Inline Skate Wheel Assembly Inverted V-Shape Cornering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inline skates suffer from suboptimal turning ability and stability, particularly when the number of wheels increases, as the wheel assembly's V-shaped orientation does not effectively allow all wheels to contact the ground simultaneously during cornering.
Innovation Solution
The wheel assembly is arranged such that an inverted V-shape is formed, with wheels having different angular orientations relative to the ground surface, allowing all wheels to contact the ground simultaneously and improving cornering behavior by pivoting the foot about axes parallel and perpendicular to the rolling direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If wheels are arranged in a V-shape orientation, then stability during skating is improved, but turning ability and cornering behavior deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional V-shape orientation to an inverted V-shape, where the upper portion of the wheel assembly is narrower than the lower portion. This inversion allows the wheels to be positioned such that their contact patches with the ground form a configuration that improves cornering behavior while maintaining stability, directly resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly employs asymmetric positioning of wheels relative to the frame, with different lateral offsets for front and rear wheels. This asymmetric arrangement creates an inverted V-shape contact pattern that optimizes both stability and turning ability, allowing the skate to follow curved paths more effectively while maintaining ground contact.
2Productivity
If the number of wheels is increased, then productivity and speed are improved, but turning ability deteriorates due to increased wheel assembly length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lateral dimension offset to the wheel arrangement, positioning wheels at different lateral distances from the frame centerline. This creates an inverted V-shape configuration that allows multi-wheel assemblies to turn effectively by distributing contact points across different lateral positions, enabling curved path following without requiring the wheels to be arranged in a long straight line.
3Ease of operation
If wheels are arranged along a trajectory with radius of curvature, then cornering behavior is improved, but all wheels cannot contact the ground simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is segmented into multiple wheels positioned at different lateral offsets from the frame. This segmentation allows each wheel to contact the ground at different lateral positions, forming an inverted V-shape contact pattern that enables simultaneous ground contact for all wheels while following curved paths during cornering.
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates to an improved wheel arrangement of an inline skate for improving turning capability.In this wheel arrangement, the front wheel and rear wheel and any middle wheels are disposed along a straight line that makes an acute angle with the rolling direction and with the wheels being arranged such that they are part of a substantially inverted V-shape seen in front or rear plan view. Subject of the invention are a frame, a wheel assembly, combinations of left and right frames and wheel assemblies, inline skates,a method for retrofitting a prior art frame and a replacement mount for use in such a method.