Brake for roller skis

Abstract

In one aspect, a leg activated brake for a foot supporting rolling device, such as a roller ski. Roller skis generally have one wheel mounted to each end of the foot supporting frame which houses a ski binding for the skier's boot. The brake system mounts to the frame of the roller ski and when the brake is activated by the leg, the brake applies frictional force to the rear wheel to stop the roller ski.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to roller skis. Roller skis are used by skiers in the non snow seasons, mainly for training by competitive cross country and Alpine skiers. Roller skis have a frame which supports the foot, generally with one wheel in front and one wheel in the back. Mounted to the frame is a ski binding for attaching the ski boot to the frame as shown in FIG. 1. Contemporary roller skis have wheels from about 65 to 150 mm in diameter and the foot supporting frames vary in length from about 450 to 700 mm.

Roller skis have been commercially available for over 35 years but, until the present invention, no one has offered a leg activated brake for conventional roller skis. Prior art includes hand activated brakes and using ski poles to stop the skis. Braking by a ski pole is unsafe and not effective. To brake with a hand activated brake is difficult without the skier loosing his balance and in an emergency the brake cannot be activated quickly enough as the skier has to reach, with his hand holding the ski pole, the brake pull handle which is generally attached to the skiers leg as depicted in FIG. 12.

In order for the skier to preserve balance the skier should have both hands on the ski poles and the body should be in a balanced ski position. For safety and rapid braking in an emergency situation, the brake should be able to be activated by the leg when the skier is in a stable position. This position is often referred to as the “Telemark” position and is shown in FIG. 11. In this position the braking leg acts a brace when slowing down preventing the skier from falling forward from the forces imposed on the body when braking.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,768 describes a leg activated brake for roller skis, where the brake is an integral part of the foot platform and the roller ski design. U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,596 describes a foot activated brake for roller skis with two, side by side, wheels in the back, but the patent does not provide a method for the brake to be adjusted for different wheels, ski bindings, ski boots, roller ski frames and different user's anatomy. Because U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,596 did not provide solutions for these variables, no commercial leg activated brakes were produced for conventional roller skis prior to the invention described herein.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,704 describes another foot activated brake for roller skis but, as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,768, the brake is not suitable for mounting to conventional roller ski frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a braking system for conventional roller skis that can be leg activated only when the skier is in a stable position and a brake that does not touch any part of the users anatomy except when braking. The brake structure has members for vertical and horizontal adjustments so the brake structure can be adapted to a variety of boot designs, boot sizes, frame structures, ski binding mounting locations, wheel sizes and the user's anatomy.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method of mounting the brake to the foot supporting frame of conventional roller skis in such a manner that the frame retains its structural integrity and the brake structure does not interfere with the ski binding or the ski boot.

The brake structure of the invention is such that it can be mounted to the roller ski frame with conventional screws and it utilizes minimal space. In one embodiment the brake can also be folded across the ski binding.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions of the embodiments thereof and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional roller ski with small wheels and a medium size boot.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a roller ski with small conventional wheels and a large boot according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a roller ski with large conventional wheels and a small boot according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the roller ski with upper brake member rotated 180 degrees according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the brake folded over the frame of the roller ski.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the braking system.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the braking system.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the braking system.

FIG. 9 is another end view of the braking system.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the brake with the upper member rotated 180 degrees.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing the body position of a user of the roller ski of FIG. 2, 3 and 4 during braking.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a hand actuated brake of prior art.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the user's leg and foot position with the heel down in skate and classic technique.

FIG.14 is a side view of the user's leg and foot position with the heel up in classic and skate technique.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 the roller ski includes a foot frame support 1, to which is mounted a single rear wheel 2 and a single front wheel 3.

Mounted to the frame is ski binding 16, to which is attached ski boot 4.

The roller ski further includes a U shaped bottom support member 17, which is fastened to the frame 1. Pivotally mounted to bottom support member 17, via pivot pin 8, is the lower member 6 to which is mounted the upper articulated member 7 via mounting screws 10.

Mounted to member 7 is the yoke member 14 which is fastened by mounting screws 13. Mounted to the lower member 6 is brake pad 5. Mounted to U shaped support member 17 and to member 6 is extension spring 15.

When the brake is in the upward position for braking as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the brake is held in the upright position by pivot pin 8, spring loaded plunger 9 and extension spring 15 in such a manner that the brake can only be pivotally moved in the direction of the rear wheel. When the skier's leg pushes backward against yoke 14, the joined structure pivots on pin 8, moving the brake pad against the wheel and stopping the roller ski. As the skier removes the leg pressure from yoke 14, the spring tension returns member 6, of the connected structure, to a vertical position where it is stopped by plunger pin 9, the plunger being mounted to U shaped support 17 which fastened to frame 1. With plunger pin 9 engaged the structure can only be pivoted toward the rear wheel.

