In-line roller skate

An in-line roller skate for receiving the foot of a skater, the skate comprising:

• a frame having wheels rotatably secured thereto;
• a base having an upper surface adapted to support the bottom of the skater's foot, including a heel portion and a toe portion adapted to support areas beneath the heel, ball, and toes of the skater's foot, the base further having a lower surface securely attached to the frame;
• a substantially nonrigid upper portion adapted to receive the skater's foot, the nonrigid upper portion being formed of substantially pliable material adapted to substantially cover the instep and ankle of the skater's foot, the nonrigid upper further being formed of a nonrigid material extending beneath the skater's foot, the nonrigid upper being secured to the base at the interface between the nonrigid material and the upper surface of the base, the nonrigid upper portion further including a releasable fastener adapted for securing the nonrigid upper portion around the foot of the skater, including the instep of the skater's foot;
• and
• a substantially rigid upper portion coupled to the nonrigid upper portion and secured to the base, the rigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter on lateral and medial sides thereof, the rigid upper portion providing lateral support for the nonrigid upper portion and leaving a substantial portion of the nonrigid upper portion exposed during use, including a majority portion over the instep of the skater's foot.

An in-line roller skate for receiving a skater's foot, the skate comprising:

• a frame having a plurality of longitudinally aligned wheels rotatably secured thereto;
• a base securely attached to the frame, the base including a heel portion and a toe portion;
• a flexible shoe portion adapted to receive the skater's foot, wherein the shoe portion is attached to an upper portion of the base;
• and
• a semirigid upper portion that is secured to the base, the semirigid upper portion including a heel counter secured to the base and an ankle support cuff pivotally coupled to the heel counter, the ankle support cuff further comprising a support strap, the semirigid upper portion providing lateral support for the shoe portion while leaving a part of the shoe portion exposed during use.