WO2002043823A1

WO2002043823A1 - Roller skate provided with a brake

Info

Publication number: WO2002043823A1
Application number: PCT/NL2001/000872
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Jacques Van Hartesveldt
Original assignee: Jean Jacques Van Hartesveldt
Priority date: 2000-11-30
Filing date: 2001-11-30
Publication date: 2002-06-06
Also published as: NL1016759C2; AU2002217618A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a roller skate, provided with a shoe or boot and wheels fitted underneath the latter, which roller skate has a brake. The roller skate according to the invention is characterised in that the roller skate has a braking member for actuating the brake using a second roller skate. It is advantageous that the braking member is movably connected to the roller skate in order to move between a first position for essentially releasing the brake and a second position for actuating the brake.

Description

Title: Roller skate provided with a brake

The present invention relates to a roller skate, provided with a shoe or boot and wheels fitted underneath the latter, which roller skate has a brake.

For the sake of clarity it is pointed out that in this text the term "roller skate" is used to refer to any combination of a shoe or a boot and wheels fitted underneath the latter. This means that roller skate also indicates a shoe or boot with wheels positioned in line underneath it. In the state of the art such a roller skate is usually referred to as an "in- liner". The term roller skate is also used to referred to a shoe or boot under which there are two or more sets of wheels positioned alongside one another. A roller skate that is constructed in this way and has four wheels is usually referred to as a "squad" in the state of the art.

A roller skate of the type mentioned in the preamble is, inter alia, disclosed in international patent application WO 0023157. This publication discloses a skate where a wheel frame is mounted underneath a shoe and the wheels of the roller skate are fixed in line one behind the other in this wheel frame. The wheel frame is prolonged somewhat at the rear of the roller skate, so that a portion of the frame protrudes at the back of the shoe. This known roller skate is used as a so-called step skate. The user places one foot, for example the right foot, in the roller skate and places the other foot in an ordinary shoe. The user can then make speed by pushing off from the ground using the ordinary shoe. The user can then roll forward on the right foot and rest the left foot on the protruding portion of the wheel frame of the roller skate.

In the case of the roller skate according to WO 0023157 a brake block is mounted on the underside of the protruding portion of the wheel frame. In order to brake the user must allow the wheel frame to tilt somewhat, so that the brake block is able to make contact with the ground. The wheel frame, and thus the entire roller skate, will tilt over the back wheel. Only said back wheel remains in contact with the ground. The other wheels come away from the ground during braking. A first disadvantage of the roller skate according to WO 0023157 is that only an ordinary shoe or boot can be placed on the protruding part of the wheel frame. If the brake according to the said publication were to be used when a roller skate is attached to both feet, the brake cannot be used because when the left skate is placed on the protruding portion of the wheel frame of the right skate this left skate will slip off or roll off the protruding portion. This means that at that point in time it is not possible to brake safely using the brake according to WO 0023157.

A first aim of the present invention is to provide a roller skate of the type mentioned in the preamble with which the brake can also be activated when a roller skate is fitted on both feet.

Said aim is achieved according to the invention in that the roller skate has a brake member for activating the brake by means of a second roller skate.

Another significant disadvantage of the method of braking according to WO 0023157 is the fact that the wheel frame has to be tilted in its entirety over the back wheel in order to bring the brake block into contact with the ground. This means, firstly, that the user's leg, that is held in the roller skate, has to tilt backwards.

Precisely when braking it is sensible to bend the knees somewhat in order to lower the body's centre of gravity. Bending the legs also makes it possible to maintain pressure on the front of the foot. The user can maintain better balance in this way. When braking with the roller skate according to WO 0023157, however, the user is forced to keep his or her legs straight and it will be difficult for the user to keep his or her balance.

Because the roller skate according to WO 0023157 tilts over the back wheel during braking, only this wheel will maintain contact with the ground. The other wheels are in the air during braking. Consequently the stability of the user is far from optimum during braking.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a roller skate with which the user is able to maintain good posture during braking, in order to be able to remain better balanced during braking than is the case with the roller skate according to the state of the art.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the brake member is movably connected to the roller skate in order to move between a first position for essentially releasing the brake and a second position for actuating the brake.

According to the invention it is possible that the brake member is provided with an engagement surface for engaging at least part of a second roller skate, for actuating the brake using the second roller skate.

