Abstract:
A wheeled skate that includes a skate frame and a plurality of wheels disposed along that frame. A turnable wheel assembly is provided that includes two paired wheels, each supported by a movable axle. The turnable wheel assembly is preferably configured such that the paired wheels maintain a parallel relationship and a fixed distance from one another as the skate moves between varying degrees of turning. This configuration permits the paired wheels to be positioned close together. The axles may be supported by movable support members that move in parallel planes. Various embodiments are disclosed including the incorporation of two turnable paired-wheel assemblies in one skate.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/347,506, filed Jan. 17, 2003, and having the same title and inventor as above. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to wheeled skates, in-line skates, and other wheeled devices that couple to a person&#39;s feet. More specifically, the present invention relates to enhancing the turnability of a wheeled skate.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The prior art is replete with wheeled devices that couple to a user&#39;s feet. These include conventional roller skates, in-line skates, and wheeled devices for cross-country ski training, among others. Exemplary prior art devices include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,425,586; 5,997,015; 5,401,040; 4,659,095; 4,138,127; and 3,442,523; among others.  
         [0004]     Most of the devices disclosed in these patents utilize a fixed position wheel arrangement that provides either no or very limited turnability. To execute a turn, a user typically lifts one skate over the other and places the raised skate down at an angle to the first. The position of the raised skate when once again placed on the ground constitutes the new line of direction. To execute a sharper turn, a user may lift his or her skate several times making small incremental turns each time.  
         [0005]     One attempt to increase the turnability of a wheeled skate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,523. The &#39;523 patent discloses a conventional roller skate having two pairs of wheels. Each pair of wheels has a wheel mount assembly including an angled shaft and an axle that is common to the paired wheels. Leaning the skate from side causes the skate “shoe” portion to rotate about the wheel assembly shafts which in turn causes each common axle and the paired wheels attached thereto to rotate substantially in the horizontal plane, thereby causing the skate to experience enhanced turning.  
         [0006]     Among other disadvantageous aspects of this arrangement, there is little clearance between the skate base or frame and the top of wheels. If a user tries to more aggressively turn the skate, the skate base comes in contact with the wheels, impeding wheel rotation, slowing or even stopping the skate, and potentially causing a damaging fall. Thus, the device of the &#39;523 patent is both limited in turnability and potentially dangerous.  
         [0007]     Other turnable prior art wheeled skate devices are known. Many of these, however, are disadvantageously long having wheels or a frame structure that extends beyond the shoe region, and some are disadvantageously unstable, due to a single wheel design or other limitations.  
         [0008]     A need thus exists for a wheeled skate device that provides enhanced turnability. Needs also exist for such a wheeled skate device that is relatively compact, lightweight and/or has good stability.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention is intended to overcome shortcomings of the prior art and positively contribute to the wheeled skate art. Among other aspects, the present invention provides a turnable skate with enhanced stability.  
         [0010]     In one aspect, the present invention includes a turnable skate device having a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly. At least one of the front wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly is a turnable wheel assembly, and a turnable wheel assembly may include: a first wheel supported by a first axle and a second wheel supported by a second axle. In straight forward travel, the first and second axles may have a substantially colinear relationship and during a turn, the first and second axles may achieve a non-colinear relationship.  
         [0011]     In another aspect, the present invention includes a turnable wheeled skate have wheels in a turnable wheel assembly that are physically separated, though linked through movable arms.  
         [0012]     The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a skate in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the skate of  FIG. 1  without the shoe.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the rear wheel assembly (with one wheel removed for clarity) of the skate of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates an underside view of the skate of  FIG. 1  in a turning position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a skate having a braking mechanism in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a skate having two turnable wheel arrangements in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a skate having a motor in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a wheeled skate in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIGS. 9-10  are exploded and non-exploded perspective views of a turnable wheeled assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 11-12  are a bottom and side view of the skate of  FIG. 8  making a right turn in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of a skate with front and rear turnable wheel assemblies in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of another turnable wheel assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 15-16  are a perspective view and a side view (partially cut-away) of one embodiment of a wheeled skate braking mechanism in accordance with the present invention are shown.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 17-18  are two perspective views of other wheeled skate braking mechanisms in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of one embodiment of a skate  5  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Skate  5  may have a shoe  8  or other foot receiving device (straps, Velcro®, laces, etc.) that is mounted to a supportive base  10 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of skate  5  without shoe  8 .  
