A roller skate with a brake device

Abstract

 In a roller skate wherein the rollers or wheels (2) are mounted in a single line along the skate body (3), a brake (7) is arranged to act on one of the wheels (2).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to roller skates, particularly roller skates of the kind having wheels mounted in a single line to a roller skate body portion.

[0002] As is well known, roller skates are usually equipped with curbing arrangement which consists basically of a pad attached to the skate toe end.

[0003] To check his pace, the skater is to merely dip his foot to bring the skate toe end toward the ground such that the pad can develop a braking action by frictional engagement with the ground surface.

[0004] It may be appreciated that such a braking scheme requires at least some skill and mastery of the skating technique; in addition, the effectiveness of the braking action would also depend on the kind and surface roughness of the skating bed.

[0005] In all cases, the braking action is a sudden and jerky one, and the pad liable to wear out rapidly.

[0006] It is the object of this invention to provide a novel type of roller skate which has such constructional and performance characteristics as to afford an unusually smooth braking action unaffected, as far as possible, by the character of the ground on which one is skating, while overcoming the above noted drawbacks with which the prior art is beset.

[0007] This object is achieved by a roller skate as indicated being characterized in that it includes a brake associated with the skate body and arranged to act on at least one of said wheels.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the brake comprises a lever pivoted to the skate body and having an operating arm which juts out from said skate body and a resisting arm provided with a brake pad acting on said wheel.

[0009] The features and advantages of a roller skate according to the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example and not of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a part-sectional perspective view of a roller skate according to the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are respective fragmentary, longitudinal section views taken through the roller skate of Figure 1 and showing two different conditions of its operation; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section view showing a second embodiment of the inventive roller skate.

[0011] With reference to the drawing views, generally indicated at 1 is a roller skate according to the invention.

[0012] In particular, the roller skate 1 is of the kind which has wheels 2 mounted in a single line to a skate body 3 having a toe portion 4 and a heel portion 5.

[0013] Shown in phantom lines as indicated at 6 is the outline of a sport shoe releasably connected to the skate 1 by lacing means, not shown because conventional.

[0014] The roller skate 1 includes a brake device generally designated 7. The brake device is associated with the skate body 3 and arranged to act on at least one of the wheels 2.

[0015] The brake 7 is located at the heel portion 5 of the skate 1 and comprises a lever 8 pivoted on a pivot pin 9 formed transversely on the body 3 between the last-but-one wheel 12 and last wheel 13 in said wheel line-up.

[0016] The lever 8 has an operating or power arm 10 jutting out from the body 3, and a resisting arm 11 arranged to act on the last-but-one wheel 12 in the wheel line-up.

[0017] More specifically, the arm 11 has a concave end substantially mating with the tread portion of the wheel 12 and being preferably provided with a brake pad, not shown.

[0018] Also provided is a spring 14 which permanently urges the lever 8 toward its rest or home position.

[0019] In particular, the end of the heel portion 5 of the body 3 has a boss 15 which is formed with a hole 16 for a spring guide pin 17 in pivotal association with the arm 10 of the lever 8. That same hole 16 also accommodates the spring 14.

[0020] At an intermediate location to the pivot pin 9 and the arm 10, the lever 8 has a jutting portion 18 which extends above the last wheel 13.

[0021] This portion 18 has a concave surface facing the tread portion of the wheel 13, which is adapted to exert a braking action thereon concurrently with the braking action applied to the wheel 12 by the resisting arm 11.

[0022] By acting on the end of the arm 10 of the lever 8 in the direction indicated by an arrow F, the lever 8 can be moved angularly from a first, or rest, position to a second position where it will apply a braking action to the last-but-one 12 and last 13 wheels in the wheel line-up of the skate 1, via the end of the arm 11 and the jutting portion 18.

[0023] The lever 8 is guided in its angular displacement by the pin 17 sliding within the hole 16 against the elastic bias member 14 which tends to permanently urge the lever 8 to its rest position.

[0024] Shown in Figure 4 is a second embodiment of the roller skate according to this invention.

[0025] A lever 19 is pivoted around a pin 20 carried on the skate body 3 rearwardly of the spindle of the last wheel 13 in the wheel line-up.

[0026] Said lever 19 has a resisting arm 21 provided, at the free end thereof, with a brake pad 22 intended for engagement with the wheel 13. The actuation arm 23 of the lever 19 protrudes rearwards from the skate body and is bent downwards at a suitable angle.

[0027] The actuation or power arm 23 is provided at its free end with a block 24 made of a suitable material to frictionally engage with the ground surface and to be wear-resistant. A spring 25 holds the lever 19 at such an angular setting as to keep the brake pad 22 off the wheel 13, while the block 24 is set slightly to the rear of the bottom contour of the wheel 13 so that it will not touch the ground in use of the skate.

[0028] Whne the skater wants to apply brakes, he tilts the skate (toe end up) so as to push down the block 24 onto the ground surface with a more or less powerful force. By this action, the brake pad 22 is caused to engage the wheel 13 with a more or less powerful force, while concurrently loading the spring 25. The skate braking is effectively assisted, therefore, by the frictional resistance of the block 24 over the ground.

[0029] It follows from the foregoing discussion, in quite an abvious manner for the skilled one, that the roller skate of this invention has been provided with a brake device which acts on the roller skate rollers or wheels.

[0030] This basic feature of the invention affords a number of advantages, among which the provision is outstanding for an unusually smooth braking action which can be varied at will contingent on demands.

[0031] An additional advantage is that the braking action can be applied directly through the skate-mounted brake system irrespective of the surface condition of the ground on which one is skating.

Claims

1. A roller skate, particularly of the kind having wheels (2) mounted in a single line to a roller skate body (3), characterized in that it includes a brake (7) associated with the skate body (3) and arranged to act on at least one of said wheels (2).

2. A roller skate according to Claim 1, characterized in that said brake (7) comprises a lever (8) pivoted on the skate body (3) and having an operating arm (10) jutting out from said body (3) and a resisting arm (11) arranged to act on said at least one wheel (2).

3. A roller skate according to Claim 2, characterized in that said lever (8) is permanently urged by an elastic bias member (14) toward a rest position thereof.

4. A roller skate according to Claim 2, characterized in that said lever (8) comprises a projecting portion (18) arranged to act on a further wheel (13) in said wheel (2) line-up.

5. A roller skate according to Claim 2, characterized in that said resisting arm (11) is arranged to act on the last-but-one wheel (12) in said wheel (2) line-up.

6. A roller skate according to Claim 4, characterized in that said projecting portion (18) is formed on the lever operating arm (10).

7. A roller skate according to Claim 6, characterized in that said projecting portion (18) is arranged to act on the last wheel (13) in said wheel (2) line-up.

8. A skate roller according to Claim 2, characterized in that said lever operating arm (10) is bent downwards, rearwardly of the last wheel (13), and provided, at the free end thereof, with a block (24) made of a suitable material to develop frictional resistance over the ground and to be wear-resistant, an elastic means (25) being arranged to hold said arm (11) off said wheel (13).

9. A roller skate according to Claim 8, characterized in that said lever (8) is pivoted around a pin (20) carried on the skate body (3) at a rearward location from the spindle of said last wheel (13), the resisting arm (11) of said lever being provided, at the free end thereof, with a brake pad (22) arranged to act on said last wheel (13).

Drawing