Roller skates

• US 4,061,348 A
• Filed: 12/20/1976
• Issued: 12/06/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lewis H. Carter
• Original Assignee: Lewis H. Carter
• Inventors: Carter, Lewis H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US05/752,412
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.21, 280/11.2, 280/11.19, 280/11.1 R, 280/11.14, 188/82.9, 188/82.1, 188/17, 188/18 A
• US Class Current: 280/11.201
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/02 with wheels arranged in two pairs A63C17/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/1409 contacting one or more of the wheels

Abstract

A pair of foot-size metal plates, one atop the other, secured together by a compressible material, the upper plate having a hinged heel portion which can be moved downwardly by heel pressure. The upper plate has straps for attachment to a foot or shoe, and the lower plate has front and rear axles which carry a first and second pair of wheels. The first pair of wheels has disc brakes actuated only upon backward motion of the skate, and the second pair of wheels has disc brakes actuated by levers connected to the hinged heel portion of the upper plate, such that the skate can be stopped by heel pressure of the user. Spring means secured between the hinged heel portion of the upper plate and the rear portion of the lower plate urges the hinged heel portion upwardly to allow forward motion.

Claims

1. A roller skate comprising an upper foot-size plate having a front portion and a heel portion, a hinge pivotally interconnecting said front and heel portions, and further having means for strapping a foot onto the upper plate, a lower plate continuous with the upper plate, a compressible material disposed between the front portion of the upper plate and the corresponding portion of the lower plate and bonded to the upper and lower plates to hold the plates secure one atop the other, a pair of front wheels disposed on an axle secured to the undersurface of the lower plate, a pair of rear wheels disposed on an axle secured to the undersurface of the lower plate, a first braking disc secured to the wheel hub of each front wheel, a second braking disc slidably mounted on the front axle adjacent to the first braking disc, means for urging the first and second braking discs into braking relationship when the wheel goes in a backward direction but allowing forward motion of the wheels, a first rear braking disc secured to the hub of each rear wheel, a second rear braking disc slidably mounted on the axle adjacent the first disc, and lever actuated by downward heel pressure on the heel portion of the upper plate for moving the rear braking discs together, and spring means for disengaging the rear braking discs to allow forward motion of the skate.

2. The improved skate of claim 1 wherein the hinge of the upper plate is located a short distance ahead of the front edge of the user'"'"'s heel.

3. The improved skate of claim 1 wherein the front axle is located under the balls of the foot and the rear axle is located under the heel.

4. The improved skate of claim 1 wherein the front braking discs have radial grooves so arranged that the portion between the grooves on one disc will fit into the grooves of its mate.

5. The improved skate of claim 1 wherein the rear portion of the lower plate is inclined with respect to the front portion thereof.

6. The improved skate of claim 1 wherein the compressible material disposed between the plates is foam rubber.

7. The improved skate of claim 1 wherein the means for urging the first and second braking discs together when the wheel goes in a rearward direction comprises a nut carrying the movable braking disc and being movable on threads allowing travel of the nut away from the wheel only when the wheel rotates in a forward direction, and a spiral spring urging the nut in the opposite direction for bringing the braking disc together when the wheel rotates in a rearward direction.

8. The improved skate of claim 1 wherein the lever means for activating the rear disc brakes comprises a plunger member secured at its upper end to the underside of the heel portion of the upper plate and extending through an opening in the lower plate, the lower end of the plunger member contacting an angle piece secured to the lower plate adjacent each rear wheel, and wherein said spring means comprises a spring disposed around the shaft of the plunger member between the upper and lower plates for holding the heel portion in a substantially horizontal position with the braking discs in non-contacting relationship, and a pair of pins secured to a plate and being slidably disposed in transverse openings of a bracket depending from the lower plate, the pin-containing plates further having secured thereto said second rear braking disc, such that when heel pressure counteracts the force of the spring to move the plunger downwardly, the angle piece will be moved by the plunger against the pins to bring the braking discs together, thereby stopping the skate.

9. The improved skate of claim 8 wherein the spring has a stiffness which normally supports the evenly distributed weight of the user.