Skate with braking device

Abstract: A braking device for skates includes a rod member (510) associated with the quarter (504) of the shoe; the lower end of the rod member has a braking member (517) adapted to interact with a wheel (507) on the ground when the quarter is tilted back.

Description: The present invention relates to an in-line skate comprising an item of footgear composed of a quarter articulated to a shell which is in turn associated with a supporting frame for two or more wheels, and a braking device. Currently, in known roller skates, whether constituted by a shoe associated with a support for two pairs of mutually parallel wheels or constituted by a shoe associated with a supporting frame for two or more aligned wheels, the problem of braking said wheels to adjust the speed of the skate is significantly felt. It is known to use adapted blocks or pads usually made of rubber and arranged at the toe or heel region of the shoe; when the user tilts the shoe forwards or backwards, the free end of the blocks or pads interacts with the ground and the braking action is thus obtained. These conventional brakes have the considerable drawback that they require the user to rotate the shoe, and accordingly the frame associated therewith, at the toe or heel, and this can cause loss of balance with consequent falls. US patent 1,402,010 discloses a roller skate provided with a band to be fastened on the leg of the user above the malleolar region and to which a rod is connected. The rod embraces the leg in a rear region and is associated, at its ends, in the malleolar region, with a lever system articulated to a structure protruding from the wheel supporting frame. Said lever system protrudes to the rear of the frame and is connected to a plate shaped approximately complementarily to the curve of part of an underlying facing wheel. This solution also has drawbacks; first of all, relative movement occurs between the band and the leg throughout sports practice, and this does not make its use comfortable due to the continuous rubbing of the band on the leg. Furthermore, the plate is activated every time the user bends his leg backwards beyond a given angle, without real and easy possibilities of changing this condition. Because each individual has a different leg shape, braking occurs at different rotation angles for an equal length of the rod. The rod also rests and presses on the malleolar region, and this can cause discomfort or accidental impacts. US patent 4,275,895 is known as a partial solution to this problem and describes a brake for skates having two pairs of mutually parallel wheels; the brake acts at the rear wheels. The brake is constituted by a flap associated with the item of footgear in a rearward position. A blade is associated with the flap in a rearward position and is pivoted at the supporting frame of the item of footgear. The blade has, at its free end, a transverse element on which a pair of C-shaped elements is formed at the lateral ends. The C-shaped elements interact, upon a backward rotation imparted to the flap, with the rear wheels facing them, namely, the C-shaped elements interact with their rolling surface. However, this solution too has drawbacks; it is in fact structurally complicated and therefore difficult to industrialize. It also requires an adapted spring suitable to allow the flap to return to the condition in which the pair of C-shaped elements does not interact with the wheels, and this further increases structural complexity. US patent 4,300,781 discloses a braking device for skates comprising pairs of mutually parallel wheels. The brake comprises a blade pivoted transversely at the rear end of the frame for supporting a shoe. Pads are associated with its ends and face the rolling surface of the pair of rear wheels. The brake is activated by using a cable suitable to rotate the blade in contrast with a spring associated with the support for the pair of front wheels, so as to move the pads into contact with the rolling surface of the pair of rear wheels. The cable can be activated by means of rings or handles which are associated with a band which is arrangeable on the lower limbs of the user through connection members. However, this solution has considerable drawbacks; first of all, activation of the brake can lead to possible losses of balance during sports practice, since the user does not assume, with his body, a position suitable to control the sudden speed reduction; only the hand of the skater is in fact involved in the activation of the brake. Furthermore, since the sport can be practiced while wearing trousers, when pulling the rings the band might slide along the trousers or might make the trousers slide along the leg, making the braking action ineffective. There is also a loose cable which is a hindrance to the skater and can accidentally catch during skating, especially in view of the fact that coordination of arm-leg movement rhythmically arranges the legs laterally toward the outside. The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the drawbacks described above in known types by providing an in-line skate having a braking device which is structurally very simple and easy to industrialize and activate. Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a braking device which can be activated by the user in case of actual need and never accidentally. Another important object is to provide a braking device which can be activated and deactivated rapidly and in a simple manner by the user. Another important object is to provide a braking device wherein activation of the braking action can be preset by the user according to his individual requirements. Another important object is to provide a braking device which does not hinder the user during ordinary sports practice. Another object is to provide a device which is furthermore reliable and safe in use, has modest manufacturing costs and can also be applied to known skates. