CA2136907A1 - Wheel for in-line skates - Google Patents
Wheel for in-line skatesInfo
- Publication number
- CA2136907A1 CA2136907A1 CA 2136907 CA2136907A CA2136907A1 CA 2136907 A1 CA2136907 A1 CA 2136907A1 CA 2136907 CA2136907 CA 2136907 CA 2136907 A CA2136907 A CA 2136907A CA 2136907 A1 CA2136907 A1 CA 2136907A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- ground engaging
- core
- ring
- ring means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
- A63C17/00—Roller skates; Skate-boards
- A63C17/22—Wheels for roller skates
- A63C17/223—Wheel hubs
Landscapes
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
- Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
- Tires In General (AREA)
Abstract
An improved wheel for an in-line skate, comprising a hub for rotation about an axis, a circular ring made of a relatively hard material disposed concentrically about the hub, the ring having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface, and a core disposed concentrically about the hub for at least partially supporting the ring in a ground engaging position thereof, the core having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface and being made of softer material compared to the ring, and wherein the diameter of the ring exceeds the diameter of the core to provide a discrete radial transition from the ground engaging surface of the core to the ground engaging surface of the ring.
Description
`- 2~369~7 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to in-line skate wheels. More specifically, the invention relates to the shape and construction of in-line skate wheels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since its inception in 1980, in-line skating has rapidly gained acceptance and popularity to become one of the fastest growing sports in North America and elsewhere. Each year, thousands of new in-line skaters take to this new activity as a form of fitness or recreation. Organized events such as racing, roller hockey, recreational skating and artistic skating are increasingly being staged in many neighbourhood communities.
Modelled after ice skating, in-line skating incorporates many of the traditional techniques practised in its sister sport. Ice manoeuvres such as the basic 45 sideways push out, sculling, and crossover turning are all similarly performed on wheels.
To enhance the safe performance of these manoeuvres on the road, today's in-line skates are equipped with polyurethane wheels capable of maintaining good traction against the ground when the skate is in motion. In addition, these relatively soft wheels (approximately 78A durometer (hardness)) also assist in propelling the skater by generating a spring effect as the skater pushes off the skate during his/her forward stride and cushion the feel of the road.
Associated with these soft wheels however is an increase in the amount of rolling resistance. Greater effort must be expended by the skater to overcome the increased friction which causes a loss of performance particularly on straightaways. Another disadvantage inherent to the use of softer wheels is their tendency to wear out quickly. Harder wheels are therefore preferred because they reduce rolling resistance and it seems that users will sacrifice a bit of comfort for improved performance.
A compromise has been proposed by Klamer in U.S.
Patent No. 5,129,709 who discloses an in-line skate wheel having a relatively hard central core body flanked symmetrically by a pair of side wall bodies made of a softer material. Thus, when the skater is moving straight ahead purportedly substantially only the relatively hard radially outer surface of the central core will be in contact with the ground to minimize rolling resistance and increase speed. On curves however, the softer side wall bodies will contact the ground to increase traction for better grip and handling.
Despite such improvements to in-line skate wheels, there is still a considerable performance gap between in-line and ice skates, particularly in the areas of tight turns, T-stops and the ability to control or shed speed by snow plowing particularly for novices and children when rolling downhill or when approaching an opponent's goal prior to shooting.
Existing brakes for in-line skates comprise a piece of hard rubber or polyurethane affixed to the underside of the heel portion of the skate(s). To actuate this braking mechanism, a skater usually scissors the braking leg forward to transfer most of his/her weight on the braking leg. The scissored leg is then used to depress the brake heel along the ground in the direction of travel. Braking in this manner is unnatural, ineffective, and quite often unsafe. A more natural positioning and efficient stop can be attained either by snow plowing or by turning sideways to the direction of travel and sliding to a stop as if on ice skates. This technique is known as power sliding or power stopping and requires a highly skilled skater for its successful performance. Attempting this manoeuvre with existing technology will send the average skater head over heels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved wheel for use on in-line skates that `_ ~136~07 minimizes rolling resistance and decreases the effort the skater must expend.
It is another object in a preferred embodiment of the invention to provide an improved wheel for use on in-line skates capable of withstanding lateral stop movements with minimal wear.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved wheel for use on in-line skates incorporating the foregoing advantages while maintaining the beneficial shock absorption characteristics and spring effect provided by currently available wheels.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved wheel for use on in-line skates incorporating some or all of the foregoing advantages for specific uses including racing, outdoor everyday skating over uneven, non-homogenous surfaces, high performance play on smooth, homogeneous sport surfaces and stunt skating.
