CA1096784A - Band-brake and slip-clutch for walking roller skate - Google Patents

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

A band brake and a slip clutch mechanism suitable for use in a walking roller skate. The band brake is associated with the wheel of the skate and consists of an actuatable rotatable pivotable mounted braking structure mounted to and for rotatably around the axle of the wheel. The braking structure is actuatable by lever means associated therewith. The slip clutch of the present invention is a unidirectional device for certain wheels of the skate, and comprises an inner substantially circular structure having stepped teeth for engaging latch elements on an outer circumscribing surface extending in a direction of for-ward roll of the wheel. When the wheel rotates in an opposite direction to the intended unidirectional rotation of the clutch the latch elements engage with the stepped teeth.

Description

10"6 784 This is a divisional application of application Serial No. 221,951 filed March 12, 1975.
The present invention relates to a band brake and a slip clutch for a roller skate for walking and/or skating.
Prior to the present invention there have existed var-ious modes of transportation for individual persons, such as automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, and the like, but all of these have inherent limitations and disadvantages in so far as relatively short distances of transport required particularly in metropolitan areas, in so far as the inconvenience of storing or parking the same during the trip before return, on a round trip, as well as requiring special driving or riding skills by the user thereof.
Roller skates previously have been utilized almost exclusively as amusement devices for skating at a skating rink or limited sidewalk area or the like. Moreover, skates of the roller skate type have not been readily nor suitable for nor safe for use for walking or activities that would be performed by non-skilled skaters.
Accordingly, objects of the invention are to overcome the difficulties and problems and short-comings and disadvantages existing heretofore, of the type(s) referred to above, together with to provide a new and improved mode of transportation in the nature of a roller skate suitable for each or either of roller-skating and walking.
Another object is to obtain a brake for a walking rol-ler skatesuitable for each of roller skating and walking on level and/or inclined surfaces and/or for the climbing of or descending of stairs or other steps.
Another object is to obtain an improved unidirectional slip-clutch device of particular value on a roller skate.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and ~; ' following disclosure.
One or more objects of the invention are obtained by the invention as described herein.
Broadly the invention includes a walking skate having forward and rearward platforms intermediately pivoted permitting upward flexing of the rearward heel portion or rearward platform, and having three pairs of spaced apart wheels consecutively mounted one behind the other, the first two pairs being mounted on the forward platform and the third pair being mounted trail-ingly on the rearward platform, and there being braking meansfor intermittently controllably applying braking forces to the second pair of spaced apart wheels located at a rearward end of the forward platform (optionally braking force is appliable to the pair of rear wheels as well) and additionally there being suitable securing structures mounted on the rearward platform for securing the skate to the heel of the foot or shoe. In a prefer-red embodiment of the invention, at least the second pair of spaced apart wheels mounted at the rearward portion of the for-ward platform include for each wheel a unidirectional slip clutch mechanism. In a preferred embodimen~, for each unidir-ectional slip clutch mechanism there is included a ratchet mech-anism to which there are provided on a circular radially outward surface a series of slanted teeth, and in an opposing annular outer ring mounted therearound there are provided a greater plur-ality of loop structures extending forwardly in a forward direc-tion of roll of the wheel in slightly radially inwardly direc-tions, such that rolling of the wheel serves to centrifugally move the loops radially outwardly at their distal ends away from engagement contact with one or more of the steps, and such that upon attempted roll of the wheel in a reverse direction, one or more of the loops promptly becore looped retainingly around respective ones of the slanted teeth or steps. Preferably the number of loops is more than the number of teeth or steps, such that there is an overlapping relationship resulting in a prompt and substantially instantaneous engagement of one or more of the steps or teeth, irrespective of the rotatable position of the wheel or other rotatable member on which the loops are mounted.
