Abstract: The present invention relates to a speed control pole to be used by a skater. The speed control pole has an elongated shaft with an upper end and a lower end, a roller/wheel mounted to the lower end of the shaft, a braking mechanism for contacting the roller, and a hand grip system for actuating the braking mechanism. The braking mechanism includes a brake pad which is caused to be moved inwardly against the roller and downwardly into contact with a skating surface when actuated. The brake pad includes an arcuately shaped surface for contacting the roller and a lower surface formed by two angled substantially planar surfaces. During a braking mode of operation, the arcuately shaped surface is brought into contact with the roller. During a pushing off mode of operation, the arcuately shaped surface remains in contact with the roller and the substantially planar surfaces are sequentially brought into contact with the skating surface.

Abstract: A braking mechanism (20) for a grocery cart or the like is disclosed as including a braking assembly (50) that is selectively shiftable between braking and non-braking positions and a handle assembly (52) interconnected to the braking assembly (50) for effecting the selective brake assembly shifting. The braking assembly (50) includes a chock element (60) shiftably mounted adjacent at least one of the cart wheels (26) and configured for wedging engagement between the periphery (65) of the wheel (26) and the support surface (66) to impede forward movement of the cart (22). The handle assembly (52) includes a tubular body (112) for fitting over the existing cart handle (28) and a pair of rotor cup assemblies (118, 120) supporting the tubular body (112) on the cart body (24, for selective pivotal movement substantially about the longitudinal axis of the cart handle (28).

Abstract: An improved snow chain system for wheeled vehicles that can be rapidly deployed and rapidly retracted, includes a rotatably-mounted friction drive disc having a circumferential edge that is pressure biased against the sidewall of a tire. Multiple arcuate chain attachment plates, which interlock much like a laminar puzzle, are placed end-to-end to form a ring-shaped unit. The ring-shaped unit is held together and to a planar surface on the friction drive disc by a plurality of bolts, each of which passes through a single attachment plate and through the friction drive disc. Each arcuate attachment plate has either one or two chain segments attached thereto. In the case where only a single chain segment is attached, a U-shaped anchoring chain link is welded to the attachment plate. In the case of attachment of a pair of chain segments, a M-shaped anchoring link is employed.

Abstract: A traction device for a wheeled vehicle comprises a rotor mounted to a supported component of the vehicle and displaceable between a deployed position, in which the rotor is close to the ground and in contact with the tire of a driven wheel of the vehicle so that when the tire rotates, the rotor rotates through frictional engagement therewith, and a stowed position, in which the rotor is farther from the ground and is spaced from the wheel. At least one elongate traction element is attached to the rotor at a location spaced from the axis of rotation of the rotor, so that when the rotor rotates due to frictional engagement with the rotating tire, the traction element is subject to centrifugal force and is extended from the rotor and passes between the tire and the ground.

Abstract: An in-line roller skate braking device is provided. The in-line roller skate has a boot with a sole platform. A frame is mounted to a lower side of the sole platform. The frame has a pair of frame members in a space apart parallel relationship to one another. A plurality of wheels are supported for rotation in a common plane by a plurality of axles. The braking device includes a braking disc supported for rotation by a braking disc axle. A drive assembly is provided for interconnecting the braking disc with at least two of the wheels for synchronized wheel rotation. A braking assembly is provided for simultaneously moving a first brake pad against a first side of the braking disc and a second brake pad against a second side of the braking disc. Furthermore, an actuation assembly is provided for engaging said braking assembly.

Abstract: A braking system is provided for an in-line roller skate for skating on hard skate-supporting surfaces. The roller skate includes a shoe, a wheel-supporting frame attached to the shoe, and a plurality of aligned wheels operably supported by the wheel-supporting frame. The braking system includes an extension connected to the wheel-supporting frame including a pair of opposing flanges, a brake pad operably supported on the extension, and a braking wheel positioned generally in alignment with and behind the plurality of aligned wheels. The braking system further includes an axle rotatably supporting the braking wheel. The axle is supported on the extension by a support mechanism for sliding movement between various braking positions such that, as the braking wheel engages the hard surface with increasing force, the braking wheel moves toward the braking pad and generates increasing braking force. Various support mechanisms for slideably supporting the braking wheel are disclosed.

