Hollow core in-line skate wheel having contour conforming polyurethane wall
First Claim
1. A polyurethane in-line skate wheel comprising:
- a hard polyurethane hub formed with an axial bore and radially outwardly facing hub wall;
a soft polyurethane tire molded against the outwardly facing hub wall, bonded thereto and configured to define an arch shaped cushion having a rounded in transverse cross section radially outer peripheral tread wall;
an annular polyurethane bladder molded in said tire body, about such hub wall, concentric about said axial bore to provide a cavity and having a radially interior annular stand off skirt projecting radially inwardly to contact said hub and cooperate in supporting said bladder during molding of said body; and
said hub including radial centering fins constructed to maintain said bladder axially centered relative to said hub wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A skate wheel including a hard urethane hub formed with a drop center between radially projecting guide flanges, and including stand-off ribs disposed in equidistant spaced relation thereabout. Pairs of centering fins are spaced axially along a number of stand-off ribs thereby forming a central groove along the drop center. An annular bladder with an interior annular stand-off skirt is nested within the centering fins and concentric with the drop center. The wheel body is formed of a soft polyurethane and surrounds the drop center and encapsulates the annular tube, thereby forming a contoured surface. A method of manufacturing the wheel that includes selecting a welded seam annular tube, pre-pressurize it and then further pressurize it through the exothermic reaction by pouring liquid urethane in a mold to form the tire.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A polyurethane in-line skate wheel comprising:
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a hard polyurethane hub formed with an axial bore and radially outwardly facing hub wall; a soft polyurethane tire molded against the outwardly facing hub wall, bonded thereto and configured to define an arch shaped cushion having a rounded in transverse cross section radially outer peripheral tread wall; an annular polyurethane bladder molded in said tire body, about such hub wall, concentric about said axial bore to provide a cavity and having a radially interior annular stand off skirt projecting radially inwardly to contact said hub and cooperate in supporting said bladder during molding of said body; and said hub including radial centering fins constructed to maintain said bladder axially centered relative to said hub wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An in-line skate wheel comprising:
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a hard hub formed with a central axial bore; a urethane bladder device disposed in concentric spaced relationship about said bore and formed with a radially interior annular skirt; said hub including radial rib elements spaced annularly about said bore and projecting radially to form respective radially outwardly facing contact surfaces contacting said bladder device to maintain it in said spaced relationship, at least some of said rib elements including fins configured to form radially outwardly opening grooves receiving said skirt to maintain the axial spacing of said skirt on said hub; and a urethane tire body formed over said bladder and bonded to said hub. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification