Patent US5280931A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5280931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Roller brake
Assignee: Thistle Sports Enterprises Inc
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Filing: 1992-11-20
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Granted: 1994-01-25
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Expires: 2012-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A roller brake for a roller vehicle such as an in-line roller skate is mounted at an end of a substantially horizontal platform. The roller brake includes a non-rotatable brake hub connected to the chassis, the hub having a horizontal axis perpendicular to a direction of forward travel. The brake hub has a circumferential periphery defining a V-shaped groove, for receiving a brake tire rotatably mounted annularly on the brake hub. The outer periphery of the brake tire is normally disposed above the ground surface but is selectively engageable with the ground surface, preferably simply by tilting the horizontal platform on an endmost ground-engaging wheel adjacent the roller brake. Contact with the ground surface engages the tire with the ground and produces rotation of the tire on the brake hub. Kinetic energy of motion is dissipated as frictional heating between the rotating brake tire and the fixed brake hub. The V-shaped groove is 120° to 150° and the tire is thermoset polyurethane and oversized relative to the hub by 0.5 to 1.3 mm, whereby the tire is not readily stopped on the hub (caused to skid on the ground). The roller brake produces friction in a predictable manner which does not vary as a function of the smoothness of the ground surface.
Inventors
- 👤 H. Burke Horton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:18
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63C; A63C17/00; A63C17/14; A63C17/1436; A63C17/01; A63C17/04; A63C17/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A roller brake for a device travelling over a ground surface, the device having a chassis, the chassis including a substantially horizontal platform, the roller brake comprising: a brake hub connected to the chassis, the brake hub defining a horizontal axis of symmetry oriented perpendicular to a direction of forward travel of the device, the brake hub being fixed against rotation and having a circumferential periphery; and, a brake tire rotatably mounted annularly on the brake hub such that facing surfaces of the brake tire and the brake hub are in frictional contact, an outer periphery of the brake tire being disposed above the ground surface, the outer periphery being selectively engageable with the ground surface, contact between the brake tire and the ground surface producing rotation of the brake tire on the brake hub due to frictional engagement of the brake tire and the ground surface at a relatively greater radius from the horizontal axis, and kinetic energy of motion being dissipated by frictional engagement between the facing surfaces of the rotating brake tire and the fixed brake hub at a lesser radius from the horizontal axis, whereby varying pressure of the roller brake against the ground surface varies friction forces between the brake tire and the brake hub as the brake tire continues to rotate on the brake hub.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A roller brake for a device travelling over a ground surface, the device having a chassis, the chassis including a substantially horizontal platform, the roller brake comprising: a brake hub connected to the chassis, the brake hub defining a horizontal axis of symmetry oriented perpendicular to a direction of forward travel of the device, the brake hub being fixed against rotation and having a circumferential periphery; and, a brake tire rotatably mounted annularly on the brake hub such that facing surfaces of the brake tire and the brake hub are in frictional contact, an outer periphery of the brake tire being disposed above the ground surface, the outer periphery being selectively engageable with the ground surface, contact between the brake tire and the ground surface producing rotation of the brake tire on the brake hub due to frictional engagement of the brake tire and the ground surface at a relatively greater radius from the horizontal axis, and kinetic energy of motion being dissipated by frictional engagement between the facing surfaces of the rotating brake tire and the fixed brake hub at a lesser radius from the horizontal axis, whereby varying pressure of the roller brake against the ground surface varies friction forces between the brake tire and the brake hub as the brake tire continues to rotate on the brake hub.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
181 words
A roller brake for a device travelling over a ground surface, the device having a chassis, the chassis including a substantially horizontal platform, the roller brake comprising: a brake hub connected to the chassis, the brake hub defining a horizontal axis of symmetry oriented perpendicular to a direction of forward travel of the device, the brake hub being fixed against rotation and having a circumferential periphery; and, a brake tire rotatably mounted annularly on the brake hub, and outer periphery of the brake tire being disposed above the ground surface, the outer periphery being selectively engageable with the ground surface, contact with the ground surface producing rotation of the brake tire on the brake hub such that kinetic energy of motion is dissipated by friction forces generated between the rotating brake tire and the fixed brake hub; and, wherein the circumferential periphery of the brake hub defines a dished circumferential channel surface and the brake tire has a complementary shaped inner periphery, such that radial pressure on the brake tire produces an axial pressure between the hub and the brake tire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
181 words
A roller brake for a device travelling over a ground surface, the device having a chassis, the chassis including a substantially horizontal platform, the roller brake comprising: a brake hub connected to the chassis, the brake hub defining a horizontal axis of symmetry oriented perpendicular to a direction of forward travel of the device, the brake hub being fixed against rotation and having a circumferential periphery; and, a brake tire rotatably mounted annularly on the brake hub, and outer periphery of the brake tire being disposed above the ground surface, the outer periphery being selectively engageable with the ground surface, contact with the ground surface producing rotation of the brake tire on the brake hub such that kinetic energy of motion is dissipated by friction forces generated between the rotating brake tire and the fixed brake hub; and, wherein the circumferential periphery of the brake hub defines a dished circumferential channel surface and the brake tire has a complementary shaped inner periphery, such that radial pressure on the brake tire produces an axial pressure between the hub and the brake tire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The roller brake according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential channel is one of cylindrical, concave, convex and V-shaped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The roller brake according to claim 2, wherein the brake hub includes a pair of opposed frustum-shaped elements defining the dished circumferential channel surface between them.