US 5,411,320 A · Wheels that provide lateral friction on ice

Abstract

The "WHEELS THAT PROVIDE LATERAL FRICTION ON ICE" consists of a wheel with a set of grooves around its outer exterior circumference. Said outer exterior circumference may be either flat or angled as viewed from a point perpendicular to the center of the axis of the wheel. The width of the grooves and/or the distance between the grooves may vary dependent upon design criteria such as diameter, width and weight load for the specific application of the wheel. The shaping of the contact surface of the wheel and the sharpening of its edges shall be done in such a manner as to reduce the physical contact with the ice so that the pressure of the wheels forms a deep enough groove or set of grooves in the ice that enable the development of sufficient lateral friction. The outer exterior circumference of the wheel shall be made of a material that is sufficiently harder than the ice so as to maintain the shape of the contact surface and the degree of sharpness of the edges.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A wheel for a roller skate for use on a surface of ice comprising:

a hub portion and an outer circumferential ice-engaging surface;
said circumferential ice-engaging surface comprising a plurality of circumferential contact means and at least one circumferential relief groove disposed between said contact surfaces;
said circumferential contact means being configured to reduce the area of contact with the ice and to form a groove in the ice surface deep enough to develop lateral friction between the ice surface and the wheel;
said wheel being made of a material that is substantially harder than ice;
said circumferential contact means being arranged on said outer circumferential ice-engaging surface of the wheel such that at least two of said contact means are in contact with the ice surface when said wheel is perpendicular to the ice and also when said wheel is at a predetermined angle from the perpendicular to the ice.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wheels that provide lateral friction on ice

Life of this patent

Wheels that provide lateral friction on ice

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6