Composite wheels for in-line roller skates

An in-line roller skate capable of riding at high speed on a skating surface and of being braked by a skater by a maneuver in which the skate is angled with respect to a direction of forward motion, said roller skate comprising:

• A. a boot for accommodating a foot of the skater;
• B. a frame secured to the boot;
• and
• C. a set of wheels supported for rotation in tandem relation on said frame;
• the wheels in the set having a composite structure including a central portion providing means for sliding formed of a material exhibiting a very low coefficient of sliding friction having a slippery surface flanked by side portions providing means for bracing formed of a material exhibiting a relatively high coefficient of sliding friction, the relative values of sliding friction being such that when the skate travels in the forward direction, the wheels then roll on this surface, and when the skate is angled with respect to the forward direction to effect a stopping action, this maneuver causes the wheels to slide on their central portion on the skating surface, the side portion of the wheels then acting to frictionally engage the skating surface to slow down the slide to effect a braking action.