In-line skate wheel disabling apparatus

Abstract

A device for disabling or otherwise allowing the wearer of an in-line skate to walk on the in-line skate without activating the wheels may include a clamping member to clamp the wheels. A switch may be activated which in turn activates or deactivates the clamping member. A walking member may also be provided, the walking member being coupled to the skate and moveable between first and second positions. In the first position the walking member may be secured such that the wearer may walk on the walking member. In the second position, the walking member is positioned such that it will not interfere when skating.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a skate having a plurality of wheels and a wheel support member;    a plurality of clamping members, each clamping member disposed adjacent to a corresponding wheel of the plurality of wheels; and    a switch mechanism, operatively coupled to the plurality of clamping members, the switch mechanism being movable between at least two positions, wherein when the switch mechanism is in a first position, the plurality of clamping members engage the plurality of wheels so as to substantially prevent the plurality of wheels from turning, and when the switch mechanism is moved to a second position, the clamping members disengage from the plurality of wheels.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of friction pads disposed on the plurality of clamping members.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch is connected to the plurality of clamping members by at least one cable.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the switch is mounted on the skate substantially rearward of a heel portion of the skate.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a skate having a plurality of wheels and a wheel support member;    at least one walking member, operatively engaged with the skate and movable between a first position and a second position, the first position allowing the wheels of the skate to rotationally engage a surface, and the second position in which the wheels are prevented from rotating.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the walking member is slidably coupled to an upper of the skate, and is slidably movable between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further including a locking mechanism for securedly locking the at least one walking member at each of the first and second position.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further including a second walking member.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one walking member includes at least one protrusion extending from a surface thereof which slidably engages a groove formed in the skate.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further including a hinge mechanism, wherein the at least one walking member is coupled to the skate with the hinge mechanism.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further including at least one locking tab, secured to the skate, for holding the at least one walking member in a lowered position.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further include a second locking tab, the at least one locking tab and the second locking tab being cantilevered from the wheel support member.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further including a holding mechanism for holding the at least one walking member in a raised position.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further including a release device and a spring hinge mechanism, the spring hinge mechanism being operative coupled to the at least one walking member to cause the at least one walking member to move between the first and second positions in response to the operation of the release device.