Braking system for skateboards

Abstract

The present invention relates to a braking system for skateboards which comprises a pivoting shoe piece (7) that acts on front wheels (6) to brake them and is coupled hinged on a securing base flat (9) bolted onto a board (2) of the skateboard (3) by means of the same bolts as the axles of the skateboard. Therefore, it is not necessary to modify nor add other elements to the skateboard for its installation. Braking is performed by pressing, with the foot, the pivoting shoe piece (7) including shoe elements (8a) that come in contact with both front wheels (6) against the resistance of springs or magnets, which maintain the pivoting shoe piece (7) in a resting position aligned with the board (2), such that when turning with the skateboard, the pivoting shoe piece (7) does not rub against the front wheels (6) of the skateboard.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] BRAKING SYSTEM FOR SKATEBOARDS

[0003] Object of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a braking system for skateboards that acts on the front wheels. The braking system is activated by the user's foot without requiring any additional external elements, such as cables, bars, etc. To activate the braking system, pressure is applied to a tilting shoe attached to a clamping plate located on the skateboard deck and screwed to the axle bolts. This has the added advantage that no modifications to the skateboard are required, nor are any elements added to it for its installation.

[0005] Braking is achieved by pressing the foot on the shoe piece and making the fins at the ends of the same come into contact with both front wheels at the same time, returning to the rest position by means of resistance means, such as springs or magnets, which are located between the tilting shoe piece and the holding plate.

[0006] When returning to the resting position, the shoe piece is aligned with the board so that when making turns or maneuvers with the skateboard, the wheels never rub or touch said shoe piece.

[0007] This system has the added advantage of not having any elements that pass under the board or between the wheels, which could break or deform when skating normally or performing maneuvers by hitting stones, curbs, etc.

[0008] Furthermore, this braking system can be installed on any existing skateboard without any need for modifications made by the manufacturer to a specially designed skateboard.

[0009] In addition to its ease of installation and solidity, it allows for normal use of the skateboard (except for using the front edge where it is installed) in all its variations and is operated in a natural, comfortable, and safe manner. Technical problem to be solved and background of the invention

[0010] Activity description

[0011] Skateboards basically consist of a deck, two front wheels and two rear wheels attached to the board by pivoting axles so that when you tilt the board to the left or right, the skateboard turns in that direction.

[0012] Skateboards are used for gliding, that is, commuting and riding on the street, speed and slalom competitions, and performing maneuvers, flips, and jumps on curbs, sidewalks, stairs, railings, etc., or in specially built skateboard parks. It's a well-established sport worldwide with decades of activity.

[0013] There are two basic modes of skateboarding: gliding and flipping. This has led to the existence of three main types of skateboards: long speed skateboards called "longboards," the longest and most stable for going fast; medium-sized skateboards for commuting and touring called "cruisers," which are somewhat shorter and more maneuverable; and skateboards for flipping around in skate parks or "parkboards," or on stairs, railings, etc., called "streeters," which are shorter and lighter and have both ends of the board raised upward.

[0014] Emerging in California in the 1960s, it is one of the most popular sports in the world. For example, in the USA it is the 2nd most popular sport. o The sport after basketball and above baseball. Some forms of it have been an Olympic sport since 2020.

[0015] The growing popularity of this sport is linked to trends related to healthy living and outdoor exercise, adding to the original ones of fun, simplicity, autonomy, and freedom.

[0016] The Problem to be Solved

[0017] The biggest shortcoming of this sport is the lack of safety for both the users themselves and the pedestrians and vehicles in their vicinity, as it does not have an effective braking system that at the same time does not hinder the normal use of the skateboard or require external elements - cables, levers, etc. - or modifications or the installation of additional elements so that it can be installed on any existing skateboard, and not on a special one factory-integrated by the manufacturer.

[0018] And this is the biggest weakness of skateboards, because they can reach considerable speeds and have no braking system of any kind.

[0019] Indeed, unlike all other wheeled devices for moving around, such as bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, or electric-powered skateboards, skateboards lack braking systems or devices.

[0020] This has led to a progressive ban on scooters from all public spaces such as roads, parks, cities, squares, etc. In many countries, their use is even prohibited on bicycle lanes.

[0021] Thus, they only have skate parks available, which are intended for flips and jumps, which excludes users of longboards for speed or "longboards" and those of cruiser skateboards for commuting and walking or "cruisers."

[0022] The maneuvers developed by users to brake, skidding basically, in addition to requiring a very expert user level almost only within the reach of professionals or near-professionals, rarely manage to stop the skateboard completely, only to reduce its speed and can only be performed when said speed is quite high.

[0023] Furthermore, braking maneuvers require a large space to be performed, which makes them useless in the event of a potential collision with a car, bicycle, or pedestrian in a bicycle lane or on a street or road without crossing into the other lane while performing the maneuver.

[0024] And braking with your foot on the ground, in addition to being very unsafe—and dangerous at high speed—quickly destroys the sole of your shoes through friction, which represents a considerable added cost.

