Plastic wheel assembly and improved mounting sleeve therefor
US6361121B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 12, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65F1/1473
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A plastic wheel (22, 122) and wheel mounting sleeve (27, 27a, 127) used to releasably secure the wheel (22, 122) onto an axle (23, 123). The wheel mounting sleeve (27, 27a, 127) preferably includes a resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered finger (46, 146) which includes an axle-engaging lug (55, 155), while a wheel-engaging shoulder is provided on an annular rib 101, 201. The respective sleeve shoulders cooperate with oppositely facing shoulders on the wheel so as to latch the sleeve (27, 127) to the axle (23, 123) and the wheel (22, 122) to the sleeve (27, 127). The sleeve (27, 127) and sleeve-receiving bore (39a, 39b, 139a, 139b) are radially inwardly stepped on the inner side (66, 166) as compared to the outer side (67, 167) of the wheel. Assembly can be accomplished without any tools, and a pointed tool can be used to puncture a skin (195) in a passageway (191) so as to enable release of the sleeve (27, 127) and wheel (22, 122) from the axle (23, 123).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.