Abstract:
An in-line brake having a displaceable carriage for slowing and stopping a zip track trolley, that allows the trolley to continue in its direction of travel after it stops. The carriage is then repositioned automatically to stop the next trolley.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a brake system that can be used in a variety of environments, but particularly challenge courses. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A zip track is a structure that allows a person to displace from, usually a higher location to a lower location due to the force of gravity. The zip track is usually made of a track, and a trolley that rolls or is otherwise displaced in the track. Sometimes zip tracks are integrated with challenge courses. 
         [0003]    Challenge courses are structures that allow a person or team to challenge themselves by participating in various events such as walking along swinging ropes or planks, at elevated heights. These courses are also used to train military personnel. These courses are also used at recreational parks or other such centers that have go-carts and miniature golf. 
         [0004]    The zip track trolley and the user, generally start from a dead stop, and then increase speed, and then decreases speed to stop at the desired location. 
         [0005]    There exists a need to decelerate and stop the trolley within a certain distance. 
         [0006]    There also exists a need to decelerate the trolley at a gradual and safe speed. 
         [0007]    The present invention causes the trolley to decelerate within a certain distance at a safe speed. 
         [0008]    Multiple embodiments of the system are disclosed herein. It will be understood that other objects and purposes of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           10  present invention, in line brake 
           20  carriage 
           30  arm 
           40  front wheel 
           50  brake track 
           60  closed position 
           70  zip track 
           80  open position 
           90  rear wheel 
           100  user 
           110  harness strap 
           120  landing platform 
           130  trolley 
           140  trolley direction of travel 
           150  channel 
           160  brake track termination area 
           170  extension 
           180  strap 
           190  retraction means 
           200  means to decelerate the carriage 
           210  trolley engagement means 
           220  hinge 
       
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    One aspect of the present invention is an in-line brake  10 , comprising: a brake track  50 ; a carriage  20  movably disposed within said brake track  50 ; a means to decelerate said carriage  200 ; a trolley engagement means  210  integrated with said carriage  20  to engage with a trolley  130  moving in a direction of travel  140  when said carriage  20  is in a closed position  60 , whereby, when said trolley  130  engages with said trolley engagement means  210  said carriage  20  is displaced through a means to decelerate said carriage  200 ; and said carriage  20  capable of being positioned in an open position  80  so that said trolley  130  can continue to move in the direction of travel  140 . 
         [0032]    Another aspect of the present invention an in-line brake  10 , comprising: a brake track  50 ; a carriage  20  movably disposed within said brake track  50 ; a means to decelerate said carriage  200 ; a trolley engagement means  210  integrated with said carriage  20  to engage with a trolley  130  moving in a direction of travel  140  when said carriage  20  is in a closed position  60 , whereby, when said trolley  130  engages with said trolley engagement means  210  said carriage  20  is displaced through a means to decelerate said carriage  200 ; said carriage  20  capable of being positioned in an open position  80  so that said trolley  130  can continue to move in the direction of travel  140 ; 
         [0033]    said trolley  130  movably disposed within a zip track  70 ; a harness strap  110  connected to said trolley  130 ; wherein said trolley engagement means  210  is an arm  30  disposed on said carriage  20  extending from said brake track  50  across said trolley&#39;s direction of travel  140  when said carriage is in a closed position  60 , and said carriage  20  having a hinge  220  and a front wheel  40  rollably engaged with said brake track  50 ; said brake track  50  has a brake track termination area  160  having an extension  170  that extends away from said zip track  50  and oriented substantially perpendicular to said direction of travel  140 ; said carriage  20  can pivot via said hinge  220  to enable said front wheel  40  to roll on said extension  170 ; a retraction means  190  to displace said carriage  20  opposite said direction of travel  140  and reposition said carriage  20  into a closed position  60 ; and a harness strap  110  attached to said trolley  130 ; said harness strap  110  extending downwardly from said trolley  130 ; wherein when said trolley  130  is travelling in the direction of travel  140  the trolley  130  is descending toward a landing platform  120 . 
         [0034]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of a trolley and zip track that utilizes the present invention for slowing and stopping; 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  is another pictorial view of a cross section A-A from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  is another pictorial view of the present invention with the in line brake in the closed position; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  is another pictorial view of the present invention with the in line brake in the open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0041]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words. Also, “connected to,” “secured to,” or similar language includes the definitions “indirectly connected to,” “directly connected to,” “indirectly secured to,” and “directly secured to.” 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in use, with the user  100  connected to a harness strap  110 . The harness strap  110  is secured to a trolley  130  that can roll along the zip track  70 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view along lines A-A. The trolley  130  is illustrated being movably disposed within the zip track  70 . The in-line brake  10  is shown adjacent to the trolley  130 . The carriage  20  is movably disposed within the brake track  50 . The trolley engagement means  210  is shown in position to contact, brake, and stop the trolley  170 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  illustrates the in-line brake  10  in the closed position  60 . This is called the closed position  60  because the trolley  130  cannot move past the trolley engagement means  210 . 
         [0045]    In one embodiment the trolley engagement means  210  may be an arm  30  extending in the way of the trolley  130  so when the trolley  130  is traversing in the direction of travel  140 , some portion of the trolley  130  will contact the arm  30 . The carriage  20  will then displace in the direction of travel  140  in the brake track  50 .  FIG. 4  also illustrates the carriage having a rear wheel  90  and a front wheel  40  to provide a means of moving the carriage  20  within the brake track  50 . 
         [0046]    By force of the trolley  130  contacting the arm  30 , the carriage  20  is then displaced within the brake track  50  and as the trolley  130  reaches the end of its run, the carriage  20  may engage with a means to decelerate the carriage  200  to slow the carriage  20  and the trolley  130  to a stop. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment the means to decelerate the carriage  200  may be the carriage passing between a set of strong magnets permanently attached to the brake track  50 . As the carriage  20  passes within the magnetic field, resistance is created causing a braking effect to occur until the carriage  20  and trolley  130  stop. 
         [0048]    After the trolley  130  and carriage  20  comes to a stop, then the carriage  20  can be displaced further in the direction of travel  140  until the arm  30  can be moved away from the trolley  130  or away from the zip track  70  so as to allow the trolley  130  to continue to move within the zip track  70 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0049]    In one embodiment the carriage  20  may have a front wheel  40  that can roll within the brake track  50  until it reaches a brake track termination area  160 . The front wheel  40  can then roll on an extension  170 , that extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel  140  and away from the zip track  70 , which causes the arm  30  to move away from the zip track  70  to place the arm  30  in an open position  80 , to create clearance for the trolley  130  to continue to move along the zip track  70 . A hinge  220  allows the front wheel  40  to pivot to the open position  80  or a closed position  60 . 
         [0050]    The carriage  20  may also be attached to a retraction means  190  to pull the carriage  20  back into a desired position along the brake track  50  and into a closed position  80 . 
         [0051]    One type of retraction means  190  is a strap  180  attached to a conventional retraction device. Another retraction means  190  may be a spring. 
         [0052]    When the trolley  130  is moving along the direction of travel  140 , it is descending toward a landing platform  120 . 
         [0053]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.