Plastic bearing apparatus
OwnerThomas E. Denner, Michael Kiddinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing assembly having integral molded bearing surfaces. Each bearing surface is molded within its respective inner and outer race. The use of plastic injection molded parts enables high precision with low cost to achieve a reliably rotating caster wheel. The use of integral molded bearing surfaces within the respective races eliminates the problem of having to remove flash from the molding process or concern about indentations made by ejection pins if a separate bearing part were used. The bearing assembly can also be used with a molding process wheel to further reduce the cost of production.
Claims7
A bearing assembly for a wheel having an axle comprising:
- two opposing inner race members, each of said inner race members having a corresponding inner race bearing surface and an opening wherein said axle can pass through;
- two opposing outer race members, each of said outer race members having corresponding outer race bearing surfaces;
- such that when each inner race member is mated with its respective outer race member, a pair of bearing enclosures are provided;
- such that each outer race member encapsulates its correspond inner race members such that the bearing surfaces of each are aligned, said inner race members are able to rotate freely with respective to said outer race members, and said wheel is able to freely rotate on its axle positioned within the openings of said inner race members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.