Abstract:
The disclosure provides apparatus and methods of use and manufacture pertaining to a quick release hub-and-wheel assembly. In one embodiment, the hub-and-wheel assembly includes interior and exterior sleeves disposed about a rotatable locking ring that is biased to a latched position. The assembly also includes a quick release wheel having a latch that is configured to temporarily displace a latch-engagement mechanism on the locking ring from the latched position to an unlatched position such that the latch is captured by the latch-engagement mechanism when the latch-engagement mechanism returns to the biased, latched position. The locking ring also includes a manual latch-release mechanism configured to again temporarily displace the latch-engagement mechanism such that the wheel latch is released, allowing the wheel to be removed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/691,580, filed Aug. 21, 2012 by Brian J. Krell for “QUICK RELEASE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR ATTACHMENT AND REMOVAL OF A TIRE TO A HUB,” which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams, each team roller skating in the same direction around a track. Generally, game play consists of a series of short matchups, or “jams,” in which both teams designate a scoring player, or “jammer,” who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. Remaining team members attempt to assist their own jammer while hindering the opposing jammer. 
         [0003]    Players typically skate on four-wheeled “quad” roller skates. Quality skates can cost up to $1000.00 per pair. A set of eight wheels begins at approximately $30.00 for non-competitive materials and construction and extends to approximately $150.00 for top-end competitive quality. 
         [0004]    A player often desires to change one or more wheels during the course of a roller derby game. For example, a single wheel may become worn or damaged from expected wear and tear and require replacement. Alternatively, changing play style or track conditions such as accumulating dirt, debris, and/or moisture may necessitate a full transition of all eight wheels from a first wheel type to a second wheel type more appropriate for the new conditions (e.g., different wheel width, durometer hardness rating, or tread). 
         [0005]    Furthermore, initial assumptions about the track may necessitate a wheel change. That is, in the early days of the sport, roller derby games were played on specialized, banked tracks. These tracks were consistent in size, shape, and material and were specially designed for roller derby skates. As time passed, the size of the sport outgrew the number of specialized tracks, and roller derby tracks began to appear on other sporting surfaces such as wooden or rubber basketball courts, running tracks, and more. Due to varying track conditions, players employ different wheels at different tracks. Depending on whether initial assumptions about the track in use are correct (e.g., hardness of the track, friction offered by the track surface), a player may need to change wheels after the start of play to adjust as appropriate. 
         [0006]    A traditional wheel changeover for a full set of eight wheels currently takes between twenty and thirty minutes and requires special tooling, e.g., a bearing press. The changeover is also difficult to accomplish with the skates on the player&#39;s feet. As a result, wheel changes—whether for one wheel or a whole set of eight—require the player to exit the game, remove one or both skates depending on the number of wheels to be changed, and remain sidelined for a lengthy period of time. Because wheel changes are so inconvenient, players in need of a wheel change often forego the long removal from play, electing to play with a damaged wheel or a set of wheels inappropriate for current playing conditions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0008]    One embodiment provides a quick release hub-and-wheel assembly for mounting upon a central axle. The device includes an external sleeve, an internal sleeve nested within the external sleeve, and a locking ring rotatably engaged with the internal sleeve and having at least one latch-engagement mechanism and at least one latch-release mechanism. The locking ring and the internal sleeve are configured to bias the latch-engagement mechanism to a latched position. The hub-and-wheel assembly also includes a wheel having at least one latch that is aligned with the latch-engagement mechanism of the locking ring. When the latch is aligned with the latch-engagement mechanism of the locking ring, the application of inward directional pressure along the axle causes the latch to interlock with the latch-engagement mechanism in the latched position. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment provides a method for providing a quick release connection between a roller skate wheel and a central axle of a roller skate. The method includes the steps of affixing a quick release hub assembly to the central axle. The hub assembly has a latch-engagement mechanism with top and bottom surfaces, and the latch-engagement mechanism moves between latched and unlatched positions and is biased to the latched position. The method further includes pressing a quick release wheel upon the hub assembly. The wheel has a latch configured to engage the top surface of the latch-engagement mechanism and temporarily displace the latch-engagement mechanism from the latched position to the unlatched position such that the latch pushes beyond the top surface of the latch-engagement mechanism and catches against the bottom surface of the latch-engagement mechanism when the latch-engagement mechanism returns to the latched position. 
         [0010]    Yet another embodiment provides a method of manufacturing a quick release hub-and-wheel assembly for use with a central axle. The method includes the steps of forming a locking ring having at least one latch-engagement mechanism and at least one latch-release mechanism, forming an internal sleeve having at least one biasing element configured to bias the latch-engagement mechanism to a latched position when the locking ring is rotatably mounted to the internal sleeve, forming an external sleeve having at least one latch-access aperture, affixing the locking ring and the internal sleeve within the external sleeve such that the latch-engagement mechanism and the latch-access aperture align, and forming a wheel having at least one latch configured to interlock with the latch-engagement mechanism of the locking ring upon the application of directional pressure along the axle. 
         [0011]    Yet another embodiment provides a method for attaching a wheel to a central axle. The method includes the step of rotatably coupling a hub to the central axle, the hub having a latch-capture mechanism that is biased to a latched position and a manual release configured to displace the latch-capture mechanism to an unlatched position. The method also includes the step of manually installing a wheel upon the hub, the wheel having a latch configured to temporarily displace the latch-capture mechanism to the unlatched position such that when the latch-capture mechanism returns to the latched position, the latch is retained by the latch-capture mechanism. 
         [0012]    Other embodiments are also disclosed, and additional objects, advantages and novel features of the technology will be set forth in part in the following description, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the technology. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a central axle and a quick release hub-and-wheel assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a locking ring for use in the hub-and-wheel assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates a hub assembly as mounted upon a roller skate axle using a standard locking nut; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the hub assembly of  FIG. 3  and a quick release wheel for mounting upon the hub assembly; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A-5F  illustrate a process for removing the quick release wheel of  FIG. 4  from the hub assembly of  FIGS. 3-4 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flow chart detailing the steps of a method for manufacturing the hub-and-wheel assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Embodiments are described more fully below in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the system and method. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate various components of an exemplary embodiment of a quick release hub-and-wheel assembly  10 . More particularly,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded perspective view of assembly  10 . In this embodiment, assembly  10  may include an internal sleeve  16 , a pair of compression springs  18 , a locking ring  20 , an external sleeve  22 , and a wheel  24 . 
         [0022]    Internal sleeve  16  may be formed in a generally circular shape configured to receive and rotatably retain a notched body  26  of locking ring  20  within a ringed cavity  28 . This embodiment of internal sleeve  16  may also include two spring cavities  30  configured to receive and retain compression springs  18 . Spring cavities  30  may be configured such that when locking ring  20  is rotatably mounted to internal sleeve  16 , compression springs  18  either directly or indirectly engage with a pair of corresponding compression tabs  32  of locking ring  20 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates additional details of one embodiment of locking ring  20 . In this embodiment, locking ring  20  may include a pair of notches  34 . A latch-engagement mechanism, such as an angled protrusion  36 , may extend into each notch  34 , creating a catch slot  35  directly beneath each notch  34 . In this embodiment, locking ring  20  may also include a pair of latch-release mechanisms such as manual toggles  38 . 
         [0024]    When compression springs  18  are in their relaxed positions, locking ring  20 , and thus compression tabs  32  and angled protrusions  36 , are biased to a latched position. The functionality of compression springs  18 , compression tabs  32 , angled protrusions  36 , and manual toggles  38  is detailed below in reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0025]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , external sleeve  22  may be configured to press fit over internal sleeve  16  and locking ring  20 . To aid with proper alignment and provide a secure fit between internal sleeve  16  and external sleeve  22 , internal sleeve  16  may include a number of alignment and stability grooves  40  around its perimeter. Similarly, external sleeve  22  may include a number of alignment and stability ridges  42 . When internal sleeve  16  and external sleeve  22  are properly aligned, ridges  42  of external sleeve  22  mate with grooves  40  of internal sleeve  16 , thereby providing a secure, stable, and aligned fit. 
         [0026]    In this embodiment, a bearing  48  of any appropriate size, shape, type, and/or configuration may be affixed within a bearing cavity  52  of internal sleeve  16  and a bearing cavity  54  of external sleeve  22  to form a complete hub assembly  50  ( FIG. 3 ), capable of rotationally coupling with an axle  12 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of hub assembly  50  as affixed to axle  12  ( FIG. 1 ) of a roller skate  14  using a standard locking nut  56 . In this embodiment, external sleeve  22  may include latch-access apertures  44 . When internal sleeve  16  and locking ring  20  are nested within external sleeve  22  via the grooves  40  and ridges  42 , discussed above in reference to  FIG. 1 , each latch-access aperture  44  aligns with its corresponding angled protrusion  36  of locking ring  20 . In addition, external sleeve  22  may include latch-release apertures  46 , through which manual toggles  38  of locking ring  20  may extend for easy manipulation. 
         [0028]    While this embodiment of hub assembly  50  is configured to attach to standard axle  12  of roller skate  14 , it should be noted that in other embodiments, assembly  50  and hub-and-wheel assembly  10  may be adapted for other axle-based and/or wheeled applications as appropriate. Non-limiting examples include axle-based mechanisms such as wagons, tricycles, skateboards, toy or miniaturized cars and trucks, moving dollies, rolling survey and/or measurement tools, wheeled construction equipment and/or roofing tools, and more. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded perspective view of embodiments of wheel  24  and hub assembly  50 . To complete hub-and-wheel assembly  10 , wheel  24  may be latched to hub assembly  50  through the application of directional pressure along axle  12  ( FIG. 1 ). More specifically, in one embodiment, wheel  24  includes a tire portion  25  and a hub portion  27 . Hub portion  27  of wheel  24  may include a series of mating ridges  66  and two latches  58 , each latch  58  having a latch flange  60 . Mating ridges  66  may be configured to align with a concave surface  68  of alignment and stability ridges  42  of external sleeve  22 , ensuring proper alignment of the locking and release mechanisms. As wheel  24  is pressed onto hub assembly  50 , latches  58  pass through latch-access apertures  44  of external sleeve  22  to contact angled protrusions  36  of locking ring  20 . 
         [0030]    With the continued application of pressure, latch flanges  60  traverse a top surface  37  of angled protrusions  36  in a downward direction. This movement places lateral pressure on angled protrusions  36 , thereby causing the associated compression tabs  32  ( FIGS. 1-2 ) to directly or indirectly compress compression springs  18  ( FIG. 1 ) laterally, moving angled protrusions  36  in a clockwise direction from their latched to their unlatched positions. 
         [0031]    Once each latch flange  60  clears an apex  62  of the angled protrusion  36 , the pressure placed on angled protrusions  36  and corresponding compression tabs  32  ( FIGS. 1-2 ) is automatically removed, allowing compression springs  18  ( FIG. 1 ) to immediately return to their natural, decompressed states. As a result, angled protrusions  36  return to their biased, latched positions, securing latch flanges  60  within catch slots  35 , located directly beneath angled protrusions  36 . 
         [0032]    The pressure required to install wheel  24  upon hub assembly  50  is dependent upon the spring constant of compression springs  18 . In this embodiment, compression springs  18  are selected to allow for easy and in-place manual installation of wheel  24  upon hub assembly  50 , either by a third-party providing assistance or by the skater him or herself. 
         [0033]    Notably, the embodiment of hub-and-wheel assembly  10 , described above, includes two latch-engagement mechanisms such as angled protrusions  36 , two latch-release mechanisms such as manual toggles  38 , and two latches  58 . Other embodiments may include additional or fewer latch and release mechanisms as appropriate for the application and depending on a variety of variables such as, for example, the strength of the desired latch, the size of wheel to be secured, the terrain to be traversed, and so on. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 5A-5F  illustrate the process of removing wheel  24  from hub assembly  50 . In this embodiment, a user  64 , again either a third-party helper or the skater him or herself, may interact with manual toggles  38  of locking ring  20  (FIGS.  5 A- 5 B) in order to displace them in a clockwise direction within latch-release apertures  46  of external sleeve  22  ( 5 C- 5 D). Similar to the traversing of wheel latch  58  along angled protrusion  36 , discussed above, manually manipulating toggles  38  in this manner causes compression tabs  32  of locking ring  20  to directly or indirectly compress compression springs  18 . As a result, angled protrusions  36  of locking ring  20  also move clockwise from their latched to their unlatched positions, freeing latch flanges  60  of latches  58  from their secured positions within catch slots  35  beneath angled protrusions  36 . Once latch flanges  60  are free from angled protrusions  36 , wheel  24  may be pulled outward and away from hub assembly  50  ( FIGS. 5E-5F ). Wheel  24  may then be repaired and reinstalled or a different wheel may be mounted upon hub assembly  50 . 
         [0035]    Currently, a complete changeover of a full set of eight wheels requires special tooling such as a bearing press, is difficult to accomplish while the skates in question are worn in-place, and takes approximately twenty to thirty minutes. As a result, a racing skater must commit to one set of wheels for an entire roller derby game. This impairs the skater&#39;s ability to compete because oftentimes track conditions change during play due to damage of the track or the accumulation of dirt, moisture, and/or debris. Employing an embodiment of hub-and-wheel assembly  10 , described above, a skater may accomplish a complete wheel changeover, either alone or with the help of a teammate, in approximately thirty seconds and without removing the player&#39;s skates. This allows skaters to consistently skate on wheels that are appropriate for current track conditions, maximizing their competitive advantage. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flow chart of a method  100  for manufacturing an embodiment of hub-and-wheel assembly  10 , discussed above. Method  100  includes forming internal sleeve  16  ( 102 ), forming locking ring  20  ( 104 ), and forming external sleeve  22  ( 106 ). These parts may be formed of any appropriate material using any appropriate manufacturing method. For instance, they may be formed of injection molded plastic or machined metal. Method  100  also includes forming wheel  24  ( 108 ). Tire portion  25  of wheel  24  may be formed of urethane and purchased as a standard part. Tire portion  25  may feature varying durometer hardness ratings depending on the resistance to outside penetration required. Generally, durometer ratings for roller derby applications fall between 88 A and 98 A. Hub portion  27  of wheel  24  may be formed of machined nylon, aluminum, or any other appropriate material. 
         [0037]    While the formation of internal sleeve  16 , locking ring  20 , external sleeve  22 , and wheel  24  is discussed above in a specific order, these parts may be formed and/or purchased in any appropriate order preferred by the manufacturer. 
         [0038]    Next, compression springs  18  may be inserted, embedded, nested, or otherwise placed within spring cavities  30  of internal sleeve  16  ( 110 ). Once springs  18  are in place, locking ring  20  may be snapped into ringed cavity  28  of internal sleeve  16  such that manual toggles  38  of locking ring  20  extend outward ( 112 ). Then the combined internal sleeve  16  and locking ring  20  may be press fit or otherwise secured within external sleeve  22  ( 114 ), using alignment and stability grooves  40  of internal sleeve  16  and alignment and stability ridges  42  of external sleeve  22  as guides. 
         [0039]    Bearings  48  may be inserted into bearing aperture  52  of internal sleeve  16  and bearing aperture  54  of external sleeve  22  at any appropriate juncture ( 116 ) to form hub assembly  50 . That is, bearings  48  may be inserted ( 116 ) before or after the assembly of locking ring  20  and internal sleeve  16  or before or after the assembly of locking ring  20  and internal sleeve  16  into external sleeve  22 . 
         [0040]    To complete hub-and-wheel assembly  10 , wheel  24  may be manually pressed and latched onto hub assembly  50  ( 118 ) in the manner discussed above with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0041]    At any time after hub assembly  50  is complete, it may be attached to axle  12  using standard locking nut  56 . This step is not part of manufacturing method  100 , as it is not a necessary step in manufacturing hub-and-wheel assembly  10  itself, but such attachment may be completed by the manufacturer, retailer, user, or another party before hub-and-wheel assembly is put to use in connection with an axle-based device. 
         [0042]    Again, while the steps of method  100  have been described in a particular order, the steps may be completed in any logical and/or reasonable order that results in a complete hub-and-wheel assembly  10 . 
         [0043]    Although the above embodiments have been described in language that is specific to certain structures, elements, compositions, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the technology defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, elements, compositions and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed technology. Since many embodiments of the technology can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.