WO2002007829A1 - Roller wheel with light emitting diodes - Google Patents

Abstract

A roller with light emitting diodes incorporated therein is provided to achieve an improved luminous efficiency by mounting a non-utility generator in sports articles with rollers like in-line skates. The roller includes a stator, a bobbin, a rotor with light emitting diodes, a roller frame, a bearing and a connector. Light emitting diodes of the rotor are arranged in a vertical direction with respect to a shaft pin through a ring-shaped or board type connector, to thereby achieve a three-dimensional luminous effect. The roller has a simplified structure through the improved arrangement of the connector and improved structure of magnet and bearing, to thereby achieve an improved work convenience and productivity.

Description

ROLLER WHEEL WITH LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a roller wheel with a light emitting diodes incorporated therein, based on the Korean Utility Application No. 21229 dated July 25, 2000 and Korean Patent Application No. 59585 date October 10, 2000. More particularly, the present invention relates to a roller wheel with light emitting diodes, in which the roller wheel is equipped with a connector for use of a non-utility generator, and/or an improved magnetic and bearing for allowing the non-utility generator and light emitting diode to be coupled in an easy manner, in sports articles having roller wheels, like in-line skates, which are equipped with a non-utility generator, to thereby achieve an improved luminous efficiency of the diode and compact structured roller wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, articles with roller wheels, for example, sports goods or household effects have common characteristics in that roller wheels roll during use. Therefore, roller wheels with non-utility generators for obtaining an improved luminous and visual effect are gaining in popularity.

Most of the case, sports articles such as in-line skates, skate boards and kick boards are equipped with devices for improving a visual effect in addition to basic functions. Specifically, roller wheels are equipped with non-utility generators so as to obtain a luminous effect for an ease of discrimination during night time. A need therefore exists for a generator which is compact in size and simple in structure to obtain current in an easy manner when attached to the roller wheel. In general, light emitting diode which is relatively small in size is connected to a generator, so that the assembly of the generator and light emitting diode can be incorporated into the roller wheel body. As for the generator and light emitting diode incorporated into the roller wheel body, both ends of the coil led from the generator and both ends of the lead wire of the light emitting diode are inserted into the groove formed at a printed circuit board(PCB) or a brass sheet, or simply connected to the PCB or brass sheet. Such a conventional art suffers from laborious procedures in that both ends of the coil led from a generator and both ends of the lead wire of the light emitting diode need soldering and fixation. As shown in Fig. 1, a conventional roller wheel having a light emitting diode is inserted into a coupling hole 5 formed at a roller wheel fixing frame 8 arranged beneath a boot 2 to be worn by a user, and fixed by a pin 4. As shown in Fig. 2, a shaft hole 234 formed at the center of the roller wheel has a bearing 240 mounted at both sides to allow the roller wheel to easily operate, and a bushing 212a is arranged between bearings to maintain a spacing. The bushing 212a has at an outer periphery thereof a magnet 212 with S and N poles, and a coil box 221 slightly spaced apart from the outer periphery of the magnet has at an interior thereof a coil 223 wound thereto. A light emitting diode 226 connected to both ends of the coil, is installed between an inner transparent seal film 238b and an outer transparent seal film 238a. However, since the conventional light emitting diode 226 incorporated into the roller wheel is arranged in a single direction, a luminous effect is limited in one direction, making it hard to obtain three dimensional luminous effect.

Further, since the transparent seal film constituting the polyurethane wheel is sectioned into an inner and outer one, light is refracted at a boundary surface between the inner and outer seal films, making it impossible to achieve a luminescence all over the roller wheel body.

Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, the roller wheel body has at the center portion thereof the shaft hole 234, and the cylindrical bushing 212a, a bushing cover 212b and the magnet 212 are forcedly fixed into the shaft hole. The bearing 240 is arranged at both sides of the shaft hole so as to allow the roller wheel to smoothly rotate. A spacer 246 is installed at the outside of the bearing 240 so as to prevent the roller wheel from contacting a roller wheel fixing frame 8. The bearing includes an inner wheel 244 and an outer wheel 242 which are arranged to be rotatable, and the magnet is divided into N-pole and S-pole. As shown in Fig. 4, the roller wheel has at an interior of the main body thereof three light emitting diodes(126) connected to a minus line or a plus line of the coil so as to emit light by the electricity produced by the rotation of the roller wheel.