[0025] Therefore, having a braking system or device that doesn't hinder or impair normal skateboarding will make skateboarding much safer and significantly increase demand for skateboards for the following reasons: a) Safety for everyone, especially children and adults. b) Prohibitions will be significantly lifted or lowered, and therefore, there will be many more areas available than now for practicing this sport, both for longboards and cruisers.

[0026] In both cases, and even more so if both circumstances apply, the demand for skateboards with effective braking systems will be considerable, substantially improving the practice of this sport.

[0027] Existing Skateboard Braking Devices

[0028] Current devices or systems for braking skateboards are of three types: a pad device that rubs the ground, a pad device that rubs the wheel, and a disc device attached to the wheel hub. The braking system of the invention is a pad device that rubs the wheel.

[0029] In the current skateboard market, two braking systems are generally sold: a first braking system using discs associated with the rear wheel hubs, and a second braking system using a brake pad that contacts the ground to effectively brake.

[0030] The first braking system using discs on the rear wheel hubs is actuated by foot using a tab connected to the braking system that protrudes from the rear of the board through a hole made in it.

[0031] This disc braking system, factory-integrated into a special skateboard, although it is possible to integrate it into other skateboards, first requires making a very large hole in the board and also replacing the skateboard wheels with the manufacturer's special wheels, which makes it almost completely impossible to adapt it to existing skateboards.

[0032] This first disc braking system presents, among others, the following drawbacks: • It is a very complex system, with many components, therefore expensive and difficult to manufacture and with possible breakdowns that are also difficult to repair.

[0033] • It is not applicable to other skateboards, since doing so requires making a hole, or rather a hollow, in the board, in addition to being very difficult to install.

[0034] • It also requires replacing the wheels with special ones from the company, which are considerably more expensive than the market average; therefore, if you need to replace the wheels, you'll have to do the same.

[0035] • It is quite uncomfortable to use and can be dangerous, as it requires shifting the user's weight backwards and using the foot to find the tab through which the braking system is activated; this tab can only be activated by moving the foot backwards parallel to the board.

[0036] • Eliminates any use of the skateboard for tricks.

[0037] • It is very expensive, with a price equivalent to the price of the most expensive skateboards on the market.

[0038] In the second braking system using a shoe against the ground, said shoe is located below the board; where said shoe is pushed downward by pressing a pivot connected to it with the foot; where said pivot protrudes from the rear of the board through a hole made in it.

[0039] Although this second brake shoe system can be integrated into other skateboards, it has the disadvantage that a considerable hole must also be made in the board.

[0040] This second braking system using a shoe against the ground has the following drawbacks:

[0041] • It's a simple and inexpensive system to manufacture, but it's not at all robust; it's fragile and can break or deform with any obstacle that passes under the board. It also doesn't withstand falls or impacts well.

[0042] • It can't be integrated into other skateboards because it requires drilling a fairly large hole in the deck, and it has to be done in a delicate position on the board. Users rightly dislike drilling large holes in their boards, among other reasons because they weaken them, reducing their strength, flexibility, and durability.

[0043] • It is uncomfortable to use, requiring you to shift your weight back and fumble with the pivot end, which is only comfortable to press from a speed competition position, which is not the normal one when skating.

[0044] • Remove any use of flips from the board.

[0045] • Not only is it fragile and can break on a curb or other obstacle that passes under the board, but the pads wear down quite quickly, so new pads must be purchased regularly, at an additional cost.

[0046] • Therefore, this second braking system can only be used with skateboards that already have the factory-installed braking system, and therefore cannot be adapted to existing skateboards.

[0047] Solution to the technical problem posed by the invention

[0048] In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the drawbacks mentioned in the previous sections, the invention proposes a braking system for skateboards that basically comprises a tilting shoe piece that acts on the front wheels as a shoe to brake them, and a plate coupled to the previous one that acts as a support base integrated with the shoe piece.

[0049] The base clamping plate is configured to be screwed to the skateboard deck using the same screws that secure the front truck to the skateboard deck. This has the advantage that no modifications to the skateboard or additional elements need to be added to the skateboard to install it.

[0050] More specifically, the invention consists of a braking system for a skateboard, wherein said braking system is configured to be installed and attached to a skateboard comprising a deck, two rear wheels, and two front wheels. The rear wheels are coupled to end sections of a rear axle, integral with a rear frame attached to the board; and the front wheels are coupled to end sections of a front axle, integral with a front frame attached to the board.

[0051] That is, the braking system is configured to be installed and attached to one of the most common skateboards on the market, which comprises the wheel and frame elements. Furthermore, it is important to note that these skateboards are configured so that the wheel axles articulate with respect to an axis perpendicular to the floor, depending on the inclination of the board relative to the floor on which the wheels rest. That is, if the board tilts laterally to the right, relative to the floor on which the wheels rest, the wheel axles articulate to the right, relative to the longitudinal direction of travel, thus turning the wheels to the right, so that the skateboard turns in that direction. The same thing happens, but in opposite directions, if the board tilts to the left.

