In-line skate frame protector

#The present invention relates to in-line skating. Specifically, this invention concerns a means of protecting the frames of in-line skates and a method of preventing wear to such frames induced by contact with abrasive surfaces.

#In-line skating is a form of recreation practiced for more than two hundred years in various areas of the world. In recent times, it has evolved into a multifaceted activity. Included among such activities are speed skating, hockey, cross-training, off-season training for skiing and ice-skating, dance, free-style, and so-called “street-style” skating. Street-style skating comprises a number of stunts, including, but not limited to, curb and handrail “grinding,” stair riding, ramp skating, jumping, and “stalling” (coming to an abrupt stop). Many of these activities significantly and rapidly degrade the quality of the in-line skating equipment.

#Typically, an in-line skate consists of three basic components: a boot, a frame, and wheels. An in-line skating boot generally comprises one or more parts which serve to secure a foot of the skater to the remaining components of the skate. The boot is attached to the frame, which itself holds the wheels. As inferred by the term “in-line” skate, the wheels are aligned single file in the direction of skate travel. See FIG. 1. Each wheel in the system is usually attached to the frame via an axle bolt. As a result of this alignment, portions of the frame, especially those portions between the wheels, are potentially exposed to impacts with various surfaces. In street-style skating, the potential for such impacts is markedly increased, and when it occurs repeatedly, and/or when it occurs against an abrasive surface, the skate frame may be damaged.

#FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of an in-line skate with a protective means according to the invention mounted thereto. Elements 1–4 are wheels. Element 6 is the skate frame, the underside of which is visible in this view. Element 8 represents the inboard side of the frame, while Element 10 is the outboard side of the frame. Element 7 is the exterior surface of the two sides and Element 9 refers to the interior surface of either side. Element 5 (shaded) is the protective means, which as shown is mounted to the exterior surfaces of the inboard and outboard sides of the frame using wheel hardware.

#FIG. 2 shows in perspective the protective means mounted to FIG. 1. Element 11 represents the distance between the centers of holes used to mount the protective means using wheel hardware.

#FIG. 3 depicts a side view of but one embodiment of a mounted protective means. Element 12 is the overall length of the protective means and Element 13 is its height.

#Numerous advantages and aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description which provides illustrations of the invention in its presently preferred embodiments.

#The present invention relates to an in-line skate frame protective means, also referred to herein as “skate frame protector(s)” or “protector(s),” and methods for using such means to prevent damaging impacts to and/or abrasive contacts with a skate frame. As used in this invention, a skate frame protective means is any means that prevents direct impact to or contact with an underside portion of a skate frame. The underside of a skate frame (see FIG. 1) is that side, edge, or surface of the frame closest to (and in most cases, parallel to) the ground and is opposite that side, edge, or surface (the “upper” side) of the frame that contacts the sole, bottom, or lower surface of the boot. An underside portion of a skate frame is understood to range from the entire underside of the skate frame (exclusive of those areas required for wheel protrusion, etc.), the entire underside of either of an inboard side or an outboard side of a skate frame, to as little as 0.01 in. (inch) of either of the undersides of an inboard or outboard side of a frame.

#A skate frame protector according to the invention can be mounted to one or, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, to both sides of a skate frame. As used herein, the side of the skate frame, when attached to an in-line skate nearest the inside of the boot, is referred to as the “inboard” side of the frame (see FIG. 1, element 8), while the “outboard” side is that which is nearest the outside of the boot (FIG. 1, element 10). In addition, a skate frame protector according to the invention may be mounted on either the interior surface (FIG. 1, element 9) or exterior surface (FIG. 1, element 7) of the inboard, outboard, or both sides of the skate frame. In one embodiment of the invention, the skate frame protector is mounted to the exterior surface of either the inboard or outboard side of the skate frame. In another embodiment, a skate frame protector spans from the inboard side to the outboard side of the frame. Such a protector may be mounted to the exterior surface of the two sides, to their interior surfaces, or to the interior surface of one side and the exterior of the other side.