In-line roller skate with internal support and external ankle cuff

Abstract

A roller skate includes an upper, including a substantially nonrigid upper portion secured to a base. A frame secured to the base carries a plurality of wheels. The substantially nonrigid upper portion is reinforced by a substantially rigid internal heel counter. An ankle support cuff assembly is pivotally secured to the internal heel counter. The ankle support cuff assembly includes a substantially rigid ankle support cuff that is pivotally secured on lateral and medial sides to the internal heel counter. Ankle pad lines the interior of the ankle support cuff. Ankle support cuff is fastened by a selectively securable fastener about the skater's ankle. The ankle support cuff assembly pivots freely in the forward and aft direction relative to the internal heel counter.

1 . An in-line skate comprising: 
 a frame rotatably supporting a plurality of in-line wheels;    a shoe portion comprising a base secured to the frame and a nonrigid upper portion secured to the base;    a rigid heel counter secured to the base and disposed between an outer layer of the nonrigid upper portion and an inner lining;    an ankle support assembly including a rigid ankle cuff covered by a flexible shell, the rigid ankle cuff having oppositely-disposed pivot extensions that are pivotably attached to the heel counter such that the ankle support assembly is pivotable about a transverse axis substantially independently of the shoe portion, and a U-shaped portion adapted to wrap about the skater's ankle; and    wherein the inner lining overlies an inner surface of the rigid ankle cuff.    
     
     
         2 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid ankle cuff includes concave portions adapted to accommodate the malleoli protrusions of a skater's ankle.  
     
     
         3 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the inner lining is not secured to the rigid heel counter.  
     
     
         4 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the inner lining is a lined foam pad.  
     
     
         5 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the ankle support assembly further comprises a securable closure strap.  
     
     
         6 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe portion further comprises a tongue that extends upwardly from the upper portion and is engaged by the ankle support assembly.  
     
     
         7 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein a gap is defined between a lower rear edge of the ankle support assembly and an upper rear edge of the nonrigid upper portion.  
     
     
         8 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the rigid ankle cuff is exposed between the flexible shell and the nonrigid upper portion.  
     
     
         9 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid toe guard secured to the base and overlying a toe portion of the nonrigid upper portion.  
     
     
         10 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein the nonrigid upper portion comprises a breathable fabric.  
     
     
         11 . A skate comprising: 
 a frame rotatably supporting a plurality of wheels;    a base secured to the frame;    a nonrigid upper portion secured to the base and formed from flexible materials;    a rigid heel counter secured to the base and disposed between an outer layer of the nonrigid upper portion and an inner lining layer; and    an ankle support assembly comprising a rigid ankle cuff defining lateral and medial arms that pivotably attach to the rigid heel counter and a U-shaped portion extending above the nonrigid upper portion, and a securable nonrigid shell disposed over an outer surface of the rigid ankle cuff;    wherein the ankle support assembly is constrained to pivot about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis defined by the base.    
     
     
         12 . The skate of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid ankle cuff includes concave portions adapted to accommodate the malleoli protrusions of a skater's ankle.  
     
     
         13 . The skate of  claim 11 , wherein the inner lining layer is a lined foam pad.  
     
     
         14 . The skate of  claim 11 , wherein the nonrigid upper portion further comprises a tongue portion that extends upwardly to engage the ankle support assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The skate of  claim 11 , further comprising a rigid toe guard secured to the base and overlying a toe portion of the nonrigid upper portion.  
     
     
         16 . The skate of  claim 11 , wherein the nonrigid upper portion comprises a breathable fabric.  
     
     
         17 . A skate having a plurality of wheels, a base defining an upper surface, a lower surface and a longitudinal axis, a frame secured to the base for mounting the plurality of wheels, and a nonrigid upper portion adapted to receive a skater's foot and secured to the base, the nonrigid upper portion extending upwardly from the base and adapted to terminate below the ankle of the received skater's foot, the improvement comprising: 
 a rigid heel counter secured to the base and disposed between an outer layer of the nonrigid upper portion and an inner foam layer and an ankle support assembly pivotally connected to the internal heel counter, the rigid ankle support assembly comprising a rigid ankle cuff support and a nonrigid shell portion covering an outer surface of the rigid ankle cuff support.    
     
     
         18 . The skate of  claim 17 , wherein the rigid ankle cuff includes a C-shaped portion and oppositely-disposed pivot extensions that are pivotably attached to the heel counter.  
     
     
         19 . The skate of  claim 18 , wherein the oppositely-disposed pivot extensions include concave portions adapted to accommodate the malleoli protrusions of a skater's ankle.