Roller skates with transverse-oriented wheels

Abstract

A roller skate includes a boot and at least a pair of wheels that are mounted to an underside of the boot. The wheels are oriented at an acute or perpendicular angle to the traditional straight ahead longitudinal direction of the boot so that, in use, the user moves at least somewhat laterally when skating. The orientation of the wheels can be adjusted with a lock-down device being used to fix the wheels in a desired orientation.

1 . A roller skate comprising:
 a boot having an underside with a longitudinal axis extending from a back end to a front end; and   at least two wheel assemblies mounted to the underside and each having a wheel and an axle, the wheel assemblies being positioned in at least a first position in which the wheels rotate about an axis of rotation that is static during use and in which the wheel assemblies are parallel to each other and positioned in a direction that is nonparallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein, when the roller skate is in an upright position, the wheels are in contact with a skating surface below the roller skate.   
   
   
       2 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the wheel assemblies are unadjustably fixed in the first position in which the axis of rotation is directed generally in parallel with the longitudinal axis and the roller skate rolls in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       3 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the wheel assemblies are unadjustably fixed in the first position in which the axis of rotation is directed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis and the roller skate rolls in a direction that is also at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       4 . The roller skate of  claim 1  further comprising a stopper mounted to the boot, wherein the stopper contacts the skating surface when the roller skate is pivoted on the wheels about a pivot axis in parallel with the longitudinal axis and pivoted away from the upright position. 
   
   
       5 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the wheel assemblies are adjustable from the first position in which the axis of rotation is directed generally in parallel with the longitudinal axis and in which the roller skate rolls in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and to at least a second position in which the axis of rotation is directed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis and in which the roller skate rolls in a direction that is also at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       6 . The roller skate of  claim 5  further comprising a rigid bar connecting each of the wheel assemblies wherein, adjustment of one wheel assembly is translated via the rigid bar to the other wheel assembly such that the relative positioning of the wheel assemblies is fixed. 
   
   
       7 . The roller skate of  claim 5  further comprising a lock-down device that enables selective locking and unlocking of the wheel assemblies in the first position or the second position. 
   
   
       8 . The roller skate of  claim 7  wherein the lock-down device includes a detent device and a screw, and wherein the wheel assemblies adjust about an axis of adjustment, the detent device arresting the movement of the wheel assemblies about the axis of adjustment at distinct increments including a first increment for the first position and a second increment for the second position, the screw tightening and loosening to secure the wheel assemblies at one of the increments and to move the wheels between the increments. 
   
   
       9 . The roller skate of  claim 8  wherein the detent device includes a ball and a backing plate, the ball being in contact with the backing plate and being biased toward the backing plate, the backing plate having a depression for each increment, wherein, when the ball is received in one of the depressions, the movement of the wheel assemblies about the axis of adjustment is arrested. 
   
   
       10 . A roller skate comprising:
 a boot having an underside extending in a longitudinal direction from a back end to a front end; and   at least two wheels mounted to the underside, the wheels being adjustable between at least two positions including a first position in which the roller skate rolls in a direction that is at a right angle to the longitudinal direction, and in a second position in which the roller skate rolls in a direction that is at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction.   
   
   
       11 . The roller skate of  claim 10  further comprising a stopper mounted to the boot, wherein the stopper contacts a skating surface below the roller skate when the roller skate is pivoted on the wheels about a pivot axis directed in parallel with the longitudinal direction and pivoted away from the upright position. 
   
   
       12 . The roller skate of  claim 10  further comprising a rigid bar connecting each of the wheels wherein, adjustment of one wheel is translated via the rigid bar to the other wheel such that the relative positioning of the wheels is fixed. 
   
   
       13 . The roller skate of  claim 10  wherein the wheels are adjustable to a third position in which the roller skate rolls in a direction that is parallel with the longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       14 . The roller skate of  claim 10  further comprising a lock-down device that enables selective locking and unlocking of the wheels in the first position or the second position. 
   
   
       15 . The roller skate of  claim 14  wherein the lock-down device includes a detent device and a screw, the detent device arresting the movement of the wheels about an axis of adjustment at distinct increments including a first increment for the first position and a second increment for the second position, the screw tightening and loosening to secure the wheels at one of the increments and to move the wheels between the increments. 
   
   
       16 . The roller skate of  claim 15  wherein the detent device includes a ball and a backing plate, the ball being in contact with the backing plate and being biased toward the backing plate, the backing plate having a depression for each increment, wherein, when the ball is received in one of the depressions, the movement of the wheels about the axis of adjustment is arrested. 
   
   
       17 . A roller skate comprising:
 a boot having an underside extending in a longitudinal direction from a back end to a front end;   at least two wheel assemblies mounted to the underside and each having a wheel and an axle, the wheels rotating about an axis of rotation during use, the wheel assemblies being adjustable about an axis of adjustment between at least a first position in which both wheel assemblies are directed at a right angle to the longitudinal direction and in which the axis of rotation is directed in parallel with the longitudinal direction, and a second position in which both wheel assemblies are directed in parallel with the longitudinal direction and in which the axis of rotation is directed at a right angle to the longitudinal direction; and   a lock-down device that enables selective locking and unlocking of the wheel assemblies in at least the first position or the second position;   wherein, when the roller skate is in an upright position, the wheels are in contact with a skating surface below the roller skate.