In-Line Skates, Skate Wheels and Wheel Hubs
A skate wheel for an in-line skate has a skate wheel hub with an inner hub, an outer rim, and a plurality of blade-form spokes extending therebetween, and a skate tire mounted upon an outer surface of the skate wheel hub. Opposed surfaces of adjacent spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and outer rim, define airflow passageways through the skate wheel. Each blade-form spoke has a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a first face of the skate wheel, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed at an opposite, second face of the skate wheel, and a blade-form body extending smoothly therebetween. The first and second spoke-edge surfaces are offset in a direction of travel of the skater by a predetermined arc of rotation of the skate wheel and hub. Also described are in-line skates with skate wheels of the disclosure, and skate wheel hubs for such skates.
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The disclosure relates to in-line skates, and to skate wheels and skate wheel hubs for in-line skates.
BACKGROUNDIn-line skates typically have a boot, shoe or other footwear device for attaching the skate upon the foot of a wearer, with an elongated wheel frame attached to the sole. The wheel frame often has a u-shape, with a pair of generally down-pending sidewalls defining a channel for receiving multiple skate wheels, e.g. 3 wheels to 5 wheels or more are typical. The skate wheels are mounted in a line on wheel axles extending between the sidewalls of the frame. In other skate models, the skate wheel may be mounted in cantilevered fashion from a single sidewall. In both designs, the combination of relatively large diameter skate wheels typical of an in-line skate, e.g. 72 mm to 110 mm (about 2.8 inches to about 4.3 inches), and the elongated, down-pending sidewalls (or sidewall), present a significant surface area of resistance to wind blowing from directions transverse to the direction of skater travel. These wind forces are closely focused on the region of skate wheel engagement with a travel surface, and can adversely affect skater stability, performance and efficiency.
SUMMARYAccording to one aspect, a skate wheel for an in-line skate comprises a skate wheel hub comprising an inner hub, an outer rim, and, extending therebetween, a plurality of blade-form spokes, opposed surfaces of adjacent blade-form spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and the outer rim, defining airflow passageways through the skate wheel, each blade-form spoke having a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a first face of the skate wheel, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed at an opposite, second face of the skate wheel, and a body extending smoothly therebetween, the first spoke-edge surface and the second spoke-edge surface being relatively offset in a direction of travel of the in-line skate by a predetermined arc of rotation about a skate wheel axis, and a skate tire mounted upon an outer surface of the outer rim of the skate wheel hub.
Implementations of this aspect of the disclosure may include one or more of the following additional features. The skate wheel hub has between six and twelve blade-form spokes. The skate wheel hub preferably has nine blade-form spokes. The blade-form spokes are uniformly spaced about the inner hub. The first spoke edge surface and the opposite, second spoke edge surface are smoothly radiused. The blade-form spoke has a thickness of about 2.75 mm. The predetermined arc of rotation is between about 25° and about 180°, and preferably about 40°. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the inner hub at an angle of between about 70° and about 80°, and preferably about 75°, measured from the plane of the face of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the wheel axis. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the outer rim at an angle of between about 60° and about 70°, and preferably about 65°, measured from the plane of the face of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the wheel axis. The inner surface of the outer rim has a substantially constant diameter. The first spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated first end of the inner hub. The first spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated first end of the outer rim. The second spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated, opposite second end of the inner hub. The second spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated, opposite second end of the outer rim. The inner hub, the outer rim, and the plurality of blade-form spokes of the skate wheel hub are integrally molded. The inner hub, the outer rim, and the plurality of blade-form spokes of the skate wheel hub are integrally molded of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), for example. The skate tire is formed of urethane, for example.
According another aspect, a skate wheel hub for an in-line skate comprises an inner hub, an outer rim having an outer surface constructed and arranged for mounting of skate tire thereupon, and, extending between the inner hub and the outer rim, a plurality of blade-form spokes, opposed surfaces of adjacent blade-form spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and outer rim, defining airflow passageways through the skate wheel, each blade-form spoke having a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a first face of the skate wheel, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed at an opposite, second face of the skate wheel, and a body extending smoothly therebetween, the first spoke-edge surface and the second spoke-edge surface being offset in a direction of travel of the in-line skate by a predetermined arc of rotation about a skate wheel hub axis.
Implementations of this aspect of the disclosure may include one or more of the following additional features. The skate wheel hub has between six and twelve blade-form spokes. The skate wheel hub has nine blade-form spokes. The blade-form spokes are uniformly spaced about the inner hub. The first spoke edge surface and the opposite, second spoke edge surface are smoothly radiused. The blade-form spoke has a thickness of about 2.75 mm. The predetermined arc of rotation is between about 25° and about 180°. The predetermined arc of rotation is about 40°. Each blade-form spoke intersects an opposed surface of the inner hub at an angle of between about 70° and about 80°, measured from a plane of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the skate wheel hub axis. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the inner hub at an angle of about 75°, measured from the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the skate wheel hub axis. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the outer rim at an angle of between about 60° and about 70°, measured from a plane of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the skate wheel hub axis. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the outer rim at an angle of about 65°, measured from the plane of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the skate wheel hub axis. The inner surface of the outer rim has a substantially constant diameter. The outer surface of the outer rim is substantially convex in shape. The outer surface of the outer rim defines an upstanding, generally circumferential ridge. The outer surface of the outer rim defines a generally circumferential flat ring in a region adjacent to the generally circumferential ridge. The first spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated first end of the inner hub. The first spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated first end of the outer rim. The second spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated, opposite second end of the inner hub. The second spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated, opposite second end of the outer rim. The inner hub, the outer rim, and the plurality of blade-form spokes of the skate wheel hub are integrally molded. The inner hub, the outer rim, and the plurality of blade-form spokes of the skate wheel hub are integrally molded of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), for example. The skate tire is formed of urethane, for example.
According to still another aspect, an in-line skate comprises a skate boot or shoe, a skate wheel frame mounted to a sole surface of the skate boot or shoe, and a plurality of skate wheels mounted to the skate wheel frame, each skate wheel comprising a skate wheel hub comprising an inner hub, an outer rim, and, extending therebetween, a plurality of blade-form spokes, opposed surfaces of adjacent blade-form spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and the outer rim, defining airflow passageways through the skate wheel, each blade-form spoke having a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a first face of the skate wheel, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed at an opposite, second face of the skate wheel, and a body extending smoothly therebetween, the first spoke-edge surface and the second spoke-edge surface being relatively offset in a direction of travel of the in-line skate by a predetermined arc of rotation about a skate wheel axis, and a skate tire mounted upon an outer surface of the outer rim of the skate wheel hub.
Implementations of this aspect of the disclosure may include one or more of the following additional features. The skate wheel hub has between six and twelve blade-form spokes. The skate wheel hub has nine blade-form spokes. The blade-form spokes are uniformly spaced about the inner hub. The first spoke edge surface and the opposite, second spoke edge surface are smoothly radiused. The blade-form spoke has a thickness of about 2.75 mm. The predetermined arc of rotation is between about 25° and about 180°. The predetermined arc of rotation is about 40°. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the inner hub at an angle of between about 70° and about 80°, measured from a plane of the skate wheel generally perpendicular to the skate wheel axis. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the inner hub at an angle of about 75°, measured from the plane of the skate wheel generally perpendicular to the skate wheel axis. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the outer rim at an angle of between about 60° and about 70°, measured from a plane of the skate wheel generally perpendicular to the skate wheel axis. Each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the outer rim at an angle of about 65°, measured from the plane of the skate wheel generally perpendicular to the skate wheel axis. The inner surface of the outer rim has a substantially constant diameter. The first spoke-edge surface is recessed from the plane of an associated first end of the inner hub. The first spoke-edge surface is recessed from the plane of an associated first end of the outer rim. The second spoke-edge surface is recessed from the plane of an associated, opposite second end of the inner hub. The second spoke-edge surface is recessed from the plane of an associated, opposite second end of the outer rim. The inner hub, the outer rim, and the plurality of blade-form spokes of the skate wheel hub are integrally molded. The inner hub, the outer rim, and the plurality of blade-form spokes of the skate wheel hub are integrally molded of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), for example. The skate tire is formed of urethane, for example.
Objects of the disclosure include providing in-line skates, skate wheels and skate wheel hubs defining air passageways through the hubs of the skate wheels, effective to diminish adverse effects of wind forces impinging against the surface area of skate wheels and wheel frame sidewalls transverse to the direction of skater travel.
The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings, and in the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring to the implementations of
Referring also to the implementations of
Each blade-form spoke 20 has a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface 22 exposed at a first face 24 of the in-line skate wheel 10 (
The blade-form spokes 20 extend between the outer surface 32 of the inner hub 16 and the opposed inner surface 34 of the outer rim 18. At the inner ends, relatively closer to the axis, X, of the in-line skate wheel 10 and hub 12, the blade-form spokes 20 intersect with the outer surface 32 of the inner hub 16 at an angle, H (
The first spoke-edge surface 22 is recessed from the plane, C, of an associated first end 44 of the inner hub 16, and recessed from the plane, D, of an associated first end 46 of the outer rim 18. The second spoke-edge surface 26 is recessed from the plane, E, of an associated, opposite second end 45 of the inner hub 16, and from the plane, V, of an associated, opposite second end 47 of the outer rim 18. The face planes (V) and the planes (C, D; E, F) of the respective inner hub ends 44, 45 and outer rim ends 46, 48 at each face 24, 28 of the skate wheel 10 may coincide, as shown. All are generally perpendicular the axis, X, of the skate wheel 10 and skate well hub 12, which also coincide.