According to the present invention then, there is provided a wheel for an in-line skate, comprising hub means for rotation about an axis, circular ring means made of a relatively hard material disposed concentrically about the hub means, the ring means having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface, and core means disposed concentrically about the hub means for at least partially supporting the ring means in a ground engaging position thereof, the core means having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface and being made of softer material compared to the ring means, wherein the diameter of the ring means exceeds the diameter of the core means to provide a discrete radial transition from the ground engaging surface of the core means to the ground engaging surface of the ring means.
According to a further aspect of the present invention then, there is provided a skate wheel comprising circular hub means adapted for rotation about an axis, an inner core disposed concentrically about the hub means and " 21~69û7 made of material of a first predetermined durometric hardness, and an outer core of greater durometric hardness relative to the inner core body disposed concentrically about the inner core body and having an outer annular ground engaging surface thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevational, partially sectional view of the present wheel;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the present wheel adapted for all-terrain use;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 2 along the line A-A;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a slip ring forming part of the wheel of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the slip ring of Figure 4 along the line A-A;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of an inner core forming part of the wheel of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inner core of Figure 6 along the line B-B;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the hub of the wheel of Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the hub of Figure 8 along the line C-C;
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a further modified wheel;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 10 along the line A-A;
Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the slip ring of the wheel of Figure 10;
213~9~7 Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the slip ring of Figure 12 along the line A-A;
Figure 14 is a side elevational view of a further modified wheel for racing;
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a side elevational view of a further modified wheel for stunt skating;
Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 16 along the line A-A;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to Figure 1, the present wheel in its basic form comprises a hub 5, and a pair of outer sidewalls 20 of polyurethane sandwiching a central disk or slip ring 10 of relatively hard material, the outer ground engaging annular surface 11 of ring 10 being raised to radially protrude from the adjacent ground engaging surfaces 19 of sidewalls 20.
Advantageously, a line "a" drawn tangentially to both surfaces 11 and 19 defines an angle e ideally but not necessarily of 22 or in the range of 15 to 35 measured from normally horizontal axis h. Accordingly, the raised or stepped profile of surface 11 relative to surrounding surfaces 19 provides for a controllable transition from the relatively hard material of slip ring 10 to the softer material of sidewalls 20 as the wheels move from a relatively upright position to a more tilted attitude for snow plowing and lateral stops. This allows the skater to more easily take advantage of the different properties and characteristics offered by the inner and outer layers and to gradually and controllably bring the softer resin of the sidewalls into frictional contact with the ground. This avoids sending the skater headlong during such manoeuvres. With use, slip ring 10 will of course wear down from its original diameter but so too will sidewalls 20 so that there will remain a stepped transition between the two for the useful life of the wheel.
- ~13~907 Slip ring 10 is advantageously manufactured from a relatively hard material (Shore D85) having a low coefficient of friction permitting slip when performing lateral stops or snow plowing, but which is also possessed of a high degree of impact/abrasion resistance. Suitable materials include UHMWPE
or, more preferably, a petrowax-filled nylon 6/6, a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) filled nylon 6/6, a modified filled polyethylene or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The somewhat "grippier" TPU may be preferred if the wheels are to be used on homogeneous polypropylene playing surfaces as will be described below. These latter materials can be manufactured using injection molding techniques having a lower cost/part life ratio compared to compression molding techniques required for UHMWPE. If UHMWPE is used, it has been found that improved results are obtained by adding 30~
by volume glass fiber or beads for greater compressive strength and product integrity. Silicon oil may also be added for a hydroplaning medium in order to improve slip.
Most wheels sold in the market today have a nylon hub adjoining a uniform durometer polyurethane outer body.
Conventionally, skaters like softer wheels because they provide a comfortable ride and act like springs which, when released by the push of the leg, rebound to convert energy back into some forward motion. Because the wheels are always on an angle of attack normal to the annular axis of the wheel to the ground to propel a skater, a spring effect is very useful. However, as aforesaid, softer wheels offer a higher rolling resistance and suffer higher abrasion as the price of comfort. The wheels simply wear much faster because of the softer durometer material used in their manufacture. As will now be described in greater detail, Applicant's wheel improves energy conversion in two part wheels and reduces wear due to abrasion without sacrificing speed and comfort in a wheel that more closely mimics the lateral performance characteristics of an ice skate in terms of permitting ice hockey stops and snow plowing.
