ROLLER ASSEMBLY OF IN-LINE ROLLER SKATE

ENSEMBLE DE ROUES POUR PATIN A ROUES ALIGNEES

English Abstract

There is disclosed a roller assembly for an in-line roller skate. The roller
assembly
includes a roller frame and a plurality of rollers fastened pivotally with the
roller frame
such that the rollers are arranged linearly and glide in the same plane. A
boot frame is
fastened pivotally with the roller frame on at least one fulcrum such that a
front end or a
rear end of the boot frame turns on the fulcrum. A single braking mechanism is
provided,
having two inclined surfaces intersecting at an angle. The braking mechanism
is fixed
directly on the boot frame such that the braking mechanism corresponds in
location to two
rollers of the plurality of rollers, the two rollers being located below the
rear end of the
boot frame behind the fulcrum. The braking mechanism is separated from the two
rollers
by a distance when the boot frame is located at a first position, wherein each
of the two
surfaces are located between the two rollers and each simultaneously engage
one of the
two rollers when the boot frame is located at a second position to stop
revolution of the
two rollers. The assembly is further provided with a biasing mechanism mounted
between
the roller frame and the boot frame for providing the boot frame with a
biasing force to
keep the boot frame at the first position at the time when the boot frame is
not exerted on
by an external force whereby the boot frame is forced to locate at the second
position at
the time when one end of the boot frame is exerted on by an external force
opposite in
direction to and greater than the biasing force.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A roller assembly of an in-line roller skate, said rollers assembly
comprising:

a roller frame;

a plurality of rollers fastened pivotally with said roller frame
such that said rollers are arranged linearly, and that said rollers glide in
the same plane;

a boot frame fastened pivotally with said roller frame on at least
one fulcrum such that a front end or a rear end of said boot frame turns
on said fulcrum;

only a single braking mechanism having two inclined surfaces
intersecting at an angle fixed directly on said boot frame such that said
braking mechanism corresponds in location to two rollers of said
plurality of rollers, the two rollers being located below the rear end of
said boot frame behind said fulcrum, said braking mechanism being
separated from said two rollers by a distance when said boot frame is
located at a first position, wherein each of said two surfaces are located
between the two rollers and each simultaneously engage one of the two
rollers when said boot frame is located at a second position to stop
revolution of said two rollers; and

a biasing mechanism mounted between said roller frame and
said boot frame for providing said boot frame with a biasing force to
keep said boot frame at said first position at the time when said boot
frame is not exerted on by an external force whereby said boot frame is
forced to locate at said second position at the time when one end of said
boot frame is exerted on by an external force opposite in direction to and
greater than said biasing force.



11



2. The roller assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising a
switch mounted between said roller frame and said boot frame such that
said switch remains in an "OFF" state to keep said boot frame at said first
position regardless of absence or presence of an external force exerting
on said boot frame, and that said switch remains in an "ON" state to
enable said boot frame to displace from said first position to said second
position and vice versa.

3. The roller assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said boot
frame is fastened pivotally with said roller frame by a movable fulcrum,
and a fixed fulcrum corresponding in location to the heel of a boot
mounted on said boot frame, said fixed fulcrum being separated from
said movable fulcrum by a distance; and wherein said rear end of said
boot frame turns on said fixed fulcrum toward a first direction, thereby
resulting in said front end of said boot frame to turn on said movable
fulcrum toward a second direction opposite to said first direction.

4. The roller assembly as defined in claim 3 further comprising a
switch mounted between said roller frame and said boot frame such that
said switch remains in an "OFF" state to keep said boot frame at said first
position regardless of absence or presence of an external force exerting
on said boot frame, and that said switch remains in an "ON" state to
enable said boot frame to displace from said first position to said second
position and vice versa.

5. The roller assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said roller
frame is formed of two side plates arranged side by side at an interval
such that said two side plates are parallel to each other; wherein said



12




rollers are fastened pivotally with said roller frame in such a manner that
said rollers are fastened between said two side plates; wherein said boot
frame is formed of two side plates, a front bracing plate, and a rear
bracing plate, said two side plates being held together by said front
bracing plate and said rear bracing plate such that said two side plates are
parallel to each other and are separated from each other by a distance
greater than said interval between said two side plates of said roller frame
whereby said boot frame is fitted over said roller frame such that said
front bracing plate of said boot frame is fastened with the toe portion of a
boot, and that said rear bracing plate of said boot frame is fastened with
the heel portion of the boot.