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an in-line skate having a braking device as defined in the appended claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a side view of a skate according to a first aspect of the invention; figure 2 is a rear cross section view according to the plane II-II of figure 1; figure 3 is a side view of a skate according to a second aspect of the invention; figure 4 is a side view of a skate according to a third aspect of the invention; figure 5 is a rear cross section view according to the plane V-V of figure 4; figure 6 is a side view of a skate according to a fourth aspect of the invention; figure 7 is a rear cross section view according to the plane VII-VII of figure 6; figure 8 is a side partial view of a skate according to a fifth aspect of the invention, showing the brake in the idle position; and figure 9 is a view similar to the preceding one showing the brake in the braking position. With reference to figures 1-2, the reference numeral 1 designates a braking device associated with an in-line skate, designated by the reference numeral 2, of the type comprising an item of footgear 3 composed of a shell 4 to which a quarter 6 is laterally articulated by means of a pair of studs 5, said quarter embracing the leg of the user laterally and to the rear. The shell 4 and the quarter 6 have flaps which can be secured by using adapted known levers 7. A frame 8 is associated with the shell 4 and has a pair of lateral wings 9a and 9b between which mutually aligned wheels 10 are pivoted. The braking device comprises, in the illustrated embodiment, a first rod member 11 and a second rod member 12 which are arranged laterally with respect to the quarter 6, to the shell 4 and to the frame 8. The first and second rod members thus have a curved shape approximately complementary to the lateral regions of the quarter and of the shell, whereas at the region of the frame 8 the rod members are curved toward the toe 13 of the item of footgear 3 so as to arrange the end 14 in an intermediate region between two adjacent wheels. The other end 15 of the first and second rod members adjacent to the upper perimetric edge 16 of the quarter 6, is rigidly coupled to said quarter, for example by means of adapted screws, whereas the rod members are rotatably associated at the pair of studs 5 for pivoting the quarter 6 to the shell 4. As an alternative, the first and second rod members may be rotatably associated at other studs which are laterally rigidly coupled to the shell 4. Thus, a backward rotation of the quarter 6 is matched by a movement of the end 14 of the first rod member 11 and of the second rod member 12 toward the toe 13 of the item of footgear. A first braking element 17 is also associated with the end 14 of the first and second rod members, constituted by a C-shaped support 18 with its wings directed toward the ground. The support is rotatably associated at its base transversely and internally with respect to the frame 8 by means of a first pivot 19 which passes through adapted slots 20 formed on the ends 14 of the first and second rod members. The slots 20 allow to move the pivot 19 approximately along an axis which is parallel to the ground as a consequence of the movement of the ends 14 toward the toe 13 of the shell, which is a consequence of the backward rotation of the quarter 6. The support 18 is also pivoted, at its wings, transversely to the lateral wings 9a and 9b of the frame 8 by means of a second pivot 21 which is arranged transversely between said wings. An element 22, such as a rubber pad suitable to interact with the ground to brake the skate, is associated between the ends of the wings of the support 18 which are adjacent to the ground. In order to improve the braking action it is possible to provide a plurality of braking elements so that, as shown in figure 3, an extension 144 can be associated with the ends 114, extending toward the toe of said item of footgear; one or more braking elements are associated with the extension 144. It is thus possible to arrange, adjacent to the toe 113 of the item of footgear 103, a second braking element 123 again constituted by a support 118a which is articulated, at its base, to the end 114a of the first and second rod members by means of a third pivot 124. The support is in turn pivoted between the lateral wings 109 of the frame 108 by means of a fourth pivot 125, whereas a second element 126, such as an additional rubber pad, is associated with the end of the support which is directed toward the ground. The use of the present invention is very simple: every time the user rotates the quarter backwards, the ends 14 of the first and second rod members consequently rotate towards the toe of the item of footgear. In this manner, a rotation is imparted to the support of the first braking element and of any second braking element, so as to move the first element 22 and/or the second element 126 into contact with the ground. Depending on the degree of tilt imparted to the quarter, the elements 22 and/or 126 press more or less intensely against the ground so as to vary the degree of braking imparted to the item of footgear. It has thus been observed that the present invention has solved the described technical problems, achieving the intended aim and objects, a skate having in fact been obtained wherein it is possible to brake very rapidly and easily and a braking device having been obtained which is very simple and easy to industrialize. Furthermore, the braking action cannot be accidental, because during skating the user usually assumes a position in which his weight is directed forward, thus imparting a given forward inclination to the quarter, thus ensuring the lifting of the first braking element and of any second braking element from the ground. Therefore, only if the user rises from this position, the required degree of rotation can be imparted to the quarter and the braking action can thus be achieved. The skate according to the invention is naturally susceptible to numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the claims. Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment for a braking device 201 wherein the first rod member 211 and the second rod member 212 are again rigidly coupled, at the end 215 which is adjacent to the upper perimetric edge 216 of the quarter 206, laterally to said quarter and are also rotatably associated with said quarter at the studs 205 for articulation to the shell 204. In the region of the first rod member 211 and of the second rod member 212 which is adjacent to the frame 208 there is an articulation 227 which is obtained for example by means of the free articulation of an end of a pair of rods 228a and 228b at the other end of which a braking element 217 is associated. The braking element comprises a support 218 which is transversely pivoted, at its base, inside the frame 208 by means of a first pivot 219. The support is C-shaped with its wings directed toward the ground, whereas the first pivot 219 passes through adapted slots 220 formed on the lateral wings 209a and 209b of the frame 208. An element 222 is arranged between the wings of the support 218 and is constituted by a rubber pad which interacts directly with the ground upon a backward rotation imparted to the quarter 206. The wings of the support 218 are pivoted transversely to the lateral wings 209a and 209b of the frame 208 by means of a fourth pivot 225 which affects the slots 220. An element 222, such as a rubber pad, is associated with the ends of the wings of the support which are directed toward the ground. The fourth pivot 225 is slideable within the slots 220 in contrast with an elastically deformable element such as a spring 230a and 230b. A backward rotation of the quarter 206 produces the rotation of the first and second rod members and, by virtue of the presence of the articulation 227, the first pivot 219 slides within the slots 220a and 220b, pushing the support and thus the pad toward the ground; impact with the ground is adjusted by the presence of the elastically deformable element 230. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a further embodiment for a braking device 301 in which the first rod member 311 and the second rod member 312 are again rigidly coupled, at the end 315 which is adjacent to the upper perimetric edge 316 of the quarter 306, laterally to said quarter and are furthermore rotatably associated with said quarter at the studs 305 for articulation to the shell 304. The first and second rod members have a curved shape which is approximately complementary to the lateral regions of the quarter and of the shell, while at the region of the frame 308 said rod members are curved toward the toe 313 of the item of footgear 303 so as to arrange the end 314 in an intermediate region between two adjacent wheels. A fifth pivot 331a and 331b is associated with the ends 314 of the first and second rod members and is located at a first slot 320 which is formed at an end of a pair of rods 328a and 328b at the other end whereof a braking element 317 is associated. In an intermediate region, said rods 328a and 328b are pivoted to the wings of the frame 308 by means of sixth pivots 332a and 332b. Second slots 333a and 333b are formed at the ends of the rods 328a and 328b which are adjacent to the ground and act as seats for the first pivot 319 for connecting the braking element 317 and said rods to the wings of the frame 308; third slots 334 are formed on said wings and have a given inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis of said frame, such as to allow rotation of the rods following a backward rotation of the quarter. The braking element 317 is constituted by a C-shaped support 318 in which the wings are directed toward the ground; at its wings, the support is rotatably associated transversely and internally with respect to the frame 308 by means of the first pivot 319. The support 318 is furthermore pivoted, at its wings, transversely to the lateral wings 309a and 309b of the frame 308 by means of a second pivot 321 which is arranged transversely between said wings. An element 322, such as a rubber pad, suitable to interact with the ground to brake the skate, is associated between the ends of the wings of the support 318 which are adjacent to the ground. In this embodiment, the pad is not subject to jamming during the braking action. Figures 8-9 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention wherein a skate 702 comprises a shoe 703 composed of a quarter 704 articulated to a shell 705 at a pivot 708. The shell 705 is associated with a supporting frame 706 having a set of aligned wheels 707. The braking device 701 comprises a first rod 711 rigidly associated with the quarter 704, a second rod 712, a third rod 713 and a fourth rod 714. The second rod 712 is L-shaped and has a first end, articulated to the first rod 711 at a pivot 715, and a second end articulated at the fourth rod 714 at a pivot 716. At the corner, the L-shaped rod 712 has pivot 717 for the articulation to one end of the third rod 713. The other end of rod 713 is articulated to a pivot 718 which is rigidly associated with the frame 706. A pad, or block, 719 is rigidly associated to the fourth rod 714 which is also L-shaped and has a pivot 720 rigidly associated with the frame 706. The operation of the braking device is apparent from the description and from the figures. A backward rotation of the quarter 704 causes the fourth rod 714, and therefore the pad 714, to rotate about the pivot 720, as illustrated in figure 16. The materials and the dimensions constituting the individual components of the device may be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: An in-line skate comprising an item of footgear (3,103,303,703) composed of a quarter (6,106,206,306,704) articulated to a shell (4,204,304,705) associated with a supporting frame having a set of wheels (10,707) adapted to roll on the ground, and a braking device comprising at least one rod member (11,211,311,711) associated with said quarter, and at least one