US7108331B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Generation of in-line skates and skate-boards with safety “EDGING FRICTION CONTROL™”
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2005-01-27
•
Granted: 2006-09-19
•
Expires: 2025-01-27
Abstract
Abstract The invention discloses a technology to safely control speed and brake on in-line skates using a ski-like technique, wherein in-line skate wheels can rotate both vertically and at an angle. When angled (or “canted”) the wheels contact a friction strip within the wheel frame or a friction disk on the axle. The friction caused by the angled wheels contacting friction strips or friction disks is comparable to the canted “edging friction control” action of skis. The novel means that allows both vertical and angular rotation is a cohesive 2-element plastic hub shown in FIG's 1– C & D. The inner element 2 a has a convex perimeter and fits inside outer element 2' s convex bore, allowing 2 a to rotate freely within outer element 2 . Within inner element 2 a are axle bearings 5 or 9 and axle 8 . External elastomer springs 7 a or internal elastomer spring 7 b keep each wheel in a vertical coasting position. When in the canting (edging) position for control and braking, the self-aligning “springs” ( 7 a or 7 b ) force the canted wheels back into the vertical coasting (gliding) position. Since the self-aligning elastomer “springs” can be made soft to hard and be interchangeably arranged, the skates can effectively have models that would satisfy a beginner to a pro.
Inventors
- 👤 Myron Stuart Hurwitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:02
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63C; A63C17/00; A63C17/14; A63C17/1409; A63C17/1427; A63C17/0066; A63C17/22; A63C17/223; F; F16; F16C; F16C23/00; A63C17/04; A63C17/06; F16C2316/00; F16C2316/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A wheel assembly comprising: at least one wheel member, roller bearing structure permitting the wheel member to rotate about an axle with respect to a vertical axis, canting structure constructed and arranged to permit the wheel member to rotate about the axle at an angle with respect to the vertical axis, and elastomer structure constructed and arranged to bias the wheel member in opposing directions towards the vertical axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A wheel assembly comprising: at least one wheel member, roller bearing structure permitting the wheel member to rotate about an axle with respect to a vertical axis, canting structure constructed and arranged to permit the wheel member to rotate about the axle at an angle with respect to the vertical axis, and elastomer structure constructed and arranged to bias the wheel member in opposing directions towards the vertical axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the canting structure is a wheel hub component comprised of an outer hub element and an inner hub element, the inner hub element being received in a bore of the outer hub element such that the inner hub element rotates about an axle with respect to the vertical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wheel assembly of claim 2 , wherein the roller bearing structure includes at least one roller ball bearing in a bore of the inner hub element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wheel assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the inner and outer hub elements of the canting structure is composed of plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wheel assembly of claim 4 , wherein the wheel member is disposed about the outer hub element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer spring structure comprises a first member disposed on one side of the vertical axis and a second elastomer member disposed the other side of the vertical axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wheel assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second elastomer members is a urethane disk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wheel member has an axle axis transverse with respect to the vertical axis, and the elastomer spring structure comprises a generally circular member disposed about the vertical axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wheel assembly of claim 8 , wherein the generally circular spring structure is a urethane member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wheel member is configured for use as one of a wheel for an in-line skate, a downhill in-line ski and a downhill in-line skateboard.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
The wheel assembly of claim 6 , in combination with an in-line skate having an axle, the wheel assembly being coupled to the axle for rotation thereabout via the roller bearing structure, the wheel assembly being disposed within a wheel frame of the in-line skate, the skate wheel frame having friction members operatively associated with wheel member, such that when the wheel member rotates at a certain angle with respect to the vertical axis, a portion of the wheel member contacts a friction member within the skate wheel frame to cause slowing down and braking of the wheel member and wherein the angled wheel member is forced back to the vertical axis by said elastomer spring structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
The wheel assembly of claim 8 , in combination with an in-line roller skate having an axle, the wheel assembly being coupled to the axle for rotation thereabout via the roller bearing structure, wherein friction members are fixed to the axle and friction structure of the wheel assembly is associated with the friction members, such that when the wheel member rotates at a certain angle with respect to the vertical axis, a friction structure contacts a friction member to cause slowing down and braking of the wheel member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A wheel assembly comprising: at least one wheel member, roller bearing structure permitting the wheel member to rotate about an axle with respect to a vertical axis, canting structure constructed and arranged to permit the wheel member to rotate about the axle at an angle with respect to the vertical axis, and elastomer spring structure constructed and arranged within canting structure to bias the wheel member in opposing directions towards the vertical axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A wheel assembly comprising: at least one wheel member, roller bearing structure permitting the wheel member to rotate about an axle with respect to a vertical axis, canting structure constructed and arranged to permit the wheel member to rotate about the axle at an angle with respect to the vertical axis, and elastomer spring structure constructed and arranged within canting structure to bias the wheel member in opposing directions towards the vertical axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
