Roller skate

Abstract

An angled large wheel and out-of-line roller skate having an engineered plastic frame forming fore and aft downwardly-angled openings extending in a lateral direction in lateral frame members. Each of the openings has secured therein an end of a respective fore or aft axle, each of which in turn rotatably supports a canted fore or aft wheel. Each of the wheels has an engineered-plastic wheel hub and a tire thereon. The axles each have stepped configurations corresponding to the stepped configurations of their respective frame openings. Axle nuts at the ends of the axles are secured relative to the frame by respective retainer clips. The fastener securing the fore retainer clip to the frame can also secure a frame cap to the top toe end of the frame. Wheelwashers having outward stepped configurations are sandwiched between the frame and the bearing races of the wheels. A pair of tapered posts extend laterally out from the boot cradle, which is attached to the frame, and towards the rear wheel. The openings of a wheelguard are fitted onto the posts and screwed thereto. The brake arm assembly is attached at one end to the frame and has a recessed area proximate to and for the rear wheel.

1 . A. A roller skate comprising:
 a skate frame having a forward lateral side opening at a forward portion thereof and an aft lateral side opening at an aft portion thereof;   a skate front wheel;   a skate rear wheel;   a front axle extending into the forward lateral side opening and supporting the front wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   a rear axle extending into the aft lateral side opening and supporting the rear wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame.   the frame having a well;   a front or rear axle nut disposed in the well and attached to the front or rear axle; and   a retaining clip positioned to retain the axle nut in place in the well.   
   
   
       2 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the retaining clip has an opening through which an end of the front or rear axle passes. 
   
   
       3 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the retaining clip has a first clip portion, a second clip portion extending out from and angled with respect to the first clip portion, a third clip portion extending out from and angled with respect to the second clip portion, a fourth clip portion extending out from and angled with respect to the third clip portion, and a fifth clip portion extending out from and angled with respect to the fourth clip portion. 
   
   
       4 . The roller skate of  claim 3  wherein the second clip portion has an axle receiving hole and the fifth clip portion has a through-hole through which a fastener for attaching the retaining clip to the frame passes. 
   
   
       5 . The roller skate of  claim 3  wherein all of the clip portions are formed from a continuous bent metal strip. 
   
   
       6 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein a frame cap is secured to a top forward surface of the frame. 
   
   
       7 . The roller skate of  claim 6  wherein the frame cap has a through-hole, a fastener passes through the through-hole and into an opening in the frame and the fastener securing the retaining clip to the frame. 
   
   
       8 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the front wheel is generally smaller than the rear wheel, and the front and rear wheels lie in different planes. 
   
   
       9 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the wheels includes a hub formed of urethane-based plastic with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least five percent glass fiber and a tire on the hub. 
   
   
       10 . The roller skate of  claim 9  wherein the at least five percent carbon fiber is generally less than forty percent carbon fiber. 
   
   
       11 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the frame is made of urethane or nylon-based plastics with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least twenty-five percent glass fiber or Long Glass fiber. 
   
   
       12 . The roller skate of  claim 1  further comprising a boot cradle fastened to the frame. 
   
   
       13 . The roller skate of  claim 12  further comprising a boot fastened to and in the boot cradle. 
   
   
       14 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the front wheel includes a plastic front hub and a urethane front tire on the front hub and the rear wheel includes a plastic rear hub and a urethane rear tire on the rear hub. 
   
   
       15 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the rear wheel passes downwardly to near or through a center vertical longitudinal plane of the roller skate. 
   
   
       16 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the frame has a peripheral sidewall and a ribbed configuration inside of and secured to the sidewall, and the ribbed configuration includes a plurality of vertically-disposed, fastener-receiving openings. 
   
   
       17 . The roller skate of  claim 1  wherein the frame includes a forward member extending in a lateral direction out from an outboard side of the frame and including therein the forward lateral side opening, and the frame includes a rear member extending in a lateral direction out from the outboard side of the frame and including therein the aft lateral side opening. 
   
   
       18 . A roller skate comprising:
 a skate frame having a forward lateral side opening at a forward portion thereof and an aft lateral side opening at an aft portion thereof;   a skate front wheel;   a skate rear wheel;   a front axle extending into the forward lateral side opening and supporting the front wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   a rear axle extending into the aft lateral side opening and supporting the rear wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   a boot cradle attached to the frame;   the cradle including first and second posts extending in a lateral direction outwardly towards the rear wheel; and   a wheelguard having first and second openings in which the first and second posts, respectively, are positioned and secured thereto.   
   