As a result of these measures it is possible that a user makes use of a roller skate according to the invention, for example on the right leg, and a normal skate, for example on the left leg. It is clear that the brake can be fixed to one of the two skates or to both skates, as desired. For the sake of simplicity it is assumed in this text that the brake is fixed to the right roller skate. Before braking the user bends his or her knees in order to lower the body's centre of gravity. In this position the user has good control of his or her roller skates and is balanced. The user then lifts the left leg and places the bottom of the left roller skate on the brake member. The user can control the braking force by pressing harder or more gently on the brake member. Because the brake member is movably fitted to the right roller skate, what is achieved is, firstly, that all wheels of the right roller skate maintain contact with the ground. Secondly, the user does not have to change the position of his or her right leg during braking. The effect of this is that the user is able to control his or her balance well during braking. As a result the safety of the user during braking is appreciably improved compared with a braking operation using the roller skate according to the state of the art.

The right leg is free to bend because the left leg exerts the braking pressure and the body weight can be transferred more or less to the left leg.

For the sake of completeness it is pointed out that roller skates of the type mentioned in the preamble where the roller skate is provided with a brake block that is movably fitted to the roller skate are known in the state of the art. The brake block is usually rotatably attached to a lower, rigid shell section of the shoe. The brake block is connected to a lever, the end of which is fixed to a second shell section of the shoe that is able to rotate with respect to the first shell section at the location of the ankle joint. A braking system of this type for a roller skate is disclosed, inter alia, in international patent application WO 9171473.

In order to be able to brake using the roller skate according to WO 9171473 the user must allow his or her lower leg to tilt backwards, so that the upper shell section moves backwards. As a result of this hinging movement, the lever, which is attached to the brake block, is forced downwards, so that the brake block makes contact with the ground.

With the braking system according to WO 9171473 as well it is necessary to change the position of the legs during braking. In order to be able to brake the user must straighten his or her legs. The user is thus not able to brake with bent knees and thus is not able to maintain optimum balance. Furthermore, the solution according to this international application is suitable only for roller skates which have a shoe made up of rigid shell sections. WO 9171473 does not disclose skating on one leg whilst the other leg is used for braking.

According to the invention it is advantageous that the roller skate has a wheel frame for fixing the wheels of the roller skate, the brake member being fixed to the wheel frame.

The brake according to the invention must, or be able to, engage on the wheels of the roller skate or on the ground. Therefore it is advantageous to attach the brake at the lowest possible point and thus to the wheel frame. The wheel frame is, moreover, rigid, even in the case of roller skates which have a soft shoe.

According to the invention it is advantageous that the brake member is hingeably joined to the roller skate. With this arrangement it is possible that the roller skate has a spring for moving the brake member from essentially the second position towards the first position. What is achieved by the presence of the spring is that the brake operates only if force is exerted on the brake member. The brake is not able to stay in the first (braking) position after braking.

According to the invention it is advantageous that the brake member is mounted in the extension of the wheel frame, at the rear of the roller skate.

The brake must be in the way as little as possible when skating. There is sufficient room at the rear of the wheel frame to attach the brake without the brake forming an obstacle when skating.

According to the invention it is possible that the engagement surface is essentially in the shape of a bowl, for accommodating a wheel of the second roller skate therein. For the sake of clarity it is pointed out that the word "bowl" is used to refer to any shape in which at least part of a wheel of a roller skate can be enclosed. That is to say, a concave ring, that is not closed off at the bottom, can also advantageously be used on the engagement surface of the brake member. This is because such a ring is also able to anchor a wheel of a second skate on the surface of the engagement surface. During braking a user can move the left skate downwards over the back of the right skate. In this way the right skate as it were forms a guide. At the point in time when the left skate makes contact with the brake member, one wheel of the left skate is accommodated in the bowl. The left skate now has a firm grip on the brake member and is therefore not able easily to slide off the brake member.

As an alternative it is possible that the engagement surface forms a hump, which hump can be accommodated between two adjacent wheels of the second roller skate. With this arrangement it is possible that the engagement surface is essentially in the shape of an S. According to this variant as well, a user can move the left skate downwards over the back of the right skate during braking. At the point in time when the left skate makes contact with the brake member, the hump of the brake member slides into a stable position between two adjacent wheels. As a result the left skate has a good grip on the brake member and therefore is not able easily to slide off the brake member. As a further alternative it is possible that the engagement surface is formed by a central body on which projections are arranged on the outside.