The conventional roller wheel with the conventional light emitting diode 226, is provided with the bushing 212a and bushing cover 212b for fixing the magnet, and the spacer 246 is arranged outside the bearing 240. As a result, assembling procedures for the roller wheel take long time, while increasing manufacturing cost.

Furthermore, the magnet 212 having N-pole and S-pole is arranged within the roller wheel, and the magnet 212 is fixed contacting inner surfaces of two bearings 240. This results in an unstable fixation of the magnet and deterioration of luminous effect from the light emitting diode 226.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for use of a non-utility generator which allows the generator and a light emitting diode to be coupled in an easy manner and simple configuration, to thereby achieve convenience of coupling work and improve productivity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a roller wheel with a light emitting diode incorporated therein, in which a luminescence is obtained from all over the roller wheel body in a three dimensional manner.

It is still another object of the present invention to provided a roller wheel having a simplified structure in that a bushing, bushing cover and a spacer are eliminated.

To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a roller wheel with a light emitting diode incorporated therein, the roller wheel including a stator made up of a cylindrical magnet and which is mounted at an outer periphery of a shaft pin; a rotor including a coil bobbin with a central groove formed thereat, a yoke installed at both sides of the coil bobbin through a teeth portion attached to an inner periphery of the central groove of the coil bobbin and which contacts an outer periphery of the stator, so as to form a magnetic pole, and a plurality of light emitting diodes electrically connected to the coil, the rotor being arranged to generate an induced current to the coil through a relative rotation with the stator; a roller wheel frame having a groove for accommodating the rotor, a central shaft hole and a plurality of grooves formed at an outer periphery of the roller wheel frame so as to expose light emitting diodes; a polyurethane wheel covering the outer periphery of the roller wheel frame; a bearing inserted into the shaft hole so as to contact both sides of the stator and which is fixed by a spacer; and a connector coupled to the rotor and electrically connected to both ends of the coil so as to allow light emitting diodes to be arranged in a vertical direction with respect to the shaft pin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional roller wheel with light emitting diodes incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional roller wheel with light emitting diodes incorporated therein;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling relationship between the magnet and bushing shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating operation of a conventional roller wheel with light emitting diodes;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a ring type connector to be coupled with a rotor in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling relationship between a roller wheel having the connector shown in Fig. 5 and an in-line skate;

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a board type connector to be coupled to a rotor in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling relationship between a roller wheel having a bearing and a magnet and an in-line skate in accordance with still another aspect of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating operation of the roller wheel having light emitting diodes shown in Fig. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION A roller wheel with light emitting diodes of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Throughout attached drawings, identical elements bear identical reference numerals with identical function.

Referring to Fig. 5, a ring type connector is a connection ring 50a including a ring-shaped body 52 having at an outer periphery thereof a plurality of sockets 51 for insertion and fixation of a lead wire 27 of a light emitting diode 26 and at both sides thereof brass sheet insertion grooves 53; and a brass sheet 54 inserted into the brass sheet insertion groove 53 formed at the body 52 so as to be connected to both ends of a coil 23 of a rotor 20, and which has a lead wire insertion groove 55 for insertion of the lead wire 27 upon insertion of the light emitting diode 26 into the socket 51, such that the current induced from the rotor 20 is transferred to the light emitting diode. A roller wheel frame and a polyurethane wheel are not shown in Fig. 5. In a roller wheel of the present invention, the light emitting diode 26 is directly coupled to the socket 51, eliminating the necessity of soldering the light emitting diode 26, to thereby allow the roller wheel to be easily assembled and the light emitting diode to be readily replaced. Preferably, four sockets 51 are arranged at the outer periphery of the body 52.

The brass sheet 54 includes a quarter brass sheet 54a which is divided from a complete circuit at 90 ° and a bi-sectioned brass sheet 54b which is divided from a complete circuit at 180 , having at both ends thereof lead wire insertion grooves, respectively, and forms an electric loop between both ends of the coil 23 exposed from the rotor 20 and light emitting diodes 26 coupled to four sockets 41, respectively.

