Abstract:
A Nordic ski boot support and attachment mechanism (100) having a toe piece (102) that slidably engages a ski (90), a lever (106) that is pivotably attached to the toe piece, a rigid forefoot support (110) that is fixedly attached to the lever, a heel support (120) that is pivotably attached to the forefoot support, and an ankle support (130) that is pivotably attached to the heel support. The lever engages the toe piece at the left and right side, including a moment arm therebetween that is at least one half inch long. The lever may include a recess (107) that engages a rearward projection on the toe piece. A heel piece (140) is also slidably disposed on the ski providing a second projection (141). The heel support includes an engagement member (122) that engages the second projection when the lever is in the down position.
Abstract:
A roller skate includes an upper (1112), including a substantially non-rigid upper portion (1120) secured to a base (1118). A frame (1114) secured to the base carries a plurality of wheels (1116). The substantially non-rigid upper portion is reinforced by a substantially rigid internal heel counter (1134). An ankle support cuff assembly (1110) is pivotally secured to the internal heel counter (1134). The ankle support cuff assembly includes a substantially rigid ankle support cuff (1142) that is pivotally secured on lateral and medial sides to the internal heel counter. Ankle pad (1144) lines the interior of the ankle support cuff (1142). Ankle support cuff (1142) is fastened by a selectively securable fastener (1148) about the skater's ankle. The ankle support cuff assembly pivots freely in the forward and aft direction relative to the internal heel counter (1134).
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide boots which permit much of the flexibility possessed by a soft shell boots/binding type structure while retaining the advantages of the ease of control and attachment and detachment possessed by mountaineering boots binding type structure. SOLUTION: The boots have bases 24, high backs 26 and uppers 28. The bases have binding accepting plates for attaching the boots to binding means disposed at a snowboard. The bases have toe ends and heel ends. Tow caps 30 are formed at the toe ends of the bases 24 and heel counters 32 are formed at the heel ends. Treads 34 for movement when the boots are not attached to the snowboard project from the bottoms of the bases.
Abstract:
A first embodiment of a flexing base skate (100) indludes an upper shoe portion (12) mounted on a base (14). The base includes a forefoot region (20) secured to a forward frame segment (26) carrying forward wheels (18a, 18b). A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (28) that carries rearward wheels (18c, 18d). The base defines and flexes at a reduced thickness metatarsal head portion (22), with the skater's heel and the rearward frame segment elevating freely relative to the forward frame segment. A spring plate (72) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward fram segment overlaps the rearward frame segment for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment (100) provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a flexible base (104) mounted only at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal head portion (108), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide (118) for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment (210) provides a forward frame segment (226) carrying three forward wheels (218) and a rearward frame segment (228) carrying a single rearward wheel (218), the rearward frame segment being freely pivotably but longitudinally coupled to the forward frame segment. A fourth embodiment (310) provides a forward frame segment (326) that carries three forward wheels (318) and a rearward frame segment (328) that carries two rearward wheels (318).
Abstract:
A boot (20) is disclosed for use with a snowboard (22) having binding means for attachment to the boot. The boot includes a base (24), a highback (26), and an upper (28). The base includes a binding receiving plate (58) for attaching the boot to the binding means (64, 66) on the snowboard. The base also has toe and heel ends. The base (24) is formed with a toecap (30) at the toe end and a heel counter (32) at the heel end. Treat (34) projects from the bottom of the base for traction when the boot is not attached to the snowboard. The highback (26) extends upwardly from the heel counter (32) of the base. The high back provides aft support to the user. The upper (28) is fixedly attached to the base and is arranged and configured to receive the foot and ankle of the user. The upper has a rearward side adjacent the highback. The upper is more flexible than the base and the highback. A base strap (72) is connected to opposing sides of the base and extends across a portion of the upper.