         [0029]     Base  10  has a shoe or like device mounting region  12 . A front wheel arrangement  20  is provided forward of mounting region  12  and a rear wheel assembly  30  is provided rearward of mounting region  12 . Rear wheel assembly  30  as shown is turned slightly. The mounting region is preferably provided in a plane that is substantially parallel to the ground, though the base may rise upward toward the rear or have other configurations without departing from the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2 , two integrally formed forks  15  extend from mounting region  12  to receive a front wheel  22 . Note that other configurations for mounting a front wheel may be utilized.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a side view of the rear wheel assembly (with one wheel removed for clarity)  30  is provided. Rear wheel assembly  30  may be mounted to base  10  via an extender  18  which serves to position wheel assembly  30  rearward of shoe  8  and mounting region  12 . The extender may be mounted to base  10  via screws or weld or be formed together with the base as one integral piece. Rear wheel assembly  30  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 , preferably has two wheels  32  (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 3 ). By providing wheel assemblies  20 , 30  forward and rearward of the base, respectively, the overall height of the skate may be reduced relative to conventional roller skates.  
         [0031]     Suitable wheels  22 , 32  for the front and rear assemblies  20 , 30  as illustrated in  FIG. 1-7  are commercially available 4″ wheels. It should be recognized that larger wheels tend to afford a smoother ride. Thus larger wheels, from 4″ up to a foot or more may be used. Wheels smaller than 4″ may also be used without departing from the present invention, as may wheels of different sizes. A trade-off may occur between a smooth ride and ease-of-portability. Smaller wheels, for example, approximately 6″ or 7″ or less may permit a skate to be more readily placed and carried in a day-pack or other similarly sized bag or pack.  
         [0032]     Extender  18  includes a cylindrical opening  19 . Axle mounting member  34  also has a cylindrical or like opening  31 . Mounting shaft (or screw)  36  is provided through openings  19  and  31  and effectively mounts wheel assembly  30  to extender  18 . An axle  38  is provided in member  34  which is coupled to and supports rear wheels  32 .  
         [0033]     A change in vertical angle of the skate in a plane perpendicular to the line-of-direction causes shaft  36  to rotate. Since shaft  36  is provided at an angle, α, from horizontal, rotation of the shaft causes a rotation of axle  38  relative to the line-of-direction which causes a rotation of the attached wheels  32 , thus turning the skate. The greater the change in vertical angle of the shoe, the greater the turning provided by the skate. The angle, α, of shaft  36  may be set by trial and error to any angle that achieves a desired amount of turning. This angle may be between 10 and 20 degrees or between 5 and 30 degrees or other. If two turnable wheel assemblies are used (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), then the angle of each shaft may be reduced. If more acute turning is desired, the shaft angle may be increased.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  also illustrates a vertical heel-line  61 , a rearward extending horizontal toe-line  62  and a base-line  63 . The vertical heel-line  61  is intended to be a line running vertically downward from the interior surface of the shoe that the contacts the back of a user&#39;s heel  9  in use.  FIG. 3  illustrates that axle  38  is rearward of the vertical heel-line  61 . The rearward extending horizontal toe-line  62  is a line running substantially horizontally from the interior surface that receives a user&#39;s big toe in use. The base-line  63  is a line extending substantially horizontally from the top of base  10 . In determining base-line, a shoe heel or equivalent structures (for example, the plastic or like forms used in newer skates) are not part of the base.  FIG. 3  shows that the top  33  of wheel  32  is above the horizontal tow-line  62  and base-line  63 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  illustrates an underside view of skate  5  (without shoe  8 ) in a turning position. Note that wheels  32  are also slightly turned in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  illustrates that axle mounting member  34  supports a pin  41  that is received in a groove  42  in extender  18 . Pin  41  limits the range of rotation of the wheel assembly around shaft  36 , thus assuring that when the skate is placed down the wheels contact the ground in a proper position for rolling.  FIG. 4  also shows the bottom side of the braking mechanism discussed with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 7 .  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a side view of skate  5  having a braking mechanism  50  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Braking mechanism  50  includes a support member  51  that fits over axle mounting member  34  and a brake pad  52 . A cable  54  is attached to brake pad  52  via stopper  55  and runs through the interior of shaft  36  (also shown in  FIG. 3 ) which is formed as a hollow cylinder. A bias mechanism such as coil springs or foam rubber or the like  58  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) is provided in a recess in support member  51  and biases brake pad  52  off of wheels  32 .  
