Abstract: The disclosure provides apparatus and methods of use and manufacture pertaining to a quick release hub-and-wheel assembly. In one embodiment, the hub-and-wheel assembly includes interior and exterior sleeves disposed about a rotatable locking ring that is biased to a latched position. The assembly also includes a quick release wheel having a latch that is configured to temporarily displace a latch-engagement mechanism on the locking ring from the latched position to an unlatched position such that the latch is captured by the latch-engagement mechanism when the latch-engagement mechanism returns to the biased, latched position. The locking ring also includes a manual latch-release mechanism configured to again temporarily displace the latch-engagement mechanism such that the wheel latch is released, allowing the wheel to be removed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of actuating a robotic mechanism having a first leg member rotatably coupled to a first side of a chassis and a second leg member rotatably coupled to a second side of the chassis. The method comprises positioning the first leg member and the second leg member generally about 180 degrees with respect to each other and effecting movement of the chassis by rotating both the first leg member and the second leg member with respect to the chassis.

Abstract: Skateboard designs including a hanger with a yoke with two arms, comprising a bumper which provides an increasing force as the wheel axles are pushed away from their resting position, and wide wheels with an asymmetrical and gradually tapering profile as the wheel extends outward from the midline of the board, for improved “surfing-like” maneuverability including an enhanced ability to “carve” like a snowboard.

Abstract: A friction wheel includes a hub, two bearings mounted in the hub and each having an axle, and a friction member mounted between the hub and the axle of each of the two bearings. Thus, the friction member is mounted between the hub and the axle of each of the two bearings to increase the friction between the hub and the axle of each of the two bearings so that the user has to apply a larger force to overcome the friction between the hub and the axle of each of the two bearings so as to move the cart forward, thereby preventing the cart from being moved freely.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wheel device for a skate board or a roller skate. A wheel includes a single central hub having an exterior wall and a bore for the housing of rollers, the rollers providing the connection with the hub of a truck; and a tread removably mounted on the exterior wall of the hub. A shoulder of the tread includes a first support face and a second support face, the two faces being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the common axis. The tread is locked in rotation and in axial position on the hub by means of locking screws, including heads abut against the second support face of the shoulder, the screws traversing the shoulder from side to side and attaching on the connecting means of the hub.

Abstract: A wheel having an illuminating device includes an illuminating assembly with a ring-shaped magnet located in a center of the illuminating assembly. The ring-shaped magnet has a central hole and two flexible bushes are respectively engaged with the central hole from two sides of the ring-shaped magnet. The ring-shaped magnet is located between two bearings. Two wheel frames clamp the illuminating assembly positioned and a shaft extends through the two flexible bushes. Each of the wheel frames has apertures for receiving the illuminating items.

Abstract: A simply structured bi-functional roller skate has a pair of shoe embodiments. Each shoe embodiment is provided with a front securing seat which is a tubular device with a forwardly extended board, and a rear securing seat which is a tubular device with a backwardly extended board. Both the front and rear securing seats are embedded at the front end and the rear end of each shoe embodiment respectively. Each tubular device of the front and rear securing seats is in alignment with an engagement hole so as to permit a first and a second wheel axle each having a proper length to be led therethrough at the front and rear end of a shoe embodiment. Each wheel axle has a knob-ended locking screw at one end and an internally threaded section at the other end so as to permit the knob ended locking screw to be secured to the end of each wheel axle after roller wheels are mounted to the wheel axles respectively.