The coil 23 led from the rotor 20 has both ends to be connected with a coil connection protrusion 56 formed at the brass sheet 54 or the bi-sectioned brass sheet 54b, instead of being directly connected to the brass sheet 54. The body 52 has at an inner periphery thereof a fixing protrusion 52a so as to prevent relative motion between the body 52 and the rotor 20.

As a consequence, the current induced from the relative motion between the stator 40 having a magnet fixing ring 14 and the magnet 12 and the rotor 20 having the coil 23 is transferred to the light emitting diode 26 through the brass sheet 54, to thereby achieve a luminous effect.

The connector 50a for use of a non-utility generator shown in Fig. 5 has four sockets 51 arranged at the connector body 52 so as to allow four light emitting diodes 26 to be inserted into four sockets, respectively. Therefore, it is preferable to prepare the brass sheet 54 as a combination pair of the quarter brass sheet 54a and bi-sectioned brass sheet 54b and insert the combination pair into brass sheet insertion grooves 53 formed at both sides of the connector body 52, respectively, so as to transfer the induced current to light emitting diodes 26 inserted into four sockets 51, respectively. The quarter brass sheet 54a and the bi-sectioned brass sheet 54b have at both ends thereof lead wire insertion grooves 55, respectively, and four sockets 51 are arranged at the position corresponding to a pair of lead wire insertion grooves 55, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, both ends of the lead wire 27 are inserted into a pair of facing lead wire insertion grooves 55 upon insertion of light emitting diodes 26 into corresponding sockets 51, respectively. For this reason, each of four sockets has different directions for insertion of light emitting diodes, as shown in Fig. 5.

The above-described configuration of the brass sheet 54 and the socket 51 aims to form an electric loop between light emitting diodes 26 and both ends of the coil 23 exposed from the rotor 20.

Here, four light emitting diodes 26 are inserted into sockets 51 for flickering. Although four light emitting diodes are required to form a, complete electric loop, one to three diodes may work in such a manner that the socket where the diode is absent is provided with an electric wire of a suitable length to connect the disconnected portion.

The connector 50a for use of a non-utility generator according to the present invention, has at an inner periphery of the connector body the fixing protrusion 52a so as to prevent relative motion with respect to the rotor when coupled to the outer periphery of the rotor. This configuration prevents damage to the coil 23 connected between the rotor 20 and the connector 50a.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the case where the roller wheel having a collector for use of a non-utility connector is applied to an in-line skate according to the present invention, which can be explained as one of examples of the sports article having a roller wheel with light emitting diodes incorporated therein.

The connector 50a having light emitting diodes exposed outwardly, is coupled to a pair of roller wheel fixing frames 8 together with the rotor 20. A roller wheel frame 30 has a wheel 38 coated with a transparent polyurethane, and the stator 10 generating an induction current through a relative motion with the rotor is coupled to the roller wheel fixing frame 8 of a boot 2 at the inside of the rotor 20 through a screw 6 and the shaft pin 4.

Here, a bearing and bush can be added to the configuration to obtain a smooth rotation of the roller wheel.

The roller wheel having the connector for use of a non-utility generator according to the present invention is applicable to all products with wheels, for example, toys, bicycles or baby carriages as well as sports articles like in-line skates Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a roller wheel according to another aspect of the present invention. A board type connector 50b is mounted at the side surface of a yoke 24b constituting the rotor 20 and electrically connected at both ends of the coil 23. Referring to Fig. 7, similarly to the roller wheel having the ring type connector explained with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, the rotor 20 includes the coil 23, the bobbin 21 having the coil taken up thereto, and a pair of yokes 24a and 24b surrounding the bobbin. Each of yokes 24a and 24b has twelve teeth 25, respectively, so as to form twenty-four magnetic poles from the magnetic field formed by the magnet. The board type coimector 50b is connected to both ends of the extended coil 23 and a plurality of light emitting diodes 26 attached in vertical direction with respect to the lengthwise direction of the shaft pin.

That is to say, light emitting diodes 26 are arranged in radial direction from a central shaft hole 34 of the roller wheel. As a consequence, a pair of roller wheel frames 30a and 30b are overlapped to face with each other. The roller wheel frame 30b has a cylindrical rotor accommodation groove 32 formed coaxially with the shaft hole 34 or the shaft pin 4. Each of roller wheel frames has at an outer periphery thereof grooves 36 formed to correspond to the count of light emitting diodes. The magnetic field generated from the magnet fixed at the shaft pin 4 so as to function as a stator, produces an induction current to the coil 23 which functions as a rotor by rotating together with roller wheel frames 30a and 30b. Thus-produced induction current is transferred to light emitting diodes 26 through the board type connector 50b. Thus, light emitting diodes 26 flicker by the induced current which is an AC current.

Since light emitting diodes 26 of the present invention are arranged in vertical direction with respect to the lengthwise direction of the shaft pine, a three dimensional flickering can be obtained all over the transparent polyurethane wheel. This utilizes a lens effect of light, in which light emitting diodes disposed within the transparent polyurethane wheel flicker and the light is diffused in all directions. As a result, a luminous effect throughout the transparent polyurethane constituting most part of the roller wheel, can be obtained.

Referring now to Fig. 8, a bearing 140 includes an outer ring 142, and an inner ring 144 to be inserted in a rotatable manner to the inner periphery of the outer ring and which has inner and outer protrusions 144a and 144b. The inner protrusion 144a has at an end thereof an insertion protrusion 144c to be inserted into a magnet 112, and the central groove of the rotor and the central shaft hole 34 of the roller wheel frame form stepped portions 34a and 34b for a tight coupling of the bearing. A spacer is eliminated from the configuration. The magnet 112 of the stator has N-poles and S-poles formed alternately in twelve counts, respectively, and has a plastic or aluminum cylinder 114 coupled to the inner periphery of the magnet. As shown in Fig. 8, the roller wheel is fixed to the roller wheel fixing frame 8 arranged beneath the boot 2, through the insertion of the shaft pin 4 into the coupling hole 5 formed at the roller wheel fixing frame 8.

The roller wheel body has at a center thereof the shaft hole 34, and the ring type magnet 112 having the plastic or aluminum cylinder 114 coupled to the inner periphery of the ring type magnet, is inserted into the shaft hole, eliminating a conventional cylindrical bushing and a bushing cover from the configuration.

The shaft hole 34 has at both sides thereof the bearing 140 mounted to achieve a smooth operation of the roller wheel. The bearing includes the inner ring 144 and the outer ring 142, and the inner ring 144 has the inner protrusion 144a and the outer protrusion 144b. The inner protrusion 144a has at an end thereof the insertion protrusion 144c for stably fixing the magnet 112 accommodating the outer periphery of the plastic or aluminum cylinder 114. The insertion protrusion 144c can be directly inserted into the magnet 112 after adjusting the inner diameter of the magnet 112 when the aluminum cylinder 114 is not prepared.

The magnet 112 has N-poles and S-poles formed alternately, and twenty-four electrodes in total for generating a sufficient amount of electricity. As shown in Fig. 9, a first yoke 124a and a second yoke 124b, each of which has twelve teeth 125 corresponding to twenty-four electrodes of the magnet 112 are engaged in the roller wheel body at both sides of the bobbin 21 where the coil connected to light emitting diodes 26 is wound, with the bobbin 21 interposed between first and second yokes. Total twenty-four teeth of both yokes 124a and 124b correspond to twenty-four electrodes of the magnet 112, and N-poles and S- poles are alternately formed at those twenty-four teeth by the rotation of the roller wheel, thus inducing a current for operating light emitting diodes 26.

In the present invention, the magnet 112 is fixed by the insertion protrusion 144c formed at an end of the inner protrusion 144a, thereby eliminating a bushing or a bushing cover from the configuration, and the outer protrusion 144b allows for elimination of a spacer.

In addition, the magnet 112 has N-poles and S-poles alternately formed into twelve, respectively, thus forming twenty-four electrodes in total. Yokes 124a and 124b having twenty-four teeth in total corresponding to the twenty-four magnetic poles are arranged within the roller wheel body, and the magnet 112 is fixed in a stabilized manner by the insertion protrusion 144c. As a result, the amount of induced current increases and luminous efficiency of light emitting diodes is enhanced, thus increasing interest of riders of in-line skates, roller wheel blades or kick boards.

As described above, a roller wheel with light emitting diodes incorporated therein according to the present invention allows the generator and light emitting diodes to be coupled in an easy and simple manner, to thereby achieve an improved work convenience, productivity and uniform product quality. In addition, as compared with a conventional coupling method utilizing a

PCB, light emitting diodes can be connected in a stable and uniform manner to both ends of the coil exposed from the rotor. Further, light emitting diodes incorporated into the roller wheel are arranged in a vertical direction with respect to the lengthwise direction of the shaft pin. Thus, luminescence is obtained from all over the roller wheel body, to thereby achieve an improved luminous effect in a three-dimensional direction, rather than a single direction.

By eliminating from the configuration a bushing, bushing cover and a spacer, the roller wheel can be assembled in a rapid and convenient manner, while reducing manufacturing cost of roller wheels. In addition, number of poles of electrode increases, and the magnet is fixed in a stabilized manner, to thereby improve luminous efficiency of light emitting diodes.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specifics of these embodiments, but rather is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A roller wheel with a light emitting diode incorporated therein, said roller wheel comprising: a stator made up of a cylindrical magnet and which is mounted at an outer periphery of a shaft pin; a rotor including a coil bobbin with a central groove formed thereat, a yoke installed at both sides of said coil bobbin through a teeth portion attached to an inner periphery of said central groove of the coil bobbin and which contacts an outer periphery of said stator, so as to form a magnetic pole, and a plurality of light emitting diodes electrically connected to said coil, said rotor being arranged to generate an induced current to said coil through a relative rotation with said stator; a roller wheel frame having a groove for accommodating said rotor, a central shaft hole and a plurality of grooves formed at an outer periphery of said roller wheel frame so as to expose light emitting diodes; a polyurethane wheel covering an outer periphery of said roller wheel frame; a bearing inserted into said shaft hole so as to contact both sides of said stator and which is fixed by a spacer; and a connector coupled to said rotor and electrically connected to both ends of said coil so as to allow light emitting diodes to be arranged in a vertical direction with respect to said shaft pin.

2. A roller wheel according to claim 1, wherein said connector is a connection ring including a ring-shaped body having at an outer periphery thereof a plurality of sockets for insertion and fixation of a lead wire of said light emitting diode and at both sides thereof brass sheet insertion grooves; and a brass sheet inserted into said brass sheet insertion grooves formed at said ring-shaped body so as to be connected to both ends of said coil of said rotor, said brass sheet having a lead wire insertion groove for insertion of said lead wire upon insertion of said light emitting diodes into said sockets, such that a current induced from said rotor is transferred to said light emitting diodes.

3. A roller wheel according to claim 2, wherein said socket arranged at an outer periphery of said ring-shaped body counts four, and said brass sheet includes a quarter brass sheet which is divided from a complete circuit at 90 ° and a bi- sectioned brass sheet which is divided from a complete circuit at 180 °, having at both ends thereof lead wire insertion grooves, respectively, thus forming an electric loop between both ends of said coil exposed from said rotor and light emitting diodes coupled to said four sockets, respectively.

4. A roller wheel according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said brass sheet or said bi-sectioned brass sheet has a coil connection protrusion for connection to both ends of said coil led from said rotor.

5. A roller wheel according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said ring-shaped body has at an inner periphery thereof a fixing protrusion for preventing relative motion between said body and said rotor.

6. A roller wheel according to claim 1, wherein said connector is a board mounted at a side surface of a yoke constituting said rotor and electrically connected to both ends of said coil.

7. A roller wheel according to claim 1, wherein said bearing includes an outer ring, and an inner ring inserted to be rotatable to an inner diameter of said outer ring and which has inner and outer protrusions protruded in a coupling direction and exposed direction, said inner protrusion has at an end thereof an insertion protrusion to be inserted into said magnet, and said rotor has a central groove and said roller wheel frame has said central shaft hole which are provided with stepped portions for a tight insertion of said bearing constituted by inner and outer ring, thus eliminating the necessity of using a spacer.

8. A roller wheel according to claim 1, wherein said magnet of said stator has N-poles and S-poles arranged alternately and each of which are divided into 12, and a plastic or aluminum cylinder coupled to an inner periphery of said magnet.