[0052] The braking system is characterized in that it comprises a pivoting shoe part comprising a single integral body and a base support plate configured to be fixed to an upper surface of the board. The pivoting shoe part, in turn, comprises shoe elements, which form an integral part of said integral body of the pivoting shoe part.

[0053] In this way, with the braking system installed on the skateboard, and the base plate attached to an upper surface of the board:

[0054] - the tilting shoe piece and the clamping base plate are connected to each other by a transverse joint;

[0055] - the base clamping plate is located between the tilting shoe piece and the board;

[0056] - the transverse joint is located on the upper surface of the board, in a direction parallel to the front axle, when the latter is in a normal resting position (i.e. when it is not rotated relative to the board);

[0057] - the tilting shoe piece is configured to articulate, with respect to the skateboard deck, between two extreme positions which are: a first extreme position, resting, and a second extreme position, braking;

[0058] Also, with the skateboard in the use position and the wheels resting on a horizontal surface:

[0059] - the shoe elements are positioned in contact with a running surface of an upper end portion of the front wheels when the tilting shoe part is in the second extreme braking position; and

[0060] - the shoe elements are positioned at a height greater than the front wheels, when the tilting shoe part is positioned in the first extreme, resting position.

[0061] This last feature is very important because, if the skateboard is in operation, with a user leaning on the board, and the user tilts the board to turn in one direction, as previously indicated, the skateboard does not brake involuntarily due to friction, as occurs with braking devices currently on the market. This is because contact between the brake shoes and the wheels does not occur, no matter how much the board is tilted, since the wheel axles articulate when the board is tilted. Thus, the claimed braking device can be activated (pressed) to brake only when the skateboard is sliding in a longitudinal direction, without the board being tilted relative to the ground.This is an advantage not offered by any of the braking devices described in the background, nor by those currently on the market, where unintentional braking occurs when the board tilts and the wheel axles articulate.

[0062] Additionally, the braking system comprises biasing means configured to exert a load intended to maintain the tilting shoe in the first end resting position. Said biasing means are connected to the tilting shoe and to the base clamping plate.

[0063] In this way, with the braking system installed on the skateboard, the tilting shoe piece is configured to articulate with respect to the base plate when stepped on by a skateboard user.

[0064] Furthermore, this way, the braking system does not require any additional elements that pass under the board, which could break or deform during normal skating or maneuvers such as hitting rocks, curbs, etc.

[0065] In one embodiment, the transverse joint comprises two aligned lateral articulated connections that include joint elements that pass through holes in first extensions of the tilting shoe piece, and through holes in second extensions of the plate fixed to the board.

[0066] In one embodiment, the tilting shoe part comprises a flat plate that is configured to be stepped on, to articulate from the first extreme position, rest, to the second extreme position, braking.

[0067] In one embodiment, with the tilting shoe part in the first end position, at rest, the flat plate is located on an inclined plane with respect to the board, where a first transverse end portion of the tilting shoe part is located at the transverse joint, while a second transverse end portion of the tilting shoe part is located at a height with respect to a front end of the board in front of the front wheels.

[0068] In one embodiment, the inclined plane on which the flat plate of the tilting shoe piece is located, when it is in the first extreme, resting position, forms, with respect to the base plate, the latter being fixed to the skateboard deck, an angle between 25° and 40°.

[0069] In one embodiment, the biasing means comprise a compression spring located between the base plate and the flat plate of the tilting shoe; a first end of the spring is secured to the base plate, while a second end of the spring, opposite the first end, is secured to the tilting shoe.

[0070] In a different embodiment, the biasing means comprise a magnetic repulsion system comprising two magnets: a first magnet fixed to the tilting shoe part and a second magnet fixed to the base plate; where both magnets are facing each other when the tilting shoe part is in the second extreme braking position.

[0071] In one embodiment, the shoe elements comprise flat portions that form part of opposing fins located on two opposite sides of the flat plate of the tilting shoe part.

[0072] In one embodiment, the flat plate extends on two opposite sides by the corresponding first two extensions, from which the fins start.

[0073] In one embodiment, the flat portions of the shoe elements are arranged in the same plane which is parallel to a plane defined by the flat plate of the tilting member.

[0074] With the tilting shoe part in the second extreme braking position, in one embodiment, the flat portions of the shoe elements are arranged in an orientation parallel to the skateboard deck.

[0075] In one embodiment, with the tilting shoe piece in the first extreme, resting position, the flat portions of the shoe elements are arranged at the same height as the skateboard deck, the latter being in the use position, with the wheels resting on a floor.

[0076] This braking system can be installed on skateboards where the wheels extend beyond the sides of the board. This means that the length of the wheels and trucks is greater than the width of the board itself. Therefore, it can be used without limitations on longboards and most cruisers where this condition is met.

[0077] One of the biggest advantages of this braking system compared to those on the market is that the base plate is held and secured using the same screws as the skateboard's axle frames, so there is no need to make any holes, marks, or incisions in the deck or any other component of the skateboard to install it.

[0078] This allows the braking system to be installed and removed quickly and easily on any existing skateboard. All you have to do is screw and unscrew the pre-drilled base plate to the axle frame bolts and secure the spring or magnets, if applicable. This operation takes approximately 5-10 minutes.

