In-line skate conversion apparatus

Abstract

At least one walking member that may be used in conjunction with an in-line skate to enable the wearer of the in-line skate to walk while wearing the in-line skate.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for use with an in-line skate having a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels, the apparatus comprising: 
 a support device movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the wheels between a first position and a second position; and    at least one wheel engagement member carried by the support device and configured such that the at least one wheel engagement will extend into a space between two adjacent wheels and engage the two adjacent wheels when the support device is in the first position and will be spaced from the two adjacent wheels when the support device is in the second position.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the in-line skate includes first and second pairs of adjacent wheels, the at least one wheel engagement member comprises first and second wheel engagement members, the first wheel engagement member extends into the space between the first pair of adjacent wheels and engages the first pair of adjacent wheels when the support device is in the first position, and the second wheel engagement member extends into the space between the second pair of adjacent wheels and engages the second pair of adjacent wheels when the support device is in the first position.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel engagement member defines a width and the width decreases over a portion of the at least one wheel engagement member.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one wheel engagement member includes a portion that defines a trapezoidal shape.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the in-line skate defines a longitudinal axis and the at least one wheel engagement member moves in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support device is pivotable.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a bias element that biases the support device to the first position.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a slidable member that drives the support device from the first position to the second position.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support device is slidable.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a bias element that biases the support device to the second position.    
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a rotatable member that drives the support device from the second position to the first position.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 an in-line skate including an upper configured to receive a user's foot, a support member associated with the upper, a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels;    a support device carried by the in-line skate and movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the wheels between a first position and a second position; and    at least one wheel engagement member carried by the support device and configured such that the at least one wheel engagement will extend into a space between two adjacent wheels and engage the two adjacent wheels when the support device is in the first position and will be spaced from the two adjacent wheels when the support device is in the second position.    
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the in-line skate includes first and second pairs of adjacent wheels, the at least one wheel engagement member comprises first and second wheel engagement members, the first wheel engagement member extends into the space between the first pair of adjacent wheels and engages the first pair of adjacent wheels when the support device is in the first position, and the second wheel engagement member extends into the space between the second pair of adjacent wheels and engages the second pair of adjacent wheels when the support device is in the first position.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one wheel engagement member defines a width and the width decreases over a portion of the at least one wheel engagement member.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one wheel engagement member includes a portion that defines a trapezoidal shape.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the in-line skate defines a longitudinal axis and the at least one wheel engagement member moves in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the support device is pivotably mounted on the support member.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a bias element that biases the support device to the first position.    
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a slidable member that drives the support device from the first position to the second position.    
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the support device is slidably mounted on the support member.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a bias element that biases the support device to the second position.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a rotatable member that drives the support device from the second position to the first position.    
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for use with an in-line skate having a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first walking member portion having a first mating surface; and    a second walking member portion having a second mating surface;    the first and second walking members being connected to one another such that the first walking member is movable between a first position, where first and second walking member portions are substantially side by side, and a second position where the first and second walking member portions are vertically aligned and the first and second mating surfaces are in contact with one another.    
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the first walking member portion is slidably connected to the second walking member portion.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the first walking member portion is biased against the second walking member portion.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the first walking member portion includes a slot and the second walking member portion includes and aperture, the apparatus further comprising: 
 a bias device that extends through the first walking member portion slot and through the second walking member portion aperture and biases the first and second walking member portions against one another.    
     
     
         27 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a skate including an upper configured to receive a user's foot, a support member associated with the upper, a plurality of wheels supported on the support member; and    at least one walking member including 
 a first walking member portion having a first mating surface, and  
 second walking member portion carried by the in-line skate and having a second mating surface,  
 the first walking member portion supported on the second walking member portion and movable such that the first walking member portion is movable relative to the skate between a first position, where the at least one walking member allows the wheels to rotationally engage the surface, and a second position, where the at least one walking member prevents the wheel from rotating relative to the surface.  
   
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the wheels are arranged in in-line fashion.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the at least one walking member comprises a pair of walking members.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first walking member is movable between a first position, where first and second walking member portions are substantially side by side, and a second position where the first and second walking member portions are vertically aligned and the first and second mating surfaces are in contact with one another.  
     
     
         31 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first walking member portion is biased against the second walking member portion.  
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first walking member portion includes a slot and the second walking member portion includes and aperture, the apparatus further comprising: 
 a bias device that extends through the first walking member portion slot and through the second walking member portion aperture and biases the first and second walking member portions against one another.    
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the skate includes a plurality of wheel axles and the second walking member portion is carried by at least one of the axles.  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the at least one walking member comprises first and second walking members.