The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 23, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 02, 2002
John E. Svensson, Vashon, WA (US);
Antonin A. Meibock, Calgary, CA;
K-2 Corporation, Vashon, WA (US);
Abstract
A first embodiment of a flexing base skate ( ) includes an upper shoe portion ( ) mounted on a base ( ). The base includes a forefoot region ( ) secured to a forward frame segment ( ) carrying forward wheels ( ). A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment ( ) that carries rearward wheels ( ). The base defines and flexes at a reduced thickness metatarsal head portion ( ), with the skater's heel and the rearward frame segment elevating freely relative to the forward frame segment. A spring plate ( ) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward frame segment overlaps the rearward frame segment for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment ( ) provides a rigid full length frame ( ) and a flexible base ( ) mounted only at the forefoot region ( ) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal head portion ( ), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide ( ) for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment ( ) provides a forward frame segment ( ) carrying three forward wheels ( ) and a rearward frame segment ( ) carrying a single rearward wheel ( ), the rearward frame segment being freely pivotably but longitudinally coupled to the forward frame segment. A fourth embodiment ( ) provides a forward frame segment ( ) that carries three forward wheels ( ) and a rearward frame segment ( ) that carries two rearward wheels ( ).