Abstract: A roller skate brake for a roller skate having at least two rolling wheels mounted in-line. Each rolling wheel has a circumferential surface and is rotatably mounted to the roller skate about a rolling wheel axle. The brake includes a braking wheel also having a circumferential surface. The braking wheel is rotatably mounted about the roller skate about a braking wheel axle approximately parallel the rolling wheel axle. The braking wheel is mounted to the roller skate so that the circumferential surface of the roller skate wheel can be brought into contact with the circumferential surface of the rolling wheel. The brake also includes a braking lever for braking the rotation of the braking wheel when in contact with the rolling wheel, thus braking the rolling wheel. The circumferential surface of the rolling wheel is generally convex and the circumferential surface of the braking wheel may be generally concave.

Abstract: An anti-skid device for motor vehicles has chain lines (15) which are propelled into the region of the ground contact surface of a vehicle tire by centrifugal forces resulting from rotation of a holder (14) carrying the chain lines when the holder engages the flank of a vehicle tire by a pivoting unit (11). The pivoting unit is actuated by first and second pull lines (9, 17), the first pull line being fastened to a driving aggregate (5) and the second pull line being fastened to a return spring (18) which is arranged in a cavity (20) of a carrying part (21) for the pivoting unit.

Abstract: In an anti-skid device for motor vehicles, having a plurality of chain strands (10) distributed over the periphery of a holder (4), which holder can be set into a rotational motion, the holder exhibits a hub (6) having a ring collar (11). The ring collar (11) is surrounded by the ring bar (ring web) (18) of a friction wheel (7). Two plates (14, 15) of a pair of clamping plates are pressed by screw connections (16) against the side faces of the ring collar (11) and of the ring bar. The lower plate (15) is provided with slots (18) through which the ends of end links (20) of the chain strands (10) protrude into chambers (19) disposed in the ring bar (8) of the friction wheel. The anchorage of the end 1 inks (20) in the chambers (19) is here served by bolts (21).

Abstract: A skate and skate brake which allows a user to brake the skate smoothly and evenly without catching on a ground surface utilizes a rotatable assembly having a resilient outer circumferential member attached to a relatively hard inner hub, the rotatable assembly brakes the skate by rotating with a rotational friction greater than that of the average rotational friction of the skate wheels. The rotational friction of the rotatable assembly is controlled by locating a non-rotating brake pad in physical contact with the inner hub. The amount of rotational friction can be increase by urging the brake pads against an annular portion of the inner hub and by positioning the brake pads within an interior recess inside the inner hub so that an increase in the downward force that the user applies to the brake increases the force by which the inner hub of the rotatable assembly is urged against the brake pads.

Abstract: An anti-skid mechanism for vehicles interposes a series of blades or fins between the wheels and the road surface. The fins are mounted upon a sprocket chain or endless belt which rotates about a pair of sprocket wheels with straight section of the sprocket chain aligned near the contact point of the tire with the road. The fins are consecutively laid upon and removed from the road surface in a straight line between the wheel and the road surface. The flat sprocket chain and its mounting upon the sprocket wheels provides a high degree of stability of movement of the blades which in conjunction with the straight orientation of the chain or belt and attached blades under the wheel maximizes the static coefficient of friction between the wheel and the road.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for an anti-skid device for vehicles comprises an arm flexible essentially in one plane, fixed to the vehicle, and in its free end carrying a rotatable pulley which at its periphery has chain pieces attached thereto. The arm comprises a plurality of positioning elements fixed to a contracting member and enclosing at least one resilient tie member which, in a neutral position, gives the arm an arched shaped. When a pull line is activated the positioning elements form a rigid stack, whereby the pulley is moved down and pressed against one of the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for translating linear to rotary motion comprising a housing member, a rack member disposed in the housing member for longitudinal movement therein and having a starting position, a shaft in the housing having a pinion thereon engaged by the rack, the shaft being journalled in the housing and being disposed generally perpendicular to movement of the rack member, the shaft extends outwardly of the housing and has a rotative driving member thereon, the rack member has a longitudinal opening therein at one end thereof receiving the cylinder of gas cylinder-piston assembly, the piston of the gas cylinder piston assembly engages an end wall of the housing whereby upon movement of the rack member the gas in the cylinder is compressed and energy is stored therein, a slave cylinder in the housing member is adapted to receive fluid under pressure from an external source, a floating piston in the slave cylinder is arranged to act upon and linearly drive the rack and thereby rotate the pinion, the shaft and the

