Abstract: A brake mechanism for an in-line roller skate, the skate having a base plate the upper portion of which mounts a boot and a lower portion of which mounts a plurality of wheel assemblies, the brake mechanism including a support member depending downwardly from one side of the base plate, and a brake element having a lower end to which is attached a brake pad having a generally flat brake surface, the brake element mounted to the support member for adjustable movement relative to the support member along an arcuate path, and the brake pad surface maintained in alignment with a plane extending from a longitudinal axis through the lower ends of the plural wheels. A clamping mechanism can releasably hold the brake element stationary relative to the support member, and when the skate is tilted about the longitudinal axis through the wheel lower ends, the brake pad surface will be brought to lie flat against the ground.

Abstract: Disclosed is an in-line roller skate including an elongate base plate having a top side to which a boot is secured, and an underside that mounts four wheel assemblies, the front wheel assembly having a fixed orientation and the remaining assemblies each having a caster-like construction. Springs bias each of the caster-like assemblies in a straight-ahead orientation, and first and second near-vertically extending fixed brake surfaces are spaced on opposite sides of the rearwardmost wheel such that the wheel frictionally engages a brake surface whenever the wheel is substantiallly turned to one direction or the opposite direction.