Single-wall inline skate frame and skate

Abstract

An inline skate frame and axle assembly includes a frame having single sidewall that mounts a plurality of outwardly-extending axle assemblies. The sidewall has a wheel-mounting portion, a forward attachment portion and a rearward attachment portion. A forward attachment member includes a leg that extends outwardly from the sidewall between wheels on the skate, and a first attachment plate that cooperatively with the first attachment portion is configured to attach a skate base. A similar rearward attachment member comprises a leg and a second attachment plate that cooperatively with the second attachment portion is configure to attach the skate base. In embodiments the axle assemblies are rotationally locked to the sidewall, and include a cap member rotationally locked to the axle to prevent wheel rotation from loosening and wheel retaining connector.

1 . An inline skate frame assembly for an inline skate having a base and a plurality of wheels, the assembly comprising a frame and a plurality of axle assemblies:
 the frame comprising:   a sidewall having a wheel-mounting portion, a forward attachment portion extending upwardly from the wheel-mounting portion, and a rearward attachment portion extending upwardly from the wheel-mounting portion;   a forward attachment member having a leg extending away from the wheel-mounting portion and a first attachment plate extending upwardly from the leg, wherein the sidewall forward attachment portion and the first attachment plate are configured to be attached to a toe portion of the base; and   a rearward attachment member having a leg extending away from the wheel-mounting portion and a second attachment plate extending upwardly from the leg, wherein the sidewall rearward attachment portion and the second attachment plate are configured to be attached to a heel cup portion of the base; and   each axle assembly comprising:   an axle shaft fixed to the wheel-mounting portion having a proximal portion that extends through the wheel-mounting portion, a distal portion configured to rotatably support one of the plurality of wheels, and a flange extending outwardly between the proximal portion and the distal portion and configured to abut the wheel-mounting portion; and   a first connector that engages the distal portion of the axle shaft and is configured to retain the skate wheel on the axle shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second connector that engages the proximal portion of the axle shaft such that the flange and the second connector clampingly engage the sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the forward attachment portion of the sidewall is parallel to the first attachment plate. 
     
     
         4 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the forward attachment portion of the sidewall and the first attachment plate are configured to slidably receive a mounting boss extending from a lower surface of the base. 
     
     
         5 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the rearward attachment portion of the sidewall is parallel to the second attachment plate. 
     
     
         6 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the leg of the forward attachment member is configured to extend between two adjacent wheels of the plurality of wheels. 
     
     
         7 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the leg of the forward attachment member is hourglass shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel-mounting portion of the sidewall further comprises: (i) a plurality of apertures, each aperture configured to slidably receive the proximal portion of the axle shaft of an associate one of the plurality of axle assemblies, and (ii) a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion associated with one of the plurality of apertures, and further wherein the flange of each axle shaft comprises a shaped portion that is configured to engage an associated one of the plurality of protrusions such that the engagement prevents the axle shaft from rotating relative to the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The skate frame assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap member having an annular flange disposed between a distal end of the axle shaft and a head of the first connector, wherein the cap member is rotationally locked to the axle shaft such that the annular flange is disposed between a head of the first connector and the associated wheel assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the distal portion of the axle shaft comprises a reduced diameter portion configured to slidably receive the cap member, and a geometric feature configured to rotationally lock the received cap member. 
     
     
         11 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the leg of the forward attachment member has a concave forward edge and a concave rearward edge defining a narrow intermediate portion. 
     
     
         12 . The inline skate frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the forward attachment member is spaced apart from the rearward attachment member such that the forward attachment member is configured to engage a toe portion of the base and the rearward attachment member is configured to engage a heel cup portion of the base. 
     
     
         13 . A pair of inline skates, each inline skate having the inline skate frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame sidewall is disposed on a medial side of each skate of the pair of inline skates. 
     
     
         14 . An inline skate frame configured to mount a plurality of wheels for an inline skate having a base, the skate frame comprising:
 a single sidewall having a wheel-mounting portion, a forward attachment portion extending upwardly from the wheel-mounting portion, and a rearward attachment portion extending upwardly from the wheel-mounting portion;   a forward attachment member having a leg extending away from the wheel-mounting portion and a first attachment plate extending upwardly from the leg, wherein the sidewall forward attachment portion and the first attachment plate are configured to be attached to a toe portion of the base; and   a rearward attachment member having a leg extending away from the wheel-mounting portion and a second attachment plate extending upwardly from the leg, wherein the sidewall rearward attachment portion and the second attachment plate are configured to be attached to a heel cup portion of the base.   
     
     
         15 . The skate frame of  claim 14 , further comprising an axle shaft fixed to the wheel-mounting portion and having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a flange extending outwardly from the proximal portion, wherein: (i) the proximal portion is fixed to the wheel-mounting portion of the sidewall, (ii) the distal portion is configured to rotatably support one of the plurality of wheels, and (iii) the flange is configured to abut the wheel-mounting portion, the skate frame further comprising a first connector that engages the distal portion of the axle shaft and is configured to retain a skate wheel on the axle shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The skate frame of  claim 15  further comprising a second connector that engages the proximal portion of the axle shaft such that the flange and the first connector clampingly engage the sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The skate frame of  claim 14 , wherein the forward attachment portion of the sidewall is parallel to the first attachment plate and the rearward attachment portion of the sidewall is parallel to the second attachment plate. 
     
     
         18 . The skate frame of  claim 17 , wherein the forward attachment portion of the sidewall and the first attachment plate are configured to slidably receive a first mounting boss extending from a lower surface of the base, and the rearward attachment portion of the sidewall and the second attachment plate are configured to receive a second mounting boss extending from a lower surface of the base. 
     
     
         19 . The skate frame of  claim 14 , wherein the leg of the forward attachment member is configured to extend between two wheels of the plurality of wheels and the leg of the rearward attachment member is configured to extend between two other wheels of the plurality of wheels. 
     
     
         20 . The skate frame of  claim 19 , wherein the leg of the forward attachment member is hourglass shaped. 
     
     
         21 . The skate frame of  claim 14 , further comprising a cap member having an annular flange disposed between a distal end of the axle shaft and a head of the first connector, wherein the cap member is rotationally locked to the axle shaft.