Abstract: An anti-skid device of the type including an arm, carrying in its outer end a chain-provided pulley that is brought in contact with a vehicle wheel so that the chains are thrown in under the vehicle wheel. The arm is, in its inner end, journaled in a U-shaped or fork-shaped bracket via a short axle that, in its ends, rests in bowl-shaped hemispherical bearings that are threaded into the legs of the bracket. The bearing bowls are pretensioned against the axle. At the apex of the shaft's spherical ends, recesses are made that take-up lubrication grease and, in this way, a point-like contact between the bearing shells and the axle is eliminated.

Abstract: To improve traction and roadability in motor vehicles, particularly trucks or buses, it is proposed that when a traction control means comes into play, suitable traction-promoting systems such as special chains or gravel spreaders are automatically activated, by triggering suitable adjusting cylinders for the traction-promoting systems simultaneously with the ASR valve.

Abstract: A pivotation device for a centrifugal chain assembly of a motor vehicle comprises a drive, a rack longitudinally displaceable by the drive, a gear wheel forming with the rack a gearing, an output drive shaft driven by the gear wheel and a pivotation arm, connected thereto by a coupling, for the centrifugal wheel of the assembly. A guide rod of round material extends parallel to the rack, which is guided in a flying manner on the guide rod. The teeth of the rack are located at the side facing away from the guide rod and the gear wheel supporting the rack against a lateral pivotation about the guide rod.

Abstract: The device is made up of a double-action jack (4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13), a case (9), a tip (10) and a fixing means (11). A rack (15), integral with the piston (12) of the jack, rotatingly drives a pinion (17) guided by two bearings (23, 24). On the fluted end (36) of the shaft (22) of the pinion there is fixed a swivel arm (2) having an axis perpendicular to the axis of articulation (18). This axis forms with the axis (16) of the rack an angle .alpha. other than 90 degrees. Owing to this angle .alpha., the swivel arm and a small wheel (3) attached thereto, when swivelling from a retracted position to an engaged position, move in a plane which is oblique relative to the horizontal, even though the cage (1) of the device may be placed in such a way that its axis is horizontal.

Abstract: Anti-skid device of a kind that includes a chain-provided pulley that on use if brought to contact with the side of the vehicle wheel so that when the vehicle wheel is rotated the chain pieces (2) are successively thrown in between wheel and ground in order to improve the traction. The anti-skid device is rotatably journaled in an arm (7) that in turn is fastened to a housing (8) that is turnably journaled on a stub axle (9). The turning movement of the arm and the housing is achieved in one direction by a bowden wire (20) and in the other dirction by a return spring (23). The stub axle (9) of the housing (8) is fastened to a plate (10) that in turn is fastened to a tube (11) by means of welding. The tube (11) is in turn arranged in clamps (12 and 13), that in turn are fastened to the bolts holding together the vehicle axle and its spring.

