# US 2021/0347393 A1 · Wheel in car plate assemblies and uses thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0347393 A1 - Document ID: US20210347393A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/308,966 - Filed: 2021-05-05 - Published: 2021-11-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-05 - Assignees: Petelka Investments Inc. - Applicants: Petelka Investments Inc. - Inventors: Brian W. PETELKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210347393A1 ## CPC - B60J 7/062: {for utility vehicles (B60J7/065 takes precedence)} - B60J 7/068: {for utility vehicles, e.g. of tarpaulin or roller-blind type} - B61D 39/002: {Sliding or folding roofs} - B61F 5/14: Side bearings - F16C 29/045: {having rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts} - F16C 29/10: Arrangements for locking the bearings - F16C 33/363: {with grooves in the bearing-surfaces} - B60P 7/04: by tarpaulins or like flexible members - F16C 2326/01: Parts of vehicles in general - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F) - B61F: RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES (for vehicles in general B60; axles or wheels B60B; vehicle tyres B60C) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) ## Abstract A convertible wheel is described that is interchangeably used with at least two different car plate designs and tracks. In particular, there is provided a wheel for use with a bearing and a car plate in a tarpaulin system. The wheel comprises a cylindrical body with a groove, first face, an opposed second face, and a central cavity positioned therebetween for receiving the bearing therein. The first face has a first opening with a first diameter, and the second face has a second opening with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. Either the first face or the second face can be positioned facing the car plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wheel for use with a bearing and a car plate in a tarpaulin system, the wheel comprising: a cylindrical body with a groove, first face, an opposed second face, and a central cavity positioned therebetween for receiving the bearing therein; the first face having a first opening with a first diameter; and the second face having a second opening with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; wherein either the first face or the second face can be positioned facing the car plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wheel of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first diameter of the first opening to the second diameter of the second opening is between 4:3 to 5:3. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wheel of claim 1, wherein the groove in the cylindrical body is rounded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wheel of claim 1, wherein the groove in the cylindrical body spans an angle between 70 and 80 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A wheel assembly comprising: the wheel of claim 1; a bearing concentrically situated within the central cavity of the cylindrical body; a hub with a hub head and a hub shank concentrically positioned and situated through the first opening of the wheel and through the bearing, the hub head being positioned proximate the first face; and a locking ring secured to a distal end of the hub to secure the hub in place within the cylindrical body and the bearing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The wheel assembly of claim 5, further comprising a cover secured to the second face in covering relation over the second opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A car plate assembly comprising: a car plate with a wheel aperture; the wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the first face is orientated facing the car plate; a pin situated through the wheel aperture and the hub of the wheel assembly; wherein the hub head also acts as a spacer between the car plate and the first face of the wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A wheel assembly comprising: the wheel of claim 1; a bearing concentrically situated within the central cavity of the cylindrical body; a spacer positioned proximate the second face of the wheel; a bolt with a bolt head and a bolt shank threaded through the spacer, the second opening of the wheel, and the bearing, wherein the bolt head is positioned proximate the second face; and a nut secured to a distal end of the bolt to secure the bolt in place within the cylindrical body and the bearing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A car plate assembly comprising: a car plate with a wheel aperture; the wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the second face is orientated facing the car plate; the bolt shank being situated through the wheel aperture, the spacer, and the bearing of the wheel assembly; wherein the spacer is situated between the car plate and the second face of the wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A car plate assembly comprising: a car plate with a first wheel aperture and a second wheel aperture positioned below, and spaced apart from, the first wheel aperture; a first wheel of claim 1; a first axle situated through the first wheel aperture and the first wheel to rotationally secure the first wheel to the car plate as an upper roller; a second wheel; and a second axle situated through the second wheel aperture and the second wheel to rotationally secure the second wheel to the car plate below the first wheel as a lower roller; the upper and lower rollers spaced apart to operatively receive a track therebetween. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A car plate assembly comprising: a car plate with a first wheel aperture and a second wheel aperture positioned below, and spaced apart from, the first wheel aperture; a first wheel of claim 1; a first axle situated through the first wheel aperture and the first wheel to rotationally secure the first wheel to the car plate as an upper roller; a second wheel of claim 1; and a second axle situated through the second wheel aperture and the second wheel to rotationally secure the second wheel to the car plate below the first wheel as a lower roller; the upper and lower rollers spaced apart to operatively receive a track therebetween. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The car plate assembly of claim 11, wherein the diameter of the first wheel is larger than the diameter of the second wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The car plate assembly of claim 11, wherein the first wheel is vertically offset from the second wheel on the car plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 11) The car plate assembly of claim 11, wherein the car plate further has a third wheel aperture spaced apart from the first and second wheel apertures, the car plate assembly further comprising: a third wheel of claim 1; and a third axle situated through the third wheel aperture and the third wheel to rotationally secure the third wheel to the car plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The car plate assembly of claim 14, wherein the third wheel is positioned below the first wheel as another lower roller, the first, second, and third wheels being arranged in a triangle configuration on the car plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1, 14) The car plate assembly of claim 14, wherein the car plate further has a fourth wheel aperture spaced apart from the first, second, and third wheel apertures, the car plate assembly further comprising: a fourth wheel of claim 1; and a fourth axle situated through the fourth wheel aperture and the fourth wheel to rotationally secure the fourth wheel to the car plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The car plate assembly of claim 16, wherein the third wheel is positioned below the first wheel as another lower roller and the fourth wheel is positioned above the third wheel as another upper roller, the first, second, third, and fourth wheels being arranged in a trapezoid configuration on the car plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The car plate assembly of claim 11, further comprising a track, the track having a rolling portion positioned between at least the first and second wheels to simultaneously engage the grooves of the cylindrical bodies of the first and second wheels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The car plate assembly of claim 18, wherein the rolling portion of the track has an upper ridge projecting upwardly to engage with the first wheel, and a lower ridge projecting downwardly to engage with the second wheel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The car plate assembly of claim 19, wherein the rolling portion of the track has a rounded, diamond-shaped cross-section.