In a preferred embodiment of the unidirectional slip clutch, each loop element includes a base shaft extending substantially rigidly at about a right angle to the loop element, and mounting aper-tures extending substantially radially outwardly within the inner surface of the rotatable member extends angularly forward in the direction of unidirectional roll or revolution of the rotatable member, such that a high degree of strength for the entire loop element and sturdiness in its mounting aperture results in an improved durability of the loops during their engagement with one or more of the keys.
The central pair of wheels, i.e. the rearward pair of wheels on the forward platform are preferably oversized wheels and include a preferred brake-band novel mechanism as shall be described in detail hereafter, basically including an inner rotatable circular member which upon rotation increasingly wedges and presses outwardly link element(s) connected at its outer end to the brake-bank at free-end portion to press the brake-band brakingly radially outwardly. Also, in a further preferred embodiment thereof, the terminal end of the brake-band is spring biased inwardly radially and axially of its longitudinal length toward its mounting base such that when the link element presses outwardly the brake-band portion, the spring mechanism of the brake-band serves to bias the brake-band such that the brake-band begins it braking frictional contact initially at a point adjacent the mounted base of the brake-band, and as braking action and pressure is increased, braking of the band increasing-ly advances toward the terminal free end of the brake-band, (where it is the strongest~. Also, for preferred balanced brak-ing of the wheel, there are bilaterally serially consecutively spaced brake band mechanisms around the wheel such that at least opposite two brake bands actuate concurrently to give braking simultaneously or each of opposite sides of the brake drum against which the brake bands each respectively are pressured.
The first pair of wheels on the forward end of the forward platform are caster mounted and are mounted to trail behind the mounting axis thereof and are preferably spring-biased into a centrally aligned state for normal alignment with forward direction of roll.
The invention may be better understood by making ref-erence to the Figures as follow.
Figure 1 illustrates a front side perspective view of an example of the walking skate of the present invention.
Figure lA illustrates a view as taken in partial cross section through the telescoping actuation shin lever shown in an in part side view illustrating the mechanism of initial assembly-ing thereof.
Figure lB illustrates in a similar view as that of Figure lA, appearance immediately after assemblage but still in the extended telescoping state.
Figure 2 illustrates a view in partial cross section through a partial structure of the embodiment of Figure 1 and substantially an elevation plan view of the remaining majority of the skate mechanism as viewed along lines 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates a view in partial cross section in side view of the wheel and mounting structure as taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 illustrates a cross-section view as taken through the structure of Figure 3 along lines 4-4 thereof.
Figure 5 illustrates a substantially side cross-sec-1~"6784 tional in-part view of the forward skate platform as taken along the line 5-5 of the Figure 2 illustration.
Figure 6 illustrates a cross sectional view taken through the brake structure of the second or intermediate pair of wheels and taken along line 6-6 of the view of Figure 5.
Figure 7 illustrates a side elevation view of the roller skate as illustrated in Figure 2 and as taken along lines 7-7 thereof, except illustrated in Figure 7 in an arced position of pivoted hinge as would occur during walking or skating.
Figure 8 illustrates a view taken from the Figure 2 illustration along line 8-8 thereof in an in-part perspective view of the clamp mechanism for attaching the rearward platform to the person's heel.
Figure 9 illustrates a cross sectional view through the rail guide structure of Figure 8 as taken along lines 9-9 thereof, showing thereby in substantially elevation plan view the detachably lockable adjusting mechanism of the clamping structure for variably adjusting the tightness of clamping, Figure 10 showing the embodiment of Figure 9 in a twisted state of release at a moment of adjusting. Figure 11 illustrates a view as taken along lines 11-11 of Figure 9 in cross-section therethrough; along lines 12-12 of Figure 11 the Figure 12 illus-trates a further cross-sectional view thereof.
Figure 13 illustration is a part cross-sectional and primarily elevation plan view of the braking mechanism and lever in an in-part view thereof, particularly as taken along lines 13-13 of Figure 16 of the same structure.
Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 illustrate varying positions of the same in-part view of the braking structure mechanism in elevation side views thereof.
