Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
ROLLER SKATE WHEEL ASSEMBLY
This application is a division of Canadian Patent Application No.
2,219,786 filed May 6, 1996 for Roller Skate Wheel Assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE 1NVENT10N
The present invention generally relates to roller skate wheels,
and particularly to wheels of the type utilizing a pneumatic tire.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are two basic types of wheels for roller skates, including
the solid wheel and the pneumatic wheel. Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings
disclose conventional roller skates of the in-line type and double-line type,
respectively, which are provided with solid wheels formed of rubber,
plastic or other appropriate material. Because of the solid wheel
construction,
these skates often cause discomfort to skaters, particularly when they
are pertorming maneuvers, such as jumping or other high impact
1
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
movements, which transmit vibrations from the ground
directly to their feet. Such skating requires a high level
of skill in order to avoid injuries to the feet from shock,
which often causes sprains. However, to most skaters, such
discomfort and injuries are almost unavoidable.
In order to mitigate the drawbacks of solid
wheels, it is known to provide roller skates with wheels
formed from.pneumatic tires. Wheels of this type serve as
cushions with a shock-absarbing function, an example of
which is disclosed by the Taiwan Patent Application
Publication No. 81215017. Pneumatic wheels provide greater
comfort to the skater and the pressure of the tire may be
adjusted to vary skating acceleration. Since a pneumatic
wheel is lighter than a comparable solid wheel, the overall
weight of the skate is reduced,. particularly if the skate
requires four or more wheels.
The tire of a pneumatic skate wheel~is installed
on a wheel rim in a manner similar to the tires of
conventional vehicles, such as automobiles or motorcycles.
Such vehicle tires are constructed to resist deformation
under pressure and thereby assure safety while the vehicle
is moving straight or around a turn. However, because
roller skates are subjected to a greater variety of
movements, such as jumping, accelerating and landing on the
ground at; various angles, there exists the possibility that
the- t~.r~ may fall off . the wheel rim and thereby ; cause.
2
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
injury to the skater. Moreover, a skater can travel at a
speed of around 30 - 40 miles per hour, a speed which is
quite high and imparts,a rolling speed to the wheels that
is at least five times that of automobile or motorcycle
wheels. When skate wheels roll at this high speed, the
centrifugal force generated may result in deforming the
pneumatic tire of the skate wheel and pose potential danger
to the skater.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved cushioned wheel assembly for a roller skate which
provides a shock buffering and absorbing function during
skating.
It is another object of the invention to provide an
improved roller skate wheel assembly having a pneumatic
tire which resists deformation and detachment from the
wheel rim during all skating movements, thereby enhancing
safety to the skater.
These and other objects of the invention are realized
by providing an improved skate wheel assembly which
includes an annular bearing frame defined by an inner
circumferential bearing seat, an outer circumferential tire
rim and a radially extending circumferential bridge portion
connecting the bearing seat and wheel rim. A pneumatic
3
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
tire is mounted on the tire rim and an outer covering layer
is molded around the tire and bearing frame to form an
integrated wheel assembly. A plurality of bearings are
installed in a central circular passage defined by the
bearing seat and a wheel shaft is rotatably supported
through the bearings.
Further embodiments of the invention include providing
the outer covering layer with a reinforcing filler
material, providing the tire with circumferentially spaced
to annular grooves which may also be provided with reinforcing
filler material, mounting the tire to a sectionalized tire
rim whereby substantially the entire tire is exposed in the
wheel assembly, providing the tire with a check valve for
inflating same, including a chamber between the bearing
seat and tire rim which is connected to the outside to
permit the chamber to be filled with the cover layer
material and thereby further integrate the bearing seat,
tire rim, and tire tube, and including at least one
depression in the tire tube, the walls of which restrict
2o the tire tube from expanding while inflated with high
pressure and provide a support function in case of damage
to the tire tube, and which may be connected to a symmetric
depression by a puncture and filled with cover layer
material to provide still further integration of the wheel
assembly.
.- 4
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
Other objects, features and advantages of the
invention shall become apparent from the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in
conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference
characters refer to corresponding parts in the several
views.
BRIEF DESCRIP.TIC1N OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view showing
a prior art in-line roller skate with solid wheels.
z0 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art double-
line roller skate with solid wheels.
Fig. 3A is a perspective view, partly in section, of
a prior art in-line roller skate with pneumatic wheels.
Fig. 38 is a cross-sectional view showing a
conventional pneumatic wheel mounted to a wheel rim and
subjected to deformation forces during skating.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing
a roller skate wheel assembly according to a first
embodiment of the invention.
5
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
Fig. S is a cross-sectional view of a roller skate
wheel assembly according to a second embodiment of the
invention.
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a roller
skate wheel assembly according to a.thigd embodiment of the
invention.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly
shown in Fig. 6.
Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are cross-sectional views showing a
to tire tube for use in a roller skate wheel assembly
according to a faurth embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing
a roller skate wheel assembly with a tire tube shown in
Fig. 9.
Fig. i2 is a top plan view of the bearing frame shown
in Fig. li.
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
I3-13 of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a top plan view of an alternate form of
2o bearing frame similar to that shown in Fig. 12.
6
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
15-15 of Fig. 14.
Fig. 16 is a top plan view showing a tire tube for use
with the roller skate of the present invention according to
a fifth embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
17-17 of Fig. 16.
Fig. l8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate form
of bearing frame according to a sixth embodiment of the
1o invention.
Fig: 19 is a front view of a bearing frame piece used
in the embodiment of Fig. 18.
Fig. 20 is a rear view of the bearing frame piece
illustrated in Fig. 1~.
Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A
in Fig. 20.
Fig . 2 2 is a top view of . a tire tube according to a
seventh embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken.along line B-B
is Fig. 22.
7
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A skate. wheel assembly 1 according to a first
embodiment of the invention shall now be described with
initial reference to Fig. 4. As shown therein, assembly 1
includes an annular-shaped bearing frame 20 that is
preferably integrally formed from metal, plastic or other
appropriate rigid material. Frame 20 i.s defined by an
outer circumferential tire rizn 2I, an inner circumferential
bearing seat 23 and a radially extending circumferential
bridge portion 20A. Bearing seat 23 defines a central
circular passage 23A for receiving a wheel shaft 25 and a
bearing assembly 26 therethrough. Bridge portion 20A may
also be provided with a plurality of spaced holes 22
therethrough for a purpose to be hereinafter indicated.
i5 A circular inflatable tire tube 30 is supported on
tire rim 21 and secured thereto by molding a cover layer 40
around tire 30 and bearing frame 20 to form an integrated
wheel assembly I. Cover layer 40 may be of. rubber, plastic
or other suitable moldable material and serves to securely
2o maintain tire 30 on tire rim 21 and prevent its accidental
detachment during skating.
Tire tube 30 has a hollow inner space 24 that is
filled with gas, preferably a non-air large molecular gas
having a iow permeability for diffusion, before the molding
of cover layer 4 0 in order to prevent leakage ~_of t-he gas
g
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
from tube 30 before 5 - 7 years. Preferred gases of this
type may include sulfur hexafluoride, perfluoropropane,
hexafluoroethane, octafluorocyclobutane,
perfluorocyclobutane, hexafluoropropy.lene,
bromotrifluoromethane, monochlorotrifluoromethane,
tetrafluorometane, monochloropentafluoroethane, I,2-
dichloro-tetrafluoroethane,1,,2,2-trichloro-1,2,2
trifluoroethane, chlorotrifluoroethylene, and the like.
Holes 22 of bridge portion 20A.receive cover layer 40
therethrough during. the molding process in order to enhance
the overall integral strength of completed wheel assembly
1. Thus, tire tube 30, bearing frame 20 and cover layer 40
are integrally fastened together, with cover layer 40
serving as an outer tire for contacting the ground surface.
The combination of inner inflated tire tube 30 and outer
cover layer 40 provides enhanced buffering and shock-
absorbing functions during skating, and the integrated
construction of wheel assembly 1 prevents deformation and
detachment of tire tube 30 from tire rim 21 during high
speed skating and execution of different skating maneuvers.
Therefore, wheel assembly 1 provides the advantages of a
conventional solid wheel but without the drawbacks and
disadvantages thereof.
A second embodiment of the invention shall now be
described.with reference to Fig. 5. This embodiment is
similar .to that of Fig. 4 with the exception that a filler
9
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
of reinforcing fiber material is provided in the regions of
cover layer 40 between tire rim 21 and bearing seat 23 in
order to further strengthen assembly 1. Cover layer 40 is
embedded with fibers such as cotton, linen or the like.
Cover layer 40 may also be embedded with steel wires
similar to those utilized in conventional automobile and
motorcycle tires. The presence of filler 50 serves to
prevent cover layer 40 from premature cracking. or
deteriorating. Filler 50 is molded integrally with cover
l0 layer 40 so that cover layer 40 can be securely locked to
bearing frame 20, thus preventing cover layer 40 from
breaking and detaching from frame 20, and also preventing
injury to the skater.
A third embodiment of the invention shall now be
described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. As particularly
shown in Fig. 6, this embodiment utilizes a tire tube 30
which can be inflated by the user and may also be utilized
on the wheel assemblies of other vehicles, such as cars and
motorcycles. A valve d0 is provided on a sidewall portion
of tire tube 30 for connection to a pressurized gas source.
Valve 60 may be a conventional check valve which prevents
the pressurized gas within tube 30 from leaking out.
