Abstract
A ball-skating device is an apparatus allowing two degrees of freedom between a user's foot and multiple contact points on the ground. The apparatus includes a piece of footwear, a plurality of ball-roller assemblies, and a plurality of assembly cavities. The piece of footwear is worn on a user's foot and is used to enclose the user's foot. The assembly cavities traverse into a sole of the piece of footwear and are used to situate the ball-roller assemblies on the bottom of the sole. The ball-roller assemblies receive the applied weight of a user's foot and makes contact at multiple points with the ground, all of which allows the ball-roller assemblies to roll the user's foot across the ground.
Claims
1. A ball-skating device comprising: a piece of footwear; a plurality of ball-roller assemblies; a plurality of assembly cavities; the piece of footwear comprising a footwear upper and a footwear sole; the footwear sole comprising a top sole surface and a bottom sole surface; the footwear upper being mounted onto the top sole surface; the plurality of assembly cavities traversing into the footwear sole from the bottom sole surface; the plurality of assembly cavities being distributed across the bottom sole surface; each of the plurality of assembly cavities being positioned offset from a perimeter of the bottom sole surface; and each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies being mounted into a corresponding assembly cavity from the plurality of assembly cavities.
2. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the plurality of ball-roller assemblies being a front ball-roller assembly and a rear ball-roller assembly; the footwear sole further comprising a forefoot-supporting sole portion and a hindfoot-supporting sole portion; the front ball-roller assembly being positioned adjacent to the forefoot-supporting sole portion; and the rear ball-roller assembly being positioned adjacent to the hindfoot-supporting sole portion.
3. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 2 comprising: a grip brake; the grip brake being peripherally mounted onto the bottom sole surface, adjacent to the forefoot-supporting sole portion; and the grip brake being positioned offset from the front ball-roller assembly, opposite the rear ball-roller assembly.
4. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 1 comprising: each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies comprising a greater-than-half-spherical shell, a plurality of bearing balls, a retention ring, and a ground-contacting ball; the greater-than-half-spherical shell comprising a single shell opening, an outer shell surface, and an inner shell surface; the outer shell surface of each of plurality ball-roller of assemblies being coextensively connected within the corresponding assembly cavity; the retention ring being connected around the single shell opening; the plurality of bearing balls being rollably positioned against the inner shell surface; the plurality of bearing balls being distributed across the inner shell surface; the ground-contacting ball being rollably positioned against the plurality of bearing balls; the ground-contacting ball being positioned concentric with the greater-than-half-spherical shell; and the ground-contacting ball traversing through the retention ring and out of the greater-than-half-spherical shell.
5. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 4 comprising: the single shell opening of each of plurality of ball-roller assemblies being positioned coincident to the bottom sole surface; and the outer shell surface of each of plurality of ball-roller assemblies being positioned offset from the top sole surface.
6. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 4 comprising: each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies further comprising a quantity of lubricant; and the quantity of lubricant being distributed amongst the retention ring, the inner shell surface, the plurality of bearing balls, and the ground-contacting ball.
7. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the greater-than-half-spherical shell, the plurality of bearing balls, and the retention ring are made of steel.
8. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ground-contacting ball is made of a rigid plastic material.
9. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piece of footwear is a shoe.
10. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footwear sole is made of a rubber material.
11. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom sole surface is a flat surface.
12. A ball-skating device comprising: a piece of footwear; a plurality of ball-roller assemblies; a plurality of assembly cavities; the piece of footwear comprising a footwear upper and a footwear sole; the footwear sole comprising a top sole surface, a bottom sole surface, a forefoot-supporting sole portion and a hindfoot-supporting sole portion; the footwear upper being mounted onto the top sole surface; the plurality of assembly cavities traversing into the footwear sole from the bottom sole surface; the plurality of assembly cavities being distributed across the bottom sole surface; each of the plurality of assembly cavities being positioned offset from a perimeter of the bottom sole surface; each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies being mounted into a corresponding assembly cavity from the plurality of assembly cavities; the plurality of ball-roller assemblies being a front ball-roller assembly and a rear ball-roller assembly; the front ball-roller assembly being positioned adjacent to the forefoot-supporting sole portion; the rear ball-roller assembly being positioned adjacent to the hindfoot-supporting sole portion; and the piece of footwear being a shoe.
13. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 11 comprising: a grip brake; the grip brake being peripherally mounted onto the bottom sole surface, adjacent to the forefoot-supporting sole portion; and the grip brake being positioned offset from the front ball-roller assembly, opposite the rear ball-roller assembly.
14. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 11 comprising: each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies comprising a greater-than-half-spherical shell, a plurality of bearing balls, a retention ring, and a ground-contacting ball; the greater-than-half-spherical shell comprising a single shell opening, an outer shell surface, and an inner shell surface; the outer shell surface of each of plurality ball-roller of assemblies being coextensively connected within the corresponding assembly cavity; the retention ring being connected around the single shell opening; the plurality of bearing balls being rollably positioned against the inner shell surface; the plurality of bearing balls being distributed across the inner shell surface; the ground-contacting ball being rollably positioned against the plurality of bearing balls; the ground-contacting ball being positioned concentric with the greater-than-half-spherical shell; and the ground-contacting ball traversing through the retention ring and out of the greater-than-half-spherical shell.
15. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 14 comprising: the single shell opening of each of plurality of ball-roller assemblies being positioned coincident to the bottom sole surface; and the outer shell surface of each of plurality of ball-roller assemblies being positioned offset from the top sole surface.
16. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 14 comprising: each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies further comprising a quantity of lubricant; and the quantity of lubricant being distributed amongst the retention ring, the inner shell surface, the plurality of bearing balls, and the ground-contacting ball.
17. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the greater-than-half-spherical shell, the plurality of bearing balls, and the retention ring are made of steel.
18. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ground-contacting ball is made of a rigid plastic material.
19. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the footwear sole is made of a rubber material.
20. The ball-skating device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bottom sole surface is a flat surface.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an opposite side view of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a detail view taken about circle 5 in FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a schematic detail view taken about circle 7 in FIG. 6.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic detail view taken about circle 8 in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
[0016] The present invention is a ball-skating device that is worn on a user's foot to enable two degrees of freedom between the ground and multiple contact points on the user's foot. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention comprises a piece of footwear 2, a plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16, and a plurality of assembly cavities 38. The piece of footwear 2 is worn on a user's foot and is preferably a shoe. The piece of footwear 2 can alternatively be, but is not limited to, a kind of open footwear (e.g., a sandal) or a kind of boot extending past a user's ankle. The piece of footwear 2 comprises a footwear upper 4 and a footwear sole 6. The footwear upper 4 is used to cover the top of a user's foot, and the footwear sole 6 is used to support the bottom of the user's foot. The footwear sole 6 is preferably made of a rubber material. The footwear sole 6 comprises a top sole surface 8, which is oriented towards a user's torso, and a bottom sole surface 10, which is oriented towards the ground. The bottom sole surface 10 is preferably a flat surface. The plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 allows the present invention to have multiple contact points with two degrees of freedom on the ground. The plurality of assembly cavities 38 is used to secure the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 to the piece of footwear 2.
[0017] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8, the general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to effectively and efficiently maintain these contact points with two degrees of freedom between a user's foot and the ground. The footwear upper 4 is mounted onto the top sole surface 8, which allows the footwear upper 4 and the footwear sole 6 to largely enclose a user's foot from the top and the bottom. The plurality of assembly cavities 38 traverses into the footwear sole 6 from the bottom sole surface 10 so that the plurality of assembly cavities 38 is able to receive and orient the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 out of the bottom of the present invention and towards the ground. The plurality of assembly cavities 38 is distributed across the bottom sole surface 10 so that a user's foot is able to evenly distribute its weight amongst the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 and along the entirety of the footwear sole 6. Each of the plurality of assembly cavities 38 is positioned offset from a perimeter of the bottom sole surface 10 in order to prevent an imbalance as a user's foot applies its weight onto the present invention by centrally positioning each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 along an intersecting width of the footwear sole 6. Each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 is mounted into a corresponding assembly cavity from the plurality of assembly cavities 38, which secures and orient each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 in place on the footwear sole 6 allowing each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 to roll on the ground.