Referring again to
In some implementations, the skate wheel 10 has an outer diameter, J, of between about 72 mm and about 110 mm, and a maximum width, K, measured in the region of the outer rim 18 of the skate wheel hub 12, of about 24 mm (
Turning finally to
A number of implementations of the disclosure have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A skate wheel for an in-line skate, comprising: a skate wheel hub comprising:
- an inner hub,
- an outer rim, and,
- extending therebetween, a plurality of blade-form spokes, opposed surfaces of adjacent blade-form spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and the outer rim, defining airflow passageways through the skate wheel, each blade-form spoke having a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a first face of the skate wheel, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed at an opposite, second face of the skate wheel, and a body extending smoothly therebetween, said first spoke-edge surface and said second spoke-edge surface being relatively offset in a direction of travel of the in-line skate by a predetermined arc of rotation about a skate wheel axis, and
- a skate tire mounted upon an outer surface of the outer rim of the skate wheel hub.
2. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein the skate wheel hub has between six and twelve blade-form spokes.
3-6. (canceled)
7. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein the predetermined arc of rotation is between about 25°and about 180°.
8. (canceled)
9. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the inner hub at an angle of between about 15°and about 85°, measured from a plane of a face of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the wheel axis.
10. (canceled)
11. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the outer rim at an angle of between about 15°and about 85°, measured from a plane of a face of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the wheel axis.
12-13. (canceled)
14. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein the first spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated first end of the inner hub.
15. (canceled)
16. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein the second spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated, opposite second end of the inner hub.
17-20. (canceled)
21. A skate wheel hub for an in-line skate, comprising
- an inner hub,
- an outer rim having an outer surface constructed and arranged for mounting of skate tire thereupon, and,
- extending between the inner hub and the outer rim, a plurality of blade-form spokes, opposed surfaces of adjacent blade-form spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and outer rim, defining airflow passageways through the skate wheel, each blade-form spoke having a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a first face of the skate wheel, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed at an opposite, second face of the skate wheel, and a body extending smoothly therebetween, said first spoke-edge surface and the second spoke-edge surface being offset in a direction of travel of the in-line skate by a predetermined arc of rotation about a skate wheel hub axis.
22. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein the skate wheel hub has between six and twelve blade-form spokes.
23-26. (canceled)
27. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein the predetermined arc of rotation is between about 25°and about 180°.
28. (canceled)
29. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein each blade-form spoke intersects an opposed surface of the inner hub at an angle of between about 15°and about 85°, measured from a plane of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the skate wheel hub axis.
30. (canceled)
31. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the outer rim at an angle of between about 15°and about 85°, measured from a plane of the skate wheel hub generally perpendicular to the skate wheel hub axis.
32. (canceled)
33. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein the inner surface of the outer rim has a substantially constant diameter.
34. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein the outer surface of the outer rim is substantially convex in shape.
35. The skate wheel hub of claim 34, wherein the outer surface of the outer rim defines an upstanding, generally circumferential ridge.
36. The skate wheel hub of claim 35, wherein the outer surface of the outer rim defines a generally circumferential flat ring in a region adjacent to the generally circumferential ridge.
37. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein the first spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated first end of the inner hub.
38. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein the first spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated first end of the outer rim.
39. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein the second spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated, opposite second end of the inner hub.
40. The skate wheel hub of claim 21, wherein the second spoke-edge surface is recessed from a plane of an associated, opposite second end of the outer rim.
41-43. (canceled)
44. An in-line skate comprising:
- a skate boot or shoe,
- a skate wheel frame mounted to a sole surface of the skate boot or shoe, and
- a plurality of skate wheels mounted to the skate wheel frame, each skate wheel comprising: a skate wheel hub comprising: an inner hub, an outer rim, and, extending therebetween, a plurality of blade-form spokes, opposed surfaces of adjacent blade-form spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and the outer rim, defining airflow passageways through the skate wheel, each blade-form spoke having a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a first face of the skate wheel, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed at an opposite, second face of the skate wheel, and a body extending smoothly therebetween, said first spoke-edge surface and the second spoke-edge surface being relatively offset in a direction of travel of the in-line skate by a predetermined arc of rotation about a skate wheel axis, and a skate tire mounted upon an outer surface of the outer rim of the skate wheel hub.
45. The in-line skate of claim 44, wherein the skate wheel hub has between six and twelve blade-form spokes.
46-49. (canceled)
50. The in-line skate of claim 44, wherein the predetermined arc of rotation is between about 25°and about 180°.
51. (canceled)
52. The in-line skate of claim 44, wherein each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the inner hub at an angle of between about 15°and about 85°, measured from a plane of the skate wheel generally perpendicular to the skate wheel axis.
53. (canceled)
54. The in-line skate of claim 44, wherein each blade-form spoke intersects the opposed surface of the outer rim at an angle of between about 15°and about 85°, measured from a plane of the skate wheel generally perpendicular to the skate wheel axis.
55-63. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 9, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 14, 2008
Applicant: MEARTHANE PRODUCTS CORPORATION (Cranston, RI)
Inventors: John A. Roderick (Scituate, RI), David R. Willis (Wakefield, RI)
Application Number: 11/673,068
International Classification: A63C 17/22 (20060101);