6. The roller assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said side
plates of said roller frame and said boot frame are pivotally fastened at a
rear end thereof by a first pivot serving as said fixed fulcrum.

7. The roller assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said two side
plates of said roller frame are provided at a front end thereof with a bar-
shaped hole; and wherein said two side plates of said boot frame are
provided at a front end thereof with a second pivot which is movably
received in said bar-shaped hole to serve as said movable fulcrum.

8. The roller assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said biasing
mechanism has a biasing spring, and a tenon which is fixed on an inner
side of one of said two side plates of said roller frame, said biasing spring
being provided with a spiral body having two ends, and with two arms
extending from said two ends of said spiral body whereby said spiral
body is fitted over said first pivot in such a manner that one of said two
arms presses against said tenon, and that other one of said two arms



13


presses against an underside of said rear bracing plate of said boot frame.

9. The roller assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said roller
frame has two side plates arranged side by side at an interval such that
said two side plates are parallel to each other; wherein said rollers are
pivotally fastened with said two side plates; and wherein said boot frame
has two side plates, a front bracing plate, and a rear bracing plate, said
two side plates being held together by said front bracing plate and said
rear bracing plate such that said two side plates are parallel to each other
and are separated from each other by a distance greater than said interval
between said two side plates of said roller frame whereby said boot frame
is fitted over said roller frame such that said front bracing plate of said
boot frame is fastened with the toe portion of a boot, and that said rear
bracing plate of said boot frame is fastened with the heel portion of the
boot.

10. The roller assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said switch
has a lug fastened with an outer side of one of said two side plates of said
boot frame such that said lug is displaced between a third position and a
fourth position, said switch further having a rod fastened at one end
thereof with said lug such that other end thereof is extended toward an
inner side of said side plates of said boot frame, said switch further
having a retaining portion located on one of said two side plates of said
roller frame whereby said rod has a free end which does not come in
contact with said retaining portion at such time when said lug is located
at said third position, thereby enabling said switch to remain in an "ON"
state, said free end of said rod coming in contact with said retaining
portion at such time when said lug is located at said fourth position,
thereby enabling said switch to remain in an "OFF" state.



14



11. The roller assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said side
plates of said boot frame are provided with an arcuate through hole
corresponding in location to said lug; wherein said retaining portion is a
curved slot having an opening; wherein said lug is fastened pivotally at
one end thereof with said side plates, and at other end thereof with one
end of said rod whereby said rod has a free end extending toward an
inner side of said side plate via said through hole such that said free end
of said rod is located outside said curved slot at the time when said lug is
located at one end of said through hole, thereby causing said switch to
remain in the "ON" state, and that said free end of said rod is located
inside said curved slot at the time when said lug is located at other end of
said through hole, thereby causing said switch to remain in the "OFF"
state.

12. A roller assembly of an in-line roller skate, said roller assembly
comprising:
a roller frame having two side plates which are arranged side by
side such that said two side plates are parallel to each other, and that said
two side plates are separated from each other by an interval;
a plurality of rollers fastened pivotally between said two side
plates;
a boot frame having two side plates which are arranged side by
side such that said two side plates are parallel to each other, and that said
two side plates are separated from each other by a distance greater than
said interval between said two side plates of said roller frame whereby


15




said two side plates of said boot frame are held together by a front
bracing plate fastened with front ends of said two side plates, and by a
rear bracing plate fastened with rear ends of said two side plates, said
boot frame being fitted over said roller frame such that a boot is mounted
on said boot frame, and that the toe portion of the boot is fastened with
said front bracing plate, and further that the heel portion of the boot is
fastened with said rear bracing plate;
said side plates of said roller frame and said boot frame are
fastened pivotally at a rear end thereof with a first pivot acting as a fixed
fulcrum whereby said two side plates of said roller frame are provided at
a front end thereof with a bar-shaped hole and a second pivot passing
through front ends of said two side plates of said boot frame and said bar-
shaped holes of said two side plates of said roller frame to form a
movable fulcrum whereby said rear end of said boot frame turns on said
fixed fulcrum toward a first direction, thereby causing said front end of
said boot frame to turn on said movable fulcrum toward a second
direction opposite to said first direction;
a braking mechanism comprising a brake shoe fastened between
rear ends of said two side plates of said boot frame by a fastening pin
such that said brake shoe is opposite in location to one of said rollers, and
that said brake shoe is separated from said one roller by a distance at
such time when said boot frame is located at a first position, and further
that said brake shoe acts to slow down or stop the gliding motion of said
one roller at such time when said boot frame is located at a second
portions; and
a biasing mechanism mounted between said roller frame and



