Patent US5733015A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5733015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel with a semi-permanently enclosed annular material
Assignee: Bravo Sports Corp
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Filing: 1995-12-04
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Granted: 1998-03-31
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Expires: 2015-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A wheel, preferably adaptable for use with a skate, is provided having a semi-permanent stiffness-modulating insert. The wheel comprises a toroidal wheel component having a hollow toroidal core which can be filled with a stiffness-modulating material. The wheel is split along a line from the inner circumference of the toroidal wheel component to the inner circumference of the core so as to allow for insertion of the stiffness-modulating material. The toroidal wheel component is preferably molded with the split edges slightly spaced apart from each other. In use the edges are held together in abutment with each other or with a toroidal spacer placed between them, preferably by wheel hubs engaging with each other and with the toroidal wheel component of the wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H. Demarest
- 👤 Paul C. Jensen
- 👤 Gerard F. Lutz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:15
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/36; A; A63; A63C; A63C17/00; A63C17/22; A63C17/24; B29C65/00; B29C65/56; B29C65/565; B29D; B29D23/00; B29D23/24; B29D30/00; B29D30/04; B60; B60B; B60B5/00; B60B5/02; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/709; B29L2031/7096; B29L2031/7102; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10279; Y10T152/10378; Y10T152/10387; Y10T152/10396
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A wheel assembly comprising: (a) a toroidal wheel component having a Shore hardness between about 70 A and about 95 A formed of a single integral piece having a lateral outer surface and a medial outer surface, which is adapted during use to define a hollow toroidal core, said toroidal wheel component adapted to have, during use, an outer circumference for rolling on a surface, and an inner circumference adapted to contact a wheel hub, and said hollow toroidal core having an outer circumference radially displaced from the outer circumference of said component and adapted to have, during use, an inner circumference radially displaced from the inner circumference of said component, wherein said component is discontinuous between said component inner circumference and said toroidal core inner circumference and has a toroidal lateral inner edge displaced from the lateral outer surface and a toroidal medial inner edge displaced from the medial outer surface, which edges which are adapted, during use, to lie parallel to each other; and (b) a replaceable toroidal component comprising a stiffness-modulating material inserted into said toroidal hollow core in use; and (c) wherein said replaceable toroidal component is selected from a group of components having varying stiffness modulating properties in order to change the resiliency of the wheel assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A wheel assembly comprising: (a) a toroidal wheel component having a Shore hardness between about 70 A and about 95 A formed of a single integral piece having a lateral outer surface and a medial outer surface, which is adapted during use to define a hollow toroidal core, said toroidal wheel component adapted to have, during use, an outer circumference for rolling on a surface, and an inner circumference adapted to contact a wheel hub, and said hollow toroidal core having an outer circumference radially displaced from the outer circumference of said component and adapted to have, during use, an inner circumference radially displaced from the inner circumference of said component, wherein said component is discontinuous between said component inner circumference and said toroidal core inner circumference and has a toroidal lateral inner edge displaced from the lateral outer surface and a toroidal medial inner edge displaced from the medial outer surface, which edges which are adapted, during use, to lie parallel to each other; and (b) a replaceable toroidal component comprising a stiffness-modulating material inserted into said toroidal hollow core in use; and (c) wherein said replaceable toroidal component is selected from a group of components having varying stiffness modulating properties in order to change the resiliency of the wheel assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
A skate wheel comprising the wheel assembly of claim 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wheel of claim 2 also comprising a spacer between said toroidal lateral inner edge and said toroidal medial inner edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The wheel of claim 2 also comprising a lateral bearing hub abutting at least a portion of the lateral outer surface of said component and a medial bearing hub abutting at least a portion of the medial outer surface of said component, said hubs comprising means for engaging with each other, whereby said lateral inner edge and said medial inner edge are held parallel to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The wheel of claim 4 wherein said lateral outer surface of said component comprises means for engaging said lateral surface with said lateral bearing hub and said medial outer surface of said component comprises means for engaging said medial outer surface with said medial bearing hub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the toroidal wheel component formed of a single integral piece is made from polyurethane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wheel of claim 2 comprising a toroidal container disposed within said hollow core, containing a gas at greater than ambient pressure enclosed within said toroidal container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The wheel of claim 2 wherein said stiffness-modulating material is a non-compressible liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The wheel of claim 2 wherein said stiffness-modulating material is a