Inline skating is a sport enjoyed by adults and children alike. A typical inline skate consists of a chassis to which are mounted a plurality of wheels, arranged in tandem, and a boot, usually having a hard, molded plastic shell of fixed size volume and a cushioning liner. As a result, the skates and boots must be fitted to each individual, as the size of wearers' feet will vary, e. g. according to age and/or individuals' characteristics. Also, as a child grows, replacement inline skates and boots are required to compensate for growth of the child's feet. Additionally, as foot size varies from individual to individual, it is often not possible to exchange or borrow another individual's skates.

Sales and rental outlets for inline wheeled skates are also required to maintain an inventory of skates in each of a wide range of boot sizes in order to be in a position to accommodate their customers.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention, an inline wheeled skate comprises a chassis and a boot. The chassis has a front portion and a rear portion, and defining an axis, a plurality of wheels linearly mounted for rotation under the chassis. The boot comprises a fore part fixedly attached at the front portion of the chassis and defining a toe box, and a heel counter mounted at the rear portion of the chassis for slidable adjustment along the axis of the chassis between a first position in which the toe box and the heel counter define a first size volume for receiving a foot of a wearer and

a second position in which the toe box and the heel counter define a second size volume for receiving a foot of a wearer, the first size volume being relatively greater than the second size volume. At least one fastener is disposed for release and securement of the heel counter relative to the chassis with a wearer's foot in the boot.

Preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention may have one or more of the following additional features. The boot further comprises an upper boot portion pivotally mounted to the heel counter for slidable adjustment along the axis of the chassis with the heel counter. Preferably, the upper boot portion comprises a cuff disposed for releasable securement about a lower leg portion of a wearer. The rear portion of the chassis has a first side defining a first, elongated axial groove and a second, opposite side defining a second, elongated axial groove, and the heel counter has a pair of opposed tabs adapted for sliding engagement within the first and second elongated grooves. The rear portion of the chassis defines at least one chassis fastener hole, the heel counter defines at least one heel counter fastener hole positionable in registration with the at least one chassis fastener hole, and the at least one fastener is adapted for releasable engagement in the at least one chassis fastener hole and the at least one heel counter fastener hole, thereby to secure and release the heel counter relative to the chassis. Preferably, the heel counter has a plurality of heel counter fastener holes and the fastener is engaged in one of the plurality of heel counter holes. The heel counter further comprises a base having opposed flanges for slidable engagement with the rear portion of the chassis in manner to permit axial movement of the heel counter along the

axis of the chassis. The heel counter axially overlaps the fore portion of the boot.

The invention thus provides an inline skate with a chassis and an adjustable boot. The chassis has a front portion, a rear portion with one or more grooves recessed in the chassis, and a plurality of wheels which are linearly and rotatably mounted under the chassis. The boot has a toe box fixedly attached to the front portion of the chassis, and a heel counter slidably engaged with and adjustably attached to the rear portion of the chassis. The heel counter includes a base section with one or more flanges which slidably engage the groove (s) of the rear portion of the chassis to axially move the heel counter along the chassis. In this manner, the heel counter is selectively adjustable between an initial position where the toe box and the heel counter define a first volume for receiving a foot of a wearer, and a plurality of different positions where the toe box and the heel counter combine to define different volumes for receiving a foot. The heel counter includes a plurality of fastener holes formed therein, each of which is capable of receiving a removable fastener to fix the heel counter of the boot to the chassis at each of the various positions. Different lengths and sizes of boots are therefore obtained to accommodate for different size feet.

The invention also features an adjustable boot for a skate which includes a toe box fixedly attached to a skate chassis and a heel counter slidably engagable with and adjustably attached to the skate chassis. The heel counter has a first position where the toe box and the heel counter define a first volume for receiving a foot of a wearer, and a second position where the toe box and the heel counter define a second volume for receiving a

foot. The adjustable boot also includes an upper boot portion connected to the heel counter.

