Pneumatic in-line skate wheel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A polyurethane cushioned pneumatic, in-line, roller skate wheel comprising:
- a rigid urethane hub formed with a drop-center having axially spaced apart retainer flanges, said drop center defining a plurality of spokes disposed in annular spaced relation about the drop center and projecting radially outwardly;
an annular urethane bladder received between said flanges and formed with a relatively thin bladder wall defining a pressure chamber and supported on said spokes;
a relatively soft, molded urethane tire body formed with a radially inner portion between said flanges and bonded thereto, and further formed with a radially outward annular cushion, said cushion being relatively thick compared to said bladder wall and formed with a generally rounded in radial cross section tread surface;
said tire and bladder being further formed with a valve bore; and
a valve in said bore for receipt of compressible pressurizing gas to adjust the pressure in said chamber to adjust the magnitude of shock absorption whereby said bladder may be pressurized so sharp forces applied radially inwardly on said tread surface will be cushioned by said cushion and tend to be absorbed by the compressible gas in said chamber.
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Abstract
A pneumatic in-line skating wheel having a tire body and central hub chemically bonded during a polyurethane casting process and further including an annularly encapsulated air bladder centrally spaced within the tire body to provide shock absorption and inflation/deflation means such that the overall tire resiliency may be adjusted, enabling adjustable performance characteristics of the wheel.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A polyurethane cushioned pneumatic, in-line, roller skate wheel comprising:
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a rigid urethane hub formed with a drop-center having axially spaced apart retainer flanges, said drop center defining a plurality of spokes disposed in annular spaced relation about the drop center and projecting radially outwardly; an annular urethane bladder received between said flanges and formed with a relatively thin bladder wall defining a pressure chamber and supported on said spokes; a relatively soft, molded urethane tire body formed with a radially inner portion between said flanges and bonded thereto, and further formed with a radially outward annular cushion, said cushion being relatively thick compared to said bladder wall and formed with a generally rounded in radial cross section tread surface; said tire and bladder being further formed with a valve bore; and a valve in said bore for receipt of compressible pressurizing gas to adjust the pressure in said chamber to adjust the magnitude of shock absorption whereby said bladder may be pressurized so sharp forces applied radially inwardly on said tread surface will be cushioned by said cushion and tend to be absorbed by the compressible gas in said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An in-line, roller skate wheel comprising:
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a relatively rigid urethane hub formed with a drop-center and axially spaced apart retainer flanges, said drop center including a plurality of spokes disposed equidistant about said drop center and configured to form therebetween axial communication channels, said spokes terminating in tips defining respective contact surfaces; a tubular shock absorber bladder formed with a body annularly surrounding said drop center to form a gas chamber and supported on the respective said contact surfaces; compressible gas in said chamber to pressurize said bladder; and a relatively soft molded urethane tire body nested in said drop center and formed to substantially surround said bladder and including axial support bridges in said communication channels, said tire body projecting radially outwardly from said tube to form an annular cushion constructed with a peripheral tread surface having a rounded cross section and further formed with laterally opposite sides bonded to said retainer flanges whereby sharp forces applied to said tread surface will tend to be cushioned by said annular cushion in cooperation with said compressible gas in said gas chamber.
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4. A pneumatic, in-line, roller skate wheel comprising:
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a rigid urethane hub formed with a drop-center and axially spaced apart retainer flanges; said drop center including a plurality of stand off spokes disposed in annular spaced relation to project radially outwardly and form therebetween axial communication channels and terminating in respective tips defining contact surfaces; an annular hermetic shock absorber bladder surrounding said drop center, formed with a body defining an annular chamber and supported on its radially inner surface from the respective said contact surfaces; a relatively soft molded urethane tire body nested between said flanges and bonded on its axially opposite sides to said flanges, said tire body formed radially distally of said bladder with an annular cushion configured with a peripheral tread surface, said body being further formed to substantially envelope said bladder and defining axial support bridges projecting through the respective said communication channels; said tire body and bladder being further formed with a bladder valve bore extending from said chamber to the exterior of said tire body; and a valve received within said bore whereby said chamber may be pressurized with compressible gas and said cushion will provide cushioned support of loads placed on said hub and flex under sharp forces applied radially inwardly to cooperate with said pressurized compressible gas in said chamber in absorbing said sharp forces. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A pneumatic, in-line, roller skate wheel comprising:
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a relatively rigid hub having an axis and including a drop-center wall, axially spaced apart retainer flanges and stand off spokes disposed in annular spaced relation about said axis and terminating in respective radially distal support surfaces; an annular hermetic shock absorber bladder formed with a body defining a pressurized chamber, encircling said hub and supported on said support surfaces to cooperate in providing communication channels radially inward from said bladder between said spokes and projecting axially between said flanges; a relatively soft molded urethane tire body between said flanges, said body formed to project through said communication channels and substantially envelope said bladder and further projecting radially distally of said bladder to form an annular shock absorption cushion defining a rounded axial cross section peripheral tread surface; said tire body and bladder being further formed with a valve bore extending from said chamber to the exterior of said tire body; and a valve received within said bore for selectively receiving pressurizing compressible gas to adjust the pressure in said bladder to thereby adjust the shock absorbing pressure interposed between said spokes and said cushion.
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Specification