         [0037]     The opposite end of cable  54  is attached to a handle or like activation device  60 . This handle may attach to the waist of a user or to their hands via wrist guards or the like. To activate, the user pulls the trigger  64  towards the stay  65  (in the direction of arrows A) which causes cable  54  to pull pad  52  into contact with wheels  32 , thereby braking the skate. Note that other braking scenarios could be implemented on a skate in accordance with the present invention, including but not limited to braking arrangements with activation handles located on the skate.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of a skate  5  having two turnable wheel assemblies in accordance with the present invention is shown. Front wheel assembly  130  includes an extender  118  and paired wheels  122  that are similar to extender  18  and rear wheels  32 , respectively, Note that the angle of the rotation shaft of wheel assembly  130  is preferably opposite that of rotation shaft  36  such that wheels  122  turn in a manner complementary to wheels  32 , enhancing skate turning.  FIG. 6  shows that axle  138  is forward of a vertical toe-line  161  that extends vertically from the interior surface of shoe  8  in front of a user&#39;s big toe, and the top  133  of wheel  122  is above a forward extending horizontal toe-line  162  that extends from the interior surface of shoe  8  that receives a user&#39;s big toe.  
         [0039]     It should be noted that while  FIG. 1  illustrates a single wheel in the front and paired wheels in the front, the wheel assemblies of  FIG. 1  could be reversed, i.e., the turning assembly being placed in front (as in  FIG. 6 ) and a single wheel in the rear, without departing from the present invention. An embodiment having a single wheel in front and a single wheel in the back with shaft and axle or like turning provided to one of said single wheels is also within the present invention. Furthermore, wheels may also be added beyond those shown in  FIGS. 1-7  without departing from the present invention.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a side view of a skate having a motor in accordance with the present invention is shown. Skate  5  in  FIG. 7  is similar to skate  5  as presented in  FIG. 1 , et al., though in the embodiment of  FIG. 7  the skate include a motor assembly  70 . Motor assembly  70  may include a friction drive wheel  71 , a drive-shaft or the like  72 , a motor  74 , a battery  75  and a housing  76 . Housing  76  is slideably coupled to base  10  and biased by spring  78  such that drive wheel  71  contacts front wheel  22 . Drive shaft  72  incorporates a miter gear, but any suitable drive mechanism (many of which are known) may be used. Motor  74  may be a DC electric motor and battery  75  may be a nickel metal hydride battery, though any suitable motor or battery may be used. Housing  76 , shown in cross-section, includes a resealable panel that permits access the motor assembly components and particularly to battery  76  for changing.  
         [0041]     The motor assembly is preferably configured, in one representative embodiment, to function as follows. Motor  74  is configured to turn-on when wheel  22  is being turned at a speed above a threshold, for example, 3 mph. The motor then runs at a given speed which is sufficient to propel a person (i.e., to operate under load) until battery  75  runs out of power or the motor is turned-off. Turn-off occurs when drive wheel  71  runs above a threshold speed for a given period of time, for example, 2-5 seconds. The turn-off conditions may occur when wheel  22  is lifted off the ground (no longer under load) or cable  79  (similar to and possibly coupled with brake cable  54 ) is pulled which compresses bias spring  78  and pulls drive wheel  71  off of front wheel  22  (thereby removing the load from the drive wheel). Motor assemblies that turn-on at a given speed and turn-off at a given speed are known in the art.  
         [0042]      FIG. 7  also shows fasteners  81  which bind shoe  8  to base  10 , though glue and other fastening means may be used, and spring  58  (mentioned with reference to  FIG. 5  that biases break pad  52  off of wheel  32 ).  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of another embodiment of a wheeled skate  105  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Skate  105  may include a shoe  108  and a frame or base structure (base)  110 . Shoe  108  may be as described above for shoe  8  of  FIG. 1  or as otherwise appropriate. Base  110  may be as described above for base  10 , though modified for a shorter wheel base of skate  105  and to accommodate a different wheel connection mechanism as discussed below.  
         [0044]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , the front wheel assembly  120  may include two axle support members  111 , 112  that are also part of base  110 . The axle support members  111 , 112  are coupled to a shoe connecting region  113 , through which base  110  may be coupled to shoe  108 . It should be recognized that base  110  may be formed of various materials (plastic, metal, etc.) and in a wide range of configurations. Characteristics of the base include that it is relatively lightweight and strong.  
         [0045]     The front wheel assembly  120  may also include a first wheel  121  and a second wheel  122 , respectively coupled to axles  123 , 124 , which are in turn supported by axle support members  111 , 112 . Note that while two wheels  121 , 122  are shown, a single wheel or more than two wheels may be used. Suitable wheels and axles are known in the art. It should be recognized that other wheel and wheel support arrangements could be used without departing from the present invention.  
         [0046]     In contrast to the stationary or fixed wheel arrangement of wheel assembly  120 , a turnable wheel assembly  140  having independent axles is provided at the rear of skate  105  (in  FIG. 8 ). This assembly provides tilt or lean based turning. While this assembly is shown at the rear of skate  105  in the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , it should be recognized that a turnable wheel assembly may be provided at other locations, including but not limited to, exclusively at the front of the skate or in combination with a rear located turnable wheel assembly (as shown in  FIG. 13 ).  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIGS. 9-10 , exploded and non-exploded perspective views of a turnable wheeled assembly  140  in accordance with the present invention are respectively shown. The turnable wheel assembly of  FIGS. 9-10  may include two wheels  141 , 142  (shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 ), that are respectively mounted on two axles  143 , 144 . The axles are each respectively connected to a movable arm  147 , 148 , each having a positioning protrusion  151 , 152 . The positioning protrusion each respectively support a bias member contact face  153 , 154  and a resistive contact face  155 , 156 . The movable arms are respectively connected to pivot rods  161 , 162  that extend from mounting block  160 . Note that while a pivot rod-based arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 9-10 , the movable connection of arms  147 , 148  to block  160  may be accomplished in many ways without departing from the present invention.  
         [0048]     Block  160  includes a body  164  and extension  165 . The extension  165  supports a pair of bias members  167 , 168  that respectively receive bias member contact faces  153 , 154  of movable arms  147 , 148 .  
         [0049]     Block  160  defines a cylindrical cavity  169  through which is positioned a shaft  171 . A coupler  172  is provided at one end of shaft  171  and a resistance block  174  is provided at the other end of shaft  171 . Block  160  is preferably configured for rotation or pivotal movement about shaft  171 . As block  160  rotates (as discussed in more detail below), the alignment of wheels  141 , 142  relative to the longitudinal axis of the skate is changed, causing the skate to turn.  
         [0050]     As described in more detail below, turning (or changing the alignment of wheels  141 , 142  relative to the base  110 ), is initiated by leaning to one side or the other of the skate. At equilibrium, no lean, a user&#39;s weight is apportioned an approximately equal amount over both wheels. As a user leans, more weight is distributed on one wheel and less weight on the other. Since each wheel is coupled to pivot-mounted movable arms, the movable arms move (rotate) as the weight on the respective wheels changes. Arms  147 , 148  are pushed to rotate downward by bias member  167 , 168 . The weight on the wheel resists this bias force and hence the wheel with less weight is pushed down further.  
         [0051]     Since resistance block  174  is stationary, the change in the position of movable arms  147 , 148  causes the positioning protrusions  151 , 152  to descend to different depths relative to extension  155  and bias members  167 , 168 , causing or facilitating the rotation of block  160  around shaft  171  and thereby changing the alignment of wheels  141 , 142  relative to the base. Bias members  167 , 168  may be formed of rubber, natural or synthetic, or another suitable material, including metallic springs and other biasing members.  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIGS. 11-12 , a bottom and side view of skate  105  making a right turn in accordance with the present invention are respectively shown. With more weight on wheel  142  (the right wheel from an above, forward facing perspective), more force is exerted against bias member  168  forcing protrusion  152  further into and below the bias member and the resistance block  174 . This is evident from the perspective of  FIGS. 11-12 . Concomitantly, less weight is provided on wheel  141  producing less force against bias member  167  and less penetration of protrusion  151  into and below bias member  167  and the resistance block.  
         [0053]     Since the resistance block is fixed, block  160  rotates about shaft  171  to compensate for the unequal pressure exerted by arms  147 , 148 . The greater the amount of lean, the greater the amount of weight transfer and turning about shaft  171 . When a user lifts the skate off the ground, the weight differential is eliminated and the substantially equal force of bias members  167 , 168  pushes each of the movable arms a substantially equal amount, which translates into positioning the movable arms at approximately equal positions, effectively resetting the wheels and wheel assembly into alignment with the skate frame and hence a straight ahead or non-turning relationship.  
         [0054]     Leaning to the left achieves a similar effect, albeit with the wheels  141 , 142  receiving forces generally opposite of those described above, and hence turning the opposite direction.  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a bottom perspective view of a skate  205  with front and rear turnable wheel assemblies  280  and  240 , respectively, in accordance with the present invention is shown. Skate  205  achieves enhanced turning by providing turnable wheel assemblies at the front and rear of the skate.  
         [0056]     The rear turnable wheel assembly  240  includes components and functions in a manner substantially similar to rear turnable wheel assembly  140  discussed with reference to  FIG. 8-12 . The front turnable wheel assembly is substantially similar to turnable wheel assemblies  140 , 240 , but is positioned in the converse direction, i.e., wheels forward as opposed to reverse. The front assembly  280  functions, however, in substantially the same manner. For example, leaning toward the right places more weight on wheel  282 , causing protrusion  284  to put more force on biasing member  286  and push extension  287  and the mounting block  290  in the direction that turns the mounting block and affects a right hand turn of the wheel assembly  280 . A lean to the left achieves a turn to the left in substantially the same manner.  
         [0057]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , a bottom perspective view of another turnable wheel assembly  340  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Wheel assembly  340  functions in a manner similar to wheel assemblies  140 , 240 . Wheels  341 , 342  are mounted on independent axles (obscured by the wheels and movable arms, but similar to axles  143 , 144 ) that are in turn coupled to movable arms  347 , 348 . These arms may be pivotably coupled to block  360 .  
         [0058]     Similar to block  160 , block  360  is rotatably coupled to shaft  371  which has a resistive rod  374  connected at a distal end. Positioning protrusion  351 , 352  are respectively coupled to movable arms  347 , 348  and are biased into resistive rod  374 . Bias members  367 , 368  respectively bias the position protrusions  351 , 352  into the resistive rod (in a manner similar to that described above for operation of position protrusion  151 , 152  and resistive block  174 ). Bias members  367 , 368  may be formed of spring steel (or other suitable biasing material) and fastened to block  360  via screws or another appropriate fastener  369 .  
         [0059]     Wheel assembly  340  achieves a right turn when a user leans to the right and a left turn when a user leans to the left, using the same physics as described above for the turning assemblies of  FIGS. 8-13 .  
         [0060]     The embodiment of  FIG. 14  illustrates, among other features, that the independent axle turnable wheel assembly of the present invention may be constructed using differently shaped and sized components. The materials can also be modified while maintaining function.  