In one embodiment, the heel counter of the adjustable boot has a base section with at least one flange which slidably engages the chassis to axially move the heel counter along the chassis.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method for adjusting the size volume of the inline wheeled skate described above to accommodate an individual user comprises the steps of: disengaging the fastener to release the heel counter for movement relative to the chassis and toe box, moving the heel counter relative to the chassis and toe box towards a larger size volume position, placing an individual user's foot within the volume of the skate, moving the heel counter axial relative to the chassis and toe box toward a smaller size volume position until the boot has a size volume appropriate to the wearer's foot, and with the wearer's foot within the boot, reengaging the fastener to releasably secure the heel counter relative to the chassis and toe box.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the further step of releasably securing the upper portion of the boot to the leg of the wearer.

The sliding and adjustable boot allows for the inline skate to comfortably fit individuals of all ages.

As a child grows, the boot can be adjusted to the changing size of his or her feet without the need of purchasing a new set of inline skates.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment, and from the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawinqs Fig. 1 is a side view of a skate with the heel of the boot in a first position.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a skate with the heel of the boot adjusted to a second position.

Fig. 3 is an illustration showing the elements in construction of the skate.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the skate.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a skate.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Fig. 1, an inline skate 10 of the present invention has a chassis 12 and an adjustable boot 14. The chassis 12 has a front portion 24 and a rear portion 26. A plurality of wheels 28 are linearly mounted for rotation under the chassis 12. The boot 14 has a fore portion 15, defining a toe box 16 therewithin (Fig. 3), fixedly attached at the front portion 24 of the chassis 12, and a heel counter 18 in slidable engagement along the axis, X, of the chassis at the rear portion 26 for adjustment along the axis. The heel counter 18 overlaps the toe box 16 and defines a volume for receiving a foot of an individual user. An upper member 19 is placed over the heel counter 18 and serves as a tendon guard. In comparing Figs. 1 and 2, it is seen that by sliding the heel counter 18 axially along the chassis 12, the length and size volume defined by the fixed toe box 16 and heel counter 18 are changed to accommodate the size of an individual's foot.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, side and perspective views, respectively, of the skate 10 are shown. The chassis 12 is formed from molded plastic or other suitable material and is similar to inline skate chassis known in the art. Mounted to the chassis are a plurality of wheels 28 and a braking device 27. The front portion 24 of the chassis 12 includes a mounting area 36 which receives the toe box 16 in fixed attachment. The rear portion 26 of the chassis 12 defines grooves 30 at opposite sides to define a rail 31 (Fig. 5) which

slidably receive the heel counter 18 of the boot 14.

Fastener opening 44 is provided in the chassis 12 to receive a fastener 22 once the heel counter 18 has been adjusted into a comfortable position.

The toe box 16, formed from plastic or other suitable material, is contoured to the shape of the front portion of a foot and it has a bottom surface 66, a pair of upwardly extending side walls 70a, 70b, an arcuate toe shield 62 at the front of the toe box 16, and rear flaps 40a, 40b at the back edge of the side walls 70a, 70b.

Rear flaps 40a, 40b are separated from each other by a distance of E. Fastening devices known in the art, e. g. straps 64, are used to adjust and secure the toe box 16 across the top of the user's foot.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 3, and the top view shown in Fig. 4, the heel counter 18 is contoured to the shape of a heel of a foot and formed from plastic or other suitable material. The U-shaped heel counter has a pair of front edges 29a, 29b, a heel pivot opening 46 for mounting of an upper boot 19, and a base section 20. The front edges 29a, 29b are separated from each other by a distance of F, which is preferably more than the distance E between rear flaps 40a, 40b. In this manner, the front edges 29a, 29b overlap the rear flaps 40a, 40b to create an enclosed foot receiving area 39 at all adjustment positions of the heel counter, while permitting that adjustment.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, in the preferred embodiment, the base section 20 of the heel counter 18 defines a plurality of fastener openings 42a-42c and flanges 34 extending inward from sidewalls of the base 20 to engage the grooves 30 which define rail 31 and allow the heel counter 18 to slide axially along the chassis 12. The fastener openings 42a-42c receive a removable fastener 22 to fix the heel counter 18 on the chassis 12

into a desired position which is comfortable for the user.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown an end view of the inline wheeled skate 10 of the present invention. In this view, the heel counter 18 and base 20 are seen slidably engaging grooves 30. Base section 20 has a pair of inwardly extending flanges 34a, 34b which are received in sliding engagement by grooves 30 on respective sides 32a, 32b of chassis 12, the base section 20 and flanges 34a, 34b, sliding over the rear portion 26 of the chassis 12. Removable fastener 22 is illustrated in phantom extending through the chassis 12 to secure the base 20 at a selected position along the axis of the chassis 12.

