Back to results
US 11,279,173 B2Granted
Wheels for non-motorized vehicles
AssigneeGatekeeper Systems, Inc.
InventorJohn C. McKay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.
Claims14
A wheel for a human-propelled cart, the wheel comprising:
- a hub having an inner cavity and comprising a frame engaging surface having a first mating feature, the inner cavity configured to receive an electrical component;
- a tread assembly configured to axially receive a portion of the hub, the tread assembly having a generally circular shape and an axis of rotation, the tread assembly comprising:
- an annular tread configured to engage a surface on which the wheel is configured to roll;
- and
- a frame configured to engage with the annular tread, the frame comprising:
- a radially outward portion configured to be received in the annular tread;
- a radially inward portion having a hub engaging surface, the hub engaging surface having a second mating feature and being configured to releasably couple with the frame engaging surface of the hub;
- and
- one or more tread securement features configured to inhibit axial movement of the frame relative to the hub,
- wherein the one or more tread securement features comprise a locking flange adapted to engage a frame engagement feature of the hub when the hub is received in the tread assembly, thereby inhibiting movement of the hub relative to the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the tread assembly.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.