BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to an exercise or entertainment device which can be used in a manner similar to roller-skates or the like.

Roller-skates have been known for many years and are used and enjoyed by persons of all ages. Generally, roller-skates have comprised a pair of metal frames with four small wheels fitted to shoes for riding on hard surfaces. In more recent years, "in-line" roller-skates have been developed in which the small wheels are aligned with each other belαw the users boot in the manner of a blade and this configuration of wheels provide added manoueverability. However, with both the conventional roller-skates and in-line skates the roller wheels are of relatively small diameters. Typically, for example, roller-skates have wheels of a diameter of 5 or 6cm whereas in-line roller wheels have a diameter of slightly more than this but no more than about 10cm diameter.

Small diameter wheels of the aforementioned type are quite satisfactory when the surface on which the user is travelling is relatively smooth. However, any irregularity in the surface will create difficulties for the user which is limiting for the user with respect to the surfaces and locations in which skates can be used. Clearly it is not practicable to increase the diameter of roller-skate wheels since this then lifts the user of the roller-skates higher off the ground causing increased instability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a skate-like device comprising:

an annular wheel having a radially outer tread and a radially inner circular track;

a carriage having a support member with a plurality of rollers rotationally mounted thereto; and

mounting means for mounting the carriage to the lower leg or foot of a user,

the carriage being rotationally mounted to the wheel with the rollers in rotational engagement with the track such that the wheel is rotatable relative to the carriage.

In use, two such skate-like devices will be utilised, one for each leg of a user, and a user will be able to roll along a support surface with the wheels of the two devices rotating relative to their respective carriages to which his lower legs are respectively mounted.

The mounting means can take the form of a boot which is fixed to the carriage, or it may take the form of a support platform and tie means for tying the device to the user's foot or lower leg.

The carriage may be removable from the wheel. In this regard, the carriage may comprise a frame having one or more legs which extend outwardly from a central region and have rollers on the ends thereof for engagement with the track on the wheel. One or more of those legs

may be sprung loaded in an outward direction and by moving that leg against the action of the spring loading the respective roller wheel may be moved out of engagement with the track thereby enabling the carriage to be removed from the wheel.

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail in the following passages of the specification which refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are merely illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect, so that the specific form and arrangement of the various features shown is not to be understood as limiting on the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, the legs of a user with skate¬ like devices according to the invention mounted thereto;

Figure 2 shows a front view of a user's leg with a skate-like device mounted thereto;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 shows a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the device;

Figure 6 shows a side view of a further embodiment of the device;

Figure 7 shows a side view of a yet further embodiment of the

device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 4, a skate-like device 1 is shown comprising a wheel 2 and a carriage 3, the carriage 3 being mounted to the lower legs 4 of the user. As shown clearly in Figure 1, each leg of the user will have a skate-like device connected thereto and the user will be able to roll along a surface 5 in much the same manner as with conventional roller-skates. As shown, the carriage 3 comprises a plurality of rollers 6 which ride on the radially inner edge 7 of the wheel

2 so that, in use, the wheel 2 rotates relative to the carriage 3. The inner edge thus defines a track 7 around which the carriage 3 travels in use.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 the carriage has four rollers. There is an upper roller numbered 9 and three lower rollers numbered 10, 11 and 12. The roller 9 and the roller 11 are diametrically opposite each other and are connected together by a telescopically extensible rod 13. The rod 13 is spring biassed by a spring (not shown) into an expanded position and the spring bias holds the roller 9 and the rollers 10, 11 and 12 in engagement with the track 7. To remove the carriage

3 from the wheel 2 the rod 13 can be shortened against the action of the spring and the roller 9 disengaged from the wheel 2 thereby allowing the entire carriage 3 to be removed from the wheel 2.

The carriage 3 includes a generally horizontal platform 14 to which the lower rollers 10, 11 and 12 are mounted. That platform 14 may have a boot 16 mounted thereto or integrally formed therewith. The configuration of the support platform 14 and the arrangement of the upper and lower rollers will be such that in use, the platform 14 is

generally horizontal so that axis of the user's leg (as indicated by dotted line 18) is generally vertical. The plane of the wheel 2 will, however, lie at an angle to the vertical as indicated by dotted line 19. The angle between the lines 18 and 19 as depicted by arrow 20 will be approximately 10°. Clearly the angle 20 will vary depending on the diameter of the wheel so that the upper edge 22 of the wheel is able to clear the user's leg during rotation of the wheel.

