US 6,637,835 B2 · Plastic wheel assembly and mounting sleeve with stabilizing recess

Abstract

A plastic wheel (122, 222) and wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) used to releasably secure the wheel (122, 222) onto an axle (123, 223). The wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) preferably includes a resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered finger (146, 246, 346, 446) which includes an axle-engaging lug (155, 255, 355, 455), while a wheel-engaging shoulder is provided on the sleeve by an annular rib (201, 301). The sleeve shoulders latch the sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) to the axle (123, 223) and the wheel (122, 222) to the sleeve. The sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) includes an axle stabilizing recess (198, 298, 398, 498) positioned in an end wall (158, 258, 358, 458), which receives an axle stub (199, 299) that supports the axle (123, 223) against lateral loading and stabilizes it to reduce wobble, chatter and vibration.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wheel mounting sleeve comprising:

a sleeve body having an inner end and an outer end and formed and dimensioned for mounting through a wheel bearing bore in a wheel, said sleeve body further having an axially extending sleeve bore dimensioned for mounting in telescoped relation over an axle;
said sleeve body having at least one axle-engaging shoulder thereon retaining said sleeve on the axle and at least one wheel-engaging shoulder thereon retaining the wheel on said sleeve;
and
said sleeve body includes a transversely extending end wall, and said sleeve bore extending axially into said end wall to provide an axle support bore segment in said end wall for support of transverse loads on the axle by said sleeve.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Plastic wheel assembly and mounting sleeve with stabilizing recess

Life of this patent

Plastic wheel assembly and mounting sleeve with stabilizing recess

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20