EP0545250A2

EP0545250A2 - Braking device, particularly for skates with aligned wheels

Info

Publication number: EP0545250A2
Application number: EP92120071A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Pozzobon
Original assignee: Nordica SpA
Current assignee: Nordica SpA
Priority date: 1991-12-06
Filing date: 1992-11-25
Publication date: 1993-06-09
Also published as: ITTV910115A1; ITTV910115A0; EP0545250A3; IT1253655B; CA2083339A1; AU2980492A; JPH05245247A

Abstract

Braking device, particularly for skates with aligned wheels, including a frame (2) to which one or more wheel supporting trucks (7,8) are pivoted. The trucks (7,8) include springs (18,19) which are interposed between the frame and the wheel supporting trucks themselves. The braking device is constituted by a pad (22) which interact with a wedge member (23) for the selective adjustment of the braking action and is interposed between the frame and at least one of the wheels (13) and/or at least one wheel supporting means. The device allows to achieve optimum and easy braking of the skate.

Description

The present invention relates to a braking device, particularly for skates with aligned wheels.
Known skates with aligned wheels currently have braking elements which are constituted by a pad, generally made of rubber, which is associated at the front part or at the rear part of the frame of the skate.
These known types of skate have various problems, such as for example the fact that during skating, in order to perform the braking action the user must arrange the skate tip down, if the pad is associated at the front part, and this causes a loss of balance.
Braking is furthermore difficult to adjust.
If the rubber pad is associated at the rear part, the same problems, and thus a possible loss of balance of the user when he tries to make the pad interact with the ground, are observed.
Another known type of skate with aligned wheels, used predominantly by skiers for summer practice on roads, has two trucks which oscillate elastically with respect to a supporting frame, conventional braking device can not be applied to these skates.
One aim of the present invention is to eliminate the problems described above in conventional brakes by providing a device which allows to achieve optimum and easy stopping of a skate with aligned wheels.
Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a device which also allows to reduce the skating speed.
Another object is to provide a device wherein the user can adjust the degree of braking of the skate beforehand.
Another object is to provide a device wherein the user can easily vary the braking action.
Still a further object is to provide a device which is simple, easy to industrialize, reliable and safe in use and has modest manufacturing costs.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a braking device, particularly for skates with aligned wheels, comprising a frame to which at least one wheel supporting truck is pivoted and comprising elastic means interposed between said frame and said at least one wheel supporting truck, characterized in that it comprises braking means which interact with means for selectively adjusting said braking and are interposed between said frame and said at least one of said wheels and/or at least one supporting means for said wheels.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a side view of the braking device applied to a skate above which an item of footwear is associated;
figure 2 is a sectional view of the device, taken along the plane II-II of figure 1;
figure 3 is a partial sectional view, taken along a longitudinal median sectional plane, of the device according to a second aspect of the invention;
figure 4 is a sectional view of the device of figure 3, taken along the plane IV-IV of figure 3.

