Braking apparatus for in-line roller skates

A braking system adapted for use on in-line roller skate having an upper shoe, and a lower frame that includes a plurality of wheels rotatable in a common, longitudinally extending plane, said plurality of wheels being attached to said lower frame by a plurality of axles and having a forwardmost wheel and rearwardmost wheel, said braking system comprising:

• (a) a substantially rigid brake housing adapted for attachment to a rear portion of said lower frame at least at three points, said brake housing including:
• (i) a pair of plates adapted for attaching said brake housing to the lower frame, said plates being spaced apart but substantially parallel to each other, a forwardmost portion of each plate when mounted on the in-line roller skate, including an aperture of inserting a fastener therethrough for securing said plates to the lower frame at two of said at least three point;
• and
• (ii) an arm coupled between the pair of plates and extending forwardly of the housing when mounted ion the in-line roller skate, said arm being adapted for attaching said brake housing to the lower frame at least at one point that is offset from the points at which the pair of plates are attached to the lower frame;
• and
• (b) a brake pad attached to a bottom portion of said brake housing said pad having an upper portion with other side walls engaging inner surfaces of said pair of plates and support ridges engaging lower surfaces of said pair of plates said brake pad being secured in place using grooves formed in one of the outer side walls of said upper portion of the brake pad and the inner surfaces of the pair of plates that engage ridges formed in the other of the outer side walls of said upper portion of the brake pad and the inner surfaces of the pair of plates, and a fastener that is generally aligned with the grooves and ridges, said fastener being used to secure the brake pad to the brake housing, said brake pad having a braking surface for contacting a riding surface, said grooves and ridges extending in a direction transverse to said braking surface and at an angle to said support ridge to counter shear forces involved in braking.