[0018] As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 may just be a front ball-roller assembly 18 and a rear ball-roller assembly 20, which means that the present invention would be configured with only two ball-roller assemblies. Thus, the footwear sole 6 may further comprise a forefoot-supporting sole portion 12 and a hindfoot-supporting sole portion 14. The forefoot-supporting sole portion 12 is used to support the bottom of a user's forefoot, while the hindfoot-supporting sole portion 14 is used to support the bottom of a user's hindfoot. The front ball-roller assembly 18 is positioned adjacent to the forefoot-supporting sole portion 12, which allows the applied weight of a user's forefoot to transfer from the forefoot-supporting sole portion 12, through the front ball-roller assembly 18, and into the ground. Likewise, the rear ball-roller assembly 20 is positioned adjacent to the hindfoot-supporting sole portion 14, which allows the applied weight of a user's hindfoot to transfer from the hindfoot-supporting sole portion 14, through the rear ball-roller assembly 20, and into the ground.
[0019] As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention may further comprise a grip brake 40, which is used to decelerate the present invention as a user's foot is rolling on the present invention. The grip brake 40 is peripherally mounted onto the bottom sole surface 10, adjacent to the forefoot-supporting sole portion 12, and is positioned offset from the front ball-roller assembly 18, opposite the rear ball-roller assembly 20. This forward arrangement of the grip brake 40 allows a user's foot to lean on its toes using the front ball-roller assembly 18 as a fulcrum and to consequently lower the grip brake 40 onto the ground. Alternatively, the grip brake 40 is peripherally mounted onto the bottom sole surface 10, adjacent to the hindfoot-supporting sole portion 14, and is positioned offset from the rear ball-roller assembly 20, opposite the front ball-roller assembly 18. This rearward arrangement of the grip brake 40 allows a user's foot to lean on its heel using the rear roller-ball assembly 20 as a fulcrum and to consequently lower the grip brake 40 onto the ground.
[0020] As can be seen in FIGS. 6 through 8, the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 is configured to provide continuous rollable engagement between the present invention and the ground. Thus, each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 may comprise a greater-than-half-spherical shell 22, a plurality of bearing balls 30, a retention ring 32, and a ground-contacting ball 34. The greater-than-half-spherical shell 22 is used to arrange and enclose the other components of a corresponding ball-roller assembly. The greater-than-half-spherical aspect to the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22 prevents the ground-contacting ball 34 from falling out of the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22. The greater-than-half-spherical shell 22 comprises a single shell opening 24, an outer shell surface 26, and an inner shell surface 28. The outer shell surface 26 is located on the exterior of the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22, while the inner shell surface 28 is located on the interior of the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22. The single shell opening 24 is only opening through the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22 allowing access to the inner shell surface 28. The plurality of bearing balls 30 allows the ground-contacting ball 34 to frictionlessly engage the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22. The retention ring 32 prevents the plurality of bearing balls 30 from falling out of the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22. The greater-than-half-spherical shell 22, the plurality of bearing balls 30, and the retention ring 32 are preferably made of steel. The ground-contacting ball 34 is used to roll against the ground and provides two degrees of freedom for a corresponding ball-roller assembly. The ground-contacting ball 34 is preferably made of a rigid plastic material so that the ground-contacting ball 34 is able to better grip the ground. Moreover, the arrangement for each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 begins by coextensively connecting the outer shell surface 26 of each of plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 within the corresponding assembly cavity, which allows the plurality of bearing balls 30 to easily roll against an inelastic steel surface (i.e., the inner shell surface 28) instead of an elastic rubber surface (i.e., an inner surface of the corresponding assembly cavity). The retention ring 32 is connected around the single shell opening 24, which prevents the plurality of bearing balls 30 from falling out of the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22. The plurality of bearing balls 30 is rollably positioned against the inner shell surface 28 and is distributed across the inner shell surface 28 so that the plurality of bearing balls 30 provides a frictionless interface with evenly-distributed contact points between the inner shell surface 28 and the ground-contacting ball 34. Consequently, the ground-contacting ball 34 is rollably positioned against the plurality of bearing balls 30. The ground-contacting ball 34 is also positioned concentric to the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22, which allows the ground-contacting ball 34 to traverse through the retention ring 32 and out of the greater-than-half-spherical shell 22. In addition, the single shell opening 24 of each of plurality ball-roller of assemblies 16 is preferably positioned coincident to the bottom sole surface 10, and/or the outer shell surface 26 of each of plurality ball-roller of assemblies 16 is preferably positioned offset from the top sole surface 8, all of which prevents mechanical interference between the components of the footwear sole 6 and the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 as the ground-contacting ball 34 rolls on the ground.
[0021] As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the plurality of ball-roller assemblies 16 may further comprise a quantity of lubricant 36, which is used to reduce friction as the plurality of bearing balls 30 and the ground-contacting ball 34 roll amongst each other.
[0022] The quantity of lubricant 36 is preferably a mechanical grease but can alternatively be an oil with a high viscosity. Thus, the quantity of lubricant 36 is distributed amongst the retention ring 32, the inner shell surface 28, the plurality of bearing balls 30, and the ground-contacting ball 34 in order to provide the necessary lubrication for the mechanical movement amongst the plurality of bearing balls 30 and the ground-contacting ball 34.
Supplemental Description
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the present invention is a device that allows the user to move in various directions similar to an ice-skating movement pattern. An objective of the present invention is to provide users with a device that allows for 360 degrees of motion. To accomplish this the present invention comprises a shoe that is designed similarly to a conventional roller skate shoe. The shoe comprises a sole, a plurality of cavities, and a plurality of balls. The sole is positioned along the bottom surface of the shoe. The plurality of cavities is integrated along the bottom surface of the sole and the plurality of balls is positioned within the plurality of cavities as seen in FIG. 1. Thus, the present invention is a ball skate shoe that allows the user to move in various directions and does not limit the user to unidirectional movement.
[0024] The sole is designed with a rubber material and oblong shape that matches the foot of the user. The sole is designed with a thickness that can accommodate a plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities is a semi-spherical cavity integrated along the bottom surface of the sole shown in FIG. 6. The plurality of cavities is positioned below the shoe where the user's balls of their feet and heel are positioned. The plurality of cavities comprises a plurality of bearings and a cavity cap. The cavity cap is a retaining ring that is positioned along the bottom of the sole and traverses around the circumference of the plurality of cavities. The plurality of bearings are small steel balls with a lubricating element, positioned all along the internal surface of the plurality of cavities. The plurality of balls is a large spherical ball that is integrated into the plurality of cavities. The plurality of balls is designed with a plastic material that provides a grip on the ground surface. The plurality of balls is positioned within the plurality of cavities and is retained within the plurality of cavities via the cavity cap. The cavity cap further secures the plurality of bearings within each of the cavities. The plurality of bearings is designed to rotate in place within the plurality of cavities allowing the plurality of balls to rotate in place within the plurality of cavities. It should be further noted that the sole can be created in many various shapes and sizes and the plurality of cavities could be positioned in various ways while still staying within the scope of the present invention. With all the components working in tandem with each other it can be seen that the present invention is a ball skate shoe that allows the user to move in various directions and does not limit the user to unidirectional movement.
[0025] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
