Hubless caster
OwnerWilliam J Donakowskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hubless caster assembly includes a caster body and at least one wheel, the wheel comprising a toroidal member having a bearing race, and a complementary bearing race supported by the caster body. Bearing elements in the races support the wheel in free rotation. The caster body may comprise a ring body having an axial opening, whereby the caster assembly has a large central aperture extending entirely therethrough. A centering ring may be secured in the axial opening with the complementary bearing race formed therein. A hub cap with visual treatment may be secured over the central aperture.
Claims44
A caster assembly, including:
- a caster body;
- a wheel including an outer toroidal member having a large opening extending centrally through said outer toroidal member, said outer toroidal member including a first bearing race extending annularly therein;
- said caster body including a ring body having an axial opening extending therethrough;
- bearing means joined to said ring body to support said wheel, said bearing means including a second bearing race disposed in confronting, complementary relationship to said first bearing race, and a plurality of bearing elements retained in said first and second bearing races to directly support said outer toroidal member in freely rotating fashion;
- said large central opening and said axial opening being co-extensive and devoid of any structural member extending therein.
A caster assembly, including:
- a caster body;
- a pair of wheels, each including an outer toroidal member having a large opening extending centrally through said outer toroidal member, said outer toroidal members including a pair of first bearing races, each extending annularly in one of said outer toroidal members;
- said caster body including a pair of ring bodies having axial openings co-extending therethrough;
- bearing means joined to said ring bodies to support said wheels, said bearing means including a pair of second bearing races, each disposed in confronting, complementary relationship to one of said first bearing races, and a plurality of bearing elements retained in said first and second bearing races to directly support said outer toroidal members in freely rotating fashion;
- said large central openings of said outer toroidal members and said axial openings of said ring bodies being co-extensive and devoid of any structural member extending therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.