Training wheel for in-line skates

A training wheel device for use with a tandem or in-line roller skate having a series of travel rollers disposed for travel along a travel surface in a single travel line, said training wheel device comprising:

• a training wheel bracket comprising a u-shaped member having a first leg, a second leg and a connecting member extending therebetween,
• a training wheel mounted upon said bracket, and
• means for mounting said device upon the tandem roller skate,
• said training wheel adapted to engage upon the travel surface for travel in a balance line to enhance the balance of a user, the balance line being spaced from the generally parallel to the travel line of the travel rollers, and
• said connecting member defining an aperture for extension of said training wheel therethrough, thereby to accommodate training wheels of various diameters.

A personal roller transportation apparatus, comprising:

• a tandem roller skate having a foot sole member for supporting a user's foot, and
• a roller wheel mounting means for positioning a plurality of roller wheels in tandem in a first common roller plane beneath said foot sole member, said roller wheels being mounted on axles to maintain parallel axes for rotation in said first common roller plane along a travel line upon a travel surface, said travel line being generally centered with respect to said foot;
• and
• a balance training wheel device attached to said tandem roller skate for positioning a training wheel adjacent said roller wheels for rotation of said training wheel in a second training plane, said second plane lying parallel to said first plane, said training wheel disposed to rotate about an axis parallel with the axes of rotation of said roller wheels and in said second plane along a training line on said surface parallel and nonintersecting with said travel line, said training wheel being spaced from the travel surface when said first common roller plane is generally perpendicular to the travel surface, and adapted to engage the travel surface when said first common roller plane achieves a predetermined acute angle to the travel surface, thereby to aid a user to maintain balance, said balance training wheel device comprising a U-shaped bracket member having a first leg mounted to said roller wheel mounting mean sand a second leg upon which there is mounting said training wheel, said bracket member further comprising a connecting member joining said legs, said first leg of said bracket being attached to said roller wheel mounting means by axles of at least two roller wheels and said first leg of said bracket member defining an elongated slot for adjustable attachment to roller wheel axles over a range of separation distances of adjacent of said axles.

A personal roller transportation apparatus, comprising:

• a tandem roller skate having a foot sole member for supporting a user's foot, and
• a roller wheel mounting means for positioning a plurality of roller wheels in tandem in a first common roller plane beneath said foot sole member, said roller wheels being mounted on axles to maintain parallel axes for rotation in said first common roller plane along a travel line upon a travel surface, said travel line being generally centered with respect to said foot;
• and
• a balance training wheel device attached to said tandem roller skate for positioning a training wheel adjacent said roller wheels for rotation of said training wheel in a second training plane, said second plane lying parallel to said first plane, said training wheel disposed to rotate abut an axis parallel with the axes of rotation of said roller wheels and in said second plane along a training line on said surface parallel and nonintersecting with said travel line, said training wheel being spaced from the travel surface when said first common roller plane is generally perpendicular to the travel surface, and adapted to engage the travel surface when said first common roller plane achieves a predetermined acute angle to the travel surface, thereby to aid a user to maintain balance, said balance training wheel device comprising a U-shape bracket member having a first leg mounted to said roller wheel mounting means and a second leg upon which there is mounting said training wheel, said bracket member further comprising a connecting member joining said legs, said leg of said U-shaped bracket member mounted to said roller wheel mounting means including a first aperture for attachment to a first roller wheel axle and an elongated slot for attachment to a second roller wheel axle over a range of separations of said axles.

A personal roller transportation apparatus, comprising:

• a tandem roller skate having a foot sole member for supporting a user's foot, and
• a roller wheel mounting means for positioning a plurality of roller wheels in tandem in a first common roller plane beneath said foot sole member, said roller wheels being mounted on axles to maintain parallel axes for rotation in said first common roller plane along a travel line upon a travel surface, said travel line being generally centered with respect to said foot;
• and
• a balance training wheel device attached to said tandem roller skate for positioning a training wheel adjacent said roller wheels for rotation of said training wheel in a second training plane, said second plane lying parallel to said first plane, said training wheel disposed to rotate about an axis parallel with the axes of rotation of said roller wheels and in said second plane along a training line on said surface parallel and nonintersecting with said travel line, said training wheel being spaced from the travel surface when said first common roller plane is generally perpendicular to the travel surface, and adapted to engage the travel surface when said first common roller plane achieves a predetermined acute angle to the travel surface, thereby to aid a user to maintain balance, said balance training wheel device comprising a U-shape bracket member having a first leg mounted to said roller wheel mounting means and a second leg upon which there is mounting said training wheel, said bracket member further comprising a connecting member joining said legs, said connecting member defines an aperture for extension of said training wheel therethrough, thereby to accommodate training wheels of various diameters.