polymeric foam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The wheel of claim 2 wherein said stiffness-modulating material is metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method for molding a toroidal wheel component of claim 1 comprising: a) providing a mold having a shape corresponding to said toroidal wheel component wherein said medial and lateral edges are spread apart from each other; b) inducing a moldable material into said mold; c) allowing said material to harden in said mold; d) removing said hardened material from said mold whereby said hardened material has the shape of said toroidal wheel component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said moldable material is a plastic induced into said mold by injection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said moldable material is a liquid material induced into said mold by pouring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising: aligning the lateral and medial edges of said toroidal wheel component in abutment; and maintaining said lateral and medial edges in abutment by engaging hub means with said component whereby said medial edges are held in abutment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising inserting a stiffness-modulating material into the space adapted to define said toroidal hollow core.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising: placing an insert into abutment with the lateral and medial edges of said component; and engaging with said component means for maintaining said lateral and medial edges in abutment with said spacer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising inserting a stiffness-modulating material into the space adapted to define said toroidal hollow core.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method for modulating the stiffness of a wheel of claim 1 comprising: a) inserting a stiffness-modulating material into said hollow toroidal core; and b) bringing said toroidal medial inner edge and said toroidal lateral edge into abutment with each other or with a spacer and maintaining said edges in said abutment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 18 comprising first removing a first stiffness-modulating material from said hollow core, prior to inserting the stiffness-modulating material of step a) wherein said inserted stiffness-modulating material has a different stiffness from said first stiffness-modulating material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
213 words
A wheel assembly comprising: (a) a toroidal wheel component having a Shore hardness between about 70 A and about 95 A formed of a single integral piece having a lateral outer surface and a medial outer surface, which is adapted during use to define a hollow toroidal core, said toroidal wheel component adapted to have, during use, an outer circumference for rolling on a surface, and an inner circumference adapted to contact a wheel hub, and said hollow toroidal core having an outer circumference radially displace from the outer circumference of said component and adapted to have, during use, an inner circumference radially displaced from the inner circumference of said component, wherein said component is discontinuous between said component inner circumference and said toroidal core inner circumference and has a toroidal lateral inner edge displaced from the lateral outer surface and a toroidal medial inner edge displaced from the medial outer surface; and (b) a toroidal spacer lying between and in continuous abutment with said edges; and (c) a replaceable toroidal component comprising a stiffness-modulating material inserted into said toroidal hollow core in use; and (d) wherein said replaceable toroidal component is selected from a group of components having varying stiffness modulating properties in order to change the resiliency of the wheel assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
213 words
A wheel assembly comprising: (a) a toroidal wheel component having a Shore hardness between about 70 A and about 95 A formed of a single integral piece having a lateral outer surface and a medial outer surface, which is adapted during use to define a hollow toroidal core, said toroidal wheel component adapted to have, during use, an outer circumference for rolling on a surface, and an inner circumference adapted to contact a wheel hub, and said hollow toroidal core having an outer circumference radially displace from the outer circumference of said component and adapted to have, during use, an inner circumference radially displaced from the inner circumference of said component, wherein said component is discontinuous between said component inner circumference and said toroidal core inner circumference and has a toroidal lateral inner edge displaced from the lateral outer surface and a toroidal medial inner edge displaced from the medial outer surface; and (b) a toroidal spacer lying between and in continuous abutment with said edges; and (c) a replaceable toroidal component comprising a stiffness-modulating material inserted into said toroidal hollow core in use; and (d) wherein said replaceable toroidal component is selected from a group of components having varying stiffness modulating properties in order to change the resiliency of the wheel assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wheel assembly of claim 20 wherein said stiffness-modulating material disposed within said hollow toroidal core has a hardness greater than that of said toroidal wheel component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The wheel assembly of claim 20 wherein component (a) is made of rubber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The wheel assembly of claim 20 wherein component (a) is made from polyurethane elastomer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The wheel assembly of claim 20 wherein said stiffness-modulating material is metal.
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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) | 2001-03-30 | 2001-09-29 | 2002-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-30 | 2005-09-29 | 2006-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-30 | 2009-09-29 | 2010-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |