초록 ▼

A skate primarily intended for speed skating. The skate is of the clap type wherein the blade is pivotally movable with respect to the boot. A coupling assembly includes top and bottom linkages pivotally attached to one another and is disposed to permit pivotal movement between the blade and the boo

A skate primarily intended for speed skating. The skate is of the clap type wherein the blade is pivotally movable with respect to the boot. A coupling assembly includes top and bottom linkages pivotally attached to one another and is disposed to permit pivotal movement between the blade and the boot. The upper linkage is attached to the boot and the lower linkage is attached to the blade. A biasing arrangement moves the linkages into a closed position. The biasing arrangement includes a spring, a pulley, and a roller. The spring attached at its fore end to the bottom linkage. The cable is attached to the aft end of the spring, is guided around the pulley, and is attached to the top linkage. A significant portion of the biasing arrangement is shielded within the bottom linkage for protection and to provide a compact and effective design. The orientation and features of the biasing arrangement and guide surfaces of the linkages minimizes torsional forces on the coupling assembly, minimizes wear, and increases spring tension forces.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A skate comprising:a foot holding element, said foot holding element for holding a foot of a skater;supporting surface engaging means for contacting a supporting surface and transferring a propulsion force applied by the skater from the foot holding element to the supporting surface

[ I claim:] [1.] A skate comprising:a foot holding element, said foot holding element for holding a foot of a skater;supporting surface engaging means for contacting a supporting surface and transferring a propulsion force applied by the skater from the foot holding element to the supporting surface, said supporting surface engaging means having a longitudinal axis;a coupling assembly, said coupling assembly coupling the foot holding element and the supporting surface engaging means such that the foot holding element and the supporting surface engaging means are pivotally movable with respect to each other to move the supporting surface engaging means between open and closed positions relative to the foot holding element, said coupling assembly includes first and second linkages pivotally attached to one another;a biasing device, said biasing device biasing the supporting surface engaging means to move into its closed position, said biasing device including a spring and a cable, said spring having a first end and a second end, said cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said spring being attached to one of said foot holding element and said supporting surface engaging means, said second end of said spring being attached to said first end of said cable, and said second end of said cable being attached to the other of said one of said foot holding element and said supporting surface engaging means; anda pulley mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, said pulley guiding said cable as the foot holding element moves relative to the supporting surface engaging means between the open and closed positions, said pulley and said spring being positioned within said first linkage.