WO1998003236A1

WO1998003236A1 - Lighted in-line skate wheel

Info

Publication number: WO1998003236A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/012073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wayne Sharp
Original assignee: Wayne Sharp
Priority date: 1996-07-19
Filing date: 1997-07-11
Publication date: 1998-01-29
Also published as: AU3658197A

Abstract

A lighted In-Line skate wheel (5) improving the wheel's aesthetic appearance as well as assisting in the safety of the user, wherein the lighting is provided preferably by light emitting diodes (70) placed within the wheel itself, powered by either a battery (55, 60) or mini-generator (110) placed within an annular recess (20, 120) located within the interior of the wheel. The device automatically turns itself on and shuts itself off by way of a centrifugal switch (35) in the case of the power supply being a battery. When the wheels cease to rotate, the centrifugal switch (35) automatically creates an open circuit, thereby shutting off the light emitting diodes (70). If the power supply utilized is the mini-generator (110), the power supply will automatically cease with the cessation of the rotation of the wheel due to the halting of the rotation of a magnet (145) about a conducting coil (140). The mini-generator (110) is situated within an annular recess (120) within an aperture defined by a circular roller body (115). As the wheel rotates, a magnet (145) attached to the axle of the In-Line skate remains stationary whereas an electrical coil (145) which is firmly mounted within a hub (125) attached to the circular roller body (115) rotates, thereby causing the electrical coil (140) to rotate about the stationary magnet (145), thus creating an electric potential.

Description

Lighted In-Line Skate Wheels

Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to In-Line skates, and more specifically to lighted wheels thereon, wherein the lighting is provided preferably by light emitting diodes self-contained within the wheel itself which are powered by either a battery or mini-generator, all components of said mini-generator being placed entirely within the wheel. Further, this invention automatically turns on and shuts off by way of a centrifugal switch in the case of the power supply being a battery. If the power supply utilized is the mini-generator, the power supply will automatically cease with the cessation of the rotation of the wheel due to the halting of the rotation of the magnet about a coil.

Background of the Invention

Concomitant with the present proliferation of In-Line skaters, there has been a rapid rise in the amount of serious injuries occurring while skating. In-Line skating is inherently dangerous. This risk is dramatically increased while skating at night where it is difficult to see skaters, who can be traveling at great speeds. While adding reflective material to the exterior of the skates assists in seeing the skaters, due to the fact that it is difficult to see this reflective material as it is low to the ground, the reflective material does not provide sufficient nighttime alerting. Consequently, it is vital to provide for a lighted In-Line skate wheel. Since there are millions of In-Line skates which are already owned by skaters it is further vital to provide an In-Line skate wheel which can be purchased separately and added to a present set of In-Line skates. There have been attempts to provide for lighted roller skates as well as boot and wheel In-Line skate lighting. United States Patent No. 5,475,572 to Tseng describes a Light Emitting Roller for roller skates. However, Tseng does not provide for a mini-generator placed within the hub; thereby, requiring constant replacement of the battery, nor is the placement of the lights within a hub which is placed in an annular groove providing for rigid support. United States Patent No. 5,456,478 to Hsu et al describes roller skating shoes with a light emitting device. As with the present invention Hsu provides for a battery as a power supply as well as a generator, however, Hsu places the magnet portion of the mini generator on round recesses of locating plates exterior to the wheel. Hence, if one desires to utilize the Hsu In-Line skate they must purchase an entire new In-Line skate, as the wheels would not be replaceable with skates presently on the market. Unlike, Hsu, all elements of the present invention are contained within the wheel itself with no external components required for its operation. Thus, all components of the mini generator and all components of the switching and light emitting means are entirely self contained which allows for the wheel to be purchased separately and used with most presently available In-Line skates.

