Wheel adapted to eliminate bearing click
AssigneeKryptonics, Inc.
InventorsPaul C. Jensen, Charles H. Demarest, Gerard F. Lutz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved wheel assembly which eliminates "bearing click" is provided with raised, deformable structures placed within a gap between a bearing and fixed structures inside the wheel core. When the bearing is pushed into the wheel to abut at least one such fixed structure, leaving a gap between the bearing and another fixed structure, then tightened mechanically inward into the wheel core, the deformable structure in the gap will be deformed by the bearing as it pushes inward and "cold flow" to form a surface preventing wobbling and "bearing click" when the user presses manually against the wheel hub.
Claims22
A wheel assembly comprising:
- (a) a bearing having a lateral side and a medial side and an inner race and an outer race, the medial edges of the races each defining a plane;
- (b) a supporting structure for an outer tire member comprising an inner ring within which inner ring the bearing is disposed during use;
- (c) stop means for the bearing disposed within the inner ring comprising a first surface fixed parallel to the plane defined by the medial edge of the outer race and a second surface fixed parallel to the plane defined by the medial edge of the inner race;
- (d) a deformable structure disposed between at least one of the fixed surfaces and the medial edge of its corresponding race;
- whereby when the first surface does not lie in the same plane as the second surface, and/or when the plane defined by the medial edge of the inner race is not the same as the plane defined by the medial edge of the outer race, the deformable structure absorbs force applied against the lateral side of the bearing to prevent axial displacement of the races relative to each other and provide an abutment surface to prevent medial movement of the bearing.
A wheel assembly comprising:
- (a) two bearings, each having a lateral side and a medial side and an inner race and an outer race, the medial edges of the races each defining a plane;
- (b) a central core for an outer tire member within which core the bearings are disposed during use;
- (c) stop means medial to each of the bearings disposed within the core comprising, corresponding to each bearing, a first surface which is a bearing seat fixed parallel to the plane defined by the medial edge of the outer race of the bearing and a second surface defined by the shoulder of a bearing sleeve having an end axially disposed within the bearing fixed parallel to the plane defined by the medial edge of the inner race of the bearing;
- wherein the first surfaces are medially displaced from the second surfaces;
- (d) deformable structures disposed on the first surfaces;
- whereby the deformable structures absorb force applied against the lateral sides of the bearings to prevent axial displacement of the inner and outer races relative to each other and provide abutment surfaces to prevent medial movement of the outer races of the bearings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.