[0079] By pressing the foot on the flat plate of the rocker foot, it lowers, causing the side shoe elements of the fins to press on the front wheels and slow them down to a stop, as on today's scooters with handlebars or bicycles. The rocker foot returns to its upright, resting position when the foot is removed. This is achieved by two magnets (one on the rocker base and another fixed to the plate in correspondence with the bow or front of the board), as well as by the shock absorber (spring) that connects the rocker foot and the base plate.

[0080] This way, braking is smooth and progressive and can be easily and comfortably modulated by increasing foot pressure on the rocker base or by loosening or releasing it, exactly the same way as with the braking system of a scooter with handlebars or a bicycle.

[0081] A good skateboard braking system must meet certain technical and usage requirements. Regarding the technical requirements, the following points are specified: a) It must brake effectively. b) It must be resistant to impacts, weather, wear, and tear, and must be long-lasting. The two components of the braking system must be made of steel or carbon fiber. c) It must be lightweight. d) It must be easy to manufacture with the fewest possible components, making it inexpensive. It only requires the single-piece pivoting shoe and the retaining plate. e) It must be easy to install and disassemble, without the need to make holes or marks on the boards. f) It must be adaptable to skateboards already on the market (longboards and cruisers). g) When not braking, it must not hinder normal use of the skateboard, especially when the brakes are not in use. Specifically, the shoe elements must not rub against the wheels when making turns, no matter how tight they are.h) It does not require the use of any additional components under the board to perform braking and connect the footing elements, since any of these elements could break or deform when colliding with stones, curbs, etc., or stop the skateboard suddenly, causing the user to fall.

[0082] Regarding wheel wear caused by friction against the brake pads, this issue is one of the reasons why other skateboard braking systems on the market continue to rely on ground contact or discs attached to the wheel hubs. However, the drawbacks of these systems outweigh the minimal wear caused by the brake pads rubbing against the wheels for the following reasons:

[0083] First, there is extensive experience with a similar braking system, namely, brake pads against the wheels, on scooters with handlebars currently on the market. These wheels, which are less durable than those of skateboards, barely wear down with use. The urethane wheels common on skateboards are extraordinarily durable, even those of longboards and cruisers, which are softer and more flexible than those of street skateboards.

[0084] Secondly, the price of longboard and cruiser wheels is quite affordable, between 10 and 20 euros. Those who skate regularly tend to change their wheels every year or year and a half, so hypothetical wear (more than two years of frequent use to be noticeable) would have little impact on the usual costs of practicing this sport.

[0085] Regarding the requirements for use of the braking system of the claimed invention, it meets the following aspects: a) It can be operated solely with the feet, without cables, levers, or any other additional elements, either above or below the board. These additional elements could not only be broken or deformed by stones, curbs, by leaning too far in tight turns, etc., but could also cause the skateboard to lock or skid, causing the user to fall. b) It leaves the largest possible usable surface free, which is the upper surface of the board where the user's feet rest, both for sliding and for performing tricks. This braking system leaves the upper surface of the board completely free except for the front tip. c) Being located at the front or bow, it only prevents tricks that require stepping on the tip of the skateboard.Therefore, the tail or rear and center of the skateboard are free with this braking system. d) Brake activation is easy, natural, and non-distracting, preventing loss of control of the skateboard. On skateboards, as in all sliding sports, control and braking are achieved by shifting your weight forward, never backward. Shifting your weight backward, leaving your front foot unpressed on the board, is the best way to lose control of a skateboard and fall. Furthermore, as has been proven with bicycles, front brakes brake more effectively than rear brakes. e) There's no need to search for the braking device or system because it's located on the bow of the skateboard within the user's field of vision. This prevents losing control of the skateboard and the surroundings by taking your eyes off it.With this braking system, being located in the bow, both loss of reference and control do not occur, since the brake is at the front or bow, visible, and you don't even have to look to put your foot on it, since its location is very intuitive. f) As mentioned above, the inclination of the tilting shoe is positioned stably at a preferred angle of around 35° in the resting position, since it is the natural inclination of the foot to brake, and placing it at this angle is easily done by simply sliding the tip of the foot. In this way, sudden maneuvers or loss of stability are never required when activating the tilting shoe (activating the braking system) or releasing it (deactivating the braking system).

[0086] This is one of the crucial and innovative advantages of this specific rocker shoe design. By maintaining the referenced tilt between 25° and 40° at rest and for any distance between the front wheels and the deck, which ranges from 2 to 3.5 cm on all longboards and cruisers, the following characteristics are achieved:

[0087] The shoe elements are kept level with the board, so that the front wheels can never touch the shoe elements when making turns, no matter how tight.

[0088] - By pressing on the tilting base, the two brake shoe elements rub against the two front wheels in an identical and uniform manner, achieving effective and smooth braking.

[0089] The design of the braking system of the invention is suitable for any shape, model, size or width of the bow of the board and for any distance from the front wheels to it, modifying only the length of the tilting shoe piece and the width in 6-8 basic models for all existing skateboards.

