Machine skates with pneumatic wheels
The present invention generally relates to machine skate wheels, and particularly to wheels of the type utilizing a pneumatic tire.
There are two basic types of wheels for machine skates, including the solid wheel and the pneumatic wheels. Disclose conventional machine skates of the in-line type and double-line type, respectively, which are provided with solid wheels formed of rubber, plastic or other appropriate material. Because of the solid wheel construction, these skates often cause discomfort to skaters, particularly when they are performing maneuvers, such as jumping or other high impact movements, which transmit vibrations from the ground directly to their feet Such skating requires a high level of skill in order to avoid injuries to the feet from shock, which often causes sprains. However, to most skaters, such discomfort and injuries are almost unavoidable.
In order to mitigate the drawbacks of solid wheels, it is known to provide machine skates with wheels formed from pneumatic wheels. Wheels of this type serve as cushions with a shock-absorbing function, an example of which is disclosed by the Taiwan Patent Application Publication No. 81215017. Pneumatic wheels provide greater comfort to the skater and the pressure of the tire may be adjusted to vary skating acceleration. Since a pneumatic wheel is lighter than a comparable solid wheel, the overall weight of the skate is reduced, particularly if the skate requires four or more wheels.
The tire of a pneumatic machine skate wheel is installed on a wheel rim in a manner similar to the tires of conventional vehicles, such as automobiles or motorcycles. Such vehicle tires are constructed to resist deformation under pressure and thereby assure safety while the vehicle is moving straight or around a turn. However, because machine skates are subjected to a greater variety of movements, such as jumping, accelerating and landing on the ground at various angles, there exits the possibility that the tire may fall off the wheel rim and thereby cause injury to the skater. Moreover, a skater can travel at a speed of around 30-40 miles per hour, a speed which is quite high and imparts a rolling speed to the wheels that is at least five times that of automobile or motorcycle wheels. When skate wheels roll at this high speed, the centrifugal force generated may result in deforming the pneumatic tire of the machine skates wheel and pose potential danger to the operator.
SUMMARY
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cushioned wheel assembly for machine skates which provides a shock buffering and absorbing function during skating.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved machine skate wheel assembly having a pneumatic tire which resists deformation and detachment from the wheel rim during all skating movements, thereby enhancing safety to the operator.
These and other objects of the invention are realized by providing an improved skate wheel assembly which includes an annular bearing frame defined by an inner circumferential bearing seat, an outer circumferential tire rim and a radially extending circumferential bridge portion connecting the bearing seat and wheel rim. A pneumatic tire is mounted on the tire rim and an outer covering layer is molded around the tire and bearing frame to form an integrated wheel assembly. A plurality of bearings are installed in a central circular passage defined by the bearing seat and a wheel shaft is rotatably supported through the bearings.
Further embodiments of the invention include providing the outer covering layer with a reinforcing filler material, providing the tire with circumferentially spaced annular grooves which may also be provided with reinforcing filler material, mounting the tire to a sectionalized tire rim whereby substantially the entire tire is exposed in the wheel assembly, and providing the tire with a check valve for inflating the same.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
A machine skate wheel includes a gas-filled tire tube that is secured to the tire rim of a bearing frame by molding a cover layer around the tube and frame to form an integrated wheel assembly which provides buffering and shock-absorbing functions during skating.
a) and annular-shaped bearing frame including a tire rim, a bearing seat having a central passage therethrough for receiving a bearing and wheel shaft assembly, and a bridge portion connecting the tire rim and bearing seat, the bridge portion including a plurality of spaced holes formed therein;
b) a tire element mounted on the tire rim;
c) a combination comprising a cover layer molded around the tire element, the combination being further engaged within the spaced holes of the bridge portion to form a strong integrated wheel assembly comprised of the bearing frame, bridge portion, tire element and cover layer.
2. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the cover layer includes a filler material embedded therein for imparting structural strength to the wheel assembly.
3. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the tire tube is filled with at least a non-air molecular gas.
4. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the tire tube includes a check valve for introducing a pressurized fluid into the tube.
5. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 4 wherein the check valve is made of resilient material.
6. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 4 further including a valve seat provided on the tire tube and the check valve is a one-way valve secured to the valve seat.
7. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 1 further including means for balancing the rotation of the wheel assembly.
8. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein the balancing means includes a plurality of spaced recesses on opposite sides of the wheel assembly and a filler assembly disposed within the recesses.
9. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the tire tube includes a plurality of spaced annular grooves.
10. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 9 further including a filler material disposed within the annular grooves for enhancing the structural strength of the tube.
11. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the tire tube is pre-pressurized with a fluid prior to the molding of the cover layer therearound.
12. The machine skates wheel assembly of claim 11 wherein the fluid includes at least a non-air molecular gas.
13. A skate wheel assembly comprising:
a) an annular-shaped bearing frame including a tire rim, a bearing seat having a central passage therethrough for receiving a bearing and wheel shaft assembly and a bridge portion connecting the tire rim and bearing seat, the bridge portion including a plurality of spaced holes formed therein;
b) a tire element mounted on the tire rim;
c) a cover layer molded around the tire element, the tire rim, the bridge portion and into the spaced holes of the bridge portion to form a strong integrated wheel assembly comprised of the bearing frame, tire element and cover layer.
Description