   
       19 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein the posts are tapered. 
   
   
       20 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein the posts are integrally formed with the boot cradle. 
   
   
       21 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein screws pass through the wheelguard and into the posts. 
   
   
       22 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein the posts are tapered and integrally formed with the boot cradle, and screws pass through the wheelguard and into the posts. 
   
   
       23 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein the front wheel is generally smaller than the rear wheel, and the front and rear wheels lie in different planes. 
   
   
       24 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the wheels includes a hub formed of urethane-based plastic with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least five percent glass fiber and a tire on the hub. 
   
   
       25 . The roller skate of  claim 24  wherein the at least five percent carbon fiber is generally less than forty percent carbon fiber. 
   
   
       26 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein the frame is made of urethane or nylon-based plastics with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least twenty-five percent glass fiber or Long Glass fiber. 
   
   
       27 . The roller skate of  claim 18  further comprising a boot cradle fastened to the frame. 
   
   
       28 . The roller skate of  claim 27  further comprising a boot fastened to and in the boot cradle. 
   
   
       29 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein the front wheel includes a plastic front hub and a urethane front tire on the front hub and the rear wheel includes a plastic rear hub and a urethane rear tire on the rear hub. 
   
   
       30 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein the frame has a peripheral sidewall and a ribbed configuration inside of and secured to the sidewall, and the ribbed configuration includes a plurality of vertically-disposed, fastener-receiving openings. 
   
   
       31 . The roller skate of  claim 18  wherein the frame includes a forward member extending in a lateral direction out from an outboard side of the frame and including therein the forward lateral side opening, and the frame includes a rear member extending in a lateral direction out from the outboard side of the frame and including therein the aft lateral side opening. 
   
   
       32 . A roller skate comprising:
 a skate frame having a forward lateral side opening at a forward portion thereof and an aft lateral side opening at an aft portion thereof;   a skate front wheel;   a skate rear wheel;   a front axle extending into the forward lateral side opening and supporting the front wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   a rear axle extending into the aft lateral side opening and supporting the rear wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame; and   a frame cap secured to a forward top surface of the frame.   
   
   
       33 . The roller skate of  claim 32  wherein the frame cap includes a flat plate. 
   
   
       34 . The roller skate of  claim 32  wherein the frame cap has a through-hole and a fastener passes through the through-hole and into an opening in the frame. 
   
   
       35 . The roller skate of  claim 34  further comprising an axle nut retaining clip, and the fastener securing the retaining clip to the frame. 
   
   
       36 . The roller skate of  claim 32  wherein the front wheel is generally smaller than the rear wheel, and the front and rear wheels lie in different planes. 
   
   
       37 . The roller skate of  claim 32  wherein at least one of the wheels includes a hub formed of urethane-based plastic with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least five percent glass fiber and a tire on the hub. 
   
   
       38 . The roller skate of  claim 37  wherein the at least five percent carbon fiber is generally less than forty percent carbon fiber. 
   
   
       39 . The roller skate of  claim 32  wherein the frame is made of urethane or nylon-based plastics with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least twenty-five percent glass fiber or Long Glass fiber. 
   
   
       40 . The roller skate of  claim 32  wherein the front wheel includes a plastic front hub and a urethane front tire on the front hub and the rear wheel includes a plastic rear hub and a urethane rear tire on the rear hub. 
   
   
       41 . The roller skate of  claim 32  wherein the frame has a peripheral sidewall and a ribbed configuration inside of and secured to the sidewall, and the ribbed configuration includes a plurality of vertically-disposed, fastener-receiving openings. 
   
   
       42 . The roller skate of  claim 32  wherein the frame includes a forward member extending in a lateral direction out from an outboard side of the frame and including therein the forward lateral side opening, and the frame includes a rear member extending in a lateral direction out from the outboard side of the frame and including therein the aft lateral side opening. 
   
