Caster construction
OwnerJerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Carusoinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A caster assembly including a housing including a first side portion and a second side portion. The first side portion and the second side portion each have an opening. An axle extends between the first side portion and the second side portion and includes two end portions. The first side portion includes a first snap element and the first end of the axle includes a second snap element in a snap fit arrangement with the first snap element. The second side portion of the housing includes a third snap element and the second end of the axle includes a fourth snap element in a snap fit arrangement with the third snap element. A wheel disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion, with the axle positioned in a central axial opening in the wheel.
Claims28
A caster assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the first side portion and the second side portion each have an opening;
- an axle extending between the first side portion and the second side portion, the axle comprising two end portions;
- wherein the first side portion comprises a first snap element and the first end of the axle comprises a second snap element in a snap fit arrangement with the first snap element, and wherein the second side portion of the housing comprises a third snap element and the second end of the axle comprises a fourth snap element in a snap fit arrangement with the third snap element;
- and
- a wheel disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion, the wheel having a central axial opening, wherein the axle is positioned in the central axial opening.
A caster assembly comprising:
- a pivot pin;
- a first housing, the first housing comprising a first top portion and a first side portion, the first top portion having a first pin opening;
- a second housing comprising a second top portion and a second side portion, the second top portion having a second pin opening, wherein the pivot pin passes through the first and second pin openings;
- an axle extending between the first side portion and the second side portion, the axle comprising a first end portion and a second end portion connected to the first side portion and the second side portion, respectively;
- and
- a wheel disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion, the wheel having a central axial opening, wherein the axle is positioned in the central axial opening.
A method of assembling a caster assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a housing comprising a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the first side portion and the second side portion each have an axle opening;
- providing a wheel, wherein the wheel comprises a central axial opening;
- providing an axle, the axle comprising a first and second end portion;
- inserting the axle in the central axial opening of the wheel;
- snap fitting the first end portion of the axle into the first axle opening;
- and
- snap fitting the second end portion of the axle into the second axle opening.
A method of assembling a caster assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a first housing, the first housing comprising a first top portion and a first side portion, the first top portion having a first pin opening, the first side portion having a first axle opening;
- providing a second housing, the second housing comprising a second top portion and a second side portion, the second top portion having a second pin opening, the second side portion having a second axle opening;
- providing a wheel, wherein the wheel comprises a central axial opening;
- providing an axle, the axle comprising first and second end portions;
- inserting the axle in the central axial opening of the wheel;
- inserting the first end portion of the axle into the first axle opening;
- inserting the second end portion of the axle into the second axle opening;
- providing a pivot pin;
- inserting the pivot pin into the first pin opening and the second pin opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.