[0090] Below, to facilitate a better understanding of this specification and as an integral part thereof, a series of figures are attached which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, represent the object of the invention.

[0091] Brief description of the figures

[0092] Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the braking system for skateboards, object of the invention.

[0093] Figure 2.- Shows an elevation view of the braking system.

[0094] Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view of the tilting shoe piece that is part of the braking system.

[0095] Figure 4.- Represents a perspective view of a base clamping plate that is also part of the braking system.

[0096] Description of an embodiment of the invention

[0097] Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, the skateboard to which the braking system (1) can be installed, comprises a deck (2), two rear wheels (3), two front wheels (4). As can be seen in figure 1, the braking system (1) can act on the front wheels (4).

[0098] The rear wheels (3) are coupled to end sections of a rear axle (5), integral with a rear frame fixed to the board (2), and the front wheels (4) are coupled to end sections of a front axle (6), fixed to a frame also integral with the board (2). These frames can rotate when the board is tilted with respect to the floor on which the wheels (4, 5) rest.

[0099] In Figure 1 shown, it can be seen how the front (4) and rear (3) wheels protrude outwards with respect to the side edges of the board (2). The board (2) includes an upper surface on which the user's feet rest, for normal use of the skateboard, and a lower surface (opposite the upper surface) on which the two axle frames (5 and 6) are fixed.

[0100] The braking system (1), which can be installed on the skateboard, comprises a tilting shoe piece (7), in a single body, which includes two fins (8) arranged on opposite sides of a surface where a flat plate (17) is located. Said fins integrate shoe elements (8a) which, when the tilting shoe piece (7) is in a first rest position, are located above the front wheels (4) in a proximity to them, said tilting shoe piece (7) being coupled, by means of two lateral articulated connections (10), on a base clamping plate (9).

[0101] In this way, the braking system is configured to be able to be fixed to the front part of the upper surface of the board (2) of any type of skateboard, with the particularity that said fixing can be carried out using the same screws that are used to fix the frame and front axle assembly (6) of the skateboard.

[0102] As can be seen from the figures, the tilting shoe piece (7) includes two first extensions (11) arranged in parallel to two other second extensions (12) of the base clamping plate (9), such that both extensions (11, 12) include aligned holes (11a, 12a), in which articulation elements fit, such as screws (13), immobilized by means of nuts (14).

[0103] The lateral articulated connections (10) are located above the table (2), on the upper surface of the latter, at the same time as the tilting shoe piece (7), which, in the first extreme, resting position, is located on an inclined plane (15) that preferably forms an angle of 35° with respect to the table (2), without ruling out other larger and smaller angles. In this way, the lowest part of the tilting shoe piece (7) is located in the area of ​​the lateral articulated connections (10), while the highest part is located in correspondence with the front end of the table (2) in front of the front wheels (4).

[0104] In a first embodiment of the invention, the biasing means used to maintain the inclined resting position of the tilting shoe part (7) comprise a spring (16) that works under compression, which is located between the base plate (9) and the tilting shoe part (7), such that a first end of the spring (16) is fixed to the clamping base plate (9), while a second end of the spring (16), opposite to the first end, is fixed to the tilting shoe part (7).

[0105] In a second embodiment of the invention, different from the previous one, the first extreme position, of rest, of the tilting shoe piece (7) is maintained by two magnets by repulsion: a first magnet (18a) fixed on the tilting shoe piece (7) and a second magnet (18b) fixed on the base plate (9) that is joined to the table (2); where said magnets are close and facing each other.

[0106] In turn, the tilting shoe piece (7) shown in the figures also includes the flat plate (17) on which the user's foot pushes when he wants to brake, so that said flat plate (17) extends along its two opposite sides in the first two extensions (11).

[0107] The shoe elements (8a) of the tilting part (7) comprise flat bodies that are configured to contact tangentially on an upper part of the entire width of the front wheels, during braking of the skateboard.

[0108] The shoe elements (8a) comprise the flat bodies that are arranged in planes parallel to the plane in which the flat plate (17) of the tilting part (7) is located.

[0109] It should be noted that the braking system assembly (1) is located above the table (2) and can be easily mounted and dismounted on the table (2) by means of screws, independently of the front frame of the front wheels (4).

[0110] With this arrangement described, to activate the braking system, the user riding on the skateboard steps by pushing with his front foot on the flat plate of the tilting shoe part (7). Braking is achieved by contact between the shoe elements (8a) of the tilting shoe part (7) on the rolling surface of the front wheels (4) of the skateboard. Operation of the braking system

[0111] For some time now, a major effort has been made worldwide to develop effective, functional, and robust wheel-braking systems for skateboards, ruling out skateboards that brake on contact with the ground and those that brake with a disc brake because they are a different category.

[0112] Thus, there are currently many professionals and experts in the field trying to achieve a braking system such as the one claimed, given the many requirements that a wheel braking system demands that is optimal and that works with total safety and efficiency, which means that it must brake the wheels in a stable and uniform manner, and from a functional point of view that it brakes the wheels without preventing, diminishing or hindering the normal use of the skateboard.