Figure 18 illustrates a cross-sectional view in in-part view, of the wheel-brake-clutch-front or forward platform l~q6784 embodiment of Figure 1 as taken along lines 18-18 thereof.
Figure 19 illustrates an in part cut-away view and in-part total view of the embodiment of Figure 18 along lines 19-19 thereof.
Figure 20 illustrates an in-part perspective view of the teeth or steps structures of the unidirectional slip-clutch illustrated in Figures 13 and 19.
Figure 21 illustrates a side top perspective view of a single dismounted loop structure taken from its mounted state as shown in Figure 18 and 19.
Figure 22 illustrates a side cross-sectional view as taken through the braking structure as illustrated in the embodi-ment view of Figure 18, along lines 22-22 thereof.
Figures lA, lB, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 show different views of walking-skate 23 representing a combination of a plurality of preferred features of the present invention. There is disclosed a forward platform 24 and a rearward platform 25. The forward platform 24 is supported on forward pivotable and trailing caster wheels 26a and 26b mounted trailingly on the caster axle struc-tures 26aa and 26bb respectively. The rearward portion of theforward platform 24 is supported by large fixedly mounted wheels 27a and 27b respectively, and the rearward portion of the plat-form 25 is supported on caster wheels 28a and 28b respectively.
The forward portion of the rearward platform 25 is mounted hing-edly at hinge structure 29a and 29b respectively inserted in a hinged manner through the upright flanges 76a and 76b respectively, through apertures 30a and 30b. The shin-actuatable brake levers 31a and 31b respectively are telescoped by telescoping structure 32a, including the circumscribingly encompassing structure 32a' shown in greater detail in Figure lB and Figure lA, as holding biasingly inwardly toward one-another spaced apart prongs 31a having keyed ends 71a and 71a' with a space therebetween resulting from the biasing effect of the spreading member 72a of structure 31a' which is a shaft extending further down and having an ad-justment member 33a for determining the extent which the shaft structure 31a' leans or tilts forwardly or backwardly on the axis shaft 33a'. The continuing lever arm 31a' is pivotably mounted on pivot pin 34a for that lever and correspondingly the same for 31b" on pin 34b, such that lower on the lever at mounting pin 62a, a mounted shaft 61a and the pin 62a such as the shaft 61b, move rearwardly upon forward movement of the lever 31a and lever 31b, respectively, and similar such that the pins 35a' and 35b' respectively move rearwardly to thereby move pin-mounted wires or cords 35a and 35b rearwardly which thereby moves rearwardly the structure 36a" secured at the head 36a as shown in Figure 1 for one of the wheels 27a. The rearward movement of the structure 36aa results in the pivotal movement of the lever 37a around its mounting pin 65, such that the braking element 38aa is moved rear-wardly, and the braking element 38a is moved forwardly in slots respectively 38aa' and 38a' of structure 76a. Instead of being moved in reaction to movement of the lever 35a, the pivoted lever 37a may be also moved by movement of the actuator encased within caseing 42a bracketed by bracket 39a and continuing as cord 43a and also shown with its adjacent cord 43b from the opposite side.
The lever mounting structure 44 includes an appropriate mounting structure 45, pivoted on pin 46 for the squeezing thereof to press downwardly the actuator 47 against the reactor movable por-tion 48, this handle being merely symbolic of conventional squeeze handle mechanisms, and including typically a pocket-clip for sus-pending the same on the edge of the pocket, for example.
The caster wheels forwardly located, wheels 26a and 26b, have their axes 49a and 49b mounted on opposite ends of the for-ward cross bar forward platform structure identified as bar 50 having its axis mounting structures as female structures 50a and 50b. Depressor 51 of Figures 1, 2 and 8 receives persons heel and includes at opposite ends stepped portion 51a and 51b res-pectively mounted on the hinge shafts 52a and 52b within apertures 53a and 53b respectively of the forward portions of the rearward platform, such that the depressor 51 is depressably receivable within the window 51'. ~igure 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 show one of opposite rearward heel position clamping strips 54a and 54b res-pectively, on each of opposite sides, mounted on the terminal ends of outwardly extending strips 55a and 55b respectively which are channeled within parallel railed structures 56a and 56b each hav-ing serially arranged locking pin apertures 57a and 57b within which the adjustably lockable structures 58a and 58b are mounted on the guide railed structures 56a and 56b. The adjustable lock-ing structure 58a and 58b are mounted by set screws 59a and 59b.
