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.

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.

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.