Abstract:
An in-line roller skate (21) incorporating a soft, breatheable upper (22) and exoskeletal support structure is disclosed. The skate includes multiple in-line wheels (35) secured to a frame (31). The frame is attached to a base (39). In one disclosed embodiment the frame is integrally molded with the base. In another embodiment, the frame is adjustably attached and may be moved both laterally and longitudinally with respect to the base. A hook-and-peg (237, 238) alignment means for accurately securing the frame to the base is also provided. A toecap (24) and heel counter (41) project upwardly from the base and help support the upper. A cuff (23) is pivotally attached to the heel counter and includes a strap (228) for tightening the cuff around the leg of the skater. A speed control device (33) is also disclosed that includes a friction plate (61) to contact the wheels in response to movement of a lever (59).
Abstract:
A skate ( 200 ) having a frame ( 226 ) adapted to support a plurality of wheels ( 228 ) and a base ( 214 ) disposed above the frame. The base includes a platform ( 280 ) having a longitudinal rail ( 282 ) with a plurality of locking detents ( 288 ), and an upwardly extending guide tab ( 284 ). A separable semirigid toe cup ( 216 ) includes an elongate slit ( 254 ) therethrough, and slidably engages the rail of the base, such that the toe cup can be adjusted longitudinally. An angled channel ( 264 ) in the toe cup engages the guide tab, such that the width of the slit, and therefore the width of the toe cup, increases as the toe cup is moved to lengthen the skate. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a threaded post ( 302 ) extends transversely through the slit, permitting independent adjustment of the width of the toe cap.
Abstract:
A first preferred embodiment is a roller skate (10) having a shoe portion (12) for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d). The skate comprises a base (14) having an upper surface (30) securable to an underside of the shoe portion (12) for supporting the received skater's foot, the base (14) including a heel region (24) and a forefoot region (20), the forefoot region (20) having a metatarsal head portion (22). Furtheron, the skate comprises a frame (16) having a forward segment (26) secured to an underside of the base (14) below the forefoot region (20) of the base (14), and a rearward segment (28) secured to the underside of the base (14) below the heel region (24), the forward frame segment (26) rotatably mounting at least one forward wheel (18a, 18b) below the forefoot region (20) of the base (14) and the rearward segment (28) rotatably mounting at least one rearward wheel (18c, 18d) below the heel region (24) of the base (14). One of the forward or rearward frame segments (26, 28) includes first and second stabilizing flanges (50) that extend toward and slidably overlap opposing first and second sides of the other of the forward and rearward frame segments (26, 28) such that the base (14) can flex intermediate of the forefoot region (20) and heel region (24) during skating to permit elevation of the skater's heel. The forefoot region (20) of the base (14) is rigid forward of the metatarsal head portion (22) and the metatarsal head portion (22) of the base (14) defines a stress concentrating contour extending transversely substantially across the base (14) underlying the metatarsal head of the received skater's foot that focuses flexure of the base (14) at the metatarsal head portion (22), the stress concentrating contour including a reduced thickness section of the base (14).
Abstract:
A first preferred embodiment is a roller skate (10) having a shoe portion (12) for receiving a skater's foot and a plurality of wheels (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d). The skate comprises a base (14) having an upper surface (30) securable to an underside of the shoe portion (12) for supporting the received skater's foot, the base (14) including a heel region (24) and a forefoot region (20), the forefoot region (20) having a metatarsal head portion (22). Furtheron, the skate comprises a frame (16) having a forward segment (26) secured to an underside of the base (14) below the forefoot region (20) of the base (14), and a rearward segment (28) secured to the underside of the base (14) below the heel region (24), the forward frame segment (26) rotatably mounting at least one forward wheel (18a, 18b) below the forefoot region (20) of the base (14) and the rearward segment (28) rotatably mounting at least one rearward wheel (18c, 18d) below the heel region (24) of the base (14). One of the forward or rearward frame segments (26, 28) includes first and second stabilizing flanges (50) that extend toward and slidably overlap opposing first and second sides of the other of the forward and rearward frame segments (26, 28) such that the base (14) can flex intermediate of the forefoot region (20) and heel region (24) during skating to permit elevation of the skater's heel. The forefoot region (20) of the base (14) is rigid forward of the metatarsal head portion (22) and the metatarsal head portion (22) of the base (14) defines a stress concentrating contour extending transversely substantially across the base (14) underlying the metatarsal head of the received skater's foot that focuses flexure of the base (14) at the metatarsal head portion (22), the stress concentrating contour including a reduced thickness section of the base (14).