For proper balance the binding 16, must be mounted in a specific position which is dependent on the boot size, the ski weight and the length of the ski.

FIG. 2 depicts the position of member 7 and yoke 14 when the skier has a large boot and frame 1 is fitted with small wheels 2 and 3.

FIG. 3 shows the position of member 7 and yoke 14 when the skier has a small boot and frame 1 has large wheels 2 and 3. FIG. 4 shows the position of yoke member 14 turned 180 degrees so it contacts the leg in a lower position, which is preferred by some users.

FIG. 5 shows the brake with plunger pin 9 pulled out and the structure folded about pivot pin 8, so yoke member 14 rests on the platform 1.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 these show more detailed views of one embodiment. In the embodiment shown joined members 17, 6, 7 and 14 are U shaped Holes 23, serve no purpose except to make the structure lighter. U shaped mounting support 17 is shown attached to frame 1, via mounting screws 19.

Since ski bindings must be mounted to the top of the frame, all roller ski frames are designed to accept standard self tapping mounting screws.

Mounted to the U shaped support 17, via threaded pivot pin 8 and nut 22, is lower member 6 which is held in the upright position by the tension of extension spring 15 and by the spring loaded plunger 9, which contacts one side of member 6 and is fastened to U shaped support 17.

Attached to member 6 is brake pad 5 which can be moved to different vertical positions on member 6 via screw holes 21 and 21a which are vertically located, in pairs, on member 6. In one embodiment brake pad 5 has threaded holes to accept screws 20 and 20a. Brake pad 5 is constructed of heat treated steel with a minimum hardness of Rockwell 50C.

In the embodiment shown, spring loaded plunger 9 is a standard commercially available unit which is fastened to the U shaped member 17. Spring 15 is attached to U shaped member 17 and to lower member 6 as shown in FIG. 6.

In the design depicted, member 7 is fastened to member 6 by socket screws 10. Lower member 6 has clearance holes for the screws 10, while the upper member 7 contains commercially available press fit nuts 18, which accept the socket screws 10.

Member 7 is angularly adjusted, with respect to to lower member 6, to fit the leg anatomy of different users.

When tightened, the clamping force generated by the socket screws 10 and nuts 18, joins member 7 and member 6 so they become an integral unit rotating about pivot pin 8.

In the embodiment depicted, yoke assembly 14 is attached to upper member 7 by socket screws 13 which are threaded into nuts 11 of member 7. Yoke 14 has several holes 12, for greater adjustability of the yoke with respect to the users leg anatomy. In one embodiment yoke assembly 14 is configured so it can contact the leg in a lower position by rotating yoke 14 180 degrees and fastening the yoke to member 7 as shown in FIG. 10.

Claims

1. A roller ski comprising: an elongated foot supporting platform having one or more wheels at each end of the platform, the platform having a ski binding for the users ski boot. A roller ski with a leg activated pivotal brake structure which, when leg activated, provides sufficient frictional force to the rear wheel to stop the ski.

2. The rolling device of claim 1, with at least two articulated members, joined in such a manner that when the leg pushes against the structure the structure pivots backward.

3. The rolling device of claim 1, with at least two articulated members, where one member has a brake pad which contacts the rear wheel when the leg activates the pivotal structure.

4. The rolling device of claim 3, where the brake pad can be moved vertically to accommodate various wheel sizes.

5. The rolling device of claim 3, where the brake pad is of a minimum hardness of Rockwell 50C.

6. The rolling device of claim 2, where the upper articulated member is configured to capture the back of the leg when the leg is pushed against the brake.

7. The rolling device of claim 1, with a spring loaded pivotal structure configured so that when in the locked upright braking position, the structure can only be pivotally moved in the direction of the rear wheel.

8. The rolling device of claim 2, where the uppermost member of the structure can be rotated in the pivotal connection of the adjoining member to fit the skiers leg anatomy and when properly adjusted, be suitably fastened to the adjoining member to form an integral unit.

9. The rolling device of claim 2, where the upper member has more than one position for connecting the adjoining lower member.

10. The rolling device of claim 1, where the braking structure is mounted to the top, or to the sides, of the roller ski foot supporting platform.

11. The rolling device of claim 7, where the pivotal structure can be unlocked and the brake structure folded over the foot supporting platform.