An in-line skate and wheel particularly useful on a skating surface made of ice are provided. The in-line skate of the present invention includes a series of wheels aligned in a single row. The wheel of the present invention includes a circular body with a concave contact surface formed around the outer circumference of the circular body such that the concave contact surface and the wheel body form a pair of skating edges which engage the ice surface during skating. The wheels can be removed from the in-line roller skate and be replaced by a series of conventional rubber wheels for use on pavement.
The "ICE WHEELS" consists of a wheel assembly, which permits interchange with in-line skate wheels for use on ice that reduces weight and or the rolling resistance on ice while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice. The wheel consists of a lightweight hub, bearing accommodating counterbores and an outer ring containing multiple ice-engaging structures and relief grooves. The ice-engaging structures comprise of an outer circumferential contact means, inner circumferential contact means, a new medial circumferential contact means and multiple support surfaces. A new feature of this invention is the elimination of one or both of the inner circumferential contact means penetration into the ice while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice. This leaves either a flat support surface; a flat support surface with one inner circumferential contact means or two support surfaces with a medial circumferential contact means in between while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice. Reducing the number of ice embedding contact means while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice reduces the rolling resistance of said wheel. Another new feature of this invention is a relief groove that reduces the embedding of the support surface into the ice.
The "MODIFIED WHEELS FOR ICE" consists of a wheel assembly which permits interchange with in-line skate wheels for use on ice that minimizes damage from fractures in the ice, particularly when the wheel is at an angle from perpendicular to the ice while pushing off or turning. The wheel is consists of a lightweight hub, bearing accommodating counterbores and an outer ring containing multiple contact means. When the wheel is at an angle from perpendicular to the ice the outer circumferential contact means being smaller in diameter than the inner circumferential contact means allows both contact means to engage the ice. A new load bearing support surface is both adjacent to the inner and outer circumferential contact means and parallel to the ice when the wheel is at a predetermined angle from perpendicular to the ice. The function of the support surface is to limit the penetration of the contact means into the ice. The distance between the contact means, the depth of their penetration into the ice and the interaction of the support surface with the ice contribute significantly limit the damage to the ice by fracturing.
