING DEVICE

Abstract

A kinetic section for a skating device comprising at least one ball and at least one roller, wherein the ball is adapted to be in contact with the roller at least at one point or contacting surface; and the ball is adapted to transfer an angular momentum to the roller; and a minimum coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and a contacting surface of the roller is 0.16, preferably at least 0.20, more preferably at least 0.25, even more preferably at least 0.29 and/or the maximum coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and the contacting surface of the roller is 0.50, preferably at most 0.40, preferably at most 0.45, more preferably at most 0.35, and even more preferably at most 0.31.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A kinetic section for a skating device comprising a ball and a roller, wherein (a) the ball is configured to be in contact with the roller at one point or at a contacting surface; (b) the ball is adapted to transfer an angular momentum to the roller, further, the roller is configured to support the ball; and (c) a coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and a contacting surface of the roller is in a range of 0.20 to 0.45.

22. The kinetic section for a skating device according to claim 21, further comprising two or more bearings which are configured to hold in place the ball, each bearing comprising one or a combination of: (a) a sliding surface; and/or (b) a roller shaped as a barrel; and/or (c) a roller shaped in an hourglass form; and/or (d) a roller cylindrically shaped; and/or (e) the ball supported by a chassis.

23. The kinetic section for a skating device according to claim 22, wherein the two or more bearings are supported by the chassis extending more than half of the ball.

24. The kinetic section for a skating device according to claim 22, wherein the ball rests in a recess being correspondingly shaped to the ball.

25. The kinetic section for a skating device according to claim 22, wherein two or more rollers are positioned substantially above the ball, such that, their axles being arranged at an angle a, wherein a is in a range of 10 to 25.

26. The kinetic section for a skating device according to claim 22, wherein two or more rollers in the shape of a truncated right circular cone are positioned with their smaller diameter faces oriented to each other above the ball, and further, their apex angle () comprising a range of 10 to -25.

27. The kinetic section for a skating device according to claim 22, wherein a coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and the bearing is in a range of 0.40 to 0.75.

28. The kinetic section for a skating device according to claim 22, wherein a coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and the ground is in a range of 0.40 to 0.80.

29. The kinetic section for a skating device according to claim 22 wherein the ball is configured to be in contact with the roller at two or more points or at contacting surfaces or at an elliptical surface.

30. A skating device comprising the kinetic section according to claim 22 and a support for fixing a boot.

31. A method for manufacturing a kinetic section for a skating device particularly according to claim 21, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a kinetic section with a ball and a roller; (b) bringing the ball in contact with the roller at two or more points or a contacting surface or an elliptical surface; (c) facilitating the ball to transfer an angular momentum to the roller; and (d) configuring a coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and the contacting surface of the roller to be in a range of 0.20 to 0.40.

32. The method of claim 31, further providing two or more bearings which are configured to hold in place the ball, each bearing providing one or a combination of: (a) a sliding surface; and/or (b) a barrel-shaped roller; and/or (c) an hourglass shaped roller; and/or (d) a cylinder-shaped roller; and/or (e) the ball supported by a chassis.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the bearings are supported by the chassis extending more than half the ball.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the ball rests in a recess being correspondingly shaped to the ball.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the rollers in substantially cylindrical or hourglass or barrel shape are positioned substantially above the ball, their axles being arranged at an angle of , wherein is in a range of 10 to 25.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the rollers in the shape of a truncated right circular cone, are positioned with their smaller diameter faces oriented to each other, are substantially above the ball, with their apex angle () comprising a range of 10 to 25.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the method comprises the further step of allowing a coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and the bearing to be in a range of 0.40 to 0.75.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the method comprises the step of allowing a coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and ground to be in a range of 0.40 to 0.80.

39. A method of claim 32 comprising the step of allowing the ball to be adapted to be in contact with the roller at two points or contacting surfaces, or at one elliptical surface.

40. A method of claim 32, allowing the skating device to further comprise a support for fixing a boot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0037] The drawings, described below, are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present teaching in any way.

[0038] FIG. 1 depicts aspects of a kinetic section of a skating device according to exemplary embodiments hereof; and

[0039] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a kinetic section with components of the skating device according to exemplary embodiments hereof.

[0040] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described, referring to the figures. These examples are provided to give further understanding of the invention, without limiting the scope.

[0041] In the following description, a series of elements is described. The skilled person will appreciate that unless specified by the context, the number or the position of elements is not critical for the resulting configuration and its effect.

[0042] In FIG. 1 a kinetic section 8 of a skating device 1 is shown. At least one roller can be rotatably fixed to a chassis 5 with an axle 25. A ball 15 is held in a working position by the means of at least two rollers 20 and at least two bearings 35. Element 2 is a support to connect the kinetic section 8 with a boot (not shown).

[0043] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the kinetic section 8 with components of the skating device 1. To begin at the bottom part of the figure a chassis is shown to house the rotating and/or supporting parts. Bearing elements 35 are placed in the retention elements 10. In this embodiment ball 15 is then positioned to rest on four bearing elements 35. Then the rollers 20 are assembled by providing the axles 25 and securing them to the chassis 5. Additionally and/or alternatively, the bearing can be adapted to be a sliding bearing 35.

Embodiments

[0044] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and non-restrictive; the disclosure is thus not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0045] As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0046] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to fulfill aspects of the present invention. The present technology is also understood to encompass the exact terms, features, numerical values or ranges etc., if in here a relative term, such as about, substantially, ca., generally, at least, at the most or approximately is used in this specification, such a term should also be construed to also include the exact term. That is, e.g., substantially straight should be construed to also include (exactly) straight. In other words, about 3 shall also comprise 3 or substantially perpendicular shall also comprise perpendicular. Any reference numerals in the claims should not be considered as limiting the scope.

[0047] In the claims, the terms comprises/comprising, including, having, and contain and their variations should be understood as meaning including but not limited to, and are not intended to exclude other components. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality.

[0048] Whenever steps were recited in the above or also in the appended claims, it should be noted that the order in which the steps are recited in this text may be the preferred order, but it may not be mandatory to carry out the steps in the recited order. That is, unless otherwise specified or unless clear to the skilled person, the order in which steps are recited may not be mandatory. That is, when the present document states, e.g., that a method comprises steps (A) and (B), this does not necessarily mean that step (A) precedes step (B), but it is also possible that step (A) is performed (at least partly) simultaneously with step (B) or that step (B) precedes step (A). Furthermore, when a step (X) is said to precede another step (Z), this does not imply that there is no step between steps (X) and (Z). That is, step (X) preceding step (Z) encompasses the situation that step (X) is performed directly before step (Z), but also the situation that (X) is performed before one or more steps (Y1), . . . , followed by step (Z). Corresponding considerations apply when terms like after or before are used.

[0049] It will be appreciated that variations to the foregoing embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention can be made while still falling within scope of the invention. Features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0050] Use of exemplary language, such as for instance, such as, for example and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless so claimed.

[0051] Any steps described in the specification may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0052] All of the features and/or steps disclosed in the specification can be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. In particular, preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention and may be used in any combination.

[0053] The referenced apex angle is meant to be the angle at the imaginary tip of a cone between the surface of the cone and the center of the vertical center of the circular area.