The upper end of the carriage 3 has a protection plate 15 connected thereto just inside of the upper roller 9. This plate 15 prevents the user's leg contacting the upper edge of the wheel during use. A strap 16 is fitted to this plate 15 and is used to serve the upper part of the device to the user's leg. It is envisaged that the strap will tie to the user's leg just below the knee.

The carriage also carries a stop member 17 which projects forward of the wheel beyond the periphery of the wheel. The stop member can be used to balance the user when the device is stationary and can also be used for stopping purposes. It has been found that the stop member 17 is not essential and, if provided, it can alternatively be located towards the back of the boot.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the axes of the rollers 6 are generally horizontal. However, the carriage would be simplified if the axes of the rollers 6 were inclined to the horizontal at an angle equal to angle 20. The rollers would then run true on the inner track 7 of the wheel 2.

As shown in Figure 4, the rollers 6 are of pulley shaped configuration having a semi-circular shaped central region indicated at numeral 24. The rollers are supported by U-shaped brackets 26 and are welded or

otherwise affixed to the platform 14. The wheel 2 may be formed of a tubular material and may have an elastomeric tread 27 bonded to the radially outer face thereof. Alternatively, the wheel 2 may be a pneumatic wheel somewhat akin to a bicycle wheel without spokes.

Other embodiments of the invention are shown in Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings. As shown in Figure 5, the carriage includes a central lower support wheel 28 which will be the main load supporting wheel for the carriage. A front guide wheel 30 and a rear guide wheel 32 ensure that the carriage is kept aligned with the wheel 2 during rotation thereof. This configuration will enable the platform 34 to be slightly lower than the platform 14 indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6 of the drawings is similar to that of the previous embodiment except that it has no central lower wheel, This permits the support platform as indicated at numeral 36 to be mounted relatively close to the support surface 38. This, of course, improves the stability of the device since the user's centre of gravity is lower. The support platform 36 will be to one side of the lower rollers 40 and the suppon platform 36 will generally lie below the axis of rotation of the lower pulleys 40. A central upper pulley 42 is also provided and the triangular relationship between the three pulleys will ensure the continuing engagement of the carriage with the inner track 44 of the wheel 46. A protection plate 48 is mounted to the arm of the carriage which supports the upper pulley 42 and straps (not shown) will be utilised to retain the upper part of the user's leg in engagement with the upwardly extending support arm 50.

The embodiment shown in Figure 7 has four rollers 52 which ride on the inner track 54 of wheel 56. The carriage 58 comprises a generally cruciform shaped support frame 60 comprising four orthogonally

extending support arms 62. The rollers 52 are mounted at the ends of the arms 62. A support platform 64 is mounted to the operatively lower one of those arms 62. This arrangement provides stability for the carriage 58 and the frame 60 will, in addition, be relatively strong.

As previously mentioned, the diameter of the wheel can vary for different applications. Clearly, different sized user's will choose wheels of different diameters. It is envisaged that the diameter of the wheel should not be significantly higher than the user's knee once the device has been fitted to the user. This is not an essential requirement but it is envisaged that if the wheel's diameters are too large the devices will become cumbersome and difficult to control.

It will also be appreciated that since the carriage is connected to the user's leg at both the support platform and at or near the upper roller there will be a reasonably secure mounting arrangement for the device on the user's leg. Thus, even when the user falls, only limited stress will be placed on the user's ankle. For this reason it is not necessary, as is required for conventional roller skates, for the user's ankle to be firmly strapped within a lace-up boot or the like, It is envisaged that simple tie straps could be utilised for securing the user's foot to the platform. Other straps could be used to secure the user's leg to the upper part of the carriage. Thus, with this strap type connection arrangement the user will be able to use the device wearing conventional shoes rather than requiring special boots. The devices can be used as a conveyance since once the user arrives at his destination he will be able to remove the two devices from his two legs and will not need to have carried a separate pair of shoes as is the case when the user is travelling in conventional roller-skates.

It will be appreciated that since the wheel which is travelling across the

support surface is of large diameter, irregularities and bumps in that surface will not greatly effect the rotation of that wheel. Clearly, the larger the diameter of the wheel, the greater will be the bumps and undulations over which the wheel will be capable of travelling without difficulty. It is envisaged that a maximum practical diameter of wheel will be approximately 100cm with the preferred diameter being 60cm. Children will, of course, use devices of smaller diameter. Pneumatic tyres on the wheel will enhance the ride over rough surfaces. The minimum diameter will be approximately 30cm.

Clearly there may be many variations of the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the form of the carriage need not be as depicted in the drawings. The carriage may, for example, be formed of a solid sheet of material with the necessary rollers located at the periphery of that sheet.