Inline wheel with softer tire and internal support structure
First Claim
1. A wheel comprising:
- a drum shaped inner core having surfaces which cooperate with wheel bearings;
a tire support structure comprising;
a torus portion having a “
U”
shaped cross-section, wherein legs of the “
U”
extend inward towards the inner core and terminate proximal to the inner core, wherein the torus portion defines a cavity; and
a substantially rigid radially extending portion extending radially out from the torus portion; and
a tire molded over a top and sides of the tire support structure and extending inward to the inner core.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A skate wheel including a tire support structure adapted to reduce roll resistance generally encountered from a tire comprising a 60 A to 75 A Shore hardness material. The tire support structure comprises a flexible torus portion proximal to an inner core, and a substantially rigid radially extending portion extending radially outward from the flexible torus portion. The flexible torus portion cooperates with the inner core to form a cavity. The radially extending portion extends to approximately eighty to ninety five percent of the total wheel diameter. When a load is placed on the wheel, the radially extending portion is pressed against the flexible torus portion, and the flexible torus portion deforms into the cavity. The combination of the radially extending portion and the flexible torus portion moderates distortion of the soft tire, thereby reducing roll resistance. The resulting combination of a relatively hard radially extending portion and a relatively soft tire, allows for a more optimal balance of low rolling resistance and high traction.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wheel comprising:
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a drum shaped inner core having surfaces which cooperate with wheel bearings; a tire support structure comprising; a torus portion having a “
U”
shaped cross-section, wherein legs of the “
U”
extend inward towards the inner core and terminate proximal to the inner core, wherein the torus portion defines a cavity; anda substantially rigid radially extending portion extending radially out from the torus portion; and a tire molded over a top and sides of the tire support structure and extending inward to the inner core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A low rolling resistance high traction skate wheel comprising:
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a drum shaped inner core having surfaces which cooperate with wheel bearings; a one piece tire support structure comprising; a flexible torus portion having a “
U”
shaped cross-section, wherein legs of the “
U”
extend inward towards the inner core and terminate proximal to the inner core; anda substantially rigid radially extending portion extending radially out from the torus portion; and a tire molded over the a top and sides of tire support structure and extending inward to intimate contact with the inner core, wherein; the tire comprises between an approximately 60 A and 75 A Shore hardness material; the radially extending portion extends radially to between approximately eighty percent to approximately ninety five percent of the diameter of the tire; the flexible torus portion defines a cavity residing between the flexible torus portion and the inner core, wherein the flexible torus portion deforms into the cavity when force is exerted on the tire; and the tire support structure comprises between an approximately 85 A and approximately 90 A Shore hardness material.
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20. A low rolling resistance high traction skate wheel comprising:
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a drum shaped inner core having surfaces which cooperate with wheel bearings; a tire support structure comprising; a flexible torus portion having a “
U”
shaped cross-section, wherein legs of the “
U”
extend inward towards the inner core and terminate proximal to the inner core; anda substantially rigid radially extending portion extending radially out from the torus portion; and a tire molded over the a top and sides of tire support structure, and extending inward to intimate contact with the inner core, wherein; the tire comprises between an approximately 60 A and 75 A Shore hardness material; the radially extending portion extends radially to between approximately eighty percent to approximately ninety five percent of the outside diameter of the tire, and wherein the radially extending portion comprises between an approximately 95 A and approximately 55 D Shore hardness material; and the flexible torus portion comprises between an approximately 80 A and approximately 90 A Shore hardness material, and wherein cooperation of the flexible torus portion and the inner core defines a cavity.
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Specification