In a preferred embodiment, the brake is constructed as a brake block that is fixed to the underside of the brake member, the brake and the brake member essentially forming one piece.

The advantage of this embodiment is that virtually no modifications to existing roller skates are needed for fixing the brake. The brake member, with the brake block beneath it, according to this embodiment, can be fixed to the rear end of the wheel frame with the aid of a hinge fixing.

According to the invention it is furthermore possible that the brake and the brake member are made of a flexible material, such as rubber. If the brake member is sufficiently flexible, the end of the brake member according to this embodiment can even be rigidly fixed to the wheel frame. The freedom of movement for the movement between the first and the second position, respectively, is then provided by the flexibility of the brake member.

It is pointed out that the brake member preferably does have to be sufficiently rigid to restrict movement of the skates relative to one another as much as possible at the point in time when the bottom of the second skate is engaged by the brake member. This can, for example, be achieved by reinforcing part of the assembly made up of the brake and the brake member in order to prevent movement of the roller skates relative to one another during braking.

According to the invention it is furthermore possible that the brake block has an essentially convex shape on the underside thereof. In the state of the art it is known to provide brake blocks with as large as possible a contact surface on the underside, in order to obtain as much friction as possible between the brake block and the ground. However, if there is debris, such as small stones, on a hard ground, such as concrete or asphalt, the use of a large braking surface is very dangerous. This is because the debris can become stuck between the brake surface and the ground, so that the brake block is not able to come into contact with the ground at all. Because the appropriate amount of braking force can be applied well with the aid of the roller skate according to the invention, it is possible to make the underside of the brake block round. Any debris cannot become stuck between the brake block and the ground, but will fly out immediately. If the underside of the brake block is made round, it is furthermore possible to take a bend while braking. In order to take the bend the roller skate will be positioned at an angle with respect to the ground. If the brake block is made straight on the underside, the size of the contact surface will change discontinuously when tilting the roller skate with respect to the ground. If the underside of the brake block is round, a contact surface of a constant size will be able to remain in contact with the ground.

According to the invention it is advantageous that the roller skate has a stop member, the stop member determining the first position of the brake member. The hinging movement of the brake block is restricted by the presence of the stop member. That is to say, a user is also able to brake in the conventional manner using the roller skate according to the invention. This means that a user who is used to a roller skate according to the state of the art and changes to a roller skate according to the invention is able to resort, certainly in an emergency situation, to the braking technique with which he or she is familiar.

In one possible embodiment the brake is constructed as a drum or disc brake.

Furthermore, according to the invention it is possible that the roller skate is constructed as an "in-liner" or as a "squad".

The present invention furthermore relates to a set of a first and a second roller skate, each provided with a shoe or boot and wheels fitted underneath the latter, wherein at least the first roller skate is provided with a brake and a brake member for actuating said brake. The set according to the invention is characterised in that the brake member is hingeably fitted to the first skate and protrudes somewhat with respect to said skate in order to expose an engagement surface, for engaging at least part of the second roller skate, for activating the brake using the second roller skate. In order to facilitate braking using the second skate it is possible that the second skate is provided with an engagement element for engaging the brake member of the first roller skate. In this embodiment it is possible that the first and the second roller skates are constructed as squad skates.

The invention furthermore relates to a roller frame provided with wheels and a fixing frame for fixing the roller frame underneath a shoe or a boot. Such a roller frame can be used to make a roller skate from a shoe or a boot, for example a shoe or boot specially developed for this purpose. Such a roller frame can also advantageously be equipped with the brake and the brake member as has been described above.

The invention furthermore also relates to an assembly of the brake and a brake member for a roller skate or a roller frame, the brake and the brake member comprising the components that have been explained above.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the appended figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a roller skate according to the prior art that is provided with a brake.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a roller skate according to the invention, provided with a brake movably fitted to the roller skate.

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic view of the roller skate according to the invention during braking.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the brake and the brake member are constructed as one piece.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the brake and the brake member according to the invention where the engagement surface of the brake member forms a hump. Figure 6 shows a further variant of the brake member according to Figure 5.

Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic view of a brake member that has a central body on which projections have been arranged on the outside.

