U.S. patent application number 10/380879 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-25 for wheel.
Invention is credited to Gorza, Roberto, Pozzobon, Michele.
Application Number | 20030178886 10/380879 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11460042 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030178886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gorza, Roberto ; et
al. |
September 25, 2003 |
Wheel
Abstract
A wheel, particularly for skates, rollers and the like
comprising a central hub (2) provided with means (7) for locking
the wheel bearings into their respective housings.
Inventors: |
Gorza, Roberto; (Feltre,
IT) ; Pozzobon, Michele; (Fossalonga Di Vedelago,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Modiano & Associati
Via Meravigli 16
Milano
20123
IT
|
Family ID: |
11460042 |
Appl. No.: |
10/380879 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
July 26, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP02/08397 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
301/5.309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 17/223
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
301/5.309 |
International
Class: |
A63C 017/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 2, 2001 |
IT |
TV2001 U 000044 |
Claims
1. A wheel, particularly for skates, rollers and the like,
comprising a central hub, which is connected to an outer rim aimed
at providing support to a tread, said central hub comprising: a
first and/or a second end positioned substantially along a main
rotation axis of said wheel structure; and at least a substantially
circular first housing, which is approximately positioned at said
first end and/or said second end, said first housing accommodating
at least a bearing; characterised in that said central hub
comprises at least a second housing for accommodating locking means
for locking said bearing within said first housing.
2. The wheel according to claim 1, characterised in that said first
housing is provided with a substantially circular lateral surface,
on which said bearing is free to roll, said second housing being
ring-like shaped, so as to form a circular groove along said
lateral surface.
3. The wheel according to one or more of preceding claims,
characterised in that said locking means comprise at least a
ring-like gasket provided with a circular cross section, which is
counter-shaped to said second housing.
4. The wheel according to one or more of preceding claims,
characterised in that said ring-like gasket is provided with an
inner diameter which is smaller than the diameter of said
bearing.
5. The wheel according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that said ring-like gasket is at least partially
made of a resilient material.
6. The wheel according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that it is at least partially made of a metallic
material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel, particularly
suitable for use in skates, rollers and the like.
[0002] It is known that wheels, which are used in skating/rolling
devices, generally comprise a central hub, rigidly connected to a
rim aimed at supporting a ring-like tread, usually made of
plastics. Such wheels are operatively connected to the frame of the
skating/rolling device by way of a system of bearings, which ensure
a suitable revolving interconnection with very low friction values.
In particular, such bearings are typically accommodated inside
counter-shaped housings provided at the free ends of the hub, along
the main rotation axis of the wheel. Such bearings are generally
housed in pairs and in opposite positions and are operatively
associated by means of a pin, arranged axially along the hub.
Obviously, in order to ensure the correct and safe use of the
wheel, it is necessary that the bearings be somehow kept in
position in the respective housings.
[0003] Most of the wheels are made of plastics. Therefore, it is
possible to easily obtain bearing housings with a diameter slightly
smaller than the diameter of the bearings accommodated therein. In
this manner, it is possible to achieve an interconnection between a
bearing and the respective housing by way of an interference fit,
which ensures a safe locking of the bearings in the respective
housings.
[0004] However, some wheels are made of metallic materials, for
example aluminium. In this case, it is very difficult to achieve
the mentioned interference fit, since neither of the two elements
(i.e. the bearing and the respective housing) is provided with a
sufficient level of deformability. Therefore, in known types of
wheels made of metal, the interconnection between the bearing and
the respective housing is generally achieved with some clearance.
This fact often makes the assembly operations difficult, time
consuming and expensive. Moreover, this fact could bring about the
accidental disengagement of the bearings with prejudice for the
operation and safety of the wheel. As a partial remedy to this
drawback, it is known to use adhesive materials along the external
surface of the bearing and/or of the surface of the housing that is
in contact with the bearing, thereby ensuring the retention of the
bearing in the respective housing. However, also this known
technical solution suffers the relevant drawback of making
particularly laborious the assembly operations of the wheels onto
the skate frame. As a consequence, there is often the need of
relatively long labour times and high costs. Moreover, accuracy of
the operation depends often on the ability of the operator, who is
thus required to have a relatively high degree of skill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide a
wheel, particularly suitable for use in skates, rollers and the
like, which allows to achieve an easy, fast locking of the bearings
in the respective housings regardless of the type of material used
for manufacturing the wheel.