As will be appreciated, slip ring 10 as shown in Figure 1 provides little or no rebound or spring effect on its own due to the hardness (Shore D85) of the material from which it is made. Rebound is poor as well because the thickness of the ring is the only area transmitting the load back to the hub.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3 wherein like numerals are used to denote like elements, these problems are overcome by means of a modified wheel including a nylon hub 15 adjoined to a softer durometer (60A-78A) middle core 40 which in turn is adjoined to an outer harder durometer body 50. This minimizes both abrasion and rolling resistance by using a harder outer body (80A-86A) while absorbing shock to the foot and giving maximum rebound with every push of the leg due to the relative softness of core 40. In this context, rebound is considered the height a wheel recovers from an initial drop height when dropped on a skating surface. The higher the recovery height the better the rebound.
In the embodiment of Figure 2 and with particular reference to Figures 3 to 5, it will be seen that slip ring 10 is supported within outer body 50. Each slip ring includes an outer ground-engaging portion 51, a plurality of apertures 53 formed therethrough for mechanical adhesion to the pol~urethane outer body 50, and an inner T-ring 55 that distributes the load on the slip ring to the softer inner body. Inner body 40 may include bellows 45 formed on opposite outer sidewalls 42 thereof to improve shock absorption and resiliency. With reference to Figure 7, each side of inner body 40, when seen in cross-section, is roughly frusto-conical in shape including a basal surface 43 that adjoins hub 15, tapered flanks 44 and contiguous shoulders 42, and a crown 47 that abuts inner opposed surface 53 of T-ring 55. Crown 47 may be formed with a slight outwardly convex curvature as seen best from ~igure 7 and also is advantageously slightly wider than abutting surface 53 of the T-ring for maximum load transference from the T-ring to soft core 40. A
circumferentially extending groove 46 in basal surface 43 is shaped to conformably receive annular hub insert 7 (Figure 9) thereinto to position and centre body 40 relative to the hub.
Hub 15 and body 40 may be bonded together and additional mechanical adhesion is provided by the string of apertures 4 formed through insert 7 along its length. As will be appreciated, the material comprising body 40 flows through and solidifies into and about these apertures to form a strong and permanent connection with the hub. In other respects, hub 15 is conventional in size and shape and need not be described further herein.
It will be seen that in the embodiment of Figures 10 to 13, soft core 40 is omitted but a wider T-ring 65 is used for maximum rebound effect. This model also preferably includes a more squared outer ground engaging surface 58 on outer body 50 for use on polypropylene surfaces commonly called SPORT COURT1 and similar materials for roller hockey games. The slip ring is quite slippery and the flatter wheel bottom provided by the squared profile has been found to provide for a greater push and stop effect without excessive slipping. If the wheels' shoulders are more rounded, there could be some loss of traction otherwise required to start and stop forward motions as the wheel is angled at approximately 22 to start the push-off. Because SPORT COURT and similar surfaces are smooth and regular in nature, the shock absorbing characteristics of soft core 40 desirable in the all-terrain wheel of Figure 2 are not as needed. Hub 15 is another conventional configuration and will not therefore be described in greater detail. This style of hub obviously lacks annular insert 7 which, in this particular wheel, could result in 1 Trade-mark 21~6907 greater shock transference to the hub. Bonding between hub 15 and outer body 50 may be conventional chemical or covalent adhesion.
In the all-terrain wheel exemplified by the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the wheel's outer profile is somewhat more rounded because more traction is inherently available from cement, asphalt and other irregular surfaces typically found outdoors. This wheel provides for great manoeuvrability in view of its combination of profile and the addition of the slip ring. This permits the marketing of wheels having only a single outer diameter. It's typical to use, for example, a 72 mm wheel for more manoeuvrability, but at the cost of speed. For more speed, a wheel having a larger outer diameter (e.g. 78 mm) would be purchased. A wheel with the slip ring can be manufactured, if desired, in a single size of, for example, 76.5 mm to provide both speed, manoeuvrability and enhanced braking capabilities.
As stopping is not a requirement in racing, applicant's racing wheel as exemplified by the embodiment of Figures 14 and 15 can be made without a slip ring. In other respects, this wheel is similar to applicant's all-terrain wheel shown in Figure 2 apart from the curvature of outer ground engaging surface 58 of outer body 50. For racing, the cross-sectional profile of surface 58 is advantageously more parabolic in shape as best seen from Figure 15.
A similar embodiment with a soft core 40 but without a slip ring which is particularly useful for stunt skating is shown in Figures 16 and 17. This wheel is somewhat wider and is also quite squat in shape, with ground engaging surface 58 of outer body 50 having a relatively large radius of curvature for maximum ground contact. The hardness of outer body 50 will advantageously be in the range of 88A to 96A.