[0113] Normal use of a skateboard means the following: a.- That the skating posture is not drastically different from normal skating, i.e., with both feet flat on the board and standing with arms always free. b.- That the braking system does not require additional elements that hinder normal skating - such as having to operate the brakes using cables or other elements supported on the arms or hands - given that the arms are essential when skating to maintain balance, modify loads, and perform turns and jumps. c.- That the braking system does not hinder or impede the operation of the skateboard. This point is crucial to understanding not only the patentability of the braking system of the invention, but also its viability, as well as the non-viability of the braking systems currently on the market.

[0114] The claimed system allows such effective braking, as explained below:

[0115] When a skateboarder takes a turn, the board is placed on an inclined plane due to the centrifugal force generated by the speed of movement along the curved path. The two wheels on the same side approach each other and the board, although they do not touch the board because they are separated from the board's lateral edges. Furthermore, with this inclination and due to the centrifugal force, the axes of the wheels change their directions, going from being in parallel directions, which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the board, to being in inclined directions, losing said perpendicularity and becoming convergent, thus also changing the positioning of the wheels.

[0116] What is described in the previous paragraph is a conventional technical effect that can generally occur in any skateboard, this effect being possible because the union of the axles with the board is an elastic or damped union that allows this provisional change of positioning of the axles and the wheels, whereby the front wheels will no longer be in the same vertical as the defined shoe elements (8a), which allows the technical effect mentioned above which consists of being able to lower the lowest side of the skateboard deck even further in order to be able to take tighter curves, and / or at higher speed, because now the shoe elements (8a) are not in the same vertical as the front wheels (4) as referred to above.

[0117] This technical effect does not seem to be possible in the brake systems existing on the market, where, normally, the front wheels of the skateboard come into contact with the brake elements, when the skateboard turns, as said brake elements are placed in positions different from those indicated in the existing brake systems, which causes a possible accident to the user and also prevents cornering in general, which would render the skateboard unusable.

[0118] Another important difference with the brake systems existing on the market refers to the fact that when riding the skateboard in a straight direction making small, continuous curved turns, to one side and the other, following a sinuous path, with the skateboard with the claimed brake system, it allows riding with complete confidence and safety because the shoe elements (8a) and the entire braking system are located above the board, without there being any possibility of the front wheels coming into contact with said shoe elements (8a).

[0119] On the other hand, it should be noted that, in the claimed braking system, when the contact surface of each shoe element (8a) is in contact with the respective braking front wheel, both said shoe element (8a) and the flat plate (17) of the tilting shoe (7) are arranged in horizontal planes, with respect to the floor on which they rest, whereby the braking efficiency will be maximum because the user can load his force on the vertical where the front wheels are located.

[0120] This also has another related aspect, which would be the safety of the skateboard's own axles and wheels and said elements underneath the board when they collide or rub against each other, which would damage or break them.

[0121] Likewise, jumping, climbing curbs, and similar obstacles is very common and one of the added attractions of this sport. If there are elements underneath the board, they prevent it from breaking easily and causing falls.

[0122] Finally, it's relatively common for there to be small stones, gravel, etc. on the streets, so while they can be cleared by the skateboard wheels passing over them, they could then collide with those elements underneath the board.

[0123] In conclusion, any optimal braking system, even one that is merely technically and practically viable, must be able to be implemented without any element underneath the board that hinders, or could in any way hinder, the forward or backward arc-shaped movement, and the approach and retreat of the board with respect to the trucks and wheels when turning.

[0124] This is the fundamental problem posed by the wheel braking systems of well-known skateboards, because they all have precisely the structural need in common: they are systems that require various additional elements, parts, and joints underneath the deck, along with the skateboard's axle and wheel structure.

[0125] That is to say, in addition to the shoe and the fixing system, other components are required for the braking system to work, which are located underneath the board.

[0126] Additionally, it should be noted that existing braking systems require installing components underneath the deck, in addition to hindering or seriously impairing normal use of the skateboard and the safety of both the user and the braking system itself. They also make the design and manufacture of the braking system more difficult, make it more expensive, and make the system more fragile and complex to install and repair.

[0127] On the other hand, the claimed braking system, by comprising in a single piece a tilting shoe (7), normally made of steel or equivalent material, in addition to the fundamentals detailed in the previous points, allows the system to be manufactured in a much cheaper and simpler way, and the result is a totally solid system, almost unbreakable even in extreme circumstances and high speed falls or jumps.

[0128] Below are a number of specific considerations regarding the effects of the technical characteristics of the defined braking system:

[0129] - A single piece of tilting shoe (7) above the board (2) requires that its shoe elements (8a) contact the wheels at the same time, when pressed with the foot, remembering that said shoe elements (8a) form an integral part of the tilting shoe piece (7). Most existing designs fail to solve this problem, so they make complex systems with separate shoes for each wheel then connected by various articulation and connection systems necessarily below the board, which produces the inefficiencies indicated in the previous point.

[0130] - A single piece of rocker shoe (7) above the board requires its fins to cover them when coming into contact with the wheels, so that braking is strong, firm and stable, without oscillations.

