Removable wheel retainer release assembly
OwnerScott Bromminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An “L-shaped” bushing assembly having a retainer pin sleeve and axle sleeve. An “L-shaped” retainer pin is fitted to the retainer pin sleeve and provides a handle piece that projects through the walls of the bushing assembly and wheel that is maneuverable to retract and release the retainer pin and wheel from a grooved axle. The L-shaped retainer pin and bias spring are alternatively mounted in single and multi-channel slots to facilitate retainer pin mounting and/or containment of the retainer pin at a storage position. The retainer pin sleeve slots and/or a transverse open slot facilitate cooperation of a wheel removal tool with the retainer pin(s).
Claims10
A molded wheel comprising:
- a) a hub having a primary bore and a rolling surface concentrically displaced from said hub and wherein said wheel is adapted to mount to an axle;
- b) a bushing including an axle sleeve mounted to said primary bore and having an axle bore adapted to contain said axle and wherein said bushing further includes a retainer pin sleeve having a retainer pin bore communicating with said axle bore;
- c) a retainer pin having a longitudinal portion and a handle portion transversely projecting from said longitudinal portion, wherein said retainer pin is reciprocally mounted in said retainer pin bore, wherein said retainer pin is supported in a longitudinal slot of said retainer pin sleeve and through which longitudinal slot said handle portion extends, wherein said longitudinal slot comprises a first longitudinal channel portion, a second longitudinal channel portion extending parallel to said first longitudinal channel portion and a transverse channel portion communicating between said first and second longitudinal channel portions, wherein said second longitudinal channel portion permits insertion of said retainer pin into said retainer pin bore and manipulation of said handle portion into said first longitudinal channel portion, and wherein said handle portion projects sufficiently from said longitudinal slot to permit hand manipulation to radially and reciprocally extend and retract a fore end of said retainer pin from said axle bore;
- and
- d) a spring mounted in said retainer pin bore to engage and bias said retainer pin toward said axle bore.
A bushing adapted to mount to a separately molded wheel and supporting axle comprising:
- a) an axle sleeve having an axle bore configured to contain said axle;
- b) a retainer pin sleeve having a retainer pin bore communicating with said axle bore;
- c) a retainer pin having a longitudinal portion and a handle portion transversely projecting from said longitudinal portion, wherein said retainer pin is reciprocally mounted in said retainer pin bore, wherein said handle portion projects from a slot in a sidewall of said retainer pin sleeve, wherein said slot comprises a first longitudinal channel portion, a second longitudinal channel portion extending parallel to said first longitudinal portion and a transverse channel portion communicating between said first and second longitudinal channel portions, wherein said second longitudinal channel portion permits insertion of said retainer pin into said retainer pin bore and manipulation of said handle portion into said first longitudinal channel portion and wherein said handle portion projects sufficiently from said slot to permit hand manipulation to radially and reciprocally extend and retract a fore end of said retainer pin from said axle bore;
- and
- d) a spring mounted in said retainer pin bore to engage and bias said retainer pin toward said axle bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.