Ground engaging movable skate brake

A roller skate system, comprising:

• a roller skate having a frame with a front end and a rear end and a shoe or a boot fixedly attached to the frame, the skate further including a plurality of wheels which are attached to the frame by axles;
• a brake pivotally connected to one of said axles such that the brake is pivotable about said axle, the brake having a braking surface which extends rearwardly from the rear end of the skate so as to be behind a rearmost wheel, the brake having a first position where the braking surface is above a skating surface and having a second position where the braking surface is in contact with the skating surface;
• and
• at least one rod member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is operably attached to said skate and said second end is operably attached to said brake such that pushing of the first end of said rod member causes the brake to move from the first position to the second position while the angle of the skate relative to the skating surface remains constant and while the shoe or the boot remains fixedly attached to the frame, and with the brake engaging the skating surface to slow or stop the roller skate when in the second position.

A method for stopping a roller skate comprising a shoe or a boot which is fixedly attached to a frame, said skate further comprising a plurality of wheels which are each attached to said frame by an axle, said method comprising:

• providing a support element having a braking pad operably attached thereto, wherein said support element is pivotally attached to one of said axles such that said braking pad is positioned behind a rearmost one of said wheels;
• providing a rod member having a first end and a second end, with the second end being operably attached to the support element;
• skating on said roller skate over a skating surface;
• pushing on the first end of said rod member while skating and while an angle of a skater's foot relative to the skating surface remains constant to pivot said support element about said axle until said braking pad engages the skating surface.

A method for stopping a roller skater comprising:

• providing a skate comprising a shoe or a boot which is fixedly attached to a frame, said skate-further comprising a plurality of wheels which are each attached to said frame by an axle;
• providing a support element having a braking pad operably attached thereto, wherein said support element is pivotally attached to one of said axles such that said braking pad is positioned behind a rearmost one of said wheels;
• providing a rod member having a first end and a second end, with the second end being operably attached to the support element;
• skating on said skate over a skating surface;
• pushing on the first end of said rod member generally in a direction of the second end while skating and while the angle of a skater's foot relative to the skating surface remains constant to pivot said support element about said axle until said braking pad engages the skating surface.

A method for stopping a roller skater comprising:

• providing a skate comprising a shoe or a boot which is fixedly attached to a frame, said skate further comprising a plurality of wheels which are each attached to said frame by an axle;
• providing a support element having a braking pad operably attached thereto, wherein said support element is pivotally attached to one of said axles such that said braking pad is positioned behind a rearmost one of said wheels;
• providing a rod member having a first end and a second end, with the second end being operably attached to the support element;
• skating on said roller skate over a skating surface;
• pushing on the first end of said rod member to move the second end of said rod member, wherein movement of said second end by pushing on said first end causes said second end to push the support element, thereby moving at least a portion of the support element toward the skating surface while skating and while the angle of the skater's foot relative to the skating surface remains constant, said support element further pivoting about said axle until said braking pad engages the skating surface.