16




said boot frame and formed of a biasing spring, and a tenon fastened on
an inner side of one of said two side plates of said roller frame whereby
said biasing spring is provided with a spiral body and two arms, said
spiral body being fitted over said first pivot, one of said two arms
pressing against said tenon, other one of said two arms pressing against
an underside of said rear bracing plate of said boot frame for providing
said boot frame with a biasing force enabling said boot frame to remain
at said first position at such time when said boot frame is not exerted on
by an external force whereby said boot frame moves to locate at said
second position at such time when said rear end of said boot frame is
exerted on by an external force opposite in direction to and greater than
said biasing force.

13. A roller assembly of an in-line roller skate, said roller assembly
comprising:
a roller frame having two side plates which are arranged side by
side such that said two side plates are parallel to each other, and that said
two side plates are separated from each other by an interval;
a plurality of rollers fastened pivotally between said two side
plates;
a boot frame having two side plates which are arranged side by
side such that said two side plates are parallel to each other, and that said
two side plates are separated from each other by a distance greater than
said interval between said two sie plates of said roller frame where by
said two side plates of said boot frame are held together by a front
bracing plate fastened with front ends of said two side plates, and by a
rear bracking plate fastened with rear ends of said two side plates, said
boot frame being fitted over said roller frame such that a boot is mounted
on said boot frame, and that the toe portion of the boot is fastened with



17



said front bracing plate, and further that the heel portion of the boot is
fastened with said rear bracing plate;
said side plates of said roller frame and said boot frame are
fastened pivotally at a rear end thereof with a first pivot acting as a fixed
fulcrum whereby said two side plates of said roller frame are provided at
a front end thereof with a bar-shaped hole and a second pivot passing
through front ends of said two side plates of said boot frame and said bar-
shaped holes of said two side plates of said roller frame to form a
moveable fulcrum whereby said rear end of said boot frame turns on said
fixed fulcrum toward a first direction, thereby causing said front end of
said boot frame to turn on said movable fulcrum toward a second
direction opposite to said first direction;
only a single braking mechanism having two inclined surfaces
intersecting at an angle fixed directly on said boot frame such that said
braking mechanism corresponds in location to two rollers of said
plurality of rollers, the two rollers being located below the rear end of
said boot frame behind said fulcrum, said braking mechanism being
separated from said two rollers by a distance when said boot frame is
located at a first position, wherein each of said two surfaces are located
between the two rollers and each simultaneously engage one of the two
rollers when said boot frame is located at a second position to stop
revolution of said two rollers; and
a biasing mechanism mounted between said roller frame and said
boot frame and formed of a biasing spring, and a tenon fastened on an
inner side of one of said two side plates of said roller frame whereby said
biasing spring is provided with a spiral body and two arms, said spiral
body being fitted over said first pivot, one of said two arms pressing
against said tenon, other one of said two arms pressing against an
underside of said rear bracing plate of said boot frame for providing said



18




boot frame with a biasing force enabling said boot frame to remain at
said first position at such time when said boot frame is not exerted on by
an external force whereby said boot frame moves to locate at said second
position at such time when said rear end of said boot frame is exerted on
by an external force opposite in direction to and greater than said biasing
force.

14. The roller assembly as defined in claim 13 further comprising a
switch mounted between said roller frame and said boot frame such that
said switch remains in an "OFF" state to keep said boot frame at said first
position regardless of absence or presence of an external force exerting
on said boot frame, and that said switch remains in an "ON" state to
enable said boot frame to displace from said first position to said second
position and vice versa.

15. The roller assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein said switch
has a lug fastened with an outer side of one of said two side plates of said
boot frame such that said lug is displaced between a third position and a
fourth position, said switch further haying a rod fastened at one end
thereof with said lug such that other end thereof is extended toward an
inner side of said side plates of said boot frame, said switch further
having a retaining portion located on one of said two side plates of said
roller frame whereby said rod has a free end which is not in contact with
said retaining portion at such time when said lug is located at said third
position, thereby enabling said switch to remain in an "ON" state, said
free end of said rod coming in contact with said retaining portion at such
time when said lug is located at said fourth position, thereby enabling
said switch to remain in an "OFF" state.

16. The roller assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said side



19




plates of said boot frame are provided with an arcuate through hole
corresponding in location to said lug; wherein said retaining portion is a
curved slot having an opening; wherein said lug is fastened pivotally at
one end thereof with said side plates, and at other end thereof with one
end of said rod whereby said rod has a free end extending toward an
inner side of said side plate via said through hole such that said free end
of said rod is located outside said curved slot at the time when said lug is
located at one end of said through hole, thereby causing said switch to
remain in the "ON" state, and that said free end of said rod is located
inside said curved slot at the time when said lug is located at other end of
said through hole, thereby causing said switch to remain in the "OFF"
state.



20

Description

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
ROLLER ASSEMBLY OF IN-LINE ROLLER SKATE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an in-line roller skate,
and more particularly to the in-line roller skate provided with a roller
assembly capable of braking effectively.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, the braking action of the conventional in-line
roller skate takes two forms, one of which is a projection located at the
toe end of the roller skate, as shown in FIG. 1. The roller skate in motion
is slowed down or stopped by pressing the projection against a surface on
which the roller skate glides. The effect of this braking method is limited
in view of the fact that the braking action is brought to pass by the
trailing roller skate, as shown in FIG. l, and that the braking action is
seriously compromised by the skater's posture which is prone to inhibit
the skater from exerting a greater force on the trailing roller skate. Now
referring to FIG. 2, another form of braking a roller skate in motion is a
brake pad located at the heel end of the roller skate. The brake pad is
1

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
pressed against a surface on which the roller skate glides. The braking
action of the brake pad is also limited in view of the fact that the body
weight of a skater is mostly supported by the trailing roller skate at the
time when the braking action is effected by the brake pad of the leading
roller skate, as illustrated by FIG. 2. In addition, the problem is further
compounded by the fact that the toe end of the leading roller skate must
be lifted, thereby inhibiting the leg muscles of the skater from exerting a
greater force on the brake pad. In the event that the skater makes an
attempt to exert a greater pressure on the brake pad of the leading roller
skate, the skater is prone to lose a balance.
With a view to overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional in-
line roller skates described above, the U. S. Patent No. 5,232,231
discloses a roller skate comprising a boot which is provided in the bottom
thereof with side plates for pivoting the boot to a roller frame. The roller
skate further comprises a lever mechanism located between the boot and
the roller and is controlled by the lever mechanism. As the heel is pressed,
the braking action is effected by each brake pad to slow down or stop the
motion of the roller due to the lever principle. Such a roller skate braking
structure of the prior art as described above is still defective in design in
that it is not compatible with the roller skates currently available in the
market place, and that it is formed of many component parts which result
in a substantial increase in weight of the roller skate. In addition, this
prior art braking structure tends to bring the rollers in motion to an abrupt
halt, thereby resulting in a reaction force which makes the roller skater
vulnerable to fall.
2

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
SUnZMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide an in-
line roller skate with a roller assembly capable of a braking action
without regard to the posture of a roller skater.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an in-line
roller skate with a roller assembly capable of slowing down or stopping
the motion of rollers thereof in a progressive manner.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide an in-
line roller skate with a roller assembly compatible with the ordinary
roller skates available in the market place.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide an in-
line roller skate with a roller assembly having a braking mechanism
which is removably mounted therein.
In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the
foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by a roller
assembly which is fastened with the sole of a boot for gliding on a
surface and is formed of a roller' frame, a boot frame fastened pivotally
with the roller frame, a braking mechanism mounted on the boot frame, a
biasing mechanism mounted between the roller frame and the boot frame,
and a switch mounted between the roller frame and the boot frame. The
boot frame is fastened pivotally with the roller frame by at least one
fulcrum on which one end of the boot frame turns toward a first
direction, thereby resulting in other end of the boot frame to displace in
a second direction opposite to the first direction. The roller frame is
3

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
provided with a plurality of rollers fastened therewith such that at least
one roller is opposite to the braking mechanism. This roller is kept apart
from the braking mechanism by an interval at the time when the boot
frame is located at a first position. This roller is acted on by the braking
mechanism at the time when the boot frame is located at a second
position. The biasing mechanism is used to bring about a biasing force to
keep the boot frame at the first position at such time when the boot frame
is not exerted on by an external force. When one end of the boot frame is
exerted on by an external force oppositeto and greater than the biasing
force, the boot frame is moved to the second position. When the switch is
turned "OFF", the boot frame is always kept at the first position,
regardless of absence or presence of the external force. On the other hand,
when the switch is "ON", the boot frame is capable of moving between
the first position and the second position:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG: 1 shows a schematic view of a braking action of the prior art
in-line roller skate.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of another braking action of the
prior art in-line roller skate.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an in-line roller skate
comprising a boot fastened with a roller assembly of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
4


CA 02392406 2002-07-04
FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the roller assembly of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional schematic view showing that the boot
frame of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is located at
the first position at the time when the switch is kept in the "OFF" state.
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional schematic view showing that the boot
frame of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is located at
the first position at: the time when the switch is kept in the "01V" state.
FIG. 7 is a partial sectional schematic view showing that the boot
frame of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is located at
the second position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIGS. 3-7, an in-line roller skate 10 embodied in the
present invention comprises a boot 12 and a roller assembly 14 fastened
with the sole of the boot 12 by a fastening means.
The roller assembly 14 of the present invention is formed of a
roller frame 20, four rollers 22, 24, 26, and 28 which are linearly pivoted
to the roller frame 20, a boot frame 30 fastened pivotally with the roller
frame 20, a braking mechanism 32 mounted on the boot frame 30, a
biasing mechanism 34 disposed between the roller frame 20 and the boot
frame 30, and a switch 36 located between the roller frame 20 and the

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
boot frame 30:
The roller frame 20 has two side plates 38 and 40 parallel to each
other. The rollers 22, 24; 26 and 28 are respectively pivoted between the
two side plates 3 8 and 40 by a pin 42 and a nut 44 such that the rollers
are arranged in alignment; and that the rollers glide coplanarly. The
rollers may be pivoted between the two side plates 38 and 40 by an
appropriate means other than the means described above.
The boot frame 30 has two side plates 46 and 48, which are
arranged separately in a parallel manner by two bracing plates 50 and 52
mounted on both ends of the two side plates 46 and 48. The two side
plates 46 and 48 are separated by a distance large enough to enable the
boot frame 30 to fit over the roller frame 20. The front bracing plate 50 is
fastened with the toe portion of the sole of the boot 12; whereas the rear
bracing plate 52 is fastened with the heel portion of the sole of the boot
12.
The roller frame 20 and the boot frame 30 are pivoted together by a
first pivot 54 received in the through holes of the rear end of the side
plates in conjunction with a nut 55 which is engaged with the pivot 54.
The pivot 54 serves as a fixed fulcrum. The front ends of the two side
plates 38 and 40 of the roller frame 20 are provided respectively with a
bar-shaped hole 56 for receiving a second pivot 58 which is engaged with
a nut 59 for forming a movable fulcrum. The present invention is
designed in such a way that the rear end of the boot frame 30 is caused to
turn on the fixed fulcrum from a first position to a second position at
such time when the rear end of the boot frame 30 is exerted on by a
downward pressure. In the meantime, the front end of the boot frame 30
6

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
turns upward on the movable fulcrum as shown in FIG. 7. It must be
noted here that the downward pressure referred to above is brought about
by the heel of a skater, and that the first position referred to above is the
horizontal position of the boot frame 30 at the time when the body
weight of the skater is distributed on the sole.
The braking mechanism 32 has a brake shoe 60 which is made of a
rubber or other resilient and wear-resistant material and is fastened with
the rear end of the two side plates of the boot frame 30 by a fastening
bolt 62 and a nut 63 in such a way that the brake shoe 60 is located
between the third roller 26 and the fourth roller 2$. The brake shoe 60 is
provided with two inclined planes 64 and 66, which are respectively
opposite in location to the rollers 26 and 28. When the boot frame 30 is
located at the first position, the brake shoe 60 is kept apart from the
rollers 26 and 28 by a predetermined dist~.nce; as shown in FIG. 6. When
the boot frame 30 is located at the second position, the brake shoe 60
moves downward along with the rear end of the boot frame 30 such that
the inclined planes 64 and 66 of the brake shoe 60 are forced against the
third roller 26 and the fourth roller 28 to slow down or stop the motion of
each of the two rollers 26 and 28, as shown in FIG. 7.
The biasing mechanism 34 has a biasing spring 68 and a retaining
tenon 70. The spring 68 has a spiral body 72 and two arms 74 and 76
extending from both ends of the spiral body 72. The spiral body 72 of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention is fitted over the first pin
54 or other pin fastened with the roller frame 20 or boot frame 30. The
retaining tenon 70 is fastened with the inner side of the side plate 38 of
the roller frame 20. The retaining tenon 70 is pressed against by one arm
74 of the spring 68. The underside of the rear bracing plate 52 of the boot
7

