Plastic wheel assembly and mounting sleeve therefor
US6375274B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65F1/1473
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A plastic wheel (22) and wheel mounting sleeve (27, 27a, 27b, 27c) used to releasably secure the wheel (22) onto an axle (23). The wheel mounting sleeve (27) preferably includes two resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered fingers (46, 47) which are cantilevered from and extend axially in opposite directions on the sleeve (27). An axle-engaging shoulder (42) is provided on a radially inwardly extending lug (55) on one finger (46), while a wheel-engaging shoulder (43) is provided on a radially outwardly extending lug (61) on the other resilient finger (47). The respective shoulders (42, 43) cooperate with oppositely facing shoulders (58, 62) so as to releasably latch the sleeve (27) to the axle (23) and the wheel (22) to the sleeve (27). Assembly can be accomplished without any tools and a screwdriver can be used to disassemble the components. Alternative sleeves (27a, 27b, 27c) include an annular rib (101) which mates with an annular bore recess (102) to further limit relative movement between the sleeve (27a, 27b, 27c) and the wheel (22).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.