Abstract:
An inline skate includes a boot having a sole, a toe area, and a heel area. The skate has a plurality of wheels each wheel respectively including: a bearing having an inner race, and a wheel mount rigidly mounted between the wheel frame and the inner race for mounting the inner race to the wheel frame in a rotationally fixed manner.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/921,048, filed on Mar. 30, 2007, entitled Spokeless Wheel Inline Skate; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention pertains to a spokeless or hollow wheel inline skate. Inline skates are used for fitness, fun, and transportation. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    An inline skate typically has includes a set of at least four wheels. The each wheel is provided with bearings. The outer race of the bearing is pressed into a plastic or metal rim of the wheel. A removable axle is inserted through the bearing, at the center axis of the wheel, and into a frame provided for mounting the wheels of the skate in a line. 
         [0006]    The axles are hollow and have a thread for receiving a screw, which secures the axle and thus the wheel to the frame. 
         [0007]    The support for the lower leg and ankle in the front to back direction is typically provided by increased stiffness of the back of the skate boot. The increased stiffness of the back of the boot provides stability for the user of the inline skate. 
         [0008]    The disadvantages of prior wheel configurations are that the axle of the wheel is low to the ground. Therefore, when an object such as a rock, stick, or other debris is struck by the wheels, the wheels are impeded causing the skater to stumble and possibly fall. Furthermore, because the wheels disposed in a fixed relationship to the boot, the wheels cannot deflect to absorb shock when the wheels strike debris. The disadvantages of the support for the lower leg being in the back of the boot is that more support is required on the front side of the leg or shin and increased rigidity in the rear of the boot does provide the best support the front of the leg. The replacement and maintenance of the wheel is time consuming because each wheel must be individually disassembled and rotated or replaced. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a spokeless wheel inline skate, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which is more versatile and easier to use and overcomes the disadvantages disclosed above. The spokeless wheel inline skate has an axle for the wheel that is defined by the inner race of a bearing and, which is offset to the topside of the wheel. This allows the inline skate to be better able to ride over debris. The spokeless inline skate has wheels that are mounted in a hinged manner with an elastic member which allows the wheel to deflect thereby further improving the skates ability to ride over debris The skate also has a rigid support for the front side of the foot and leg. The support provided by the present invention improves the stability of the skate towards the front of the skate by better supporting the lower shin area of a skater. The present invention provides that a removable wheel frame may be provided with all the wheels rigidly attached thereon so that all the wheels may be easily removed by removing and replacing or rotating the wheel frame. 
         [0010]    With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an inline skate having a boot having a sole, a toe area, and a heel area. The skate has a plurality of wheels each wheel respectively including: a bearing having an inner race, and a wheel mount rigidly mounted between the wheel frame and the inner race for mounting the inner race to the wheel frame in a rotationally fixed manner. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an added feature of the invention, each the wheel mount is affixed to the wheel frame by a respective hinge and a respective fastener opposite the hinge. The fastener has an elastic element disposed at the fastener between the wheel frame and the wheel mount. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another added feature of the invention, the hinge of the wheel mount is on a side of the wheel mount that is directed toward the toe area and the fastener is on a side of the wheel mount that is directed toward the heel area. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the elastic element is configured to regulate the movement of the wheel mount relative to the boot. 
         [0014]    In accordance with still an additional feature of the invention, the wheel frame is selectively mounted to the sole of the boot. 
         [0015]    In accordance with still yet an additional feature of the invention, the wheel mounts are removeably affixed to the wheel frame. 
         [0016]    In accordance with still another additional feature of the invention, each wheel has a respective rubber portion. 
         [0017]    In accordance with still yet another additional feature of the invention, each bearing has a respective outer race. Each outer race respectively has a projection extending about a circumference of the outer race projecting into the rubber portion to secure the rubber portion to the bearing outer race. 
         [0018]    In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the projection is T-shaped. 
         [0019]    In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the fastener passes through the elastic element. 
         [0020]    In accordance with another additional feature of the invention, the boot includes a rigid tongue that is affixed to the boot by a pivot axis in the toe area of the boot. 
         [0021]    In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the rigid tongue includes additional pivot axes over a length of the rigid tongue thereby making the tongue articulated. 
         [0022]    In accordance with still yet a further feature of the invention, the rigid tongue is curved in a transverse direction of the boot and includes padding on a backside thereof. 
         [0023]    In accordance with still yet another feature of the invention, the rigid tongue is formed of aluminum and includes padding on a backside thereof. 
         [0024]    In accordance with still yet another further feature of the invention, the rigid tongue is curved in a transverse direction of the boot. 
         [0025]    In accordance with another additional feature of the invention, the rigid tongue projects beyond a top of the boot. The tongue includes straps configured for attaching the tongue to a leg of a skater. 
