U.S. patent application number 10/340316 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-10 for skate wheel cover mounts.
Invention is credited to Armstrong, Jeffery, Baldasare, Daniel Lee, Baldasare, Michael Joseph, Weiss, Thomas Charles.
Application Number | 20040108768 10/340316 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32468900 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040108768 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weiss, Thomas Charles ; et
al. |
June 10, 2004 |
Skate wheel cover mounts
Abstract
A skate wheel axle engages a removable skate wheel mounted on a
rotational bearing support and is held in place by a wheel fastener
such as a nut. A wheel cover mounting receives a wheel cover. The
wheel cover is removably engaged with the cover mounting means by
corresponding first and second part engagement threads.
Inventors: |
Weiss, Thomas Charles;
(Corona, CA) ; Armstrong, Jeffery; (Los Angeles,
CA) ; Baldasare, Michael Joseph; (San Juan
Capistrano, CA) ; Baldasare, Daniel Lee; (Santa Ana,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GENE SCOTT; PATENT LAW & VENTURE GROUP
3140 RED HILL AVENUE
SUITE 150
COSTA MESA
CA
92626-3440
US
|
Family ID: |
32468900 |
Appl. No.: |
10/340316 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10340316 |
Jan 9, 2003 |
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10316624 |
Dec 10, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
301/5.301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 17/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
301/005.301 |
International
Class: |
A63C 017/22 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus comprising in combination: a skate wheel axle;
removable skate wheel; means for rotational bearing support; means
for wheel fastening; means for wheel cover mounting; and a wheel
cover; the skate wheel mounted on the bearing means and the axle
for rotation; the fastening means securing the cover mounting means
and the skate wheel to the axle; and the wheel cover removably
engaged with the cover mounting means by corresponding first part
engagement means interior to the cover mounting means, mating with
second part engagement means exterior to the wheel cover.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second part
engagement means are machine threads.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for wheel cover
mouning is cup shaped, having an aperture for receiving the skate
wheel axle.
4. An apparatus comprising in combination: a skate wheel axle;
removable skate wheel; means for rotational bearing support; means
for wheel fastening; skate wheel insert; and a wheel cover; the
skate wheel mounted on the bearing means and the axle for rotation;
the fastening means securing the skate wheel to the axle; and the
wheel cover removably engaged with the skate wheel insert by
corresponding first part engagement means interior to the skate
wheel insert, mating with second part engagement means exterior to
the wheel cover.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second part
engagement means are machine threads.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the skate wheel insert is
molded into the skate wheel.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the skate wheel insert is
pressed into the skate wheel.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wheel cover provides a
recess for accepting the fastening means, the wheel cover rotating
about the fastening means without interference therewith.
9. An apparatus comprising in combination: a skate wheel axle;
removable skate wheel; means for rotational bearing support; means
for wheel fastening; means for wheel cover mounting; and a wheel
cover; the skate wheel mounted on the bearing means and the axle
for rotation; the fastening means securing the skate wheel and
bearing support means on the wheel axle; the wheel cover removably
engaged with the cover mounting means by corresponding first part
engagement means interior to the cover mounting means, mating with
second part engagement means exterior to the wheel cover.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of a prior filed
and currently pending application having Ser. No. 10/316,624 and
file date of Dec. 10, 2002 and title: Skate Wheel Covers.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and
all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents and
printed matter cited or referred to in this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates generally to wheel cover mounts and
more particularly to wheel cover mounts for skate wheels wherein
wheel covers are able to be attached and detached to skate
wheels.
[0005] 2. Description of Related Art
[0006] The prior art teaches hub cap mounts for decoration and for
covering automobile wheels to prevent debris from entering bearing
and brake assemblies, but does not teach a simple, injection molded
part enabled for easily mounting a skate wheel cover for providing
decoration and enabling the exclusion of debris from the interior
of the skate wheel. The present invention fulfills these needs and
provides further related advantages as described in the following
summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention teaches certain benefits in
construction and use which give rise to the objectives described
below.