The upwardly extending flange side walls of the rearward platform are identified as 60a and 60b. Extending rearwardly to the rear-ward pivoted wheels are locking structure 61a and 61b respectively mounted on pivot pins 62a and 62b of the lever shaft 31a". The pin 34b is fixedly secured to the lever shaft 31b" such that upon rotation thereof, the pin 34b also rotates within its mounting ap-erture 64 and the pin 34b is square headed with a flushly mounted link 63 pivotable therewith and having pin 63b for mounting the shaft 61b. For the brake levers 37a and 37b, the brake levers are pivotably mounted on pin 65a and 65b through the upright support structures 76a and 76b through apertures 65a and 65b. The rear-ward pivoted wheels 28a and 28b respectively are mounted between spaced apart prongs of parallel support structures 70a and 70b each respectively, on wheel axes 69a and 69b respectively, with the rearward platform rearward wheel support structures identified as female structure 66a and 66b securably mounting the axes 67a and 67b, and having in a forwarc face of each apertures 68a and 68b receivable respectively of the terminal ends of the shafts 61a and 61b as a part of the locking mechanism for the rearward castor wheels 28a and 28b.
For securing the forward portion of the forward plat-form to the foot or shoe or boot of a person, there are provided closing overlapable separate strips 74a and 74b typically having fabrics which are self-engageable with one-another, such as con-ventional loop and hook-type fabrics, which lockingly engage de-tachably upon merely overlapping of one on the other. The res-pective wheels 27a and 27b are mounted on wheel-support struc-tures respectively 75a and 75b secured to the upright forwardplatform side wall flange structures 76a and 76b respectively.
The flexible clamping strip 55a and strip 55b of the heel clamps are mounted on support beam structures 77a and 77b respectively.
A pivotable or flexible locking key 78a and 78b respectively are fixedly mounted at the upper end thereof under the rearward plat-form sidewall structures 60a and 60b respectively. Rearward movement of the lever shafts 79a and 79b (see Figures 3-8) when biased rearwardly by pressure of the braking mechanism presses rearwardly the distal pivotal ends of key structures 78a, 78b such that the keys 81a and 81b are pressed rearwardly to the positions indicated in phantom 81 'a for example. The levers 79a and 79b respectively releasing portions 51a and 51b.
The rearward caster wheels 28a and 28b of Figures 4 and 5 are lockable of the axis structures 67a and 67b respectively by virtue of the key lever shafts 61a and 61b becoming engaged within the apertures 82a and 82b respectively. Extending across as a bar structure between the rearward mounting structures 66a and 66b is the bar 87, and forwardly thereof is additional support bar 86. For illustrative purposes, in Figure 3 there is shown the supporting surface 85.

Figure 9 illustrates a view as an in-part view as taken along lines 9-9 of Figure 8, substantially in elevation plan view g ~0~6784 relative to the strip 55a and the clamping strip 54a mounted on the terminal end thereof, and the other illustrated elements of the clamping mechanisn. In particular, there is provided the parallel rail structure 56a each of which has its through-space 58ae and 58ae' respectively, receivable of the inwardly-bent locking key-portion 58aa' with its tip 58ab' and opposingly the opposite lever portion 58aa key portion and its tip 58ab anchored to the central insert 56a' by the screw 59a and its nut 59a'.
