Pre-pressurized polyurethane skate wheel

• US 6,085,815 A
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bravo Sports
• Original Assignee: HYPER Corp.
• Inventors: Peterson, Tom, Piper, Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Knable, Geoffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US08/975,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 152/165, 152/7, 152/9, 152/166, 152/322-328, 152/320, 152/452, 152/302, 152/344.1, 152/345.1, 152/339.1, 152/333.1, 152/384, 152/501, 152/511, 152/DIG. 18, 301/5.3, 301/35.51, 280/11.22, 280/11.23
• US Class Current: 152/165
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/223 Wheel hubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/24 with ball-shaped or spherical running surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/00 Shaping by casting, i.e. introducing the moulding material into a mould or between confining surfaces without significant moulding pressure; Apparatus therefor B29C41/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/74 Moulding material on a relatively small portion of the preformed part, e.g. outsert moulding B29C70/845 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/02 Solid tyres ; Moulds therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2007/005 made by casting, e.g. of polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10117 Integral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/1054 Mutually free walls

Abstract

The present invention is a pre-pressurized in-line skate wheel which is capable of being pressurized at low levels and which further includes an integral bladder device having an annular tube and three bladder rods which are in fluid communication with respect to each other. The wheel is configured with a rigid polyurethane hub formed with a drop center and further having a pair of radially extending flanges with three pairs of axial openings. The hub is further formed with three radially projecting spokes. The tire body surrounds the bladder device and is constructed of a generally more resilient polyurethane which bonds to the hub, flanges and bladder. The method of manufacture utilizes blow molding techniques for the bladder device which includes a post vulcanization chlorine bath. The tire body is formed using liquid thermoset polyurethane poured into an open cast mold. The resulting wheel ensures the rider of a long lasting, light weight tire with exceptional shock absorption properties to therefore provide a smooth and comfortable ride.

Claims

1. A urethane wheel comprising:

a relatively rigid urethane hub formed with a core defining an axle bore and having axially spaced apart radially projecting flanges;

an integral bladder device including a tube formed with a tube chamber and disposed concentrically about said core and spaced therefrom to form a nesting space, said device further being formed with a plurality of rods in said nesting space spaced equidistant about said drop center and formed with respective rod chambers;

fluid in said tube and rod chambers; and

a relatively soft molded urethane tire body formed between said flanges and surrounding a portion of said bladder device, bonded to said hub and bladder device and projecting radially outwardly from said bladder and configured with a peripheral tread surface.

2. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said hub is further formed having a plurality of spacer spokes.

3. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said spokes are spaced equidistant about said hub and contact a radially inner extent of said tube to maintain said tube in concentric alignment with said axle bore.

4. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said rods project axially.

5. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said flanges are formed with axially inwardly opening indentations; and

said rods are axially elongated to form axially opposite ends received in respective ones of said indentations.

6. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said flanges are formed with said indentations projecting axially through to form windows.

7. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said windows are spaced equidistant about said hub.

8. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said chambers are formed at their respective said axially opposite ends with reduced in diameter projections which fit snugly into the respective said windows.

9. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said bladder device is formed with an exterior wall being substantially 0.1 cm thick.

10. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said bladder device is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

11. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said fluid is compressible gas.

12. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said compressible gas is pressurized.

13. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said compressible gas is air.

14. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said tube and chambers are pressured to 5 psi or less.

15. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 12 wherein:

said tube and rod chambers are pressurized to substantially 3 psi.

16. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said bladder device is formed with a plurality of wear bumps projecting from the exterior surface of said tube and spaced in annular relation about said tube.

17. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said bladder device is formed so that said tube and said chambers are in direct fluid communication.

18. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said tire body is constructed of thermoset urethane.

19. A urethane wheel as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said tube and said chambers are constructed of thermoplastic rubber.

20. An in-line shock absorbing skate wheel comprising:

a hard urethane hub formed with a central core structure defining an axle bore and radially projecting spacer elements formed with annularly spaced radially outwardly facing contact surfaces;

a soft bladder device including an annular tube spaced concentrically around said bore and having a radially inwardly facing contact surface nesting against the respective said radially outwardly facing contact surfaces, said bladder device further including a plurality of axially elongated support lobes carried from a radial interior of said tube and cooperating with said core to form axial bridge spaces disposed radially inwardly of said tube; and

a soft polyurethane tire body formed with axial bridge elements in said spaces, substantially encapsulating said bladder device and bonded thereto, said body being formed radially distally of said tube with an annular wall defining a polyurethane annular cushion configured with a rounded tread surface.

21. An in-line shock absorbing wheel according to claim 20 wherein:

said hub includes radial flange elements spaced axially apart to form therebetween a radially outwardly open annular groove; and

a portion of said bladder device is configured to nest in said groove.

22. An in-line shock absorbing skate wheel according to claim 21 wherein:

said spacer elements are in the form of radial spoke elements spaced equidistantly around said bore and configured with respective radial distal apexes arranged in a circular pattern and defining said contact surfaces.

23. An in-line shock absorbing skate wheel according to claim 21 wherein:

said hub includes radial flanges spaced axially apart and configured with said spacer elements defining said radially outwardly facing contact surfaces to contact said radially inwardly facing contact surfaces of said tube.

24. An in-line shock absorbing skate wheel according to claim 21 wherein:

said bladder device is pressurized with fluid.

25. An in-line shock absorbing skate wheel according to claim 21 wherein:

said bladder device is pressurized with compressible gas.

26. An in-line shock absorbing skate wheel according to claim 24 wherein:

said bladder is pressurized to less than 5 psi.

27. An in-line shock absorbing wheel according to claim 20 wherein:

said tube and lobes include chambers in fluid communication.

28. An in-line skate wheel comprising:

a urethane hard hub including a core element formed with an axle bore;

an inflated bladder device including an inflated tube element encircling said core element having radially outwardly facing contact surfaces;

said bladder device includes a plurality of axially elongated hollow lobe devices carried radially inwardly from said tube element and having a radially inwardly facing contact surface for contacting said core element to hold said tube element in concentric spaced relationship relative to said core element during manufacture to form an axial bridge space between said core element and said tube element; and

a urethane tire body formed over and substantially encapsulating said tube to form axial bridge elements in said bridge space between said tube and core elements.

29. An in-line skate wheel according to claim 28 wherein:

said bladder device is formed with a chamber pressurized with fluid.

30. An in-line skate wheel according to claim 28 wherein:

said lobe devices are spaced equidistantly about said tube for contacting some of said radially outwardly facing contact surfaces.

31. An in-line skate wheel according to claim 30 wherein:

said hub includes flanges projecting radially outwardly from said core and formed with a plurality of windows that define some of said radially outwardly facing contact surfaces; and

said lobe devices include respective axially projecting flexible rods formed on the respective opposite extremities with said radially inwardly facing contact surfaces contacting some of said radially outwardly facing contact surfaces.

32. An in-line skate wheel according to claim 31 wherein:

said rods are configured with fluid cavities pressurized with expandable gas.

33. An in-line skate wheel according to claim 28 wherein:

said tube is formed with a toroidally shaped compressible wall.

34. An in-line skate wheel comprising:

a urethane hub formed with a core configured with an axle bore and a plurality of radially outwardly projecting supports spaced annularly around said bore and formed with respective radially outwardly facing contact surfaces;

a bladder device including an annular tube concentric about said bore and including a plurality of hollow spacer elements so configured and arranged as to contact said contact surfaces to be held in spaced relation to said core during manufacture of said wheel;

a urethane tire body configured to substantially encapsulate said bladder and bond to said bladder and to said core; and

wherein said tube and spacer elements are in fluid communication to cooperate in reducing vibrational forces transmitted through the wheel.