Preferably, valve 60 is formed from a soft resilient
material, such as rubber, plastic or the like. As further
shown in Fig. 7, three.re.cesses 41 can be formed on a side
of cover layer 40 and spaced 90o apart from each other and
valve 60. Recesses 41° are each filled with a material
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
having the same weight as valve 60, thereby providing a
rotational balancing of wheel assembly 1. Such material
may include rubber, plastic or metal. Similar recesses 41
are also provided on the opposite side of wheel assembly I.
A fourth.embodiment of the invention shall now be
described with reference to Figs . 8, 9 and 10. As shown
therein, tire tube 30 includes a plurality of spaced
annular grooves 3I of reduced diameter, thereby increasing
the exterior surface area of tube 30. This provides a
to greater contact surface for adherence of cover layer 40
during the molding of layer 40 to tube 30. This results in
a stronger integrated structure, as evident in Fig. 8. As
shown in Fig. 9, grooves 31 may be provided with filler
material 51 to further strengthen tube 30 so that the
latter can function as either an inner tire, as shown in
Fig. 8, or an outer tire wherein its exterior ground
contact surface is not provided with cover layer 40.
Filler material 5I may include.an elastomeric material, a
foam elastomeric material, or a fiber plus an elastomeric
2o material. Preferred elastomeric materials include
polyurethane, polyester elastomer, fluoroelastomer,
ethylene propylene polymer, chlorinated polyethylene,
polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene,
polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, neoprene,
natural rubber high strength silicone rubber, butadiene
acrylonitrile rubber, butadiene styrene rubber, low density
polyethylene, adduct rubber, sulfide rubber, methyl dubber
11
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
or any kind or thermoplastic rubber. Annular grooves 31
essentially divide tube 30 into a pl~xrality of sections.
As also seen in Fig. 10, a repairing member 70 may be
easily and independently attached to a puncture of tire 30,
with such puncture being prevented from spreading to other
areas of tire 30 by the presence of annular grooves 31,
thus facilitating the repair of tube 30.
As shown in Fig. 11, tire tube 30 serves essentially
as an outer tire of wheel assembly 1, and utilizes the
to modified form of tire tube 3 0 shown in . Fig. 9 . In this
case, tire rim 21 may be formed from a plurality of
separate sections, and the cover layer 40, rim 21, tube 30
and bearing frame 20 collectively forming a strong
integrated structure, with the exterior portion of tube 30
serving as an outer tire for contacting the ground surface.
As more particularly seen in Figs. 12 and 13, each section
of rim 2I vmay be provided with holes 21A in opposed
sidewalls thereof for assisting in the secure attachment of
tube 30 to rim 21 by cover layer 40.
As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, an alternate 'form of
bearing frame 20 is depicted for securing a tire tube 30 of
the type utilized in Fig. 12. In this case, tire ri.m 21 is
of a continuous configuration and bridge portion 20A is
sectionalized to define a plurality of spokes extending
radially outwar-.lly from bearing seat 23 to tire rim 21.
12
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
A fifth embodiment of a skate wheel assembly according
to the invention shall now be described with reference to
Figs. 16 .and 17. As shown therein, this embodiment
provides tire tube 30 with a valve seat 61 on a belly
portion thereof for securing a one-way valve 60 to tube 30.
A sixth embodiment of a skate wheel assembly according
to the invention shall now be described with reference to
Figs. 18-21. As shown in cross-section in Fig. 18, the
bearing frame of this embodiment includes a chamber 27
located between bearing seat 23 and tire rim 21. At least
one hole 27a extends through tire rim 21 for connecting
chamber 27 with the outside. When a tire tube 30 is
installed on rim 21 and molded with a cover layer, the
material of the cover layer will pass through hole 27a and
fill chamber 27 so as to further integrate and secure
together the bearing seat, tire rim 21, and tire tube 30. -
Preferably, in this embodiment, the bearing frame is
made up of two symmetric pieces 28 and 28a. Fig. 1~ is a
front view of one of the symmetric pieces, Fig. 20
2o is a back view of. the same symmetric piece, and Fig. 21 is
a cross-sectional view of the symmetric piece.
Finally, according to a seventh embodiment of the
invention, as shown in Figs. 22 and 23, the tire tube 30
may include at least one depression 32 set into the tire
13
CA 02469331 2004-06-23
tube surface and surrounded by a wail 33 extending from the
tire tube surface toward the inside of the tire tube. The
depression 32 with its wall not only restricts the tire
tube from expanding while inflated with high pressure but
also provides a security support function when the tire
tube is broken by accident. When the depression is
optionally sealed with a depression symmetrically set into
the opposite tire tube surface, a puncture can further be
made to permit material of the cover layer to pass between
the depressions and'further integrate the wheel assembly
with the tire tube being used a an inner tire tube. In
addition to being used for an inner tire tube, the design
of Fig. 22 may also be used in a wheel in which the tire
tube includes an exposed ground contact surface not covered
by the cover layer.
It is to be understood that the forms of the invention
herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred
embodiments thereof, and, that various changes in shape,
material, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to
without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope
of the subjoined claims.
14