The opposite end of the key portion 58a and key portion 58aa' are identified respectively as 58ad and 58ad' each of which is bent inwardly in order to bias against the respective legs of the parallel structures 56a, as compared to the lineally eYtending structures 58ac and 58ac' which are in fact levers which upon depression thereof by twisting in a counter-clockwise direction cause the terminal ends 58ab and 58ab' respectively to become withdrawn from respective apertures 57 and the spaces 58ae and 58ae' thereof.
Figure 10 illustrates the appearance of the structure illustrated in Figure 9, during a state of depressing the lever portions 58ac and 58ac' such that the terminal ends 58ab and 58ab' are shown in the withdrawn state thereby permitting upward and downward adjustment of this entire structure around the central insert portion 56a'. It is to be noted that as illustrated in each of Figures 9 and 10 the central insert 56a' includes angular-ly and flattened surfaces at each of opposite sides thereof serv-ing to facilitate the ease of twisting for release and adjustment.
Further illustrating the mechanism described above is the view of Figure 11 as taken in partial cross-section along the illustrated structure of Figure 9 as along lines 11-11 thereof. Also as a part of Figure 11, there is better illustrated the included phan-tom illustrated position of the strip 54a and the mounting strip 55a relative to various clamp positions of differing elevations ~0~6784 along the strip 56a. The Figure 10 illustrates by the direction arrows 82 and 82' the directions of twist in order to make pos-sible the downward or upward adjustment of the detachable lock-ing structure thereof.
Figure 12 illustrates a view taken along lines 12-12 of Figure 11, illustrating the mechanism by which the leg structures 56a and 56a' slidably by securably anchor relative position with the strip 55a. Figure 13 in an elevation plan view as taken along lines 13-13 of subsequent Figure 16, in an in-part view further illustrates elements previously described, but this Figure 13 further clarifies the positions and relationships of one element to another. Figures 13 through 17 may be referred to for an understanding of the procedure and mechanism of braking and the locking of the brake mechanism. For further understanding, it may be mentioned however that the toothed or roughened surface of the eccentric circular disk lever 33 is utilized for adjust-ing the degree of angular set-position of the lever arm 31a' on its pivot 33a' relative to the lower lever arm 31a" pivoted at its pivot pin 34a. The pivoted arm 85a on its pivot pin 89a has a concave forward face 87a and is spring-biased by spring legs 84a and 84a' for opposingly biasing in opposite directions against the side faces of the leg 83a pivoted on its pin 90a and having its leg 83a'. The notched portion of the leg 83a en-gages with the correspondingly shaped end portion of the magnet leg 88ax, secured by screws and the entire magnet identified as 88a, and the edge face of the leg 83a' is flushly engageable with the end face of the magnet leg 88ay.
Figure 13 is a view in cross-section through the lever arm 31a' of Figure 16 as taken along lines 13-13 thereof, the Figure 13 illustrating primarily a top view of the previously discussed shaft structure 31a', the adjustment member 33a, the axis shaft structure 31a', the lever arm 31a", the pivotal 1~"6784 structure 84a, the pivoted arm 85a, and the entire magnet 88a.
The rearward platform upwardly extending flange wall 60a is also shown in a top view thereof.
With reference to Figures 14 through 17, other elements already previously described are also shown with all views being in-part elevation side views, the Figure 16 being such a view as taken along lines 16-16 of Figure 13. The purpose of Figures 14 through 17 is to illustrate in flow series the mechanism of operation of the above described elements as illustrated in these Figures. In particular, as the lever arm 31a' moves rearwardly in the direction indicated in Figure 14, accordingly the lower lever arm 31a" also moves rearwardly such that the pin 86a shown in all Figures 13 through 17 becomes moved to a resting position as shown in Figure 14 beneath the loosely downwardly hanging piv-oted arm 85a being supported at its rearward end by the spring 84a, as well as possibly resting liahtly on the pin 86a itself.
In the Figure 14 view, the lever arm 31a" in the illustrated position has pressed the lower end of the leg 83a' rearwardly to the point that it becomes magnetically attracted by and engaged with the magnet end 88ay, such pressing movement by the leg 83a' causing the leg 83a to be raised upwardly and away from the mag-net end 88ax.
Figure 15 illustrates the position of the respective lever arms 31a' and 31a" after the lever 31a' has been pressed forwardly by the pressure of a person's shin, for example, such that the pin 86a temporarily has lifted the arm 85a as shown in phantom while pin 86a was moving to its Figure 15 illustrated position beyond the end of the pivoted arm 85a at which point the pivoted arm 85a drops downwardly to its former position as illustrated in Figure 14 except that now rearward movement of the lever arm 31a" is blocked as shown in Figure 16 as the levers 31a' and 31a" attempt to move rearwardly, at which point the pin 86a becomes engaged in the concave face 87a as shown in eachof Figures 15, 16 and 17. However, by virtue of the pin 86a of Figure 16 becoming engaged against the face 87a, the upper portion of the leg 83a~ and upper portion of the leg 83a' and upper portion of the leg 83a' located above the pivot pin 90a becomes pressed rearwardly by virtue of the pivot arm 85a being pivotably mounted thereon by its pivot pin 89a, with the result of the rearward pressure causing the leg 83a to move downwardly into magnetic engagement with the magnet end 88ax. Because of the magnetic engagement, as the levers 31a' and 31a" thereafter move forwardly (toward the left of these Figures), the biasing action of the spring 84a biased as shown in Figure 16 causes the pivoted arm 85a to spring upwardly to the position shown in Figure 17 from its Figure 17 phantom position as the rearward pressure of the pin 86a against the face 87a is released by virtue of the forward movement of the lever arms 31a' and 31a".
Figure 18 illustrates an in-part and cross-sectional view of the forward platform rearward wheel as taken along lines 18-18 of Figure 1, and accordingly many of the parts pre-viously identified in Figure 1 and other prior discussed Figuresare also shown on this Figure. Each of Figures 19 through 22 should also be referred to in a following of the discussion and description of Figure 18, since all of these Figures relate to various parts of the Figure 18 illustration, the Figure 19 being an in-part partial cut-away view as taken along lines 19-19 of Figure 18, and the Figure 22 being a cross-sectional side view as taken along lines 22-22 of Figure 18. In particular reference to these Figures, accordingly, with special attention given to the more generic Figure 18, there is disclosed the spring 91 connected by loop 92 to an inward terminal end por-tion of the brake band 94, at one end of the spring, and the other end of the spring being connected to appropriate structure 1~6784 on the annular slidably movable braking ring 93 which is causedto move in the directions 100 by virtue of braking pressure applied by pin 38a within space of slot 38a' upon rearward move-ment of the lever 37a around pin 65 and the forward movement of the portion 29a around pivot pin 65 as the braking lever 35a moves rearwardly as a result of forward movement of lever arm 31a' and 31a" as shown in Figure 1. As more clearly seen in Figure 22, the brake band 94 is anchored at a proximal end thereof by anchoring structures 95 and 95' respectively for the bilateral brake bands 94 and 94'. The annular link structure 93 has fixedly but pivotably engaged therewith a substantially radially outwardly extending linking element 96 at a radially inward end 97 thereof extending substantially radially outwardly with the radially outwardly located end 98 thereof fixedly and pivotably mounted on the innerface of the brake band 94, for example - integral therewith in this example, and also the end 97 being pivotably and fixedly mounted to the link structure 93.
As illustrated in Figure 22, extending through the central por-tion of the linking element 96 is a through passage 99 which has passing therethrough a shaft end of the spring 91. When the linking structure 93 moves in the direction 100, the linking el-ement is thereby moved to the phantom illustrated position 101 substantially, thereby pressing the brake band radially outward-ly bringing about engagement of its outer face with the brake shoe 94a.