         [0026]    Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0027]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a spokeless wheel inline skate, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0028]    The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements. In the drawings: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the inline skate according to the invention showing the skate with fixed wheels in an unbuckled or open position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the inline skate according to the invention showing the skate with hinged wheels in a buckled or closed position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the inline skate wheel assembly according to the invention showing the hinged wheels; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the inline skate wheel assembly according to the invention showing the fixed wheels; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the inline skate wheel assembly with partial section views according to the invention showing the fixed wheels; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a wheel and bearing; and. 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of the inline skate wheel assembly area with partial section views of the bearing and wheel according to the invention showing the fixed wheel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 1 , and  2  illustrate an inline skate  1  having a boot  2 . The boot has a toe area  23  and a heel area  24 . The boot can be secured around a foot/lower leg of a skater with straps having buckles and or laces  3 . At a toe section of the boot  2  a rigid tongue  4  is affixed in a hinged manner at a pivot  5  so that the rigid tongue  4  can be pivoted away from the boot  2 . The rigid tongue  4  has additional pivot points  6  so that the rigid tongue  4  can easily conform to the foot of the skater. The rigid tongue  4  is provided with a soft backing  7  such as foam, padding, or rubber, which allows the rigid tongue  4  to conform to the skater&#39;s foot in a comfortable manner. The rigid tongue  4  may be formed from aluminum or a rigid plastic such as polypropylene, nylon, etc. The rigid tongue  4  can project beyond a top  25  of the boot  2  and be strapped by straps  41  directly to the leg  26  of the skater for additional support. Also, the tongue  4  is curved in the direction transverse to a skater&#39;s foot in order to conform to the foot and ankle region. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 , and  7  show spokeless or hollow wheels  10  that are rigidly attached to a wheel frame  20  that is mounted on a sole  22  of the boot  2 . The wheels have a rubber portion  11 , which is provided for rolling on a surface that the skater will skate on. The rubber portion  11  is connected to an outer race  12  of a bearing  13 . The connection can be via an intermediate ring  34  or the rubber portion  11  may be mounted directly on the outer race  12 . It is possible that the rubber portion  11  be removable from the bearing  13  so that the rubber portion  11  can be replaced after it is worn out. It is also possible in this configuration for the entire wheel frame  20  to be removed from the sole  22  of the boot  2  thereby replacing or rotating all the wheels  10  at once. 
         [0040]    The bearing  13  has also has an inner race  14 . A wheel mount  15  is rigidly fixed to the inner race  14  of the bearing  13 . The wheel mount  15  is also rigidly attached to the wheel frame  20  thereby affixing the wheel  10  to the skate  1  in a rotational manner. The mounting of the inner race  14  by the wheel mount  15  secures the inner race  14  in a rotationally fixed manner and permits the outer race  12  to rotate thereby allowing rotation of the wheels  10 . The wheel mount  15  may be permanently molded to the wheel frame  20  or it can be removeably mounted by fasteners, such as screws. The wheel mount  15  can be a u-shape on both sides of the wheel  10 . It is also possible for the wheel mount  15  to be affixed to the inner race  14  on only one side of the wheel  10 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show wheels  10  that are mounted in a hinged manner to the wheel frame  20 . The wheel mount  15  is affixed to the wheel frame  20  by a hinge or pin  16  on a side of the wheel mount  15  that is towards the front of the skate  1 . an elastic member  17  with a fastener  18  affixes the opposite side of the wheel mount  15  (side that is toward the rear of the skate) to the wheel frame  20 . The compression of the elastic member  17  allows the wheel to pivot upward around the hinge  16  towards the wheel frame  20  when the wheels  10  strike debris. The elastic member  17  can be provided as a compression spring, TPE element, or rubber element. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  shows an enlarged view of the wheel frame  20 , wheel  10 , and the bearing  13 . The bearing  13  is shown as a dual ball bearing, however, it is possible that single roller bearings be used as well. The outer race(s)  12  are rigidly attached to the rubber portion  11  by a t-shaped projection  19  on the intermediate ring  34 , which holds the dual ball bearings. While the projection  19  is shown as T-shaped, it is possible for the projection to have any other shape which will hold the wheel to the bearing  13 . It is also possible for the outer race(s)  12  to be directly attached to the projection  19 . It is also possible for the rubber portion  11  to be molded to the outer race  12 , where the outer race  12  is provided with features that will secure or lock the rubber portion  11  thereto.  FIG. 7  also serves to illustrate the connection of the wheel mount  15  to the inner race(s)  14  of the bearing  13  and of the wheel mount  15  to the wheel frame  20 .  FIG. 7  also shows a joint seal  21  between two bearing channels  32  of the dual bearing  13 .