Skate wheel

Abstract: A wheel for an in-line skate includes a hub having a central core. First and second anchors extend radially from the core. The anchors are positioned on the core in spaced apart relation to define a material-receiving volume between the anchors. A synthetic plastics material is moulded to the core, surrounding each of the anchors and filling the material-receiving volume.

Description: This invention relates to wheeled skate devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel hub design for a skate wheel, and wheels comprising such a hub. Skating, particularly in-line skating, is becoming increasingly popular. Wheeled skates include wheels fastened to a skate boot. The wheels typically include a hub of rigid plastic material. A synthetic plastic material is then moulded onto the hub material. Examples of in-line skates and hubs are shown in U.S. Patents Design 339,320; Design 330,884; and Design 330,883. As shown in the above-mentioned patents, prior art skate hubs include a generally cylindrical core. Extending radially from the midpoint of the core is a protrusion. A plurality of holes are formed through the protrusion with the holes being circumferentially spaced about the axis of the core. The wheel material (urethane) is moulded surrounding the hub. During the moulding process, the urethane flows into the holes formed through the protrusion. As a result of the moulding process, the material of the wheel is securely moulded to the hub. From time to time, a wheel may experience substantial side forces on the hub and wheel. The side forces can cause the moulded urethane to break away from the hub (referred to as delamination). Furthermore, as the wheel wears, the diameter of the wheel decreases. Therefore, the distance between the outer periphery of the urethane material and the outer periphery of the central protrusion progressively decreases during wear of the wheel. As this distance decreases, the performance or bounce of the wheel decreases. EP-A-0 642 814 discloses a wheel, particularly for skateboards or roller skates, including a central hub with spokes associated with a tire which partially or fully affects (sic) the interspace between the spokes and the central hub. FR-A-2 562 804, on which the preamble of the present claim 1 is based, discloses a wheel for roller skates, skateboards, and the like, including a rigid wheel body in which the bearings are mounted, the wheel body forming an essentially cylindrical rim. The rim is covered by the rolling strip of a completely elastic band of large diameter and great flexibility, and the outer surface of the rim includes profiles for anchoring the band. The present invention provides a wheel for a skate comprising: (a) a hub having a central core with a bore for receiving an axle; (b) at least first and second anchors extending radially from the core, the first and second anchors being disposed in axially spaced apart relation to define a material receiving volume between the anchors; and (c) a plastics material moulded to the core, the material surrounding each of the first and second anchors and at least partially filling the material-receiving volume, characterised in that each of the first and second anchors has first and second rings radially spaced apart and connected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs. Advantageously, a plurality of open pathways are formed through each of the anchors, the pathways being in communication with the said volume, and the material being moulded within the pathways. The material-receiving volume advantageously extends between the anchors and from the core to a radial peripheral edge of the anchors. The plastics material is advantageously moulded onto the hub with the material having flat axial faces extending a radial distance greater than a radial extension of the anchors and with the flat axial faces of the material joined by an arcuate peripheral edge of the material. The greatest radial extent of the material is advantageously at a centre point of the wheel. Advantageously, the plastics material is a synthetic plastics material, preferably a urethane polymer. The invention also provides a skate, preferably an in-line skate, comprising a wheel in accordance with the invention. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a wheel according to the present invention with the outer periphery of a moulded wheel portion shown in phantom lines for ease of illustration; Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the outer periphery of the moulded wheel portion in phantom lines for ease of illustration; Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the wheel of Fig. 1 showing an opposite side thereof; and Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Referring now to the drawings, in which identical elements are numbered identically throughout, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. A wheel 10 includes a stiff synthetic plastics hub 12 and a moulded rim 14, preferably of a urethane polymer. For ease of illustration, the rim 14 is shown in phantom lines so that the various features of the hub 12 may be clearly identified. The hub 12 includes a central cylindrical core 16 surrounding a central axis X-X. The core 16 defines a bore 18 for receiving an axle or the like on which the hub 12 may be mounted on a skate. The core 16 includes a reduced diameter central portion 17 to separate the core into left and right side pockets 20, 22 best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Pockets 20, 22 may receive bearings or the like (not shown) which may be press fitted into the pockets 20, 22 as is conventional. The bearings are then rotatably mounted on an axle (not shown). First and second anchors 24, 26 are provided extending radially from the core 16. The anchors 24, 26 are provided in spaced apart relation to define a material-receiving volume 28 therebetween. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the anchors 24, 26 are generally positioned surrounding pockets 20, 22 and are not positioned surrounding the reduced diameter central portion 17 such that the material-receiving volume 28 is centrally positioned on the hub 12. Each of the anchors 24, 26 includes first and second concentric collars or rings 24a, 26a and 24b, 26b. Each of the rings 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b is coaxial with axis X-X, with rings 24a and 24b being in generally planar alignment with one another and with pocket 20. Rings 26a, 26b are generally planar with one another and with pocket 22. Inner rings 24a, 26a are held in spaced relation from the core 16 by support walls 25, 27 and by support ribs 29, 31. Rings 24b, 26b are supported on rings 24a, 26a by support ribs 33, 35. The support ribs 33, 35 and rings 24a, 24b and 26a, 26b define a plurality of circumferentially spaced pathways 38, 39 formed through each of the anchors 24, 26 near the radial edges of the anchors 24, 26. As best seen in Fig. 2, the axial ends of the core 16 define planes A, B which are parallel and spaced apart. Each of rings 24a, 26a has an axial length such that the rings 24a, 26a terminate in planar alignment with planes A, B, respectively. Rings 26b, 24b are spaced from planes A, B. Phantom line 14 shows the outline of the rim moulded onto the hub 12. The rim 14 has side walls 14a, 14b which are co-planar with planes A, B. The side walls extend radially outward from inner rings 24a, 26a with the side walls 14a, 14b projecting radially outwardly from axis X-X a distance greater than a radial extension of anchors 24, 26. The flat side walls 14a, 14b are joined by an arcuate periphery 14c. With the construction thus described, the moulded rim 14 is moulded onto the hub 12 with the plastics material flowing through the passages 38, 39 in anchors 24 and 26. This securely moulds the rim 14 to the hub 12. Unlike the prior art, the present invention with two anchors 24, 26 provides twice as many points of attachment to the anchors 24, 26. Furthermore, with the anchors 24, 26 spaced apart and not positioned centrally on the core 16, the rim 14 has a maximum thickness at a central position of wheel 10. Accordingly, as the wheel wears and the periphery of the rim 14 reduces, a substantial thickness of rim material remains by reason of the material occupying the material-receiving volume 28. Accordingly, the performance of the wheel 10 is enhanced over the prior art. Additionally, by placing the anchors 24, 26 in close proximity to the side walls 14a, 14b, the wheel 10 has greater resistance to breakage as a result of side loading forces acting on the rim 14, which would otherwise cause the material of the rim 14 to break away from the hub 12.