When the fastener 22 is removed, the heel counter 18, with flanges 34a, 34b can be moved along grooves 30 to adjust the heel counter 18 to a comfortable position and size for the user's foot. Once the position of the heel counter 18 is selected, with the user's foot still in the boot, the fastener 22 can be reinserted through the base portion 20 and chassis 12 to secure the heel counter 18 in place.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown an illustration of the construction of the inline skate 10 of the present invention. The one piece molded chassis 12 receives the toe box 16 of the boot 14 at mounting area 36 of the chassis 12 (indicated by arrow C). The toe box 16 is fixedly mounted at area 36 by methods known in the art, e. g. rivets or other suitable fasteners.

Heel counter 18 is positioned on chassis 12 at area 38 (indicated by arrow D). Chassis 12 has a fastener opening 44 positioned for alignment with the fastener openings 42a-42c located on base portion 20 of heel counter 18. Grooves 30 receive the base 20 and removable fastener 22 is inserted through one of the fastener openings 42a-42c and opening 44 to secure the

heel counter 18 to the chassis 12. When assembling the skate 10, the base counter 18 is positioned on chassis 12 so that edges 29a, 29b overlap edges 40a, 40b of the toe box 16. Upper boot portion 19 is pivotally mounted to heel counter 18 at holes 46,48 to create a pivot axis for flexibility of the upper boot 19. A lever ratchet 68, e. g. as known in the art, is mounted on the upper boot portion 19 for tightening the upper boot 19 about the wearer's leg, according to individual preference.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the skate boot 14 is illustrated in first (larger size volume) and second (smaller size volume) positions, respectively. Other intervening sizes are, of course, permitted, depending on the number of fastener positions. In Fig. 1, the heel counter 18 is fastened to the chassis 12 by fastener 22 along line A-A. By disengaging fastener 22, the heel counter 18 is free to slide axially fore and aft (indicated as the X and the-X directions) along the chassis 12. The wearer can then position his or her foot inside the boot 14 while the heel counter 18 is loose and adjust the position of the heel counter 18 accordingly.

The front edges 29a, 29b of heel counter 18 overlap the outer surface of toe box 16 to define the internal volume and hence, size of the boot 14. Upon sliding the heel counter 18 forward, as depicted in Fig.

2, the overall length and volume of the boot 14 becomes smaller. In this illustration, heel counter 18 has been moved a distance of B along the axis, X of the chassis 12. Fastening element 22 is then reinserted into the fastening opening to secure the heel counter 18 to the chassis 12 at line A-A.

The boot 14 of Fig. 2 can be readjusted for a person with larger feet by disengaging fastener 22 and sliding the heel counter 18 with base 20 along groove 30 in the-X axis of chassis 12. By having a plurality of

fastener locations, several adjustable sizes are obtained for a single boot 14.

To further illustrate the sliding adjustment feature of the heel counter 18, reference is made to Fig.

4 which illustrates a top view of the boot 14 with upper section 19 removed. In this view, foot receiving area 39 is defined by the heel counter 18 and front edges 29a, 29b overlapping the toe box 16 at rear edges 40a, 40b, respectively. The heel counter 18 and toe box 16 define an initial length, L1, and an initial volume, V1, for the foot receiving area 39. By sliding the heel counter 18 forward, the length and volume of the foot receiving area 39 changes to a second length, L2, and a second volume, V2 which is defined by the fixed toe box 16 and the second position (shown in phantom) of the heel portion 18. The boot 14, therefore is adjustable in size and volume for comfortably fitting the feet of an individual wearer.

Other embodiments are within the following claims.

For example, those skilled in the art will note that a foot receiving area is also created by a reverse situation to that described above, i. e., when the rear flaps 40a, 40b overlap the edges 29a, 29b. The fasteners may also be mounted for disengagement without removal, e. g. the fasteners may be spring-biased to engage. The chassis may also define a plurality of fastener holes with the heel counter defining a single of multiple fastener holes.

What is claimed is: