Road skates

Abstract

A road skate that includes enlarged main wheels, enlarged axle assemblies, and an improved braking system. The road skates include a platform with a shoe or boot attached to a top side, and two sets of enlarged main wheels attached to a bottom side. One axle assembly is positioned generally below a toe area of the platform and one axle assembly is positioned generally below a heel area of the platform. The road skates may also include an improved braking system that incorporates one or more brake wheels. A brake wheel may be positioned forward of the fore main wheels or aft of the aft main wheels, and allows for smoother, more controlled braking. Each brake wheel assembly includes a tensioning screw that allows a user to adjust the frictional resistance that is applied to the free rotation of the brake wheel. Thus, the amount of resistance, and braking force, that the brake wheel provides is adjustable by the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A road skate, comprising: 
 a platform having a top side and a bottom side;    a fore axle assembly, comprising a fore axle and a fore base plate, wherein the fore axle includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the fore axle assembly is attached to the bottom side of the platform at a location near a front end of the platform such that the fore axle is arranged substantially transversely of the platform;    an aft axle assembly, comprising a aft axle and an aft base plate, wherein the aft axle includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the aft axle assembly is attached to the bottom side of the platform at a location near a rear end of the platform such that the aft axle is arranged substantially transversely of the platform;    four main wheel assemblies, each main wheel assembly having a substantially similar outer diameter, wherein each main wheel assembly comprises an inner wheel portion and an outer tire portion, each outer tire portion having a substantially similar outer diameter, and wherein one main wheel assembly is rotatably connected on the first end of the fore axle, one main wheel assembly is rotatably connected on the second end of the fore axle, one main wheel assembly is rotatably connected on the first end of the aft axle, and one main wheel assembly is rotatably connected on the second end of the aft axle;    a brake wheel assembly attached to at least one of the platform, the fore axle assembly, or the aft axle assembly, wherein the brake wheel assembly comprises a brake wheel brace having a brake wheel rotatably connected to at least one leg of the wheel brace by a tensionable screw, such that the ease of rotation of the brake wheel is adjustable by the tensionable screw.    
     
     
         2 . The road skate of  claim 1 , further comprising a boot including a boot sole, wherein the boot sole is attached to the top side of the platform.  
     
     
         3 . The road skate of  claim 1 , further comprising a boot including a boot sole, wherein the platform is the boot sole.  
     
     
         4 . The road skate of  claim 1 , wherein the fore axle assembly and the aft axle assembly are permanently attached to the bottom side of the platform.  
     
     
         5 . The road skate of  claim 1 , wherein the fore axle assembly and the aft axle assembly are removably attached to the bottom side of the platform.  
     
     
         6 . The road skate of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tire portion of each of the main wheels extends above the bottom side of the platform.  
     
     
         7 . The road skate of  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the brake wheel is less than the outer diameter of the main wheel assemblies.  
     
     
         8 . The road skate of  claim 1 , wherein the brake wheel is positioned such that the brake wheel is above a planar rolling surface of the road skate.  
     
     
         9 . The road skate of  claim 1 , wherein the brake wheel is positioned forward of the fore axle assembly such that at least a portion of the brake wheel is positioned forward of the main wheel assemblies rotatably connected to the fore axle.  
     
     
         10 . The road skate of  claim 1 , wherein the brake wheel is positioned aft of the aft axle assembly such that at least a portion of the brake wheel is positioned aft of the main wheel assemblies rotatably connected to the aft axle.  
     
     
         11 . The road skate of  claim 1 , wherein a fore brake wheel is positioned forward of the fore axle assembly such that at least a portion of the brake wheel is positioned forward of the main wheel assemblies rotatably connected to the fore axle, and an aft brake wheel is positioned aft of the aft axle assembly such that at least a portion of the brake wheel is positioned aft of the main wheel assemblies rotatably connected to the aft axle.  
     
     
         12 . A kit for a road skate, comprising: 
 a platform having a top side and a bottom side;    two axle assemblies, each axle assembly comprising an axle and a base plate, wherein each axle includes a first end and a second end, and wherein each axle assembly is attachable to the bottom side of the platform;    four main wheel assemblies, each main wheel assembly having a substantially similar outer diameter, wherein each main wheel assembly comprises an inner wheel portion and an outer tire portion, each outer tire portion having a substantially similar outer diameter, and wherein each main wheel assembly is rotatably connectable to the first end or the second end of at least one of the axles;    at least one brake wheel assembly, comprising a brake wheel brace having a brake wheel rotatably connected to at least one leg of the brake wheel brace by a tensionable screw, such that the ease of rotation of the brake wheel is adjustable by the tensionable screw, wherein the brake wheel assembly is attachable to at least one of the platform or one of the axle assemblies;    attachment means for attaching the axle assemblies to the bottom side of the platform; and    retaining means for retaining a user's foot to the top side of the platform.    
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the tire portion of each of the main wheels extends above the bottom side of the platform.  
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment means includes fastening means to attach the two axle assemblies to the bottom side of the platform.  
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment means includes an adhesive for attaching the two axle assemblies to the bottom side of the platform.  
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining means includes foot straps attached to the top side of the platform for retaining the user's foot on the top side of the platform.  
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining means includes a boot attached to the top side of the platform for retaining the user's foot on the top side of the platform.  
     
     
         18 . A road skate component, comprising: 
 an axle assembly including an axle and a base plate, wherein the axle includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the base plate allows the axle assembly to be attachable to a platform;    two main wheel assemblies, each main wheel assembly having an inner wheel portion and an outer tire portion, and each outer tire portion having a substantially similar outer diameter, wherein one main wheel assembly is rotatably connected on the first end of the axle and one main wheel assembly is rotatably connected on the second end of the axle; and    a brake wheel assembly attached to the axle assembly, wherein the brake wheel assembly comprises a brake wheel brace having a brake wheel rotatably connected to at least one leg of the wheel brace by a tensionable screw, such that the ease of rotation of the brake wheel is adjustable by the tensionable screw.    
     
     
         19 . The road skate component of  claim 18 , wherein an outer diameter of the brake wheel is less than the outer diameter of the outer tire portion of the main wheel assemblies.  
     
     
         20 . The road skate component of  claim 18 , wherein the brake wheel is positioned such that the brake wheel is above a planar rolling surface of the main wheel assemblies rotatably connected to the axle.  
     
     
         21 . The road skate component of  claim 18 , wherein the brake wheel is positioned forward of the axle assembly such that at least a portion of the brake wheel is positioned forward of the main wheel assemblies rotatably connected to the axle.