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
frame 30 is pressed against by other arm 76 ofthe spring 68. The boot
frame 30 is thus provided by the spring 6$ with a biasing force to keep
the boot frame 30 at the first position at the time when the boot frame 30
is not exerted on by an external force, or at the time when the sole is
exerted on by a pressure. The boot frame 30 moves to the second position
at such time when the rear end of the boot frame 30 is exerted on by an
external force opposite in direction to and greater than the biasing force
provided by the spring 68: In other words, the boot frame 30 moves to
the second position at the time when the rear end of the boot frame 30 is
pressed on by the heel of a skater.
The switch 36 has a lug 78; which is pivotally fastened with the
outer side of the side plate 46 of the boot: frame 30 by a bolt 80 and a nut
81 such that the lug 78 is fastened with one end of a long rod 82, with
other end of the long rod 82 extending inward via an arcuate through
hole 84 of the side plate 46. The two side plates 38 and 40 of the roller
frame 20 are respectively provided with a retaining portion 86 which is
corresponding in location to the bolt 80 and is a curved slot 86 with an
opening. The free end of the long rod 82 is located outside the curved
slot 86 when the lug 78 is located at a third position which is the upper
end of the through hole 84, thereby enabling the boot frame 30 to
displace between the first position and the second position along with an
external force. The switch 36 remains in the "ON°' state at this time.
When the lug 78 is moved by an external force to a fourth position which
is the lower end of the through hole $4, as shown in FIG. S, the free end
of the long rod 82 is retained in the curved slot 86, thereby causing the
boot frame 30 to remain at the first position such that the boot frame 30
is incapable of displacing along with the external force: The switch 36 is
now kept in the "OFF" state. The upper end and the lower end of the
8

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
through hole 84 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are
respectively provided in an edge thereof with a retaining slot 88 (90)
which is intended to retain a projection (not shown in the drawings) of
the inner side of the open end of the lug 78 at such time when the lug 78
is located at the third position or the fourth position. The switch 36 can
be thus prevented from being switched by mistake.
The in-line roller skate 10 can be therefore provided at will by a
skater with a braking effect. This is done by moving the lug 78 to locate
at the upper end of the through hole 84. If the skater desires to deprive
the skate 10 of the braking effect, all he or she has to do is to move the
lug 78 to locate at the lower end of the through hole 84, as shown in FIG.
5.
In the course of gliding, the sole is exerted on by most of the body
weight of a skater. As a result, the braking mechanism 32 of the skate 10
can not be activated even if the kate 10 is provided with the braking
effect, as shown in FIG. 6. Under such a circumstance, if the skater wants
to cause the skate 10 in motion to come to a halt, all he or she has to do is
to press the rear end of the skate l0 with his or her heel, thereby causing
the brake shoe 60 to move downward along with the rear end of the boot
frame 30 such that the inclined planes 64 and 66 of the brake shoe 60
press against the third roller 26 and the fourth roller 28 respectively, as
shown in FIG. 7. As a result, the gliding motions of the rollers 26 and 28
are stopped by the brake shoe 60. The magnitude of the braking force of
the brake shoe 60 is directly proportional to the magnitude of the force
exerting on the rear end of the boot frame 30 by the skater's heel. In the
event that the skater wishes to resume the gliding, all she or he has to do
is to stop pressing the rear end of the boot frame 30 so as to cause the
9

CA 02392406 2002-07-04
brake shoe 60 to move back up along with the boot frame 30: The rollers
26 and 28 are thus relieved of the braking action of the brake shoe 60.
I0

Representative Drawing