         [0061]     Referring to  FIGS. 15-16 , a perspective view and a side view (partially cut-away) of one embodiment of a wheeled skate braking mechanism  430  in accordance with the present invention are shown. In the side view of  FIG. 16 , movable arm  347  is removed so that the braking mechanism can be more clearly seen.  
         [0062]     While breaking mechanism  430  may be used with nearly all wheeled skates, it is described in  FIGS. 15-16  as being mounted on a wheeled skate  405  that is similar to wheeled skates  105 , 205  of  FIGS. 8-12 . Skate  405  also preferably has a turnable wheel assembly  440  that is similar to turnable wheel assembly  140 , 240 , 340  of  FIGS. 8-14 . It should be recognized, however, that the braking mechanism of the present invention can also be used with non-turnable wheel assemblies.  
         [0063]     Skate  405  may include a front wheel assembly  120  as taught with reference to  FIGS. 8, 11  and  12  and a turnable rear wheel assembly  340  as taught with reference to  FIG. 14 , though as potentially modified as discussed herein to accommodate the breaking mechanism.  
         [0064]     Breaking mechanism  430  includes a mounting bracket  431  that pivotally mounts a first braking lever  432  to the pivotally mounted brake engaging member  404 . First braking member  432  may be pivotally coupled to frame  433  in such a manner that the distal end of lever  432  is positioned adjacent the second braking lever  434 . The second braking lever  434  is pivotally coupled by pivot  435  to a block extension  439 , which is preferably formed integrally with block  460 . The distal end of second braking lever  434  preferably contains a stop pin or member  437  that contacts and thereby impedes rotation of wheel  341 , 342 , effectively breaking the skate. A notch  438  may be provided in block  460  to permit the braking mechanism to be positioned between block  460  and the wheels. Alternatively, the movable arms  347 , 348  could be made longer, etc., to accommodate the braking mechanism.  
         [0065]     In use, a user extends his or her foot forward causing his or her lower leg to in turn move backwards (rotating backwards from the ankle). The lower leg (upper Achilles&#39; tendon region) contacts and pushes the brake engaging member  404  backwards, thereby causing the first braking lever to pivot about frame  433  and exert pressure on second braking lever  434 . This pressure causes the stop member  437 , mounted through pivot  435 , to exert pressure against wheels  341 , 342 . This pressure is the braking force.  
         [0066]     The components of the brake mechanism may be made of metal, plastic or another suitable material. Many suitable materials are known in the art. The stop member  437  is preferably made of a metal material (because the wheels are likely made of rubber and metal is typically effective in impeding rubber), but could be made of other materials, for example, hard plastics or rubbers, etc.  
         [0067]     With respect to  FIGS. 17-18 , two perspective views of other wheeled skate braking mechanisms in accordance with the present invention are shown. Wheel braking mechanism  530  of  FIG. 17  combines the first braking lever  532  with the brake engaging member  504 , eliminating mounting bracket  431  and frame  433 . Wheel braking mechanism  630  of  FIG. 18  is similarly configured (eliminating mounting bracket  431  and frame  433 ), though the first and second braking levers  632 , 634  are shaped differently with the first braking lever configured in a rather streamlined manner that curves under the “shoe” portion of the skate and contacts the second braking lever  634 . The block  560 , 660 , stop member  537 , 637 , pivots  535 , 635  and other components are substantially as described elsewhere herein for similar components.  
         [0068]     It should be recognized that other braking systems could be used without departing from the present invention, including all or part of other-braking systems discussed herein.  
         [0069]     It should also be recognized that the motorized drive mechanism discussed with reference to  FIG. 7  and the like could be used with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein, particularly those having at least one fixed (i.e., “non-turnable” wheel).  
         [0070]     Suitable materials for skate manufacture are known in the art. Nonetheless, for shoe manufacture they may include leather and plastic and other materials, and for base or support structure they may include metals or plastics or other suitable materials (particularly materials with similar properties, i.e., relatively lightweight and strong). The wheels may be made of rubber, polyurethane or other suitable material.  
         [0071]     While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.