   
       43 . A roller skate comprising:
 a skate frame having a forward lateral side opening at a forward portion thereof and an aft lateral side opening at an aft portion thereof;   a skate front wheel;   a skate rear wheel;   a front axle extending into the forward lateral side opening and supporting the front wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   a rear axle extending into the aft lateral side opening and supporting the rear wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   one of the front or rear wheels including a bearing race through which the front or rear axle passes; and   a wheelwasher between the frame and the bearing race, the wheelwasher having a flat back surface abutting the frame and a raised inner ring on a wheelwasher front surface against the bearing race and promoting free spinning of the front of rear wheel, and the raised inner ring being dimensioned so that only the inner race of the inboard bearing is contacted by the wheelwasher.   
   
   
       44 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the wheelwasher has an inner diameter of generally 10 mm, an outer diameter of generally 20 mm, and the raised inner ring has an outer diameter of generally 15 mm, and the inner ring is raised generally 0.50 mm off of the 1.0 mm support ring, and the wheelwasher is made of metal. 
   
   
       45 . The roller skate of  claim 43  further comprising the front of rear wheel being the front wheel, the bearing being a front bearing, the front or rear axle being the front axle, the wheelwasher being a front wheelwasher, the rear wheel including a rear bearing race through which the rear axle passes, and a rear wheelwasher between the frame and the rear bearing, the rear wheelwasher having a flat back surface abutting the frame and the raised inner ring on a front surface thereof against the rear bearing and promoting free spinning of the rear wheel. 
   
   
       46 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the front or rear axle passes through the wheelwasher. 
   
   
       47 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the bearing race defines an inside bearing race, the front or rear wheel includes an outside bearing race and a bearing spacer sandwiched between the inside bearing race and the outside bearing race. 
   
   
       48 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the axle has a stepped configuration, and the forward lateral side opening has a corresponding stepped configuration and a retaining nut is secured to an end of the axle abutting a surface of the frame at the end of the forward lateral side opening. 
   
   
       49 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the frame is an injection-molded plastic frame. 
   
   
       50 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the front wheel is generally smaller than the rear wheel, and the front and rear wheels lie in different planes. 
   
   
       51 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the wheels includes a hub formed of urethane-based plastic with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least five percent glass fiber and a tire on the hub. 
   
   
       52 . The roller skate of  claim 51  wherein the at least five percent carbon fiber is generally less than forty percent carbon fiber. 
   
   
       53 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the frame is made of urethane or nylon-based plastics with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least twenty-five percent glass fiber or Long Glass fiber. 
   
   
       54 . The roller skate of  claim 43  further comprising a boot cradle fastened to the frame. 
   
   
       55 . The roller skate of  claim 54  further comprising a boot fastened to and in the boot cradle. 
   
   
       56 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the front wheel includes a plastic front hub and a urethane front tire on the front hub, and the rear wheel includes a plastic rear hub and a urethane rear tire on the rear hub. 
   
   
       57 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the frame has a peripheral sidewall and a ribbed configuration inside of and secured to the sidewall, and the ribbed configuration includes a plurality of vertically-disposed, fastener-receiving openings. 
   
   
       58 . The roller skate of  claim 43  wherein the frame includes a forward member extending in a lateral direction out from an outboard side of the frame and including therein the forward lateral side opening, and the frame includes a rear member extending in a lateral direction out from the outboard side of the frame and including therein the aft lateral side opening. 
   
   
       59 . A roller skate comprising:
 a skate frame having a forward lateral side opening at a forward portion thereof and an aft lateral side opening at an aft portion thereof;   a skate front wheel;   a skate rear wheel;   a front axle extending into the forward lateral side opening and supporting the front wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   a rear axle extending into the aft lateral side opening and supporting the rear wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   the axle having a stepped configuration;   the forward lateral side opening having a corresponding stepped configuration; and   a retaining nut is secured to an end of the axle and abutting a surface of the frame at the end of the forward lateral side opening.   
   
   
       60 . The roller skate of  claim 59  further comprising a retaining clip secured to the frame and retaining the retaining nut in position relative to the frame. 
   
   
       61 . The roller skate of  claim 59  wherein the frame is an injection-molded plastic frame. 
   
   
       62 . The roller skate of  claim 59  wherein the front wheel is generally smaller than the rear wheel, and the front and rear wheels lie in different planes. 
   
   
       63 . The roller skate of  claim 59  wherein at least one of the wheels includes a hub formed of urethane-based plastic with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least five percent glass fiber and a tire on the hub. 
   
   
       64 . The roller skate of  claim 63  wherein the at least five percent carbon fiber is generally less than forty percent carbon fiber. 
   
   
       65 . The roller skate of  claim 59  wherein the frame is made of urethane or nylon-based plastics with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least twenty-five percent glass fiber or Long Glass fiber. 
   
   
       66 . The roller skate of  claim 59  further comprising a boot cradle fastened to the frame. 
   
   
       67 . The roller skate of  claim 66  further comprising a boot fastened to and in the boot cradle. 
   
   
       68 . The roller skate of  claim 59  wherein the front wheel includes a plastic front hub and a urethane front tire on the front hub and the rear wheel includes a plastic rear hub and a urethane rear tire on the rear hub. 
   
   
       69 . The roller skate of  claim 59  wherein the frame has a peripheral sidewall and a ribbed configuration inside of and secured to the sidewall, and the ribbed configuration includes a plurality of vertically-disposed, fastener-receiving openings. 
   
   
       70 . The roller skate of  claim 59  wherein the frame includes a forward member extending in a lateral direction out from an outboard side of the frame and including therein the forward lateral side opening, and the frame further includes a rear member extending in a lateral direction out from the outboard side of the frame and including therein the aft lateral side opening. 
   
   
       71 . A roller skate comprising:
 a skate frame having a forward lateral side opening at a forward portion thereof and an aft lateral side opening at an aft portion thereof;   a skate front wheel;   a skate rear wheel;   a front axle extending into the forward lateral side opening and supporting the front wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   a rear axle extending into the aft lateral side opening and supporting the rear wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame;   a brake arm assembly attached to and extending out from the frame;   the brake arm assembly including a brake arm and a brake pad attached to the brake arm; and   the brake arm assembly including an assembly recessed area immediately adjacent to the rear wheel and for the rear wheel.   
   
   
       72 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the brake arm includes a brake arm recessed area for the rear wheel. 
   
   
       73 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the brake pad includes a brake pad recessed area for the rear wheel. 
   
   
       74 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the brake arm includes a brake arm recessed area for the rear wheel and the brake pad recessed area and the brake arm recessed area together form the assembly recessed area. 
   
   
       75 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the frame has a vertical through-hole, a fastener having a head at one end and an opposite end, the fastener passing up through the brake arm through-hole and into the frame through-hole with the head abutting a lower surface of the brake arm, and a cap secured to the opposite end. 
   
   
       76 . The roller skate of  claim 75  wherein the opposite end is threaded into the cap. 
   
   
       77 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the frame is an injection-molded plastic frame. 
   
   
       78 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the front wheel is generally smaller than the rear wheel, and the front and rear wheels lie in different planes. 
   
   
       79 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein at least one of the wheels includes a hub formed of urethane-based plastic with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least five percent glass fiber and a tire on the hub. 
   
   
       80 . The roller skate of  claim 79  wherein the at least five percent carbon fiber is generally less than forty percent carbon fiber. 
   
   
       81 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the frame is made of urethane or nylon-based plastics with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least twenty-five percent glass fiber or Long Glass fiber. 
   
   
       82 . The roller skate of  claim 71  further comprising a boot cradle fastened to the frame. 
   
   
       83 . The roller skate of  claim 82  further comprising a boot fastened to and in the boot cradle. 
   
   
       84 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the front wheel includes a plastic front hub and a urethane front tire on the front hub and the rear wheel includes a plastic rear hub and a urethane rear tire on the rear hub. 
   
   
       85 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the frame has a peripheral sidewall and a ribbed configuration inside of and secured to the sidewall, and the ribbed configuration includes a plurality of vertically-disposed, fastener-receiving openings. 
   
   
       86 . The roller skate of  claim 71  wherein the frame includes a forward member extending in a lateral direction out from an outboard side of the frame and including therein the forward lateral side opening, and the frame includes a rear member extending in a lateral direction out from the outboard side of the frame and including therein the aft lateral side opening. 
   
   
       87 . A roller skate comprising:
 a skate frame having an outboard side edge, a frame forward member secured to and extending in a lateral direction out from the side edge, and a frame rearward member secured to and extending in a lateral direction out from the side edge and spaced rearwardly from the frame forward member;   the frame forward member having an opening extending downwardly and outwardly;   the frame rearward member having an opening extending downwardly and outwardly;   a skate front wheel;   a skate rear wheel;   a front axle extending into the frame forward member opening and supporting the front wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame; and   a rear axle extending into the frame rearward member opening and supporting the rear wheel in a canted position with respect to the frame.   
   
   
       88 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein the frame forward member opening extends downwardly at an angle of between 15 and 40 degrees from the vertical, and the frame rearward member opening extends downwardly at an angle of between 15 and 40 degrees from the vertical. 
   
   
       89 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein the frame forward member, the side edge and the frame rearward member are integrally formed together. 
   
   
       90 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein the forward axle has a stepped configuration, and the forward lateral side opening has a corresponding stepped configuration. 
   
   
       91 . The roller skate of  claim 87  further comprising a forward retaining nut secured to an end of the forward axle and abutting a surface of the frame at the end of the forward lateral side opening. 
   
   
       92 . The roller skate of  claim 91  further comprising a forward retaining clip secured to the frame and retaining the forward retaining nut in position relative to the frame. 
   
   
       93 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein the rear axle has a stepped configuration, and the aft lateral side opening has a stepped configuration corresponding thereto. 
   
   
       94 . The roller skate of  claim 87  further comprising a rear retaining nut secured to an end of the rear axle and abutting a surface of the frame at the end of the rearward opening. 
   
   
       95 . The roller skate of  claim 94  further comprising a rear retaining clip secured to the frame and retaining the rear retaining nut in position. 
   
   
       96 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein the front wheel is generally smaller than the rear wheel, and the front and rear wheels lie in different planes. 
   
   
       97 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein at least one of the wheels includes a hub formed of urethane-based plastic with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least five percent glass fiber and a tire on the hub. 
   
   
       98 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein the at least five percent carbon fiber is generally less than forty percent carbon fiber. 
   
   
       99 . The roller skate of  claim 87  further comprising a boot cradle fastened to the frame. 
   
   
       100 . The roller skate of  claim 99  further comprising a boot fastened to and in the boot cradle. 
   
   
       101 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein the front wheel includes a plastic front hub and a urethane front tire on the front hub and the rear wheel includes a plastic rear hub and a urethane rear tire on the rear hub. 
   
   
       102 . The roller skate of  claim 87  wherein the frame has a peripheral sidewall and a ribbed configuration inside of and secured to the sidewall, and the ribbed configuration includes a plurality of vertically-disposed, fastener-receiving openings. 
   
   
       103 . A roller skate axle assembly, comprising:
 a roller skate frame having a side, downwardly-angled frame opening defining a chamber and an end member at an inward end of the chamber;   the end member having a member opening communicating with the chamber and an end member outer face;   a stepped axle having a body portion and a tip end extending out from the body portion;   a portion of the body portion being positioned in the chamber;   a retaining nut on the tip end and at the outer face and holding the axle to the frame; and   means for resiliently retaining the retaining nut against the end member outer face.   
   
   
       104 . The axle assembly of  claim 103  wherein the retaining means includes a retainer member having a first portion secured to the frame and a second portion having a retainer member hole, the second portion abutting a face of the nut, and the tip end passing through the member opening, the nut and the retainer member hole. 
   
   
       105 . The axle assembly of  claim 104  wherein the retainer member includes a member portion which wraps down onto a side of the nut. 
   
   
       106 . The axle assembly of  claim 104  wherein the retainer member includes a connector portion connecting the first and second portions. 
   
   
       107 . The axle assembly of  claim 104  wherein the first portion includes a first portion hole, and further comprising a fastener passing through the first portion hole and into the frame. 
   
   
       108 . The axle assembly of  claim 103  wherein the retaining means comprises a resilient retainer clip. 
   
   
       109 . The axle assembly of  claim 103  further comprising a wheelwasher abutting an outer surface of the frame and having a washer opening aligned with the frame opening. 
   
   
       110 . The axle assembly of  claim 109  wherein the wheelwasher has a stepped configuration with a projecting inner ring on an outward face thereof for abutting a bearing race of a skate wheel attached to the axle. 
   
   
       111 . The axle assembly of  claim 103  wherein the frame is an injection-molded plastic frame. 
   
   
       112 . The axle assembly of  claim 103  wherein the frame is made of urethane or nylon-based plastics with at least five percent carbon fiber or at least twenty-five percent glass fiber or Long Glass fiber.