Land vehicles – Skates – Wheeled skate
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-20
2001-07-03
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Skates
Wheeled skate
C280S011215, C280S011211
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254109
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to braking systems. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to an anti-lock braking system for in-line skates.
2. Description of the Related Art
In-line skating has become a major recreational activity in recent years. The inherent design of in-line skates and the utilization of modern materials allows a skater to attain much faster speeds than was possible with the vintage four-wheeled roller skate. Unfortunately, increased speed has resulted in a greater number of accidents and more severe injuries.
A major problem for in-line skaters has been that of controlled braking. Most prior art systems are designed to apply braking action to only one wheel of an in-line skate. Such one-wheel application tends to produce a fair amount of skidding and thus decrease directional control. Examples of one-wheel braking systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,844 (Pellegrini, Jr. et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,296 (Pozzobon), U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,004 (Olson et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,707 (Cottle et al.).
Other in-line braking systems require that the skater manipulate hand-held levers. Besides affecting balance, the requirement that the levers are constantly held causes the skater to lose the freedom that has helped to make the activity so popular. Examples of the above type systems are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,032 (Dettmer), U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,930 (Smathers et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,276 (Moldenhauer) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,235 (Goldman et al.).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,748 (Koselka et al.) discloses an anti-lock braking system for in-line skates. It is noted however, that positive braking force is not applied to all the wheels of the skate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,885 (Lowe) shows a system wherein braking is applied to all wheels of a single skate. The instant patent does not contemplate the type of brakes which can be utilized on both skates.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to disclose an anti-lock braking system for in-line skates that applies braking force to all the wheels of the skates as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an anti-lock brake system for in-line skates which employs a brake shoe adjacent each wheel of the skate. Springs, common to all the shoes, bias each shoe to a position out of contact with its respective wheel. Tension is applied to a cable to cause each shoe to contact its respective wheel when braking is desired. The cable has both of its ends attached to the springs. The cable is threaded through each brake shoe and extends around a specially designed wish bone device located on a rear surface of the skater's boot. A tension applying structure also located on the rear surface of the boot, above the wish bone device, functions to provide tension to the cable when braking is desired. The system is designed such that tension is applied to the cable when the skater causes the cuff of the boot to pivot in a backward direction. Alternatively the cable may be threaded so that a forward pivoting of the cuff will initiate braking. Since the springs are constantly biasing the brake shoes away from the wheels, brake lockup and attendant skidding cannot occur. Thus, controlled braking may be accomplished.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a safe braking system for in-line skates.
It is another object of the invention to provide a braking system for in-line skates, which system is designed with antilocking features.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a braking system for in-line skates in which braking may be initiated by rotational movement of a portion of the skate boot.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a braking system for in-line skates in which positive braking force is applied all wheels of the skates. to
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5088748 (1992-02-01), Koselka et al.
patent: 5171032 (1992-12-01), Dettmer
patent: 5280930 (1994-01-01), Smathers et al.
patent: 5388844 (1995-02-01), Pellegrini et al.
patent: 5411276 (1995-05-01), Moldenhauer
patent: 5415419 (1995-05-01), Bourque
patent: 5462296 (1995-10-01), Pozzobon
patent: 5464235 (1995-11-01), Goldman et al.
patent: 5468004 (1995-11-01), Olson et al.
patent: 5752707 (1998-05-01), Cottle et al.
patent: 5758885 (1998-06-01), Lowe
patent: 5769433 (1998-06-01), Zorzi et al.
patent: 5836590 (1998-11-01), Mitchell et al.
patent: 5911423 (1999-06-01), Pellegrini, Jr. et al.
patent: 5997014 (1999-12-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 5997015 (1999-12-01), Bellehumeur
patent: 6010136 (2000-01-01), Hoskin
patent: 6039330 (2000-03-01), Hoskin
Gort Elaine
Johnson Brian L.
Litman Richard C.
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