With reference to the above figures, the braking device, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, includes a frame 2 having a supporting surface 3 with which the sole 4 of an item of footwear 5 can be associated in a fixed or removable manner.
At least one pair of wings 6a and 6b protrudes on the side opposite to the supporting surface 3 of the frame 2; the wings are arranged parallel to one another and along the longitudinal axis of said frame 2.
The ends of a first truck and of a second truck, designated respectively by the numerals 7 and 8, are oppositely pivoted to the pair of wings 6a and 6b and have a plurality of aligned wheels 13.
It is also possible to pivot only one truck to the pair of wings 6a and 6b, the wheels of the second truck being supported directly by the frame 2.
The first truck 7 and the second truck 8 are constituted by a first pair of bars 9a, 9b and by a second pair of bars 10a, 10b; each pair of bars is connected by a first cross-member 11 and by a second cross-member 12 respectively, and each one of said cross-members is arranged proximate to an end of the frame 2 and is interposed between two mutually adjacent wheels.
The plurality of aligned wheels 13 are freely pivoted transversely and rotatably both to the first truck 7 and to the second truck 8.
A first screw 16 and a second screw 17 are interposed at right angles, on the side opposite to the supporting surface 3 of the frame 2, between the front region 14 and the first cross-member 11 and between the rear region 15 and the second cross-member 12.
Elastically deformable elements, such as a first spring 18 and a second spring 19, are arranged coaxially to said screws.
At least one seat 20 is defined on the frame 2, is arranged between the front region 14 and the rear region 15 and faces at least one of said wheels 13.
Advantageously, as illustrated hereinafter, a pair of seats 20 is provided for a correct balancing of the braking device.
A braking means and a selective braking adjustment means are accommodated within each one of said pair of seats 20.
The braking means is constituted by a pad 22 which interacts with the adjacent and closely facing surface of a wheel 13, as shown in figure 1, and has, on the opposite side, an inclined surface 21.
The selective braking adjustment means is interposed between the pad 22 and the respective seat 20 and is constituted by a wedge member 23 which is interposed and interacts with the inclined surface 21 of the pad 22.
The wedge member 23 is provided with a threaded longitudinal seat for a complementarily threaded pivot 24 which also passes transversely through the frame 2 and has, at one end, a lever 25 which is articulated thereto and can be gripped by the user.
The use of the braking device 1 is as follows: if the user has to curve in order to change direction or slow down, he can reduce the steering speed or slow down his skating, or even stop, by distributing his weight on the frame.
This operation is allowed by the presence of the pad or pads 22 which face the underlying wheels 13; in fact, once the user has discharged his weight for example at the front region 14 of the frame, the first truck 7 oscillates and thus moves closer toward the frame 2.
This situation makes the wheel 13 move closer to the pad 22 until it interacts therewith, and this produces friction on the interacting surfaces and a consequent reduction of the rotation rate of the wheel.
Advantageously, the user can adjust the degree of braking beforehand, by means of the lever 25, which can be gripped by the user and actuates the rotation of the threaded pivot 24 and thus the selective positioning of the wedge member 23 which interacts with the adjacent surface of the pad 22.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the above aim and objects, a braking device having been provided which allows to achieve optimum and easy skate braking.
The braking device thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.
Thus, for example, figures 3 and 4 illustrate a different embodiment, wherein the braking device, generally designated by the reference numeral 101, is composed of a frame 102 on whose supporting surface 103 the sole 104 of an item of footwear 105 is associated.
A pair of wings 106a and 106b protrudes laterally and centrally on the side opposite to the supporting surface 103 of the frame 102.
For the sake of simplicity in description, figures 3 and 4 illustrate the rear region 115 of the frame, where only the second truck 108 is visible; the ends of the truck are pivoted to the pair of wings 106a and 106b.
The second truck 108 is constituted by a second pair of bars 110a and 110b which are mutually connected by a second cross-member 112 which is arranged proximate to an end of the frame 102 and is interposed between two mutually adjacent wheels which belong to a plurality of aligned wheels 113.
The plurality of wheels 113 is freely transversely and rotatably pivoted on the second truck 108.
A second screw 117 is interposed at right angles between the heel region 115 and the second cross-member 112 on the side opposite to the supporting surface 103 of the frame 102.
An elastically deformable element, such as a second spring 119, is arranged coaxially to said second screw.
On the frame 102 there is at least one seat, and advantageously a pair of seats 120, which is arranged between the front region 114 and the rear region 115 and faces at least one of said wheels 113.
A braking means and a selective braking adjustment means are accommodated within the seat 120 defined at the rear region 115.
The braking means is constituted by a U-shaped pad 122 which has a pair of lateral wings 126a and 126b and by an inclined surface 121 on the side opposite to said lateral wings.
The free ends of the wings interact with the facing surfaces 127a and 127b of the means of one or more of the wheels 113.
The selective braking adjustment means is interposed between the pad 122 and the respective seat 120, and is constituted by a wedge member 123 which is interposed and interacts with the inclined surface 121 of the pad 122.
The wedge member 123 has a threaded longitudinal seat for a complementarily threaded pivot 124 which also passes transversely through the frame 102 and has, at one end, a lever 125 which is articulated thereto and can be gripped by the user.
A single truck pivoted to the frame may be provided for this second variation as well, the wheels of the second truck being supported directly by said frame.
The materials and the dimensions of the individual elements which constitute the device may naturally be the most appropriate 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

Braking device, particularly for skates with aligned wheels, comprising a frame (2,102) to which at least one wheel supporting truck (7,8,108) is pivoted and comprising elastic means interposed between said frame and said at least one wheel supporting truck, characterized in that it comprises braking means (22,122) which interact with means (23,123) for selectively adjusting said braking and are interposed between said frame and said at least one of said wheels and/or at least one supporting means for said wheels.
Device according to claim 1, comprising a frame (2,102) which has a supporting surface (3,103) with which the sole (4,104) of an item (5,105) of footwear can be associated, characterized in that at least one pair of mutually parallel wings (6a,6b,106a,106b), arranged along the longitudinal axis of said frame, protrudes on the side opposite to said supporting surface of said frame, the end of at least one truck (7,8) being pivoted to said at least one pair of wings, one or more aligned wheels (13,113) being freely pivoted to said truck.
Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the ends of a first truck (7) and of a second truck (8) are oppositely pivoted to said pair of wings.
Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said first truck (7) and said second truck (8) are constituted by a first pair of bars (9a,9b) and by a second pair of bars (10a,10b), each pair being connected respectively by a first cross-member (11) and by a second cross-member (12), each one of said cross-members being arranged proximate to an end of said frame and being interposed between two mutually adjacent wheels.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one screw (16,17,117) is interposed at right angles, between the front region (14) and said first cross-member (11) and/or between the rear region (15,115) and said second cross-member (12), on the side opposite to said supporting surface of said frame, an elastically deformable element, such as a spring (18,19,119), being arranged coaxially to said screw.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one seat (20,120) is defined on said frame, is arranged between said front and rear regions, faces at least one of said wheels within said at least one seat, and accommodates said braking means and said selective braking adjustment means.
Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said braking means are constituted by a pad (22,122) which interacts with the adjacent and close facing surface of one of said wheels and has an inclined surface (21,121) on the opposite side.
Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said selective braking adjustment means are interposed between said pad and said at least one seat and are constituted by a wedge member (23,123) which is interposed and interacts with said inclined surface of said pad.
Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said wedge member has a threaded longitudinal seat for a complementarily threaded pivot (24,124) which also passes transversely through said frame and has, at one end, a lever (25,125) which is articulated thereto and can be gripped by the user.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said braking means are constituted by a U-shaped pad (122) which has a pair of lateral wings (126a,126b) and an inclined surface (121) on the side opposite to said pair of lateral wings.
Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the free ends of said pair of lateral wings interact with facing surfaces (127a,127b) of the means of one or more of said aligned wheels (113).