[0008] Skate wheels used on skates and skate boards are generally
assembled with bearing sets so as to provide low friction rolling
forces. However, to enable such wheels to be easily replaced,
simple mountings are provided which leave the bearing assemblies
exposed to the elements. The present invention is a means for
better securing the interior of the skate wheel against mud, water
and other debris encountered on street surfaces. In the present
invention, a skate wheel axle engages a removable skate wheel
mounted on a rotational bearing support and is held in place by a
wheel fastener such as a nut. A wheel cover mounting receives a
wheel cover. The wheel cover is removably engaged with the cover
mounting means by corresponding first and second part engagement
threads. In one embodiment, the wheel cover is threaded onto a
threaded insert which may be pressed or molded into the wheel. In
an alternate embodiment, the cover is threaded onto a cup-shaped
fixture held under the nut.
[0009] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides
advantages not taught by the prior art.
[0010] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of
excluding dust and dirt particulate from the interior of a skate
wheel.
[0011] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable
of excluding water from the interior of a skate wheel.
[0012] A still further objective is to provide such an invention
capable of being secured to a skate wheel by threaded engagement of
the invention into an insert molded into the wheel, or by threaded
engagement between the cover and a fixture held under the nut of
the wheel mounting fixture.
[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention.
In such drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention
illustrating a preferred embodiment of a wheel cover mount
thereof;
[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a further
preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 are full vertical cross-sectional views of the
embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectfully, showing means for
mounting wheel covers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention
in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further
defined in detail in the following description.
[0019] The present invention is an apparatus comprising in
combination: a skate wheel 10 is made of a resilient material such
as rubber and provides a through axial bore 30, the bore engaging a
bearing assembly 40. An axle 50 provides a threaded terminal
portion 52. The bearing assembly 40 is fixed onto the threaded
terminal portion 52 by a compression nut 60 so as to functionally
capture the bearing assembly 40 skate wheel 10. As shown in the
figures, the bearing assembly 40, preferably comprises a pair of
spaced-apart circular bearings, each having a revolving race
engaged with the interior wall of the axial bore 30, and in
rotational communion by ball bearings with a non-revolving race
held in place by transaxle compressive forces from nut 60. This
arrangement is well known and in common use for enabling low
friction rotation. A wheel cover 72 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is preferably
made of a plastic material by a molding process. The wheel cover
(or cap) 72 provides a decorative face plate 70, and, extending
axially therefrom, a cylindrical mounting tube 74. The tube 74
provides, in a preferred embodiment, a machine thread 76 on an
exterior surface and is engaged by threaded engagement with the
skate wheel 10. The face plate 70 provides an outside diameter "D"
(FIG. 3) that is greater than the diameter of the axial bore 30.
This enables the wheel cover 72 to fully cover the opening to the
bore 30 so as to deflect mud, water and debris from entering the
bore 30. As stated and shown, the cylindrical mounting tube 74
extends into the axial bore 30 and is engaged within the bore 30
for holding the wheel cap 70 in position as best seen in FIGS. 2
and 3.
[0020] In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention
includes the skate wheel axle 50; removable skate wheel 10; means
for rotational bearing support 40 (bearing assembly); means for
wheel fastening 60; means for wheel cover mounting 20; and the
wheel cover 72. The skate wheel 10 is mounted on the bearing means
40 and the axle 50 for rotation, as previously discussed above. The
fastening means 60, preferably a hex hut, secures the cover
mounting means 20 and the skate wheel to the axle as may be clearly
seen in FIG. 1. The wheel cover 72 is removably engaged with the
cover mounting means 20 by corresponding first part engagement
means 22, interior threads, mating with second part engagement
means 76, exterior threads, of the wheel cover 72. Preferably, the
threads are common machine type threads. Preferably, the means for
wheel cover mouning 20 is cup shaped as shown and has an aperture
24 for receiving the threaded portion of the skate wheel axle
52.
[0021] In a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the
invention includes the same basic parts with the exception that
instead of using the wheel cover mounting means 20 shown in FIG. 1,
a skate wheel insert 20' is used, as shown in FIG. 2. This insert
20' is preferably made of a strong and tough material such as metal
or hard plastic and is either molded into or pressed into the wheel
10. In this embodiment, the insert 20' provides internal threads
22' which engage those of the wheel cover, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0022] In both of the described embodiments, the wheel cover 72
provides a recess 78 for accepting the fastening means 60, the
wheel cover 72 in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 4, rotating about
the fastening means 60 without interference therewith, i.e., the
recess 78 is large enough to avoid contact with fastening means
60.
[0023] While the invention has been described with reference to at
least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by
those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto.
Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in
conjunction with the appended claims.
* * * * *