The wheel assembly of claim 13 , wherein the canting structure is a wheel hub component comprised of an outer hub element and an inner hub element, the inner hub element being received in a bore of the outer hub element such that the inner hub element rotates with respect to the vertical axis and wherein said elastomer spring is a ring member within a channeled recess that is centered and between said outer and inner hub elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wheel assembly of claim 14 , wherein the ring member is a urethane ring member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wheel assembly of claim 14 , wherein the roller bearing structure includes at least one roller ball bearing in a bore of the inner hub element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wheel assembly of claim 14 , wherein each of the inner and outer hub elements of the canting structure is composed of plastic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wheel assembly of claim 13 , wherein the wheel member is disposed about the outer hub element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
181 words
The wheel assembly of claim 14 , being coupled to the axle for rotation thereabout via the canting structured hub, wherein fixed friction disk structure is provided and comprise a first fixed friction disk disposed on one side of the vertical axis and on the axle and a second fixed friction disk disposed on the other side of the vertical axis and on the axle and wherein the outer hub element of the wheel assembly is associated with said friction disks, such that when the wheel member rotates at a certain angle with respect to the vertical axis, the outer hub element contacts a fixed friction disk at the top of the disk on one side of the vertical axis, and said outer hub element simultaneously contacts the bottom side of a fixed friction disk disposed the other side of the vertical axis to cause slowing down and braking of the wheel member and wherein the angled roller member is forced back to the vertical axis by said ring member within the inner and outer hub elements of the canting structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wheel assembly of claim 14 , wherein the outer hub element has a friction rim element bonded onto the surface of its core at each underside end.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The wheel assembly of claim 19 , wherein each said fixed friction disk has a friction surface element bonded to its perimeter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wheel assembly of claim 19 , wherein the wheel member is configured for use as a wheel for an in-line skate, a downhill in-line ski and a downhill in-line skateboard.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
A spherical bearing assembly comprising: an outer element defining a vertical axis and having a bore there-through, an inner element mounted in the bore of the outer element to permit inclined rotation of the inner element with respect to the vertical axis, and spring structure constructed and arranged to bias the inner element towards the vertical axis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
A spherical bearing assembly comprising: an outer element defining a vertical axis and having a bore there-through, an inner element mounted in the bore of the outer element to permit inclined rotation of the inner element with respect to the vertical axis, and spring structure constructed and arranged to bias the inner element towards the vertical axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bearing assembly of claim 23 , wherein each of the outer and inner elements are composed of plastic.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bearing assembly of claim 23 , wherein each of the outer and inner elements are composed of metal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spherical bearing assembly of claim 23 , wherein the spring structure is a generally curved elastomer ring member concentrically located within and between said outer and inner elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spherical bearing assembly of claim 23 , wherein the spring structure is a multiple coil member composed of metal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spherical bearing assembly of claim 27 , wherein the spring structure is an elastomer multiple coil member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spherical bearing assembly of claim 23 , wherein the spring structure is an accordion pleated elastomer member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spherical bearing assembly of claim 29 , wherein the accordion pleated elastomer member is reinforced by an integral coil member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
69 words
A wheel assembly comprising: at least one wheel member, roller bearing structure permitting the wheel member to rotate about an axle with respect to a vertical axis, canting structure constructed and arranged to permit the wheel member to rotate about the axle at an angle with respect to the vertical axis, and biasing structure constructed and arranged to bias the wheel member in opposing directions towards the vertical axis.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
69 words
A wheel assembly comprising: at least one wheel member, roller bearing structure permitting the wheel member to rotate about an axle with respect to a vertical axis, canting structure constructed and arranged to permit the wheel member to rotate about the axle at an angle with respect to the vertical axis, and biasing structure constructed and arranged to bias the wheel member in opposing directions towards the vertical axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-09-18 | 2010-03-20 | 2010-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-09-18 | 2014-03-20 | 2014-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-09-18 | 2018-03-20 | 2018-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |