Abstract:
A brake assembly for a skate of the type having parallel rails connected to the bottom of a boot. The skate brake bracket for mounting outside the rails and a brake wheel mounted to the skate brake bracket. The tension of the brake wheel may be adjusted.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application No. 61/268,549, filed Jun. 15, 2009, entitled “FRONT BRAKE  4  INLINE SKATE”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention pertains to the field of skates. More particularly, the invention pertains to a skate brake. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Prior art skate brakes commonly consist of rubber pads on the front of the skates. The rubber pads wear out frequently and have to be replaced. Additionally, the tension of the rubber pads used as brakes are not adjustable to suit the terrain or the weight of the skater. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A brake assembly for a skate of the type having parallel rails connected to the bottom of a boot. The skate brake bracket for mounting outside the rails and a brake wheel mounted to the skate brake bracket. 
     The skate brake bracket is placed on the outer sides of the parallel rails of the inline skate and has first and second connecting portions and first and second brake holding portions. The connecting portions have a series of holes aligned with the plurality of wheels of the inline skate and receive brake bolts which can substitute for the skate&#39;s wheel bolts. The first and second brake holding portions are integrally connected to the first and second connecting portions and extending away from and forward of the inline skate boot and at least partially across the path of the forward most skate wheel. A first brake holding portion receives a tension adjuster screw and the second brake holding portion receives a tensioner. The brake wheel is rotatably mounted to a tension adjuster screw between two washers and the brake holding portions. Tension on the brake wheel is applied by the washers and the tensioner on the brake wheel. The tension on the brake wheel may be adjusted by adjusting the tensioner adjuster screw relative to the tensioner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic of the brake on an inline skate. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic of the brake. 
         FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the brake of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of the tensioner of the brake. 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic of a brake of an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the brake of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  show an inline skate  2  with a brake assembly  4 . The inline skate  2  is a skate of a conventional type and is not limited to the boot design shown in the Figures. Connected to the bottom of the boot  3  of the inline skate  2  are two parallel rails  6 . The rails  6  support a plurality of wheels  8  with wheel bolts  10 , which may range from two wheels up to four or more. Attached to outer sides of the two parallel rails  6  is a skate brake bracket  12 . 
     The skate brake bracket  12  has first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  and first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  for placement on the outer sides of the two parallel rails  6  of the inline skate  2 . The first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  are preferably integrally connected to the brake first and second holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  through curved portions  15  that are concavely curved away from the inline skate boot  3  to allow for a clearance between the toe of the inline skate boot  3  and the skate brake bracket  12  and extends forward from the toe of the inline skate boot  3  and at least partially across the path of the forward skate wheel  8   a.    
     The first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the skate brake bracket  12  have a series of holes  21 ,  23  that align with the wheels  8  of the inline skate  2  in order to attach the skate brake bracket  12  to the inline skate  2 . The holes  21 ,  23  are elongated in shape to allow for some variation of wheel to wheel dimensions which may be present between different brands of inline skates. Alternatively, multiple holes may be present in order to allow for the brake to be attached to different brands of inline skates. 
     To attach the brake assembly  4  of the present invention to the conventional inline skate  2 , the wheel bolts  10  from the first two wheels  8 ,  8   a  are preferably removed and substituted with first and second brake bolts  18 , although the wheel bolts may also work. Alternatively, the first and second brake bolts  18  may be placed in between the plurality of wheels  8 . 
     The first and second brake bolts  18  are preferably made of steel and are longer than the wheel bolts  10  originally present. The nuts  11  that were paired with the wheels  8 ,  8   a  of the inline skate  3  are reused and tightened to fasten the first and second connecting portions  14   a , 14   b  of the skate brake bracket  12  into place on the two parallel rails  6 . The skate brake bracket  12  is preferably formed of aluminum, although other materials such as plastic, fiberglass, round bar, stainless steel powder, or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UMHW) may be used. The material of the skate brake may be colored using techniques known in the art. 
     The first brake holding portion  16   a  of the skate brake bracket  12  has a hole  17  for receiving a threaded tension adjuster screw  20  and the second brake holding portion  16   b  of the skate brake bracket  12  has a hole  19  for receiving a threaded tensioner  22  that is aligned with the hole  17  and receives the threaded tension adjuster screw  20 . A brake wheel  24 , preferably made of rubber or plastic and smaller in size and diameter than the wheels  8 ,  8   a  of the inline skate  2 , is received between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  of the skate brake bracket  12 . Two washers  26 , also preferably made of rubber, are present between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  and the brake wheel  24 . The brake wheel  24  is the brake for the inline skate  2  and is preferably attached to the brake assembly  4  by placing the brake wheel  24  between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  and two washers  26 , one on each side of the brake wheel  24  and placing the tension adjuster screw  20  through the hole  17  on the first brake holding portion  16   a , the washer  26 , the brake wheel  24 , the other washer  26  and through tensioner  22  received in the opposite hole  19  in the second brake holding portion  16   b . Then, the tensioner adjuster screw  20  is tightened securing the brake wheel  24  into place between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b.    
     The washers  26  sandwiched between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  and the brake wheel  24  control the tension of the spin of the brake wheel  24 . Tightening the tensioner adjuster screw  20  draws the tensioner  22  and the washers  26  against the brake wheel  24 , applying pressure on the brake wheel  24  and controlling how much if any spin of the brake wheel  24  occurs. Therefore, the skater may adjust the tension of the brake of their inline skate  2  easily and for whatever terrain they may be skating on. 
     If more tension is required, for a harder stop, for example when skating on hilly terrain, then the skater tightens the tensioner adjuster screw  20 , drawing the tensioner  22  and the washers  26  against the brake wheel  24  and prevents any significant spinning of the brake wheel  24  when the skater flexes their foot to apply pressure on the toe, such that the toe of the skate  2  moves downwards towards the ground and the brake wheel  24  engages the ground. If less tension is required, for a softer stop, for example when skating on flat terrain where a quick stop may be easier to execute, then the skater may loosen the tensioner adjuster screw  20 , removing some of the force of the washer  26  and tensioner  22  on the brake wheel  24 . 
     By being able to control the tension and the spin of the brake wheel  24  the skater can also adjust the braking of the inline skate  2  for the weight of the skater. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show a brake assembly  40  of a second embodiment. Instead of the brake assembly  4  being attached to the rails  6  that support a plurality of wheels  8  as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the brake assembly  40  is attached to skate  2  by a ratchet means  42 . The ratchet means  42  is shown as being at the heel  3   a  of the skate boot  3  although the ratchet means  42  may be placed anywhere on the skate that adequately attaches the brake assembly to the skate. Additionally, the first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  extend to and are coupled to first and second heel cup portions  44   a ,  44   b  that are joined together by a ratchet means  42  consisting of a ratchet buckle  45  on a first heel cup portion  44   a  and a strap  46  on the second heel cup portion  44   b.    
     The inline skate  2  is a skate of a conventional type and is not limited to the boot design shown in the Figures. Connected to the bottom of the boot  3  of the inline skate  2  are two parallel rails  6 . The rails  6  support a plurality of wheels  8  with wheel bolts  10 , which may range from two wheels up to four or more. 
     The skate brake bracket  47  has first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  and first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  for placement on the outer sides of the two parallel rails  6  of the inline skate  2  above the plurality of wheels  8 . The first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  are preferably integrally connected to the brake first and second holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  through curved portions  15  that are concavely curved away from the inline skate boot  3  to allow for a clearance between the toe of the inline skate boot  3  and the skate brake bracket  47  and extends forward from the toe of the inline skate boot  3  and at least partially across the path of the forward skate wheel  8   a . As previously stated, the first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  are also preferably connected to first and second heel portions  44   a ,  44   b.    
     To attach the brake assembly to the conventional inline skate, the ratchet means  44  is undone and the first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the skate brake bracket  47  are placed on the two parallel rails  6  above the holes with bolts  10  that attached the wheels  8  to the skate  2 , such that the skate brake bracket  47  extends forward from the toe of the inline skate and the brake wheel  24  is at least partially across the path of the forward skate wheel  8   a , and the strap  46  on the second heel cup portion  44   b  is received by a ratchet buckle  45  on a first heel cup portions  44   a , tightening the brake assembly  40  to the skate  2 . 
     Alternatively, the brake assembly  40  may be attached to a conventional skate with at least one set of parallel wheels (not shown). The brake assembly  40  may be attached to the skate by undoing the ratchet means  42  and placing the first and second connecting portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the skate brake bracket  47  adjacent to a bracket supporting the wheels, such that the skate brake bracket  47  extends forward from the toe of the skate and the brake wheel  24  is inline with the toe of the skate, and the strap  46  on the second heel cup portion  44   b  is received by a ratchet buckle  45  on a first heel cup portions  44   a , tightening the brake assembly  40  to the skate  2 . 
     The skate brake bracket  47  is preferably formed of aluminum, although other materials such as plastic or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UMHW) may be used. 
     The braking of the skate using the brake wheel works as described in reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . The first brake holding portion  16   a  of the skate brake bracket  12  has a hole  17  for receiving a threaded tension adjuster screw  20  and the second brake holding portion  16   b  of the skate brake bracket  12  has a hole  19  for receiving a threaded tensioner  22  that is aligned with the hole  17  and receives the threaded tension adjuster screw  20 . A brake wheel  24 , preferably made of rubber or plastic and smaller in size and diameter than the wheels  8 ,  8   a  of the inline skate  2 , is received between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  of the skate brake bracket  12 . Two washers  26 , also preferably made of rubber, are present between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  and the brake wheel  24 . The brake wheel  24  is the brake for the inline skate  2  and is preferably attached to the brake assembly  4  by placing the brake wheel  24  between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  and two washers  26 , one on each side of the brake wheel  24  and placing the tension adjuster screw  20  through the hole  17  on the first brake holding portion  16   a , the washer  26 , the brake wheel  24 , the other washer  26  and through tensioner  22  received in the opposite hole  19  in the second brake holding portion  16   b . Then, the tensioner adjuster screw  20  is tightened securing the brake wheel  24  into place between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b.    
     The washers  26  sandwiched between the first and second brake holding portions  16   a ,  16   b  and the brake wheel  24  control the tension of the spin of the brake wheel  24 . Tightening the tensioner adjuster screw  20  draws the tensioner  22  and the washers  26  against the brake wheel  24 , applying pressure on the brake wheel  24  and controlling how much if any spin of the brake wheel  24  occurs. Therefore, the skater may adjust the tension of the brake of their inline skate  2  easily and adjust for whatever terrain they are skating on. 
     If more tension is required, for a harder stop, for example when skating on hilly terrain, then the skater tightens the tensioner adjuster screw  20 , drawing the tensioner  22  and the washers  26  against the brake wheel  24  and prevents any significant spinning of the brake wheel  24  when the skater flexes their foot to apply pressure on the toe, such that the toe of the skate  2  moves downwards towards the ground and the brake wheel  24  engages the ground. If less tension is required, for a softer stop, for example when skating on flat terrain where a quick stop may be easier to execute, then the skater may loosen the tensioner adjuster screw  20 , removing some of the force of the washer  26  and tensioner  22  on the brake wheel  24 . 
     By being able to control the tension and the spin of the brake wheel  24  the skater can also adjust the braking of the inline skate  2  for the weight of the skater. 
     Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.