Wheel lock for in-line skates

A locking device for restricting rotation of at least one wheel of an in-line skate of the type having a two-sided frame for rotatably mounting the wheels therebetween. The device includes a generally elongated member for releasably engaging at least one wheel of the skate and the frame to prevent rotation of the wheel within the frame. The elongated member extends through at least one hole in the wheel and is oriented transversely to the linear arrangement of the wheels and parallel to their rotational axes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to wheel locks. More particularly, this invention 
relates to wheel locks which prevent rotation of at least one wheel of an 
in-line skate. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In-line skates typically include a boot for receiving a foot, a frame 
mounted to the bottom of the boot, and a series of wheels, usually 
composed of urethane, rotatably mounted in a row within the frame. During 
recent years, skating on in-line skates has become increasingly popular 
both recreationally and commercially. For example, in-line skating is 
often substituted for jogging, walking, bicycling, and aerobic exercise. 
In addition, employees in large warehouses and of messenger services is 
sometimes use in-line skates to increase their speed and efficiency. 
However, despite its growing popularity, there are various problems 
associated with in-line skating, as described below. 
The predominant problem with in-line skating is the injuries sustained from 
falls. Such injuries most often occur when the skater encounters inclines, 
curbs, stairs or other surfaces (such as grass) where skating is not 
practical, or when the skater improperly uses the skates indoors. In each 
instance, the injuries are generally attributable to the skater's loss of 
balance caused by the undesired rotation of the wheels within the skate 
frame. To avoid these problems, skaters often remove the skates from their 
feet and carrying the skates when confronted with problem surfaces. 
Unfortunately, skate removal is often not practical, particularly for city 
messengers who typically hand-carry deliveries and have no effective means 
to transport the skates during nonuse. In other cases, the skaters simply 
disregard the dangers and attempt to cross the problem surfaces as best 
they can. 
Thus, in an effort to minimize at least one potential area of injury, 
in-line skating poles have been introduced to assist skaters on inclines. 
Such poles are comparable in length to ski poles and are typically quite 
heavy. While these poles may offer some protection against fall-related 
injuries, they are cumbersome and inconvenient to carry around. In 
addition, the in-line skating poles are relatively expensive. 
Another recent development in skating safety is a skate brake located 
adjacent the rear of the skate. The skate brake is dragged along the 
ground to frictionally immobilize the wheels of a moving skate. The brake 
is activated into a braking position by flexing the skater's leg. 
Likewise, the brake is automatically released from a braking position by 
flexing the leg again. Thus, while the skate brake is useful in some 
situations for stopping a moving skater, the wheels do not remain fixed 
once the skater resumes movement, and consequently the brake only offers 
temporary immobilization of the skate wheels. The skater cannot rely on 
the brake to navigate the problem surfaces described above. 
In addition, transformer boots are available which enable skates to be 
converted into boots for walking. While the transformer boots provide a 
means for skaters to walk in skates, they are expensive and cumbersome to 
transport. 
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a locking device for 
restricting the rotation of at least one wheel of an in-line skate, so as 
to enable a skater to walk up or down inclines or stairs, over curbs, 
across grass or indoor surfaces. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device for an 
in-line skate which fits existing skates. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device for an 
in-line skate which is easily stored during nonuse. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a locking device 
for an in-line skate which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, accomplishes the 
foregoing objects by providing a locking device for restricting rotation 
of at least one wheel of an in-line skate. The locking device includes a 
generally elongated member which extends through at least one hole in the 
wheel of the skate to prevent rotation of the wheel within the skate 
frame. 
In a preferred embodiment, the elongated member includes an arcuately 
shaped grip piece with three integrally formed and evenly spaced arms 
which project from the grip piece in parallel relation to one another. The 
grip piece is arcuately shaped so that the arms are correspondingly spaced 
relative to the circular configuration of holes in a typical spoked wheel. 
In another embodiment, the elongated member includes a substantially flat 
grip piece with a pair of integrally formed arms which are spaced apart 
and which also project from the grip piece in parallel relation to one 
another. Instead of being arcuately shaped, the top and bottom surfaces of 
the elongated member are flat and in parallel planes. The arms extend 
through spoke holes in a single wheel. In yet another embodiment, the 
substantially flat grip piece includes two pairs of integrally formed arms 
which correspond to and releasably engage spoke holes in two wheels of the 
in-line skate. 
In each of the above embodiments, the arms preferably include means 
adjacent one end for lockably securing the elongated members to the skate 
frame. 
In yet another embodiment, the elongated member includes a grip piece with 
an integrally formed cylindrical portion which is partially threaded for 
increasing friction and limiting movement of the cylindrical portion 
within the wheel hole. The cylindrical portion extends through a hole 
drilled into the "tire" portion of the wheel. In addition, the cylindrical 
portion extends through opposing holes located on both sides of the skate 
frame, which holes are aligned with the hole in the tire portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Generally referring to FIGS. 1-17, the invention provides a locking device, 
denoted by the numeral 20, for eliminating rotation of at least one wheel 
of an in-line skate. By eliminating rotation of at least one wheel, a 
skater can easily walk across a surface which would be difficult or unsafe 
to skate across. Locking device 20 includes a generally elongated member 
22(A-D) which extends perpendicularly through at least one hole in the 
wheel of the skate to prevent rotation of the wheel within the skate 
frame. 
FIG. 1 shows a conventional in-line skate 24 which includes a boot portion 
26 with an integrally attached two-sided frame 28 for mounting at least 
four wheels 30 by any conventional means. A plurality of evenly spaced 
holes 32 are disposed adjacent the lower edge 34 of each side of frame 28, 
which are usually used for mounting the wheels. The locking devices 
described in each of the embodiments below prevent the rotation of one or 
more wheels within the skate frame. 
Referring to FIGS. 2-6, in a preferred embodiment, elongated member 22A 
includes an arcuately shaped grip piece 36 with three integrally formed 
and evenly spaced arms 38, 40, 42 which project is from grip piece 36 in 
parallel relation to one another. Arms 38, 40, 42 extend through adjacent 
holes disposed along the perimeter of the wheel hub 44 between spokes 45. 
Specifically, arms 38, 42 (the outer arms) extend through the two holes 
46, 48 most proximate to lower edge 34 of the skate frame. In contrast, 
arm 40 (located in the middle) extends through a hole 50 in between the 
holes 46, 48 and provides additional stability to the locking device. 
Because grip piece 36 is arcuately shaped, arms 38, 40, 42 are arcuately 
disposed to correspond to the circular configuration of the holes in the 
wheel hub. In addition, the arcuate shape of grip piece 36 causes its 
outside edges 52 to abut against and securely engage lower edge 34 on one 
side of the skate frame (FIG. 6). This arrangement prohibits rotation of 
the wheel. 
FIGS. 7-10, 12, and 17 show another embodiment, wherein elongated member 
22B includes a substantially flat grip piece 54 with a pair of integrally 
formed arms 56, 58 which are spaced apart and project from grip piece 54 
in parallel relation to one another. The spacing between the arms depends 
on the distance between the spoke holes and may vary in different skates. 
Arms 56, 58 extend through selected, non-adjacent holes 60, 62 disposed 
along the perimeter of the wheel hub. Holes 60, 62 are immediately 
adjacent lower edge 34 of the frame 28. Thus, when member 22B is properly 
inserted into holes 60, 62, arms 56, 58 abut against and tightly engage 
lower edges 34 of frame 28 on both sides of the frame. 
In FIG. 17, elongated member 22B is shown inserted through wheel 30. Arms 
56, 58 extend between and across frame sides 28 which are mounted to the 
underside 11 of boot 13. Grip piece 54 and arms 56, 58 frictionally engage 
frame sides 28. 
In an alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 11, grip piece 64 of elongated 
member 22C includes two pairs of integrally formed arms 66, 68 which 
correspond to and releasably engage two preferably adjacent wheels of the 
in-line skate, as shown in FIG. 1 (see also FIG. 11). Arms 66, 68 extend 
through holes in the wheels and engage the skate frame in a manner similar 
to that described in relation to the above embodiment. The two pairs of 
arms increase the stability of locking device 20 by eliminating rotation 
of two wheels, as compared to the previous embodiment which shows a single 
pair of arms and elimination of rotation of a single wheel. 
