초록 ▼

A skate comprises a chassis with a variable length boot disposed thereon. The variable length boot includes a heel portion fixedly disposed upon the chassis and a toe box slidably disposed upon the chassis. The toe box is slidable in relation to the heel along the longitudinal axis of the skate to i

A skate comprises a chassis with a variable length boot disposed thereon. The variable length boot includes a heel portion fixedly disposed upon the chassis and a toe box slidably disposed upon the chassis. The toe box is slidable in relation to the heel along the longitudinal axis of the skate to increase or decrease the size of the boot. A locking mechanism attached to the toe box locks the toe box to the chassis at a selected position. The selected position is chosen from a plurality of spaced-apart slots disposed within the chassis. The locking mechanism includes a positionable clasp insertable into a selected slot to lock the toe box to the chassis at the selected position.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A skate comprising: a chassis having a ground engaging mechanism attached thereto; a variable length boot supported by the chassis, the boot including a heel portion fixedly attached to the chassis and a toe box slidably secured to the chassis, wherein positioning the toe bo

What is claimed is: 1. A skate comprising: a chassis having a ground engaging mechanism attached thereto; a variable length boot supported by the chassis, the boot including a heel portion fixedly attached to the chassis and a toe box slidably secured to the chassis, wherein positioning the toe box along a longitudinal axis of the skate relative to the heel portion increases or decreases the length of the boot; and a latching mechanism to lock the toe box to the chassis at a selected position, the selected position defining the length of the boot, wherein the latching mechanism comprises: a lever pivotally connected to the toe box, the lever positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position; a bracket attached to the toe box and supporting the lever; a clasp connected to the lever to lock the toe box at the selected position, the clasp pivotally connected to the toe box and positionable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and first and second arms extending from the clasp, each arm including a cylindrical member, wherein the cylindrical member of the first arm pivotally engages the toe box and the cylindrical member of the second arm pivotally engages the bracket. 2. The skate of claim 1 wherein the lever and the clasp are pivotally attached to the bracket. 3. The skate of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical member of each arm includes a cammed surface; and first and second posts disposed upon the lever, wherein the first post is engageable with the cammed surface of the first arm and the second post is engageable with the cammed surface of the second arm, wherein each post urges the clasp towards the engaged position upon positioning the lever towards the locked position. 4. The skate of claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of spaced-apart slots for receiving the clasp, each slot selectively positioned to define the length of the boot when the latching mechanism locks the toe box to the chassis. 5. The skate of claim 4, wherein the plurality of slots are disposed within the chassis. 6. The skate of claim 4, and further comprising a member attached to the chassis, the member containing the plurality of spaced-apart slots. 7. The skate of claim 1, wherein the toe box includes a first elongated slot and further comprising: a slotted member containing a second elongated slot, the slotted member attached to the toe box such that the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot cooperatively align; and a fastener attached to the chassis for slidably securing the toe box to the chassis, the fastener insertable through the first and second elongated slots, wherein the fastener permits the toe box to only be positionable along a longitudinal axis of the skate. 8. The skate of claim 7, wherein the slotted member attached to the toe box includes parallel sidewalls extending away from the toe box, the sidewalls engaging side surfaces of the chassis to prohibit transversal movement of the box about the longitudinal axis of the skate. 9. The skate of claim 7, wherein the slotted member includes parallel sidewalls extending therefrom, and further comprising a locking plate attached to the chassis, the locking plate including parallel sidewalls extending therefrom, wherein the locking plate and the sidewalls of the locking plate cooperatively engage the slotted member and the sidewalls of the slotted member to prohibit transveral movement of the toe box about the longitudinal axis of the skate. 10. The skate of claim 7, wherein the slotted member includes parallel sidewalls extending therefrom, and further comprising: a locking plate attached to the chassis, the locking plate including parallel sidewalls extending therefrom positioned proximate to side surfaces of the chassis, wherein the locking plate seats within the sidewalls of the slotted member, the slotted member engaging the locking plate, and the sidewalls of the slotted member engaging the adjacent sidewalls of the locking plate. 11. The skate of claim 10 wherein the sidewall of the locking plate proximate the latching mechanism includes a plurality of spaced-apart slots for receiving the clasp of the latching mechanism. 12. The skate of claim 1 wherein the ground engaging mechanism is an ice blade or a plurality of wheels. 13. A skate comprising: a chassis for holding a ground engaging mechanism attached thereto, the chassis having a forward section and a rearward section; a boot having a heel portion and a toe box, wherein the heel portion is disposed upon the rearward section of the chassis and the toe box is slidable upon the forward section of the chassis to adjust the length of the boot; a latching mechanism attached to the toe box for securing the toe box to the forward section of the chassis in a selected position; and a plurality of spaced-apart slots disposed upon the forward section of the chassis for receiving the latching mechanism to secure the toe box in the selected position through the attachment of the latching mechanism to the toe box; and wherein the latching member comprises a clasp and first and second spaced-apart arms extending from the clasp, wherein the lever is disposed between and engages the first and second arms and wherein at least one arm is pivotally connected to the first and second arms, and wherein at least one arm is pivotally connected to the bracket or the toe box; wherein the latching comprises a latching member to engage a selected slot; and a lever connected to the latching member, the lever providing a mechanism to engage and disengage the latching member; and wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a bracket attached to the toe box, wherein the lever and the latching member pivotally attaches to the bracket. 14. A skate comprising: a chassis for holding a pound engaging mechanism attached thereto, the chassis having a forward section and a rearward section; a boot having a heel portion and a toe box, wherein the heel portion is disposed upon the rearward section of the chassis and the toe box is slidable upon the forward section of the chassis to adjust the length of the boot; a latching mechanism attached to the toe box for securing the toe box to the forward section of the chassis in a selected position; and a plurality of spaced-apart slots disposed upon the forward section of the chassis for engaging the latching mechanism to secure the toe box in the selected position through the attachment of the latching mechanism to the toe box; and wherein the latching mechanism comprises a latching member to engage a selected slot; and a lever connected to the latching member, the lever providing a mechanism to engage and disengage the latching member; and wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a bracket attached to the toe box, wherein the lever and the latching member pivotally attaches to the bracket; wherein the latching member comprises a clasp and first and second spaced-apart arms extending from the clasp, wherein the lever is disposed between and engages the first and second arms, and wherein at least one arm is pivotally connected to the bracket or the toe box. 15. The skate of claim 13 and further comprising: a first plate attached to the toe box, the first plate including an elongated slot positioned along a longitudinal axis of the skate; a second plate attached to the forward section of the chassis, the second plate engageable with the first plate; and a fastener connected to the second plate and insertable through the elongated slot, the fastener securing the toe box to the forward section of the chassis, wherein the toe box is positionable about the forward section of the chassis. 16. The skate of claim 15, wherein the first plate includes first and second downwardly extending sidewalls, the forward section of the chassis extending between the first and second sidewalls. 17. The skate of claim 13 wherein the ground engaging mechanism is an ice blade or a plurality of wheels. 18. A skate comprising: a frame for holding a ground engaging mechanism attached thereto, the frame having a rearward section and a forward section; a variable length boot, the boot having a heel portion attached to the rearward section and a toe box slidably secured to the forward section; a clasping mechanism connected to the toe box; a plurality of spaced-apart slots disposed upon the forward section of the chassis for receiving the clasping mechanism; wherein the clasping mechanism comprises a bracket attached to the toe box proximate to the plurality of spaced-apart slots, a clasp pivotally connected to the bracket for engaging a selected slot, and a lever connected to the clasp, the lever providing a mechanism to engage the clasp with the selected slot; and wherein the clasp comprises first and second spaced-apart arms connected to the clasp, wherein at least one arm pivotally secures either to the bracket or to the toe box, wherein the lever is disposed between and engages each arm, and wherein positioning the lever urges the arms to pivot and position the clasp to engage or disengage the selected slot. 19. The skate of claim 18 wherein the first arm and the second arm extending from the clasp each include a cammed surface, and the latching mechanism further comprises first and second posts disposed upon the lever, wherein the first post is engageable with the cammed surface of the first arm and the second post is engageable with the cammed surface of the second arm, wherein each post urges the clasp towards the engaged position upon positioning the lever towards a locked position, position. 20. The skate of claim 18, and further comprising: an elongated slot disposed within the toe box along a longitudinal axis of the skate; and a fastener disposed within the elongated slot and connected to the forward section of the frame, the fastener slidably securing the toe box to the forward section. 21. The skate of claim 18, wherein the toe box includes an elongated slot and wherein the forward section includes a fastener connected thereto, the fastener slidably securing the toe box to the forward section. 22. The skate of claim 18 wherein the ground engaging mechanism is an ice blade or a plurality of wheels. 23. A skate comprising: a chassis having a ground engaging mechanism attached thereto; a variable length boot supported by the chassis, the boot including a heel portion fixedly attached to the chassis and a toe box slidably secured to the chassis, wherein positioning the toe box along a longitudinal axis of the skate relative to the heel portion increases or decreases the length of the boot; and a latching mechanism to lock the toe box to the chassis at a selected position, the selected position defining the length of the boot, wherein the latching mechanism comprises: a lever pivotally connected to the toe box, the lever positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position; a clasp connected to the lever to lock the toe box at the selected position, the clasp pivotally connected to the toe box and positionable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and wherein the latching mechanism further comprises: first and second arms extending from the clasp, each arm including a cammed surface; and first and second posts disposed upon the lever, wherein the first post is engageable with the cammed surface of the first arm and the second post is engageable with the cammed surface of the second arm, wherein each post urges the clasp towards the engage position upon positioning the lever towards the locked position. 24. A skate comprising: a chassis having a ground engaging mechanism attached thereto; a variable length boot supported by the chassis, the boot including a heel portion fixedly attached to the chassis and a toe box slidably secured to the chassis, wherein positioning the toe box along a longitudinal axis of the skate relative to the heel portion increases or decreases the length of the boot; and a latching mechanism to lock the toe box to the chassis at a selected position, the selected position defining the length of the boot, wherein the latching mechanism comprises: a lever pivotally connected to the toe box, the lever positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position; a clasp connected to the lever to lock the toe box at the selected position, the clasp pivotally connected to the toe box and positionable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and first and second arms extending from the clasp, each arm including a cylindrical member, wherein the cylindrical member of the first arm pivotally engages the toe box and the cylindrical member of the second arm pivotally engages the bracket; wherein the toe box includes a first elongated slot and further comprising: a slotted member containing a second elongated slot, the slotted member attached to the toe box such that the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot cooperatively align; a fastener attached to the chassis for slidably securing the toe box to the chassis, the fastener insertable through the first and second elongated slots, wherein the fastener permits the toe box to only be positionable along a longitudinal axis of the skate; and wherein the slotted member includes parallel sidewalls extending therefrom, and further comprising a locking plate attached to the chassis, the locking plate including parallel sidewalls extending therefrom, wherein the locking plate and the sidewalls of the locking plate cooperatively engage the slotted member and the sidewalls of the slotted member to prohibit transversal movement of the toe box about the longitudinal axis of the skate.