BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to roller skates and more particularly to a new and improved roller skate soleplate.

Roller skates of the kind to which the present invention is directed are generally provided with a shoe structure secured to a soleplate. From this soleplate, front and rear wheel support assemblies, known as roller trucks, depend and are secured to the soleplate by means of fastener assemblies known as action screws. In the past, soleplates have included a threaded bore to threadingly receive the action screw which secures the wheel support assembly. However, threaded bores formed in the soleplate itself have the disadvantage of requiring the replacement of the entire soleplate if the threads are damaged due to inadvertent cross threading of the fastener assembly during periodic replacement of the wheel support assemblies.

In other instances, the fastener assembly has been inserted through the soleplate from the top surface thereof prior to the attachment of the shoe structure. However, replacement of the fastener assembly, as may be required, necessitates the removal of the shoe structure from the soleplate to provide access to the fasteners therein.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved soleplate for a roller skate.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a soleplate for a roller skate which allows the insertion and installation of a threaded fastener for the attachment of a wheel support assembly from the bottom of the soleplate.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a soleplate for a roller skate which enables the attachment of the wheel support assemblies without threading the soleplate and without the removal of the shoe structure therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore provides a unitary soleplate adapted to receive a wheel support assembly and a wheel support fastener at a bottom surface thereof, the soleplate including a recess dimensioned for receiving and confining an enlarged end portion of the fastener assembly, and slot means enabling the insertion of the fastener assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the soleplate of the present invention together with a shoe structure, supporting roller trucks and a toe stop;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the soleplate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the soleplate of the instant invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of the rear embossment shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited by this description. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a roller skate 10 embodying the present invention is illustrated, and comprises a unitary soleplate 12, a shoe structure 14, and front and rear wheel support assemblies, also known as roller trucks, 16 and 18 respectively. The soleplate 12 includes a toe portion 20, a heel portion 22 and an instep portion 24 therebetween. The soleplate 12 further defines a top surface 26 and a bottom surface 28 from which the truck rollers 18 and 16 depend.

Since the front and rear wheel support assemblies 16 and 18 are substantially identical, only the rear wheel support assembly 18 and its associated parts and mounting arrangement will be described in detail. However, like reference numerals, including the subscript a, will be applied to the front wheel support assembly 16.

The wheel support assembly 18 includes a strut arm 32 which includes an integrally-formed truck housing to support an axle 34. The axle 34 in turn supports wheels or rollers which are mounted thereon, as indicated by the wheel 36.

At a lower end 38 and on opposite sides of the strut arm 32 are disposed a pair of cushion members 40 and 42 which, along with the strut arm 32, receive an action screw or fastener assembly 44 including an elongate shank 45, which coacts with a nut 46 to secure the lower end 38 of the strut arm 32 to the bottom surface 28 of the soleplate 12. An enlarged end portion 47 of the rod member 44 is disposed in the soleplate 12, as more fully hereinafter described. The wheel support assemblies 16, 18 are additionally supported by an upper end 48 of the strut arm 32 which is detachably received in a resilient bushing 49 contained in a socket 50 in the soleplate 12.

The soleplate 12 also includes a toe stop structure 52 mounted on a front embossment 54 thereof. This toe stop structure may take the form of that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,651 and includes a fastener assembly 56, and a stop member 58 which may be compressibly secured against the ridges 60 in the embossment 54 as described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent.

Turning now to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the soleplate 12 includes a longitudinal rib 60 and transverse ribs 62 and 64 to render the soleplate 12 light in weight yet strong and durable in construction. Also included are a plurality of bores, represented by the reference numeral 66, which accommodate elongate rivets or other suitable means for securing the shoe structure 14 to the soleplate 12. In combination, the ribs 62, 64 and a sidewall 68 provide support for the shoe structure 14.

As is shown generally in FIG. 1 and more specifically in FIG. 3, the soleplate 12 includes a first embossment 70 and a second embossment 72 for the mounting of the front and rear wheel support assemblies 16 and 18, respectively.

Description of the embossments 70, 72 and the associated wheel support structure will be limited to that of the second embossment 72 and the wheel structure assembly 18, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. However, the first embossment 70 and wheel support assembly 16 are essentially similar and will be referenced with like numerals including the subscript a.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the embossment 72 is seen to include an annular socket 76 to limit radial movement of the cushion 40 and to further secure the wheel support assembly 18 to the soleplate 12.

The construction of the embossment 72 advantageously enables the insertion and removal of the fastener assembly 44, and thus the replacement of the wheel support assembly 18, without the removal of the shoe 14 from the soleplate 12. Thus, the shoe may be permanently affixed to the soleplate 12 through means known in the art to afford a roller skate of superior strength and durability. Yet, the fastener assembly 44 may be easily removed as desired.

As is seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the embossment 72 includes an aperture 78 for supporting the fastener assembly 44, a hexagonal recess 80 for confining the end portion 47 of the assembly 44, and a slot 82 proportioned to allow the passage of the assembly 44, including the shank portion 45 and the end portion 47 thereof. As is more fully shown in FIG. 5, the slot 82 includes a transverse upper portion to allow the passage of the enlarged end portion 47.

When the fastener assembly 44 is received in the aperture 78, a downward movement, such as by threading the nut 46 on the shank 45, seats the end portion 47 in the hexagonal recess 80. The recess 80 firmly holds the end portion 47 and allows the final tightening of the nut 46 without external restraining means such as wrenches or the like. The nut 46 may be of a self-locking construction or may be used with locking washers as desired.

It is to be understood that either the end portion 47 or the nut 46 may be received in the recess 80 with equal facility, dependent upon the design of the soleplate, wheel assembly and action screws.

Thus, in the event that repairs to the wheel support assembly are required, the entire assembly may be removed by loosening the nut 46 and detaching the upper end 48 of the strut arm 32 from the socket 50. The fastener assembly 44 may be removed from its position in the soleplate and replaced through the slot 82 if the threads are damaged or if the replacement truck requires a different length of fastener assembly.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, modifications may be made and it is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.