Snap-tab roller bearing case

An anti-friction bearing assembly comprising:

• an annular inner bearing race member;
• an annular outer bearing race member positioned coaxially around the inner bearing race member, the inner and outer bearing race members defining therebetween an annular raceway space, the raceway space having opposite annular end openings;
• a plurality of bearing elements positioned within the raceway space;
• and
• means for supporting the plurality of bearing elements in spaced apart relation in the raceway space, the means for supporting including a bearing cage having a cage member which is axially insertable into the raceway space through one of the annular end openings, the cage member including an annular body portion, a plurality of axially extending webs spaced circumferentially around the annular body portion, the webs defining therebetween pockets for housing the bearing elements, each of the webs including an inner circumferential side, an outer circumferential side, and a free end portion, and the cage member further including flexible means for retaining the cage member within the raceway space, the flexible means including first and second opposite tab members extending radially and axially from each web, the first tab members extending from the inner circumferential side of respective webs, and the second tab members extending from the outer circumferential side of respective webs, each said tab member being flexible between a first position in which a space is defined between the tab member and the web from which it extends and in which the tab member is engageable with one of the inner and outer bearing race members, when the cage member is positioned within the raceway space, to prevent removal of the cage member from the raceway space, and a second position in which the tab member is flexed radially from the first position to permit insertion of the cage member through the one annular end opening.