Wheel for in-line skates

• US 5,564,790 A
• Filed: 01/20/1995
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl W. Lekavich
• Original Assignee: Carl W. Lekavich
• Inventors: Lekavich, Carl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US08/375,726
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5.3, 301/5.7, 301/64.7, 152/382, 152/393, 152/394, 152/395, 152/396, 152/397, 152/398, 152/402, 152/403, 280/11.22, 280/11.23
• US Class Current: 301/5.306
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/24 with ball-shaped or spherical running surfaces

Abstract

An improvement to an in-line skate wheel assembly rotatably mounted to a mounting frame axle juxtaposed a skate boot which lends to firmer and less degrading tire support and facilitates ready adaptation of different kinds of tires to suit varying skating activities.

Claims

1. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, an improvement comprising:

two symmetrical hubs each including a first central hole having a central axis perpendicular to a rotational plane of said hub, said hubs being engageable with each other and forming a radial groove when engaged; and

a tire including a second central hole with a central axis collinear with said first central hole central axis and perpendicular to a rotational plane of said tire, said tire disposed within said radial groove of said hubs;

said hubs each including a first cylindrical surface, a first, second and third annular surface and an annular tooth disposed within said annular groove of said hub, said first and third annular surfaces parallel to said rotational plane of said hub, said third annular surface disposed farther than said first annular surface from said rotational plane of said hub, said second annular surface oblique to said rotational plane of said hub and interposed said first and third annular surfaces and said annular tooth interposed said first and second annular surfaces;

said tire including a cylindrical surface contacting said first cylindrical surface of said hubs, a fourth, fifth and sixth annular surface and a first annular notch complementarily contacting said first, second and third annular surfaces and annular tooth of said hub, respectively, and a seventh, eighth and ninth annular surface and a second annular notch symmetrically disposed about said rotational plane of said tire and similarly complementarily contacting said symmetrically engaged hub;

said tire including a plurality of holes radially diverged about and between said fourth and seventh annular surfaces of said tire, each hole having central axes parallel to said second central hole axis of said tire;

said hubs each including a like number of holes as disposed and at said radius of divergence about and between said fourth and seventh annular surfaces of said tire, each hole having a central axis parallel to said first central hole of said hub;

said hubs each including a second cylindrical surface which extends through said hub sufficient to accommodate a bearing assembly.

2. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 1 wherein said hubs each include a third annular notch interposed said second cylindrical surface and said first central hole of said hubs, and dimensioned and configured to retain sufficient heat reduction material to maximize heat transfer from said bearing assembly.

3. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 1 wherein said symmetrical hubs each include a number of bores corresponding to said number of holes disposed within said hubs, said bores having axes collinear with said radially diverged holes in said hubs, and further being dimensioned and configured to accommodate one of bushings and fastener heads.

4. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 1 wherein said tread of said tire has a profile constructed in an off-set, parabolic shape disposed about said rotational plane of said tire.

5. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 1 wherein said tread of said tire has a profile constructed in a double-domed shape having helical grooves symmetrically disposed about said rotational plane of said tire to channel fluids away from a footprint centerline of said tire parallel to said rotational plane of said tire.

6. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 1 wherein said tread of said tire has a profile constructed in a wedge shape disposed about said rotational plane of said tire.

7. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 1 wherein said hub includes at least one hole which receives an alignment pin interposed a like number of holes in said hub symmetrically disposed with respect to said rotational plane of said hub.

8. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, an improvement comprising:

two symmetrical hubs each including a first central hole having a central axis perpendicular to a rotational plane of said hub, said hubs being engageable with each other and forming a radial groove when engaged;

a mounting ring including a second central hole having a central axis collinear with said first central hole central axis and perpendicular to a rotational plane of said mounting ring, said mounting ring disposed within said radial groove of said hubs; and

a tire having a rotational plane parallel to said rotational plane of said hub fixed about said mounting ring and disposed within said radial groove of said hubs;

said hubs each including a first cylindrical surface, a first, second and third annular surface and an annular tooth disposed within said annular groove of said hub, said first and third annular surfaces parallel to said rotational plane of said hub, said third annular surface disposed farther than said first annular surface from said rotational plane of said hub, said second annular surface oblique to said rotational plane of said hub and interposed said first and third annular surfaces and said annular tooth interposed said first and second annular surfaces;

said mounting ring including a cylindrical surface contacting said first cylindrical surface of said hubs and a fourth annular surface complementarily contacting said first annular surface of said hub and a seventh annular surface symmetrically disposed about said rotational plane of said mounting ring and similarly complementarily contacting said symmetrically engaged hub;

said tire including a fifth and sixth annular surface and a first annular notch complementarily contacting said second and third annular surface and annular tooth of said hub, respectively, and an eighth and ninth annular surface and a second annular notch symmetrically disposed about said rotational plane of said tire and similarly complementarily contacting said symmetrically engaged hub;

said mounting ring including a plurality of holes radially diverged about and between said fourth and seventh annular surfaces of said mounting ring, each hole having a central axis parallel to said second central hole axis of said mounting ring;

said hubs each including a like number of holes as disposed and at said radius of divergence about and between said fourth and seventh annular surfaces of said mounting ring, each hole having a central axis parallel to said first central hole of said hubs;

said hubs each including a second cylindrical surface which extends through said hub sufficient to accommodate a bearing assembly.

9. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 8 wherein said mounting ring includes at least one radial rib extending tangentially from a top surface of said mounting ring.

10. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 8 wherein said hubs each include a third annular notch interposed said second cylindrical surface and said first central hole of said hubs, and dimensioned and configured to retain sufficient heat reduction material to maximize heat transfer from said bearing assembly.

11. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 8 wherein said symmetrical hubs each include a number of bores corresponding to said number of holes disposed within said hubs, said bores having axes collinear with said radially diverged holes in said hubs, and further being dimensioned and configured to accommodate one of bushings and fastener heads.

12. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 8 wherein said tread of said tire has a profile constructed in an off-set, parabolic shape disposed about said rotational plane of said tire.

13. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 8 wherein said tread of said tire has a profile constructed in a double-domed shape and helical grooves symmetrically disposed about said rotational plane of said tire to channel fluids away from a footprint centerline of said tire parallel to said rotational plane of said tire.

14. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 8 wherein said tread of said tire has a profile constructed in a wedge shape disposed about said rotational plane of said tire.

15. In a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to an axle of a mounting frame, the improvement according to claim 8 wherein said hub includes at least one hole or slot which receives an alignment pin interposed a like number of holes or slots in said hub symmetrically disposed with respect to said rotational plane of said hub.