In each of the embodiments described above, the arms preferably include 
protuberances 70 (FIGS. 8, 10), caps 72 (FIG. 12), or other prominent 
means adjacent their distal ends remote from the grip piece which firmly 
engage one side of the frame and resist lateral movement of the elongated 
members, thereby lockably securing the arms within the wheel(s). 
Protuberances 70 are preferably integral with the arms and may be formed 
by any means, including by bending the arms adjacent their distal ends 
into v-shapes (FIG. 8). Caps 72 may be rubber pieces for frictionally 
engaging the arms. 
In use, the user holds the grip piece of elongated members 22A-C in each of 
the three above embodiments and inserts the arms into the holes of one or 
more wheels of the in-line skate (FIGS. 1, 5, 9). The arms are preferably 
inserted into the middle wheels of the skate--and not the two outside 
wheels--so that each of the arms (FIG. 10) or the opposite sides of the 
grip piece (FIG. 6) abut(s) against the skate frame. Furthermore, the arms 
are inserted into the holes of the wheel hub which are in closest 
proximity to the skate frame. In each instance, the arms are inserted 
through the holes until they project from the opposite side of the wheel 
hub and across both sides of frame 28. 
Protuberances 70 or caps 72 (the latter applied after insertion through the 
wheel hub) abut against the skate frame. 
In yet another embodiment, elongated member 22D includes a grip piece 74 
with an integrally formed cylindrical portion or arm 76 having threads 75 
along at least part of its length. (FIGS. 13-16). Cylindrical portion 76 
extends through both the wheel and sides of the frame 28. Specifically, 
cylindrical portion 76 extends through a hole 78 drilled into the tire 
portion 80 of the wheel and also through opposing holes 32 located on each 
side of skate frame 28. In this embodiment, the user aligns the hole in 
the tire with the holes on each side of the frame. The user then holds 
grip piece 74 and threads cylindrical portion 76 into the aligned holes. 
Cylindrical portion 76 is threaded into the holes until the end 77 
projects from the hole on the opposite side of the skate frame. The 
threads 75 remain within the tire portion 80 and frictionally engage it to 
reduce inadvertent lateral movement of the elongated member 22D. Once 
inserted, cylindrical portion 76 prevents movement of the wheel within the 
frame. 
Locking device 20 may be stored beneath the strap of the boot, in a pocket, 
strapped around a wrist, or hung around the user's neck with a chain or 
string. Additionally, locking device 20 is preferably made of spring steel 
in the embodiments that show arms but may alternatively be made of heavy 
gauge wire. In the last-described embodiment, locking device 20 is 
preferably made of rigid plastic. Locking device 20 has not been described 
in terms of approximate measurements, as it should be understood that the 
size of the locking device may vary according to skate construction and 
wheel size. 
Thus, the inventive locking device restricts rotation of one or more wheels 
of an in-line skate so that the user may walk on the skates without the 
rolling motion which occurs during skating. Moreover, the locking device 
enables the user to walk on inclines, stairs, curbs, and even wear the 
skates indoors without fear of injury. The locking device is small enough 
that the user may store it under a strap of the skate boot, in a pocket, 
on a wrist, or around the neck. 
There are additional benefits and advantages particularly inherent in the 
first three described embodiments. It is estimated that locking device 20 
may be stamped out at a rate of at least 30 pieces per minute and is 
easily rack packaged. Moreover, locking device 20 preferably includes at 
least one opening 82 in the grip piece for suspending the device from a 
chain and also for minimizing the weight of the device. Locking device 20 
may also function as an L-wrench (not shown) by lengthening one of the 
arms in the previously described embodiment wherein elongated member 22 
includes a single pair of arms. 
Those who are skilled in the art will readily perceive how to modify the 
invention. Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover all 
equivalent structures which fall within the true scope and spirit of the 
invention.