Skate wheel

• US 5,797,658 A
• Filed: 02/04/1997
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elasco, Inc. (Deltron, Inc.), Rollerblade USA Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elasco, Inc. (Deltron, Inc.), Rollerblade USA Corporation
• Inventors: Larrucea, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US08/795,696
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5.3, 301/5.7, 301/64.7, 280/11.22, 280/11.23, 152/323, 152/393, 152/394
• US Class Current: 301/5.307
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/223 Wheel hubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/24 with ball-shaped or spherical running surfaces

Abstract

A wheel for an in-line skate includes a hub having a central core. First and second anchors extend radially from the core. The anchors are positioned on the core in spaced apart relation to define a material receiving volume between the anchors. A synthetic plastic material is molded to the core surrounding each of the anchors and filling the material receiving volume.

Claims

1. A wheel for a skate comprising:

a hub having a central core with a center axis, said core defining a bore axially extending therethrough for passing an axle;

at least a first and a second anchor each having first and second rings radially spaced apart and connected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs;

each of said first and second anchors extended to predetermined first and second radial distances, respectively, from said core, said first and second anchors disposed in axially spaced apart relation and defining a material receiving volume between said anchors;

a synthetic plastic material molded to said core, surrounding each of said first and second anchors, and at least partially filling said material receiving volume; and

at least a portion of said material forming a radial thickness disposed between said first and second anchors, said thickness extending to a third radial distance from said core, said third radial distance greater than said first and second radial distances and of said first and second anchors, respectively, said third radial distance being the greatest radial distance of said material from said core and disposed at an axially centered mid-point of said hub.

2. A wheel according to claim 1 wherein

said synthetic plastic material is molded onto said hub with said material presenting flat axial faces extending a fourth radial distance greater than said first and second radial distances of said anchors;

said material having an arcuate peripheral edge as seen in cross section around an entire circumference of said material; and

said flat axial faces of said material joined by said arcuate peripheral edge of said material.

3. A wheel according to claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said thickness extends continuously from said core to outer perimeter of said wheel.

4. A wheel according to claim 1 wherein said material completely fills said material receiving volume.

5. A wheel according to claim 1 wherein said first and second radial distances of said first and second anchors are the same.

6. A wheel for a skate comprising:

a hub having a central core with a center axis, said core defining a bore axially extending therethrough for passing an axle;

at least a first and a second anchor, each of said first and second anchors extending radially from said core, with said first and second anchors extended to predetermined first and second radial distances, respectively, from said core;

said first and second anchors disposed in axially spaced apart relation and defining a material receiving volume therebetween, said material receiving volume including the entire area disposed between said first and second anchors;

a synthetic plastic material molded to said core and surrounding each of said first and second anchors and filling said material receiving volume, at least a portion of said material forming a radial thickness disposed between said first and second anchors, said thickness extending to a third radial distance from said core, said third radial distance being the greatest radial distance of said material from said core; and

said material defining first and second axial faces each being substantially flat, said first and second axial faces defining axial planes in substantially parallel axially spaced apart relation;

said material having an arcuate peripheral edge as seen in cross-section around an entire circumference of said material, said arcuate peripheral edge joining said flat axial faces; and

each of said first and second anchors having at least a first ring coaxial with said core and radially spaced from said core, said first rings disposed in axially spaced apart relation from each other, at least a portion of said first ring of said first anchor coterminous with said first axial plane, at least a portion of said first ring of said second anchor coterminous with said second axial plane;

wherein said first and second axial faces terminate at said first rings of said first and second anchors, respectively, and portions of said material radially aligned with said first and second anchors are disposed radially outward from said first rings of said first and second anchors, respectively.

7. The wheel according to claim 6 wherein said first and second radial distances of said first and second anchors are the same.

8. The wheel according to claim 6 wherein said first and second anchors define a plurality of open pathways, said pathways being in communication with said material receiving volume, said material molded within said pathways.

9. The wheel according to claim 6

wherein said first anchor further includes a second ring radially spaced from and coaxial with said first ring of said first anchor, said first anchor having circumferentially spaced ribs connecting said first and second rings of said first anchor;

and

wherein said second anchor further includes a second ring radially spaced from and coaxial with said first ring of said second anchor, said second anchor having circumferentially spaced ribs connecting said first and second rings of said second anchor.

10. The wheel according to claim 6 wherein said material completely fills said material receiving volume, said material receiving volume including the entire area disposed between said first and second anchor planes of said first and second anchors, respectively.

11. A wheel for a skate comprising:

a hub having a central core with a center axis, said core defining a bore axially extending therethrough for passing an axle;

at least a first and a second anchor, each of said first and second anchors extending radially from said core, with said first and second anchors extended to predetermined first and second radial distances, respectively, from said core;

said first and second anchors disposed in axially spaced apart relation and defining a material receiving volume therebetween;

a synthetic plastic material molded to said core and surrounding each of said first and second anchors and at least partially filling said material receiving volume, at least a portion of said material forming a continuous radial thickness disposed between said first and second anchors, said thickness continuously extending in a radial direction from said core to a third radial distance from said core, said third radial distance being the greatest radial distance of said material from said core and substantially disposed at an axially centered mid-point of said hub;

said material defining first and second axial faces each being substantially flat, said first and second axial faces defining axial planes in substantially parallel axially spaced apart relation;

said material having an arcuate peripheral edge as seen in cross-section around an entire circumference of said material, said arcuate peripheral edge joining said flat axial faces; and

each of said first and second anchors having at least a first ring coaxial with said core and radially spaced from said core, said first rings disposed in axially spaced apart relation from each other, at least a portion of said first ring of said first anchor coterminous with said first axial plane, at least a portion of said first ring of said second anchor coterminous with said second axial plane;

wherein said first and second axial faces terminate at said first rings of said first and second anchors, respectively, and portions of said material radially aligned with said first and second anchors are disposed radially outward from said first rings of said first and second anchors, respectively.

12. The wheel according to claim 11 wherein said first and second radial distances of said first and second anchors are the same.

13. The wheel according to claim 11 wherein said first and second anchors define a plurality of open pathways, said pathways being in communication with said material receiving volume, said material molded within said pathways.

14. The wheel according to claim 11

wherein said first anchor further includes a second ring radially spaced from and coaxial with said first ring of said first anchor, said first anchor having circumferentially spaced ribs connecting said first and second rings of said first anchor;

and

wherein said second anchor further includes a second ring radially spaced from and coaxial with said first ring of said second anchor, said second anchor having circumferentially spaced ribs connecting said first and second rings of said second anchor.