[0131] - A single piece of tilting shoe (7) above the board (2) requires that its shape and dimensions adapt as perfectly as possible to the size and shape of the foot and that it also has a shape as close as possible to that of the tip of the skateboards.

[0132] - A single tilting shoe piece (7) above the board (2) must have an inclination at rest that is usual and natural for the foot between 30° and 35° inclination in the resting position, similar to the usual inclination in vehicle brake pedals. This inclination, together with the shape and size of the folding of the shoe elements, establishes the distance that they must travel, from the resting position to the contact position. - It should be noted that, aligned with the board, means that the shoe elements (8a) of the shoe piece (7) are at the same height as the lower edge of the board (2) or slightly above, so that, when turning and making curves with the skateboard with the braking system of the invention, the wheels can never touch or collide with said shoe elements (8a), which would cause very uncomfortable and dangerous oscillations and stops.

[0133] - In conclusion, the skateboard braking system of the invention also uniquely solves the problems of adaptability to any skateboard, installation without holes or marks on the board and quick and easy installation and uninstallation by the user at any time, which none of the existing systems on the market are able to solve, and therefore its specific solution using the braking system of the invention means that it has novelty and inventive activity.

[0134] Closings

[0135] The following closings define embodiments of the claimed braking system:

[0136] A.- Skateboard braking system, which is configured to be installed on skateboards comprising a deck (2), two rear wheels (3) and two front wheels (4); where the rear wheels (3) are coupled to end sections of a rear axle (5) attached to a rear frame fixed to the deck (2); and where the front wheels (4) are coupled to end sections of a front axle (6) attached to a front frame attached to the deck (2); where the system comprises a tilting shoe piece (7) in a single body and a base fastening plate (9) that are both coupled to each other by means of a transverse joint. The base fastening plate (9) is configured to be fixed to the deck (2) and the base fastening plate (9) is located below the tilting shoe piece (7).

[0137] The tilting shoe part (7) includes shoe elements (8a) which form an integral part of said tilting shoe part (7) and which are located above the front wheels (4) in proximity to them. The tilting shoe part (7) and the base clamping plate (9) are articulated by means of said transverse joint, which is located above the table (2) in parallel to the front axle (6). The tilting shoe part (7) is maintained in a stable rest position by means of means intended to maintain said tilting shoe part (7) in said stable rest position in which the shoe elements (8a) are not in contact with the front wheels (4). The means intended to maintain the tilting shoe part (7) in the stable rest position are connected to said tilting shoe part (7) and to the base clamping plate (9).With the braking system (1) fixed on the skateboard, the shoe elements (8a) are configured to contact the rolling surface of the front wheels (4) when the tilting shoe piece (7) is folded around the transverse joint with the user stepping with his foot on said tilting shoe piece (7).

[0138] B.- Braking system for skateboard, according to closure A, where the transverse joint comprises two lateral articulated connections (10) that include aligned articulation elements that pass through holes (11a) of first extensions (11) of the tilting shoe piece (7), and through holes (12a) of second extensions (12) of the plate (9) fixed to the board (2).

[0139] C.- Braking system for skateboard, according to any of the previous closures where the tilting shoe piece (7), in the rest position, is located on an inclined plane (15) such that the lowest part of the tilting shoe piece (7) is located in the area of ​​the transverse joint, while the highest part of the tilting base is located in correspondence with a front end of the board (2) in front of the front wheels (4) when the braking system is fixed on the board (2) of the skateboard.

[0140] D.- Braking system for skateboard, according to clause C, where the inclined plane (15) on which the tilting shoe piece (7) is located in the resting position forms, with respect to the base plate (9), an angle between 25° and 40°.

[0141] E.- Braking system for skateboard, according to any of the previous closures, where the resting position of the tilting shoe piece (7) is maintained by means of a spring (16) that works in compression, which is located between the base plate (9) and the tilting shoe piece (7); where a first end of the spring (16) is fixed to the base plate (9), while a second end of the spring (16), opposite to the first end, is fixed to the tilting shoe piece (7).

[0142] F.- Braking system for skateboard, according to any of the previous closures, where the resting position of the tilting shoe piece (7) is maintained by means of the repulsion between two magnets: a first magnet (18a) fixed on the tilting shoe piece (7) and a second magnet (18b) fixed on the base plate (9); where both magnets are close and facing each other.

[0143] G.- Braking system for skateboard, according to any of the previous closings, where the shoe elements (8a) are flat portions that form part of opposing fins (8) located on two opposite sides of said tilting shoe piece (7).

[0144] H.- Braking system for skateboard, according to clauses B and G, where the tilting shoe piece (7) comprises a flat plate (17) that is configured to be pushed on it with the user's foot; where said flat plate (17) extends along its two opposite sides in the first two extensions (11), from which the fins (8) start.

[0145] I.- Braking system for skateboard, according to any of the previous closures, where the shoe elements (8a) of the tilting piece (7) comprise flat bodies that are configured to contact tangentially over the entire width of the front wheels (4) during braking of the skateboard.