[0006] Within this aim, another object of the present invention is
to provide a wheel that allows an easy interconnection between the
bearings and the respective housings to be accomplished even by
personnel who are not particularly skilled.
[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
wheel, which is structurally simple and which can be assembled by
means of highly standardised operations at relatively low
manufacturing costs.
[0008] Thus, the present invention provides a wheel, particularly
for skates, rollers and the like, comprising a central hub, which
is connected to an outer rim aimed at providing support to a tread,
such central hub comprising:
[0009] a first end and/or a second end positioned substantially
along a main rotation axis of the wheel; and
[0010] at least a substantially circular first housing, which is
approximately positioned at said first end and/or said second end,
said first housing accommodating at least a bearing, characterised
in that such central hub comprises at least a second housing for
accommodating locking means for locking such bearing within such
first housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the wheel
according to the present invention, will become better apparent
from the detailed description of some particular embodiments
thereof, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the wheel,
according to the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of the
wheel, according to the present invention, illustrated in FIG.
1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] With reference to the figures, reference numeral 1 indicates
a wheel, according to the present invention, which is particularly
suitable for use in skates with in-line wheels. In this embodiment,
the wheel 1 comprises a central hub 2, which is connected to or
integrally obtained with an outer rim 3, which provides support for
a tread (not shown). The central hub 2 is provided with a first end
4a and/or a second end 4b located substantially along the main
rotation axis 100 of the wheel 1. First housings 5a and/or 5b for
the positioning of counter-shaped bearings (not shown) are provided
approximately at the first end 4a and/or the second end,
respectively. Within the first housings 5a and/or 5b, one or more
second housings 6 are suitably provided. Locking means 7, which are
designed for locking such bearings to the first housings 5a and/or
5b, are positioned in the second housings 6. The first housings 5a
and/or 5b comprise advantageously substantially circular lateral
surfaces 8, on which the bearings are free to roll. Preferably, the
second housings 6 are ring-like shaped, so as to form circular
grooves along the lateral surfaces 8. The locking means 7 comprise
preferably a ring-like gasket 7, with circular cross section
(hereinafter defined as "O-ring"). The O-ring 7 is advantageously
counter-shaped to the second housing 6, so that it can be
accommodated within it. The O-ring 7 is preferably provided with a
diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the bearing
accommodated in the first housing 5a and/or 5b. In this manner, the
O-ring 7 is arranged to protrude internally with respect to the
lateral surfaces 8 of the first housing 5a and/or 5b. Thereby, the
locking of the bearings within the first housing 5a and/or 5b is
ensured. Advantageously, the O-ring 7 is made of a material which
is provided with a predefined resiliency level. The resilient
deformability of the O-ring 7 allows an interference
positioning/fitting of the bearings into the first housing 5a
and/or 5b.
[0015] It has thus been shown in practice that the wheel according
to the present invention achieves the intended aim and objects. In
fact, thanks to the presence of the locking means 7, the wheel 1
allows a simple, fast locking of the bearings in the respective
housings 5 and 5b provided at the ends of the hub. In fact, the
locking of the bearings is performed regardless of the type of
material used for the manufacture of the wheel. Nevertheless, it
should be noticed that this locking system is particularly
advantageous when the wheel is made of a metallic material, such
as, for example, aluminium. In fact, a direct interference can be
avoided between the bearings and the respective housings without
prejudice for the operation of the wheel. The presence of adhesive
materials can be also avoided. Therefore, the assembly of the wheel
1 according to the present invention can be performed with a high
level of standardisation, thereby ensuring great uniformity of
results, which do not strictly depend on the ability of the
operator. Thereby, this brings about a relevant reduction of the
manufacturing costs.
[0016] The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No.
TV2001U000044 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
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