U.S. patent application number 10/303537 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for shock absorbing washer for skate wheel mount.
Invention is credited to Wegener, Andreas C..
Application Number | 20040100043 10/303537 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32325029 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040100043 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wegener, Andreas C. |
May 27, 2004 |
Shock absorbing washer for skate wheel mount
Abstract
The invention is a shock absorbing system for an in-line skate
comprising a washer wherein the washer is composed of a rigid
center for insertion of wheel axles surrounded by a resilient
material to provide shock absorption especially while performing
jumps and tricks. The washer can be incorporated into the skate at
the time of manufacture or may be inserted as a post-market
modification.
Inventors: |
Wegener, Andreas C.;
(Encinitas, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWN, MARTIN, HALLER & MCCLAIN LLP
1660 UNION STREET
SAN DIEGO
CA
92101-2926
US
|
Family ID: |
32325029 |
Appl. No.: |
10/303537 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/11.223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 17/0073 20130101;
A63C 17/06 20130101; A63C 17/226 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/011.223 |
International
Class: |
A63C 017/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A shock absorbing washer for an in-line skate wheel mount
comprising: a first member composed of a resilient material and
having opposite end faces and a through bore extending between the
end faces, the first member being of predetermined external
dimensions along at least part of it's length for fitting into a
skate frame wheel mount opening; and a second member comprising a
tube of rigid material secured in said through bore and extending
between said end faces, the tube having a bore for fitting over a
wheel axle.
2. The washer of claim 1, wherein the resilient material is
rubber.
3. The washer of claim 1, wherein the rigid material is selected
from the group consisting of metal and plastic.
4. The washer of claim 3, wherein the metal is aluminum.
5. The washer of claim 1, wherein the first member has a central
axis and the through bore in the first member is eccentrically
positioned relative to the central axis.
6. The washer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member has
an end flange at one end and a boss portion of smaller outer
dimensions than the end flange projecting from said end flange, the
boss portion being adapted for seating in a skate frame wheel mount
opening with said end flange seated against an adjacent surface of
said frame.
7. The washer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said boss portion has
an outer surface of polygonal shape.
8. The washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shape is
substantially square.
9. The washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shape is
substantially octagonal and has sides which are of alternately
longer and shorter length.
10. The washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shape is
substantially an extended octagon.
11. An in-line skate comprising: a frame for attachment to the
underside of a shoe, the frame having a pair of spaced parallel
side walls, each side wall having a series of spaced, wheel mount
openings aligned with corresponding openings in the other side
wall; a series of wheels rotatably mounted between the side walls,
each wheel having a central axle opening aligned with a respective
pair of aligned wheel mount openings; an axle extending through
each wheel axle opening for rotatably mounting the wheel, the axle
having opposite ends extending into the respective aligned wheel
mount openings on opposite sides of the wheel; a washer mounted in
each wheel mount opening having a through bore into which a
respective axle end extends; and axle bolt means securing each
wheel axle in the respective aligned washer through bores; each
washer comprising a first member composed of a resilient material
and having opposite end faces and a through hole extending between
the end faces, the first member being of predetermined external
dimensions for fitting into said respective wheel mount opening,
and a second member comprising a tubular member of rigid material
secured in and extending through said hole, the tubular member
engaging over the respective axle end and defining said through
bore.
12. The in-line skate of claim 11, wherein the resilient material
is rubber.
13. The in-line skate of claim 11, wherein the rigid material is
selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic.
14. The in-line skate of claim 13, wherein the metal is aluminum.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to single track or
in-line roller skates, and is particularly concerned with a shock
absorbing washer for wheel mounts for in-line skates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In-line skates generally have four or five wheels arranged
one after the other in a single line in the running direction. The
wheels are rotatably mounted on a frame or chassis, and the frame
is connected with the sole of the shoe or may be integrated into
the sole of the shoe. An example of a skate of this type is
described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,983. Other examples are
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,278 of Wittman and 5,806,860 of
Conte.
[0003] Typically, the frame of an in-line skate includes a pair of
plates between which the wheels are rotatably mounted. The wheels
are made of hard rubber and are mounted on rigid axle bolts that
attach to the rigid frame in which hard plastic washers are seated.
Due to the rigid nature of the skate, impacts are transferred
through the skate to the joints of the skater. This is especially
the case when tricks are performed such that the skater is landing
from a jump onto one or both feet.
[0004] A number of shock absorbing apparatuses have been developed
to decrease impact and increase skate stability. For example, Oyen
(U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,027) teaches the use of springs or other
resilient materials to allow the wheels of the skate to move
independently in a direction perpendicular to the line of the
center of the wheels thereby decreasing impact. Lund (U.S. Pat. No.
6,322,153) teaches the mounting to the frame of the skate one end
of an arm that can swing in a freely rotating arc with the other
end of the arm attached to the hub of the wheel. The arm is
supported by a spring that pushes the arm away from the skate frame
while providing shock absorption. Similarly, Syrkos (U.S. Pat. No.
6,354,608) and Chang (U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,727) also teach shock
absorbing systems for individual wheels incorporating springs.
Burns (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,823,543 and 6,039,329), Gatel (U.S. Pat.
No. 5,979,916) and Kao (U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,619) all teach
suspension mechanisms in which a single suspension unit is between
the shoe and wheel frame portion of the skate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a new shock
absorbing system for in-line skates.
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an in-line
roller skate is provided, which comprises a shoe, a frame for
attachment to the underside of a shoe, the frame having a pair of
spaced, parallel sidewalls, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted
in a line between the sidewalls, the sidewalls each having openings
therethrough for the insertion of washers, with the openings being
surrounded by an incut portion around the periphery of the opening,
wherein the axles support the wheels with washers inserted into the
openings, the washers having a rigid metal or plastic center
through which the axle is inserted, and an outer member composed of
a resilient material around the rigid center to provide shock
absorbance.
[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the outer member has an outer
surface of polygonal shape and is about the same thickness as the
downwardly directed plates. The rigid metal center extends through
a hole in the outer member and has through bore appropriately sized
to receive a rollerblade axle. One face of the washer has a
circular end flange that is larger than the remainder of the outer
member for engagement against an inner face of a respective
sidewall. This end flange prevents the washer from being pushed
through the openings in the sidewalls. The aluminum or plastic
lining or inner member is sufficiently rigid to support the axle.
However, pressure applied to the aluminum lining is transferred to
the rubber portion of the washer providing shock absorption rather
than being transported through the skate to the wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention will be better understood from the
following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the
invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical skate boot with one wheel
removed for convenience;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2
of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of
FIG. 1, showing the shock absorbing washer installation;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shock absorbing
washer;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of the washer;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a front view of the washer with an extended
octagon boss portion; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a side view of the washer with the extended
octagon boss portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, an in-line
roller skate 10 is provided, which comprises a shoe 16, a frame 12
for attachment to the underside of a shoe 14, the frame 12 having a
pair of spaced, parallel sidewalls 18 and 20, a plurality of wheels
22 rotatably mounted in a line between the sidewalls, the sidewalls
each having openings 24 therethrough for the insertion of washers
26, with the openings being surrounded by an incut portion 28
around the periphery of the opening. Axles 30 are inserted through
the washers 26 to rotatably support the wheels 22. Each axle 30 has
a head 31 at one end, and is threadably secured to axle bolt 50 at
the opposite end to secure the washers and axle between the side
walls 18 and 20. Head 31 seats in recess or cut-out portion 28 on
one side wall, while the head of bolt 50 seats in portion 28 of the
opposite side wall.
[0017] Each washer 26 is formed in two parts comprising an outer
member 36 of resilient material for sealing in a respective opening
24, the member 36 having a through bore 37, and a central tube or
liner 34 of rigid material mounted in through bore 37. The tube 34
suitably has a slightly larger diameter than bore 37, such that it
will force the bore 37 to expand slightly when it is inserted, so
that the tube is gripped in the bore. Alternatively, it may be
secured in position by a suitable adhesive. The resilient material
of member 36 surrounding the metal center will provide shock
absorbance. A resilient material is defined as a flexible material
with shape memory characteristics that deforms under moderate
amounts of pressure, such as those exerted by landing on the wheels
of an in-line skate, and retains or resumes its shape under small
amounts of pressure, such as those generated by standing on the
wheels of an in-line skate. Resilient materials include, but are
not limited to, a variety of natural and synthetic rubbers. Such
materials would be well known to those skilled in the art.
[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the outer member 36 comprises a
generally octagonal boss portion with alternating long and short
sides 38, 40 and a flat, circular end flange 32 which is of larger
dimensions than the octagonal portion. The through bore 42 of
central tube 34 is appropriately sized to receive the rollerblade
axle 30. The washer 26 is inserted through an opening 24 from the
inside, such that face 44 of the circular flange 32 abuts against
the inner surface of the respective side wall as indicated in FIG.
3. This large circular flange prevents the washer from being pushed
through the openings in the sidewalls.
[0019] The inner rigid tube 34 prevents the resilient member 36
from being compressed when the axle bolts 50 are tightened. The
rigid center is composed of any of a number of materials including,
but not limited to metal, such as aluminum, or hard plastic. The
center is sufficiently rigid to support the axle. However, pressure
applied to the aluminum lining is transferred to the resilient
material of the washer providing shock absorption rather than being
transported through the skate to the wearer.
[0020] In a second embodiment, the washer comprises an irregularly
shaped polygonal boss portion, called an extended octagon, as shown
in FIGS. 6 and 7, and a flat, circular end flange which is of a
larger dimension in some directions than the extended octagon boss
portion 52. The extended octagon shape is a combination of the
shape of the washer of the above embodiment with a rectangular
extension on one side that may be wider than a single face of the
octagon. The washer is inserted through the frame with the square
end of the boss portion pointing upwards towards the skate. The
additional resilient material provides additional shock absorbance.
The through bore 54 of central tube 56 is appropriately sized to
receive the rollerblade axle 30. The washer 58 is inserted through
an opening 24, appropriately shaped to receive the washer, from the
inside, such that the face 60 of the circular flange 62 abuts
against the inner surface of the respective side wall as indicated
in FIG. 3. This large circular flange prevents the washer from
being pushed through the opening.
[0021] As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the through bore 37 in
resilient member 36 is eccentrically positioned relative to a
central axis of washer 26. This will allow the wheel position to be
adjusted. Although the member 36 comprises circular end flange 32
and a boss of generally octagonal external shape in the illustrated
embodiment, the boss may be of different external shapes in other
embodiments, such as square, hexagonal, or other flat sided shapes,
or may be of circular or oval shape.
[0022] An advantage of the washer of the instant invention is that
it can be incorporated into the skates at the time of manufacture
or it can readily be integrated into or replaced in the skate post
manufacture. This is not possible with any of the other shock
absorption mechanisms previously described. Prior washers have been
made of rigid plastics, similar to those used for sidewalls and
have no shock absorption properties being made of entirely rigid
materials. The integration of a rigid tube into a through bore in
an otherwise resilient member will prevent the resilient material
from being deformed or squashed when the axle bolt is tightened. At
the same time, the resilient washers will provide smooth skating
and shock absorption when jumping.
[0023] Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been
described above by way of example only, it will be understood by
those skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the
disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope of the
invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *