Abstract: The “ICE WHEELS” consists of a wheel assembly, which permits interchange with in-line skate wheels for use on ice that reduces weight and or the rolling resistance on ice while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice. The wheel consists of a lightweight hub, bearing accommodating counterbores and an outer ring containing multiple ice-engaging structures and relief grooves. The ice-engaging structures comprise of an outer circumferential contact means, inner circumferential contact means, a new medial circumferential contact means and multiple support surfaces. A new feature of this invention is the elimination of one or both of the inner circumferential contact means penetration into the ice while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice. This leaves either a flat support surface; a flat support surface with one inner circumferential contact means or two support surfaces with a medial circumferential contact means in between while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice.

Abstract: The “MODIFIED WHEELS FOR ICE” consists of a wheel assembly which permits interchange with in-line skate wheels for use on ice that minimizes damage from fractures in the ice, particularly when the wheel is at an angle from perpendicular to the ice while pushing off or turning. The wheel is consists of a lightweight hub, bearing accommodating counterbores and an outer ring containing multiple contact means. When the wheel is at an angle from perpendicular to the ice the outer circumferential contact means being smaller in diameter than the inner circumferential contact means allows both contact means to engage the ice. A new load bearing support surface is both adjacent to the inner and outer circumferential contact means and parallel to the ice when the wheel is at a predetermined angle from perpendicular to the ice. The function of the support surface is to limit the penetration of the contact means into the ice.

Abstract: The "WHEELS THAT PROVIDE LATERAL FRICTION ON ICE" consists of a wheel with a set of grooves around its outer exterior circumference. Said outer exterior circumference may be either flat or angled as viewed from a point perpendicular to the center of the axis of the wheel. The width of the grooves and/or the distance between the grooves may vary dependent upon design criteria such as diameter, width and weight load for the specific application of the wheel. The shaping of the contact surface of the wheel and the sharpening of its edges shall be done in such a manner as to reduce the physical contact with the ice so that the pressure of the wheels forms a deep enough groove or set of grooves in the ice that enable the development of sufficient lateral friction. The outer exterior circumference of the wheel shall be made of a material that is sufficiently harder than the ice so as to maintain the shape of the contact surface and the degree of sharpness of the edges.