Light-generating wheel for an in-line skate

• US 5,536,074 A
• Filed: 09/20/1994
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chi-Hsueh Hsu, Chih-Yes Shyu, Jong-Yes Shyu
• Original Assignee: Chi-Hsueh Hsu, Chih-Yes Shyu, Jong-Yes Shyu
• Inventors: Hsu, Chi-Hsueh, Shyu, Jong-Yes, Shyu, Chih-Yes
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US08/309,977
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5.3, 301/5.7, 301/64.7, 280/11.19, 280/11.22, 280/11.23, 362/35, 362/78
• US Class Current: 301/5.301
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/26 with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means

Abstract

A light-generating wheel for an in-line skate includes two side shells and an electric board sandwiched between the two side shells. The electric board has a plurality of light emitters protruding out of one of said two side shells to light on and off, i.e. to flash while the wheel is rotated in skating on the ground.

Claims

1. A light generating wheel for an in-line skate comprising:

a right side shell and a left side shell, each of said side shells having a center hole formed therein and an annular groove formed around said center hole, said annular groove having a diameter larger than a diameter of said center hole, said annular groove being provided for the retention of a bearing therein, said right side shell having a circumferential protruding edge surface formed about a perimeter thereof, said left side shell having a circumferential recessed edge surface formed about a perimeter thereof for mating with said right side shell and forming an interior space therebetween; and

an electric board positioned within said interior space and sandwiched firmly between said left and right side shells, said electric board having a plurality of light emitters secured into positions near a circumferential edge of said board, said emitters protruding through respective holes formed in one of said side shells and being turned on and off during skating.

2. The light-generating wheel for an in-line skate as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said two side shells has a plurality of little fusing points on an internal circumferential surface, said fusing points being fused by means of a supersonic process to bond firmly together said two side shells, said fused-together side shells having a layer of PU foam formed on an external circumferential surface by means of a plastic injecting process.

3. The light-generating wheel for an in-line skate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric board has a battery chamber for depositing a battery therein, with an insulating slip being interposed in advance between said battery and the input terminal of said electric board, said insulating slip being removed by the user from said interposing position between said battery and said input terminal to permit the power of said battery to energize the circuit of said electric board.