Flexing base skate

Abstract

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. A second embodiment provides a rigid full length frame and a base mounted at the forefoot region to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal portion, and forms 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 forward wheels and a rearward frame segment carrying rearward wheel.

1 . A roller skate comprising: 
 an upper portion for receiving a skater's foot;    a plurality of wheels;    a frame rotatably mounting the plurality of wheels;    a flexible base having an upper surface securable to an underside of the upper portion for supporting the received skater's foot, the flexible base including a heel region and a forefoot region, wherein the forefoot region of the flexible base is secured to the frame;    a spring element incorporated into the base, wherein the spring element biases the heel region of the flexible base towards the frame;    wherein the heel region of the flexible base is not secured to the frame whereby the heel region of the flexible base lifts away from the frame during use and is biased towards the frame by the spring element.    
   
   
       2 . The roller skate of  claim 1 , wherein the spring element comprises elongate spring strip.  
   
   
       3 . The roller skate of  claim 1 , wherein the spring element comprises a plurality of spring strips.  
   
   
       4 . The roller skate of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible base further comprises an intermediate transverse section having a greater flexibility than other portions of the base, such that the base preferentially flexes at the intermediate transverse section.  
   
   
       5 . The roller skate of  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate transverse section is a reduced thickness section of the flexible base.  
   
   
       6 . The roller skate of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide element attached to the heel region of the flexible base that slidably engages the frame during flexure of the flexible base.  
   
   
       7 . The roller skate of  claim 6 , wherein the guide element comprises a rigid U-shaped guide.  
   
   
       8 . The roller skate of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot region of the flexible base is fixedly secured to the frame.  
   
   
       9 . The roller skate of  claim 1 , wherein the spring element is preloaded such that the heel region of the base is biased positively against the frame.  
   
   
       10 . The roller skate of  claim 6  wherein the guide element comprises a tapered boss projecting downwardly, and slidably received within an aperture in the frame.