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.

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.

Claims

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.