Abstract: A wheel for an in-line skate or other wheeled vehicle is disclosed that may be modified to alter the rolling resistance of the wheel. The wheel may be disassembled to change a tire on the outer surface of the wheel to one made of a harder or softer material, and to insert or change a grease of a chosen viscosity into a chamber inside the wheel. The two changes may be utilized singly or collectively to help set the rolling resistance of the wheel. The wheel may be retrofit onto existing in-line roller skates.

Abstract: In-one aspect, a leg activated brake for a foot supporting rolling device, such as a roller ski. Roller skis generally have one wheel mounted to each end of the foot supporting frame which houses a ski binding for the skier's boot. The brake system mounts to the frame of the roller ski and when the brake is activated by the leg, the brake applies frictional force to the rear wheel to stop the roller ski.

Abstract: In-one aspect, a leg activated brake for a foot supporting rolling device, such as a roller ski. Roller skis generally have one wheel mounted to each end of the foot supporting frame which houses a ski binding for the skier's boot. The brake system mounts to the frame of the roller ski and when the brake is activated by the leg, the brake applies frictional force to the rear wheel to stop the roller ski.

Abstract: In one aspect, a roller ski is provided that includes a foot-supporting enclosure that enables the ski to be used without ski boots or ski bindings. In another aspect, a roller ski is provided that includes a cuff-actuated brake.

Abstract: A braking system for an in-line skate. The skate includes a boot mounted on a chassis. A cuff is rotatably mounted on the chassis. The chassis also has a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereon. The braking system for the skate includes a brake pad housing which is either fixedly or pivotally attached to a rear portion of the cuff, a brake pad disposed in the housing, and a roller arm rotatably mounted on the chassis. The roller arm is spring loaded so that when the brake is not in use, the roller arm is disposed above the wheels. The roller arm has a bearing assembly disposed therein, so that when the brake is actuated by a rearward rotation of the cuff, the brake pad engages the bearing assembly of the roller arm, thereby causing said bearing assembly to engage at least one of the wheels to slow and/or stop the skate. A rear wheel of the skate may be biased to enhance the braking action and reduce wheel wear.

Abstract: A foot supporting rolling device including a foot supporting structure for supporting a users foot, first and second wheels rotatably mounted on said foot supporting structure, said first and second wheel being made of an elastomeric material of a first hardness and a roller mounted in such fashion that it can be forced against both first and second wheels so as to provide resistance to the rotation of the first and second wheels.

Abstract: A braking system for an in-line skate. The skate includes a boot mounted on a chassis. A cuff is rotatably mounted on the chassis. The chassis has a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereon. The braking system for the skate includes a brake pad housing which is either fixedly or pivotally attached to a rear portion of the cuff, a brake pad disposed in the housing, and a roller arm rotatably mounted on the chassis. The roller arm is spring loaded so that when the brake is not in use, the roller arm is disposed above the wheels. The roller arm has a bearing assembly disposed therein, so that when the brake is actuated by a rearward rotation of the cuff, the brake pad engages the bearing assembly of the roller arm, thereby causing said bearing assembly to engage said at least one of the wheels to slow and/or stop the skate.

Abstract: A rolling device such as a roller ski or in-line skate that uses a roller of a hard material with the roller mounted to the frame of the roller ski or in-line skate in such a manner that it can be forcibly moved to contact the elastomeric wheel of the roller ski or in-line skate, causing the softer elastomeric material of the wheel to displace about the harder roller, resulting in a significant increase in rolling resistance with minimum frictional wear. A roller ski or in-line skate that uses, in conjunction with the aforementioned roller, a lever actuated brake permitting the roller ski or in-line skate to be stopped on down hill slopes.

Abstract: Printed circuit board with internal laterally extending electrically conductive element and perpendicularly thereto extending conductive element larger at a pin-receiving level than at the laterally extending conductive element level.

Abstract: Electrical connector combination in which contact pins extending from separate portions of the connector hold a PCB by virtue of spring characteristics of the contact portions.

Abstract: A roller ski that uses a wheel including a stationary member, a rotating tire member, and a liquid between the two to provide viscous damping to rotation of the tire member. The roller ski tire member can increase in width from a hub portion to a crown portion to provide crown edge portions that deflect during edging.

Abstract: Electrical connector in which contact pins extending from separate portions thereof are adapted to enter a circuit board from both sides.

Abstract: A backplane/daughter board connector including a first connector element and a mating second connector element that fits between upwardly extending sidewalls of the first element, the first element being provided with an additional contact carried by one of its sidewalls, and the mating connector element being provided with a further contact carried by a facing outside wall, the sidewall contacts providing a short ground path.

Abstract: A plurality of daughter printed circuit boards are detachably mounted on a backplane and electrically connected to a bus bar on the same side of the backplane via contacts on the daughter boards that mate with contact portions of the bus bar.

Abstract: A daughter board/backplane assembly including a backplane having first and second surfaces and holes extending from the first surface to the second surface, pairs of separate first contacts having first ends mounted in the holes and second ends extending from both ends of the holes, the second ends of each first contact being positioned with respect to the respective surface from which it extends, and a plurality of daughter boards mounted on opposite sides of the backplane and carrying second contacts mating with the second ends of the first contacts.

Abstract: A backplane/daughter board connector including a first connector element and a mating second connector element that fits between upwardly extending sidewalls of the first element, the first element being provided with an additional contact carried by one of its sidewalls, and the mating connector element being provided with a further contact carried by a facing outside wall.

Abstract: The combination of a backplane having a plurality of backplane contacts, a daughter printed circuit board, and a daughter board connector carrying a plurality of contacts and means for applying a translational force between the backplane contacts and connector contacts.

Abstract: A pronged electrical contact is inserted into a circuit board by a tool with a cavity that is partially defined by upwardly converging inner surfaces shaped to mate with upwardly converging outer surfaces of the prongs.

Abstract: A bus bar constructed to bend connector posts and make electrical contact with them at three loci of bar points. In vertical section, vertical lines between first and second bus contact points are spaced from third bus contact points adjacent said vertical lines by a distance less than the thickness of the posts, the locus defined by said vertical lines corresponding generally with a locus of post centerlines.

Abstract: A cross country ski binding with a first unit adapted to be fixedly mounted on a boot toe thickness and a second unit adapted to be fixedly mounted on a ski, the two being selectively attachable to provide great forward flexibility and very slight lateral flexibility.