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The roller brake according to claim 4, wherein the frustum shaped elements are conical and the dished circumferential channel surface is V-shaped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The roller brake according to claim 5, wherein the V-shaped surface defines an obtuse angle of 120° to 150°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The roller brake according to claim 6, wherein the V-shaped surface defines an obtuse angle of 136° to 140°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The roller brake according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting a height of the outer periphery of the brake tire above the ground surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The roller brake according to claim 8, wherein the means for adjusting comprises the brake hub being pivotally attached to the chassis, and means for fixing the brake hub at a selectable pivot position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The roller brake according to claim 8, wherein the means for adjusting comprises the brake hub having a hole disposed eccentrically and extending parallel to the axis of symmetry, and the brake hub is attached to the chassis by a fastener extending through the eccentric hole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The roller brake according to claim 1, wherein the brake hub includes a hole extending coaxial with the axis of symmetry, and the brake hub is connected to the chassis by a fastener extending through the hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The roller brake according to claim 1, wherein the chassis includes a pair of vertical flanges, and the brake hub is connected between the flanges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The roller brake according to claim 1, further comprising shield means disposed between the brake tire and the chassis for protecting the chassis against impingement of debris.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The roller brake according to claim 1, wherein the device is a roller skate having at least one ground engaging wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The roller brake according to claim 12, wherein the device is a roller skate having a plurality of wheels mounted in-line between the flanges.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The roller brake according to claim 14, wherein the brake hub is connected at an end of the roller skate, and the outer periphery of the brake tire is engageable with the ground surface by pivoting the roller skate about an axis of an endmost ground engaging wheel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The roller brake according to claim 1, wherein the device is one of a roller skate, a skate board, a scooter, a variably loaded vehicle and a motorized vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The roller brake according to claim 2, wherein the tire comprises thermoset polyurethane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
224 words
A roller vehicle, comprising: a chassis including a substantially horizontal platform for supporting a rider; a plurality of ground engaging wheels mounted to carry the chassis over a ground surface; a brake hub connected to the chassis, the brake hub defining a horizontal axis of symmetry oriented perpendicular to a direction of forward travel of the device, the brake hub being fixed against rotation and having a circumferential periphery; and, a brake tire rotatably mounted annularly on the brake hub such that facing surfaces of the brake tire and the brake hub are in frictional contact, an outer periphery of the brake tire being disposed above the ground surface, the outer periphery being selectively engageable with the ground surface, contact between the brake tire and the ground surface producing rotation of the brake tire on the brake hub due to frictional engagement of the brake tire and the ground surface at a relatively greater radius from the horizontal axis, and kinetic energy of motion being dissipated by frictional engagement between the facing surfaces of the rotating brake tire and the fixed brake hub at a lesser radius from the horizontal axis, whereby varying pressure of the roller brake against the ground surface varies friction forces between the brake tire and the brake hub as the brake tire continues to rotate on the brake hub.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
224 words
A roller vehicle, comprising: a chassis including a substantially horizontal platform for supporting a rider; a plurality of ground engaging wheels mounted to carry the chassis over a ground surface; a brake hub connected to the chassis, the brake hub defining a horizontal axis of symmetry oriented perpendicular to a direction of forward travel of the device, the brake hub being fixed against rotation and having a circumferential periphery; and, a brake tire rotatably mounted annularly on the brake hub such that facing surfaces of the brake tire and the brake hub are in frictional contact, an outer periphery of the brake tire being disposed above the ground surface, the outer periphery being selectively engageable with the ground surface, contact between the brake tire and the ground surface producing rotation of the brake tire on the brake hub due to frictional engagement of the brake tire and the ground surface at a relatively greater radius from the horizontal axis, and kinetic energy of motion being dissipated by frictional engagement between the facing surfaces of the rotating brake tire and the fixed brake hub at a lesser radius from the horizontal axis, whereby varying pressure of the roller brake against the ground surface varies friction forces between the brake tire and the brake hub as the brake tire continues to rotate on the brake hub.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
The roller vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the circumferential periphery of the brake hub comprises a pair of frustum-shaped elements coupled to define a V-shaped surface and the brake tire has a complementary shaped inner periphery, such that radial pressure on the brake tire produces an axially inward pressure between the hub and the brake tire.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The roller vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the V-shaped surface defines an obtuse angle of 120° to 150° and wherein an inner diameter of the tire is 0.5 to 1.3 mm larger than an outer diameter of the hub.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-24 | 1997-07-26 | 1998-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-24 | 2001-07-26 | 2002-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-24 | 2005-07-26 | 2006-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |