Integrated heel brake

Abstract

A heel brake integrated with a skate truck for a roller skate shoe is formed integrally with a skate truck body portion from which axles laterally project. A brake knob made of rubber is attached to the distal end of the brake. Thus, the brake is formed as a part of the truck and not as a part of the skate chassis. A combined skate shoe and wheel truck assembly is likewise formed integrally, optionally comprising braking means, an axle, and a wheel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heel brake for a roller skate, comprising: 
 a truck body portion;    a rearwardly projecting brake tongue formed integrally with said truck body portion;    left and right laterally projecting axles fixed to said truck body portion;    a forwardly projecting truck mounting portion formed integrally with said truck body portion; and    a rearwardly projecting stabilizing prong formed integrally with said truck body portion.    
     
     
         2 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said truck body portion is rigid.  
     
     
         3 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said brake tongue is rigid.  
     
     
         4 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said left and right axles are rigidly affixed to said truck body portion.  
     
     
         5 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said truck mounting portion is rigid.  
     
     
         6 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing prong is rigid.  
     
     
         7 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said left and right axles are permanently affixed to said truck body portion.  
     
     
         8 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said heel brake is formed as a metal casting about said left and right axles.  
     
     
         9 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a grommet disposed distally upon said stabilizing prong.  
     
     
         10 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said grommet is formed of an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         11 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said brake tongue defines a distally located bore.  
     
     
         12 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a knob of material disposed distally thereon for frictionally engaging a skating surface.  
     
     
         13 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said truck mounting portion defines a distally located bore.  
     
     
         14 . A heel brake as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a riser extending upwardly of said brake tongue and downwardly of said stabilizing prong and located rearwardly of said truck body portion, for reinforcing said brake tongue and stabilizing prong.  
     
     
         15 . A skate shoe and wheel truck assembly, comprising: 
 a skate shoe having a heel and a bottom surface;    mounting means located proximate said heel and projecting downwardly from said skate shoe bottom surface;    wheel-supporting means fastened distally to said wheel truck mounting means;    a first stabilizing element defined in said skate shoe bottom surface and located forward of said heel and rearward of said wheel truck mounting means;    a second stabilizing means defined on said wheel-supporting means and projecting upwardly and rearwardly therefrom;    said second stabilizing means contacting said first stabilizing element, thereby stabilizing said wheel-supporting means relative to said skate shoe bottom;    said second stabilizing element being integrally formed with said wheel-supporting means.    
     
     
         16 . A skate shoe and wheel truck assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said second stabilizing means comprises a projection and said first stabilizing means comprises a projection-receiving bore.  
     
     
         17 . A skate shoe and wheel truck assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising rearwardly projecting brake means formed integrally on said wheel-supporting means.  
     
     
         18 . A skate shoe and wheel truck assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said brake means projects rigidly from said wheel-supporting.  
     
     
         19 . A skate shoe and wheel truck assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising at least one wheel disposed on said wheel-supporting means.  
     
     
         20 . A skate shoe and wheel truck assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , comprising at least one axle projecting from said wheel-supporting means.