With particular reference to each of Figures 18, 19, 20 and 22, there is illustrated the anchoring slip-clutch struc-ture 102 having peripherally outwardly located wheel circum-scribingly angularly inclined stepped teeth 110 arranged serial-ly peripherally around the outer circumscribing surface, withthe Figure 21 annular-ring like structurelll having a sturdy and massive end portion 111' with anchor pins 112 and 112' anchored ~0967~9L

as shown in Figure 19 within the apertures 112a of the wheel-rotatable outer annular ring-like structure 112b.
As the wheel as shown in Figure 19 moves in direction 113, representing forward roll of the wheel, the annular ring-like structures 111 and the end 111' thereof from their inward-ly biased state slide non-engagingly over the surfaces of the stepped teeth 110. As the speed of the wheel moving in direc-tion 113 increases, centrifugal action-force causes the annular ring-like loop structures 111 and their massive ends 111' there-of to move outwardly into non-contacting positions away from and relative to the stepped teeth 110 whereby there is no friction nor wear on either the stepped teeth or the ring-like loop structures 111 and the 111' ends thereof. However, when the wheel as shown in Figure 19 attempts to move in a counter-clock-wise direction, the one or more annular ring-like structures 111 become engagingly looped around one or more of the stepped teeth, these teeth being more clearly illustrated in Figure 20.
As illustrated in 19, the number of loops 111 exceed the number of stepped teeth 110, resulting in an overlapping relationship to bring about prompt and substantial instantaneous engaging of and locking onto one or more of the teeth irrespective of the wheel position relative to the various stepped teeth, in a preferred embodiment at least one looped element or annular ring structure 111 on each of opposite radially outward sides of the wheel becoming engaged simultaneously for the best mode of operation. With regard to and making further reference to the functioning of the brake band 94 and 94', when the annular link structure 93 is rotated in direction 100, as a result of the spring such as spring 91 and 91', the terminal ends of the brake ;-bands 94 and 94' become pulled toward the base mounting struc-tures 95 and 95' respectively, resulting for each in a restrain-ing force which results in more effective braking as well as 1~67~4 braking frictional contact first occuring at positions closestto the anchoring structures 95 and 95' respectively as the link-ing element 96 moves in its braking direction.
It should be further noted that after the annular link structure 93 moves a predetermined distance rotatably, it be-comes locked in the position illustrated in the lOl phantom pos-ition at which position there is in effect over braking at which braking pressure is slightly released. The overbraking position of position lOl serves the purpose as illustrated in Figure 1 and also in the discussed Figures 14 through 17 of permitting the lever arms 31a' and 31a" to be moved further forward beyong the maximum braking action position such that the pivoted arm 85a may be made to spring upwardly in release from its Figure 15 position and Figure 16 position in particular, to its Figure 17 position.
It is within the scope of the present invention to make such modifications and variations and substitutions or equival-ents as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A band-brake device comprising in combination: a wheel structure having a central axis; a brake band; a braking link-structure mounted on said wheel structure, the braking link-structure being mounted pivotably adapted to rotate around said central axis; the braking link-structure including lever-connection elements opera-tively connectable to a brake actuation lever for rotation thereof;
a substantially rigid linking element pivotably secured at one end thereof to a radially outer surface of the braking link-structure at a first point and extending radially from the braking link-struc-ture, and the linking element being pivotably secured at a remain-ing opposite end thereof at a second point to a distal end of the brake band, and the linking element being connected at an angle to an inner surface of the brake band, said first and second points being on different radii vectors from said central axis such that the brake terminal end when moved toward a base-mounted end of the brake band by rotation of the braking link-structure, presses radially outwardly the brake-band distal end, and spring means interconnected between said brake band terminal end and a structure commonly mounting said base-mounted end of the brake band, and said spring means being positioned such that the brake band terminal end is biased radially inwardly and also biased along its length forwardly toward said base-mounted end thereof whereby braking leverage of the rotating brake action of the braking structure increases braking leverage of said lever-connection elements to thereby cause rotatable breaking action of the link structure to press outwardly progressively starting at said base-mounted end and thereafter increasing at other points located toward said terminal end.