Summary of the Invention

This invention provides for improved In-Line skate wheels by improving in their aesthetic appearance as well assisting in the safety of the user. Generally, the In-Line skate wheels of the present invention are lighted wherein the lighting is provided preferably by light emitting diodes placed within the wheel itself, which are powered by either a battery or mini-generator placed within an annular recess located within the interior of the wheel. Further, this invention automatically turns on and shuts off by way of a centrifugal switch in the case of the power supply being a battery. When the wheels ceases to rotate the centrifugal switch will automatically create an open circuit thereby shutting of the light emitting diode. If the power supply utilized is the mini-generator, the power supply will automatically cease with the cessation of the rotation of the wheel due to the halting of the rotation of the magnet about a coil. The mini-generator is situated within an annular recess within an aperture defined by a circular roller body. As the wheel is rotated a magnet attached to the axle of the In-Line skate remains stationary whereas an electrical coil which is firmly mounted within a hub attached to the circular roller body rotates, thereby causing said electrical coil to rotate about the stationary magnet, thus creating an electric potential..

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a profile view of the battery operated lighted In- Line skate wheel of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the battery operated lighted In-Line skate wheel of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a profile view of the mini generator powered lighted In-Line skate wheel of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the mini generator powered lighted In-Line skate wheel of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the axle assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

As shown generally as 5 in FIG 1, the lighted wheels of the present invention can add immensely to the aesthetic appeal as well as the safety of the wheel of an In-Line skate. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention yellow and red light emitting diodes are spaced through out the circumference of the wheel. It is appreciated that the any number of light emitting diodes as well as any color can be utilized with the present colors and numbers illustrated for exemplification only. The battery operated version of the present invention is shown generally as 10 of FIG. 2. A circular roller body 15 defining an aperture defines the exterior portion of the wheel. A first annular recess 20 is located within said circular roller body. A hub 25 is communicated into said first annual recess 20 and itself has a second annular recess 30 for receiving a centrifugal switch 35, which provides for automatic shut-off when the wheel is not rotating. Placed directly into the hub during the hub manufacture are light emitting means such as light emitting diodes 70, connected via an electrical conducting means such as a copper wire 40, also within said hub, to each other in series. Battery receptacles 45, 50 are manufactured directly into the hub, allowing for the placement of battery 55, 60 therein, also connected by conducting means 40 to said light emitting means. Also within the second annular recess within the hub is a supporting axle wherein attachment is made to the supporting structure of the In-Line skate.

FIG. 3 illustrates the mini generator version of the present invention. Shown generally as 105, as with the battery operated version, the lighted wheels of the present invention can add immensely to the aesthetic appeal as well as the safety of the wheel of an In-Line skate. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention yellow and red light emitting diodes are spaced through out the circumference of the wheel. As with the battery operated embodiment of the present invention, it is appreciated that the any number of light emitting diodes as well as any color can be utilized, with the present colors and numbers chosen for exemplification only. The mini generator version of the present invention is shown generally as 110 of FIG. 4, with an enlargement of the axle assembly shown in FIG. 5. A circular roller body 115 defining an aperture defines the exterior portion of the wheel. A first annular recess 120 is located within said circular roller body. A hub 125 is communicated into said first annual recess 120 and itself has a second annular recess 130 for rigidly attaching via a bracket 135 an electrical conducting coil 140. A magnet 145 with an axle connecting aperture 150 is immediately adjacent said rigidly attached electrical conducting coil via bracket 135. In operation, when the In-Line skate wheel is rotating, the magnet 145 maintains a relative position with respect to the In-Line skate axle 155 while the electrical conducting coil 140 is caused to rotate due to the it rigid position within the wheel assembly. Thus, the electrical conducting coil 140 rotates about magnet 145 thereby creating an induction current. Said induction current then travels to each light emitting diode via a conducting means such as a copper wire 160. As with the battery operated embodiment, the light emitting means such as light emitting diodes are placed directly into the hub during the hub manufacture as is the electrical conducting means such as a copper wire 160.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is Claimed is:

1. A lighted In-Line skate wheel, comprising: a circular roller body defining an aperture; a first annular recess located within said circular roller body for receiving a hub; an electrical current generating means situated within said hub; a plurality of light emitting means located within said hub and connected to said electrical current generating means; a singular switching means connected to said electrical current generating means positioned in said hub such that electrical current is provided to said light emitting means when said circular roller body is in rotational motion

2. The lighted In-Line skate wheel of claim 1, wherein said electrical current generating means is a battery positioned within said hub.

3. The lighted In-Line skate wheel of claim 1, wherein said singular switching means is a single centrifugal switch located in the center of said hub activated upon rotation of said roller body and connected to said light emitting means via an electrical conducting means such as copper wire.

4. A lighted In-Line skate wheel, comprising: a circular roller body defining an aperture; a first annular recess located within said circular roller body wherein is placed a hub; a second annular recess located within said hub wherein is placed a permanent electrical conducting coil; a magnet with a center aperture for receiving a supporting shaft and with a mounting means that places said magnet in immediate proximity to said electrical conducting coil wherein said magnet travels in a circular path in relation to said electrical conducting coil upon rotation of said circular roller body thus generating electrical current; a plurality of light emitting means within said hub and electrically connected to said coil such that said electrical current energizes said light emitting means.

5. The lighted In-Line skate wheel of claim 4 wherein said light emitting means is a plurality of light emitting diodes.

6. The lighted In-Line skate wheel of claim 5 wherein there are different colors of light emitting diodes.

7. The lighted In-Line skate wheel of claim 6 wherein there are two red and two yellow light emitting diodes.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[recei ved by the International Bureau on 26 November 1997 (26.11 .97) ; ori gi na l c la im 4 amended ; origina l c laims 1 -3 cancel led ; new claim 8 added; remaining cla ims unchanged ( 2 pages ) ]

What is claimed is:

4. A lighted In-Line skate wheel, comprising: a circular roller body defining an aperture; a first annular recess located within said circular roller body wherein is placed a hub, wherein said hub is communicated into said first annular recess; said hub having an inner and an outer surface; a second annular recess defined by said inner surface of said hub wherein is placed a permanent electrical conducting coil wherein said hub is communicated into said first annular recess; a magnet with a center aperture for receiving a supporting shaft and with a mounting means that places said magnet in immediate proximity to said electrical conducting coil wherein said electrical conducting coil travels in a circular path in relation to said magnet upon rotation of said circular roller body thus generating electrical current; a bracket rigidly attaching said hub to said electrical conducting coil allowing said electrical conducting coil to be in immediate proximity with said magnet; and a plurality of light emitting means within said hub and spaced throughout a circumference of said wheel and electrically connected to said coil such that said electrical current energizes said light emitting means.

7. The lighted In-Line skate wheel of claim 6 wherein there are two red and yellow light emitting diodes.

8. A lighted In-Line skate wheel, comprising: a circular roller body defining an aperture; a first annular recess located within said circular roller body wherein is placed a hub; a second annular recess located within said hub wherein is placed a permanent electrical conducting coil wherein said hub is communicated into said first annular recess; a magnet with a center aperture for receiving a supporting shaft and with a mounting means that places said magnet in immediate proximity to said electrical conducting coil wherein said electrical conducting coil travels in a circular path in relation to said magnet upon rotation of said circular roller body thus generating electrical current; and a plurality of light emitting means within said hub and spaced throughout a circumference of said wheel and electrically connected to said coil such that said electrical current energizes said light emitting means.

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

Claim 4 now states that the hub is communicated into the first annular recess, thus identifying the hub's structural connection within the In-Line skate. Claim 4 has also been amended to properly indicate that the electrical conducting coil is traveling in a circular path about the magnet inducing the electrical current, rather than the magnet traveling about the electric conducting coil.

Claim 4 has been amended to include a bracket which attaches the hub to the electrical conducting coil allowing the coil to be in immediate proximity with the magnet.

Claim 4 has also been amended to include the structural connection and orientation of the light emitting means within the hub and the structural connections of the hub itself within the In-Line skate wheel. Additionaly, Claim 4 now specifically states that a plurality of light emitting means are situated within the hub throughout the circumference of the wheel, and electrically connected to the electrical conducting coil.