Abstract:
A skate (10) includes a boot (12) and wheels (28), secured to a frame (14), and a brake (16). The boot includes a base (18), a heel counter (20) and a pivotable cuff (22). The brake includes a brake housing (32) connected to the frame by lower arms (34) and to the base of the boot by upper arms (36). A brake pad (38) is secured to the lower end of the brake housing adjacent the wheels. A push rod (40) extends upwardly from a top end of the brake housing along the axis of the brake housing, and bears against a cuff tab (42) secured to the back of the cuff of the boot. Forward pivoting of the cuff of the boot during skating does not activate the brake, while rearward movement of the cuff causes the cuff tab to push down on the push rod (40), resulting in engagement of the brake pad with the ground. Displacement of the brake pad in response to movement of the cuff is amplified by a hydraulic master-slave piston arrangement contained within the brake housing. The master-slave piston arrangement includes a master piston (52) and master diaphragm (56) housed within a master cylinder (54), a slave cylinder (70) positioned below the master cylinder, and a slave diaphragm (74) and slave piston (78).