Figure 8 shows a rear view of a brake block with a straight underside and a brake block with a round underside.

Figure 9 shows, diagrammatically, a left and a right squad which are provided with, respectively, an engagement element and a brake member.

A roller skate 1 according to the state of the art is shown in Figure 1. The roller skate 1 comprises a shoe 2 that is fixed to a wheel frame 4 with the aid of a fixing element 3. Four wheels 5(a-d) are fixed to the wheel frame. The wheel frame 4 is prolonged at the rear by a projecting section 6. A brake block 7, that, for example, is made of rubber, is on the underside of said projecting section 6.

In order to be able to brake using the roller skate 1 according to Figure 1 the roller skate has to be tilted over the rear wheel 5d. In order to achieve this the user must tilt the roller skate to which the brake block 7 is fixed over the rear wheel 5d by tilting his or her lower leg backwards. That is to say, the user has to straighten the leg that is in the roller skate 1 and cannot bend his or her knees while braking. This means that the user's balance is not optimum at the point in time when he or she brakes. If the user has, for example, placed his or her right foot in the roller skate according to Figure 1 and the user fits an ordinary shoe on his or her left foot, it is then conceivable that the user brings the brake block 7 into contact with the ground 8 by exerting pressure on the top part of the projection 6 using the left shoe. However, if the user also fits a roller skate on the left foot, this method of braking is then not possible because no facilities have been provided on the top surface of the projecting section 6 for engaging the underside of a second skate (in this case the left skate).

The roller skate 10 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 2. The roller skate 10 comprises a shoe 12 to which a wheel frame 14 has been fixed with the aid of a fixing element 13. Once again wheels 15 (15a-15d) are fixed in the wheel frame 14. A brake member 16 is fixed to the rear of the wheel frame 14. A brake block 17 is mounted on the underside of the brake member 16. On the top of the brake member 16 there is an engagement element 20, which, for example, is in the shape of a bowl. The brake member 16 is able to rotate with respect to the wheel frame 14 via the point of rotation 21.

From the position shown in continuous lines, which in the present text is also referred to as the first position, the brake member, with the brake block 17 thereon, can be moved downwards into the second position, that is shown by broken lines in Figure 2. This movement is carried out by exerting pressure on the top of the brake member 16 with the aid of the second skate (for example the left skate). In order to be able to brake, the left skate is moved, for example, over the back of the shoe 12 (which can serve as a guide for this movement) via the arrow A towards the engagement element 20. At least part of a wheel of the second skate is accommodated in the engagement element 20, so that the second skate is anchored on the top surface of the brake member 16. By then exerting pressure on the left skate the brake member 16, and thus the brake block 17, is moved downwards towards the ground 8.

Because the brake member 16 is movably fitted to the wheel frame 14, the user is able to keep the leg that is fitted in the roller skate 10 in the position he or she desires during braking. This means that the user can assume the position that is optimum for him or her in order to keep his or her balance, so that he or she can brake safely. Because the user can shift his or her weight to the left skate, which exerts pressure on the top of the brake member 16, a relatively high braking force can, moreover, be exerted with the aid of the brake block 17 on the ground 8. This means that the user is not only able to brake safely but, furthermore, is also able to brake quickly. What is achieved as a result of these measures is that the use of roller skates is safer than in the case of roller skates according to the state of the art.

The roller skate 10 according to the invention is furthermore provided with a stop member 22 that is fixed on the outside of the wheel frame 14. This stop member 22 restricts the swaying movement of the brake member 16 about the point of rotation 21. If the user wishes to exert a low braking force on the ground 8 he or she can still allow the skate 10 to tilt about the back wheel 15d. As a result of this tilting movement the brake member 16 is at most able to sway back until the brake member 16 makes contact with the stop member 22. If the roller skate 10 is tilted further the bottom of the brake block 17 will then be brought into contact with the ground 8 as a result of said tilting movement, so that a braking force is exerted on said ground 8.

It is pointed out that the brake member 16 can be fixed to the wheel frame 14 in various ways. One of the possibilities is that the brake member 16 is able to rotate freely about the point of rotation 21, there being sufficient friction between the wheel frame 14 and the brake member 16 to prevent the brake block 17 from dropping towards the ground 8 under the influence of gravity. After a braking action, the user can make a brief tilting movement over the back wheel 15d in order to cause the brake member 16 to sway back towards the stop member 22. As an alternative it is possible to fit a spring that ensures that the brake member 16 is always in the position as is shown by continuous lines in Figure 2. It is clear that such a spring is optional.

