Skate wheel cover mounts

Abstract

A skate wheel axle engages a removable skate wheel mounted on a rotational bearing support and is held in place by a wheel fastener such as a nut. A wheel cover mounting receives a wheel cover. The wheel cover is removably engaged with the cover mounting means by corresponding first and second part engagement threads.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of a prior filed and currently pending application having Ser. No. 10/316,624 and file date of Dec. 10, 2002 and title: Skate Wheel Covers.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0002] Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents and printed matter cited or referred to in this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates generally to wheel cover mounts and more particularly to wheel cover mounts for skate wheels wherein wheel covers are able to be attached and detached to skate wheels.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] The prior art teaches hub cap mounts for decoration and for covering automobile wheels to prevent debris from entering bearing and brake assemblies, but does not teach a simple, injection molded part enabled for easily mounting a skate wheel cover for providing decoration and enabling the exclusion of debris from the interior of the skate wheel. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

[0008] Skate wheels used on skates and skate boards are generally assembled with bearing sets so as to provide low friction rolling forces. However, to enable such wheels to be easily replaced, simple mountings are provided which leave the bearing assemblies exposed to the elements. The present invention is a means for better securing the interior of the skate wheel against mud, water and other debris encountered on street surfaces. In the present invention, a skate wheel axle engages a removable skate wheel mounted on a rotational bearing support and is held in place by a wheel fastener such as a nut. A wheel cover mounting receives a wheel cover. The wheel cover is removably engaged with the cover mounting means by corresponding first and second part engagement threads. In one embodiment, the wheel cover is threaded onto a threaded insert which may be pressed or molded into the wheel. In an alternate embodiment, the cover is threaded onto a cup-shaped fixture held under the nut.

[0009] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the prior art.

[0010] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of excluding dust and dirt particulate from the interior of a skate wheel.

[0011] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of excluding water from the interior of a skate wheel.

[0012] A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of being secured to a skate wheel by threaded engagement of the invention into an insert molded into the wheel, or by threaded engagement between the cover and a fixture held under the nut of the wheel mounting fixture.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention illustrating a preferred embodiment of a wheel cover mount thereof;

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 are full vertical cross-sectional views of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectfully, showing means for mounting wheel covers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description.

[0019] The present invention is an apparatus comprising in combination: a skate wheel 10 is made of a resilient material such as rubber and provides a through axial bore 30, the bore engaging a bearing assembly 40. An axle 50 provides a threaded terminal portion 52. The bearing assembly 40 is fixed onto the threaded terminal portion 52 by a compression nut 60 so as to functionally capture the bearing assembly 40 skate wheel 10. As shown in the figures, the bearing assembly 40, preferably comprises a pair of spaced-apart circular bearings, each having a revolving race engaged with the interior wall of the axial bore 30, and in rotational communion by ball bearings with a non-revolving race held in place by transaxle compressive forces from nut 60. This arrangement is well known and in common use for enabling low friction rotation. A wheel cover 72 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is preferably made of a plastic material by a molding process. The wheel cover (or cap) 72 provides a decorative face plate 70, and, extending axially therefrom, a cylindrical mounting tube 74. The tube 74 provides, in a preferred embodiment, a machine thread 76 on an exterior surface and is engaged by threaded engagement with the skate wheel 10. The face plate 70 provides an outside diameter “D” (FIG. 3) that is greater than the diameter of the axial bore 30. This enables the wheel cover 72 to fully cover the opening to the bore 30 so as to deflect mud, water and debris from entering the bore 30. As stated and shown, the cylindrical mounting tube 74 extends into the axial bore 30 and is engaged within the bore 30 for holding the wheel cap 70 in position as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0020] In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention includes the skate wheel axle 50; removable skate wheel 10; means for rotational bearing support 40 (bearing assembly); means for wheel fastening 60; means for wheel cover mounting 20; and the wheel cover 72. The skate wheel 10 is mounted on the bearing means 40 and the axle 50 for rotation, as previously discussed above. The fastening means 60, preferably a hex hut, secures the cover mounting means 20 and the skate wheel to the axle as may be clearly seen in FIG. 1. The wheel cover 72 is removably engaged with the cover mounting means 20 by corresponding first part engagement means 22, interior threads, mating with second part engagement means 76, exterior threads, of the wheel cover 72. Preferably, the threads are common machine type threads. Preferably, the means for wheel cover mouning 20 is cup shaped as shown and has an aperture 24 for receiving the threaded portion of the skate wheel axle 52.

[0021] In a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the invention includes the same basic parts with the exception that instead of using the wheel cover mounting means 20 shown in FIG. 1, a skate wheel insert 20′ is used, as shown in FIG. 2. This insert 20′ is preferably made of a strong and tough material such as metal or hard plastic and is either molded into or pressed into the wheel 10. In this embodiment, the insert 20′ provides internal threads 22′ which engage those of the wheel cover, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0022] In both of the described embodiments, the wheel cover 72 provides a recess 78 for accepting the fastening means 60, the wheel cover 72 in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 4, rotating about the fastening means 60 without interference therewith, i.e., the recess 78 is large enough to avoid contact with fastening means 60.

[0023] While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising in combination: a skate wheel axle; removable skate wheel; means for rotational bearing support; means for wheel fastening; means for wheel cover mounting; and a wheel cover; the skate wheel mounted on the bearing means and the axle for rotation; the fastening means securing the cover mounting means and the skate wheel to the axle; and the wheel cover removably engaged with the cover mounting means by corresponding first part engagement means interior to the cover mounting means, mating with second part engagement means exterior to the wheel cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second part engagement means are machine threads.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for wheel cover mouning is cup shaped, having an aperture for receiving the skate wheel axle.

4. An apparatus comprising in combination: a skate wheel axle; removable skate wheel; means for rotational bearing support; means for wheel fastening; skate wheel insert; and a wheel cover; the skate wheel mounted on the bearing means and the axle for rotation; the fastening means securing the skate wheel to the axle; and the wheel cover removably engaged with the skate wheel insert by corresponding first part engagement means interior to the skate wheel insert, mating with second part engagement means exterior to the wheel cover.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second part engagement means are machine threads.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the skate wheel insert is molded into the skate wheel.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the skate wheel insert is pressed into the skate wheel.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wheel cover provides a recess for accepting the fastening means, the wheel cover rotating about the fastening means without interference therewith.

9. An apparatus comprising in combination: a skate wheel axle; removable skate wheel; means for rotational bearing support; means for wheel fastening; means for wheel cover mounting; and a wheel cover; the skate wheel mounted on the bearing means and the axle for rotation; the fastening means securing the skate wheel and bearing support means on the wheel axle; the wheel cover removably engaged with the cover mounting means by corresponding first part engagement means interior to the cover mounting means, mating with second part engagement means exterior to the wheel cover.