Claims: A wheel for a skate comprising: (a) a hub (12) having a central core (16) with a bore (18) for receiving an axle; (b) at least first (24) and second (26) anchors extending radially from the core (16), the first and second anchors (24,26) being disposed in axially spaced apart relation to define a material receiving volume (28) between the anchors; and (c) a plastics material moulded to the core (16), the material surrounding each of the first and second anchors (24,26) and at least partially filling the material-receiving volume (28), characterised in that each of the first and second anchors has first and second rings (24a,24b,26a,26b) radially spaced apart and connected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs (33,35). A wheel as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a plurality of open pathways (38, 39) are formed through each of the anchors (24, 26), the pathways (38, 39) being in communication with the said volume (28), and the material being moulded within the pathways. A wheel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the material-receiving volume (28) extends between the anchors (24,26) and from the core to a radial peripheral edge of the anchors (24,26). A wheel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plastics material is moulded onto the hub with the material having flat axial faces (14a,14b) extending a radial distance greater than a radial extension of the anchors and with the flat axial faces (14a,14b) of the material joined by an arcuate peripheral edge of the material (14c). A wheel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said plastics material has first and second axial faces (14a, 14b) each being substantially flat, said first and second axial faces (14a,14b) defining axial planes (A,B) in substantially parallel axially spaced apart relation; said plastics material having an arcuate peripheral edge (14c) as seen in cross-section around an entire circumference of said material, said arcuate peripheral edge (14c) joining said flat axial faces (14a,14b); wherein said first rings 24a,26a are disposed in axially spaced apart relation from each other, at least a portion of said first ring (24a) of said first anchor (24) being coterminous with said first axial plane (14a), and at least a portion of said first ring (26a) of said second anchor 26 being coterminous with said second axial plane (14b); and wherein said first and second axial faces (14a,14b) extend radially outwards from said first rings (24a,26a) of said first and second anchors (24,26) respectively, and portions of said material radially aligned with said first and second anchors (24,26) are disposed radially outward from said first rings (24a,26a) of said first and second anchors (24,26) respectively. A wheel as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the greatest radial extent of the plastics material is at a central point of the wheel. A wheel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the hub defines axially spaced apart first and second pockets (20,22) for receiving bearings, pockets (20,22) being disposed substantially symmetrically relative to the material-receiving volume. A wheel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plastics material does not incorporate a continuous, centrally positioned, annular air bladder. A wheel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plastics material is a synthetic plastics material, preferably a urethane polymer. A skate, preferably an in-line skate, comprising a wheel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Inventors: LARRUCEA HENRY, LARRUCEA, HENRY
Applicants: ELASCO INC, ROLLERBLADE INC, ELASCO, INC., ROLLERBLADE, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A63C17
IPC codes: A63C17