Abstract: A chain-carrying pulley (1) is journalled on a shaft (3) fastened to an arm (4) pivotally connected to another arm (5) which in turn is rigidly fastened to the rear axle casing (6) of a vehicle. An inflatable bellows (7) extends between the arms. When inflated, for instance by pressurized air, the bellows displaces the movable arm (4) from a folded position relative to arm (5) bringing the pulley (1) into contact with the wheel. The pulley is returned to a storage position by springs (10) joined to the arms when the bellows is deflated.

Abstract: In an anti-skid device for motor vehicles with a plurality of resilient spreading arms (5) distributed over the circumference of a support (1) which can be set into a revolving motion for chain strands (3) forming anti-skid means, the spreading arms (5) are formed by compression springs (8) which are precompressed by connecting elements (13) which connect the chain strands (3) to the support (1).

Abstract: A centrifugal chain assembly having a holder for a skid prevention device for a motor vehicle which can be put into operation when needed and which can be made inoperative again is formed by a plurality of elements which are axially movable and also pivotable relative to one another, which, by their construction and movability provided for adjustment can be employed equally at both sides of a motor vehicle and can be used for different types and models of motor vehicles. An adjustable ball joint is provided between a centrifugal wheel and the free end of a pivot arm, which pivots the centrifugal wheel, together with chain lengths secured to the centrifugal wheel, from a rest position into an operative position, in which the centrifugal wheel abuts against the side face, directed inwardly of the motor vehicle, of a driven motor vehicle wheel and is set in rotation by the wheel during travel.

Abstract: Anti-skid device especially for motor vehicle comprising elastic arms (2) assembled to a disc unit. In use the disc unit is brought close to the vehicle wheel, the friction of which is to be increased, and the outer ends (3) of the arms are successively drawn in between wheel and ground to increase the friction. Apart from their friction increasing portion (3) the arms (2) are extremely elastic and extend practically to the centre of rotation and bearing of the disc. Above the arms there is arranged a disc (5) extending out to the vicinity of the transition of the arms (2) into the friction increasing members (3). Moreover, beneath the arms a ring (6) is arranged which is attached between the arms (2) to the points (7) of attachment of the disc. In this way the disc is given a plane appearance ensuring that the friction increasing members (3) of the arms can obtain defined feed-in positions relative to the vehicle wheel.

Abstract: A rolling contact suction system for vehicle braking and adhesion, in one embodiment comprising a suction cylinder adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for rolling contact with the surface upon which the vehicle moves; a plurality of suction disks contained in a surface layer of, and positioned within the profile of, the suction cylinder, the surface layer being made of a resilient material; and passageway within the suction cylinder for allowing the passage way of air from inside each suction disk, operable only when the internal volume of the suction disk is decreased.

Abstract: A cast, low density metal disk for anti-skid devices which has a periphery of sufficiently small width that when it contacts the wet side wall of a tire on a vehicle it spreads the film of water to each side and leaves an essentially dry area of contact between the disk and the tire instead of hydroplaning on it. The periphery preferably is covered with an anti-skid material, e.g., rubber. Chains are pre-turned or twisted in the same direction a tire tends to turn them when rolling over them to avoid further twisting with consequent shortening in use and they are given a non-circular, e.g., square cross section to increase their anti-skid properties. The chains are welded at one end to a steel ring which is removably fastened to the under surface of a disk by bolts.

Abstract: Vehicular road traction apparatus feeds a traction portion of an endless chain between a tire and the road surface and a recirculating portion of the chain is picked up aft of the tire and fed into a conduit which conducts it back to a point fore of the tire where it is fed continuously under the tire as the traction portion. The conduit is supported in position by arms and pivot pins so that the conduit may be moved between the aforesaid feeding position to a non-feeding position where the chain is held away from the tire. A cable moves the conduit between the two positions. The conduit may be hinged midway in its length so as to move its feeding and pick-up ends farther apart to stretch the chain taut in the non-feeding position. The conduit may be located outside or inside the tire. When located inside the tire, a skid plate and guide bar assist the supporting means to locate the feeding end of the conduit in proper feeding position.