braking element (22,126,222,322, 719) being associated with said at least one rod member, wherein said at least one braking element is adapted to interact with said ground between two adjacent wheels upon a rotation of said quarter. In-line skate according to claim 1, characterized in that the braking device is constituted by a first (11) and a second (12) rod members which are arranged laterally to said quarter, said shell and said frame; said rod members being shaped so as to approximately match the shape of said quarter and said shell; said first and second rod members being curved toward the toe (13) of said item of footgear at said frame, so as to arrange their lower ends (14) in an intermediate region between two adjacent wheels. In-line skate according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper end of said first and second rod members which is adjacent to the upper perimetric end of said quarter is rigidly associated with said quarter; said first and second rod members being rotatably associated at studs (5) for pivoting said quarter to said shell. In-line skate according to claim 3, characterized in that a first braking element (17) is associated with said end (14) of said first and second rod members; said first braking element being constituted by a C-shaped support (18) in which the wings are directed toward the ground, and is rotatably associated at its base transversely and internally with respect to said frame (8) by means of a first pivot (19) which passes through adapted slots (20) formed on said ends (14) of said first and second rod members; said slots having such a shape as to allow the movement of said first pivot approximately along an axis which is parallel to the ground following a movement of said ends toward the toe of said shell which is a consequence of a backward rotation imparted to said quarter; said support being pivoted, at its wings, transversely to lateral wings (9a,9b) of said frame by means of a second pivot (21) which is arranged transversely between said wings. In-line skate according to claim 4, characterized in that an element, such as a rubber pad (22), suitable to interact with the ground to brake the skate is associated between the ends of said wings of said support which are adjacent to the ground. In-line skate according to one or more of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that an extension (144) is associated with said ends (114) and extends toward the toe of said item of footgear; a braking element being associated with said extension and being constituted by a support (123) articulated, at its base, to said extension by means of a third pivot (124); said support being pivoted between lateral wings (109) of said frame (108) by means of a fourth pivot (123), whereas a second element (126), such as an additional rubber pad, is associated with the end of said support directed toward the ground. In-line skate according to one or more of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that an articulation is provided in the region of said first and second rod members which is adjacent to said frame, comprising a rod (328a,328b); said braking element being constituted by a support (318) which is pivoted transversely, at its base, inside said frame by means of said first pivot (319), said support being C-shaped with its wings directed toward the ground and said first pivot (319) passes through adapted slots (320) formed on said lateral wings of said frame; an element constituted by a rubber pad (322) being arranged between said wings of said support and directly interacts with the ground upon a backward rotation imparted to said quarter, said wings of said support being pivoted transversely to said lateral wings of said frame by means of a fourth pivot affecting said slots, said fourth pivot being slideable within said slots in contrast with an elastically deformable element, a fifth pivot (331a,331b) being associated with the ends of said first and second rod members and is located at a first slot formed at one end of a pair of rods at the other end of which a braking element is associated, second slots (333a,333b) being formed at said ends of said pair of rods which are adjacent to the ground and act as seats for said first pivot for connecting said braking element and said pair of rods to said wings of said frame, third slots (334) being provided on said wings, said slots having such an inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis of said frame to allow the rotation of said rods following a backward rotation of said quarter. In-line skate according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first rod member (711), a second rod member (712), a third rod member (713) and a fourth rod member (714), said second and fourth rod members being L-shaped and each having a corner, said first rod member being rigidly associated with said quarter (704), said second rod member having a first end articulated to said first rod member at a first pivot (715), said second rod member having its corner articulated to said third rod member at a second pivot (717), said third rod member having a first end articulated to said second pivot and a second end articulated to a third pivot (718), said third pivot being rigidly associated with said frame (706), said second rod member having a second end articulated to a first end of said fourth rod member at a fourth pivot (716), said fourth rod member having its corner articulated to a fifth pivot (720) rigidly associated to said frame, said fourth rod member being rigidly associated to a braking element (719) adapted to interact with the ground upon a backward rotation of said quarter.

Inventors: BALBINOT RENZO, GONELLA MARIO, PELLEGRINI ALFRED JR, POZZOBON ALESSANDRO, TORMENA ANDREA, BALBINOT, RENZO, GONELLA, MARIO, PELLEGRINI, ALFRED, JR., POZZOBON, ALESSANDRO, TORMENA, ANDREA
Applicants: BENETTON SPORTSYSTEM SPA, BENETTON SPORTSYSTEM S.P.A.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A63C17
IPC codes: A63C17