Angled rocker axle slots in inline skate frame and adjustable inline skate system

Abstract

An inline skate frame is provided including a first inline skate frame wall and a second inline skate frame wall opposite the first inline skate frame wall. A channel is defined between the skate frame walls. The skate frame includes axle locating features, with each axle locating feature including at least one through-hole for receiving an axle such that the corresponding axle extends across the channel. At least one of the axle locating features includes a slotted cutout in one of the first and second inline skate frame walls. Also provided is an adjustable inline skate system utilizing the inline skate frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inline skate frame comprising:
 a first inline skate frame wall;   a second inline skate frame wall opposite the first inline skate frame wall with a channel defined therebetween;   a plurality of axle locating features, each axle locating feature comprising at least one through-hole for receiving an axle such that the corresponding axle extends across the channel,   wherein at least one of the axle locating features comprises a slotted cutout in one of the first and second inline skate frame walls.   
     
     
         2 . The inline skate frame of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one axle locating feature comprises a substantially cylindrical through-hole opposite the channel from the slotted cutout such that the slotted cutout defines an orientation of an axle received at the substantially cylindrical through-hole. 
     
     
         3 . The inline skate frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of axle locating features comprises a slotted cutout in one of the first and second inline skate frame wall and a corresponding substantially cylindrical through-hole opposite the channel, and wherein at least one of the plurality of axle locating features provide the slotted cutout at an angle relative to a vertical orientation, and wherein at least one of the plurality of axle locating features orient the slotted cutout vertically. 
     
     
         4 . The inline skate frame of  claim 3 , wherein the first and last of the plurality of axle locating features provide the slotted cutout at an angle relative to a vertical orientation and wherein the remaining of the plurality of axle locating features orient the slotted cutout vertically. 
     
     
         5 . The inline skate frame of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of axle locating features comprise a slotted cutout in one of the first and second inline skate frame wall and a corresponding substantially cylindrical through-hole opposite the channel, and wherein at least one of the plurality of axle locating features comprise substantially cylindrical through-holes on both the first and second inline skate frame walls. 
     
     
         6 . The inline skate frame of  claim 5 , wherein the first and last of the plurality of axle locating features comprise a slotted cutout in one of the first and second inline skate frame wall and a corresponding substantially cylindrical through-hole opposite the channel, while the remaining axle locating features comprise substantially cylindrical through-hole on both the first and second inline skate frame walls. 
     
     
         7 . The inline skate frame of  claim 6 , wherein the slotted cutout in the first and last of the axle locating features is provided at an angle relative to a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The inline skate frame of  claim 1 , wherein the slotted cutout is an obround cutout or an obround slot. 
     
     
         9 . An adjustable inline skate system comprising:
 an inline skate frame of  claim 1 ;   at least one offset axle for mating with the at least one axle locating feature, the at least one offset axle comprising:
 an obround protrusion at a first end for mating with the slotted cutout; 
 a substantially cylindrical protrusion at a second end opposite the first end for mating with a substantially cylindrical through-hole opposite the slotted cutout; and 
 a shaft extending between the substantially cylindrical protrusion and the obround protrusion. 
   
     
     
         10 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 9 , wherein the shaft is offset relative to a natural axis of the offset axle extending from a center of the obround protrusion to a center of the substantially cylindrical protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of interchangeable offset axles, each offset axle having a different offset relative to its corresponding natural axis, such that the at least one axle for mating with the at least one axle locating feature is selected from the plurality of offset axles. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 10 , wherein the obround protrusion is symmetric such that the at least one offset axle can be mounted in two distinct oppositely oriented configurations. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 10 , wherein a first of the two distinct oppositely oriented configurations is a raised configuration wherein a wheel mounted on the offset axle is raised within the frame when the offset axle is mated with the at least one axle locating feature, and wherein a second of the two distinct oppositely oriented configurations is a lowered configuration wherein a wheel mounted on the offset axle is lowered within the frame when the offset axle is mated with the at least one axle locating feature. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 13  further comprising a first wheel having a first radial size for mounting on the offset axle and a second wheel having a second radial size larger than the first size for mounting on the offset axle interchangeably with the first wheel, wherein the first wheel is mounted on the offset axle in the raised configuration and the second wheel is mounted on the offset axle in the lowered configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one offset axle is a plurality of offset axles and wherein the first wheel is one of a first plurality of wheels and the second wheel is one of a second plurality of wheels, and wherein the plurality of offset axles are mounted in either the raised configuration with corresponding wheels of the first plurality of wheels or in the lowered configuration with corresponding wheels of the second plurality of wheels. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 9  wherein the at least one offset axle is four offset axles for mating with corresponding axle locating features, and wherein each of the plurality of axle locating features comprises a slotted cutout in one of the first and second inline skate frame wall and a corresponding substantially cylindrical through-hole opposite the channel. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the axle locating features comprises a slotted cutout in one of the first and second inline skate frame wall and a corresponding substantially cylindrical through-hole opposite the channel, while the remaining axle locating features comprise substantially cylindrical through-hole on both the first and second inline skate frame walls, and wherein the at least one offset axle mates with the corresponding at least one axle locating feature, and wherein the system further comprises at least one collinear axle for mating with the remaining axle locating features. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable inline skate system of  claim 17  wherein the at least one of the axle locating features is a first and last of the axle locating features.