US20080238007A1

US20080238007A1 - inline skate with a braking system

Info

Publication number: US20080238007A1
Application number: US11/728,513
Authority: US
Inventors: Tsun Hao Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-26
Filing date: 2007-03-26
Publication date: 2008-10-02

Abstract

An inline skate with a braking system has a boot and a braking assembly. The boot has a bottom, a rear end and rollers. The rollers are rotatably mounted on the bottom of the boot. The braking assembly is pivotally mounted on the bottom near the rear end of the boot. When the braking assembly abuts the ground, the braking assembly pivots toward the rollers of the boot to stop the rotation of the rollers of the boot so that the ground does not have a trace of the stain. The total length of a combination of the boot and the braking assembly can be short so that a skater has a smooth movement when the skater is skating and the inline skate has better control. The inline skate with shorter length has a neat appearance.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a roller blade and more particularity to a roller blade with a braking system that can improve an appearance of the roller blade and an ability of controlling and a braking effect applied to the roller blade and keep trace of stain from leaving on the ground.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 8, a conventional roller blade for a skier has a boot (50). The boot (50) has a front end, a rear end, a bottom, rollers (51) and a braking block (52). The rollers (51) are rotatably mounted on the bottom of the boot (50). The braking block (52) is mounted on the bottom and at the rear end of the boot (50).
The skier who wears the boots (50) is able to freely move forward or backward on the ground with the rotation of the rollers (52). When the skier wants to slow down or stop the roller blade, the skier has to raise the front end of one of the boots (50) to a certain degrees to make the rear end of the boot (50) served as a fulcrum and abutting the braking block (52) of the boot (50) against the ground. With the braking block (52) of the boot (50) abutting against the ground, a braking effect is applied to stop the roller blade after the roller blade moving a certain distance. The certain distance may be about 4 to 15 meters depended on the speed of the roller blade. If the speed of the roller blade is high, the certain distance for stopping the roller blade is long. If the speed of the roller blade is low, the certain distance will be short.
However, the braking block (52) has to abut against the ground to stop the roller blade. The braking block (52) leaves a trace of a stain on the ground during the braking block (52) rubs against the ground. The trace of the stain does not easy to clean so that most places such as famous tourist spots do not allow the skier to get into.
Because the skier needs to raise the front end of the boot (50) to the certain degrees to rub the braking block (52) against the ground, to stop the roller blade is difficult when the front end of the boot (50) does not be raised to the certain degrees as required.
The braking block (52) becomes thinner after a certain time of use and the braking effect of the thinner braking block (52) is reduced. The skier needs to raise the front end of the boot (50) higher to gain enough braking effect so that the danger of playing the roller blade goes up.
Furthermore, the braking block (52) is mounted on the bottom and at the rear end of the boot (50) so that the braking block (52) extends the whole length of the boot (50). Therefore, the appearance of the roller blade is not neat with the extended boot (50). The prolonged length of the boot (50) causes the roller blade hardly to control and also influences the movement of the skier's legs when the skier is skiing.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a roller blade with a braking system to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a braking system for a roller blade to improve an appearance of the roller blade and an ability of controlling and a braking effect applied to the roller blade and keep trace of stain from leaving on the ground.
The roller blade with a braking assembly has a boot and a braking assembly. The boot has a bottom, a rear end and rollers. The rollers are rotatably mounted on the bottom of the boot. The braking assembly is pivotally mounted on the bottom near the rear end of the boot. When the break assembly abuts the ground, the braking assembly pivots toward the rollers of the boot to stop the rotation of the rollers of the boot so that the ground may not have a trace of the stain. The total length of a combination of the boot and the braking assembly can be shortened so that a skier can has a smooth movement when the skier is skiing and the roller blade has a better ability to control. The roller blade with a shorter length has a neat appearance. Because the roller of the boot is softer than the ground. The braking block of the braking assembly will not be easily worn off after a long term of use, so the useful life of the braking block is prolonged.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a roller blade with a braking system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the braking assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of a bracket and a braking block of the braking assembly of the roller blade in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a roller of a boot and the braking assembly of the roller blade in FIG. 1 when a front end of the boot does not rise to a certain degrees relative to the ground;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the roller of the boot and the braking assembly of the roller blade in FIG. 1 when a front end of the boot rises to a certain degrees relative to the ground;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a braking assembly of a roller blade in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of a braking assembly of a roller blade in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of a conventional roller blade in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With further reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, a roller blade with a braking system in accordance with the present invention comprises a boot (10), two frames (13) and a braking assembly (20, 30, 40).
The boot (10) has a front end, a bottom, a rear end and multiple rollers (11). The rollers (11) are rotatably mounted on the bottom of the boot (11) from the front end to the rear end of the boot (10). Each roller (11) has two sides and a center.
The frames (13) are respectively mounted on two sides of the rollers (11) of the boot (10) and each frame (13), are separate to each other and each have a front end, a center, a rear end, a front hole (131), a center hole (132), a rear hole (133) and a rear cutout (134). The front hole (131) is formed through the front end of the frame (13). A bolt extends through the front hole (131) of the frame (13) and is screwed into the center of the roller (11) that corresponds to the front end of the frame (13). The center hole (132) is formed through the center of the frame (13). A bolt extends through the center hole (132) of the frame (13) and is screwed into the center of the roller (11) that corresponds to the center of the frame (13). The rear hole (133) is formed through the rear end of the frame (13). The rear cutout (134) is formed in the rear end of the frame (13).
The braking assembly (20, 30, 40) may have a bracket (21, 31, 41), a braking block (22, 32, 42), two legs (23, 33, 43), four springs (24, 34, 44), four bolts (25, 35, 45), four nuts (26, 36, 46) and a roller (27, 37, 47).
The bracket (20, 30, 40) has a top, two bottom ends, an outer side, an inner side, two outer recesses (211, 311, 411), two inner recesses (214) and two tracks (217, 314). The two outer recesses (211, 311, 411) are separately formed in the outer side of the bracket (20, 30, 40) and correspond to each other, and each outer recess (211, 311, 411) has a bottom, a pivotal hole (212, 312, 412) and a mounting hole (213, 313, 413). The pivotal hole (212, 312, 412) and the mounting hole (213, 313, 413) are formed through the bottom of the outer recess (211, 311, 411) of the bracket (20, 30, 40).
The two inner recesses (214) are separately formed in the inner side of the bracket (20) and correspond to each other, and each inner recess (214) has a bottom, a pivotal hole (215) and a mounting hole (216). The pivotal hole (215) and the mounting hole (216) are formed through the bottom of the inner recess (214) of the bracket (20).
The two tracks (217, 314) are formed on the inner side near the top of the bracket (20, 30) and corresponded to each other.
The braking block (22, 32) is slidely mount on the inner side near the top of the bracket (20, 30) and has an outer side, a bottom and two tracking slots (221, 321). With further reference to FIG. 3, the two tracking slots (221, 321) are separately formed in the outer side of the braking block (22, 32), and each tracking slot (221, 321) holds one of the two tracks (217, 314) of the bracket (20, 30) inside.
The braking block (42) and the bracket (40) can be formed as one piece. The braking block (42) has a bottom.
The two legs (23) are separately and pivotally mounted on the two bottom ends of the bracket (20), and each leg (20) has a top end, a bottom end, an edge, a top hole (231), a bottom hole (232) and a cutout (233). The top hole (231) is formed through the top end of the each leg (23). The bottom hole (232) is formed through the bottom end of the each leg (23). The cutout (233) is formed in the edge of the leg (23).
The two legs (33, 43) may be separately mounted on the two bottom ends of the bracket (30, 40) and be formed as one piece with the bracket (30,40), and each leg (33, 43) has a bottom end and a bottom hole (331, 431). The bottom hole (331, 431) is formed through the bottom end of the leg (33, 43).
Two of the four springs (24, 34, 44) are respectively mounted inside the two outer recesses (211, 311, 411) of the bracket (21, 31, 41), and each spring (24, 34, 44) has an extending end and an engaging end. The extending end of the each spring (24, 34, 44) extends into the mounting hole (213, 313, 413) of the outer recess (211, 311, 411) in the bracket (21, 31, 41). The engaging end of the each spring engages with the cutout (134) in the frame (13).
The other two of the four springs (24) are respectively mounted in the two inner recesses (214) of the bracket (21), and each spring (24) has an extending end and an engaging end. The extending end of the each spring (24) extends into the mounting hole (216) of the inner recess (214) of the bracket (21). The engaging end of the each spring engages with the cutout (233) of the leg (23).
Two of the four bolts (25, 35, 45) respectively extend into two pivotal holes (212, 312, 412) of the two outer recesses (211, 311, 411) of the bracket (21, 31, 41), two springs (24, 34, 44) and two rear holes (133) of the frames (133) and screw respectively with two of the four nuts (26, 36, 46).
The other two of the four bolts (25) respectively extend two top holes (231) of the two legs (23), two springs (24) and two pivotal holes (215) of the two inner recesses (214) of the bracket (21) and screw respectively with two of the four nuts (26).
The roller (27, 37, 47) is rotatably mounted between two legs (23, 33, 43) and has two ends and two extensions (271, 371, 471). Each extension (271, 371, 471) is formed on the each side of the roller (27, 37, 47) and extends into the rear hole of the leg (23, 33, 43) that corresponds to the extension (271, 371, 471) of the roller (27, 37, 47).
With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the front end of the boot (10) rises to a certain degrees relative to the ground, the roller (27, 37, 47) of the braking assembly (21, 31, 41) abuts the ground. The springs (25) between the bottom ends of the bracket (20) and the legs (23) can provide a damping effect to the roller (27) when the roller (27) rubs against the ground.
Consequently, the top of the bracket (20, 30, 40) moves toward and over the roller (11) of the boot (10) that is near the rear end of the boot and adjacent to the braking assembly (20, 30, 40). The bottom of the braking block (22, 32, 42) abuts against the roller (11) of the boot (10) to stop the roller (11) of the boot (10) rotating. With the abutment between the roller (11) of the boot (10) and the braking block (22, 32, 42), a braking effect is provided to the roller blade and the roller blade can be stopped efficiently at a short distance.
When the front end of the boot (10) returns back to an original position, the springs (24, 34, 44) of the braking assembly (20, 30, 40) force the bracket (21, 31, 41) and legs (23) back to an original position. The skier may move forward or backward with the roller blade again.
The rotation of rollers (11) of the boot (10) are stopped with the abutment of the braking block (22, 32, 42) of the braking assembly (20, 30, 40) with one of the roller (11), so that the ground may not have any trace of a stain left. Because a distance for pivoting the bracket (21, 31, 41) of the braking assembly (20, 30, 40) and abutting the braking block (22, 32, 42) against the roller (11) is short, the total length of a combination of the boot (10) and the braking assembly (20, 30, 40) is not prolonged.
Because the roller (11) of the boot (10) is softer than the ground, the braking block (22, 32, 40) of the braking assembly (20, 30, 40) will not be worn off easily and can provide an excellent braking effect for a long time.
The length of the combination of the boot (10) and the braking assembly (20, 30, 40) is not prolonged, and this can make the movement of the skier's legs smooth when the skier is skiing and make the roller blade easy to control. Furthermore, the shorter length of the roller blade has a neat appearance.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. An inline skate with a braking system comprising

a boot having

a front end;

a bottom;

a rear end; and

rollers rotatably mounted on the bottom of the boot from the front end to the rear end of the boot; and

a braking assembly pivotally mounted on the bottom near the rear end of the boot;

wherein when the front end of the boot raises to a certain degree, the braking assembly pivots toward one of the rollers of the boot that corresponds to the braking assembly and the braking assembly abuts against the one of the rollers of the boot;

when the front end of the boot returns back to an original position, the braking assembly pivots back to an original position.

2. The inline skate with a braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the braking assembly has

a bracket pivotally mounted on the bottom near the rear end of the boot and having

a top;

two bottom ends;

an outer side; and

an inner side;

a braking block located at the inner side near the top of the bracket and selectively abutting with the one of the rollers of the boot that corresponds to the braking block;

two legs separately connected to the two bottom ends of the bracket; and

a roller rotatably mounted between the two legs.

3. The inline skate with a braking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inline skate further has two frames respectively mounted on two sides of the boot and each having

a rear end;

a rear hole formed through the rear end of the frame; and

a rear cutout formed in the rear end of the frame; the bracket further has

two outer recesses separately formed in the outer side of the bracket and corresponding to each other, and each outer recess having

a bottom;

a pivotal hole formed through the bottom of the outer recess;

a mounting hole formed through the bottom of the outer recess;

a spring mounted in the outer recess of the bracket and having

an extending end extending into the mounting hole of the outer recess; and

an engaging end engaging with the rear cutout in a corresponding one of the frames;

a bolt extending through the pivotal hole of the outer recess, the spring and the rear hole of the corresponding one of the frames; and

a nut screwed with the bolt.

4. The inline skate with a braking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the braking block and the bracket are formed as one piece.

5. The inline skate with a braking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bracket has

two tracks formed on the inner side near the top of the bracket and corresponding to each other;

the braking block is slideably mounted on the inner side near the top of the bracket and has

an outer side; and

two traeking slots separately formed in the outer side of the braking block and each tracking slot holding one of the two tracks of the bracket inside.

6. The inline skate with a braking system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two legs and the bracket are formed as one piece.

7. The inline skate with a braking system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two legs and the bracket are formed as one piece.

8. The inline skate with a braking system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bracket has

two inner recesses separately formed in the inner side of the bracket and corresponding to each other, and each inner recess has

a bottom;

a pivotal hole formed through the bottom of the inner recess; and

a mounting hole formed through the bottom of the inner recess;

the two legs are separately and pivotally mounted on the two bottom ends of the bracket and each leg has

a top end;

a bottom end;

an edge;

a top hole formed through the top end of the leg;

a bottom hole formed through the bottom end of the leg;

a cutout formed in the edge of the leg;

a spring mounted in one of the two inner recesses of the bracket and each spring having

an extending end extending into the mounting hole of a corresponding one of the two inner recesses of the bracket; and

an engaging end engaging with the cutout of the leg;

a bolt extending through the top hole of the leg, the spring and the pivotal hole of the corresponding one of the two inner recesses of the bracket; and

a nut screwed with the bolt.

9. The inline skate with a braking system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bracket has

a bottom;

a pivotal hole formed through the bottom of the inner recess; and

a mounting hole formed through the bottom of the inner recess;

a top end;

a bottom end;

an edge;

a top hole formed through the top end of the leg;

a bottom hole formed through the bottom end of the leg;

a cutout formed in the edge of the leg;

an engaging end engaging with the cutout of the leg;

a nut screwed with the bolt.