Adjustable skate

Abstract

A skate includes a boot that includes a heel portion and a toe box portion. The heel portion is disposed on a wheel holder frame that holds a plurality of ground-engaging wheels. The toe box portion is disposed slidably on the wheel holder frame and is slidable in relation to the heel portion. The heel portion includes left and right forwardly extending vamp sections that extend into the toe box portion. The toe box portion includes an inside surface that extends from a forward tip transversely and rearwardly toward the heel portion in a curved fashion. The vamp sections engage the inside surface of the toe box portion such that the vamp sections are flexed inwardly or outwardly as the toe box is slid on the wheel holder frame thereby varying the width and the length of the boot.

1 . A skate comprising: 
 a wheel holder frame for holding a plurality of ground engaging wheels;    a boot comprising: 
 a heel portion disposed on the wheel holder frame;  
 a toe box portion slidable on the wheel holder frame;  
   wherein the heel portion includes left and right forwardly extending vamp sections extending into the toe box portion; and    wherein the toe box portion includes an inside surface extending from a forward tip and extending transversely and rearwardly toward the heel portion in a curved fashion with the vamp sections engaging left and right inside surfaces of the toe box portion such that the vamp sections are flexed inwardly or outwardly as the toe box portion is slid rearwardly or forwardly to adjust the width and length of the boot.    
     
     
         2 . The skate of    claim 1    wherein the toe box includes a slot disposed longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the boot and wherein the wheel holder frame includes an aperture, and further including a pin extending through the slot and the aperture such that the toe box may be slid rearwardly or forwardly guided by the slot engaging the pin.  
     
     
         3 . The skate of    claim 2    wherein the pin is a rivet securing the toe box at a forward end to the wheel frame holder.  
     
     
         4 . The skate of    claim 1    wherein the toe box portion includes first and second downwardly extending channel walls and wherein the wheel holder frame includes a forward section extending between the first and second channel walls, and first and second detents disposed on either the forward section of the wheel frame holder or the first and second channel walls, and a plurality of indentations disposed in either the forward section of the wheel frame holder or the first and second channel walls for engaging the first and second detents respectively, whereby the toe box portion is positioned in a selected position along the wheel holder frame.  
     
     
         5 . The skate of    claim 4    wherein the wheel holder frame includes an aperture extending therethrough and the side channel walls include slots alignable with the aperture, and further including a pin member extending through the slots and the aperture, the pin member further including a mechanism for engaging the side channel walls against the wheel holder frame to secure the toe box portion in the selected position.  
     
     
         6 . The skate of    claim 1    wherein the toe box portion includes a tongue member extending towards the heel portion and the wheel holder frame includes a slot for receiving the tongue member.  
     
     
         7 . The skate of    claim 1    wherein the toe box portion includes left and right shank sections extending rearwardly toward the heel portion and engaging outer surfaces of the wheel holder frame.  
     
     
         8 . The skate of    claim 7    wherein the left and right shank sections include shoulder guides and further including left and right shoulders disposed on the wheel holder frame, the left and right shoulders extending into the left and right shoulder guides.  
     
     
         9 . The skate of    claim 8    and further including a stop member disposed at a forward end of each shoulder guide to limit rearward movement of the toe box portion.  
     
     
         10 . A skate comprising: 
 a wheel holder frame;    a boot disposed on the wheel holder frame and having a heel portion and a slidably attached toe box portion, the boot having left and right flexible vamp sections engagable by the toe box portion wherein when the toe box portion is slid either rearwardly or forwardly to shorten or lengthen the boot, the vamp sections are flexed inwardly or outwardly to vary the boot width.    
     
     
         11 . The skate of    claim 10    wherein the toe box portion includes a slot disposed along a longitudinal axis of the boot and wherein the wheel holder frame includes an aperture, and further including a pin extending through the slot and the aperture such that the toe box portion may be slid rearwardly or forwardly guided by the slot engaging the pin.  
     
     
         12 . The skate of    claim 11    wherein the pin is a rivet securing the toe box portion at a forward end to the wheel holder frame.  
     
     
         13 . The skate of    claim 10    wherein the toe box portion includes first and second downwardly extending channel walls and wherein the wheel holder frame includes a forward section extending between the first and second channel walls, and first and second detents disposed on either the forward section of the wheel frame holder or the first and second channel walls, and a plurality of indentations disposed in either the forward section of the wheel frame holder or the first and second channel walls for engaging the first and second detents respectively, whereby the toe box portion is positioned in a selected position along the wheel holder frame.  
     
     
         14 . The skate of    claim 13    wherein the wheel holder frame includes an aperture extending therethrough and the side channel walls include slots alignable with the aperture, and further including a pin member extending through the slots and the aperture, the pin member further including a mechanism for engaging the side channel walls against the wheel holder frame to secure the toe box portion in the selected position.  
     
     
         15 . The skate of    claim 10    wherein the toe box portion includes a tongue member extending towards the heel portion and the wheel holder frame includes a slot for receiving the tongue member.  
     
     
         16 . The skate of    claim 10    wherein the toe box portion includes left and right shank sections extending rearwardly toward the heel portion and engaging outer surfaces of the wheel holder frame.  
     
     
         17 . The skate of    claim 16    wherein the left and right shank sections include shoulder guides and further including left and right shoulders disposed on the wheel holder frame, the left and right shoulders extending into the left and right shoulder guides.  
     
     
         18 . The skate of    claim 17    and further including a stop member disposed at a forward end of each shoulder guide to limit rearward movement of the toe box portion.