In-line roller skate fastening system and method of assembling the same

A method for assembling an in-line roller skate using a fastening system and a fastening tool means, wherein said roller skate includes:

• a boot and a frame attached thereto, said frame including a first and a second side rail each having first and second sides and said rails mutually facing each other and defining respective inside rail surfaces therebetween, each said side rail having an axle aperture;
• a wheel having a wheel axle bore;
• a wheel axle comprising a bolt having a shaft and having a bolt head at one end of said shaft configured to receive the fastening tool means and a threaded bolt end disposed at the other end of said shaft, said wheel axle being received within said wheel axle bore and rotatably mounting said wheel;
• a fastening plug including a collar and a lug, said lug configured for mateable reception by said first side rail axle aperture, said collar extending radially outward from said lug to bear against said first side rail, said plug including an axle bore configured to receive said wheel axle;
• and
• a snap cover assembly, said assembly including
• a threaded fastener to receive said threaded bolt end of said shaft;
• an anchor including an anchor rim and an anchor lug, said anchor lug configured for mateable reception by said first side rail axle aperture, said anchor including a receptacle configured to receive said threaded fastener and retain said fastener in a non-rotational condition and further including an anchor axle bore for receiving said axle;
• and
• a snap cover adapted to be yieldably snap fitted to said anchor to cover said fastener;
• said method comprising the steps of inserting said fastening plug into said first side rail axle aperture from said first side thereof such that said collar bears against said inside rail surface thereof;
• inserting said anchor into said first side rail axle aperture from said second side of said first side rail;
• inserting said fastener into said receptacle;
• placing said wheel between said first and second side rails such that said axle apertures, said wheel axle bore, said plug axle bore, and said anchor axle bore are substantially aligned with each other;
• inserting said axle through said second rail and along said aligned axle apertures and said wheel axle bore, said plug axle bore and said anchor axle bore;
• threading said axle into said fastener using the fastening tool means;
• and
• attaching said snap cover to said anchor.

A fastening system for attaching a wheel to an in-line roller skate having a frame including first and second side rails, at least said first side rail having a predetermined thickness t, said side rails being provided for mounting therebetween at least one wheel having a wheel axle bore and each said side rail having an axle aperture, said first side rail aperture having a substantially eccentric configuration, said fastening system comprising:

• a wheel axle comprising a bolt having a shaft and having a bolt head at one end of said shaft configured to receive a fastening tool means and a threaded bolt end disposed at the other end of said shaft, said wheel axle being received within said wheel axle bore and rotatably mounting said wheel;
• a fastening plug including a collar and a lug, said lug configured for mateable reception by said eccentric axle aperture in said first side rail, said lug being inserted into said eccentric axle aperture from a first direction, said collar extending radially outward from said lug to bear against said first side rail, said lug having a thickness t.sub.lug that is less than said thickness t, said plug including an axle bore configured to receive said wheel axle;
• and
• a snap cover assembly, said assembly including an anchor including an anchor rim and an anchor lug, said anchor lug configured for mateable reception by said eccentric axle aperture in said first side rail, said anchor lug being inserted into said eccentric axle aperture from a second direction opposite to said first direction, said anchor lug having a thickness t.sub.Anchor that is less than said thickness t, said anchor rim defined in part by an inner surface for bearing against said first side rail, an outer surface, and at least one outer side surface extending between said inner surface and said outer surface, said anchor including an anchor axle bore coaxial with said axle bore for receiving said axle;
• and
• a snap cover adapted to be yieldably snap fitted to said anchor, said snap cover comprising a top portion and a peripheral snap cover rim integral with said top portion, said snap cover including means for attaching said snap cover to said anchor.

A fastening system for attaching a wheel to an in-line roller skate, and in-line roller skate having a frame including first and second side rails each having a predetermined thickness t, said side rails being provided for mounting therebetween at least one wheel having a wheel axle bore and each side rail including an axle aperture, said axle aperture of said first side rail including a first mating portion and a second mating portion, said fastening system comprising:

• a wheel axle comprising a bolt having a shaft and having a bolt head at one end of said shaft configured to receive a fastening tool means and a threaded bolt end disposed at the other end of said shaft, said wheel axle being received within said wheel axle bore and rotatably mounting said wheel;
• a fastening plug including a collar and a lug, said lug configured for mateable reception by said first mating portion of said first side rail axle aperture, said lug being inserted into said axle aperture first mating portion form a first direction, said collar extending radially outward from said lug to bear against said first side rail, said lug having a thickness t.sub.lug that is less than said thickness t, said plug including an axle bore configured to receive said wheel axle;
• and
• a snap cover assembly, said assembly including:
• a nut;
• an anchor including an anchor rim and an anchor lug, said anchor lug configured for mateable reception by said second mating portion of said first side rail axle aperture, said anchor lug being inserted into said second mating portion from a second direction opposite to said first direction, said second mating portion and said anchor lug having a non-circular configuration to prevent rotation of said anchor with respect to said axle aperture, said anchor lug having a thickness t.sub.anchor that is less than said thickness t, said anchor rim define din part by an inner surface for beating against said first side rail, an outer surface including a receptacle configured to receive said nut and prevent rotation thereof, and at least one outer side surface extending between said inner surface and said outer surface, said anchor including an anchor axle bore coaxial with said receptacle for receiving said axle;
• and
• a snap cove adapted to be yieldably snap fitted to said anchor to cover said nut when said nut is received within said receptacle, said snap cover comprising a top portion and a peripheral snap cover rim integral with said top portion, said snap cover rim having an internal snap fit groove defined therein for receiving said anchor rim.

A fastening system for attaching a wheel to an in-line roller skate, said in-line roller skate having a frame including first and second side rails, said first side rail having a predetermined thickness t, said side rails being provided for mounting therebetween at least one wheel having a wheel axle bore and each said rial having an axle aperture, said first side rail axle aperture having a substantially eccentric configuration, said fastening system comprising:

• a wheel axle comprising a bolt having a shaft and having a bolt head at one end of said shaft configured to receive a fastening tool means and a threaded bolt end disposed at the other end of said shaft, said wheel axle being received within said wheel axle bore and rotatably mounting said wheel;
• a snap cover assembly, said assembly including:
• an anchor including means for receiving and retaining said threaded bolt end, an anchor rim, and an anchor lug, said anchor lug configured for mateable reception by said axle aperture in said first side rail, said anchor lug being inserted into said axle aperture from a first direction, said anchor lug having a thickness t.sub.anchor that is less than said thickness t, said anchor rim defined in part by an inner surface for bearing against said side rail, an outer surface, and at least one outer side surface extending therebetween;
• and
• a snap cover adapted to be yieldably snap fitted to said anchor, said snap cover comprising a top portion and a peripheral snap cover rim integral with said top portion, said snap cover including means for attaching said snap cover to said anchor.

A fastening system for attaching a wheel to an in-line roller skate, said in-line roller skate having a frame including first and second side rails, each side rail having an axle aperture, said side rails being provided for mounting therebetween at least one wheel having a wheel axle bore, said fastening system comprising:

• a wheel axle comprising a bolt having a shaft and having a bolt head at one end of said shaft configured to receive a fastening tool means, and a threaded bolt end disposed at the other end of said shaft;
• a cover assembly, said assembly including:
• an anchor having an inner surface for bearing against said first side rail, said anchor further including means for receiving and retaining said wheel axle;
• and means for preventing rotation of said cover assembly relative to said first side rail,
• wherein said means for preventing rotation includes:
• an anchor lug integral with said anchor, said anchor lug configured for mateable reception by said first side rail axle aperture, said anchor lug being inserted into said axle aperture of said first side rail from a first direction, said first side rail having a thickness t and said anchor lug having a thickness t.sub.anchor that is less than said thickness t, wherein said anchor lug and said first side rail axle aperture have non-circular configurations;
• whereby said axle aperture and said anchor lug cooperate with each other to prevent rotation of said cover assembly and said wheel is attached to said skate by inserting said wheel axle through said axle aperture of said first side rail, through said wheel axle bore, and through said axle aperture of said second side rail, and them by attaching said threaded bolt end of said bolt to said anchor such that said threaded bolt end is received and retained by

A fastening system for attaching a wheel to an in-line roller skate, said in-line roller skate having a frame including first and second side rails, each side rail having an axle aperture, said side rails being provided for mounting therebetween at least one wheel having a wheel axle bore,

• said fastening system comprising;
• a wheel axle comprising a bolt having a shaft and having a bolt head at one end of said shaft configured to receive a fastening tool means, and a threaded bolt end disposed at the other end of said shaft;
• a cover assembly, said assembly including:
• an anchor having an inner surface for bearing against said first side rail, said anchor further including means for receiving and retaining said wheel axle;
• and means for preventing rotation of said cover assembly relative to said first side rail,
• wherein said means for receiving and retaining said axle comprises:
• said anchor being made of a synthetic material and having an anchor axle bore having a diameter less than the diameter of said threaded bolt end such that said threaded axle bolt end cuts threads into said anchor axle bore as said wheel axle bolt is screwed into said anchor axle bore;
• whereby said wheel is attached to said skate by inserting said wheel axle through said axle aperture of said first side rail, through said wheel axle bore, and through said axle aperture of said second side rail, and then by attaching said threaded bolt end of said bolt to said anchor such that said threaded bolt end is received and retained by said anchor and said wheel axle is received within said wheel axle bore and rotatably mounts said wheel.

A method for assembling

• an in-line roller skate using a fastening system and a fastening tool means;
• said in-line roller skate comprising a boot and a frame attached thereto, said frame including first and second side rails for mounting a wheel therebetween, said wheel having a wheel axle bore, each said side rail having first and second sides, said rails mutually facing each other and defining respective inside rail surface therebetween, and each said side rail having an axle aperture;
• said fastening system comprising;
• a wheel axle comprising a bolt having a shaft and having a bolt head at one end of said shaft configured to receive the fastening tool means, and a threaded bolt end disposed at the other end of said shaft;
• a fastening plug including a collar and a lug, said lug configured for mateable reception by said first side rail axle aperture, said collar extending radially outward from said lug to bear against said first side rail, said plug including an axle bore configured to receive said wheel axle;
• a cover assembly, said assembly including an anchor having an inner surface for bearing against said first side rail and means for receiving and retaining said axle;
• and
• means for preventing rotation of said cover assembly relative to said side rails;
• wherein said means for preventing rotation includes:
• an anchor lug integral with said anchor, said anchor lug configured for mateable reception by and inserted into said axle aperture of said first side rail from a first direction, said first side rail having a thickness t, and said anchor lug having a thickness t.sub.anchor that is less than said thickness t, said anchor lug and said first side rail axle aperture having non-circular configurations, said axle aperture and said anchor lug cooperating with each other to prevent rotation of said cover assembly;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• inserting said fastening plug into said first side rail axle aperture from said first side thereof such that said collar bears against said inside rail surface thereof;
• inserting said anchor lug into said first side rail axle aperture from said second side of said first side rail;
• placing said wheel between said first and second side rails such that said axle apertures, said wheel axle bore, and said plug axle bore are aligned with each other;
• inserting said axle through said second side rail and along said aligned axle apertures, said wheel axle bore, and said plug axle bore;
• and
• attaching said threaded end of said wheel axle to said anchor by turning said axle with said fastening tool means such that said receiving and retaining means engages said threaded end.