In-line roller skates having quick-release axle system

Abstract

A quick-release type axle system for in-line skates is disclosed. A pair of axle shafts cooperate with each other to support a wheel between a pair of frames. A release pin is inserted into a central bore formed through the axle shafts to lock the axle shafts relative to each other. In one embodiment, the release pin is pulled outwardly to release the axle shafts from the locked configuration, whereas in another embodiment, the release pin is pushed inwardly to achieve unlocking of the axle shafts. In some embodiments, a pair of release pins are used to achieve the quick-release mechanism of the present invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An axle system for use in an in-line skate having a plurality of wheels rotatably supported by a pair of wheel bearings disposed between a pair of spaced apart frame rails, said axle system having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration and comprising: 
 a pair of axle shafts for passage through said frame rails and one of said wheels for rotatable supporting said wheel between said frame rails along a rotational axis, and at least one of said pair of axle shafts having a bore formed therethrough along said rotational axis; and    a release pin for insertion into said bore and releasably locking said axles shafts relative to each other when arranged in said locked configuration to prevent said axle shafts from disengaging from said wheel during skating, and for releasing said axle shafts from said wheel when arranged in said unlocked configuration.    
     
     
         2 . The axle system of  claim 1 , wherein said release pin is spring biased within said bore to a predetermined locking position which locks said axle shafts relative to each other when arranged in said locking configuration.  
     
     
         3 . The axle system of  claim 2 , which further comprises a plurality of balls arranged within at least one said axle shaft for engagement with said release pin so as to interlock said axle shafts in said locked configuration.  
     
     
         4 . The axle system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said axle shaft has a cap portion with a hole formed therethrough in communication with said bore, and said release pin has a notch formed in said release pin so that when a retaining pin is inserted through said hole, said retaining pin is engaged within said notch and delimits the amount that said release pin is permitted to slid within said bore.  
     
     
         5 . The axle system of  claim 4 , which further comprises a bearing spacer disposed between said wheel bearings and said axle shafts engage said bearing spacer by way of said locking balls.  
     
     
         6 . The axle system of  claim 1 , wherein each said axle shaft has a bore formed along said rotational axis and a plurality of balls arranged within said axle shaft, and one said release pin is inserted through each said bore in order to engage said locking balls and lock said axle shaft within said wheel.  
     
     
         7 . The axle system of  claim 1 , wherein said release pin is pulled out of said bore by a predetermined amount in order to unlock said axle shafts in said unlocked configuration.  
     
     
         8 . The axle system of  claim 1 , which further comprises a curved spring washer to produce equalizing forces upon said frame rails.  
     
     
         9 . The axle system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one said axle shaft has a cap portion with a hole formed therethrough in communication with said bore, and said release pin has a notch formed in said release pin so that when a retaining pin is inserted through said hole, said retaining pin is engaged within said notch and delimits the amount that said release pin is permitted to slid within said bore.  
     
     
         10 . A quick-release type axle system for use in an in-line skate, comprising: 
 a bearing spacer for spacing a pair of wheel bearings within a skate wheel in said in-line skate;    a pair of axle shafts for rotatably supporting said skate wheel on said wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and each said axle shaft having a central bore and engaging with said bearing spacer along said rotational axis; and    a pair of axle release pins for insertion into said central bores of said pair of axle shafts, respectively, and causing said axle shafts to automatically lock with said bearing spacer when said release pins are pushed into said central bores of said axle shafts to a first predetermined position within said central bore, and automatically unlock from said bearing spacer when said release pins are pulled outwardly from said central bores of said axle shafts to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         11 . A quick-release type axle system for use in an in-line skate, comprising: 
 a bearing spacer for spacing a pair of wheel bearings within a skate wheel in said in-line skate;    a pair of axle shafts for rotatably supporting said skate wheel on said wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and each said axle shaft having a central bore and engaging with said bearing spacer along said rotational axis; and    a pair of axle release pins for insertion into said central bores of said pair of axle shafts, respectively, and causing said axle shafts to automatically lock with said bearing spacer when said release pins are pushed into said central bores of said axle shafts to a first predetermined position within said central bore, and automatically unlock from said bearing spacer when said release pins are pushed inwardly into said central bores of said axle shafts to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         12 . A quick-release type axle system for use in an in-line skate, comprising: 
 a pair of axle shafts for rotatably supporting a skate wheel on a pair of wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and each said axle shaft having a central bore; and    a pair of axle release pins for insertion into said central bores of said pair of axle shafts, respectively, and causing said axle shafts to automatically lock relative to each other when said release pins are pushed into said central bores of said axle shafts to a first predetermined position within said central bore, and automatically unlock when said release pins are pulled outwardly from said central bores of said axle shafts to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         13 . A quick-release type axle system for use in an in-line skate, comprising: 
 a pair of axle shafts for rotatably supporting a skate wheel on a pair of wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and each said axle shaft having a central bore; and    a pair of axle release pins for insertion into said central bores of said pair of axle shafts, respectively, and causing said axle shafts to automatically lock relative to each other when said release pins are pushed into said central bores of said axle shafts to a first predetermined position within said central bore, and automatically unlock when said release pins are pushed inwardly into said central bores of said axle shafts to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         14 . A quick-release type axle system for use in an in-line skate, comprising: 
 a primary axle shaft for rotatably supporting a skate wheel on a pair of wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and said primary axle shaft having a first central bore formed through at least a portion thereof;    a secondary axle shaft for insertion into said primary central bore along said rotational axis, and having a second central bore extending along said rotational axis; and    an axle release pin for insertion into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft, and causing said primary and secondary axle shafts to automatically lock with each other when said release pin is pushed into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft to a first predetermined position within said second central bore, and automatically unlock said primary and secondary axle shafts from each other when said release pin is pulled outwardly from said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         15 . A quick-release type axle system for use in an in-line skate, comprising: 
 a primary axle shaft for rotatably supporting a skate wheel on a pair of wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and said primary axle shaft having a first central bore formed through at least a portion thereof;    a secondary axle shaft for insertion into said primary central bore along said rotational axis, and having a second central bore extending along said rotational axis; and    an axle release pin for insertion into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft, and causing said primary and secondary axle shafts to automatically lock with each other when said release pin is pushed into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft to a first predetermined position within said second central bore, and automatically unlock said primary and secondary axle shafts from each other when said release pin is pushed inwardly into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         16 . An in-line skate having a quick-release type axle system, comprising: 
 a bearing spacer for spacing a pair of wheel bearings within a skate wheel in said in-line skate;    a pair of axle shafts for rotatably supporting said skate wheel on said wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and each said axle shaft having a central bore and engaging with said bearing spacer along said rotational axis; and    a pair of axle release pins for insertion into said central bores of said pair of axle shafts, respectively, and causing said axle shafts to automatically lock with said bearing spacer when said release pins are pushed into said central bores of said axle shafts to a first predetermined position within said central bore, and automatically unlock from said bearing spacer when said release pins are pulled outwardly from said central bores of said axle shafts to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         17 . An in-line skate having a quick-release type axle system, comprising: 
 a bearing spacer for spacing a pair of wheel bearings within a skate wheel in said in-line skate;    a pair of axle shafts for rotatably supporting said skate wheel on said wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and each said axle shaft having a central bore and engaging with said bearing spacer along said rotational axis; and    a pair of axle release pins for insertion into said central bores of said pair of axle shafts, respectively, and causing said axle shafts to automatically lock with said bearing spacer when said release pins are pushed into said central bores of said axle shafts to a first predetermined position within said central bore, and automatically unlock from said bearing spacer when said release pins are pushed inwardly into said central bores of said axle shafts to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         18 . An in-line skate having a quick-release type axle system, comprising: 
 a pair of axle shafts for rotatably supporting a skate wheel on a pair of wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and each said axle shaft having a central bore; and    a pair of axle release pins for insertion into said central bores of said pair of axle shafts, respectively, and causing said axle shafts to automatically lock relative to each other when said release pins are pushed into said central bores of said axle shafts to a first predetermined position within said central bore, and automatically unlock when said release pins are pulled outwardly from said central bores of said axle shafts to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         19 . An in-line skate having a quick-release type axle system, comprising: 
 a pair of axle shafts for rotatably supporting a skate wheel on a pair of wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and each said axle shaft having a central bore; and    a pair of axle release pins for insertion into said central bores of said pair of axle shafts, respectively, and causing said axle shafts to automatically lock relative to each other when said release pins are pushed into said central bores of said axle shafts to a first predetermined position within said central bore, and automatically unlock when said release pins are pushed inwardly into said central bores of said axle shafts to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         20 . An in-line skate having a quick-release type axle system comprising: 
 a primary axle shaft for rotatably supporting a skate wheel on a pair of wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and said primary axle shaft having a first central bore formed through at least a portion thereof;    a secondary axle shaft for insertion into said primary central bore along said rotational axis, and having a second central bore extending along said rotational axis; and    an axle release pin for insertion into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft, and causing said primary and secondary axle shafts to automatically lock with each other when said release pin is pushed into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft to a first predetermined position within said second central bore, and. automatically unlock said primary and secondary axle shafts from each other when said release pin is pulled outwardly from said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft to a second predetermined position.    
     
     
         21 . An in-line skate having a quick-release type axle system, comprising: 
 a primary axle shaft for rotatably supporting a skate wheel on a pair of wheel bearings about a rotational axis, and said primary axle shaft having a first central bore formed through at least a portion thereof;    a secondary axle shaft for insertion into said primary central bore along said rotational axis, and having a second central bore extending along said rotational axis; and    an axle release pin for insertion into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft, and causing said primary and secondary axle shafts to automatically lock with each other when said release pin is pushed into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft to a first predetermined position within said second central bore, and automatically unlock said primary and secondary axle shafts from each other when said release pin is pushed inwardly into said second central bore of said secondary axle shaft to a second predetermined position.