Machine skates - a non-conventional design!
Conventional roller machine skates have two pairs of wheels, forward and back, mounted underneath a boot, or other foot platform, in two rows. More modern in-line machine skates have a plurality of wheels, typically four, mounted underneath the boot in a single row to imitate a blade. Because the wheels are mounted underneath the machine skate, the wheels must be kept relatively small in order to prevent raising the center of gravity, and thus making balance more difficult. Therefore, conventional and modern machine skates seldom use wheels larger than 6 cm in diameter.
One disadvantage with smaller wheels is that frictional forces are more difficult to overcome. The smaller wheels tend to get caught in irregularities, such as indentations, holes, cracks, roughness, etc., in the ground or support surface on which the wheels are rolling. Even smaller irregularities tend to catch, or drag, the small wheels of the machine skates.
Another disadvantage with the four-wheel design of conventional and modern machine skates is the difficulty in turning. The turning is made difficult with four wheels simultaneously touching the ground because of the frictional force of the four wheels. In addition, with four wheels located at four corners of the boot, as with conventional machine skates, or with four wheels located in a single line, as with modern in-line machine skates, the wheels must slide or drag on the ground or contact surface. The sliding or dragging of wheels consumes energy and the user loses speed when making a turn. In addition, balance is more difficult to maintain during sliding. Maneuverability is particularly difficult when making rapid sharp turns. Other movements available, such as spinning, are also prohibited by the frictional contact between the sliding wheels and the ground. Therefore, the skill of the user is often constrained by the limitations in the machine skate.
Another disadvantage with conventional machine skates is that they are often rigidly attached to the platform. Thus, impacts or shocks experienced by the wheels from the riding surface are passed through to the user’s feet.
SUMMARY OF THE machine skates
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a wheeled machine skate device for enhancing the user’s performance and expanding the user’s ability to turn and maneuver. In addition, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a wheeled skate device for reducing frictional losses. In addition, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a wheeled skate device capable of providing other actions, such as spinning. In addition, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a wheeled skate device with greater stability and balance.
The machine skates provides a wheeled machine skate device with a frame movably disposed over a support surface, such as the ground. The frame includes a platform to receive a foot of a user. A binding can be located on the frame to extend over the foot of the user to secure the foot of the user to the platform. One or more primary and auxiliary wheels, such as a pair of primary wheels, can be rotatably coupled to the frame to roll on the support surface. The primary wheels each advantageously have a primary axis of rotation located at a height above the upper surface of the platform. The large diameter of the wheels reduces friction losses while the high elevation of the axis improves stability.
In accordance with a more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels can be located at a height above the binding, and thus above the foot of the user.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the platform can be tiltable and can have an adjustable angular orientation with respect to the frame. Thus, the platform can be adjusted to suit the user.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the skate device can include a cushion disposed between the frame and the platform. The cushion can include a wedged shaped cushion with a thinner end and an opposite thicker end. The cushion can soften impacts and/or provide angular adjustment.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the skate device can include front and rear stops secured to the platform and spaced apart a distance sized to receive the foot of the user therebetween. One or more of the front and rear stops can be adjustably secured to the platform and selectively movable in a longitudinal direction. Similarly, left and right side stops can be secured to the platform and spaced apart a distance sized to receive the foot of the user therebetween. One or more of the left and right side stops being adjustably secured to the platform, and selectively movable in a lateral direction. Thus, the platform can be sized for the user’s foot, and the user’s foot can be positioned with respect to the frame. Thus, the device can be sized for the user’s feet, and the user’s feet can be positioned on the frame to suit the user’s preferences.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the skate device can include an axel rotatably coupling each of the primary wheels to the frame. A compressible material can be disposed between the axel and the frame. Thus, the compressible material can cushion the ride, and/or allow the wheels to pivot to assist turning.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the primary wheels can be adjustably coupled to the frame, and can be vertically adjustable with respect to the frame. The skate device can include lateral attachment supports extending from the frame. Slots can be formed in the lateral attachment supports. Blocks can be movably disposed in the slots with the primary wheels rotatably attached to each block. An adjustable member can be selectively positionable in each slot. Thus, the elevation of the user’s foot can be adjusted to suit the user. Compressible members can be disposed in each slot on each side of the block. Again, the compressible members can cushion the ride, and/or allow the wheels to pivot to assist turning.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the skate device can include a break wheel rotationally coupled to the frame to be selectively engagable with the support surface. A friction member can be coupled to the frame and adjustably engagable with the break wheel to adjustably resist rotation of the break wheel.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the machine skate device can include a pair of lateral attachment supports coupled to the frame. Each primary wheel can be rotatably attached to one of the lateral attachment supports. A compressible member can be disposed between each lateral attachment support and the frame. Thus, the lateral attachment supports and the primary wheels are allowed to pivot with respect to the frame to assist in turning.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the skate device can include a secondary universal wheel rotatably coupled to the frame. The secondary universal wheel can rotate about a secondary axis of rotation that is oriented generally horizontally. In addition, the secondary wheel can further pivot about a generally vertical pivot axis.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the primary wheels can be configured for cooperatively operating in at least two modes to make rolling contact with the support surface without sliding. The two modes include a travel mode and a spinning mode. In the travel mode, the primary wheels each rotate in a common direction. In the spinning mode, the primary wheels rotate in opposite directions relative to one another. The primary and universal wheels cooperatively operate in the travel and spinning modes such that the primary and universal wheels each rotate in a common direction in the travel mode, and such that the secondary axis of rotation of the universal wheel is oriented traverse to the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels in the spinning mode.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the primary wheels can have a common primary axis of rotation and the frame can vertically pivot about the primary axis of rotation between first and second orientations. In the first orientation, the universal wheel is in a non-contacting relationship with the support surface, and the skate device has two points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary wheels. In the second orientation, the universal wheel contacts the support surface, and the skate device has three points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary and universal wheels.
In accordance with another more detailed aspect of the machine skates, the frame and platform can be sized to receive both feet of the user.
Additional features and advantages of the machine skates will be apparent from a more detailed description, taken in conjunction with drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the machine skates.