Providing the improved wheels as described above simplifies choices for consumers who will no longer be put to the election between soft and hard, short or long wearing and so forth. Applicant's wheels provide speed, comfort and durability as well as improved performance in areas of stopping, snow plowing and turning having regard to the scope permitted for lateral movements of the wheels provided by the slip ring.
Hub materials can also be chosen for chemical bonding to the polyurethane outer body.
In one embodiment constructed by the applicant, the radius of curvature of surface 11 of slip ring 10 is 0.100 inch.
For aesthetic purposes, the polyurethane outer bodies can be transparent so that the slip ring is visible.
This provides a "high tech" look to the wheel's appearance useful for marketing purposes.
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are meant to be illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications, which would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The only limitations to the scope of the present invention are set out in the following appended claims.
The present invention relates to in-line skate wheels. More specifically, the invention relates to the shape and construction of in-line skate wheels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since its inception in 1980, in-line skating has rapidly gained acceptance and popularity to become one of the fastest growing sports in North America and elsewhere. Each year, thousands of new in-line skaters take to this new activity as a form of fitness or recreation. Organized events such as racing, roller hockey, recreational skating and artistic skating are increasingly being staged in many neighbourhood communities.
Modelled after ice skating, in-line skating incorporates many of the traditional techniques practised in its sister sport. Ice manoeuvres such as the basic 45 sideways push out, sculling, and crossover turning are all similarly performed on wheels.
To enhance the safe performance of these manoeuvres on the road, today's in-line skates are equipped with polyurethane wheels capable of maintaining good traction against the ground when the skate is in motion. In addition, these relatively soft wheels (approximately 78A durometer (hardness)) also assist in propelling the skater by generating a spring effect as the skater pushes off the skate during his/her forward stride and cushion the feel of the road.
Associated with these soft wheels however is an increase in the amount of rolling resistance. Greater effort must be expended by the skater to overcome the increased friction which causes a loss of performance particularly on straightaways. Another disadvantage inherent to the use of softer wheels is their tendency to wear out quickly. Harder wheels are therefore preferred because they reduce rolling resistance and it seems that users will sacrifice a bit of comfort for improved performance.
A compromise has been proposed by Klamer in U.S.
Patent No. 5,129,709 who discloses an in-line skate wheel having a relatively hard central core body flanked symmetrically by a pair of side wall bodies made of a softer material. Thus, when the skater is moving straight ahead purportedly substantially only the relatively hard radially outer surface of the central core will be in contact with the ground to minimize rolling resistance and increase speed. On curves however, the softer side wall bodies will contact the ground to increase traction for better grip and handling.
Despite such improvements to in-line skate wheels, there is still a considerable performance gap between in-line and ice skates, particularly in the areas of tight turns, T-stops and the ability to control or shed speed by snow plowing particularly for novices and children when rolling downhill or when approaching an opponent's goal prior to shooting.
Existing brakes for in-line skates comprise a piece of hard rubber or polyurethane affixed to the underside of the heel portion of the skate(s). To actuate this braking mechanism, a skater usually scissors the braking leg forward to transfer most of his/her weight on the braking leg. The scissored leg is then used to depress the brake heel along the ground in the direction of travel. Braking in this manner is unnatural, ineffective, and quite often unsafe. A more natural positioning and efficient stop can be attained either by snow plowing or by turning sideways to the direction of travel and sliding to a stop as if on ice skates. This technique is known as power sliding or power stopping and requires a highly skilled skater for its successful performance. Attempting this manoeuvre with existing technology will send the average skater head over heels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved wheel for use on in-line skates that `_ ~136~07 minimizes rolling resistance and decreases the effort the skater must expend.
It is another object in a preferred embodiment of the invention to provide an improved wheel for use on in-line skates capable of withstanding lateral stop movements with minimal wear.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved wheel for use on in-line skates incorporating the foregoing advantages while maintaining the beneficial shock absorption characteristics and spring effect provided by currently available wheels.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved wheel for use on in-line skates incorporating some or all of the foregoing advantages for specific uses including racing, outdoor everyday skating over uneven, non-homogenous surfaces, high performance play on smooth, homogeneous sport surfaces and stunt skating.
According to the present invention then, there is provided a wheel for an in-line skate, comprising hub means for rotation about an axis, circular ring means made of a relatively hard material disposed concentrically about the hub means, the ring means having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface, and core means disposed concentrically about the hub means for at least partially supporting the ring means in a ground engaging position thereof, the core means having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface and being made of softer material compared to the ring means, wherein the diameter of the ring means exceeds the diameter of the core means to provide a discrete radial transition from the ground engaging surface of the core means to the ground engaging surface of the ring means.
According to a further aspect of the present invention then, there is provided a skate wheel comprising circular hub means adapted for rotation about an axis, an inner core disposed concentrically about the hub means and " 21~69û7 made of material of a first predetermined durometric hardness, and an outer core of greater durometric hardness relative to the inner core body disposed concentrically about the inner core body and having an outer annular ground engaging surface thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevational, partially sectional view of the present wheel;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the present wheel adapted for all-terrain use;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 2 along the line A-A;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a slip ring forming part of the wheel of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the slip ring of Figure 4 along the line A-A;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of an inner core forming part of the wheel of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inner core of Figure 6 along the line B-B;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the hub of the wheel of Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the hub of Figure 8 along the line C-C;
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a further modified wheel;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 10 along the line A-A;
Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the slip ring of the wheel of Figure 10;
213~9~7 Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the slip ring of Figure 12 along the line A-A;
Figure 14 is a side elevational view of a further modified wheel for racing;
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a side elevational view of a further modified wheel for stunt skating;
Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 16 along the line A-A;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to Figure 1, the present wheel in its basic form comprises a hub 5, and a pair of outer sidewalls 20 of polyurethane sandwiching a central disk or slip ring 10 of relatively hard material, the outer ground engaging annular surface 11 of ring 10 being raised to radially protrude from the adjacent ground engaging surfaces 19 of sidewalls 20.
Advantageously, a line "a" drawn tangentially to both surfaces 11 and 19 defines an angle e ideally but not necessarily of 22 or in the range of 15 to 35 measured from normally horizontal axis h. Accordingly, the raised or stepped profile of surface 11 relative to surrounding surfaces 19 provides for a controllable transition from the relatively hard material of slip ring 10 to the softer material of sidewalls 20 as the wheels move from a relatively upright position to a more tilted attitude for snow plowing and lateral stops. This allows the skater to more easily take advantage of the different properties and characteristics offered by the inner and outer layers and to gradually and controllably bring the softer resin of the sidewalls into frictional contact with the ground. This avoids sending the skater headlong during such manoeuvres. With use, slip ring 10 will of course wear down from its original diameter but so too will sidewalls 20 so that there will remain a stepped transition between the two for the useful life of the wheel.
- ~13~907 Slip ring 10 is advantageously manufactured from a relatively hard material (Shore D85) having a low coefficient of friction permitting slip when performing lateral stops or snow plowing, but which is also possessed of a high degree of impact/abrasion resistance. Suitable materials include UHMWPE
or, more preferably, a petrowax-filled nylon 6/6, a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) filled nylon 6/6, a modified filled polyethylene or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The somewhat "grippier" TPU may be preferred if the wheels are to be used on homogeneous polypropylene playing surfaces as will be described below. These latter materials can be manufactured using injection molding techniques having a lower cost/part life ratio compared to compression molding techniques required for UHMWPE. If UHMWPE is used, it has been found that improved results are obtained by adding 30~
by volume glass fiber or beads for greater compressive strength and product integrity. Silicon oil may also be added for a hydroplaning medium in order to improve slip.
Most wheels sold in the market today have a nylon hub adjoining a uniform durometer polyurethane outer body.
Conventionally, skaters like softer wheels because they provide a comfortable ride and act like springs which, when released by the push of the leg, rebound to convert energy back into some forward motion. Because the wheels are always on an angle of attack normal to the annular axis of the wheel to the ground to propel a skater, a spring effect is very useful. However, as aforesaid, softer wheels offer a higher rolling resistance and suffer higher abrasion as the price of comfort. The wheels simply wear much faster because of the softer durometer material used in their manufacture. As will now be described in greater detail, Applicant's wheel improves energy conversion in two part wheels and reduces wear due to abrasion without sacrificing speed and comfort in a wheel that more closely mimics the lateral performance characteristics of an ice skate in terms of permitting ice hockey stops and snow plowing.
As will be appreciated, slip ring 10 as shown in Figure 1 provides little or no rebound or spring effect on its own due to the hardness (Shore D85) of the material from which it is made. Rebound is poor as well because the thickness of the ring is the only area transmitting the load back to the hub.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3 wherein like numerals are used to denote like elements, these problems are overcome by means of a modified wheel including a nylon hub 15 adjoined to a softer durometer (60A-78A) middle core 40 which in turn is adjoined to an outer harder durometer body 50. This minimizes both abrasion and rolling resistance by using a harder outer body (80A-86A) while absorbing shock to the foot and giving maximum rebound with every push of the leg due to the relative softness of core 40. In this context, rebound is considered the height a wheel recovers from an initial drop height when dropped on a skating surface. The higher the recovery height the better the rebound.
In the embodiment of Figure 2 and with particular reference to Figures 3 to 5, it will be seen that slip ring 10 is supported within outer body 50. Each slip ring includes an outer ground-engaging portion 51, a plurality of apertures 53 formed therethrough for mechanical adhesion to the pol~urethane outer body 50, and an inner T-ring 55 that distributes the load on the slip ring to the softer inner body. Inner body 40 may include bellows 45 formed on opposite outer sidewalls 42 thereof to improve shock absorption and resiliency. With reference to Figure 7, each side of inner body 40, when seen in cross-section, is roughly frusto-conical in shape including a basal surface 43 that adjoins hub 15, tapered flanks 44 and contiguous shoulders 42, and a crown 47 that abuts inner opposed surface 53 of T-ring 55. Crown 47 may be formed with a slight outwardly convex curvature as seen best from ~igure 7 and also is advantageously slightly wider than abutting surface 53 of the T-ring for maximum load transference from the T-ring to soft core 40. A
circumferentially extending groove 46 in basal surface 43 is shaped to conformably receive annular hub insert 7 (Figure 9) thereinto to position and centre body 40 relative to the hub.
Hub 15 and body 40 may be bonded together and additional mechanical adhesion is provided by the string of apertures 4 formed through insert 7 along its length. As will be appreciated, the material comprising body 40 flows through and solidifies into and about these apertures to form a strong and permanent connection with the hub. In other respects, hub 15 is conventional in size and shape and need not be described further herein.
It will be seen that in the embodiment of Figures 10 to 13, soft core 40 is omitted but a wider T-ring 65 is used for maximum rebound effect. This model also preferably includes a more squared outer ground engaging surface 58 on outer body 50 for use on polypropylene surfaces commonly called SPORT COURT1 and similar materials for roller hockey games. The slip ring is quite slippery and the flatter wheel bottom provided by the squared profile has been found to provide for a greater push and stop effect without excessive slipping. If the wheels' shoulders are more rounded, there could be some loss of traction otherwise required to start and stop forward motions as the wheel is angled at approximately 22 to start the push-off. Because SPORT COURT and similar surfaces are smooth and regular in nature, the shock absorbing characteristics of soft core 40 desirable in the all-terrain wheel of Figure 2 are not as needed. Hub 15 is another conventional configuration and will not therefore be described in greater detail. This style of hub obviously lacks annular insert 7 which, in this particular wheel, could result in 1 Trade-mark 21~6907 greater shock transference to the hub. Bonding between hub 15 and outer body 50 may be conventional chemical or covalent adhesion.
In the all-terrain wheel exemplified by the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the wheel's outer profile is somewhat more rounded because more traction is inherently available from cement, asphalt and other irregular surfaces typically found outdoors. This wheel provides for great manoeuvrability in view of its combination of profile and the addition of the slip ring. This permits the marketing of wheels having only a single outer diameter. It's typical to use, for example, a 72 mm wheel for more manoeuvrability, but at the cost of speed. For more speed, a wheel having a larger outer diameter (e.g. 78 mm) would be purchased. A wheel with the slip ring can be manufactured, if desired, in a single size of, for example, 76.5 mm to provide both speed, manoeuvrability and enhanced braking capabilities.
As stopping is not a requirement in racing, applicant's racing wheel as exemplified by the embodiment of Figures 14 and 15 can be made without a slip ring. In other respects, this wheel is similar to applicant's all-terrain wheel shown in Figure 2 apart from the curvature of outer ground engaging surface 58 of outer body 50. For racing, the cross-sectional profile of surface 58 is advantageously more parabolic in shape as best seen from Figure 15.
A similar embodiment with a soft core 40 but without a slip ring which is particularly useful for stunt skating is shown in Figures 16 and 17. This wheel is somewhat wider and is also quite squat in shape, with ground engaging surface 58 of outer body 50 having a relatively large radius of curvature for maximum ground contact. The hardness of outer body 50 will advantageously be in the range of 88A to 96A.
Providing the improved wheels as described above simplifies choices for consumers who will no longer be put to the election between soft and hard, short or long wearing and so forth. Applicant's wheels provide speed, comfort and durability as well as improved performance in areas of stopping, snow plowing and turning having regard to the scope permitted for lateral movements of the wheels provided by the slip ring.
Hub materials can also be chosen for chemical bonding to the polyurethane outer body.
In one embodiment constructed by the applicant, the radius of curvature of surface 11 of slip ring 10 is 0.100 inch.
For aesthetic purposes, the polyurethane outer bodies can be transparent so that the slip ring is visible.
This provides a "high tech" look to the wheel's appearance useful for marketing purposes.
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are meant to be illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications, which would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The only limitations to the scope of the present invention are set out in the following appended claims.
Claims (29)
1. A wheel for an in-line skate, comprising:
hub means for rotation about an axis;
circular ring means made of a relatively hard material disposed concentrically about said hub means, said ring means having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface;
and core means disposed concentrically about said hub means for at least partially supporting said ring means in a ground engaging position thereof, said core means having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface and being made of softer material compared to said ring means;
wherein the diameter of said ring means exceeds the diameter of said core means to provide a discrete radial transition from said ground engaging surface of said core means to said ground engaging surface of said ring means.
hub means for rotation about an axis;
circular ring means made of a relatively hard material disposed concentrically about said hub means, said ring means having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface;
and core means disposed concentrically about said hub means for at least partially supporting said ring means in a ground engaging position thereof, said core means having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface and being made of softer material compared to said ring means;
wherein the diameter of said ring means exceeds the diameter of said core means to provide a discrete radial transition from said ground engaging surface of said core means to said ground engaging surface of said ring means.
2. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said core means comprise an inner core and an annular outer core made of a material having a greater durometric hardness than said inner core.
3. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said ring means comprise a circular disk disposed coaxially about said hub means.
4. The wheel of claim 2 wherein said ring means is secured to said outer core for permanent connection thereto.
5. The wheel of claim 4 wherein said ring means are adapted to transmit compressive loads from said ground engaging surface thereof to said inner core.
6. The wheel of claim 5 wherein said ring means comprise an outer ground engaging portion and an annularly inner ring member of predetermined width.
7. The wheel of claim 6 wherein said ring member is disposed for continuous contact with an opposed annular outer surface of said inner core for load transference to said inner core.
8. The wheel of claim 7 wherein the width of said annular outer surface of said inner core exceeds said predetermined width of said ring member.
9. The wheel of claim 8 wherein said annular outer surface of said inner core is curved convexly towards said ring member.
10. The wheel of claims 1, 2, 3, or 9 wherein a line tangentially intersecting said ground engaging surfaces of both said ring means and said core means defines an angle to said wheel's axis in the range of 15° to 35°.
11. The wheel of claims 1, 2, 3 or 9 wherein said ground engaging surface of said ring means is curved convexly outwardly.
12. The wheel of claim 9 wherein said ground engaging surface of said ring means is curved convexly outwardly, and wherein the radius of curvature of said ground engaging surface is 0.100 inch.
13. The wheel of claim 9 wherein the durometric hardness of said inner core falls in the range of Shore 60A to 78A.
14. The wheel of claim 13 wherein the durometric hardness of said outer core falls within the range of Shore 80A to 86A.
15. The wheel of claim 14 wherein the durometric hardness of said ring means falls within the range of Shore D85.
16. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said ring means comprise an outer ground engaging portion and an annularly inner ring member of predetermined width.
17. A skate wheel comprising:
circular hub means adapted for rotation about an axis;
an inner core disposed concentrically about said hub means and made of material of a first predetermined durometric hardness; and an outer core of greater durometric hardness relative to said inner core body disposed concentrically about said inner core body and having an outer annular ground engaging surface thereon.
circular hub means adapted for rotation about an axis;
an inner core disposed concentrically about said hub means and made of material of a first predetermined durometric hardness; and an outer core of greater durometric hardness relative to said inner core body disposed concentrically about said inner core body and having an outer annular ground engaging surface thereon.
18. The wheel of claim 17 further including ring means annularly supported in said outer core, said ring means having a durometric hardness exceeding that of said outer core and having an outer ground engaging peripheral surface, the diameter of said ring means exceeding the diameter of said outer core such that said ground engaging surface of said ring means protrudes radially outwardly from said ground engaging surface of said outer core.
19. The wheel of claim 18 wherein said ring means are adapted to transmit compressive loads from said ground engaging surface thereof to said inner core.
20. The wheel of claim 19 wherein said ring means comprise an outer ground engaging portion and an annularly inner ring member of predetermined width.
21. The wheel of claim 20 wherein said ring member is disposed for continuous contact with an opposed annular outer surface of said inner core for load transference to said inner core.
22. The wheel of claim 21 wherein the width of said annular outer surface of said inner core exceeds said predetermined width of said ring member.
23. The wheel of claim 22 wherein said annular outer surface of said inner core is curved convexly towards said ring member.
24. The wheel of claims 18 or 23 wherein a line tangentially intersecting said ground engaging surfaces of both said ring means and said outer core defines an angle to said wheel's axis in the range of 15° to 35°.
25. The wheel of claims 18 or 23 wherein said ground engaging surface of said ring means is curved convexly outwardly.
26. The wheel of claim 23 wherein said ground engaging surface of said ring means is curved convexly outwardly, and wherein the radius of curvature of said ground engaging surface is 0.100 inch.
27. The wheel of claims 18 or 23 wherein the durometric hardness of said inner core falls in the range of Shore 60A
to 78A.
to 78A.
28. The wheel of claims 18 or 23 wherein the durometric hardness of said outer core falls within the range of Shore 80A to 86A.
29. The wheel of claims 18 or 23 wherein the durometric hardness of said ring means falls within the range of Shore D85.
Priority Applications (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2136907 CA2136907A1 (en) | 1994-11-29 | 1994-11-29 | Wheel for in-line skates |
| EP19950650046 EP0714682B1 (en) | 1994-11-29 | 1995-11-29 | Wheel for in-line skates |
| US08/564,602 US5725284A (en) | 1994-11-29 | 1995-11-29 | Wheel for in-line skates |
| DE1995616367 DE69516367T2 (en) | 1994-11-29 | 1995-11-29 | Wheel for single track roller skate |
| US08/902,636 US6036278A (en) | 1994-11-29 | 1997-07-30 | Multi durometer wheel for in-line skates |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2136907 CA2136907A1 (en) | 1994-11-29 | 1994-11-29 | Wheel for in-line skates |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2136907A1 true CA2136907A1 (en) | 1996-05-30 |
Family
ID=4154757
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2136907 Abandoned CA2136907A1 (en) | 1994-11-29 | 1994-11-29 | Wheel for in-line skates |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0714682B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2136907A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69516367T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE59606597D1 (en) * | 1995-11-03 | 2001-04-19 | Mrk Handels Ag Zuerich | SINGLE-LEADED SKATE SHOE AND WHEELS FOR USE ON SUCH A |
| US5829757A (en) | 1996-10-11 | 1998-11-03 | Mearthane Products Corporation | Variable traction wheel for in-line roller skate |
| US5860707A (en) * | 1997-03-13 | 1999-01-19 | Rollerblade, Inc. | In-line skate wheel |
| US6227622B1 (en) | 1997-06-20 | 2001-05-08 | K-2 Corporation | Multilayer skate wheel |
| FR2767711B1 (en) | 1997-08-28 | 1999-10-22 | Salomon Sa | CASTER WHEEL |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH530804A (en) * | 1971-07-19 | 1972-11-30 | Chevaux Jean | Roller skate caster |
| US3936061A (en) * | 1974-04-05 | 1976-02-03 | Mahmut Starkow | Roller skate |
| SE7807695L (en) * | 1978-07-10 | 1980-01-11 | Ifm Akustikbyran Ab | VEHICLE DECK |
| US4294491A (en) * | 1978-11-27 | 1981-10-13 | Pemco-Kalamazoo, Inc. | Metal disk wheel with resilient tread and bearing support |
| US5048848A (en) * | 1987-06-12 | 1991-09-17 | Rollerblade, Inc. | In-line roller skate with axle aperture plugs for simplified wheel installation |
| US4966212A (en) * | 1988-08-05 | 1990-10-30 | Giles Hill | Wheel and solid rubber tire assembly and method |
| US5129709A (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1992-07-14 | Reuben Klamer | Wheel for roller skate and the like |
| JP3636459B2 (en) * | 1991-12-17 | 2005-04-06 | ホンマ科学株式会社 | Skiing equipment using elastic wheels and elastic wheels |
| US5401037A (en) | 1993-10-08 | 1995-03-28 | O'donnell; Patrick J. | Composite wheels for in-line roller skates |
-
1994
- 1994-11-29 CA CA 2136907 patent/CA2136907A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
1995
- 1995-11-29 EP EP19950650046 patent/EP0714682B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-11-29 DE DE1995616367 patent/DE69516367T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0714682A3 (en) | 1997-05-21 |
| DE69516367T2 (en) | 2001-01-04 |
| EP0714682A2 (en) | 1996-06-05 |
| EP0714682B1 (en) | 2000-04-19 |
| DE69516367D1 (en) | 2000-05-25 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |