초록 ▼

A skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having a shoe portion (22) and a plurality of wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density. The structural member having first and sec

A skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having a shoe portion (22) and a plurality of wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density. The structural member having first and second sidewalls (62, 68). The structural member also includes a shoe mounting portion (50) spanning between at least a portion of the upper ends of the sidewalls. The skate frame also includes core material (64) disposed within at least one of the first and second sidewalls or within the shoe mounting portion. In an embodiment of the invention a threaded insert (602) is embedded in the core material of one sidewall, and an aligned tubular insert is installed in the opposite sidewall, such that the wheel axle (612) can be inserted through the tubular insert to engage the embedded threaded insert. In another embodiment, a protective cap (770) protects and/or enhances the appearance of the skate frame.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A frame for a skate, the frame comprising:(a) an elongate structural member comprising first and second oppositely-disposed, spaced-apart sidewalls joined by a transverse structure spanning therebetween, wherein each sidewall has an outwardly facing surface, an inwardly facing surface, and a peri

1. A frame for a skate, the frame comprising:(a) an elongate structural member comprising first and second oppositely-disposed, spaced-apart sidewalls joined by a transverse structure spanning therebetween, wherein each sidewall has an outwardly facing surface, an inwardly facing surface, and a peripheral edge therebetween, the peripheral edge including a lower portion, the first and second sidewalls and transverse structure cooperatively forming a wheel channel; (b) a protective cap affixed to the outwardly facing surface of each sidewall, wherein the protective cap wraps around the lower portion of the peripheral edge. 2. The frame of claim 1 wherein the protective cap is made from an abrasion resistant polymer.3. The frame of claim 2, wherein the first and second sidewalls comprise an inner core material and an outer layer.4. The frame of claim 3, wherein the outer layer comprises a graphite fiber reinforced composite material.5. The frame of claim 4, wherein the core material comprises a polymeric foam.6. The frame of claim 1 wherein the protective cap comprises nylon.7. A The frame of claim 1, wherein the protective cap comprises urethane.8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the protective cap wraps around all of the lower portion of the peripheral edge of each sidewall.9. The frame of claim 1, wherein the protective cap covers substantially all of the outwardly facing surface of each sidewall.10. An inline skate comprising:(a) a plurality of wheels, each wheel having an axial aperture therethrough; (b) a frame comprising first and second spaced-apart sidewalls joined by a transverse structure spanning therebetween and cooperatively forming a channel dimensioned to receive the plurality of wheels, wherein the first and second sidewalls each include a structural portion and a protective cap, the structural portion having an inward surface, an outward surface and a peripheral edge therebetween the peripheral edge including a lower portion, and the protective cap disposed on the outward surface and wrapping around the lower portion of the peripheral edge of the sidewalls; (c) a plurality of axles adapted to rotatably attaching the plurality of wheels to the frame; and (d) an upper shoe attached to an upper surface of the frame for receiving a skater's foot. 11. The inline skate of claim 10, wherein the cap comprises an abrasion-resistant polymer.12. The inline skate of claim 11, wherein the abrasion-resistant polymer comprises urethane.13. The inline skate of claim 11, wherein the structural portion of the first and second sidewalls comprise a polymeric foam core material and a composite outer layer encapsulating the core material.14. The inline skate of claim 10, wherein the protective cap further comprises a decorative design.15. An inline skate comprising:(a) a shoe portion; (b) a plurality of wheels having an axial aperture therethrough; (c) an elongate frame attached to the shoe portion, the frame comprising: (i) first and second sidewalls interconnected with a transverse member, the sidewalls defining a channel that is sized to accommodate the plurality of wheels, wherein the sidewalls each include a foam core portion, an outer layer encapsulating the foam core portion, and a protective cap portion covering at least part of the outer layer; (ii) a plurality of threaded inserts, each threaded insert having a head and a tubular post, the tubular post having internal threads, wherein the head is embedded in the foam core portion of the first sidewall and the tubular post extends through the outer layer into the channel; (iii) a plurality of tubular inserts, each tubular insert having a circumferential ridge, the tubular insert axially aligned with one of the plurality of threaded insert and extending through the outer layer and the foam core portion of the second sidewall wherein the tubular insert defines an aperture through the second sidewall and the circumferential ridge is embedded in the foam core portion of the second sidewall; and (d) a plurality of axles having a proximal head portion and a threaded distal portion, wherein the threaded distal portion is slidably insertable into at least one of the plurality of tubular inserts and through at least one of the plurality of wheel axial apertures and engages the aligned threaded insert. 16. The inline skate of claim 15 wherein the frame has a lateral side and a medial side and wherein the first sidewall is disposed on the lateral side of the frame and the second sidewall is disposed on the medial side of the frame.17. The inline skate of claim 15, wherein the outer layer comprises fiberglass.18. The inline skate of claim 15, wherein the outer layer comprises a graphite fiber reinforced composite material.19. The inline skate of claim 15, wherein the proximal head portion of the plurality of threaded inserts are non-axisymmetric.