Hollow core pneumatic wheel having contour conforming polyurethane wall
First Claim
1. An in-line urethane skate wheel comprising:
- a hard urethane hub formed with a rim surface facing radially outwardly;
a thin wall polyurethane annular bladder having a wall defining a toroidal chamber disposed concentrically about said rim surface and spaced radially outwardly therefrom;
stand-off ribs spaced equidistant about said rim surface and configured with radially outwardly disposed abutment surfaces contacting said bladder to cooperate in supporting said bladder in radially spaced relation to said rim surface;
said ribs being arranged in alternate staggered relationship on opposite axial sides said bladder and formed with respective centering surfaces that angle radially and axially outwardly on the respective opposite axial sides of said bladder; and
a relatively soft polyurethane tire body substantially encapsulating said bladder and bonded to said rim surface.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A urethane wheel including a hard urethane hub formed with a rim facing radially outward, and including stand-off ribs spaced equidistant thereabout. The stand-off ribs having centering notches opening radially outward. A thin wall polyurethane annular bladder with an interior annular stand-off skirt facing radially inward, contacting the centering notches of the stand-off ribs, and cooperating to position the bladder both radially and axially about the rim. The tire body is formed of soft polyurethane which surrounds the rim, encapsulates the bladder creating and integral cavity, and forms a contoured surface. A method of manufacturing the wheel which includes selecting a pressurized annular bladder, locating the bladder both axially and radially about the rim, forming a concentric bridge space having axial communication channels between the rim and bladder, and then pouring liquid urethane in a mold to form the tire.
36 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An in-line urethane skate wheel comprising:
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a hard urethane hub formed with a rim surface facing radially outwardly; a thin wall polyurethane annular bladder having a wall defining a toroidal chamber disposed concentrically about said rim surface and spaced radially outwardly therefrom; stand-off ribs spaced equidistant about said rim surface and configured with radially outwardly disposed abutment surfaces contacting said bladder to cooperate in supporting said bladder in radially spaced relation to said rim surface; said ribs being arranged in alternate staggered relationship on opposite axial sides said bladder and formed with respective centering surfaces that angle radially and axially outwardly on the respective opposite axial sides of said bladder; and a relatively soft polyurethane tire body substantially encapsulating said bladder and bonded to said rim surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification