Inline skate wheel assembly

• US 7,497,445 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Colgan
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Colgan
• Inventors: Colgan, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEYER, JACOB B
• Application Number:
  US11/232,141
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.221, 280/11.223, 280/11.227, 280/11.231, 280/11.27
• US Class Current: 280/11.223
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/223 Wheel hubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/24 with ball-shaped or spherical running surfaces

Abstract

An inline skate wheel assembly includes a loop that has a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough. The loop has an inner perimeter surface having a ring integrally attached thereto. A hub assembly includes a cylinder that has a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are open. A first perimeter flange is attached to an outer surface of the cylinder and abuts the first end. A second perimeter flange is attached to the outer surface of the cylinder and abuts the second end. The cylinder has a break therein so that a first portion and a second portion of the cylinder are defined. An axle may be extended through the cylinder when the first and second portions are extended into the loop and abutted against the ring so that the cylinder is rotatably mounted on the axle. The axle is secured to an inline skate track.

Claims

1. An inline skate wheel assembly for being rotatably attached to an inline skate, said assembly comprising:

a loop having a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough, said loop defining a wheel, said loop having an outer perimeter surface, an inner perimeter surface, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, a ring being integrally attached to and being coextensive with said inner perimeter surface, said ring being coaxial with said loop and being positioned between and being spaced from said first and second lateral sides, said ring having a first side edge, a second side edge and an inner edge, said inner edge having a plurality of elongated cavities therein extending between and through each of said first and second side edges;

a hub assembly being configured to be removably attached to said loop, said hub assembly including a cylinder having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being open, a first perimeter flange being attached to an outer surface of said cylinder and abutting said first end, a second perimeter flange being attached to an opposite side of said outer surface of said cylinder and abutting said second end, a plurality of raised sections being attached to said outer surface and extending between and abutting said first and second flanges, each of said raised sections being positionable in one of said elongated cavities, said first flange having a plurality of elongated wells extending therein, each of said plurality of elongated wells extending through one of said plurality of raised sections and outwardly of said second flange, said cylinder having a break therein and extending through said raised sections such that a first portion and a second portion of said cylinder are defined;

a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners being removably extendable through one of said elongated cavities and securing said first portion to said second portion when each of said first and second flanges is abutted against one of said first and second side edges of said ring;

wherein an axle may be extended through said cylinder such that said cylinder is rotatably mounted on said axle, the axle being secured to an inline skate track.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said inner edge has a plurality of elongated cavities therein extending between and through each of said first and second side edges, a plurality of apertures extending into said first side edge and outwardly of said second side edge, a plurality of posts, each of said posts being attached to said first flange and extending toward and through said second flange when said first and second portions are secured together, each of said posts being extendable through one of said apertures.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second portions having a distal edge with respect to said first and second flanges, an inwardly extending first perimeter lip being attached to said distal edge of said first portion, an inwardly extending second perimeter lip being attached to said distal edge of said second portion.

4. An inline skate wheel assembly for being rotatably attached to an inline skate, said assembly comprising:

a loop having a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough, said loop defining a wheel, said loop having an outer perimeter surface, an inner perimeter surface, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, a ring being integrally attached to and being coextensive with said inner perimeter surface, said ring being coaxial with said loop and being positioned between and being spaced from said first and second lateral sides, said ring having a first side edge, a second side edge and an inner edge, said inner edge having a plurality of elongated cavities therein extending between and through each of said first and second side edges, a plurality of apertures extending into said first side edge and outwardly of said second side edge, said apertures being generally equally spaced from each other;

a hub assembly being configured to be removably attached to said loop, said hub assembly including a cylinder having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being open, a first perimeter flange being attached to an outer surface of said cylinder and abutting said first end, a second perimeter flange being attached to an opposite side of said outer surface of said cylinder and abutting said second end, a plurality of raised sections being attached to said outer surface and extending between and abutting said first and second flanges, each of said raised sections being positionable in one of said elongated cavities, said first flange having a plurality of elongated wells extending therein, each of said plurality of elongated wells extending through one of said plurality of raised sections and outwardly of said second flange, said cylinder having a break therein and extending through said raised sections such that a first portion and a second portion of said cylinder are defined, each of said first and second portions having a distal edge with respect to said first and second flanges, an inwardly extending first perimeter lip being attached to said distal edge of said first portion, an inwardly extending second perimeter lip being attached to said distal edge of said second portion;

a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners being removably extendable through one of said elongated cavities and securing said first portion to said second portion when each of said first and second flanges is abutted against one of said first and second side edges of said ring;

a plurality of posts, each of said posts being attached to said first flange and extending toward and through said second flange when said first and second portions are secured together, each of said posts being extendable through one of said apertures, each of said posts having an outer side, an inner side and a pair of lateral edges, each of said outer and inner sides being arcuate, each of said apertures having same shape and size as said posts, each of said outer sides being convex, each of said inner sides being concave;

wherein an axle may be extended through said cylinder such that said cylinder is rotatably mounted on said axle, the axle being secured to an inline skate track.