Figure 3 shows part of the skate 10 according to the invention, during a braking action. Figure 3 once again shows the shoe 12 with the fixing element 13 and the wheel frame 14 underneath it. Only the wheels 15c and 15d can be seen in Figure 3. According to Figure 3 the brake member 16 is moved downwards towards the ground 8 in order to bring the brake block 17 into contact with said ground 8. Part of the wheel frame 24 of a second roller skate (not shown) is shown in Figure 3. The user's left foot, for example, is fitted in this second roller skate. Two wheels 25c and 25d of the wheel frame 24 are shown. The wheel 25c is accommodated in the engagement element 20. Because the engagement element 20 is constructed as a bowl, the underside of the wheel 25c is accommodated in the engagement element 20 in a stable manner. Consequently a pushing force can be exerted with the aid of the wheel 25c on the top of the brake member 16, without there being a risk that the wheel 25c or the entire wheel frame 24 slides off the top of the brake member 16.

An alternative embodiment of a brake member and a brake according to the invention, where the brake member and the brake are constructed together as a single component 40, is shown in Figure 4. The component 40 is once again fitted to the rear of a wheel frame 14. In this case there is no point of rotation to allow the brake member/the brake to sway with respect to the wheel frame 14. The reason for this is that the relative movement of the underside 41 of the element 40 with respect to the ground 8 is made possible by the flexibility of the element 40 itself. There is a recess 42, for example in the form of a bowl, in the top of an element 40. It is possible, for example, for one of the wheels 25 of the second roller skate to be accommodated in this recess 42. By then exerting pressure using this wheel the underside 41 is moved by the resilient force of the element 40 towards the ground 8 and a braking force can be exerted on said ground 8.

An alternative embodiment of the brake member 16 according to the invention is shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5 a brake member 50 is shown that has an S-shaped hump 51 on the top. This S-shape ensures that the hump 21 can be held between two wheels 25 located alongside one another. This means that when the wheels are placed on the top of the element 50 these wheels engage, in the stable position, on the hump 51. A pushing force can then be exerted by means of the wheels 25 in order to move the brake block 53 on the underside of the element 50 downwards. It is clear that the hump 51 can also be made so slim that it passes between the wheels 25 towards the wheel frame 24.

A simplified embodiment of the element 50 according to Figure 5 is shown in Figure 6. The element 60 comprises only an S-shaped rod that is provided with a brake block 17 on the underside. The rod 61 can once again be engaged between two wheels of a second skate.

A further alternative embodiment of the brake member according to the invention is shown in Figure 7. According to Figure 7 a number of projections 71 are fixed on a central rod 70. These projections 71 can, for example, be of flexible construction. By now pushing on the top of the rod 70 using the wheels of the second skate, the projections are deformed to some extent and these deformed projections will exert a gripping force on the wheels and/or the wheel frame of the second skate. In this way a stable position of the second skate on the brake member 70 is once again achieved. Since an appropriate amount of braking force can be exerted on a base with the aid of the assembly of a brake and a brake member according to the present invention, it is possible to adjust the shape of the brake block to be used according to the invention. In Figure 8 a brake block 7 according to the state of the art is shown on the left of the drawing. This brake block 7 is flat on the underside. As a result a relatively large contact surface is produced between the underside of the brake block 7 and the ground 8. However, if debris is present on this ground 8 this debris can be trapped between the underside of the brake block 7 and the ground 8. This is at the expense of the braking force that can be achieved with the aid of the brake block 7. A possible embodiment of a brake block 17 according to the present invention is shown on the right in Figure 8. The brake block is made round at the bottom. This firstly has the effect that any debris between the underside of the brake block and the ground 8 will fly out and will not be able to become trapped between the two surfaces. Secondly, what is achieved is that it is possible to brake while taking a bend. While taking a bend a contact surface of a constant size will continue to exist between the brake block 17 and the ground 8.