[0146] J.- Braking system for skateboard, according to the previous clauses H and I, where the shoe elements (8a) comprise the flat bodies that are arranged in planes parallel to the plane in which the flat plate (17) of the tilting piece (7) is located.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Braking system for a skateboard, where said braking system is configured to be installed and fixed to a skateboard comprising a deck (2), two rear wheels (3) and two front wheels (4); where the rear wheels (3) are coupled to end sections of a rear axle (5), integral with a rear frame fixed to the deck (2); and where the front wheels (4) are coupled to end sections of a front axle (6) fixed to a front frame, integral with the deck (2); where the braking system is characterized in that it comprises: - a tilting shoe piece (7) comprising a single integral body; and - a base clamping plate (9) configured to be fixed to an upper surface of the board (2); where the tilting shoe part (7) comprises shoe elements (8a), which form an integral part of said integral body of the tilting shoe part (7); where, the braking system being installed on the skateboard, the base clamping plate (9) being fixed to an upper surface of the board (2): - the tilting shoe piece (7) and the clamping base plate (9) are coupled together by means of a transverse joint; - the base clamping plate (9) is located between the tilting shoe piece (7) and the table (2); - the transverse joint is located on the upper surface of the board (2), in a direction parallel to the front axle (6); - the tilting shoe piece (7) is configured to articulate, with respect to the skateboard deck (2), between two extreme positions which are: a first extreme position, for rest, and a second extreme position, for braking; where, the skateboard being in the use position and the wheels (3, 4) being supported on a horizontal floor: - the shoe elements (8a) are positioned in contact with a running surface of an upper end portion of the front wheels when the tilting shoe part (7) is in the second extreme braking position; and - the shoe elements (8a) are positioned at a height greater than the front wheels (4), when the tilting shoe part (7) is positioned in the first extreme, resting position; where the braking system comprises means designed to exert a load directed at maintaining the tilting shoe piece (7) in the first end of rest position; where said tending means are attached to the tilting shoe piece (7) and to the base clamping plate (9); and where the braking system (1) is installed on the skateboard, the tilting shoe piece (7) is configured to articulate with respect to the base clamping plate (9), when stepped on by a skateboard user. 2.- Braking system for skateboard, according to claim 1, wherein the transverse joint comprises two aligned lateral articulated connections (10) that include joint elements that pass through holes (11a) of first extensions (11) of the tilting shoe piece (7), and through holes (12a) of second extensions (12) of the plate (9) fixed to the board (2). 3.- Braking system for skateboard, according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tilting shoe piece (7) comprises a flat plate (17) that is configured to be stepped on, to articulate from the first extreme position, of rest, to the second extreme position, of braking. 4.- Braking system for skateboard, according to the previous claim, where, with the tilting shoe piece (7) in the first extreme, resting position, the flat plate (17) is located on an inclined plane (15) with respect to the board (2), where a first transverse end part of the tilting shoe piece (7) is located in the transverse joint, while a second transverse end part of the tilting shoe piece (7) is located at a height with respect to a front end of the board (2) in front of the front wheels (4). 5.- Braking system for skateboard, according to the previous claim, where the inclined plane (15) on which the flat plate (17) of the tilting shoe piece (7) is located, when it is in the first extreme position, of rest, forms, with respect to the base plate (9), this being fixed on the board (2) of the skateboard, an angle between 25° and 40°. 6.- Braking system for skateboard, according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tending means comprise a spring (16) that works in compression, which is located between the base plate (9) and the flat plate (17) of the rocker shoe piece (7); where a first end of the spring (16) is fixed to the base plate (9), while a second end of the spring (16), opposite the first end, is fixed to the rocker shoe piece (7). 7.- Braking system for skateboard, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tending means comprise a magnetic repulsion system comprising two magnets: a first magnet (18a) fixed on the tilting shoe piece (7) and a second magnet (18b) fixed on the base plate (9); where both magnets (18a, 18b) are and face each other when the tilting shoe piece (7) is in the second extreme braking position. 8.- Braking system for skateboard, according to claim 3, wherein the shoe elements (8a) comprise flat portions that form part of opposing fins (8) located on two opposite sides of the flat plate (17) of the tilting shoe piece (7). 9.- Braking system for skateboard, according to claims 2, 3 and 8, where the flat plate (17) extends on two opposite sides by the corresponding two first extensions (11), from which the fins (8) start. 10.- Braking system for skateboard, according to the previous claims 3 and 8, where the flat portions of the shoe elements (8a) are arranged in the same plane that is parallel to a plane defined by the flat plate (17) of the tilting part (7). 11.- Braking system for skateboard, according to claim 8, wherein, with the tilting shoe piece (7) in the second extreme braking position, the flat portions of the shoe elements (8a) are arranged in an orientation parallel to the board (2) of the skateboard. 12.- Braking system for skateboard, according to claim 8, where, with the tilting shoe piece (7) in the first extreme, resting position, the flat portions of the shoe elements (8a) are arranged at the same height as the skateboard deck (2), the latter being in the use position, with the wheels (4, 5) resting on a floor.

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