Patent ID: 6679560
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: A63C

Abstract:
A wheel for an in-line skate, said wheel comprising:a ring-shaped hub having a ring-shaped radially extending central stem that has two opposite axial sides and radial inner and outer ends, two symmetrical ring-shaped upper wings that extend oppositely and sidewisely from said radial outer end, and two symmetrical ring-shaped lower wings that extend oppositely and sidewisely from said radial inner end, each of said upper wings having an annular free end and an annular outer surface which extends sidevisely from said central stem to said free end; and a ring-shaped solid tire having a hub connecting ring portion that securely embraces and that radially and outwardly extends relative to said outer surfaces of said upper wings, said tire further having a ground engaging ring portion that axially reduces and that radially and outwardly extends from said hub connecting ring portion, and that has a radial thickness greater than that of said hub connecting ring portion, said hub connecting ring portion cooperating with said upper wings to form an outer rim of said wheel that is capable of fulcruming about said central stem so as to permit bending of said ground engaging ring portion toward one of said opposite axial sides of said central stem when said wheel tips toward said one of said opposite axial sides of said central stem and pushes against the ground; wherein said hub further has a ring-shaped ridge that extends radially and outwardly from said radial outer end of said central stem and that has a radial top end opposite to said radial outer end of said stem, and a plurality of angularly disposed first and second ribs that extend oppositely and sidewisely from said radial top end of said ridge, said ridge and said first and second ribs being encapsulated by said hub connecting ring portion of said tire so as to enhance mechanical strength of said outer rim.