Figure 9 shows, diagrammatically, a left skate 90 and a right skate 91 that are constructed as so-called squads. A squad comprises a shoe 92, 93 with two sets of wheels 94 positioned alongside one another underneath it. Skating with the squads according to Figure 9 is relatively simple because the wheels 94 positioned alongside one another offer a fairly large amount of stability to the user. The squads according to Figure 9 can also advantageously be equipped with the brake/the brake member according to the present invention. In Figure 9 the right roller skate 92 is provided at the rear with a brake member 95. The latter is provided on the underside with a brake block 96. The top of the brake member 95 is of somewhat concave construction so that a concave recess 97 is produced. The inside of the left skate 90 is provided with an engagement element 98 that projects somewhat and in use is oriented towards the right skate 91. The engagement element 98 is provided on the underside with a somewhat convex protrusion 99. In order to be able to brake the left roller skate 90 is placed at an angle behind the right roller skate 91. The engagement element 98 is then brought down in order to allow the protrusion 99 to make contact with the concave recess 97 in the brake member 95. As a result of this action the brake block 96 is moved downwards towards the ground. Once again an appropriate amount of braking force can be exerted by means of the roller skates 90, 91 according to Figure 9, whilst the user holds his or her right leg in a desired position in order to maintain as much balance as possible during braking.

It is clear that the embodiment according to Figure 9 is merely an example of a very large number of possible embodiments for a combination of a brake member 95 and an associated engagement element 98.

Claims

1. Roller skate, provided with a shoe or boot and wheels fitted underneath the latter, which roller skate has a brake, characterised in that the roller skate has a brake member for actuating the brake by means of a second roller skate.

2. Roller skate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the brake member is movably connected to the roller skate in order to move between a first position for essentially releasing the brake and a second position for actuating the brake.

3. Roller skate according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the brake member is provided with an engagement surface for engaging at least part of a second roller skate, for actuating the brake using the second roller skate.

4. Roller skate according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the roller skate has a wheel frame for fixing the wheels of the roller skate, the brake member being fixed to the wheel frame.

5. Roller skate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the brake member is hingeably joined to the roller skate.

6. Roller skate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the roller skate has a spring for moving the brake member from essentially the second position towards the first position.

7. Roller skate according to Claims 4 - 6, characterised in that the brake member is mounted in the extension of the wheel frame, at the rear of the roller skate.

8. Roller skate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the engagement surface is essentially in the shape of a bowl, for accommodating a wheel of the second roller skate therein.

9. Roller skate according to one of Claims 1 - 7, characterised in that the engagement surface forms a hump, which hump can be accommodated between two adjacent wheels of the second roller skate.

10. Roller skate according to Claim 9, characterised in that the engagement surface is essentially in the shape of an S.

11. Roller skate according to one of Claims 1 - 7, characterised in that the engagement surface is formed by a central body on which projections are arranged on the outside.

12. Roller skate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the brake is constructed as a brake block that is fixed to the underside of the brake member.

13. Roller skate according to Claim 12, characterised in that the brake and the brake member essentially form one piece.

14. Roller skate according to Claim 13, characterised in that the brake and the brake member are made of a flexible material, such as rubber.

15. Roller skate according to Claims 12 - 15, characterised in that the brake block has an essentially convex shape on the underside thereof.

16. Roller skate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the roller skate has a stop member, the stop member determining the first position of the brake member.

17. Roller skate according to one of Claims 1 - 11, characterised in that the brake is constructed as a drum or disc brake.

18. Roller skate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the roller skate is constructed as an "in-liner".

19. Roller skate according to one of Claims 1 - 17, characterised in that the roller skate is constructed as a "squad".

20. Set of a first and a second roller skate, each provided with a shoe or boot and wheels fitted underneath the latter, wherein at least the first roller skate is provided with a brake and a brake member for activating said brake, characterised in that the brake member is hingeably fitted to the first skate and protrudes somewhat with respect to said skate in order to expose an engagement surface, for engaging at least part of the second roller skate, for actuating the brake using the second roller skate.

21. Set according to Claim 19, characterised in that the second skate is provided with an engagement element for engaging the brake member of the first roller skate.

22. Set according to Claim 20 or 21, characterised in that the first and the second roller skates are constructed as squad skates.

23. Roller frame provided with wheels and a fixing frame for fixing the roller frame underneath a shoe or a boot, characterised in that the roller frame is provided with a brake and a brake member according to one of Claims 1 - 17.

24. Assembly of a brake and a brake member, to be fitted to a roller skate or a roller frame, according to one of Claims 1 - 17.